October 2015 - Tonganoxie USD 464

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Inside this issue...
Superintendent’s Corner .................. page 1
Did you Do Something Kind Today? . page 2
Padfield Wins National Award........... page 2
Teachers of the Year...........................page 3
Tonganoxie Education Foundation....page 4
TES News............................................ page 6
TMS News.......................................... page 8
THS News........................................... page 9
Dates to Remember
October 13
End of First Quarter
October 14
No School
Conferences
12-4pm, 5-8pm
October 15
No School
Conferences
4-8pm
October 16
No School
District Buildings Closed
Superintendent’s
Corner
Welcome to October
2015
Welcome to the 2015-16 school
year in the Tonganoxie School
District. As I enter my second year to
this district and school community,
I cannot express how excited I
am to begin building meaningful
relationships
with
students,
staff, parents and patrons. The
Tonganoxie School District has a
great reputation! It is extremely
important that we continue working
together collaboratively to provide a
rigorous, caring, and well-rounded
education that meets the needs of
each and every student.
Our school district is governed by a
seven-member Board of Education
elected by the patrons of our
district. We are fortunate to have a
committed and collaborative Board
that sets a vision for the Tonganoxie
School District. Our goal is to put
practices and procedures in place
to support a strategic plan focused
on:
•Academic
excellence
and
learning
•Student personal health and
development
•Transparent accountability
•Fiscally responsible governance
1 October 2015
October 2015
We are so fortunate to have
patrons who support our schools
and children.
This community
is strong has steadfast support
from parents and patrons in the
classrooms and beyond through Big
Red, athletics, music, debate, FFA,
backpack programs, community
service projects, and many other
activities. What an honor it has
been to open our new elementary
school and observe our 800 young
people enter the doors to a new
and wonderful school building.
The students and teachers are so
very appreciative of your support of
them. Please mark your calendar
for October 24 for the Dedication
of the new Elementary building. A
brief dedication will take place at
10:00am by the TES flagpole.
Our staff was thrilled to welcome
near 2,000 students on August 20
in anticipation of another positive
and productive school year. I, too,
am thrilled for the coming year, but
I am also honored to serve your
Superintendent of such a tradition
rich and caring community. By
working together as an informed,
engaged, and caring school
community, we will continue to
achieve our district mission.
District Newsletter
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Did You Do
Something That Was
Kind Today?
Dan Hopkins, President
Tonganoxie USD 464 BOE
Imagine that every parent in our
Tonganoxie community asked their
child this question at the end of the
school day or at the supper table or
before their child went to sleep.
Our schools do all they can to
teach and encourage kindness and
to discourage bullying. My son’s
teachers at THS have gone far
beyond their job descriptions to instill
the ideals of inclusion and openheartedness among their students.
My boys have attended all the schools
in USD 464, they are all committed to
encouraging good citizenship. And I
have often pondered what more can
parents do? How can I reinforce the
character building that he is learning
at school?
My son could easily be picked on
and excluded, he is different. He is
biracial, an Asian American, one
of only a few in our district. He will
hear a racially insensitive remark on
occasion, he will be the butt of a joke
at rare times. We have taught him
to be proud of who he is and to be
respectful of others, to be kind. He
has power in personal confidence
to overcome any negative words or
actions. To ignore them, to bless his
antagonists, and to be kind to them.
Overwhelmingly he is accepted and
included in his school.
I can teach my son about kindness.
I can teach him how to create the
world that will include, nourish and
cherish all people. I want to build on
what he is learning at school. I want
him to help bring an inclusive, caring
community into existence.
And so, I have begun asking him every
day when we sit down to talk about
his school day, “What did you do
that was kind today?” I ask him if he
saw anyone who needed kindness,
and I suggest how he might be kind
tomorrow. Further, I intentionally
model kind behavior and I talk about
that behavior with him. We as adults,
as board members, as community
members, parents, supporters,
we need to model kindness so our
children know what is good.
