The Seaman Communicator

The Seaman Communicator
December 2013
Volume 30, Number 4
King Cluck & Queen Chickopatra
Using Chicken Pharaohs to Teach History and Science
An ancient civilizations unit is giving students a
hands-on look at life and death during the time of
the Egyptian pharaohs.
As part of a history project, sixth-graders at both
West Indianola and Rochester are performing
mummifications on chickens.
The project is a way to bring classroom instruction
and book work to life, according to West Indianola
teacher Lynne Pelton.
“This ties together pyramids, polytheism, the
afterlife. It’s so many concepts about Egypt and
what they believed,” she said.
Pelton has been performing
this project for 10 years, and
she’s not the only one.
Rochester teacher
John Wendlandt
has been doing
mummifications
for at least as
long. The idea
came to him
one day while
talking to other
teachers about
ways to better
engage students.
“We were in the
teacher’s lounge, and I
just thought ‘I wonder
if I can mummify
something’,” he said.
Wendlandt went online and discovered that
there appears to be an entire cottage industry of
classrooms across the country undertaking similar
efforts, based on the massive number of search
engine results for ‘chicken mummification.’
How could such an unusual project be that
widespread? It works.
“Students would never remember what they
learned if
we just did a
worksheet.
Hands-on is
always best,”
said Pelton.
Wentlandt
had similar
thoughts,
“It’s
something
hands-on,
Calli Jenson, Chloe Devlin, Sophie
Billings, and Lauren Richardson work on
something
mummifying their chicken.
that gets
them
interested, instead of me standing in front of the
class just describing mummification to them.”
How It Works
The mummification process is not a quick one.
To start, the internal organs have to be removed.
Egyptians did this themselves, but the students are
a bit luckier, the chickens come from area grocery
stores, so their internal organs have already been
removed. Students then ...(continued on page 2)
Seaman Events
(continued from page 1)...pack a salt and baking
soda mixture inside and around the chicken bodies
and place them in a sealed bag They are left to sit for a
period of weeks before being repacked a second time.
“This is a social studies project, but it’s also a science
project,” said Wendlandt. “We talk about the reactions
with the chemicals. There are always students who
think it’s going
to smell. We talk
about why it
doesn’t.”
Sage Nixon and Jacob Morrison
remove their chicken from its natron
bag.
After the chickens
have spent
enough time in
the bags, they’re
ready to be turned
into mummies.
Students use
lengths of linen
fabric or pieces of ace bandages and a paper mâchélike mixture as glue to wrap the chickens. In between
layers of the wrapping, students insert small amulets,
which were thought by the Egyptians to ward off evil
spirits.
Wrapping Up
After the glue
has dried, the
mummies
are complete,
and much like
their Egyptian
counterparts,
depending
on how they
were done,
Loren Baldwin and Sabien Sykes
will essentially
wrap their ‘pharaoh’.
last forever.
Wendlandt has one in his classroom from the year
2002.
Unlike Egyptian kings and queens, however, these
chicken pharaohs do not come with curses for those
who disturb them. While there have been reports of
strange muffled clucking sounds and odd movements
in the shadows at Rochester, most agree that it was
probably something else. The wind. Probably.
Friday December 20
Early Release
SMS: 11:00 AM
SHS: 11:05 AM
Elementaries: 12:15 PM
Monday, December 23 - Friday, January 3
No School - Winter Break
Monday, January 6
School Resumes
Tuesday, January 14
Districtwide Elementary
Spelling Bee
SHS, 9:30 AM
Job Opening
Part-time Bus Drivers Needed
Training Provided, Competitive Pay
Call the Seaman Transportation
Department @ 286-8440
Students in 1922. Photo donated to the museum by
47’ grads Duane & Bonnie Streeter Finson.
Seaman Museum
Open Sunday, Jan. 12, 2:00-4:00 PM
Seaman Education Center
901 NW Lyman Rd., 3rd Floor
Writing It Out
Writing Lab Comes to SHS
A resource common on college campuses has been
brought to Seaman High.
The SHS English Department has begun a Writing
Lab to help students improve their essays and class
papers. And much like college writing labs, much of
the help is peer-to-peer, one student to another.
for a conference focused on writing labs.
“It was almost all colleges. There was only one
other high school there,” said Scarborough.
Students Lead
Student tutors say the lab is going well.
“A lot of people want to improve their papers,” said
senior Mallory Searcy. “The feeling after you help
someone is great. They get really excited when they
get a good grade.”
Fellow senior Emily Worley agreed, “They have
good ideas. You just have to lead them in the right
direction.”
Boosting Scores
Mallory Searcy gives Chase Buhler some advice on a
paper while Tyler Weishaar works on an iPad.
“The best help I have had in writing ever! And that’s
the truth,” said Junior Jared Miller in a testimonial
posted on the center’s website.
The center is open before and after school and
during seminar block during the day.
Strong Demand
Scarborough said the center has exceeded her
expectations.
“Culturally we don’t write or talk perfectly. And we
send text messages. So naturally writing takes a
hit,” she said.
The writing center is a way to reverse that.
