WHS CALENDAR 

Tuesday, January 14

 

Boys Basketball - Freshman

vs. Chavez @WHS 5 p.m.

 

Girls Basketball - JV

vs. Yates @WHS 5 p.m. 

 

Girls Soccer - JV

vs. Taylor @Brazoswood 5 p.m.

 

Boys Soccer - JV

vs. Bush @Bush 5:30 p.m.


PSAT - Parent Meeting

@Commons 6:30 p.m.


Boys basketball - JV

vs. Chavez @WHS 6:30 p.m.


Girls Soccer - Varsity

vs. Taylor @Brazoswood 7 p.m.


Boys Soccer - Varsity

vs. Bush @Bush 7 p.m.

 

Boys Basketball - Varsity

vs. Madison @Butler 7:30 p.m.


Wednesday, January 15

 

Wrestling - Varsity

vs. Katy & Cy Springs @WHS 5 p.m.


Girls Basketball - Varsity

vs. Chavez @Barnett 7:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, January 16 

 

Swimming

vs. Memorial @WHS 6 p.m.

 

Theatre Production

1940's Radio Hour  2 & 7 p.m.

 

Friday, January 17

 

Wrestling Tournament

@Justin HS 3 p.m.

 

Boys Soccer - JV

vs. Westbury @WHS 4:30 p.m.

 

Boys Basketball - Freshman 

vs. Westbury @Westbury 5 p.m.


Girls Basketball - Freshman

vs. Westbury @WHS 5 p.m.


Boys Basketball - JV

vs. Westbury @Westbury 6:30 p.m.

 

Girls Basketball - JV

vs. Westbury @WHS 6:30 p.m.

 

Theatre Production

1940's Radio Hour  2 & 7 p.m.

 
Girls Soccer - Varsity

vs. Brazoswood @Brazoswood 7 p.m.

 

Boys Basketball - Varsity

vs. Bellaire @Butler 7:30 p.m.

 

Saturday, January 18

 

Wrestling Tournament

@Justin HS 8 a.m.


Girls Basketball - Varsity

vs. Westbury @Butler 1 p.m.


Theatre Production

1940's Radio Hour  2 & 7 p.m.


Lacrosse - Varsity

Clear Lake Tournament

Chester L. Davis Sportsplex, 2051 Hwy. 96, League City, TX  


Monday, January 20


Martin Luther King Holiday

No School

 

Click here to access the WHS Calendar for more events.   

SENIOR NEWS
 
On Wednesday, January 15, seniors will be receiving order information for graduation announcements. These are the official Westside High School announcements and graduation invitations. 
 
They will be personalized with your senior's name and are optional for you to purchase.
 
Please be on the look out for this brochure on January 15. All orders must be placed the following week on January 23 and 24, during lunch. 
 
This will be the only opportunity to order WHS announcements. Please contact Ms. Kaylin Brett if you have any questions or concerns. 
POSSE SCHOLARSHIPS
 
These students were all selected as Posse Scholars and will be attending three outstanding universities. 
 
A Posse Scholar has earned a full tuition merit based leadership scholarship for their four years of education at their respective university. Each school selects a "posse" of 10 students. Over 850 students from the Houston area applied and four Westside students were selected as Posse 
 
Scholars for the class of 2014! This is an outstanding accomplishment as they had to complete three rounds of a dynamic interview process to demonstrate their leadership abilities. 
 
Once the students commit to the school, they begin an intensive leadership training to help them prepare to become the best leaders when they arrive on campus in the fall of 2014. 
 
Westside is proud to partner with the Posse Foundation and are thrilled to have Posse Scholars from the graduating classes of 2013 and 2014.  Please join us in congratulating these students in their pursuit of excellence!
 
Ana Llamas - Bryn Mawr College 
Emma Wu - Bryn Mawr College 
Molly Wu - Colby College 
Lawrence Garvin - University of Texas - Austin
COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE
Open House
Come see what is going on at Westside at our Community Open House on January 23.  

