COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

What an exhilarating first semester it has been at DC West, where our Falcons are truly soaring to new heights! We have a combination of talented students and dedicated staff passionately pursuing excellence across academics, athletics, arts, and activities and each day offers a showcase of hard work and commitment to improvement. A huge thank you goes out to our amazing community of parents and patrons—your unwavering support is the wind beneath our wings! As we embrace the journey ahead, I can't help but feel excited about the incredible achievements that await us. So, let’s keep the momentum going and continue to Rise Up Falcons!

Happy Holidays!

Dr. Melissa Poloncic

Superintendent

(402) 359 2583

mpoloncic@dcwest.org

DC West Student Achievement Results 2024

Annually, all of our DC West students take state tests grades 3-8 (NSCAS) and grade 11 (ACT). These rigorous grade level assessments with high expectations are given to all students in the springtime. In the fall, student levels of proficiency and school classifications of the Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow (or AQuESTT) are released. In this accountability system, the Nebraska Department of Education classifies school districts and schools as Excellent, Great, Good or Needs Improvement.

The 2024 Classifications for our schools are the following:

District ~ Great
Elementary ~ Great
Middle School ~ Great
High School ~ Great

The rating considers the achievement of the students on the NSCAS Grade Level Assessments among other areas. The data pictured above summarizes the proficiency levels of our DC West students in Science, Math, and ELA (English Language Arts) at each building.

Some points of celebration for DC West include:

Out of the fifteen assessments given to grades 3-11, DC West students outscored the Nebraska average on thirteen of them.
Proficiency levels in the Elementary (3-5) have increased 17% in ELA and 9% in Math over the last three years.
Proficiency levels in the Middle School (6-8) have increased 12% in ELA and 10% in Math over the last three years.

Areas of opportunity for growth include:

ACT Average Composite scores have remained steady and above the state average, yet proficiency levels in ELA, Math, and Science have declined over the past three years.
Chronic absenteeism has increased in the district over the past three years with 19% of our students district-wide missing 10% or more of school days in a school year.

As an objective of our strategic plan, we are always focused on rigorous curriculum and instruction that accelerates the growth of each student and are incredibly proud of the efforts of our staff and students in these results. You may view the statewide website of these results here.

What is Social Emotional Development and Why Do We Teach it in School?

Social Emotional Learning at DC West

An objective in the DC West Strategic Plan is to create and sustain a district culture that exemplifies and models high expectations for all staff and students while supporting the social, emotional, and mental health and well-being of students and staff. You may be hearing us talk about Social Emotional Development of students in our schools with this focal area. This is connected to compelling research that great educators and parents have always know, which is the success of young people in school and beyond is strongly connected to healthy social and emotional development. What does this mean? It means that we are always teaching and learning in three interconnected areas of social emotional development with our students:

Cognitive Skills that assist with memory, attention, flexibility, and planning to assist in learning and growth.
Emotional Skills that assist with managing frustration and emotions along with recognizing emotions in themselves and others.
Social and Interpersonal Skills that assist with resolving conflicts, cooperating with others, and working in a team.

There is a strong body of evidence that shows students learn more when they have these skills. The evidence also shows that these skills can be taught and developed throughout childhood, adolescence and beyond. This research gives strong importance as to why we would be spending time in this area with our students in our mission of "engaging, preparing, and empowering all of our students for the future."

Falcons On Fire!

Wow! Our activities and athletics have had an incredibly successful start to the year at DC West! Congratulations to all of our participating students, we highlight some of the highest honors. Click here for a full listing of results, team, and student honors.

DC West Softball Team

Conference Runner-Up

District Champions

Class C State Runner-Up

Finished #2 in State Class C

DC West Football Team

State Playoffs Qualifier

District Runner-Up

Middle School All State Chorus

800 students across the state auditioned, 275 chosen

DC West 27 students auditioned

5 selected

Sianna Fehlhaber

Morgan Albers

Lexi Draper

Nash Samson

Cameron Wurtz

High School All State Chorus

1402 students across the state auditioned, 440 chosen

DC West 14 students auditioned

4 selected

Grayson Kester

Will Bergsten

Austin Fletcher

Ezekiel Larsen

NMEA Orff Ensemble

98 students across the state chosen

DC West 2 selected

Riley Stillman (5th)

Edie Robinson (4th)

4 clinicians across the state chosen

DC West Music Teacher,

Kaitlin Beck selected

DC West Play Production

(One Act)

3rd Place at Class B Districts

6 students received All Conference Outstanding Performance Awards

8 Students received Districts Outstanding Performance Awards

Thank You PTSA!

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the PTSA for their generous investment of fundraising proceeds into the remarkable legacy gift of an outdoor classroom on the DC West Campus. This beautifully designed sheltered area, strategically located near our playground, serves as an incredible enhancement to our educational environment.

Thank You DC West!

At the recent State Education Conference in Omaha, I was honored with the Nebraska Superintendent of the Year Award by the Nebraska Association of School Administrators. I am proud that DC West will forever be a part of this list as the award signifies a dedicated and talented staff and Board who I am lucky to serve. I wanted to thank the many of you who have congratulated me and sent me kind notes. DC West is my home and my heart, congratulations to us! I will be honored to represent our great district and the State of Nebraska at the National School Superintendent Association Conference in March.

Winter Weather Notifications at DC West

As we move closer to winter weather, here are some reminders for our procedures:

A snow/cold day may be called the evening before or morning of inclement weather. A notification will be sent via email and phone call according to the contact information you have provided in Powerschool.

You may also check the local TV and news stations for an announcement. They are all notified but not all of them answer our late evening or early morning calls.

Two-Hour Late Starts may be used instead of calling a full snow day. School would begin at 10AM and all buses would run two hours later than usual. No breakfast or morning preschool would be available.