Nebraska History Day

Nebraska History Day offers academic programs that engage middle- and high-school students throughout Nebraska annually in conducting original research on historical topics of interest. These research-based projects are entered into contests at the local level, where the top student entries have the opportunity to advance to the State Contest at Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln. Top ranking state contest projects have the opportunity to advance to the National Contest held at University of Maryland at College Park.

The 2021-2022 theme is:

Debate & Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences.

Check out the contest dates HERE

Exhibit guidelines can be found HERE

Nebraska History Day Website:  https://www.nebraskanhd.org/

National History Day Website:  https://www.nhd.org/debate-diplomacy-history

Are you interested in exploring the vast and fascinating history of our great city?  Then read on!

Who:  7th and 8th Graders

What & Where:  Field Trip to The Durham Museum to explore the exhibit: Omaha Uncovered: Revealing History Through Art and Story

Click here for more information about the exhibit.

When: Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 9:30-1:00

There is room for 9 students on this field trip.  Please email Dr. Spady at spady dot lynn @westside66.net by Friday, October 29 if you are interested in attending.

The WMS Future City Team is forming now!  Do you have what it takes to make the world a better place?

The WMS Future City Team will imagine, research, design, and build a city of the future that showcases a solution to a citywide sustainability issue.  The 2021-22 theme is: “Waste Free Future”

If you are interested in joining the WMS Future City Team, send an email to Dr. Spady at :  s p a d y . l y n n @ w e s t s i d e 6 6 . n e t  by Friday, October 29.

https://futurecity.org/about

2021 Nebraska Severe Weather/Preparedness PSA Contest

If you are interested in this contest, please email Dr. Spady and we can meet during Warrior Time to come up with a plan.

The winter severe weather season is quickly approaching and it’s time for a new Nebraska Severe Weather Awareness/Preparedness Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest. The contest is sponsored by Nebraska Association of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service and the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of the PSA contest is to receive a variety of multimedia products from middle school students that promote preparedness, storm readiness, tornado safety, fire safety or other emergency topics.

The PSA contest is open to all seventh and eighth grade media classes in public and private schools and combined home school students. The infograms, short videos (3-5 minutes) and PSAs (30 sec. to 1 min.) should be on anything regarding preparedness including, home fire safety, home disaster preparedness (kits, plans, drills), safety tips for severe weather (tornadoes, severe winter weather, lightning, flooding)

The winning class infogram will receive $100, the winning class PSA will receive $250, and the winning class short video will receive $500. The prizes will be awarded to the teacher for use in the classroom.

Contest rules are as follows:

1. The contest is open to all middle school (seventh and eighth) media classes in public and private schools along with combined home school students in Nebraska. Please one entry per category per school.
2. Entries must be related to the theme of severe weather safety/preparedness and will be judged on originality, effort and accuracy. Entries may be a 30-60 sec. video PSA; a 2-5 minute Instructional video or digital image ensemble, Facebook cover image, educational infographic, etc.
3. Each school is encouraged to conduct the contest. All submittals are to be made electronically to knoxema@knoxcountyne.org by November 19, 2021 by a link to either YouTube or Vimeo. All submittals become the property of NAEM upon submittal.
4. Each entry MUST INCLUDE the following information:

All winners will be contacted by phone by December 20, 2021.

Any questions regarding the 2021 Severe Weather PSA should be directed to the local Emergency Management Director/Coordinator or to Laura Hintz (402) 288-5613, email knoxema@knoxcountyne.org

Contest rules and other information can also be obtained at the Nebraska Association of Emergency Management website at www.naem.us. Judging will be done in December by representatives of the contest’s sponsors:  Nebraska Association of Emergency Management, National Weather Service and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency.

Heads Up!

21-22 WMS Spelling Bee Details

• All 7th and 8th graders will take a qualifying spelling test in their LA class the week of Oct. 25

• The top 10-12 scorers on the qualifying test will be invited to participate in the District Spelling Bee on Nov. 12 in the WMS PAC

image source:  https://thenounproject.com/term/head-up/339589/

Attention 7th and 8th Graders

Have you ever wanted to have your own business? There are 9 spots available for students to spend a day at ESU #3’s Makerspace and Innovation Lab to help develop entrepreneurial ideas!

When:  Monday, September 27 from 9am – 2pm.  You will miss periods 2-9 so it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to check with those teachers to see what you’ll miss.

You will need to bring a sack lunch

Email Dr. Spady ASAP if you are interested.