WPS News features: Employee Inside Information:
School Highlights: Points of Pride:
Twenty-nine students recognized during 99% Awards
 |
Photo by Susan Arensman
|
Twenty-nine students were recognized by the Board of Education during the 99% Awards ceremony for the second quarter on Jan. 29. The 99% Awards recognize middle school and high school students who are making a contribution to their school by receiving good grades and having at least 90% attendance, but who may not be getting the recognition they deserve for doing the right thing.
During the ceremony, principals, teachers and counselors shared stories about each student who was nominated and explained why they were chosen for this recognition. Two students weren't able to attend, but the school staff still talked about the students' accomplishments.
Front row from left: Kike Ojo, Curtis Middle School; Brady Elbrader, Mayberry Cultural and Fine Arts Magnet; Brandon Johnson, Stucky Middle School; Namala Elias, Southeast High School; Claudia Garcia, Jardine Diversified Leadership and Technology Magnet; Tara Steven, Northeast Magnet High School; Jeremiah Parmely, Blackbear Bosin Academy; Davon Terrell, Wells Special Education Center; Quentin Curry, East High School
Second row from left: Abbi Ashley, Pleasant Valley Middle School; Kristen Ochs, Allison Traditional Magnet; Megan Martinez, Wilbur Middle School; Diana Silerio, Metro-Midtown Alternative High School; Raven Reese, Heights High School; Matthew Pacholski, Hadley Middle School; Elizabeth Torres, Metro-Boulevard Alternative High School; Eli Copeland, North High School; Coty Stillwell, South High School; Nancy Saengsavath, Coleman Middle School
Third row from left: Luis Nolasco, Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet; Manuela Palafox, Metro-Meridian Alternative High School; Laura Pinilla, Truesdell Middle School; Stephone Anderson, Brooks Technology and Arts Magnet; Victor Valdez, Hamilton Middle School; Molly Schoen, West High School; Haliegh Lewis, Robinson Middle School; Christian Duranleau, Northwest High School
Not pictured: William Kindel, Marshall Middle School; Ronnie McFann, Mead Middle School
Top
Wichita's Reading First efforts recognized
 |
| Students at Pleasant Valley Elementary work on phonics as part of their reading block. Photo by Susan Arensman |
The Kansas Department of Education has recognized the efforts of Wichita schools involved in the Reading First grant. According to KSDE, the Wichita Public Schools is the only district in Kansas that has made positive increases for two years.
The district showed significant increases for first- and second-grade students both in 2005 and 2006. The greatest gains were at Pleasant Valley Elementary, where 49% of students scored on grade level in 2005 and 70% of students scored on grade level in 2006.
Pleasant Valley, Cessna, Gardiner and Franklin have participated in the grant for the past three and a half years. Caldwell, Clark and Woodland began the program at the beginning of the school year.
The goal of the Reading First grant is to have every student reading on grade level by the end of third grade. The schools teach reading in an uninterrupted two-hour block each day. The program covers five components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension. Each school has a literacy coach to help implement the program, plus every teacher receives intensive staff development.
"Our students are coming to us more prepared because they've been in the program since kindergarten," said Cindi Cox, second-grade teacher at Pleasant Valley who started as a Reading First literacy coach. "This program has really helped our students."
Top
Students celebrate Gifted and Talented Day
 |
| A Robinson Middle School student plays piano for her classmates during a special program for Gifted and Talented Day. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Governor Kathleen Sebelius proclaimed January 31, 2007 as Gifted and Talented Day in Kansas. Several schools allowed students to showcase their talents to their friends and parents.
At Robinson Middle School, students in the gifted program showed off their talents for their classmates. Students played instruments, sang, danced, presented videos they created themselves and other talents they possess. The Ultimate Show and Tell gave students a chance to learn other aspects about their peers.
Top
Students take a trip inside the human body
 |
| Students at Mueller Elementary react to a model of rotting teeth in the mouth part of the Body Walk. Heights High School JROTC cadets talked to students about the importance of brushing teeth and avoiding sugary snacks. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Students at Mueller, Horace Mann, Minneha and Lawrence received lessons in good nutrition and health by taking an inside tour of the human body. The Body Walk, sponsored by the Kansas Department of Education, allowed students to explore a walk-through exhibit representing the human body.
Students' tours began with the brain, then the mouth and through the digestive system. The students learned about how foods' nutrients are used by the heart, lungs, bones, muscles and skin. In each part of the exhibit, the students learned about that part of the body and how healthy eating and exercise is important.
At Mueller Elementary, JROTC cadets from Heights High School helped with the exhibit. The cadets led the presentations at each part of the exhibit, engaging students with the activities.
For more information about the Body Walk, click here.
Top
Peterson students experience pioneer life
 |
| Peterson Elementary students check out their progress grinding corn into cornmeal while learning about pioneer life. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Students at Peterson Elementary went back in time to experience what it was like to be a pioneer in Kansas. On Jan. 30, the school’s multipurpose room was turned into an 1800’s pioneer settlement with help from the “Journey Back in Time” traveling museum.
Some activities allowed student to pan for gold, play with antique toys, pump water from a rain barrel, wash clothes with a washboard and pretend to shave with a lather brush and a fake straight razor. Some students dressed in pioneer or cowboy clothing to add to the spirit of the day.
Top
Northeast and Gammon create art project together
 |
| Students work together to create a mural that will be displayed at Gammon Elementary. Photo by Lacey Cruse. |
Gammon and Northeast students are teaming together to create a mural for the annual fifth-grade project. The creation was developed by Amanda Hook, senior at Northeast. She designed three different examples of the mural. She received input from art teachers, Tina Murano from Northeast and Gwen Saville from Gammon.
