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The Student-Run News Site of Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Keeping you WIRED in to all things Westside.

Westside Wired
The Student-Run News Site of Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Keeping you WIRED in to all things Westside.

Westside Wired
The Student-Run News Site of Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Keeping you WIRED in to all things Westside.

Westside Wired
Ava Van Gelder

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief

Hi, my name is Ava Van Gelder! I am a co-editor in chief for Westside Wired this year. I am currently a senior and this is my fourth year on Wired. A fun fact about me is that I know how to sail. If you have any questions or comments, please contact me at [email protected].

All content by Ava Van Gelder

A Little Birdy Podcast: Part 1 of Our Goodbye

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
May 11, 2022

A Little Birdy Podcast: Long Time No See

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
March 9, 2022

A Little Birdy Podcast: Fighting Crime

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
February 3, 2022

A Little Birdy Podcast: Songbird

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
January 27, 2022

A Little Birdy Podcast: Goodbye Macaw

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
January 19, 2022

A Little Birdy Podcast: How to Be Funny

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
January 12, 2022

A Little Birdy Podcast: We’re Feeling ‘22

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
January 7, 2022

A Little Birdy Podcast: Unofficial Adulthood

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
December 9, 2021

A Little Birdy Podcast: Rewind the VCR

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
December 6, 2021

A Little Birdy Podcast: Pass the Cranberry Sauce

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
November 29, 2021

A Little Birdy Podcast: Aspirations

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
November 17, 2021

A Little Birdy Podcast: Grandpa Sweaters

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
November 11, 2021

A Little Birdy Podcast: Unmuted

Ellie Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
November 3, 2021

A Little Birdy Podcast: Read Our Minds

Elinor Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
October 27, 2021

A Little Birdy Podcast: The Pilot

Elinor Bowen-Keyes and Ava Van Gelder
October 21, 2021
Seniors chat to pass time during the six hour “Guard the Field” sleepover.

[Photo] Seniors Participate in Annual “Guard the Field” Tradition

Bekah Peters, Wired Staff Writer
September 6, 2021
Cheer and Dance Team will be holding their tryouts for next school year.

[Photo] Westside to Hold Cheer and Dance Team Tryouts

Samantha Marvin, Staff Writer
April 6, 2021
Westside Community Schools will switch to providing iPads for all students next school year. Now, elementary students have iPads while middle and high schools students have laptops.

[Photo] Westside Community Schools Announces 2021-2022 Switch from Laptops to iPads

Dan Magruder, Wired Staff Writer
March 10, 2021
The Social Studies IMC faculty recently participated in their annual chili cook-off.

[Photo] Social Studies IMC Hosts Annual Chili Contest

Kidus Tewodros, Wired Staff Writer
February 12, 2021
Westside Superintendent Mike Lucas and School Board President Kris Karnes are worried about Governor Pete Ricketts' new property tax plan.

Governor Pete Ricketts’ Property Tax Plan Concerns Westside Administration

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
January 25, 2021
The Mitchell House is currently in the process of being torn down, and the land will be used for additional parking spots.

Mitchell House to Come Down to Make Way for Additional Parking

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
November 20, 2020
Westside freshmen reflect on beginning high school in the midst of COVID-19.

[Photo] Westside Freshmen Reflect on Starting High School

Areeb Siddiqui, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
September 23, 2020
Westside Community Schools announced that the district will be moving into their COVID-19 yellow mode, meaning schools will be at 50% capacity beginning Monday, Nov. 30.

Westside Community Schools Plan to Move to 100% Capacity

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
September 10, 2020
Westside High School will open the first premier indoor golf center for a public high school in the United States.

Preview: Westside Swede Center to Open

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
September 8, 2020
The Westside Food Pantry held a food drive at Sunset Hills Elementary School on April 20 and 21 to help families in need.

Westside Food Pantry Holds Food Drive to Help Families in Need

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
May 4, 2020
Featured above is the current Westside School Board as well as Westside Superintendent Mike Lucas.

Westside School Board To Conduct Virtual Meetings Due To COVID-19

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
April 3, 2020
Featured above is the current Westside School Board as well as Westside Superintendent Mike Lucas.

Preview: Get To Know The Candidates Running For Westside School Board

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
March 23, 2020
Westside Board member Adam Yale converses with Westside community members at the monthly 'First Fridays Feedback' meeting.

Westside Superintendent Hosts Monthly First Fridays Feedback Meeting, Covers Various Topics

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
March 11, 2020
Members of Westside's district technology team present ideas to those present at February's 'First Friday Feedback' meeting.

Westside Board Of Education, Superintendent Host Monthly ‘First Fridays Feedback’ Meeting

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
February 18, 2020
The Westside girls lacrosse club hosted a free clinic for students at Westbrook's Elementary Hawkins Boys and Girls Club last Monday, Feb. 3.

