School Highlights: Points of Pride:
Incoming superintendent John Allison visits Wichita
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| Incoming superintendent John Allison, Southeast student Joseph Randle and principal Leroy Parks talk during a tour of Southeast. |
John Allison came to Wichita for his first visit after being named superintendent of the Wichita Public Schools earlier this month. During his three-day visit, Mr. Allison met with key staff, building principals, Board of Education members, union representatives and students to get an overview of the district. On April 1, the BOE and the Wichita Educational Administrators Association hosted a reception for district employees to meet Mr. Allison. Many employees took advantage of the opportunity to meet their new boss and to introduce themselves.
Mr. Allison met with the Superintendent Student Advisory Council, SuperSAC, where he listened to the students’ feedback from the Superintendent Student Dialogue that occurred on March 24. He took tours of Southeast High School, McCollom Elementary and Marshall Middle School. He said meeting with SuperSAC and touring the three schools were the best parts of his visit because he was able to see the students learning.
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| A McCollom student explains an art and math assignment. |
“The quality of staff here left a lasting impression. We have some great teachers working here,” he said. “In every classroom I visited the students were actively engaged and interested in what they were learning.”
“That only increased my excitement to come here,” he said.
Besides visiting more schools after he becomes superintendent in July, he wants to spend time listening and learning about the community. Mr. Allison plans to meet with businesses and civic organizations to begin conversations on how the district can work together with them to strengthen their relationships to support students.
“I want to become involved with the Wichita community,” he said.
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| Seventh-grade students at Marshall share what they are learning in chemistry class. Photos by Susan Arensman |
Allison said after this visit to Wichita, he is excited to become superintendent.
“I wish July would come more quickly,” he said.
“We’re very excited he’s been here for the past three days and we look forward to him leading the district,” said BOE President Lynn Rogers.
Mr. Allison taped a Parent Talk show with Sierré Usher of the Parent and Community Support Network. The show allows viewers to get to know Mr. Allison and to learn what his plans are for the district. To watch Getting to Know John Allison, click here. To watch a news conference following his visit to Wichita, click here.
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Summer school information available online
Information on the summer high school, driver education, summer school age (latchkey), and elementary enrichment programs are now available on the district's website.
The elementary enrichment programs will be Wednesday, June 3 – Wednesday, July 1 at Gammon and Peterson. Enrollment will be April 21. The high school programs will be Monday, June 8 – Friday, June 26 at North and Southeast. Enrollment begins April 20. The driver education program is Monday, June 8 – Friday, July 17 at East and Northwest. Enrollment is May 2.
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Kindergarten orientation is April 30
Parents of children who will enter kindergarten in the fall are invited to participate in Kindergarten Roundup on Thursday, April 30, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. All elementary schools will be open to allow parents and students to meet teachers, administrators and support staff. Parents will receive information about enrollment requirements, what their child will learn, and how parents can be actively involved in their child's school.
For more information, contact your neighborhood school or call 973-4498 to get your school assignment.
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Grant helps expand Project Lead the Way
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| Dr. Zulma Toro-Ramos, Dean of WSU's College of Engineering, presents a check to Board of Education President Lynn Rogers. Photo courtesy WSU. |
Project Lead the Way (PLTW), a nationally recognized pre-engineering program currently offered at West, Northwest and Northeast Magnet High Schools, will be expanding for the 2009-10 school year. The funding for the expansion is supported by grants from John L. and James S. Knight Foundation, the U.S. Department of Labor Wired grants, and KSDE school intervention grants. The grants total $423,000.
Dr. Zulma Toro-Ramos, Dean of WSU’s College of Engineering, came to the March 9 Board of Education meeting to present President Lynn Rogers with a check for the new program.
Project Lead the Way (PTLW) will be offered at Southeast High School next year. The district will add the middle school component of PLTW, Gateway to Technology, at Coleman, Curtis, Marshall, Mayberry, Pleasant Valley, Truesdell and Wilbur Middle Schools. The plan is to bring the program to all middle schools as quickly as available funding will allow.