Will you join me?
Would you like your child to be
excited in telling you he helped
his classmate, he encouraged
someone, he showed compassion or
forgiveness to someone?
Son, what did you do that was kind
today? 
Padfield Wins
National Award
U. S. Representative Lynn Jenkins
visited Tonganoxie High School in
early August to present Mark Padfield
with the Safe Sports School First
Team award through the National
Athletic Trainers’ Association. Firstteam awards are given to schools
that have all recommended and
required elements of a safe sports
school. Second-team awards go to
schools that have completed only
required elements.
Tonganoxie
High School is just one of a handful
of Kansas schools to have the firstteam distinction. THS also received
a banner denoting its distinction as
a first-team school. Joining Padfield
and Jenkins at the ceremony at the
THS gymnasium were THS principal
Mark Farrar, Superintendent Lyn
Rantz and school board president
Dan Hopkins. Several THS coaches
and student-athletes also were on
hand for the ceremony.
This isn’t the first award for
Mark Padfield. He was named
the 2011 Gatorade Secondary
School Athletic Trainer of the
Year for District 5, which covers
Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri,
Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota
and North Dakota.
Padfield
also helped to write the Kansas
State Department of Education’s
competencies for three courses
in sports medicine and athlete
care as part of health science
curriculum. Mark also serves
as the President of the Kansas
Athletic Trainers’ Society.
Congratulations to Mark Padfield! ■
2 October 2015
District Newsletter
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Tonganoxie teachers
celebrated during
Teacher of the Year
regional banquet
Two Tonganoxie teachers were
honored on September 13 at
the Kansas Teacher of the Year
Region 2 banquet, held Sunday at
the Ramada Hotel and Convention
Center in Topeka.
Tina Breedlove is a 5th grade
teachers at TES. She has taught
at TES for seven years. Tina
receive her Bachelor of Arts from
University of Kansas and her
teacher licensure form University
of Statin Mary. Ms. Breedlove
wants her classroom to empower
her students and make them
believe they can learn and are
ready to do so. According to
Tina, “the greatest reward found
in teaching is the most apparent
to me when I have been able to
motivate a student to investigate
his/her world in ways that satisfy
a natural curiosity that extends
beyond required coursework”.
Tina is convinced that each child
has different strengths that must
be built upon. Congratulations
Mrs. Breedlove on this award.
Kathy Harrell is in her 29th year
of teaching.
She received her
Bachelor’s degree from Sterling
College and her Master’s Degree
from Emporia State University
Kathy says the first goal in her
Tonganoxie
Education
Foundation
Academic Awards
Breakfast
Each year, the Tonganoxie Education
Foundation honors students for
academic excellence by hosting
the Academic Awards Breakfast
on the Saturday of Homecoming
weekend.
classroom is to explain the rationale
behind her subject because “we are
more motivated to put forth our best
efforts toward a task if we understand
the purpose of it”. Connecting the
subject to its influence on the world
today is essential is every lesson
she gives. Kathy holds herself
personally accountable to grow as
a student of educational pedagogy.
Her philosophy for her classroom
is the following: “Helping kids feel
valued, noticed, and respected at an
age where many of them feel just the
opposite is incredibly gratifying as
rewarding for me.” Mrs. Harrell was
awarded the Region 2 Semi-Finalist
Teacher of the Year. Congratulation
Mrs. Harrell on this award. ■
3 October 2015
In previous years, the Foundation
honored students in grades 4-8 who
scored Exemplary on the Kansas
Assessments. Due to the cyberattack during the 2013 Kansas
Assessments, there were no scores
reported state-wide.
Therefore,
the Foundation elected not to have
Academic Awards Breakfast.
The
Tonganoxie
Education
Foundation is dedicated to
honoring our students, so instead
of canceling the breakfast another
year, the Foundation elected to
honor all students in grades 5-8
who achieved Honor Roll status
during the 2014-15 school year.
