USD 210 Newsletter
Transcription
USD 210 Newsletter
USD 210 Newsletter VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.USD210.ORG 205 E. 6th Street Hugoton, KS 67951 620-544-4397 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Cook is new 2 0 5 2 elementary administrator Elementary 3 focuses on School Safety Weeks ACT scores 4 showing steady improvement Middle School 5 focusing on Keys to Success New teacher round-up 6 7 Board of 8 E . 6 T H S T R E E T F A L L 2 0 1 3 Safety of our students is of utmost importance in Hugoton schools For the past five years, USD 210 has focused its efforts on ways to both improve its educational facilities and make the district — and the community — safer for students and their families. The real push for improvement began thanks to community support in the form of new buildings. “In November 2008, Hugoton voters overwhelmingly approved a $21 million bond issue,” said Superintendent Mark Crawford. “The 85,000 additional square feet of facilities has been a great addition to student learning, and it allowed us to more conveniently feed our middle school and high school students as well as close lunch for high schoolers.” “Our new Early Childhood Development Center relieved crowding issues at the elementary, and gave us the opportunity to offer all-day kinder- “We want parents and patrons to be assured that we are doing all that we can to ensure that USD 210 has safe and secure schools.” — Mark Crawford garten for the first time and expand preschool,” he added. Student safety While obviously an important boost to learning space in the district, the extra room has also increased safety for all. “The new facilities allowed us to build two FEMA storm shelters and safe entrances at most of our schools,” Crawford said. “Last year we were all greatly saddened by the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings and also the Moore, Oklahoma, tornado. We want parents and patrons to be assured that we are doing all that we can to ensure that USD 210 has safe and secure schools.” Some of the safety features include: Visitors to most school buildings are not allowed entry until office personnel assess the situation and grant access. The Hullaballoo Room in the ECDC is a tornado shelter that meets FEMA tornado structural guidelines for designation as a tornado shelter The new wrestling room behind the older part of the high school serves as both a student tornado shelter for students in grades 7-12 and also a community tornado/storm shelter after school hours and on weekends. Education Meeting Information Speaker talks 8 about importance of life choices Some of the specifications on the Hullaballoo Tornado Safe Room include: Roof Deck is 5" thick reinforced concrete on oversized roof joists designed to support tornado debris or even a vehicle if necessary. Walls are a minimum of 12" thick reinforced concrete block. The room was designed for a storm shelter occupancy of 485 people Concrete footings as wide as 5'-6" support the walls around the room Special doors with 3-points of latching at each door PAGE 2 Cook is excited to join Hugoton Elementary administrative team “I love working NEW FACES with students and helping them through difficult transitions of life, guiding them through the tough stuff!” — Ms. Cook . Kristen Cook, the new Student Support Administrator at Hugoton Elementary, may be new to Hugoton but she is not new to Kansas nor to education. “Growing up in North Central Kansas, I had two parents who were both teachers, and early on, they taught me the importance of a quality education,” Cook said. “They both worked hard to instill qualities in our family that would support public education for many decades to come.” Originally from Abilene, Cook grew up in the area and graduated from Chapman High School. She holds a bachelor’s in business communication from Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe, and a master’s degree in counseling from Regis University of Colorado Springs, Colo. “I have lived the past seven years in Colorado Springs, where I had worked as a human resources manager for four years at an Association for Christian Schools and also as a youth sponsor at my church,” Cook said. “I then decided to go get my master’s in counseling so that I could work with children and adolescents and their families in dealing with issues in their lives and be better equipped to help them process through them.” Regarding her subsequent high-quality work opportunities, Cook added, “I feel well-prepared to work with students as my experience in counseling and my other volunteer experiences Ms. Kristen Cook have put me in places to learn so much about kids’ lives.” Cook plans to be married in December, and her fiancé teaches weights and physical education at Hugoton High School and also coaches football and wrestling. “I’m so excited to be here at HES and working with the staff and administration,” she said. “My new position has brought about some exciting opportunities and changes here, and I’m looking forward to being able to get to know all of the students and settle into my new job quick- to cook and bake, as well as read or watch old movies. “I have a few hobbies,” she said. “I can play the piano and sing, and love to do that when I can, but I also enjoy knitting and crocheting. I’m a huge fan of the Colorado mountains and will spend most of