“This is a source of backup for teachers,” said
English teacher Barb Chamberlain. “It’s a way to
help kids do better.”
Faculty leader and English teacher Kate
Scarborough says it’s been very successful.
“We had 40 kids here last Wednesday,” said
Scarborough. “Initially I was giving extra credit for
students to come, but now I don’t need to. They
want to be here.”
While some people might reasonably question if
high schoolers have enough skill and maturity to
be involved in this type of program, the tutors have
all received special training, and there’s always an
adult there to give additional assistance if needed.
The training took place over the summer. Eight
students and four teachers traveled to Kansas City
Taylor Harrelson reviews an essay with Ashten Fund on
a laptop.
Shaping The Future
Seaman Engaged Statewide
I
From the Board
n the September issue of the Communicator
I said we were off and running. It appears
‘running’ really is the pace of this school year.
Here we are approaching the holidays and the end
of first semester already.
December brings an
opportunity for Seaman
School Board members
to attend the Kansas
Association of School
Boards (KASB) state
conference.
Many of you have
or are familiar
with associations
that support your
professions and organizations. KASB provides
yearlong publications, training, advocacy and legal
assistance that help the Seaman School Board
function effectively.
The district should be proud that two of our board
members have served in leadership roles for the
association. Frank Henderson is the current KASB
President and Fred Patton has served as president
in the past. Their volunteer commitment to public
education helps all Kansas school districts and
means our district needs are well-represented in
statewide discussions.
In Wichita this December, at the annual conference
school board members will have the chance to dive
deeper into conversations and learn more. This
year’s theme ‘Shaping The Future’ sets the tone for
the impact our choices have on public education.
As board members we want our decisions and
policy to be well supported with knowledge and
facts. It is with excitement that I prepare for two
days of workshops and conversation about public
education.
Workshops will include learning opportunities
about the facts and myths of common core
standards, re-engaging students, staffing formula
based on student needs, leadership, vision and
much more.
Not only are the workshops informative but the
conversation sparked with other Kansas school
district board members is extremely useful. Board
members are willing to share their success and
not successful stories with each other. This helps
our district avoid mistakes and saves funding and
time. It is also
an opportunity
to be very proud
of the Seaman
School District.
During the
conference
members review
and set the KASB
constitution.
KASB is a
strong and loud
voice in the
State of Kansas
Legislature,
influencing
Seaman Board member and current
Kansas
KASB President Frank Henderson.
education and
funding. As members we must give KASB staff a
unified picture of what Shaping The Future looks
like. This then guides KASB as advocates working
in our legislative and political arenas.
When you visit with one of your Seaman board
members in December please ask how the
conference went and what we learned that helps us
in Shaping the Future.
-Susan Fowler-Hentzler
Seaman School Board President
Construction
Alert
C
onstruction has started at North Fairview
Elementary. The first project from Seaman’s
2013 bond referendum was slated for
groundbreaking on December 3, and visitors will
see plenty of changes very quickly.
While most of the construction is on the south side
of the building, crews
are also expanding
North Fairview
North Fairview’s main
Info
entrance, off 39th St.
Original One-Room
Entrance Change
School Constructed:
1889
Starting when school
Current Building
resumes in January
Opened:
after winter break,
1958
North Fairview’s
Additions:
front entrance will be
1968, 1974, 1996
temporarily moved to
1958 Enrollment:
the east off Croco Road.
22
Longtime residents will
2013 Enrollment:
recognize this as the
316
location of the original
2014 Construction
entrance to North
Focus:
Fairview when the
Add 7 Classrooms &
current building first
Gymnasium, Remodel
opened in 1958.
Office Area
During construction,
the main entrance area
is being expanded to
improve the front office
and school security.
North Fairview
Timeline
North Fairview
Elementary
Construction at North
Fairview will take place
throughout the spring
school semester and
summer. Much of the
work from January
through May will take
North Fairview Project Manager Mike Gibson (right, in
hat) with Murray and Sons Construction goes over the
plans during a meeting prior to groundbreaking.
place in the evening hours to accommodate the
school day. The goal is for the new classrooms and
gymn to be ready to move into in January 2015.
Construction at North Fairview is being done by
Murray and Sons Construction of Topeka, which
was awarded the project by the Seaman Board
of Education after submitting the low bid of $4.1
million dollars.
Overall Bid Progress
Bid requests for Elmont and went out to
contractors in November, and by the time you read
this, will have been received for review by the
Seaman School Board. Bid specifications for West
Indianola are currently under review and will be
released to construction companies soon.
Expansion at Elmont and West Indianola will get
underway this winter, depending on the weather.
Construction at the new Seaman Middle School,
which has not yet gone out for bids, should begin in
the Spring.
The district has setup a webpage to track progress
on construction. Visit www.usd345.com and
click the ‘Construction’ link for more information
and updates. Throughout the building process,
highlights will also be posted on the district’s social
media pages, @SeamanSchools on Facebook and on
Twitter.
I
No Shave November for
Topeka North Outreach
t’s one of the more unusual fundraisers to
take place at Seaman High School: No Shave
November to benefit Topeka North Outreach.