There is no honor roll for 3rd grade,
so this year’s 4th graders could not
be included in this achievement
list. The Tonganoxie Education
Foundation held the Academic
Awards Breakfast on Saturday,
September 19, 8am-9:30am,
at Tonganoxie Elementary. The
Foundation hosts this breakfast to
honor students, but to also serve
as a fundraiser for the Tonganoxie
Education Foundation to support
its programs including those
honoring student achievement,
student scholarships, and teacher
classroom grants. Many students
were honored, and the event was
enjoyed by the honored students
and their families. ■
District Newsletter
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Tonganoxie
Education
Foundation Hall of
Fame
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENT
SUSIE PARMER
Dora I. “Susie” Parmer graduated
from Tonganoxie High School in
1955. After graduation, Susie
held a leadership position in
the Kansas Register of Deeds
Association and she served on the
Kansas Real Estate Committee
and chaired the committee at the
appointment of then Governor
John Carlin. Susie has been an
active member of the Tonganoxie
United Methodist Church since she
was a child. She was instrumental
in helping the Salvation Army have
a presence in Tonganoxie during
the Christmas season. For years
she organized groups to help ring
the bells at various locations in
the community. Susie has been
an active member of Chapter
A.T. PEO and of the Order of
Eastern Star #82. She was also
a member of the Saturday Club
in Leavenworth. Susie’s children
David and Dina are graduates of
Tonganoxie High School; David in
1976 and Dina in 1979. She has
four grandchildren.
TONGANOXE
HALL OF FAME
The Tonganoxie USD 464 Education
Foundation is pleased to induct
the sixth class into the Education
Hall of Fame. Criteria considered
by the selection committee include
outstanding service to the district
by teachers, administrators, and
staff; outstanding contributions
to education in our community
by school board members and
other citizens; and outstanding
contributions in the field of
education by alumni. The Alumni
Achievement Award is given to
a graduate of Tonganoxie High
School who has demonstrated
outstanding
achievement
in
areas such as career, community
involvement, service, and family.
Each honoree will receive a
plaque during tonight’s induction
ceremony and another plaque is
on permanent display in the lobby
of the Performing Arts Center at
Tonganoxie High School. Here are
this year’s honorees:
worked for Standard Oil Company
and then later for United Missouri
Bank. She married E.M. “Okie”
Parmer in 1957.
Mr. Parmer
served as a deputy sheriff for
Leavenworth County.
He was
killed while working an accident in
August of 1960. Their son David
was two years old at the time and
their daughter Dina was born that
November. Susie had an interest
in politics and served as a precinct
committee member and worked
the polls at elections. She ran for
Leavenworth County Register of
Deeds as a Democrat in 1966 and
won. Susie was re-elected twelve
more times with strong bipartisan
support. She served as Register
of Deeds for a total of 33 years.
Susie served for many years
as Leavenworth County Central
Committee precinct person. She
served as a state officer in the
Women’s Democratic Club. Susie
attended a number of National
Democratic Conventions.
She
4 October 2015
EDUCATION
JOAN GRUNDEL CRONEMEYER
Joan Grundel Cronemeyer is a
1949 graduate of Tonganoxie
High School. Later that year she
married Jack Cronemeyer, a 1947
graduate of THS. The couple had
four children, all of whom graduated
from Tonganoxie High School; Sonie
(THS class of 1968), Jack (THS class
of 1970), Trish (THS class of 1971),
and Jeanne (THS class of 1975).
Joan began working for U.S.D. 464
in 1970 as the secretary for the high
school. She was a mentor for many
students during her years of service.
Joan had a wonderful skill of keeping
the office organized and helping the
administrators to make efficient use
of their time. She was pleasant to
all who came into the office and
she had a knack for keeping her
composure even when things could
get a bit hectic. Her duties over the
years included handling the finances
of the office and managing student
transcripts. Joan retired from the
school district in 1994.
