COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
The season of giving is on full display at DC West as our staff, students, and families have contributed significantly in helping families in need throughout our communities. DC West families and kids raised $2465 in the Middle School Holiday Helper Campaign to assist multiple families with gifts for the holidays. DC West staff and students also assisted in packing 250 Holiday Food Baskets for COPE that were delivered throughout our communities on Saturday, December 18th. I am ever proud of our staff, students, and families in their generous support #TheFalconWay!

Happy Holidays,

Dr. Melissa Poloncic
Superintendent
(402) 359 2583
DC West Middle School and Fine Arts Addition Project
We have been working with BCDM Architects to finalize our design of the DC West Middle School and Fine Arts Addition to be built with the proceeds from the 2021 bond election. The addition will be a combination of the renovation of existing space as well as new construction.

The first phase of the project includes three classroom pod areas for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades along with specialized classrooms and a main entrance, front office, and drop off loop off of Pine Street.

The addition also includes choir and band rooms for middle and high school students. The Falcon Achievement Center that specializes in an alternate curriculum for some high school students will be moved from the portable building into the current superintendent's office with their own entrance. The district offices and a 500 seat auditorium for district wide fine arts will be in the northeast section of the addition. The auditorium and district offices will have adequate parking and a separate entrance from the middle school.

Boyd Jones Construction will solicit bids during the month of January and we will begin construction on the addition as soon as the ground allows in early spring.

A second phase of the project is the renovation of the current middle school building into new middle/high school locker rooms, weight room, cardio room, wrestling room, and training room.

The entire project is projected to be open the Fall of 2023.
Strategic Planning to Begin in 2022
Our district strategic plan was written in 2015 and updated in 2018.  A typical cycle for a strategic plan is approximately 5-7 years.  We had a target of updating our strategic plan last year, yet it was difficult to get off the ground with the continual limitations and demands of the pandemic.  We feel that we cannot wait any longer as our development as a district continues and leads us to new conversations about vision and goals.  We have searched for a process that we felt would do a great job of taking a very broad sweep at gathering stakeholder data and taking that into consideration when planning.  We will begin collaborating with NASB (Nebraska Association of School Boards) as they will facilitate the development of our strategic plan during the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.  All staff, students, and parents will participate in the development of the strategic plan through surveys.

We look forward to investing in developing this comprehensive plan that will direct our vision and focus in the years to come.  I encourage you as parents and community members to consider participating in the process as collaborators of this amazing school district! If you are interesting in serving on the strategic overview committee, please fill out this short form. Click Here


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Winter Weather Notifications
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.

  • We will not have virtual learning on snow/cold days.

  • 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.
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COVID19 at DC West

We have continued to update you weekly on cumulative positive cases of our staff and students at DC West. As a part of the monthly Community Connections, I will update you on the monthly cumulative positive cases from this school year in comparison to last year at this same time.

Data reported from August 18, 2021 to December 21, 2021:

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MISSION
Douglas County West Community Schools creates passionate learners by maximizing student achievement through dynamic learning experiences, which inspire and provide a quality education for all students, within a safe and community-supported environment.
Thank you for being great supporters of DC West Community Schools! Stay informed with Community Connections each month.
DC West Community Schools
401 Pine St, PO Box 378, Valley, NE 68064
PH: 402-359-2583
Fax: 402-359-4371