West Side School District

Wednesday, March 18, is AMI Day 3

Thank you to the food service staff, bus drivers and volunteers for preparing meals and delivering them to students while school is closed!!

Tuesday, March 17, is AMI Day 2

Just a reminder, West Side School District is closed until Monday, March 30 (at this point) for classes and all other events and activities. Anything that was scheduled during this time will be rescheduled at a later date, if possible and necessary. If reschedules occur that information will be communicated to you when it is known. The District and school offices will be open from 8:00-noon the rest of the week. For obvious reasons we prefer to communicate via phone or email during this time. Only essential personnel should be on campus during this time off. The campus will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected during this time off as well. An additional reminder, students are expected to complete AMI days 1-4. Regarding student meals during this week… Since we were originally scheduled for four days of student instruction this week we will feed four days worth of meals. Our plan is to send breakfast and lunch on the buses Tuesday-Friday this week. Buses will leave campus with meals around 10:30 each day. If your child is not a bus rider then meals will be available to be picked up in the circle drive from 11:00-1:00 Tuesday-Friday this week. Meals are available to any child from age 6 weeks up to 18 years old, whether they attend West Side School District or not. If you have a child in the age range of 6 weeks to 18 years old who does not currently attend West Side SD and you would like to receive meals for them, please contact the district office to help give us a more accurate number of meals to prepare. Additionally, if your child is a student at West Side SD and you prefer NOT to get meals from the district this week, please contact us and let us know that information as well. If we do not hear from you then the district will operate under the assumption of feeding current students according to how they are transported to school. This is a new process for us, so it will be a work in progress. It is possible that some errors may be made, so please be patient as we work through this. Constructive feedback from you will let us know if we need to make any changes to the process. Remember to wash your hands, practice social distancing and avoid travel/large crowds unless necessary.

The Arkansas Activities Association has instituted a "dead period" from March 17 to March 30. WSHS athletic facilities will be closed. Coaches, teacher-coaches, and registered volunteers and athletes are prohibited from practice, tryouts, and travel. #EagleSpirit #WatchUsSoar

Attention Students & Parents/Guardians: Guidance was just issued from Gov. Hutchinson to close all public school districts starting Tuesday. Monday was left as optional for school districts. West Side SD will be closed to all students for all classes and activities starting Monday, March 16. All days missed will be considered AMI days. If a student left something on campus that he/she will need in order to complete AMI assignments please contact the appropriate office to make arrangements to pick it up. AMI packets will be updated to include a total of 10 days that were approved by ADE. That information will be shared with you digitally when possible. Anything not able to be shared digitally will be mailed to you. At this time we are planning to start school back as normal after spring break on March 30. If something changes that plan it will be communicated to you. We will continue to be in communication to reschedule any activities that will be missed due to school closure. Thank you for your support and understanding, and please remember to use common sense during this time. Practice proper hygiene/cleanliness, social distancing and limit travel/large gatherings unless absolutely necessary. Please contact the district on Monday if you have any questions/concerns. Thank you for your support of West Side SD.

Gov. Hutchinson and state officials discussed school closures this afternoon in this videotaped press conference ... https://youtu.be/H8G5we9DlLo?t=301 #EagleSpirit #WatchUsSoar

The DL Testing Center in Heber Springs will be CLOSED on Wed. March 18th.

Beginning Sunday, March 15, the Arkansas Activities Association has suspended all spring interscholastic competitions indefinitely. For West Side, that means competitions previously scheduled for March 15-30 in baseball, softball, track, SkillsUSA, band and choir, chess, and Quiz Bowl will not take place. Coaches and sponsors will notify students about how practices might be affected.

West Side nurse Rachel Southerland competing for Miss West Side. #1999 #FlashbackFriday #EagleSpirit #SocialMediaandCommunicationsClass #MsStephaniesClass

Here is a link to the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html It would be wise to consult this map if you are planning any travel outside the United States. Additionally, if you have traveled outside the United States in the last month, will you please notify Nurse Rachel Southerland at 501-825-7744 or rachel.southerland@westsideeagles.org? Thank you

The varsity and junior varsity baseball games against Bradford that were rescheduled for today have been canceled.

Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Department of Education has released information about COVID-19. Please follow the link below. http://www.westsideeagles.org/article/207156?org=wssd

The home varsity and junior varsity baseball games originally scheduled for Tuesday against Bradford have been rescheduled for tomorrow. Game time is 4 p.m., rather than 4:30 p.m.

Teacher Name- Phillip Ramsey How many years have you been teaching? This is my 25th. Where did you graduate high school from? Deer High School. What were your favorite subjects in High School? History and Science. Why did you become a teacher? I had many family members that were, and are teachers, it’s almost like a family business. What is your favorite part of teaching at West Side High School? I love working with the kids, and there’s something different happening each day. What is your favorite characteristic in your students? My favorite characteristic in my students is that they are eager to learn, and that there are so many diverse personalities. What are your hobbies outside of school? I love doing anything that has to do with being around my family. Who is your biggest role model, why? My dad, he was such a hard worker, and modeled great work ethic. Question of student choice: What are your plans after retirement? Maybe move to Wyoming and work for a national park. #TeacherThursday #EagleSpirit #SocialMediaandCommunicationsClass #MsStephaniesClass

Mrs. Goforth, along with her Art IV students, Madison Barr, Jayde McElroy, Alexandria Southerland, and Rayne Cottrell, took an afternoon to visit the Student Competitive Art Show at the Baum Gallery on UCA’s campus.

How many years have you been teaching? 22 years! Where did you graduate highschool from? Greenbrier High School. What was your favorite subject in High School? Computer Business. Why did you become a teacher? I love working with kids and I want to make a difference in their lives. What is your favorite part of teaching at West Side School? The teachers and community have had a huge impact on me. What is your favorite characteristic in your students? They are all unique in their own ways, and they all have different quirks. It is so much fun to figure them out. What are your hobbies outside of school? Reading, camping, and boating. Who is your biggest role model, why? My mom is my biggest role model. She is a strong, fantastic woman. She can do anything. Question of student choice: What is your favorite movie? Pretty Woman! #TeacherTuesday #EagleSpirit #SocialMediaandCommunicationsClass #MsStephaniesClass

Teacher Name: Peggy Davidson How many years have you been teaching/in education? 38 years, going on 39! Where did you graduate high school? West Side Why did you become a teacher? I became a teacher because I like working with students to help them achieve their goals and become successful. What is your favorite part of teaching at West Side School? My favorite part about teaching at West Side is the students and my wonderful co-workers. What is your favorite characteristic in your students? Their desire to learn and the effort that they put forward. What are your hobbies outside of school? Reading and crafting/sewing. Who is your biggest role model and why? My mother, because she was an excellent teacher and she gave me a lot of pointers on how to be a great teacher. Question of student choice: What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher! #TeacherTuesday #EagleSpirit #SocialMediaandCommunicationsClass #MsStephaniesClass

There will be no softball games today against Rural Special. They will be rescheduled.

Congratulations to the Lady Eagles!! They were victorious tonight over Emerson 65-62 in the state quarterfinals. The Lady Eagles will face Viola in the state semifinals tomorrow at 6:00 at Lake Hamilton HS. We will once again provide a pep bus for 7-12 grade students who wish to attend. Students will need to bring $6 for gate admission and a signed note from a parent/guardian in order to ride. The bus will leave at 2:00 PM and will return around 11:00 PM. Please show up and cheer your Lady Eagles on to the state finals! Go Eagles!