District Newsletter
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PAT WAKEMAN
KATHY KAPELLE WALKER
Pat Wakeman grew up in Wathena,
Kansas. After graduating from
Kansas State University, Pat
began his teaching career in
science at Tonganoxie High
School in 1969. For forty-one
years Pat taught a variety of
science classes at THS. He also
taught college credit biology for
KCKCC at THS until retiring in
2010. From the beginning of his
teaching career, Pat served as
sponsor of the THS Science Club.
He helped the club organize a
number of community service
projects such as the Adopt-aHighway Program and planting
trees in Chieftain Park and other
areas. The Science Club also took
many field trips over the years
to the mountains in Colorado,
museums in Chicago, zoos and
parks throughout the Midwest,
and to the Boundary Waters
of Minnesota and Canada. He
helped establish the nature trail
south of THS. Pat also served as
sponsor for the school archery
club and T-club. He helped to
organize the first knowledge bowl
team at THS. During his teaching
career Mr. Wakeman was an
active member of TEA and KNEA.
He served as a board member
for the Kansas Association for
Conservation and Environmental
Education for ten years. Pat
also served as an officer for the
Kansas Association of Biology
Teachers. He was nominated
for Kansas Biology Teacher of
the Year. Mr. Wakeman was
presented the Conservation
Educator Award by Mid-America
Conservation Districts. He also
served as an assistant coach
for track, football, and wrestling
at THS. He helped organize the
first wrestling team at the school
in 1970. Pat’s wife Deniece is
a 1969 graduate of THS. Their
daughter Jocelyn graduated from
THS in 1997 and their son Ian
graduated from THS in 2000.
Kathy Kapelle Walker grew up in
Baldwin, Kansas. After graduating
from Kansas State University, Kathy
began her career in education as
a Home Economics teacher at her
alma mater, Baldwin High School.
During her two years at BHS, she
also served as sponsor for FHA and
Cheerleading. Mrs. Walker began
her forty year career at Tonganoxie
High School in 1974 as a Home
Economics Teacher and sponsor
for FHA. After teaching here for
three years, Mrs. Walker earned a
Masters Degree in Counseling from
K.U. She then began serving as one
of the Counselors at THS, a position
she held for thirty-seven years.
Mrs. Walker served as sponsor for
FHA/FCCLA for twelve years and
as sponsor for the Dance Team for
six years. She was instrumental
in organizing the annual academic
excellence banquet and she worked
closely with the National Honor
Society for twenty-eight years. Mrs.
Walker directed the THS Scholarship
program for twenty-five years and
she played a key role in growing the
number of scholarship opportunities
for students. She coordinated the
KCKCC Dual Credit program at THS
for eighteen years and she served
on the district curriculum committee
for nine years.
Mrs. Walker
supervised state testing for THS.
She also helped with team meals,
Project Graduation, and After-Prom.
Mrs. Walker received the U.S.D.
464 Outstanding Educator Award
in 2001. She also received the
Kansas VFW State Teacher Award
in 2011. Kathy and her husband
Dale have been active members of
the Tonganoxie Christian Church for
many years. She has also served
as a 4-H Project Leader and she
is a member of PEO-Chapter AT.
Dale and Kathy’s three children are
all graduates of Tonganoxie High
School; Kristan (Class of 1995),
Brandon (Class of 1998), and
Kerilyn (Class of 2002). They have
eight grandchildren with number
nine due in October. ■
5 October 2015
Germ Free
Classroom
Minimizing the risk of illness is
a healthy idea. Below are some
ways to keep our classrooms
and school healthy, all year long.
Educate your children and make
them aware of their part and
responsibility in helping keep our
school environment and themselves
healthy. Well-maintained schools
not only minimize the spread of
germs and illnesses but they also
make students, school personnel
and parents feel safe, valued and
respected.
• Always cover coughs and
sneezes. Teach children to cough
into their elbows.
• Keep hands away from the
eyes, nose and mouth.
• Wash hands often! Put sticky
notes around to remind everyone.
