School Highlights: Points of Pride:
Another school year begins
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| Superintendent John Allison, right, and Price-Harris principal Shawn Springer talk with students on the first day of school. |
Around 49,000 students came back to class on August 17 as the Wichita Public Schools began another school year. The heavy rains at the beginning of the day didn’t dampen the spirits of students as they learned about their new teachers, classmates and schedules. Elementary students sorted through their pencils, markers and crayons. They learned about expectations for the school year and shared their goals for the year.
“I’m going to get all A’s this year,” said a Coleman Middle School student.
“This has been an exciting day. We’ve been ready for our students to come back,” said Superintendent John Allison.
Superintendent Allison toured several schools during his first school day in the district. He observed classrooms, met with teachers and principals and talked with students.
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| Coleman Middle School students work on a social studies assignment. Photos by Susan Arensman |
“Even though it is the first day, I’ve seen students getting right to work learning in their classes. It’s been great to see our students in action.”
“We’re excited for our students to be back and they are excited to be back,” said Shawn Springer, principal at Price-Harris Communications Magnet.
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Enterprise teachers learn to laugh
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| Staff at Enterprise Elementary participate in laugh exercises as part of a year-long study. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Staff at Enterprise Elementary are starting the school year with a laugh. Some are volunteering to be part of a year-long study to see how laughter can have a positive effect on their emotional well-being, stress levels, energy levels and attitudes. Research shows that people who laugh have an increase in oxygen levels which reduces stress and causes them to make fewer mistakes. Enterprise is working with Judy Young from Laughter Links in Wichita and Dr. Nate Regier, who is conducting the study.
"We are going to learn to laugh without humor," said Pam Stead, principal at Enterprise. "We will learn to laugh in different ways and have the physical benefits of laughter, but no one will tell jokes."
Judy Young will conduct laugh exercises with teachers for 15 minutes before school begins. After three weeks, the staff will become laugh coaches to train others how to laugh. Later in the year, the teachers will have the option of having their students start the day with laugh exercises. They will see how the laughter will have an effect on classroom behavior and student performance.
"Students learn to turn their laughter on and off like a faucet, so it's not disruptive to the class," Young said.
Dr. Regier says that not everyone considers the same things funny because humor is dictated by culture, upbringing and state of mind. But laughter is the same in any language or culture, so it is easy to teach others how to laugh because it's just a physical act and it won't make someone feel uncomfortable.
"It's a great aerobic exercise and it improves your mood," said Young. "And the best thing about it is it costs nothing to share the gift of a heartfelt laugh."
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Bond Issue Update highlights progress as promised
Bond Issue Update, the monthly TV show that highlights the $370 million bond issue implementation, will air its premiere episode on August 27 on WPS-TV, Cox Cable Channel 20 and AT&T U-Verse 99. The show will highlight different improvement projects and bond issue topics to keep staff and community members informed about the progress as promised. Bond Issue Update aired during the implementation of the 2000 bond issue, and the show is available once again to keep the commitment of sharing information as the bond issue work progresses.
The first episode features Superintendent John Allison talking about the community's support of the bond; Chief Operations Officer Martin Libhart explains the phasing of the bond plan; a closer look at Seltzer Elementary's bond project and the installation of all-weather turf at five high schools. Future episodes will look at fine arts upgrades and facility standards; a closer look at what goes into creating the first new high schools in more than 30 years and an explanation of bond financing.
The show will air at different times during the week. To view the TV listings, click here.
Episodes will also be on the district's website and can be viewed by clicking here.
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New “School News” programs begin for the year
New episodes of the district’s “School News” cable program have begun to air on WPS-TV, the district’s cable channel. The “School News” program will have new programs every two weeks.
The first edition includes Superintendent John Allison touring the district and the community, SCOPE activities at Northeast Magnet High School, Black School Educators meet to discuss our youth and the future, all the Learning Centers celebrate graduation together for the first time, and music teachers use a special grant to get training this summer.
Episodes of “School News” are also available online and can be viewed by clicking here.