Westside Girls Club Lacrosse Hosts Free Clinic For Hawkins Family Boys And Girls Club Students

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
February 11, 2020
With a recent donation from a Westside alumnus, Westside Community Schools Foundation is able to fund a new entrance being built at Westside High School.

Westside Community Schools Foundation Receives Donation For New Entrance

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
February 3, 2020
Westside Director of Communications and Engagement, Brandi Paul, and Assistant Superintendent Mark Weichel discuss the ACT prep class that will be offered to students this spring.

Westside Receives Donation To Offer ACT Prep Class This Spring

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
January 21, 2020
Westside Cheer is hosting a "Parents Night Out" on Friday, Dec. 6, where there will be pizza, games, crafts, and movies provided for the kids.

Westside Cheer Hosts “Parents Night Out” Fundraiser

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
December 6, 2019
Raymond Cich (left) and Chad Kracher (right) work in the print shop at Westside's ABC building and are a partnership that allowed Westside to win the Employer of the Year award.

Westside District Named Employer of the Year by Ollie Webb Center

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
November 22, 2019
Westside Chamber Choir meets and rehearses for their upcoming performance.

Westside Chamber Choir Performs At Conference For First Time In 20 Years

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
November 18, 2019
Westside students meet and discuss with Westside School Board member Doug Krenzer and Westside Director of Communications and Engagement Brandi Paul during the recent First Fridays Feedback meeting.

Westside Superintendent And School Board Host Third First Fridays Feedback Meeting

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
November 7, 2019
For Westside's CPA group's 'Socktober' fundraiser, high school students are encouraged to bring socks to their homeroom for the District 66 Clothing Closet.

Westside Cheer Parents Association Sponsors Socktober Fundraiser

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
October 30, 2019
Westside's BIONIC Club hosts their third annual 10/10 I care day.

Westside B.I.O.N.I.C. Club Holds Third Annual 10/10 I Care Day

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
October 11, 2019
Featured above is the theater class that the Hamilton technicians visited.

Broadway Musical ‘Hamilton’ Technicians Visit Westside Theater Class

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
October 4, 2019
Featured above are the six National Merit Semifinalists from Westside High School.

Westside Seniors Recently Qualified As National Merit Semifinalists

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
September 27, 2019
The African American History Club was recently formed and promotes a deeper understanding of African American culture.

Westside Student Establishes African American History Club

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
September 17, 2019
Westside Community Schools Board members Treasurer-Elect Doug Krenzer, Treasurer Kris Karnes, Vice President Adam Yale, President Dana Blakely, Secretary Dr. Megan Van Gelder, and Director Beth Morrissette at a school board meeting on January 8 last school year.

School Board Implements New “First Friday Feedback” Program

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
September 5, 2019

VIDEO AND STORY: Grand Opening Of Westbrook Elementary’s Hawkins Boys And Girls Club

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
August 28, 2019
Student Council officers for the 2019-2020 school year. From left to right: Lina Shukry, Dayzee Mayfield, Lindsay Tierra, Camillie Beaulieu and Dori Watanabe.

Student Council Elects 2019-2020 Officers

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
May 22, 2019
GSA Puts on Day of Silence

GSA Puts on Day of Silence

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
May 3, 2019
Westside High School will be offering summer school courses online this year due to COVID-19.

Notable Amount Of Westside Staff Leaving District This Year

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
April 30, 2019
Spread the Word to End the Word Encourages Inclusion at Westside

Spread the Word to End the Word Encourages Inclusion at Westside

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
April 18, 2019
Westside Sends Vocal Students to District Music Contest

Westside Sends Vocal Students to District Music Contest

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
April 10, 2019
DECA celebrates Thanksgiving together.

Preview: DECA Students Attend State Competition

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
March 14, 2019
Ink-credible Student Tattoos

Ink-credible Student Tattoos

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
February 21, 2019
Superintendent candidate Dr. Melissa Poloncic is interviewed by the Westside Community Schools Board of Education on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

District Superintendent Search Narrows to Two Candidates

Georgia Wimmer and Ava Van Gelder
January 17, 2019

The Process of Calling a Snow Day

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
December 14, 2018
What are Westside Students Thankful for?

What are Westside Students Thankful for?

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
November 26, 2018
Educational assistant Michele Hinde works on her computer at her desk in the Math IMC.

Michele Hinde: Educational Assistant’s Journey Before Westside

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
November 16, 2018
Michele Hinde works on her computer at her desk in the Math IMC

A Quick Look Inside the Lives of Some of Westside’s Hall Supervisors

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
November 1, 2018
First Black Leads Take the Stage in "Sister Act"

First Black Leads Take the Stage in “Sister Act”

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
October 3, 2018
Search Begins for New District Superintendent

Search Begins for New District Superintendent

Ava Van Gelder, Wired Co-Editor in Chief
September 12, 2018
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The Student-Run News Site of Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Keeping you WIRED in to all things Westside.
Ava Van Gelder