WPS News features: Employee Inside Information:
School Highlights: Points of Pride:
Grant will help make walk to Harry Street safer
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| From left: Jim Skelton, Wichita City Council, Sheila Henning, FedEx, Ronda Lusk, Safe Kids Coordinator/Via Christi Regional Medical Center and Trina Wynn, Harry Street principal. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Students and community members walking by Harry Street Elementary will soon be able to enjoy safer walking conditions, thanks to a grant from Safe Kids Worldwide and FedEx. The two groups presented Harry Street an oversized $10,000 check on April 4 and explained the improvements. Safe Kids Wichita Area selected the streets around Harry Street to receive the improvements because there were a large amount of pedestrian accidents, both child and adult, in the past three years in that area of town.
The improvements include posting warning signs where people cross the street, creating a larger school zone, making crosswalks at Market and Harry Street more visible and new crosswalk ramps that will be easier to see.
“Most of our students walk and we have three busy streets around our building,” said Trina Wynn, principal at Harry Street. “The improvements will be welcome.”
After the check presentation, volunteers from Safe Kids Wichita Area, Fed Ex and the Wichita Police Department walked with students on their way home and provided them with tips for walking safety.
Wynn said she also likes the education piece of the project, providing students and parents information packets about pedestrian safety and safe walking practices. The school also sent home surveys to assess students’ walking behaviors and safety concerns.
As part of the initiative, a walking safety video will be created and shown on the district’s cable channel, Schoolhouse 20.
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Kelly Elementary honored for customer service
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From left, Superintendent Winston Brooks, Kelly principal Janet Jump and Assistant Superintendent Greg Rasmussen. Photo by Phyllis Rowley |
Kelly Elementary received the Spring 2007 Red Carpet Award for Excellent Customer Service, presented by the Parent and Community Support Office. The school staff and students were surprised with the award on April 12. Superintendent Winston Brooks presented the school the $500 award during an all-school assembly.
Kelly was recognized for their positive interaction with their students, families and community. The school was honored for their warm, inviting environment and friendly staff. The Red Carpet initiative helps advance education and build partnerships with families and community members.
The Red Carpet Award will be presented to a school each semester. Schools interested in applying for the award can contact the Parent and Community Support Office at 973-4668.
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District will celebrate groundbreaking of new K-8 school
The Wichita Public Schools will celebrate the start of construction on its new kindergarten – eighth-grade school in northeast Wichita on April 16. District and community leaders will be involved in the event.
The new school will hold 600 students and will open in the fall of 2008. The name of the school, concept, colors, mascot and boundaries will be determined during the 2007-2008 school year.
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Pleasant Valley students complete STARBASE project
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From left: Pleasant Valley Elementary students Maria Gomez, Noeli Torres, Victoria Trevino, and Jorge Hernandez get ready to launch their rockets. Photo courtesy Pleasant Valley |
Fifth-grade students at Pleasant Valley Elementary launched rockets at the conclusion of their STARBASE project on March 30. The six-week enrichment course teaches math, science and technology and how to apply the principles to everyday life.
Building and launching the rockets was the highlight of the STARBASE project for the students.
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Levy staff volunteer to help student at home
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| Photo courtesy Levy |
Levy Special Education Center staff donated their time to rebuild a porch at the home of one of their students. Levy’s physical therapist, Leann Funk, visited the student at home and noticed the porch had holes in the floor and the porch had no railings for the stairs. The family didn’t have the finances to have the porch fixed.
Funk began to call around for donations and to find people who would help rebuild the student’s porch. Home Depot donated $250 and Levy held fundraisers for the remaining costs. Along with Funk, staff members Denise Chichester, Wendy Prater, Bill Billingsley worked to make this project a reality.
"The staff at Levy is very giving,” said Funk.
Levy staff members and spouses went to the home on March 31 to rebuild the porch. One of Levy’s bus drivers grilled lunch for the volunteers.
“We really love helping these kids,” said Funk.
