Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary School

Bostic Traditional Magnet was developed at the request of parents who wanted a more traditional, back-to-basics form of learning environment. Basic subjects of reading, composition, grammar, handwriting, spelling, math and social studies are emphasized. Standardized dress is required for students.

Classroom teachers provide core academic instruction using the self-contained classroom philosophy. Specialized art, library, music and physical education programs are provided. Fifth grade students may participate in the instrumental strings program. Bostic also provides all-day kindergarten and a childcare program before and after school.

Bostic Traditional Magnet appeals to many families who seek a rigorous, structured learning environment. Bostic serves students with varying exceptionalities through Speech, Categorical MR, Interrelated and Gifted programs. Bostic meets the district’s diversity guidelines for magnet schools and provides a program where all students are valued and supported.

Bostic consistently meets the criteria for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as described in the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) Act.  Bostic students have a history of positive academic performance with high levels of staff accountability. The partnership between parents and staff has definitely made excellence in academics a reality at Bostic.

In Spring 2009, 97% of Bostic students scored Proficient to Exemplary on the State of Kansas Reading Assessment and 98% scored in the Proficient to Exemplary range on the State Math Assessment.

Bostic students received recognition for earning the distinction of "Standard of Excellence" on the State Assessments for Reading and Math in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Bostic students also received the distinguished "Standard of Excellence" recognition in the areas of Science in 2003, 2004, 2005 and Writing in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005.

Awards

Spring 2009 Good Apple Award Recipients: Chris Hammer, Second Grade Teacher; Brandie Thompson and Gina Solbach, Parent Volunteers

October 2008, Candy Denk-Connolly, First Grade Teacher was recognized by Wal-Mart as Teacher of the Year

Spring 2007 Good Apple Awards went to Lynda Gillen, nurse; Samia Alzoobi, Susan Goodman, Maria Hatchett, Sue Helm, Steve and Judy Helmer, Katie Kirton, Nancy LeCompte, Stacy Record, and Kathie French, Battle of the Books parent volunteers. 

Congratulations and thank you to each and every one!

Exit east Kellogg at Rock Rd. Go south three blocks on Rock Rd. to Gilbert. Go east on Gilbert 1.5 blocks. Bostic is on the south side of the street. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

The mission of Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary School is to expect and value maximum academic performance from every child and to prepare each child to be a successful, productive, responsible citizen by:

• Promoting self-respect and respect for others;
• Actively involving parents in their child’s education;
• Providing a safe, supportive, and structured environment for learning;
• Providing and assessing a challenging curriculum exceeding the district standards;
• Allowing opportunities to apply learned skills in real-life situations;
• Providing interventions to support social and academic needs; and
• Encouraging responsibility and self-discipline.

School Improvement Plan (2008-2009)

1. Our students will improve competency in the application of real life problem solving skills and in the area of estimation and measurement, so that 97% of Bostic students will demonstrate proficiency as evidenced by results of the Kansas State Assessment by April 2009.
2. Our students will improve reading in the areas of plot and literary structure in expository text so that 95% of Bostic students will demonstrate proficiency as evidenced by results of the Kansas State Assessment by March 2009. 
3. Our students will demonstrate continuous growth in their ability to effectively communicate in written form, so that 95% of Bostic students will demonstrate proficiency as evidenced by results of the Kansas State Writing Assessment by April 2009.  Top

The council is an organization that consists of school staff, parents and business/community members. It acts as a steering committee for the development and evaluation of the school's mission, goals and program. The council has been involved in hiring teachers, developing a Mission Statement for the school, and providing input on such important school policies as standardized dress, homework and discipline policies. They also provide input on curriculum, help to assess the school's performance and set goals and strategies for improvement of Bostic Traditional Magnet.