Children can remind one another
too!
• Learn how to keep your
mouth off the drinking fountain
and these should be cleaned
daily.
• Don’t share water bottles,
hair brushes, or make up.
• Exercise! It keeps the
immune system healthy.
• Sleep. Nothing cures and
readies the body more than
sleep.
• Backpacks.
Wash
your
child’s backpack every weekend.
Have a safe and healthy school
year. ■
District Newsletter
TES NEWS
Grandparents’ Day
TES celebrated another successful
Grandparents’ Day on Friday,
September 11. Hundreds of
grandparents came from near
and far to spend time with their
grandchildren in their classrooms
and activities during the afternoon.
TES students and staff enjoyed
hosting the grandparents in the
spacious, bright, and cheerful new
elementary building. 
about different physical features of
our community, the government,
history of the town, and how local
attractions bring families to our
town. We will finish our unit with
a trip to the Tonganoxie History
Museum in October. ■
Touring Tonganoxie
This week has been an exciting
week for our third grade students.
Our classes ventured to downtown
to visit local merchants, and
businesses. We learned about our
current local government, how
firefighters and police officers
protect our community, and visited
with other businesses that provide
goods as well as services for our
town. This field trip is incorporated
into our History of Tonganoxie unit
that we teach each year. Students
spend time researching and reading
6 October 2015
Stockman’s Super
Stars
Ms. Stockman’s students are off
to a great school year! Students
investigated the concepts of
Newton’s laws of motions and
worked on a hands-on activity to
put them to the test. They also
discovered engineering concepts
of structures that make them
strong. We are combined these
concepts into an interactive game
where students experimented by
creating their own version of the
popular game Angry Birds. Student
teams created math problems
(using
different
operations),
designed catapults and structures,
then tested their hypothesis for
their project design. After testing
(competing), students reflected
and made modifications to their
creations and retested. This was a
fun way to use the scientific method
in an engaging and challenging
way. ■
District Newsletter
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TES News Continued
Spotlight on 5th
Grade Student
Council
Mrs. Gurwell & Mrs. Welsh together
sponsor the 5th grade student
council teams. All together there
are over 90 5th grade students
participating on student council.
These students are wonderful
examples of students learning the
value of hard work and service.
Here are the five teams:
Braves Friends – Mrs. Welsh
& the Friends members love
opportunities to welcome new
students and be a good friend to
others.
Braves News Team – Mrs.
Gurwell heads up this group
which is responsible for school
communication.
Members
collect
information,
write
announcements, and anchor the
daily announcements.
Braves Patrol – With Mrs. Gurwell’s
help,
this
group’s
primary
responsibilities are to help in
the car loop during arrival and
dismissal. Braves Patrol members
will also monitor hallway behavior
and help students get to class.
Braves Serve – Mrs. Welsh heads
up this group which provides
essential services to the school
community.
Responsibilities
could include recycling, assisting
with the Backpack Buddies food
program, reading to younger kids,
and coordinating the Mayor’s food
drive.
Braves Spirit – With school spirit
on their side, Mrs. Gurwell & this
group love making posters for
upcoming events, encouraging
school spirit by coordinating spirit
week and helping out PTC at school
events such as sock-hop, etc. ■
News from TES
Guidance Lessons
During the month of September,
TES students were learning all
about what RESPECT means.
Students were able to meet Austus
the lion, who is TES’s respect
puppet. Austus the lion helps
teach students that respect means
treating others the way you want to
be treated. Respect is also a school
wide expectation and students can
earn Braves tickets for showing
respect throughout the building. ■
Constitution Day at
TES
5th graders were divided into two
teams for “Constitution Kickball”
at TES. 1/6 of the students were
put on a team (picture on the right)
while the other 5/6 were put on a
team (left). The bigger team was
given several advantages that the
smaller team wasn’t. The goal was
to show students how the Virginia
Plan was unfair to smaller states
and why the Founding Fathers
chose the New Jersey Plan.■
7 October 2015
Volunteer Luncheon
The volunteer luncheon, hosted
by the Volunteer Center, has been
moved to October 6 due to the
Book Fair. Everyone is welcome to
attend and learn about the things
that the Volunteer Center does for
teachers and students. Contact
Earleta Morey for more information
at 913-416-1480. ■
TES Book Fair
Tonganoxie Elementary Book Fair is
Coming !!!
