updated February 26, 2008

USD 373 Teacher Job Fair Saturday
The Newton USD 373 Human Services Department will hold their 2nd annual Employment Fair this Saturday, March 1, at McKinley Administration Center, 308 East 1st Street, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The theme of the job fair is movie production and potential candidates are invited to a teacher "Casting Call" with "Open auditions for teaching positions!"

The district annually has approximately 30 teaching positions open and will be considering candidates for the 2008-09 school year. Openings occur in all grade levels and subjects. Teachers with Special Education certification are especially encouraged to attend.

Attendees will have the opportunity to visit with building and district level administrators and are encouraged to bring up-to-date copies of college transcripts, resumes and their current teaching license.

Employment Fair Brochure

Photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Dr Michael Clagg, USD 373 Assistant Superintendent for Human Services, shows Janis Whitfield, Newton High School Assistant Principal, the new movie production themed recruitment display that will be used at the district's upcoming Employment Fair on Saturday, March 1, at McKinley Administrative Center, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

updated February 26, 2008

Princess Closet event this Saturday
Area high school girls have the opportunity to play dress-up this Saturday, March 1, during the Princess Closet prom dress event.

This is the third year for the dress exchange which offers area high school girls the opportunity to select a formal dress from hundreds of beautiful gowns donated by other girls and community members.

The Princess Closet will be open for shopping on Saturday, March 1, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Chisholm Trail Factory Outlet center. Dresses are available by donation. Shoppers' assistants will be on hand to help girls select a dress and seamstresses will also be available to make on-site alterations. Dresses are available in all sizes and lengths and a wide array of colors and fabrics. From simple yet chic to elaborately elegant, every girl who walks into the closet is sure to walk out a princess.

According to Jill Lachenmayr, one of the event's organizers, 50-60 new dresses have been added to the selection and others are arriving daily. "The momentum of the event continues to grow. Each year we have a larger selection of dresses. This year we have many more to choose from than either of the previous two years. Our goal is to see that no girl leaves the store without a beautiful dress that fits her perfectly and will make her feel like a princess on prom night. With the wonderful selection we have, that is a very attainable goal this year."

Photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Newton High School senior Melissa Volk models a dress from the Princess Closet during a fashion show at Newton High School. Volk and several other NHS students modeled the dresses for fellow students during the lunch hour last Thursday. Volk's dress, along with hundreds of others will be available at the Princess Closet this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Chisholm Trail Factory Outlet center.

updated February 25, 2008

Famous Kansan reports go high tech
Students in Kristi Link’s 3rd Grade class at South Breeze recently gave oral reports on famous Kansans they had researched and then written about. However, this time the audience wasn’t limited to just their classroom. The students recorded their speeches using laptop computers to create “podcasts”, audio clips that are available to download and listen to on the internet. Anyone with an internet connection can listen to the famous Kansan podcasts by going to http://www.newton.k12.ks.us/tech/link.htm

Photo (by Kristi Link): Michaela Regier records her famous Kansan podcast

updated February 25, 2008

Funk wins CTE logo contest
Jason Funk, a Newton High School senior, was named the winner in the Newton Career and Technical Education logo contest. Funk's design, which features the Newton Railer train logo within a circle, with the CTE letters forming the train's headlight and the motto "Training for Our Future." The Newton high school Career and Technical Education department will use the logo on marketing materials to promote the CTE program.

Photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Jason Funk is shown with a laser cut wooden plaque featuring the new CTE logo he designed.

updated February 20, 2008

Newton Seniors sign letters of intent
Eight Newton High School football players recently signed letters of intent to play at various colleges across the state.

