Category Archives: Learning Opportunities

3D Moving Background in Hopscotch

Learning Opportunities





Several students are “playing” and “branching” projects in Hopscotch, but we’re more interested in the “creating” part!  We know you have great ideas and we want to showcase your amazing creative talent!  We’ve shared a few projects on our wiki, but we want MORE!

Here is a new video tutorial on how to create 3D Moving Backgrounds for video games and other projects in Hopscotch.  Don’t forget all the other great tutorials too!

Paddleball – Instructions start at 28.30



If you create a project in Hopscotch, leave a comment with your name, school, and a description of what you created.  Someone will come to your school and video/take pictures of your amazing work!
Go Code and Create!

 

WCS Spring Break Enrichment Classes

Learning Opportunities, Parents, Spady Blog

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Sorry…All Classes Are Full

Sign up now for Spring Break Enrichment Classes!

During the week of spring break (March 30-April 2), four enrichment classes will be offered to 2nd-6th graders at Westside Community Schools.  All classes will be held at Westgate Elementary at 7802 Hascall St.  Click on the flier below to find class descriptions and times.  Classes are limited to 20 students so sign up today!

Click Here for the Flier

Poetry Seminar

Learning Opportunities

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On February 24th, there is going to be

a poetry contest for you and for me.

Write a poem of your own,

and perform it into the microphone.

Submit your original rendition

for a chance to attend the poetry competition!

Who:  Poetry Lovers in grades 3 – 6

Where:  Underwood Hills

When:  February 24th,  half-day seminar

What:  Write an original poem of your own, read it into the voice recorder on your i-pad, follow the instructions in the link below to submit your poem to your school’s EY coordinator by Wednesday, February 11th.

https://ey.westside66.org/wiki/pages/h3d9U7k6u/Poetry_Out_Loud.html?target=

Nebraska SciFest Essay Contest-Check back after Jan 1

Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests, Teachers

rain windy_5 small_snow Sunshine

Nebraska SciFest is sponsoring a writing contest.  Students in grades 4-12 can choose from a writing prompt an can enter a paper to be judged.

This writing prompts will be posted with this contest opens in after the first of the year, 2019 @  https://www.nescifest.com/participate/essay/

Essays must be postmarked by March 1.   For more details on the essay requirements, check out https://www.nescifest.com/participate/essay/ after the first of the year.

Good lucK!

Pictures taken from http://www.pdclipart.org

Breaking Barriers Essay Contest

Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests, Teachers

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The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest is a chance for diverse students in grades 4-8 to share their personal stories and how they use Jackie Robinson’s values to face their own barriers.

Details:  Write an essay about a barrier that you have faced. Explain how you faced this barrier by using one or more of Jackie Robinson’s Nine Values:

  1. Citizenship
  2. Commitment
  3. Courage
  4. Determination
  5. Excellence
  6. Integrity
  7. Justice
  8. Persistence
  9. Teamwork

Each essay should be at least 200 words long and not exceed 700 words
in length.  There is a limit of one entry per student. All essays must be factual and based on the student’s real-life experience.  Fictional stories will be disqualified.

Contest Deadline:  March 13, 2015

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You can read more about the essay requirements, official rules, and judging criteria by going to the website.

Science Olympiad Jan. 27, 2015

Learning Opportunities, Teachers

Science_Explosion

Announcing the 2nd Annual Westside Elementary Science Olympiad!

On Tuesday, January 27, 2015, one-hundred students (Grades 4-6) will be invited to attend the Science Olympiad at the Westside Community Conference Center.  All interested students should complete the edible vehicle brainstorm sheet.  Completed worksheets must be turned into classroom teachers by January 14th in order to be considered to attend the Science Olympiad.

Entries will be evaluated on creativity and effort.  Building the edible vehicle is not a requirement, however if a student is selected to attend, he/she has the option of building the vehicle and using it during an event at the Science Olympiad.

Check out the resources below for some ideas!

http://tinyurl.com/ediblecar

http://tinyurl.com/ediblecar1

Clipart Source: https://openclipart.org/detail/195741/science-explosion-by-scout-195741

Thomas Edison Invention Challenge

Learning Opportunities, Other Events & Contests

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6th-12 graders…Are you interested in a team-based, integrated/interdisciplinary, head and hands approach to learning?  Well the Thomas Edison Invention Challenge is for you!

Basic Rules:  

  • Get a team of 4 students
  • Register your team
  • Submit an essay or video answering the question: Who was Thomas Edison?
  • Receive a alternative energy kit and create a prototype
  • Document all your work
  • Present your work

The team registration is due by Dec. 8!  Click on the link below!

Deadline #1 – December 8, 2014 – http://edisoninventionchallenge.org/main/about/registration/

Deadline #2 – December 20, 2014 – Teams must electronically submit an essay, not to exceed 750 words OR a student created video. The essay/video topic will be “Who was Thomas Edison?”  NOTE:  3 minute Video submissions are preferred.

Deadline #3 – January 30, 2015 – Teams must submit electronic images of their design logs.  Powerpoint would be the preferred method to showcase your Notebook.

Mid February –  Teams receive an alternative energy kit

Deadline #4 – March 20, 2015 – Teams are to submit a PowerPoint presentation showing the build process.  See submission criteria included in this manual.

 Deadline #5 – April 10, 2015 – 50-60% marketing of your invention and its added value to society and 40-50% demo of a working model or explaining how you imagine it to work.

 Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organization or activity described here.  The sharing of this information is provided as a community service.

2014-15 District Spelling Bee

Spelling Bee

On Friday, November 21, the top 31 spellers from Westside Community Schools gathered for the District Spelling Bee.  Two spellers from each of the ten elementary schools and eleven spellers from the middle school participated.  After spelling transcutaneous and camelopard correctly, 7th grader Reese P. was determined the winner.  Graham W., 6th grader from Swanson, was the runner-up.  Reese will attend the 89th Midwest Spelling Bee on March 15th at the Omaha Public School Teacher Administration Building.

Elementary Winners:  
3rd Place:  Zach G. from Loveland
2nd Place: Andrew L. from Rockbrook
1st Place: Graham W. from Swanson

District Winners:
3rd Place: Justin S. from WMS
2nd Place: Graham W. from Swanson
1st Place: Reese P. from WMS