Wed. October 14th
11:00 am thru 8:00 pm
Thurs. October 15th
3:00 pm thru 8:00 pm
This is during
Parent Teacher
Conference. The Students will have
a seek preview of the Books on
Monday and Tuesday of the same
week.
This is always a fun time for
everyone, and there are a lot of
new books. ■
District Newsletter
TMS NEWS
Constitution Day at
TMS
Constitution Day can also be thought
of as the birthday of the Constitution
of the United States. To celebrate,
the students in Mrs. Crowley’s
class baked a birthday cake. The
students read a recipe and worked
in pairs to follow the steps. After the
cake cooled the students were given
the task of decorating the cake with
something they learned about the
U.S. Constitution. A few choose to
put the year the constitution was
signed. ■
enjoyed learning and spending time
together. It was a great day! ■
Warriors Win
Eudora Volleyball
Tournament
Spirit Week at TMS
TMS has spirit, yes they do! TMS
celebrated homecoming week by
participating in spirit week. The
TMS Student Council developed the
schedule, and students dressed up
to show their spirit!
Monday- Nerd Day
Tuesday- Twin Day
Wednesday- Hat/Jersey Day
Thursday- Retro Day
Friday- Red/White Day. ■
On September 26, the 8th Grade
Lady Warriors took 1st place at the
Eudora Volleyball tournament. Not
only did they win the tournament, but
they actually made history by playing
the last game in the championship
match with only 5 players due to an
injured player!
TMS Hosts
Grandparents
Tonganoxie Middle School welcomed
grandparents with a delicious
breakfast
on
Grandparents’
Day on Friday, September 11.
Grandparents attended class with
their grandchildren, and everyone
8 October 2015
District Newsletter
THS NEWS
THS Homecoming
2015
Although the weather was rainy
and ominous, the Tonganoxie
High School Chieftain spirit was
electrifying on Friday, September 18
for the Homecoming festivities!
Elementary
and
Tonganoxie
Middle School students joined
the community in enjoying the
floats, band, cheerleaders, dance
team, Homecoming Court in their
fancy cars, and all the parade
participants. The pep rally got
everyone fired up, and the parade
and pep rally ended in success! ■
The day began by the rescheduling
of the Homecoming parade to
protect the safety of all students
and parade watchers. That didn’t
dampen the spirits of the Chieftains,
though! The sun broke through,
the lightening vanished, and the
festivities continued! At 6:30pm,
the Homecoming candidates were
presented to the jubilant crowd.
Emma DeMaranville and Tyler
Novotney were crowned Queen and
King. Candidates included:
Brooke Bolon & Grant Swearngin
Halley Calovich & Ethan Phillips
Emma DeMaranville & Dylan Staatz
Emily Eberth & Luke Aitkens
Sierra Graham & Tyler Novotney
Sophia Wetta & Dawson Jones
Nicole Zerrer & Dalton Trimble
The football game followed the
Coronation, and unfortunately,
the Lansing Lions came away
victorious. The festivities continued
on Saturday, and students enjoyed
the Homecoming Dance, dressed
in their finest attire!
Monday, the weather cooperated,
and the Homecoming Parade
made its way through downtown
Tonganoxie.
