What's Happening:
Report cards have recently gone out and the final trimester of the school year has started. Spring Break officially starts Friday March 30th and many of the students are excited for a week to relax. Most of the important activities, such as ISTEP, have already been taken care of.
During this short week the Westside Boys Baseball team and Girls Softball team will have their first game. Girls and boys tennis has also started practicing.
Some sophomores, juniors, and seniors will be attending the annual HBCU College Tour held by James Piggy Sr. and James Piggy Jr. This tour gives them the chance to see historically black colleges and universities first hand while also receiving curriculum information and entrance requirements.
Every day this week, the senior student council will hold a movie night for students that would like to stay after school and catch the 6:30 or 7:30 bus. Snacks will be sold by the Cougar Cave (a store run by seniors), in the famous “Red Room.”
It is the time of the year when Mr. Appleman, the band teacher, will hold his annual talent show. He has already started auditions for the show. All students can participate and show off their talents, whether they dance, sing, draw, rap, or are talented in some other aspect. There will be three winners and each will receive a cash prize!
The Westside football team is also holding a basketball tournament for all grades to play against each other. Some administrators may even participate. Winners will receive cash prizes.
Student Spotlight:
Dash Shaw, a 5’7” 15-year-old sophomore at Westside Leadership Academy, is known for her position on the court.
Playing with McDonald's All American Dana Evans, the talented Shaw has endured some growing pains. Her most eye-opening performance came January 15, 2018 against South Bend St. Joseph. Dash scored 18 points on 9-for-9 shooting in the Cougars' 59-50 upset of the Indians.
"I knew coming in what I was supposed to do," Shaw said. "I knew the standards coach set for me. I was excited about being on varsity my first year and playing right away, but I don't think I've met his expectations. I've gotten better. My mindset is better. My skills are stronger, and I'm stronger mentally, too."
Shaw ended her sophomore year, and second year of high school basketball, averaging 22.2 points per game, 3.7 assists per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, 4.8 steals per game, and 0.5 blocks per game. With 26 games played in the 2017-2018 season she scored 576 points. Shaw has also been awarded “Player of the Game” 9 times since 2016.
She may be young but she is a force to be reckoned with!
The season may be over, but the work never stops. Shaw can be found every day after school at Westside Leadership Academy preparing for the 2018-2019 season.
Teacher Spotlight:
Mrs. Paige, art teacher at Westside Leadership Academy, has been working at Westside for over five years.
One of the many extremely kind teachers at Westside, Mrs. Paige is also known for her talent in the arts. She also has a husband who is the tallest man in the building, Mr. Paige, the science teacher.
On February 14,2018 Mrs. Paige was congratulated for applying and obtaining an exclusive Art Grant for her classroom and students. Fresh Artists expressed appreciation for Ms. Paige’s contributions to her community and awarded this grant.
Mrs. Paige is always encouraging her students as they develop their art. Every year Westside Leadership Academy holds an art show to display the student’s work. There are all types of work displayed at the show.
Mrs. Paige loves to paint and create. All over the school, you will see different art works whether paint, a bottle cap sculpture, and even a portrait of a cougar made out of pieces of hard plastic. These are all made by either Mrs. Paige herself or by her students.
Ms. Paige said, “My students feeling accomplished when they create a work of art or learn a new concept is the best part of teaching art. The joy they get in expressing themselves makes my job worthwhile.”
Mrs. Paige also likes to help out with anything she can. Every few years, she donates her hair to an organization to make wigs for kids.
What's Coming Up:
Currently, Westside Leadership Academy students and administration are enjoying a 10 day vacation, or Spring Break. Thanks to Good Friday, the school enjoyed an early start to their spring break. School will resume on April 9, 2018.
April marks 42 days left until the last day of school for students. During this month seniors are getting to work and finding out what school they will be going to in fall of 2018. With only 15 days until the senior luncheon, 35 days until Prom and 45 days left until graduation, everyone is fighting Senioritis.
The senior luncheon will take place April 27th at Avalon Manor Banquet Center, hosted by senior student council president D’Arnaz Gaston Jr. and vice president Adriana Harris.
The girls’ softball team will take on Victory Christian, East Chicago, Hammond High, Morgan Township, and more during the month of April and are hoping for a strong season.
Boys and girls tennis will also have their first game of the season in April.
On April 19th, faculty, staff, and students will attend the annual talent show held by Mr. Appleman the band teacher, in the auditorium. Students will get the chance to show off their talents and win a cash prize.
The boy’s football team will also host a basketball tournament in the school. It will be a 5-on-5 game for each grade. Freshmen versus sophomores and juniors versus seniors. The final two will play against each other. Administration may even team up to go against the final winner. It is going to be a game to see, with a viewing price of only $1 and all funds going towards the football team.