WHS CALENDAR 

Tuesday, October 15

Varsity Team Tennis Playoffs

@Seven Lakes HS 3 p.m.

  

Freshman Volleyball vs Westbury

@WHS 5:30 p.m.
 
JV Volleyball vs Westbury
@WHS 6:30 p.m.

 

Wednesday, October 16

PSAT  7:45 a.m.

 

Senior Meeting 

@Auditorium 9 a.m.

 

Varsity Volleyball vs Lamar

@Pavilion 5:45 p.m.

 

Thursday, October 17

WHS Theatre Production

"The Unvarnished Truth" 7 p.m.

  

Friday, October 18

Freshman Volleyball  vs Lamar

@Lamar 5:30 p.m. 

  

JV Volleyball vs Lamar
@Lamar 6:30 p.m.   

 

Varsity Volleyball vs Carnegie

@Butler 7 p.m.

 

WHS Theatre Production

"The Unvarnished Truth" 7 p.m.

  

Saturday, October 19

Wiffle Ball Tournament

@Baseball Field 8 a.m.

 

WHS Theatre Production

"The Unvarnished Truth" 7 p.m.

  

Click here to access the WHS Calendar for more events.   

FUN RUN & DOG TROT

The Westside Softball Team is hosting the Rise with the Pack 5K Fun Run on Saturday November 2, 2013.  There are events for the entire family, including the dog!  Click here for more details.

 

CHEER CLINIC

Join the Westside Varsity Cheerleaders for their annual clinic on Saturday, October 26, at Westside High School. Learn cheers, chants, stunts, jumps, and dances!  After learning the routines, cheer with the cheerleaders during the first half of the varsity football game at Butler Stadium as the Westside Wolves tame the Sam Houston Tigers!  For more information, click here or contact Margaret Carnett at mcarnett@yahoo.com 

or Coach Jennifer Davis at jdavis32@houstonisd.org.

POINSETTIAS

The Westside High School Music Boosters is holding its Annual Poinsettia Fundraiser that benefits the Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Color Guard programs.

Beautiful Red Poinsettias that are approximately 16" tall, with five to seven blooms per plant. They come in a 6-inch pot trimmed in green foil for only $15, each.  Furnished and lovingly grown by residents at The Brookwood Community.

Order from October 1 - October 25 by contacting Leslie Devillier at 713-724-1786.  Pick-up is at Westside High School on Tuesday, December 10, from noon - 8 p.m. in the foyer of  the Auditorium.
MUM IS THE WORD

The Westside Band Boosters is once again making Homecoming Mums for Westside students. These beautiful Homecoming Mums are custom made by band parents and come in three sizes:  15" (garter for the young men), 24" (friendship), and 36" in length.  A table will be set up in the Commons during lunch periods with order forms and mum samples.  Stop by during your lunch period to get more information, to pick up an order form or to turn in your order. The last day to order mums is October 23.

BUY ONE TODAY

Yearbooks may be purchased on-line by clicking here. 

 E-NEWS ARCHIVES 

The Wolf E-News archives are now posted on the Westside website. If you ever need access to an older edition for information or entertainment, you can now have it with the click of a mouse!  

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QUICK LINKS
OCTOBER 14, 2013
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
  • STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
  • PSAT
  • ASIAN-AMERICAN CAREER DAY
  • CHOICES CORNER
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: ADAM ZAVALA

"Run, Forrest, run!" is still one of the most memorable quotes from the 1994 movie Forrest Gump. For senior Adam Zavala, "run, bike, run!" is the mantra that can be applied to him.  
 
Adam is quickly gaining notoriety as an up and coming duathlete.  A duathlon consists of an athlete running a leg, followed by a leg of cycling and then another running leg in a format bearing some resemblance to a triathlon.  Adam has taken on this challenge with a vengeance. 
 
"Many people have asked me, how this began and I simply say, I wanted to do something that stands out," Adam said.
 
And stand out he did!  In August of 2011, Adam competed in his first triathlon (swim/bike/run) with only three weeks of training prior to the event.  Then, he competed in his first duathlon the following February, just one weekend after being involved in a terrible biking accident. 
 