Tonganoxie
9 October 2015
District Newsletter
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THS News Continued
Students placed among the top five
percent of more than 1.5 million
students who entered the 2016
competition by taking the 2014
Preliminary Sat/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (psat/
nmsqt®). ■
Principal, Mark Farrar of Tonganoxie
High School announced that Spencer
Finkbiner, son of Eric and Karen
Finkbiner, Tonganoxie, KS, has been
named as a Semi-Finalist in the
2016 National Merit Scholarship
Program. About 1.5 million juniors
in more than 22,000 high schools
entered the 2016 National Merit
Scholarship Program by taking the
2014 Preliminary SAT/National
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(psat/nmsqt®), which served as an
initial screen of program entrants.
The nationwide pool of Semifinalists,
representing less than one percent
of U.S. high school seniors, includes
the highest scoring entrants in each
state.
THS Summer
Strength Program
National Merit
Scholarship
Program
From the approximately 16,000
Semifinalists, about 15,000 are
expected to advance to the Finalist
level, and in February they will be
notified of this designation. All
National Merit Scholarship winners
will be selected from this group of
Finalists. Merit Scholar designees
are selected on the basis of their
skills,
accomplishments,
and
potential for success in rigorous
college studies, without regard
to gender, race, ethnic origin, or
religious preference.
Principal Mark Farrar of Tonganoxie
High School announced that
Natalie Wolf, daughter of Randal
and Michelle Wolf, Tonganoxie, KS,
has been named a Commended
Student in the 2016 National Merit
Scholarship Program. About 34,000
Commended Students throughout
the nation are being recognized for
their exceptional academic promise.
Although they will not continue in the
2016 competition for National Merit
Scholarship awards, Commended
THS had over 200 students
participate in the Summer Strength
Progam. 92 Students met the 80%
attendance for a Chieftain Power
Shirt. 14 students met the 100%
attendance . Students made great
improvements over the summer
with 72 new records set. ■
Kansas Honors
Program
The Kansas Honors Program
recognizes and awards high
school seniors for their academic
achievements. Each year KU alumni
gather in more than 37 locations
across the state for an awards
ceremony and honorary dinner or
reception. All high-school seniors
who rank academically in the top 10
percent of their class are asked to
attend as guests of the Association
with their parents, principals,
counselors and superintendents.
This year’s Kansas Honors Program
was held on Wednesday, September
16, 2015 at the Riverfront
Community Center in Leavenworth,
Kansas.
The Kansas Honors Program has
been a KU tradition since 1971. It
is designed to promote academic
excellence in secondary education,
to reward high school seniors for their
hard work and dedication, and to
support our Kansas communities.
Each Kansas Honor Scholar
receives a certificate and a special
edition of Webster’s New College
Dictionary, and has a chance to
qualify for a $4,000 scholarship to
KU. Scholars are selected based
10 October 2015
on academic records through the
previous semester that are provided
by high school principals. Selections
are made regardless of curricula
(weighted or non-weighted), majors,
occupational plans or highereducation goals.
Honored students from Tonganoxie
High School are listed below.
Congratulations to these stellar
students for their academic
achievements!
Luke Aitkens
Leah Bartels
Zachary Callaghan
Emma DeMaranville
Angela Faherty
Spencer Finkbiner
Cheyenne Ford
Kassidy Gratton
Kaitlin Hall
Coy Howard
Lauren Jackson
Dawson Jones
Billy Kelley
Ben Lanza
Joshua Lingo
Dakota Maas
Kennedy Morey
Tyler Novotney
Mackenzie Price
McKinna Shelton
Dylan Staatz
Aneth Torres
Natalie Wolf
Nicole Zerrer
Mr. Beat’s on
YouTube!
Mr. Beat, THS Social Studies teacher,
has his own YouTube Channel! He
creates and posts videos to help his
students connect with social studies
and their world. Check out his latest
video celebrating Constitution Day!
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=ctAOE9QMj-k ■
District Newsletter
7
7RQJDQR[LH8QLILHG6FKRRO'LVWULFW
In Case of Snow...
In the event we have weather that
would require an early dismissal,
late start, or school cancellation
(and I can’t believe I’m typing this
because it’s 77 degrees right now . .