The program starts at 6:30 p.m., but there are early-bird tours and informational sessions on various programs at 5:30 p.m.

Immediately following the program, there will be an interactive session with members and sponsors of clubs, organizations, sports, and other programs.
WATER POLO

The 2014 Westside boys & girls Water Polo Meeting is Thursday, January 16, 2014 @ 3:30 p.m. at the pool.

This meeting will last 20-30 minutes and it is a "MANDATORY" meeting for students who are planning on playing Water polo this season.

Discussed will be fees, necessary paperwork, suit & shirt sizes and the upcoming season.
DEADLINE EXTENDED

The deadline for ordering a yearbook has been extended to January 23, 2014. Click here to order today!
FACEBOOK

The Westside facebook page is better than ever!  Drop by and catch up on events through pictures and posts.

Don't forget to like us.  Click here to go right now! 

 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!  

JOIN OUR LIST

Click Here to Join
Our Mailing List

QUICK LINKS
JANUARY 13, 2014
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
  • STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
  • FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
  • CHOICES CORNER
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: GRACE ESTRADA
History was made Saturday, January 11, as junior Grace Estrada was selected to the Texas All State Band. This honor makes her Westside's first instrumental music student to achieve this honor.
 
Although she spends countless hours each week practicing her bari sax, she wasn't expecting to earn this honor.
 
"I couldn't believe it!" Grace said. "My mom was excited, too, but she doesn't fully understand what this means in the music world."
 
This places her in the top 5% of band students across the state of Texas. This also means she will be highly recruited by schools of music at top colleges and universities from across the country.  Grace plans on studying music performance at the University of Texas, University of Houston, Sam Houston State, or Indiana University.
 
"I just hope to make a change," Grace said. "Whether it's teaching a student or putting a sax in a symphonic orchestra."
 
Students have been preparing material since August and must finish at the top of their respective instrumental sections at the region and area levels to advance and be selected for the All State Band. 
 
"It has really given me confidence," Grace said.
 
In February, she will participate with other All State musicians from across the state of Texas in a four day clinic and concert experience where she will work with some of the most prestigious conductors/educators in the country.  
 
Grace enjoys exploring her other artistic feelings through drawing, painting, and singing. If you think she only has a flare for art, you're wrong.  Grace is also a varsity wrestler, so she can perform on the mat, too.
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: HELEN TRAN
At the December HISD Board meeting, Westside's very own Helen Tran was announced as the HISD Employee of the Month for January. 

At the board meeting, Principal Stewart was able to say many kind words about Helen's service, but they just touch the surface as to what she truly means to the people on Westside's campus.

"Helen is such a joy to work with," athletics secretary Cindy Moses said. "She is serious about her work, but always inclined to give you a big old smile and lots of encouragement about what you are doing."

Helen started at Westside as an IT intern in 2001 and was promoted to the IT specialist for the campus shortly after her internship. Last summer, Helen was promoted to business manager.

"Helen is fearless," ESL Department Chair Edith Gonzalez said. "She takes on any challenge and continually works to improve herself and the opportunities she brings to Westside."

Although her official roles have changed, she won't refuse a request for help. Many teachers said whenever they need help, Helen makes herself available.

"It is not in her DNA to leave someone without a solution," English teacher Brenden McBride said. "Helen Tran is what is best about public education. She is a great professional and human being."

The award is truly an honor for Helen and it is well-deserved.  She is extremely selfless."

"I want to give good customer service," Helen said. "Helping faculty and staff makes a better experience for the students."

Helen sees the big picture and knows that an effective school benefits its students. With kindness and a team-player attitude, everybody is better with her around.

"Helen has the best interests of the students always in mind," Assessment & Instructional Coach Carolyn Klein said. "She works hard to help the teachers because she knows that we can take care of our students better when we are taken care of."

Her commitment to the campus and everybody on it is astounding.

"If you look up " dedication" in the dictionary, you will see Helen's picture," Communications Department Chair Heather Davis said.

