The transition from winter to spring always keeps us on our toes—one day it’s a light jacket, the next it’s a snow shovel! But those shifting breezes are a sure sign that a fresh season is finally here.

We had an incredible winter at Westwood, filled with milestones and memories. To give you a taste of the excitement, take a look at the photo above: our kindergartners have some brand-new, fuzzy roommates! The classrooms have been buzzing with the "distraction" of these tiny hatchlings, turning every lesson into a hands-on lesson in nature and wonder.

As we head into the home stretch of the school year, be sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming spring events:

March 14: Jubilation  9 a.m. Start Time

March 20: End of 3rd Quarter

March 30: 8:23 Start & 2:30 Dismissal P/T Conferences

April 1: 2:30 Dismissal P/T Conferences

April 2-6: Spring Break (No School) 

April 7: School Resumes

April 18: Prom

May 17: Graduation  1 p.m.

May 21 & 22: Semester Tests 2:30 Dismissal

May 22: Last Day of School! 

Monday, March 30 @ 7 p.m.  -  East Gym 

Looking to see how we’re leveling up our athletic programs? Please join us Monday night for an exclusive look at our strength and conditioning initiative that students use before and during school and over the summer.

We are incredibly excited to share the details of a program developed by Zach Mathers, a Northwest Iowa native and the current Director of Sports Science and Strength and Conditioning at the University of Alabama. Bringing this elite-level expertise to our students is a game-changer for our athletic department.

What to Expect:

The Blueprint: An in-depth look at the science-backed training methods designed to take our athletes to the next level.

Live Demonstration: See the cutting-edge technology our students use to master their lifting form and track their progress in real-time.

The Vision: Learn how this program fosters discipline, safety, and peak performance for every student.

This is geared for parents and students in grades 8-11 but anyone is invited. 

Wednesday, April 1 @ 6:30 p.m. - High School Library

The Westwood Board of Education will host it's first public hearing on the FY2027 Budget during Parent-Teacher Conferences. We hope to see you there. 

While the students were away on January 5th, our educators were hard at work sharpening their skills. Our Professional Development day was packed with deep dives into new tools and strategies designed to enhance the daily learning experience across all grade levels.

🎓 Secondary Success (Grades 6–12)

Our secondary staff focused on curriculum mastery and collaborative growth:

Literacy Leadership: Teachers began a comprehensive book study to explore new instructional perspectives.

English Language Arts: Our 6–12 ELA team worked extensively with the CommonLit curriculum to streamline reading and writing assessments.

Mathematics Mastery: Math teachers gained proficiency in ALEKS, an adaptive learning platform that helps customize math paths for every student.

🍎 Elementary Innovation (Grades K–6)

Our elementary teams focused on building foundational skills and integrating modern tech:

K–2 Focus: Teachers specialized in Fact Fluency strategies to help our youngest learners build a rock-solid mathematical foundation.

3–6 Focus: Teachers set up and optimized IXL accounts, providing students with targeted practice in core subjects.

The Future of Planning: Jill Muenchrath led a session on Brisk AI, showing teachers how to use artificial intelligence to create more engaging, personalized lesson plans in less time. (Check out the photo of our team in action!)

🛡️ Spring Readiness

Across the entire district, all staff completed mandatory security and administration training for the upcoming ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) tests. We are committed to a smooth and secure testing environment for all students this spring.

This past fall, Westwood underwent a state-required Nutrition Review. We are pleased to report that the review went very well; our team addressed any minor items requiring attention immediately to ensure our program remains in top shape for our students.

Online Payment Convenience Fees

During this recent state audit, it was determined that the district is no longer permitted to subsidize online payment convenience fees.

Much like other digital payment platforms, these small fees are charged directly by the service provider to cover the costs of secure transaction processing. This change ensures that our meal program budget remains balanced and focused entirely on providing high-quality nutrition to our students.

We appreciate your understanding as we align our practices with these state requirements.

Helpful Reminders:

Alternative Options: To avoid online convenience fees, families are always welcome to send cash or checks (payable to Westwood Schools) directly to the school office.

Balance Tracking: You can still check your student’s meal balance online at any time, regardless of how you choose to pay.

For more information on our Food Services or to deposit funds, go to https://www.wcsdrebels.com/page/food-services

Hey Westwood families!

Pre-registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now OPEN for our preschool kiddos!

If you have a child who will be preschool-age next year, please use the link below to get them pre-registered.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Mrs. Shelby Siebersma. I’m happy to help!

We’re excited to welcome our future Westwood learners!

Online Registration Form

Jubilation now has its own website that has all their information in one spot. Click here to know what is happening on our special day of show choir: Jubilation  

Last month I read a book that I thought would be amazing for anyone with a child in this high tech world. The title is 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World by Jean M. Twenge, PHD. I found it at the Sloan Library but you can also find it on Amazon or other sites.

The title of each chapter sums up what you will learn about reading the book but a highlight I saw was a shocking 60% of kids used their phone between midnight ant 5 a.m. on weeknights. That data is from a study that tracked 11 to 17 year old phone use for a week. 

Chapters or "Rules":

Rule 1: You're in charge

Rule 2: No electronic devices in the bedroom overnight

Rule 3: No social media until age 16-or later

Rule 4: First phones should be basic phones

Rule 5: Give the first smartphone with the driver's license

Rule 6: Use parental controls

Rule 7: Create no-phone zones

Rule 8: Give your kids real-world freedom

Rule 9: Beware the laptop-and the gaming console and the tablet, and...

Rule 10: Advocate for no phones during the school day

Conclusion: You've got this