. ), we will send a School Messenger
notification to home phones, cell
phones and email addresses using
the contact information in your
student’s file. It is critical that your
student’s school office have up-todate contact information for all
parents, guardians, and emergency
contacts! If you think your contact
information may be out of date,
please check Skyward or call the
school secretary to make sure they
have the most current information.
The district website will offer the
latest information, and we will also
notify the following media:
• KMBC TV (ABC)
• KCTV 5 / KSMO
• KSHB (NBC)
• KSNT Fox 27
• WDAF Fox 4 KC
• Channel 6 News Lawrence
• KCUR FM 89.3
• 92.9 The Bull
• LAZER 105.9
• Kansas Public Radio
• KMBZ AM 980
• KLWN AM 1320
• Kansas City Star
• Lawrence Journal World
• Tonganoxie Mirror
• Facebook - Tongie464
• Twitter - @Tongie464
New for our district this year is a 2
hour late start schedule. The late
start schedule can be used for a
variety of reasons, but most likely
be used for a morning with snow
or ice but a weather forecast of
temperatures rising. Our students
can sleep in a bit while our building
and grounds’ crew are able to
shovel, clear and prepare our drives
and parking lots for a safe school
day. On these days, no student
activity can take place before
school. THS would begin at 9:45
AM with normal dismissal time and
TES and TMS would being at 9:55
AM with a normal dismissal time.
On these days, breakfast would not
be served.
So when ole’ Man Severe Weather
Winter arrives, we will have an
option: either a school closing or a
2 hour late start. ■
Wonder how to stay
connected and
informed of the
many activities and
celebrations in our
district?
Check out Twitter!
Tonganoxie USD 464
@tong464
11 October 2015
TonganoxieElem
@TonganoxieElem
TonganoxieMiddle
@TongieMiddle
Tonganoxie High
@TonganoxieHigh
District Newsletter
Tonganoxie Elementary School
Dedication, Time Capsule
and Ribbon Cutting
Ceremony
Saturday, October 24, 2015
10:00 a.m.
at TES flagpoles
1 1 8 0
S .
E a s t
S t r e e t
7
7RQJDQR[LH8QLILHG6FKRRO'LVWULFW
TONGANOXIE CHIEFTAIN FUND
Your gift to the USD 464 Education Foundation’s Tonganoxie Chieftain Fund supports Tonganoxie
schools and is responsible for such things as new classroom equipment, scholarships, teacher grants
and innovative programs. The Foundation currently administers $300,000 in funds – our goal is to
reach $1 million! Your gift to the Tonganoxie Chieftain Fund enables Tonganoxie students to
improve their skills and learning in all areas. Let’s make the district stronger and help guarantee the
success of all students!
Giving Options
Check enclosed, payable to the USD 464 Education Foundation.
Automatic giving may be established through your checking or savings account. Your gift will be
deducted on the 15th of each month.
Monthly gift:
$5
$10
$25
$50
$100
Other amount: $
I authorize the USD 464 Education Foundation to automatically debit my bank account for the amount
indicated above. I understand that my account will be electronically debited on the 15th of each month. I
understand that if this payment date falls on a weekend or holiday, the payment will be withdrawn from my
account the next business day. I also understand that I must notify the Education Foundation at least 14 days
prior to this date if my banking information changes or if I wish to discontinue this automatic service. I also
understand that if my bank refuses to honor any automatic debit due to insufficient or uncollected funds or
if my bank account is closed, I may be subject to dishonored payment fees charged by my bank.
Account number:
Checking
Savings
Bank’s routing number (nine digits):
My signature:
Printed name:
Address:
Telephone:
email:
May we include your name in the list of donors in Foundation publications?
Thank you for your support! Please mail to:
yes
no
Shawna Gilmore
P.O. Box 219
Tonganoxie, KS 66086-0219
To learn more about the Foundation, go to www.Tong464.org, then click on the “Alumni and
Foundation” page.
13 October 2015
District Newsletter