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Seltzer students receive supplies from Rainbow Girls
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| Rainbow Girls fill backpacks full of supplies at Seltzer. Photo courtesy Media Productions |
Some students at Seltzer Elementary received gifts of backpacks filled with supplies when they returned to school. The Kansas Rainbow Girls purchased supplies as their statewide service project. The group of more than 25 Rainbow Girls and adult sponsors gathered at Seltzer on August 6 to pack the supplies in to backpacks that were donated to Seltzer.
"With the economy the way that it is these days, it's hard for families to buy school supplies," said Sarah Somers, Rainbow Girls Grand Worthy Advisor. "This is one way that we can help out."
Rainbow Girls is a community service group for girls aged 11 – 20.
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Teachers reject BOE contract offer
Teachers have rejected a tentative contract agreement with the Board of Education, according to the United Teachers of Wichita (UTW) President Larry Landwehr. Superintendent John Allison sent out a statement in response to the contract vote. To view the statement, click here.
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Staff and students can purchase software at a discount
Wichita Public Schools' staff and students have the opportunity to purchase Microsoft software at a discount. With a special license agreement with Microsoft, the Wichita Public Schools is able to offer its students, teachers, and staff a selected number of Microsoft software titles at significant discounts.
For a limited time, Office Enterprise software is on sale until October 31. The prices for all software products have increased, but are still available at a discounted price through the district.
To purchase the software, go to the software center website. Choose either the student or faculty tab at the top of the page. Register for an account using your district email address or student ID or report card.
To go to the software center, click here.
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Koch mini-grant accepting applications
The Education EDGE is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of classroom mini-grants for teachers. The Koch Foundation’s special gift to the Education EDGE provides Focus Grants to be utilized on Economic Education, Environmental Education, and Social Studies/History Education, and also require partnerships with designated agencies listed in the Request for Application (RFA). The application package can be downloaded from the Grants & Development Services Portal site. Applications are due Friday, November 12 at 4:45 p.m.
The Grants and Development office is offering three workshops to help teachers with the application process and to develop a funding proposal. Workshops will be held September 2, September 22 and October 1 from 4:30 – 6 p.m. in room 225 at the Focht Instructional Support Center, 412 S. Main. Teachers can sign up for the workshops on MyLearningPlan.
For additional information, please contact Russell Miller at 973-7945 or rmiller@usd259.net.
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Watch the district's cable channel with two services
The Wichita Public Schools’ cable channel is now available through two cable services. WPS-TV programming is shown on Channel 20 on Cox Cable, which has been the home of the Wichita Public Schools’ cable channel for years.
WPS-TV programming is also available on AT&T's new U-Verse service, Channel 99. AT&T is offering a PEG (Public, Education, and Government) Channel on 99. The Wichita Public Schools is the first PEG TV station in the Wichita area to offer programming.
The Wichita Public School’s TV station runs 24 hours a day and spotlights the exciting events happening in the Wichita Public Schools, including School News, Tech Focus, Bond Issue Update, Googolplex!, Parent Talk, high school sporting events, All-City Honors Instrumental & Vocal Music Concerts, Battle of the Books, National Academic League, Board of Education meetings and much more. For more information, click here.
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Pleasant Valley teacher receives Golden Apple from KAKE
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| Meg Plotner, center, received the Golden Apple from KAKE-TV. She is pictured with (from left) principal Michael Archibeque, Dawson Grimsley, Davis-Moore Auto Group; Terry Newman, Papa John's Pizza; Jeff Herndon, KAKE-TV and Sam Vickers, Radio Disney. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Meg Plotner, gifted teacher at Pleasant Valley Middle School, received the Golden Apple Award from KAKE-TV, Papa John's Pizza, Davis-Moore Auto Group and Radio Disney. She was surprised in her classroom on August 20.
Plotner was nominated by a parent of one of her former students. She spent time during the summer to tutor the student in some of the subject areas where he needed help so he would be ready for high school.
Plotner is the first Golden Apple recipient for the 2009-10 school year. Recipients are nominated by school staff, parents and community members to showcase their contribution to the classroom. The teacher receives $250, a pizza party for his/her classroom, a Golden Apple trophy and is featured on KAKE-TV.
To nominate someone for the Golden Apple, click here.
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