The Houston Independent School District recently spotlighted one of Westside's clubs with our very own Edith Gonzalez as its sponsor.  Here is an excerpt from the article on HISD's website.  Ms. Gonzalez makes us Wolf Proud and makes our new students feel so very welcomed! Thank you Ms. Gonzalez...

With the influx of international students enrolling in schools all over Houston Independent School District, one special teacher has created a program to ease this transition. A helping hand is what "The Westside Ambassadors Club" is all about.

Edith Gonzalez has been teaching at Westside High School for seven years now, and her students all agree that she is an extraordinary individual with a big heart. Student Omar Yozbaki, a junior from Iraq said, "At first I had a hard time adjusting to a new school, then my friend introduced me to Mrs. Gonzalez, and my worries disappeared."

With Gonzalez's guidance she introduces new students and pairs them up with a "buddy". For the first semester, a newcomer student has a friend to assist them with checking out their books, introducing them to their teachers, helping them locate the classrooms, getting their locker and ID, taking them to lunch so they have someone to eat with, and assisting them with homework. Basically, everything that can make their transition easier, with one goal in mind: success.

The club's motto is one that they truly follow, "Individually unique, together complete." The club is also involved in providing daily tutorial sessions during lunch. The junior and senior students provide peer support and assistance to the younger students with their homework assignments, projects and reviews for tests.

These English as a Second Language (ESL), students arrive from all over the world, and their educational journey is one they take seriously. Their mission is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's famous quote "Be the change you want in the world." With change comes challenge, and rigorous work.

As for Mrs. Gonzalez, she states that "Seeing these kids lights me up every day. Knowing you make a difference in life, you show up every day. Our goal is to succeed and that they succeed, that's our payoff."

To read the entire article please click here http://hisdmultilingual.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/individually-unique-together-complete/

Come be part of the fun at the 1st Annual Howl-O-Ween Color Fun Run/Walk 5K on Wednesday, October 29. Registration starts at 4:30 p.m., and races start at 5:30 p.m.

Come out and become a canvas as we kickoff the Homecoming Events! Register online at www.westsideathletics.net/form/12/ or fill out the attached registration form. 

A new student led group has been formed to bring a voice to all HISD students. The focus of this group is bring up student issues and concerns to help make HISD even better for students.

What does this mean for Westside? Currently, we are forming the group from Westside, so we are looking for interested students to become part of the congress and serve on various committees. All grade levels are welcome to join. 

How do you get involved? There will be a student interest meeting October 21, 2014 during A and B Lunch in room S144.  If you can't make the meeting or have specific questions, email our sponsor, Mrs. Garrett at SGARRET3@houstonisd.org.

Check out the website at hisdstudentcongress.org. Sign up and see all of the committees.

The district-wide PSAT will be administered this Wednesday, October 15. All ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders will report to their designated homerooms at 7:45 a.m., while twelfth graders will report to campus for their senior meeting at 9:30 a.m.

Calculators are allowed, but will not be provided.

For juniors, the test is a chance to qualify for scholarships. It is also a great opportunity for ninth and tenth grade students to get early feedback on their performances prior to taking the SAT.

After the test, students will have periods 5, 1, 3, and 7, in that order.  Their will still be two lunches. We will have a regular late start schedule on Thursday.

Come check out Westside's T-Pro Company production of "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940". Be prepared to expect the unexpected!

Shows start at 7 p.m., and run October 16-18. Buy tickets online, here.

On Saturday October 4, members of Westside HOSA helped bring awareness to breast cancer by participating in the Komen Breast Cancer Walk downtown. They walked 5 kilometers on a beautiful day.

Remember to Pink Out Westside this Friday, October 17. In a partnership  with the Outback Café, if you purchase a breast cancer awareness wristband, you receive $2 off lunch at the Outback on Pink Out Westside Day! Some of the proceeds go towards breast cancer research.