WPS News features: Employee Inside Information:
School Highlights: Points of Pride:
Students cheer $1.4 million milestone
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| Education EDGE Corporate Founders walk into the pep assembly held in their honor. Photo by Susan Arensman |
The Wichita Public Schools celebrated more than $1.4 million committed to the Education EDGE with a pep assembly and reception on Feb. 12 at North High School.
The pep assembly in North’s gymnasium introduced the Education EDGE Corporate Founders. The twenty Corporate Founders, consisting of major businesses, foundations and philanthropic leaders in Wichita, have contributed $50,000 or more to the Education Edge, with donations totaling $1,073,000. North students showed their appreciation to the founders and showed their school spirit during the assembly.
“My ears are still ringing,” said Ross Hollander, chairman of the Education EDGE Steering Team. “I’m sure many of the founders haven’t experienced anything like that. It was great to see the students so enthusiastic.”
“We all believe Wichita’s most important resource is its children,” said Rob Allison from Bank of America, one of the Corporate Founders. “We are investing in our future workers and leaders in Wichita. It was easy for all of us to give.”
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| North student Patience Biggs, center, unveiled the artwork she created to give to the Education EDGE Corporate Founders. Art teacher Tara Walker, left, is holding the piece. Photo by Susan Arensman |
As part of the assembly, North student Patience Biggs unveiled an original piece of artwork she created that captured the essence of the Education EDGE supporting the arts and athletics. The painting also had a Native American theme because the celebration occurred at North. Each of the Corporate Founders and members of the Steering Team received a print of the artwork as a thank-you gift.
That evening, a second celebration recognized the 210 Education EDGE Individual Founders, who have pledged $1,000 or more. The Individual Founders are mostly staff, along with retirees and community members. The Steering Team believed that a strong commitment by district staff was essential to get the Education EDGE started.
During the evening reception, guests heard testimonials from each group who benefited from the Education Edge.
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| The Education EDGE Corporate Founders and Steering Team were in the middle of the pep assembly activities that included cheers and music. Photo by Diann Faflick |
Kelli Miller, second-grade teacher at Buckner Performing Arts Magnet, shared how receiving two classroom mini-grants allowed her teaching team to purchase Palm Pilots to strengthen student skills in reading, mathematics and understanding of time. Miller said the way the students use the palms has also strengthened her students’ reading skills and has helped close the achievement gap.
Linda Webb, theatre teacher at Northwest High School, talked about how she has been able to purchase new
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| North students show their school spirit. Photo by Susan Arensman |
auditorium lighting with donations to the fine arts gift fund.
“I’m sure you can hear the shouts of joy across the district when my students unwrap new lighting instruments,” Webb said.
Jasmine Poland, student at East, shared how new basketball uniforms are lighter and have given her team new confidence.
“It’s kind of hard to want to play when you are wearing the same uniforms that your parents wore,” Poland said.
The Education EDGE, established in 2003, is the district's educational foundation, allowing private donors to support three key areas – classroom mini-grants, fine arts and athletics – not supported by traditional funding resources.
For more about the Education Edge, the list of Corporate Founders, the investments to date and how to contribute, click here.
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Classroom mini-grant applications due March 30
Teachers are encouraged to apply for the Spring Education EDGE Mini-Grant competition. Teachers can be awarded up to $1,500 for a classroom mini-grant or up to $5,000 for a team effort for their school. The 2007-08 application is posted on-line on the Education Edge site. The closing date for submitting grants is March 30.
Mini-grant workshops will be offered March 8 at 4 p.m. in room 307 of the Alvin Morris Administrative Center and March 12 at 4:30 p.m. in room 917 of AMAC. Teachers can sign up for the workshops on MyLearningPlan.
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2007-2008 calendar approved - posted online
The Board of Education approved the 2007-2008 school calendar during its February 12 meeting. The first day of school for all students is August 15, with orientation for sixth- and ninth-grade on August 14. Enrollment will begin earlier this year, starting on July 27.
Some key dates on the calendar include:
- Enrollment: July 27 - August 2
- Orientation for new teachers August 3, 6 and 7
- Inservice for all teachers: August 8 – 14
- Orientation for sixth- and ninth-grade students: August 14
- First day of school: August 15
- Fall recess: November 22 – 23
- Winter recess: schools not in session December 21 – January 2; administrative offices closed December 24 – 25
- Spring recess: March 17 – 21
- Last day of school: May 22
A pdf version of the 2007-2008 calendar is available by clicking here.
Marshall students prepare Food Bank backpacks
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| From left, Marshall sixth-grade students Tawanisha Dean, Maliyah Edmond, Ineisha McCoy and Dalia Carbajal put food items into bags for the Food 4 Kids program. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Students at Marshall Middle School helped prepare bags of food for the Kansas Food Bank's Food 4 Kids program. Principal Mark Jolliffe and Marshall's Communities in Schools site coordinator Jennifer Atchison wanted students to have the opportunity help others. They allowed students to participate to teach them about the importance of community service. Marshall students set up an assembly line to fill the bags with items like crackers, fruit cups, juice, cereal and breakfast bars. Thirty-two students were able to assemble 425 bags in an hour's time.