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Local schools use art to help Katrina victims
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| A West High School student works on her Fundred project. Photo by Margery Hannah |
West High School and Buckner Performing Arts Magnet used their skills to participate in a national art project. Conceptual artist Mel Chin has created the “Fundred” project to raise money for Hurricane Katrina victims. Students at both schools decorated faux hundred dollar bills called, “Fundreds, ” which is a combination of the words “fun” and “hundred.”
Chin visited Buckner while students were drawing their Fundreds. His visit was facilitated by the Ulrich Art Museum at Wichita State University. Chin is traveling across the country collecting the Fundreds. He will take them to Washington, DC to ask legislators to turn the art bills into real $100 bills to help New Orleans.
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PDC looking for employee representatives
The Professional Development Council (PDC) is looking for employees to serve as representatives. The PDC is a group of certified and classified personnel in the Wichita Public Schools involved in planning, developing, implementing and operating the district's staff development plan. The PDC establishes the standards for evidence or documentation to be accepted for the awarding of professional development points that can be used for renewing an educator's license. Much of the information used by the PDC in awarding points is from MyLearningPlan.
Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month from September to May. Council membership requires a commitment to attend and is compensated at the district's current in-service hourly rate. Members are selected or elected from the group they represent.
The following vacancies need to be filled:
• Teachers
3-year elementary term
3-year secondary term
For more information, contact Paul Babich, United Teachers of Wichita, at 262-5171. The application form is posted on UTW’s website. Applications are due by 4:45 p.m. on April 16.
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Red Carpet Award applications due April 7
Schools who provide warm, friendly environments and provide excellent customer service have the opportunity to receive $1,000. Schools have an opportunity to receive the "Red Carpet" award by making visitors feel welcome and part of the school family. Providing outstanding customer service to families, students, and community is extremely important to advance education and build partnerships with families and communities.
Schools interested in applying for the "Red Carpet" award need to have all staff trained in customer service and complete the application information located on the Parent and Community Support portal site. The portal site also has various customer service training sessions for staff.
The completed applications are due April 7 in the Parent and Community Support Office, room 503 in the Alvin Morris Administrative Center.
For more information, please contact Parent and Community Support Network at 973-4668 or click here to watch a video on the Red Carpet Award.
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Reminder for teachers who want to discontinue contract
Teachers who do not want to continue their contract need to give written notice by May 15. Under the Continuing Contract Law, teachers continue in the school district’s employ for another school year unless written notice is given.
Teachers who resign after May 15 are considered to be in breach of contract and could be subject to consequences, including the revocation of their Kansas teaching license.
Please contact Human Resources, 973-4610, if there are any questions.
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Heights’ boys basketball team state champs
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Back row from left: Assistant Coach Tyler Richardson, Jay Bradley, Austin Bahner, Evan Wessel, Perry Ellis, Steven VanLooy, Darrel Dempsey, Keith Riley, Statistician Ben Wahlers.
Front row from left: Head coach Joe Auer, Thomas Bland, Dorrian Roberts, Terrence Moore, Kyle Coffman, E.J. Dobbins, Assistant Coach Bryan Chadwick. Photo by Susan Arensman |
The Heights High School boys basketball team won the Class 6A State Championship in Emporia. The Falcons won 73-58 against Southeast High School. Heights’ victory was the first boys state championship win in 30 years.
The team, coaches, cheerleaders, band and school community also earned a tournament Sportsmanship Award. The award is given to those who conduct themselves in a positive manner during the game.
The team was recognized during the Board of Education meeting on March 30. The team was recognized on April 2 in Topeka. They were honored in both the Kansas House and Senate. They also met with Lt. Governor Mark Parkinson, who is a 1975 graduate of Heights.
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Northeast's chess team places third in the state
Northeast Magnet High School's chess team placed third at the state chess tournament held on March 21. Northeast’s team finished in second place in the 6A competition.
The team participants are Kyle Barney, James Criss, Arthur Hunt, Graylin Lang, Peter Nguyen and Jake Oakley. The team is coached by Troy Criss, who has coached chess for 17 years
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