Photo: Front row, from Left: Derek Webb (Bethel), Mario Reyes (Bethel), Jacob Gaede (Hutchinson C.C.), Joel Barker (Fort Scott C.C.), Kalin Johnson (Hutchinson C.C.), Jesse Jerde (Friends), Chris Ronen (Wichita State for track), Jordan Voelker (Butler C.C.)
Back Row: Head Coach Brent Glann and assistant coaches Tad Remsberg and Pete Anderson

updated February 20, 2008

Wizkids blow in to South Breeze
It was a windy day at South Breeze Elementary, when several interesting "characters" rode in on a tornado to entertain the staff and students with a delightful interpretation of "The Wizard of Oz." The acting troupe, students in Cindy Combs P.E. classes, presented the beloved story of Dorothy and her entourage of misfits to the delight of the assembled audience of teachers and students.

top photo(by Jeanie Fuller): Lollipop kid Carlie Wittman reacts with glee to the greeting from fellow lollipop kid Chelsea Roeder as they welcome Dorothy and company to Oz. Teacher Cindy Combs holds the microphone as para Carrie Becker kneels behind Carlie.

bottom photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Scarecrow Willie Wetz gives conflicting directions to Dorothy and her companions. Teacher Cindy Combs holds the microphone as para Traci Thiesen stands by.

updated February 20, 2008

Bunting attends Federal Relations Network conference
Newton School Board member Barbara Bunting recently attended the National School Boards Association's (NSBA) Federal Relations Network (FRN) conference in Washington, D.C. The annual forum gives local school board members an opportunity to educate their members of Congress about the local impacts of federal education policies. Bunting, who is the current president of the Kansas Association of School Boards, was accompanied by several other delegates from various Kansas school boards.

This year's conference, held the first week of February, was attended by more than 900 school leaders from across the country. FRN members fanned out across Capitol Hill to urge their senators and representatives to support NSBA's advocacy priorities. Their message was strong and clear: 

• Fix the No Child Left Behind Act by joining the 20 lawmakers who have already signed on as co-sponsors of NSBA's bill.

• Support funding increases for Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

• And secure a lasting solution to prevent cuts in the Medicaid reimbursements to school districts.

FRN members represent 95,000 school board members who serve 50 million schoolchildren, lending them a strong voice united in advocacy of public education.

 (courtesy photo): Delegates form the Kansas Association of School Boards met with Senator Pat Roberts in his Washington, D.C. office earlier this month during the Federal Relations Network conference.

Shown seated, left to right: Barbara Fuller, Wichita USD 259; Mary Ann Trickle, Salina USD 305; Barbara Bunting, Newton USD 373, KASB President; Judy Lair Woodson County USD 366; Marlene Merrill, Lawrence USD 497, employee of Kansas City, Kansas USD 500, and KASB Past President.

Standing, left to right: Jim Edwards, Topeka, KASB Assistant Executive Director/Board Development; Kent Swartz, South Barber USD 255; Frank Henderson, Seaman USD 345; Sue Matson, Blue Valley USD 229; Senator Pat Roberts; Fred Patton, Seaman USD 345; Phil Black, Salina USD 305; and Dale Graham, Andover USD 385. 

updated February 13, 2008

Newton Thespians shine at state conference
Students in Newton High School’s drama troupe performed well at the state Thespian convention this year—both figuratively and literally. The Newton participants convened with 1500 fellow Thespians from schools around the state on January 17-19 at the Wichita Hyatt and Century II Convention Center. Newton Drama coach Cassandra Conley escorted a group of 34 Newton students to the event
Each participating Kansas school may name two representatives to the state board.

The students are required to attend a minimum number of the organization’s five yearly meetings to maintain their board member status. Newton seniors Elise Blann and Madison Owens are the two designated board members for USD 373 for 2007-08. The state board helps plan and coordinate the annual conference in cooperation with the sponsors and Regional Sponsor Board. The sponsor board is made up of the state director and six regional sponsors. Conley is one of the six sponsor members.

During the conference, students from across the state have the opportunity to enter their original scripts in a playwriting competition. The top three are selected to audition and direct their shows for a Readers Theatre at the conference. This year Newton’s Madison Owens and Matt Hutton placed in the top three to receive this honor. Madison presented “Heart” and Matt presented “Maiden Voyage.”

Each year the NHS Thespian/Drama troupe attempts to reach the Honor Troupe level. There are three levels of Honor Troupe designation. This year the troupe qualified for the Silver Honor Troupe level. Levels are based on the amount of shows the troupe performs, community service project involvement, image boosting projects, fundraisers, and other projects.

During the conference, seniors have the opportunity to audition for colleges with the chance to win one of four Kansas Thespian Scholarships. Out of approximately 100 students who auditioned, Newton’s Owens was one of the four selected and was offered a $1000 scholarship to the school of her choice.