The Food 4 Kids program allows students who qualify to receive food and backpacks from the Kansas Food Bank free of charge. The students take their backpacks home over the weekend so they will have something to eat. The Kansas Food Bank delivers 770 bags of food 38 to schools in the Wichita Public Schools.
"One student helping out told me that she receives a backpack every week," said Larry Gunkel, Programs Manager for the Kansas Food Bank. "She was excited about helping us out because she knows how important the program is to her."
For more information about the Food 4 Kids backpack program or how to help, contact Larry Gunkel at the Kansas Food Bank Warehouse at 265-4421.
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Metro-Midtown students rewarded for achievements
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| Photo by Lacey Cruse |
Metro-Midtown Alternative High School honored students for their achievements during their annual Cessna Flying Colors Awards Ceremony, held on February 9. The Cessna Flying Colors program gives monetary incentives to students with good grades and attendance. Students are also required to make good lifestyle choices and perform 10 hours of community service.
Forty-six students were recognized at the ceremony and 29 of those students received a monetary incentive award. Freshman, Brenda Tavares, received a check for $368. This was the highest amount given to a single student. Cessna Aircraft Company in total awarded $6077.75 to students who met all goals.
Cessna has partnered with Metro-Midtown on the CFC program since 1993. Johnnie Cartledge, plant manager at Cessna's 21st Street campus, along with principal Michael Bruce and BOE member Shirley Jefferson, presented the students with their certificates and checks.
The following students received incentive awards: DeMarcus Addison, Markita Addision, Markell Armstrong, Victor Barrientos, BryAnne Biddle, Trebion Bryant, Samantha Bugger, Natisha Crockett, Qua’Vail Dailey, Tyler Davis, Chris Desaire, Daniel Desaire, Spence Dugue, Sarah Eaton, Marques Fowler, Kayesha Hall, Kiara Hall, Travis Jones, Eric Lamar, Rickena Lanz-pollock, Marshall Masters, Danny Mumford, Cayli Phillips, Colten Pore, William Roberson, LaRon Shaw, Brenda Tavares, Dejon Turner and Cameron Williams.
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Spaght students entertained by storyteller
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| Photo by Lacey Cruse |
Spaght Accelerated Magnet students enjoyed an African-American Storyteller on February 9.
Tejumola “Teju” Ologboni of Milwaukee engaged students with the rhythms of his traditional African drum. Teju taught the students hand movements and a chant to involve them in his act. He told a story of a cornbread man who was fast and could out run anyone or anything, until the cornbread man reached a fox. The fox out-smarted the cornbread man and was eaten.
Ologboni’s story was about using your brain and that in life people will try and make you angry. “You may be strong, fast, and smart but if you lose your cool you may not think right. Don’t let anyone say anything to you that will make you mad,” said Ologboni.
Ologboni also shared his story for students at Beech, College Hill and Earhart.
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BOE approves Coventry for health plan administration
The Board of Education approved Coventry Health Care of Kansas and Delta Dental of Kansas to act as third-party administrators for the district’s self-funded health and dental plans. The BOE also reauthorized EMPAC to be the district’s employee assistance vendor.
Coventry was recommended to the BOE by a selection team made up of representatives from UTW, SEIU, the employee health advisory committee and administration. The selection committee conducted a lengthy proposal process that started in July and ended in December.
“Coventry was selected from a field of four finalists because they offered the best overall product, customer service and pricing,” said Shannon Krysl, Employee Benefits and Risk Management Director.
More information about the district’s health plan will come before the end of the school year and be featured in upcoming editions of the Express Online.
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Teachers receive SchoolNet Training
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Northwest special education teacher Crystal Firestone learns how to navigate SchoolNet. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Teachers received training on SchoolNet during inservices on February 16. The trainings were led by teachers who had already been trained with the teacher tool.
"This is much easier to access and is easier to navigate than previous programs," said Crystal Firestone, special education teacher at Northwest.
Firestone said SchoolNet will make it easier to write IEPs with the information that is provided on SchoolNet about her students.
"I can do a quick check for where my students are academically to write their goals and objectives," Firestone said.
SchoolNet is a web-based instructional tool that will allow teachers and principals to access student data and curriculum resources at work or at home. It will allow teachers to see how their students performed on the latest district common assessments within 24 hours. The program will also give teachers an easier way to find curriculum resources that match standards and indicators. Another advantage of SchoolNet is when a student transfers to another school, the students' information will automatically be available to the new school.
For more information about SchoolNet, click here to access the Instructional Technology website and to watch a SchoolNet presentation.
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Nomination window closing soon for the Good Apple Award
The Good Apple Award program honors employees, volunteers and business partners who go above and beyond in their support of the Wichita Public Schools and its mission. Each school or support center may participate and selects its own award recipients. Deadline dates vary, so check with building principals. Principals must submit the names of their Good Apples to Marketing and Communications by March 12.
Good Apple awardees are recognized within their building communities and by the Board of Education on April 16 at Northwest High School.
For nomination forms or more information about the Good Ap