“My inspiration for the project was art and music. Those are the two rooms that the mural will go between,” said Hook.
After taking measurements of the walls, a grid was made to scale. The students worked together with ceramic tile to make the mural. Contact paper was placed over the grid so students could place the appropriate color to fill the pattern. When the tiles are in places, it will be grouted and hung on the wall.
The music and art inspired wall mural will be finished and displayed later this spring.
Top
W-4 withholding exemptions expire Feb. 16
Employees who claimed exempt from federal income tax withholding in 2006 and still qualify must submit a new Form W-4 by Feb. 16 to claim the exemption for 2007. If an employee who claimed exempt in 2006 doesn't submit a new W-4 by Feb. 16, the withholding federal income tax base will be filed as single with no withholding allowances.
Please make sure to submit a new W4 to the Payroll Department, seventh-floor of the Alvin Morris Administrative Center. For more information, call 973-4574.
Top
Employee Health Fair ends Feb. 10
The district's Health Fair is almost complete, with the final opportunity on February 10. Blood tests will be offered for free for benefited employees, spouses and retirees who participate in the district's self-funded health plan. Employees not on the health plan may participate for a $30 fee.
The Health Fair will include a blood draw which checks for HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. Employees are asked not to eat anything after midnight the day before. There will also be wellness vendors and activities for children.
Employees who wish to attend the health fair will be assigned by their home zip code. To view the designated dates, times and zip codes, click here.
Top
GYOT deadline extended to February 14
The deadline for the Grow Your Own Teacher (GYOT) scholarship program has been extended to February 14 at 4:45 p.m.
The GYOT program provides financial assistance in the form of forgivable loans to outstanding high school graduates or Wichita district employees who want to become teachers. Students in the GYOT program can work toward a teaching degree either at Wichita State University, Friends University, Newman University or Southwestern College. The program also includes mentor support, work experiences and assistance with job placement after becoming certified.
High school teachers, counselors and principals can encourage students, paraeducators and tutors to get involved in the GYOT program.
For more information or for a scholarship application, call 973-4620 or click here.
Top
Metro-Boulevard magazine recognized for excellence
Metro-Boulevard Alternative High School's student magazine, Metro Literary Review, received a rank of Excellent from the 2006 NCTE Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines. The magazine was noted for its quality of writing, design and graphics and the students' role in producing it. Metro-Boulevard also received a rank of Excellent in 2005.
The National Council of Teachers of English sponsors the annual contest. The program's goals are to recognize students, teachers and schools for excellent literary magazines, improve the quality of literary magazines and to encourage all schools to develop their own literary magazines.
Student work on display for Scholastic Art Awards
High school and middle school students throughout the district were recognized for their artistic abilities with the 2007 Scholastic Art Awards. Many students were named Gold and Sliver Key winners while others were recognized by Honorable Mention.
Gold Key winners are: Caitlin Doolittle, Adrean Foulk, Truman Glover, Nathan Hein, Amanda Hook, Sunny Walker, Northeast Magnet High School; Amanda Hogue, Alec Jahn, Stephen Krauska, Jimmy Nguyen, Leah Nightengale, Stacie Swiler, Northwest High School; Jeremy Johnson, West High School; Lauren Kindel, North High School; Jordan Smith, Southeast High School; Drew Tedlock, Kim Tran, Liz Wheeler, East High School; Kody Raney, Jeff Phan, Truesdell Middle School.
The Sliver Key winners are: Emily Haltom, Nathan Hein, Brandon Huerta, Chantal Shaw, Northeast Magnet High School; Amanda Hogue, Stacie Swiler, Northwest High School; Elizabeth Howard, Jeremy Johnson, West High School; Ben Hlavacek, Carol Mcalpine, Taylor Pruitt, Blair Stenzel, Southeast High School; Maika Johnson, Anastasiya Nosova, East High School; Erika Hernandez, Metro-Midtown Alternative High School; Kourtney Bishop, Allison Traditional Middle School; Joselyne Hernandez, Truesdell.
Those receiving Honorable Mention are: Nathan Hein, Sara Matt, Lavielle Teague, Northeast Magnet High School; Dana McCart, Antonio Pusateri, Northwest High School; Patience Biggs, Rick Dunwoody, North High School; Leah Gray, Hannah Gunzelman, Blair Stenzel, Southeast High School; Roman Raymundo, Liz Wheeler, East High School.
The Scholastic Art Award Exhibit is open to the public until Feb. 25 and features artwork from students across the state. The artwork represented includes photography, apparel design, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics and glass, computer art and drawing. The exhibition is free and located at the Wichita Center for the Arts, 9112 E. Central. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Sunday, 1-5 p.m. For tour scheduling or more information, call 634-2787 ext. 18.
Top
District recognizes school partners
 |
| Community partners with the Wichita Public Schools share ideas to help encourage more people to volunteer and partner with the district. Photo by Susan Arensman |
The Wichita Public Schools recognized and sought expertise from its district partners during a Partner Best Practices Forum on Jan. 30. The district thanked the businesses and organizations for their support of Wichita's students and staff. There were also small group activities about recruiting partners, how to find potential partners and how to support and retain current partners. The businesses and organizations shared their ideas with district staff.
Wichita Public Schools has more than 200 partnerships that represent agencies, businesses, individuals, parents, organizations, civic groups and religious institutions. These partners support, encourage, and enrich and offer a unique blend of talents and expertise to our students and staff.
For more information about the district partnerships, or about becoming a partner, click here, or call Positive Connections at 973-5159.
Top
©2007 Wichita Public Schools. All Rights Reserved.