August 25, 2008

Kaufman Headed for NFTE Business Plan Competition
(from the Youth Entrepreneurs of Kansas Summer 2008 Newsletter)

This October, YEK student and overall YEK state business plan winner, Evan Kaufman, will be rubbing elbows with budding business owners from around the world at the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) Business Plan Competition.

Kaufman, a Newton High School student, earned the opportunity to compete at NFTE by winning the YEK Business Plan competition and receiving a $1,000 venture capital award for his landscape company known as Grassmasters, LLC.

Kaufman will spend three days and two nights in New York City, NY, all expenses paid, and will compete against 50 other program winners (including international participants) for up to $10,000 in venture capital.

The competition takes place October 22—24, 2008. Kaufman’s very proud YEK teacher is Lisa Yoder.

Photo: (by Denise DuBois) NHS student Evan Kaufman (right) and business teacher Lisa Yoder are shown with Kaufman’s YEK Award for best business plan at the state competition in May, 2008. Kaufman will head to New York City in October to compete at the national level.

August 20, 2008

Local Officials Go Back to School

Several of the “kids” entering Newton school buildings on Friday—the first all-district attendance day for Newton Public Schools—were taller and older looking than the rest. No, they hadn’t been held back or “left behind”; rather, the visitors were local candidates and elected officials participating in USD 373’s VIP tour day.

Several local VIP’s accepted the district’s invitation to visit Newton schools on the first day of school to tour the facilities and meet and mingle with staff and students as they embark on a new school year.

Many of the facilities are currently in flux, as construction and remodeling projects stemming from the newly passed $30 million bond issue move forward. Currently, work is progressing at Northridge Elementary where a new six-classroom addition is on schedule for completion prior to the end of the year. The Santa Fe Middle School gymnasium remodeling project is almost complete and the Newton High School Boyd Street extension is in progress and on schedule.

The VIP visitors were able to see the progress made so far on the bond projects and hear about how the new facilities, once completed, will positively impact the learning environment for students.

First day visiting dignitaries included Kansas Senator Carolyn McGinn, Kansas Representative Marc Rhoades, Kansas House of Representatives candidate Tom Adrian, and Harvey County Sheriff candidate, Detective T. Walton.

photo top: Northridge Principal Arthur Whillock introduces Detective T. Walton to new teacher Jamie Richardson and her 2nd grade class.

photo bottom: Northridge Principal Arthur Whillock gives Detective T. Walton a tour of the new addition to the school, which is currently under construction. The project, slated for completion by the end of the year, will add six new classrooms to the building.