Parent Talk

Parent Talk Streaming Videos

Parent Talk: The Office of Parent and Community Support - NEW!
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Sierre Usher, District Mediator, joins guest host Kim Burkhalter to discuss the important work of the Parent and Community Support Office. This department serves the general public — particularly parents — as an advocate to evaluate and/or mediate school related problems.

Parent Talk: All About Blackbear Bosin Academy
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Principal Lura Atherly joins Sierre to discuss the great program at Blackbear Bosin. Bosin Academy is an alternative school for regular education seventh, eighth and ninth grade students who need the support of smaller class sizes, and may find a comprehensive middle or high school overwhelming. Small class sizes allow students to create positive connections to school and receive more academic support from staff members.

Parent Talk: The Office of Equity and Accountability

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Sierre Usher is joined by Kim Burkhalter, Director of Equity and Accountability. Ms. Burkhalter explains this new department's mission and how its efforts impact student success in all schools.

Parent Talk: H1N1 Flu Information
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The H1N1 flu strain is in the news and this episode of Parent Talk focuses on the prevention, treatment, myths and facts about this critical health issue. Joining host Sierre Usher are Kathy Hubka, Health Services Coordinator for Wichita Public Schools, and Becky Tuttle, Health Promotion Coordinator with the Sedgwick County Health Department.

Parent Talk: Suspensions and Expulsions

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Klaus Kollmai, District Hearing Supervisor, joins host Sierre Usher in a discussion of our district's suspension and expulsion policies.

Parent Talk: New K-5 Textbook Adoption of Everyday Math
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Join host Sierre Usher as she discusses our district’s new K-5 mathematics curriculum, “Everyday Mathematics”, with Sue Farag, Elementary Learning Services Executive Director, and Shane Vondracek, a 1^st grade teacher who helped pilot this exciting new program last year.

Parent Talk: Dealing with Sexual Harassment
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Title IX Director Keith Reynolds talks about how parents and students should deal with incidents of sexual harassment at school. The school district's policies concerning harassment are explained and Mr. Reynolds discusses how cell phones and the internet have increased these incidents and how our students are protected from retaliation if they report sexual harassment.

Parent Talk: B.I.S.T. Program - Behavior Intervention Support Team
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Teresa Fliger and host Sierre Usher discuss B.I.S.T., a new behavior intervention program which opened in 11 elementary schools this past year. The program stresses a carefully planned, nuturing approach to discipline which has been proven to be more effective in long-term behavior modification than old forms of discipline based on punishment.

Parent Talk: Identifying and Treating Head Lice
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Though not a pleasant topic, the issue of head lice is a very real concern for many parents. Find out how these nuisance pests can be identified, the best proven treatments for head lice and how to prevent them from spreading to other children or adults. Coordinator of Health Services Kathy Hubka is our guest, joining host Sierre Usher from the Parent and Community Support Office.

Parent Talk: Getting to Know Incoming Superintendent John Allison
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Join host Sierre Usher from the Parent and Community Support Network Office as she visits with our new incoming Superintendent John Allison. Mr. Allison discusses his background, his views on Parent Involvement, his leadership style, the strengths and challenges he sees in the Wichita school district, and much more.

Parent Talk: Back to School Information for 2009-10
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Communications Specialist Susan Arensman joins host Sierre Usher to talk about how parents can prepare for back to school enrollment. Find out about the changes in store this year and how to find many important forms and information online this year.

Parent Talk: All About Gordon Parks Academy
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Vice-Principal Jaime Hutchinson joins host Sierre Usher in a discussion about our newest school, Gordon Parks Academy. Topics include how the new K-8 school is structured, the neighborhood magnet school concept, Primary Years and Middle Years International Baccalaureate programs, and much more about this exciting new school.

BOE Policy Made Easy: Reporting Suspected Abuse
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District Coordinator of Social Works Services, Loren Pack, talks about how staff should go about reporting suspected child abuse & neglect. Sierre Usher hosts.

Understanding Annual Yearly Progress (AYP)
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American schools are expected to reach 100% proficiency by 2014. Executive Director of Title 1 Services, Brad Pepper, describes how reading and math assessment targets translate to AYP. Sierre Usher, Parent and Community Support Network Office, is our host.

A Visit to the Parent-Teacher Resource Center
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Where can you make a fun classroom or home educational game for under a dollar? Or awards to recognize students and staff without spending a lot of money? Find out in this episode about all the many services provided by the Parent-Teacher Resource Center. Sierre Usher, Parent and Community Support Network Office, is our host.

Wichita School Bond Issue Facts
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What is a school bond? What’s with the 25% buttons we see all over town? What will the bond money be used for? What happens if the Wichita bond issue doesn’t pass? Wichita BOE President Lynn Rogers explains details of the 2008 Bond Issue proposal. Sierre Usher, Parent and Community Support Network Office, is our host.

BOE Policy Made Easy "Rights of Noncustodial Parents"
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School board policies are not always very easy to understand. In our next few episodes of Parent Talk, we will explain some of the more misunderstood policies. This week, Pupil Accounting Supervisor Fabian Armendariz discusses the rights of noncustodial parents. Sierre Usher, Parent and Community Support, is our host.

BOE Policy Made Easy "Truancy"
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Chris Champagne, the school district’s Truancy Supervisor, will be sharing policy and procedures that Wichita Public Schools follow to keep track of student attendance, the actions that occur when a student has excessive absences and how we can notify parents of attendance issues through our new Parent Link system. Sierre Usher hosts.

BOE Policy Made Easy "Special Assignments"
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School board policies are not always very easy to understand. In our next few episodes of Parent Talk, we will explain some of the more misunderstood policies. Pupil Accounting Supervisor Fabian Armendariz discusses special transfers. Sierre Usher, Parent and Community Support, is our host.

Parent Talk: New Busing Plan - Choices For Parents
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Fabian Armendariz, supervisor of the Pupil Accounting Department, explains the exciting new choices available to parents whose children were part of the recently discontinued Busing For Desegregation Plan. Sierre Usher, Parent and Community Support Office, hosts.

Parent Talk: School Readiness
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Parent Educator, Melinda Rocha, from Parents As Teachers, discusses how parents can help get their children prepared for starting school. Hosted by Sierre Usher from USD 259’s Parent and Community Support Office.

Parent Talk: Understanding Kansas State Assessments
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Lisa Lutz, WPS Learning Services Interim Division Director, discusses the Kansas State Assessments and how parents can help prepare their children for and understand these important tests. Sierre Usher, Parent and Community Support Office, hosts.

Parent Talk: Getting Students Ready For Graduation
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Jim Flax and Sierre Usher discuss high school graduation requirements and the important preparations for college and life after high school.

Parent Talk: Tobacco-Free Policy
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This episode features Shannon Krysl, Director of the Wichita Public Schools' Risk Management Department. Ms. Krysl explains the district's new Tobacco-Free policy.

Parent Talk: Zero Tolerance Policies in USD 259
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Klaus Kollmai discusses our district's Zero Toelerance policies as they relate to weapons, replica weapons and drugs in our schools.

AYP For Parents

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Parent Talk - Young Scientist
Parent Talk - Early Literacy: Helping Young Children Acquire the Love of Reading
Parent Talk - Dealing With A Bully
Parent Talk - The Importance of Praise
Parent Talk - Raising Healthy Teens
Parent Talk - Welcome to Middle School!
Parent Talk - What's Your Parenting Style?
6th Grade Video For Students & Parents
Conferences for Parents
Connect - Making the Most of High School...and Beyond!