Vinduska said the event turned out very welll, “I’m
thrilled. We got $1,500 for charity, and everyone
got a good laugh out of it.”
For a fundraiser that was largely tongue-in-cheek, it
brought in an amazing $1,500.
As to why a faculty member would agree to such
an unusual trim, even for just two days, it probably
helped that students wouldn’t be the ones wielding
the razors. The work was done by a professional.
Seaman graduate Laura (Middleton) Scott (‘89),
who owns Create Hair Studio at 21st and Urish,
agreed to donate her services. On the morning
of November 25, she spent more than two hours
sculpting beards at SHS.
For the month of November, a group of SHS faculty
members, including Principal Ron Vinduska, along
with a number of students, grew facial hair and
competed to see who could raise the most money.
Teachers Rick Brading and
Tim Hebert took the event
a bit further. Brading is a
big fan of the University
of Kansas, Hebert Kansas
For the last week of the month, a shortened two day State University. Both men
school week because of Thanksgiving,
committed to
For a
participants agreed to have their
having their
resulting beard shaved in unusual
fundraiser rival school’s
Teacher Tim Hebert,
ways – think 1970’s mutton chops,
a rabid K-State fan,
initials
etched
that was
removal of the left side of your beard
post-shave.
largely tongue- into their hair at
and leaving the right, or even having
the conclusion
the initials of your least favorite sports
in-cheek, it of the fundraiser. Brading grew a beard
team etched on your face.
for the month, but Hebert, who sports
brought in
The prize for the top money collecter
an amazing a beard year round, opted to grow
hair on top of his usually clean-shaven
would be to decide how Principal
$1,500.
head.
Vinduska would look.
“I didn’t think we were going to raise $500,” said
student
council
president
and senior
Clayton Smith.
“But once the
teachers got
into it it really
took off.”
During the
month, faculty
members and a number of students campaigned to
raise funds, rattling change jars around the lunch
room, with a few teachers even offering extra credit
points to students who donated.
Teacher Jay Monhollan having his
beard trimmed by Laura Scott.
While waiting for his turn in the barber’s chair,
Counselor Steve Alexander said he was glad to take
part, and also glad for the month to be over.
“It was for a good cause, and it’s good for school
morale. It’s fun to do things like this,” he said.
Title photo: Post-shave bearded students (l to r) Jacob
Wyer, Michael McElheny, Ethan Brunetti, Noah Pittman,
Kenton Schuh, Caleb Clancy.
The Best in Physical Education
Seaman High School has been designated a
2013 Model School by the Kansas Association
of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and
Dance (KAHPERD). SHS is only the second high
school in Kansas to receive the award.
(From left) Craig Cox, Claudia Welch, Mike Lincoln,
Abbie Carlson, and Tom Brian.
The program recognizes schools that provide
model physical education programs that other
districts could emulate. Winners are also
highlighted as either Gold, Silver, or Bronze
Star winners. SHS received a gold star award.
KAHPERD considers time spent in class, studentteacher ratios, curriculum, and professional
development in making their award decisions.
Over the past ten years, Seaman has made a
major commitment to Physical Education. As our
country faces increasing problems due to obesity
in adults and children, this award demonstrates
that USD #345 is making a difference.
The application for the award was submitted by
Claudia Welch and Abbie Carlson.
Students Help Needy Kansans
Seaman High School Students in Susan
Sittenauer’s Social Studies classes
collected items this fall for needy children
and donated multiple boxes of toys,
games, diapers, baby lotion, Barbies,
and Hot Wheels to the Kansas Children’s
Service League (KCSL).
KCSL is an organization dedicated
to providing services and advocacy
efforts that focus on keeping children
safe, families strong, and communities
involved. The students in the photo are
representing the hundred-plus Seaman
students who made a donation to the
KCSL.
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Mike Mathes, Ed.S., Superintendent
Seaman Education Center
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POSTAL PATRON
LOCAL
The Seaman Communicator
is published monthly during the school year
by
Seaman USD 345
901 NW Lyman Rd., Topeka, KS 66608
785-575-8600
www.usd345.com
Facebook: SeamanUSD345
Twitter: @SeamanSchools
Building The Future
The Payless ShoeSource Foundation has awarded
Topeka Habitat for Humanity a $50,000 grant
to benefit Seaman High School’s Habitat House
program. The award presentation was held at SHS,
with Payless CEO Paul Jones on hand to present
the check. Each year, SHS students build a home
as part of Construction Science Classes. This grant
will provide ongoing funding to the program,
which is now in its 18th year at SHS, and has been
replicated by other Topeka area schools.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Seaman USD 345 does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its
programs and activities and provides equal access to
the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The
Seaman USD 345 superintendent has been designated
to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination
policies and he may be reached by contacting Mike
Mathes, Seaman Education Center, 901 NW Lyman Rd.,
Topeka, KS 66608 (785-575-8600).
Notice for a Drug Free Workplace
The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing,
possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited
in Seaman USD 345. Violators will be prosecuted.