my free time traveling there to enjoy so many things about them.” She is enjoying her new role as part of the Hugoton Elementary School administrative team. “I think HES is such a wonderful place for students to learn, be challenged, and discover who they are, as I have seen teachers and staff enthusiastic about teaching and helping them learn and grow,” Cook said. “I can tell that the staff and teachers love working with the kids and want to see be successful Cook students in their future lives. “I am excited about this opportunity to share my passion to serve the community and our school, and to share my expertise in counseling and psychology with the district,” she said. “[Hugoton Elementary] is such a wonderful place for students to learn, be challenged, and discover who they are…” — Kristen ly. I love working with students and helping them through difficult transitions of life, guiding them through the tough stuff!” In her spare time, she likes Check out our website! www.usd210.org USD 210 NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 Early Childhood, Elementary focus on teaching various safety skills Both Hugoton Elementary School and the Early Childhood Development Center have set aside two full weeks this year to focus on learning and practicing important safety skills. The first “School Safety Week” was held Aug. 26-30, and the next one is planned for Jan. 610. “With one School Safety Week each semester, we get practice on many different aspects of safety,” said Principal Tiffany Boxum. In August, School Safety Week kicked off with Bus and Bicycle Safety on Monday. Hugoton Chief of Police Courtney Leslie visited with the students about bicycle safety, and bus drivers educated the children on bus safety. “We even practice an evacuation plan off the back door of the bus in case of emergency,” Boxum said. Tuesday featured Fire Safety and a fire drill. On Wednesday, faculty and students practiced a lockdown drill. “A lockdown drill is when we practice what happens if an intruder tries to access the school,” Boxum said. “We practice the possible steps that could be taken so that everyone knows what to do if we are ever in that situation.” Thursday was the personal safety drill, where students and teachers learn and practice what to do if an incident occurs outside and they are on the playground or on school grounds, she said. And the week finished on Friday with a tornado drill. The Hullaballoo Room at the ECDC is a FEMA tornado shelter, which holds a maximum occupancy of 485 people. Pedestrian safety Throughout the year, the schools will also focus on pedestrian safety. Teachers rotate on crosswalk duty before and after school to help make sure students cross the streets safely, and a traffic pattern map (see below) has been distributed to all parents so they know how the drop-off and pick-up traffic procedures work around the HES and ECDC campuses. PAGE 4 Hugoton ACT scores show steady Trend data shows ACT scores have risen steadily over the past five years. increase over past five years Scores on the ACT test taken by Hugoton High School students have been on the rise, according to high school counselor Brittani Mahan. “We received our five-year trend data, and the scores have steadily improved over the course of those five years,” Mahan said. “We are very excited about that!” She attributed the increase in test scores to many factors. “Last year’s senior class was a strong class academically, and that’s one reason why,” Mahan said. “But we also have several things in place that help our students succeed on the ACT: 1) Mrs. Hagenah facilitates an ACT Prep class as an elective for high school through our Edgenuity Program; 2) We also have received free ACT practice study guides from ACT, which I gave to 10th through 12th graders; 3) Studying on their own is an option; and 4) Offering the ACT at our high school on the October test date helps, as kids are more familiar with our school and that helps ease test anxiety.” Hugoton High School Principal Gregg Errebo said a larger number of students are now taking the ACT than in the past. “Our numbers have increased over the past few years,” Errebo said. “More of our Hispanic students are taking the ACT, which is a good thing.” Mahan said the strength of the HHS curriculum is also a factor in the rising test scores. “The classes that we offer help our students do better,” she said. “We offer a lot of upper-level science, good solid math programs, and have excellent and dedicated teachers.” Hugoton Five-Year Trends Average ACT Scores Average ACT Math Scores by Course Sequence 23.0 20.6 19.3 16.4 13.0 Value added by mathematics courses Students who take a minimum of Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry typically achieve higher ACT mathematics scores than students who take less than three years of mathematics. In addition, students who take more advanced mathematics courses substantially increase their ACT mathematics score. USD 210 NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 Middle School focusing on ‘Keys to Success’ this year Throughout the school year, Hugoton Middle School students will be focusing on this year’s theme, “HMS: Your Key to Success.” “We are teaching students to be focusing on four ‘Keys to Success,’ one per nine-week period,” said HMS Principal Lance Custer. The Keys are: 1) Responsibility 2) Respect 