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Schools recognized for Standard of Excellence

Photo by Susan Arensman

Forty schools were recognized by the Board of Education on October 26 for receiving the Standard of Excellence, the state’s highest honor from the Kansas Department of Education. The honor is based on the percentage of students who score exemplary on the state assessments in reading, math, science and/or writing. For 2009, schools received 127 Standard of Excellence Awards by grade-level and/or building-wide, an increase of 18 more awards than the district received in 2008.

Schools receiving Standard of Excellence for the first time were honored with a banner marking their achievement. Schools that have received Standard of Excellence in previous years were given hanging plaques that attach to the bottom of the banners they received in prior years.

After the BOE recognition, a reception was held to honor the school staff members for their hard work.

Standard of Excellence is based on Kansas state assessment data. For a school to receive Standard of Excellence, a certain percentage of students must score exemplary on the assessments and only a small percentage of students be placed on academic warning. The percentage varies by grade level.

The following schools received Standard of Excellence:

Elementary Schools

Allen	Writing
Beech	Math – 3rd grade
Benton	Reading – 4th grade
Black	Reading – 3rd and 4th grade, building-wide Math – 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Writing
Bostic	Reading – 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Math – 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Science Writing
Bryant	Reading – 5th grade Math – 5th grade
Buckner	Reading – 5th grade
Chisholm Trail	Math – 5th grade, building-wide
Cleaveland	Math – 5th grade Writing
College Hill	Reading – 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Writing
Colvin	Reading – 4th grade Math – 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, building-wide
Dodge	Math – 3rd and 5th grade, building-wide
Earhart	Math – 4th grade Writing
Emerson	Reading – 3rd grade
Enterprise	Reading – 5th grade Writing
Griffith	Reading – 3rd grade Math – 3rd grade, building-wide
Harry Street	Reading – 3rd grade Math –3rd grade
Hyde	Reading – 3rd grade, building-wide Math – 3rd and 5th grade, building-wide Science Writing
Irving	Math – 5th grade
Isely	Reading – 3rd grade
L’Ouverture	Writing
Kensler	Writing
McCollom	Reading – 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Math – 3rd and 5th grade, building-wide Science
McLean	Reading – 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Math – 3rd and 4th grade, building-wide Science
OK	Reading – 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Math – 4th grade
Payne	Math – 3rd grade
Peterson	Reading – 3rd and 4th grade Math – 3rd and 4th grade, building-wide Writing
Price-Harris	Reading – 3rd grade Math – 3rd and 5th grade
Riverside	Reading – 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Math – 3rd, 4th and 5th grade, building-wide Science
Woodland	Reading – 4th and 5th grade Math – 5th grade

K-8 Schools

Horace Mann

Reading – 7th and 8th grade, building-wide Math – 7th and 8th grade, building-wide

Middle Schools

Allison	Reading – 6th, 7th and 8th grade, building-wide Math – 7th and 8th grade, building-wide
Coleman	Reading – 7th grade
Robinson	Reading – 7th grade, building-wide Math – 7th grade
Wilbur	Reading – 7th, 8th grade, building-wide

High Schools

East	Reading – building-wide
Metro- Boulevard	Writing – building-wide
Northeast	Reading – building-wide Math – building-wide
Northwest	Reading – building-wide

Wichita Public Schools has seen an increase in schools receiving Standard of Excellence Awards every year since the awards began in 2003.

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Southeast dedicates its new Buffalo Branch 

Lori Smith, center, Credit Union of America, works with Southeast seniors Marissa Saunders and Shaundrae Franklin at the school's Buffalo Branch. The Buffalo branch is staffed by the students.

Students at Southeast High School have an opportunity to learn fiscal responsibility and business skills through a partnership with Credit Union of America. CUA opened the Buffalo Branch, named after Southeast’s mascot, to serve students and faculty during the lunch hour two days a week. The Buffalo Branch is staffed by two students who are in the school’s banking program. Southeast officially dedicated the branch with principal Leroy Parks conducting a ceremonial card swipe in the school’s ATM.

“This has been a dream of ours for quite some time,” said Parks. “After four years, this has finally become a reality.”

“Besides having access to money and being able to make deposits, this gives us an opportunity to teach students how to manage their money to be fiscally responsible,” he added. “The Buffalo Branch gives students the 21^st century skills they need to pursue a successful career in banking.”

The Buffalo Branch was developed because of a request by a Southeast teacher to assist with hands-on experience for the school’s 3-year banking program. Students in the program learn about different careers in the banking industry and the core technical skills that are needed. By the time students are seniors, the students will work in the Buffalo Branch and at other CUA branches to get real-world experience.

Southeast principal Leroy Parks swipes a Southeast buffalo debit card at the school’s ATM to dedicate the new Buffalo Branch. Photos by Susan Arensman

Two Southeast seniors in the banking program were hired by CUA to staff the high school office. They have worked at various CUA offices since June as part of their work-study in the banking program.

“I’ve learned that the most important part of banking is money management,” said Shandrae Franklin. “I hope that my peers will learn that as well.”

Students 15 and older are able to open savings accounts at the Buffalo Branch. Other accounts like checking accounts require a parent or guardian's signature. Students 16 and older can start a checking account without a parent or guardian's signature if they complete an online tutorial and pass a test.