Click on thumbnail photo for larger image.
Photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Newton High School students (left to right) Elise Blann, Matt Hutton, and Madison Owens participated, along with 31 other Newton students, in the annual Kansas Thespian Convention, January 17-19. Blann and Owen are state board members, and Hutton and Blann were honored for original play scripts they submitted at the convention.

updated February 13, 2008

Bradley wins Chisholm Spelling Bee
Twenty-nine Chisholm students gathered in the school's library Friday, Feb. 8 at 8:15 a.m. for the annual spelling bee. Fifteen words were pronounced by teacher Paul Buller for students to write on paper. Following the grading of the papers, Emma Bradley emerged the clear winner, with no words missed. Bradley will advance to represent Chisholm at the Harvey County Spelling Bee, hosted by Santa Fe Middle School on Friday, February 15, at 1:00 p.m.. Madison Goerend, grade 6, missed one word to be named the alternate. Matt Willis, grade 6, missed three words to place third.

Click on thumbnail photo for larger image.
Photo (by Beverley Buller): Top spellers at Chisholm are (right to left) Matt Willis, third place; Emma Bradley, first place; and Madison Goerend, second place.

updated February 13, 2008

Sunset students learn about wheat
Sunset Elementary School resembled a bread factory recently, as students learned how to grind wheat and bake bread during Kansas Day activities, occurring throughout the final week of January.

First graders at the school learned how to grind wheat into flour, thanks to a visit by Harvey County Farm Bureau representative Margaret Goering. Goering visited each of the first grade classes and allowed each child to take a turn grinding the wheat she provided in a small wheat grinder that she also brought along.

As Goering talked to the children about the many uses of wheat, she explained that for the wheat to be used in foods like pizza, bread, cookies, cereal and other foods, it must first be ground into flour. Goering showed the children a small but heavy portable wheat grinder that she and some friends purchased together for their personal use. The grinder is over 30 years old, but still works like a charm.

After the students had a chance to grind wheat, Goering place the resulting whole wheat flour in plastic bags so it could be used by them to make bread later in the week.

The same week, Harvey County K-State Extension Office representative Susan Jackson showed Sunset third graders how to mix and bake bread. By placing the dough inside plastic bags prior to kneading, clean up is much easier. The students enjoyed learning how to bake the bread, and they enjoyed eating it even more.

Click on thumbnail photos for larger image.
Top Photo(by Jeanie Fuller): Margaret Goering shows Sunset students the raw wheat before allowing them to pour it into the wheat grinder.

Middle photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Jaeden Cochran pours wheat into the wheat grinder as Nicholas Ybarra watches and awaits his turn.

Bottom photo (by Sherry Unruh): Sunset third grader Katherine Lindgren kneads bread dough during a bread-making lesson presented by Susan Jackson from the Harvey County K-State Extension Office.
 

updated February 13, 2008

Local banks support new Santa Fe club
Thanks to donations from Midland Bank and First Bank, students at Santa Fe Middle School have the opportunity to learn more about Mexican heritage and culture. Anthony Cuellar, English Language teacher at Santa Fe, approached the banks about supporting the new club and was rewarded for his efforts with $100 contributions from each.

The club began meeting in February, and the first session featured Low Rider Art, demonstrating how urban heritage inspired illustrations typified by Mexican icons and religious icons have been used to adorn automobiles. Future sessions will include a sewing session, where students can make their own armbands or headbands, and a cooking session, where students will share cuisine typical of what is prepared and served in their homes. The club will also have photography and creative writing sessions.

To thank the banks for their start-up contributions, students in the club presented each bank with a framed illustration created by the students.

Click on thumbnail photos for larger image.

Top Photo(courtesy photo): Shown presenting a thank you picture to First Bank are, from left to right: Eneida Rodriguez, Yazmin Lopez Valdivia, Amy Mitchell, First Bank representative, and Lalo Rivera Puentes.

Bottom Photo (courtsy photo): Shown presenting a thank you picture to Midland Bank are, left to right: Lalo Rivera Puentes, Joy Bestgen, Midland Bank representative, Yazmin Lopez Valdivia and Eneida Rodriguez.