Meeting Day: First Tuesday of the month
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bostic Library
Chairperson: Mark Jordan, 687-1035


Parent Involvement

Bostic has a high degree of parent involvement. The Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) is a group of Bostic parents, teachers, staff and interested persons. The PTO board meets monthly. General PTO meetings are held four or fives times a year. These are open meetings, and anyone may attend board or general meetings. Parents are urged to participate in PTO. The objectives of PTO are: to promote the welfare and education of children in the school community, to assist in securing adequate laws for the care and protection of children, and to bring the home and the school into a closer relationship. These goals are attained through the leadership of the PTO board and the participation of parents, teachers and staff at Bostic.

• At Bostic, the emphasis is on academic content - the atmosphere is conducive to learning and students and staff are aligned in their focus on this mission.
• Reading Counts/Accelerated Math programs are used to continually challenge students to grow and learn.
• Categorical MR students are integrated and paired with regular education students so that each may learn from the other.
• Student standardized dress unifies the student body and creates an atmosphere for learning.
• Interrelated special education instruction is provided to students who have been identified with learning disabilities.
• Gifted instruction is available to students who meet state and district specifications for service.

Basic Concepts

1. Self-contained classes - one teacher is responsible for all academic instruction.
2. A heavy emphasis on reading, math and communication skills.
3. Citizenship, patriotism and heritage will be stressed.
4. Attendance and punctuality are strictly enforced.
5. Discipline will be stressed - self discipline is preferred - but a student will not be allowed to constantly disrupt a class. Good conduct is expected.
6. Respect is expected for authority, for others and for differences.
7. Academic expectations and grading standards are high.
8. Basic skills in reading, writing, speaking, mathematics and research are emphasized throughout the program. In all grades, achievement in basic skills lays the foundation for the development of critical thinking, stressed within all subjects.
9. Library skills and writing across the curriculum will be emphasized.
10. Traditional reading and shared inquiry are emphasized.
11. Relevant homework will be assigned frequently.
12. Accurate and frequent reporting to parents will be expected from the staff.
13. Parents are expected to support their children in a partnership with the school.

Parent involvement is crucial to the traditional program's success. Parents are expected to support teachers and the administrator in any way requested and to help the school and parent organization through generous donations of time and energy.

Kindergarten

All-Day Kindergarten:  9 a.m. - 4:10 p.m.

• Junior Safety Patrol
• Student Council
• Strings
• Battle of the Books 4th/5th grade Literature Program
• Science Fair
• Wax Museum
• DARE
• Field Day
• Association with Arts Partners to enrich students in the arts
• Family Literacy and Family Math Nights
• Vocal music programs by grade level
• Fun Night
• Study-Book Buddies
• Student Leadership Tech Team
• Schoolwide spelling bee

The Leicle Bostic Traditional Elementary Magnet School is housed in the former Kistler Elementary School which was originally a part of Common School District No. 184, Kechi. The district came into the Wichita Public School System by attachment in July of 1963.

The site is located on a farm which was formerly owned by Mr. and Mrs. Foster. This farm was a part of the original Osage Trust Lands (1873).

The original school, containing three classrooms and a gymnasium, was completed in 1953, and classes actually started in January of 1954. An addition of two permanent classrooms was completed in 1955. Three portable classrooms were built on the site in 1958, and three permanent classrooms were added to the main building in 1962. Two additional portable classrooms were added in 1963, two in 1966, and a portable restroom in 1969.

Kistler was closed as an attendance center in May of 1984. The building was used for storage until 1988. From 1988 to 1994 the building was used as a Gammon Elementary School annex.

In 1994-95, the building was renamed Leicle Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary School after a former USD 259 principal, and Gammon students returned to the base school. At present it houses one classroom each (K-5) and has an enrollment of 155 students. The two other classrooms are utilized as a library and computer lab.

At the April 8, 1996 meeting, the Board of Education approved the closing of the Bostic School building at the end of the 1995-96 school year and the entire program moved to the Stearman site at 8103 East Gilbert, keeping the Bostic name.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, included the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

The school district hired the firm of Winter Architects, and Caro Construction Co. was utilized to complete the Bond project. The infrastructure at Bostic was upgraded, and the bus load/unloading areas revamped.

Bostic's Bond project was completed for the amount of $865,945 and the school's dedication ceremony was held September 4, 2003.