Credit Union of America will soon have a debit card with a buffalo design to honor the school’s mascot. Students, staff and Southeast alumni and supporters will be able to get the card to show off their school pride.

“I better get the first one,” Parks joked.

The Buffalo Branch is not open to the public, but the ATM is available to guests when they are visiting during the day or at after-school functions.

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First H1N1 vaccine clinics complete
More than 250 students and staff received the H1N1 vaccine in the first vaccination clinics held in the district on Oct. 28. The Sedgwick County Health Department recommended Levy, Greiffenstein/Wells, Chisholm Life Skills and Sowers host the first vaccination clinics for students, health room workers and pregnant staff.

"It went very smoothly," said Kathy Hubka, Coordinator of Health Services. "These are smaller school populations, but it didn't take long to get everyone vaccinated."

Future dates for vaccination clinics at other schools have not been determined. Much will depend on when vaccines will be delivered to the Sedgwick County Health Department and the amount of vaccine that is received. Dates for the clinics will be provided to the schools as soon as the district receives notification.

It will not be mandatory for any student to receive the H1N1 vaccine; the school clinics merely offer the vaccine in the most convenient place possible for one of the priority vaccine groups.

A packet of information, including the permission slip for students to be able to receive the vaccine, will be distributed to schools when they are notified of the clinic dates. A ParentLink message will also be sent out to families.

School nurses will be overseeing the clinics and the vaccine will be administered by district nurses and/or licensed volunteers by the Sedgwick County Health Department.

It is recommended that children under 10 years of age receive a second dose of the H1N1 vaccine. Elementary schools will provide one dose of the vaccine at the school’s clinic. Children can get the second dose through their primary health care provider or the Sedgwick County Health Department.

More information on H1N1, including tips on how to help prevent the virus from spreading, can be found on the Wichita Public Schools’ website.

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Minneha students learn from local movie director

Director Kevin Willmott, back row right, and Delco Ebie talk about the movie making process with Minneha students. Photo courtesy Minneha

Fifth-grade students at Minneha Core Knowledge Magnet had an opportunity to learn about the movie making process from a local director. Kevin Willmott, director of the movie, “The Only Good Indian” talked about his movie and the work it takes to complete a production. The students researched the questions they were going to ask before they attended the assembly.

Willmott was accompanied by Delco Ebie, who served as emcee. Ebie is an actor and the husband of Valorie Ebie, prekindergarten teacher at Minneha.

The movie takes place in Kansas in the early 1900’s and much of the movie was filmed in Kansas. It was previewed at the Tallgrass Film Festival. Willmott is also a professor of film study at the University of Kansas.  

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Superintendent Allison reads to Bostic students

Photo courtesy Bostic

Students at Bostic Traditional Magnet had a special guest reader on October 21. Superintendent John Allison spent some time reading stories to fifth-grade students in Katie Scott's classroom. The visit to the classroom reinforced lessons the students receive about the importance of reading and how it's a skill that they'll need for the rest of their lives.

Superintendent Allison also answered questions from the students.

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Gingerbread Village supports Operation School Bell
The Assistance League of Wichita is holding its 15^th annual Gingerbread Village on November 20 – 22 at the Church of the Magdalen, 12626 E. 21^st St. North, to benefit Operation School Bell. Visitors can bid on original gingerbread houses and have an opportunity to create one of their own.

The times for the Gingerbread Village are:
Friday, Nov. 20, 2 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 12:30 – 5 p.m.

Operation School Bell provides new clothing and uniforms, coats, book bags and grooming kits for prekindergarten – high school students.

Tickets are $7, children 2 and younger are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door, or in advance for a discounted price at the ALW Thrift Shop, 2611 E. Douglas; Cambridge Market, 21^st and Webb Rd.; Watermark Books, 4701 E. Douglas; The First Place, 2929 N. Rock Road and Capitol Federal branches.

To kick off Gingerbread Village, on November 14, there will be a life-sized Gingerbread House at Cambridge Market from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Children are invited to have their picture taken with a gingerbread boy.

For more information, contact the Assistance League of Wichita at 636-1277 or visit www.assistanceleaguewichita.org.

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Five West students HOSA state officers
Five students from West High School have been named Kansas state officers for Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA). Ashley Shahan was elected State President, Corey Buckner was named state vice president, Ashley Morris is state secretary, Megan Doty is state historian and Cobie Morton is state Chaplain. This is the first time West has had an elected President and Vice-President, or has had five officers elected in one year.

West is the only high school in the district with a HOSA chapter. HOSA is a national student organization that promotes career opportunities in the health care industry. HOSA provides occupational skills as well as leadership skills.

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Williams participates in bus driver proclamation

Photo courtesy Eric Williams

Eric Williams, Transportation Manager for the Wichita Public Schools, was in Topeka when Governor Mark Parkinson signed a proclamation declaring October 21 as "School Bus Driver Appreciation Day." Williams attended the signing as the South Central Kansas Vice-President of the Kansas Pupil Transportation Association. 

Williams is the first Transportation staff member who has been elected as an officer for the KSPTA. He represents 61 school districts throughout south central Kansas and coordinates safety activities for school bus drivers.

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