Without her, the day to day functions would not run so smoothly.

"Helen is committed to how the school functions," Senior Coordinator Kaylin Brett said. "She is the one person you can always count on, no matter what the issue.  She will never hesitate and she will always follow through.  She keeps this school together!"

With so many demands, Helen finds a way to help everybody.

"She has always been willing to work with me no matter how busy gets," Pride Coach Brooke DeMartino said. "She is efficient and organized and I am so happy to work with such a smart and talented lady."

From one side of the building to the other, Helen makes the rounds.

"Helen is always 'Johnny-on-the-spot' and helps everyone," English teacher Jane Hall said. "She is tireless and keeps Westside in working order."

Helen's touch is felt all over.

"Her highest calling is to create an environment that will help the faculty do the best for our students," economics teacher Dr. Debbie Savage said. "Helen has been a rock since the beginning."

Basically, Helen takes care of everybody and tries to push others to do their best, just as she does.

"Helen's work ethic sets the bar for me as a teacher," science teacher Thomas Galliguez said. "Her willingness to put in extra hours, to be flexible, and to perfect her craft inspires me to demonstrate that same effort and investment in my students."

Helen works hard with those around her to make a better place.

"She does great work not for accolades, she does great things because she is a great person," Math teacher Peter Anderson said. "Helen is amazing for all the things we are aware that she does which makes Westside run, but there are just as many things behind the scenes no one ever sees." 

Although it might sound like she is a machine, she is a kind, caring person with a smile.

"Helen's expertise, patience, and attention to detail are the reasons I love her professionally," Dean Cherl Byrd-Williams said. "Her warmth and thoughtfulness are the reasons I love her as a friend. She is a God-send to Westside!"

The admiration of the Westside family around goes beyond what is written here.

Social Studies Department Chair Donna Patch said that Helen is an angel. Math teacher Deborah Brown is touched by how Helen "personalizes everything." 

The bonds that Helen has formed with her colleagues ou plentiful and strong.

"She has a heart of gold," forensics teacher Jay Phillips said. "Helen has been my trusted colleague, mentor, and friend. She models work ethic, team spirit, and kindness to the entire Westside team."

To the staff, she seems to be super-human, even showing a few super powers now and again.

"She has gone over and above to help me get what I need, even when I don't know exactly what I need," STEM teacher Laurie Schlaudt said.

Helen is truly exemplifies servant leadership by working for others.

"The students and staff could not ask for a better, harder-working, or more dedicated person to be their first and strongest advocate," Debate Coach Richard Whitrock said. "She works tirelessly for Westside and everyone here, and thoroughly deserves to be employee of the month, every month."

The Westside family is proud that Helen has been recognized for her hard work, leadership, and loyalty to Westside and HISD. Although this award is an honor, it does not adequately reflect the Westside Family's appreciation for her. 

You can catch a video spotlight of Helen's award here. 
CHOICES CORNER: TOBACCO'S COMEBACK

Did you know that nicotine is ranked as the most addictive substance known to man, rivaling heroin and cocaine? One drop of pure nicotine can kill a person. 
 
Furthermore, nicotine goes from the lungs to the bloodstream to the brain within 10 seconds. So why do so many people use it in cigarettes or smokeless tobacco? What we do know is that 1 in 3 youth smokers will eventually die from a tobacco-related disease (source) and that is just one reason why the Choices topic for January is "Tobacco's Comeback". 
 
Products such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), hookah, snus, and dip are popular tobacco trends with our youth today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of U.S. middle and high school students who use electronic cigarettes more than doubled from 2011 to 2012. Altogether, more than 1.78 million middle and high school students nationwide had tried e-cigarettes. E-cigs are battery-powered devices that provide doses of nicotine and other additives to the user in an aerosol. They are not marketed for therapeutic purposes and are currently unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration. This is frightening due to the staggering number of teen users.

For more information, click here to visit my staff page.  
 
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.