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Northeast students take Friends Art Challenge
Students at Northeast Magnet attended the third annual Art Challenge Day at Friends University on March 9. Students participated in a juried art exhibit and several art challenges. Northeast received ‘Best in Show’ for their art display and received the ‘Most Points’ award.
The following students received Challenge awards:
Chalk Mural Challenge:
- 1st Place: Julia Conway, Lavielle Teague, Amanda Hook, Katy Beedles & Nicole Smarsh.
- 2nd Place: Joe Sircoulomb, Alex Hadley, Kirsten Wixson, Truman Glover & Adrean Foulk
Theme Mural Challenge:
- 3rd Place: Yasmin Henderson, Amanda Linder, Jessica Stuart, Kim Taylor, Colin Neshakluah, Kastasna McWilliams, Sarah Wolf and Sheena Arzola.
Art Scholar Challenge:
Altered cube challenge:
Quick Draw Challenge:
- 1st Place: Sunny Walker
- 2nd Place: Kaleigh Adamek
- 3rd Place: Josh Tripoli
Ad Layout Challenge:
- 1st Place: Thuy Dinh
- 2nd Place: Sunny Walker
- 3rd Place: Colin Nesahkluah
Jewelry:
Blown Glass:
Ceramics:
Photography:
- 2nd Place: Hannah Clayton
Painting:
- 3rd Place: Caitlin Cassity
Mixed-Media
- 3rd Place: Lauren Doshier
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Meetings will answer new health plan questions
Employees are invited to learn about the changes in the district's health plan, as it transitions administration to Coventry Health Care. On Feb. 12, the Board of Education approved Coventry Health Care of Kansas to act as third-party administrators for the district’s self-funded health plan.
The meetings will answer frequently asked questions about the district's health plan and will explain what employees need to do to ensure there are no gaps in their pharmacy or medical coverage.
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Tuesday, April 24
North High School lecture hall
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, April 25
School Service Center cafeteria
2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
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Thursday, April 26
North High School lecture hall
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
For more information, call 973-4581 or email riskmanagement@usd259.net.
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Outlook Public Folders will end June 30
Information posted in Outlook Public Folders will no longer be found there after June 30. Outlook Public Folders will be decommissioned on that date and the WPS Portal will be used to located pertinent and useful information. Much of the information in Public Folders is already found on the portal, but some information still needs to be moved.
The MIS department requests if a school or department does not currently have a Portal site or needs an additional site, to complete and submit the online request form located on the portal. Schools and departments also need to identify staff members who will design and manage the portal site and sign up for Portal Web Designer training on MyLearningPlan.
For more information, contact MIS Customer Service at 973-4357 (HELP).
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Two students named National Scholastic Art winners
Liz Wheeler, student at East High School, and Kody Raney, student at Truesdell Middle School, have been named Gold Key winners in the National Scholastic Art Competition in New York City. Raney is the only middle school student in Kansas to receive the Gold Key. The Gold Key is the highest honor given.
Their artwork will be on display in Washington, DC and New York City during the summer and fall.
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McLean student tops in Kansas Reflections Contest
William Draper, first-grade student at McLean Science & Technology Magnet, was named the State Award of Excellence winner in the Kansas PTA Reflections Contest. Draper won the Primary division of the Film/Video category for his video, “The Downtown Library.”
The contest is sponsored by the National PTA. The theme for this year’s contest is “My Favorite Place.” William will be honored, along with other state level winners during the Kansas State PTA convention and his work will be judged on the national level.
JROTC cadets chosen for honorary board
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| Jonathon Downs, West High School, answers questions asked by the Honorary Cadet Board. Photo by Susan Arensman |
The freshman JROTC Honorary Cadet Board was conducted on April 10. Eight JROTC cadets answered questions on leadership, citizenship, current events and customs. The cadets who went before the board were Jonathon Downs, West; William Hood, South; Andrew Coldiron, Southeast; Ashlie Tracy, East; Erica Scantlin, North; Amanda Swanson, Northwest; Chelsea Trout, Heights and Charles Shirley, Northeast.