After successfully completing these events, little did Adam know that two years later he would be representing the USA in Ottawa, Canada for the International Triathlon Union's (ITU) Duathlon World Championship, where he placed fourth in the Junior Elite Division. 

  

Adam has attended Westside since he was a freshman.  Not only displaying excellence in the classroom, Adam is also a three-year member of the Westside Swim Team under Head Swim Coach Craig Sikkema . 

 

"Not only is Adam a great swimmer he has good leadership qualities," Coach Sikkema said.  "He leads by example in practice by setting the bar high with his performances and works hard on a daily basis.  He is a great individual both in and out of the pool." 

 

Last year, Adam placed in the District 20-5A 200 and 500-yard freestyle events and is considered one of the top finishers for the same two events this year, with a good chance of going to the Regional Swim Meet.  


After graduating, Adam plans to go to Texas A& M and major in Kinesiology, but will still compete in duathlons.  His desire is to become a professional athlete.

 

"The path has been tough, balancing between school, work, training, and family, but I do what I love with no regret!" Adam said.  "My goals are to keep racing multistory events for the rest of my life, maintain my Junior Elite status, become a pro, and ultimately the Olympic Games!" 

 

Adam has this advice for others: "Get out and do something, who knows, maybe you'll excel!"

 

PSAT

This Wednesday, Oct. 16, all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will test in their homerooms.  

 

Students should be there promptly at 7:45.
Since this is a timed test, we must get started on time.


THINGS TO BRING:

  • If students choose to use a calculator, they must bring their own because the school will not furnish them.
  • Students must bring regular #2 pencils, NO MECHANICAL PENCILS MAY BE USED

This test is a strong predictor of student performance on the SAT.  Students will get their test book back with a detailed score report.  Scores will be distributed at the Parent Meeting in January.  

 

Juniors need to drop by A205 to pay for the PSAT before October 16.  The cost is $14 ($7 for students who are on Free/Reduced lunch.)   Cash or money order only. 

ASIAN-AMERICAN COLLEGE AND CAREER DAY
 
On Saturday, November 16, the HISD Asian-American College and Career Day for middle and high school students and their parents will be held at Bellaire High School from 8 a.m. to noon.

 

Students will have the opportunity to meet local Asian professionals in order to get their perspective on career opportunities and what it takes to succeed.  Asian-American professionals will share their own expertise with students, providing meaningful college and career-related advice. Parent sessions will be held in English, Vietnamese, and Chinese.  Registration details may be found at www. houstonisd.org/asiancareer.

CHOICES CORNER: TOBACCO TROUBLES 

Did you know that Nicotine is ranked as the most addictive substance known to man, rivaling heroin and cocaine? Did you know that tobacco kills more Americans than auto accidents, homicide, AIDS, drugs and fires combined? 

 

Nicotine goes from the lungs to the bloodstream to the brain within 10 seconds. Dopamine is released, activating the same reward pathways of the brain as other addictive drugs creating a euphoric feeling. It also causes an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, and flow of blood from the heart. When this happens, arteries narrow, and the carbon monoxide found in the smoke reduces the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. Does that sound fun to you?


The average age of first use is between the ages of 10-18. Smokers at this age cite fun, a cure for stress and boredom as their reasons for starting to use. Other reasons cited for tobacco use include peer pressure, desire to be accepted, curiosity, weight control or to look 'cool'. The truth is that nicotine is so addictive people can get hooked the first time. Then, the reason for use is to reduce the nicotine withdrawal symptoms. 


If you or someone you know is addicted, you can call 1-877-44U-QUIT or visit www.smokefree.gov to get help and support to break the habit.  

 

To learn more, contact the Choices Counselor, Ms. Parsley at mparsley@council-houston.org. 
We value your feedback!

Please direct comments or questions to Craig Malinsky
at cmalinsk@houstonisd.org.

Visit us on the web at www.westsidewolves.org.

It is the policy of the Houston Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of age, color, handicap or disability, ancestry, national origin, marital status, race, religion, sex, veteran status, or political affiliation in its educational or employment programs and activities.