3) Persistence 4) Pride “If students are observed by a teacher or adult going above and beyond using one of those qualities, they will get a Key to Success card. Those students’ names will be put into drawings for iTunes gift cards each nine weeks. Safety at HMS Custer said student safety is of utmost importance at HMS. “The entrance to the office is now locked, and visitors must be buzzed in by office personnel,” he said. In addition, safety drills are conducted on a regular basis. “We use the FEMA shelter for at least three tornado drills a year, we have monthly fire drills, and we have lockdown drills twice a year, with different levels of lockdown to practice,” Custer said. The crosswalk and pedestrian safety is also an area of concern, he said. “We have been making our students aware to use the crosswalk, and have teachers present during those times,” he said. “In addition, the parking lot has one-way traffic, entering on the east and exiting on the west, which helps with pedestrian safety.” Hugoton High students practice safety drills, attend Stuco camp, learn leadership skills As with all USD 210 schools, safety is of utmost importance to administrators and faculty alike. “Our FEMA shelter is not only important to the school, it is important to the community,” said Principal Gregg Errebo. “This summer with the fire in Moscow, we had a lot of people come and spend the night in our shelter. It was a nice place of safety for those in our community and surrounding area that needed it, and the people were great.” Errebo said the FEMA shelter gets use as a public tornado shelter outside of school hours as well, especially by those who live near the school. “We also have tornado drills three times a year, monthly fire drills, and lockdown drills — two announced and one unannounced,” he said. “We do our best not to disrupt learning, but it is important to understand what we need to do in case of an emergency, like an intruder in the building.” Adding to the overall safety of the school is the buzzer system on the high school, a system that is being expanded. “We are adding safety doors to the Ag Building and to the older section of the high school that will enhance our safe environment,” he said. Student leadership Errebo is now the HHS Stuco sponsor, and is excited about a good start to the year. “My kids do such a good job of welcoming new kids and including them,” Errebo said. “I feel good about where we’ve started this year. We have some good, new, young teachers, and our enrollment numbers are pretty steady.” Mr. Merritt, assistant principal and football coach, is teaching a weekly leadership class to student council during seminar. “We do our best to identify leaders and promote leadership,” Errebo said. “We sent three kids to Stuco leadership camp in Emporia this summer. With around 500 of the best kids in the state in one place, there are bound to be good things that rub off on them.” The students who went to stucco camp were Bradley Campbell, Jackie Garcia, and Katie Weaver. “They are a great team, ready to lead our school,” Errebo said. “I think it’s going to be a great year,” he added. “We have good kids with great qualities. If they do things the right way, they have a chance to make Hugoton High School a special place this year.” PAGE 6 USD 210 new Rita Edmonds Rita Edmonds teaches English and Language Arts at Hugoton High School. Originally from the Leavenworth area, she graduated from Lansing High School, and holds two bachelor’s degrees in secondary social studies and secondary English language arts from Emporia State University. “This is my first job,” Ms. Edmonds said. “I student-taught at Tonganoxie Middle School.” In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with friends, playing with her dog Zuko, playing card and board games, and watching “Firefly.” “The people here are very friendly, welcoming and helpful,” she said of her new city. “My students are pretty amazing!” Melissa Sullivan New kindergarten teacher Melissa Sullivan grew up in Hugoton. After earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Fort Hays State University, she taught first grade in Dodge City for two years. She and her husband Kenny have one daughter, Elodie, age 6 months. Her hobbies include spending time with her family and reading. NEW FACES Becky Sohm Becky Sohm, new second grade teacher at Hugoton Elementary, is no stranger to Hugoton schools. Years ago, she was a school psychologist working in Hugoton. “It feels like coming back home to be teaching here,” Mrs. Sohm said. After growing up on a farm south of Rolla and graduating from Rolla High School, Sohm earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and both master’s and Specialist in Education (Ed.S) degrees in school psychology from Emporia State University. Later she earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Oklahoma Panhandle State University. “I returned to live in the area in 1998 after completing graduate school at ESU,” she said. “I worked as a school psychologist for High Plains Educational Cooperative for four years, then taught general psychology as an adjunct faculty member for Seward County Community College for 12 years. This is my first year teaching elementary school.” She and her husband Greg have been married for 17 years, and have two daughters, Aspen, fifth grade, and Carissa, second grade. Her hobbies include reading and traveling. ‘Like’ us on Facebook! In our continuing effort to increase the effectiveness of communication with our parents and community, we invite everyone to visit the new USD 210 Facebook page, and click “Like” to keep updated on our district! USD 210 NEWSLETTER While on our Facebook page, please notice the Commenting Guidelines post for assistance and feel free and en- couraged to contact the Facebook administrators via email at [email protected] . PAGE teacher round-up 210. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, traveling, walking, fishing, and For new going camping. Her significant other is fourth grade Casey Settlemyer, and her parents, brothteacher Tina er, and sister all live in Maryland. A&M, earning a bachelor’s degree. Salmans, “I love Hugoton so much! The people She taught elementary school for the are wonderful and it’s a great place to teaching at past eight years at Permian Basin of Tex- live!” she said, adding with a wink, “I Hugoton is as, and taught at Andrews, Texas, before just wish we had a little more shopping literally that. “coming nearby.” McSpadden and her husband have home.” She been married for 14 years and have two was raised in children, Malori, age 12, seventh grade; Hugoton and graduated from Hugoton Savannah Thomas and Jyles, age 9, fourth grade. High School in 2000. Born and In her spare time, she likes to watch “Hugoton is great,” she said. “It’s raised in college football (“Go, Red Raiders!”), where I grew up!” Hugoton, watch baseball, play golf, hold movie Salmans holds a bachelor’s degree new sixth parties with her family, and watch her and an associate’s degree, and taught grade ELA kids grow and participate in activities. sixth grade in Emporia for seven years. writing “My family and I really enjoy “My primary focus was on literacy teacher SaHugoton so far,” she said. “Everyone has with interventions in both math and readvannah been extremely nice and helpful.” ing,” she said. Thomas atShe and her husband Greg have two tended the children, Olivia, age 5 and in kindergarUniversity of ten, and Blake, age 2. Greg is a nurse at Beth Kansas and the local medical clinic, and she is the Wilcher graduated daughter of Ted and Judy Heaton. Perhaps with her In her spare time, she spends time the new bachelor’s degree in education in 2012. with family “just hanging out and listenteacher farShe will complete her master’s of sciing to music.” thest from ence in ESOL in December 2013. home is Eliz“Before I returned to Hugoton, I lived abeth Wilchin Olathe and was completing my student MistyMcSpadden er, fourth teaching year,” she said. “I spent the first High grade. semester at Bonner Springs High School school biol“I grew teaching government and World War II ogy teacher up 30 miles history. The spring semester was spent Misty north of Baltimore, Maryland, about with the Kansas City, Kansas, school McSpadden halfway between Baltimore and Philadel- district at Argentine Middle School comes to phia,” she said. “I attended Coastal Caro- teaching seventh grade Kansas history.” Hugoton lina University in Conway, South CaroliIn her spare time, she likes to travel, from her na. I lived in Myrtle Beach while attend- garden, cook, and write. Thomas has a native Texing school.” cat named Sophie. Both of her parents as. She Wilcher holds a bachelor’s degree in still live in Hugoton and her younger grew up in elementary education with a minor in brother lives and works in Kansas City. Miami, sociology. She graduated in December “Being back in Hugoton is strange Texas, and 2012, and did her student teaching stint and has been an adjustment from life in a attended just before moving to Hugoton. She also city, but it isn’t that bad,” she said with a Texas Tech University and West Texas served as a substitute teacher at USD smile. Tina Salmans NEW FACES Look for more new teacher profiles in the winter newsletter! 7 Students practice letter-writing skills Students in Tonya Hill’s class spent a few weeks practicing writing letters, and mailed them to local veterinarian Dr. Baughman, who visited the classroom and answered the questions in person, much to the delight of the students! HUGOTON USD 210 BOARD OF EDUCATION USD 210 Hugoton Stephanie Heger, President Martin Daharsh, Vice-President Don Beesley, Todd Gayer, Barry Hittle, Paula Rowden, Matt Mills DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT Hugoton Schools will ensure academic achievement for all students. This will be achieved through: Relevant educational opportunities Rigorous coursework An environment built around caring Relationships Agendas for the Hugoton Board of Education meetings are published in the Hugoton Hermes and available at the Central Office and all district attendance centers on Friday, prior to the Monday Board of Education meeting. Board of Education meetings are generally scheduled the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please call the Central Office at 620-544-4397. The general public and patrons of the school district are werlcome to attend Board of Education meetings and building site council meetings. Please call the Hugoton Central Office (544-4397) for times and dates of these meetings. USD 210 Central Office 205 E. 6th Street Hugoton, KS 67951 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Permit No. 4 Hugoton, KS 67951 Postal Customer LOCAL