updated March 25, 2008

Walton Center Has Enrollment Openings
The Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center has enrollment openings for the 2008-09 school year. The school is open to all students, grades K-5, regardless of residential location. Students need not reside within the Walton school boundaries, or even the USD 373 district boundaries in order to attend the Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center.

Walton will soon complete its first year as a newly restructured charter school. The Rural Life Center offers elementary age students the unique opportunity to learn standardized skills utilizing the latest in technology and hands-on applications in a traditional, rural life setting.

Construction is nearing completion on a 3,000-square-foot addition to the school to add two new classrooms and a new library. With its low student/teacher ratio and exceptional teaching staff, the Walton 21st Century rural Life Center has one of the highest academic achievement rates in the state and has consistently achieved the State Standard of Excellence in all tested subjects. Persons wanting more information can contact Walton principal Natise Vogt, at 620-837-3161, or email: nvogt@newton.k12.ks.us.

Information Brochure

Photo: Children at the Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center feed Petey the goat. Caring for Petey is just one of many hands-on opportunities to learn that are available to students at the Walton Center.

updated March 25, 2008

Newton Music Students Selected for Honors Performance Groups
Several instrumental and vocal musicians from Newton High School were selected to perform in State and Regional Honors Groups.

Top Photo: Melissa Bontrager, a sophomore, was selected to perform in the Southwest American Choral Director’s Association Women’s 8th – 10th grade honor choir. Bontrager submitted an audition tape to be selected for the 99-voice choir, which performed February 19-22.

Bottom Photo: The Kansas Music Educator’s Association Honor Groups performed February 27 and 28, and March 1 in Wichita at Century II. Shown are left to right, front to back: Robert Howell, sophomore, bass; Erica Anderson, senior, alto; and Katie Klock, senior, soprano who were all selected for the All-State Choir. Ruthi Wiens, senior, string bass was selected to perform in the All-State Band. Laurel Woodward, junior, cello; Landon Bartel, junior, string bass; Emma Regier, junior, viola; and Padraic McGinley, senior, viola were selected to perform in the All-State Orchestra.

updated March 25, 2008

Circle of Friends Enjoy Bowling Outing
The Newton USD 373 Circle of Friends group recently met for a few rousing lines of bowling at Play-Mor lanes. The Circle of Friends project promotes student mentoring activities at all grade levels in the district. Students who can benefit from a mentor relationship are joined with students who wish to be mentors and the groups meet periodically for fun group activities. In March, students from the Slate Creek, Santa Fe, and Chisholm Circle of Friends groups enjoyed a bowling outing.

Photo: Brooke Glover, center, receives a celebratory hug from buddies Taylor Goerend and Elizabeth Brown. .

updated March 25, 2008

Newton FFA News
Newton FFA did well at the South Barber Livestock Judging Contest The senior team placed 2nd overall with Tom Gatz, Felicia Dore, and Austin Thompson. Seniors who placed individually were Tom Gatz 10th and Austin Thompson 2nd. The freshmen team also placed 8th with Erica Phillips, Ashley Jury, and Tanner Gatz.

Newton also hosted their Livestock Invitational on March 1. The senior team of Tom Gatz, Dustin Nattier, and Austin Thompson placed 1st. Individuals on the senior team who placed were Tom Gatz 2nd, Austin Thompson 6th, and Dustin Nattier 11th.

Newton had a successful day at the south central selection days. Walter Lehman received a proficiency award for Forage Production and Diary Production. The state degree winner was Tom Gatz. The green hand degree winners were Erin Mosiman and Dustin Nattier. Erin Mosiman was the star green hand for Newton.

District officer interviews were held at Newton. Dustin Nattier was the lone Newton member to be elected as the district reporter.

by FFA member Austin Thompson.

updated March 12, 2008

Camp Invention Summer Program
Area children will have an opportunity to use their creativity and problem solving skills this summer with a new summer camp program: Camp Invention.

The week-long camp, which will run June 9-13, is a non-profit, educational science enrichment experience sponsored by the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation. The program encourages creative thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills through fun, hands-on exploration for children entering grades 1-6.

Each day, students will participate in five innovative modules. In Problem Solving on Planet Zak, students crash land on an alien planet and have to use their creativity and teamwork to return home from this strange environment.

In the Spills and Chills module, students must design new safety measures for cars and skateboards using eggs and water balloons as crash test dummies.

Imagination Point: Ride Physics sees the students designing cool rides for an amusement park.

The I Can Invent Fantasy Inventions & Complicated Machines exercise encourages students to take apart broken machines and use the parts in new ways.

The Recess Remix activity allows children to be the inventor of a new way to play an old game.

Camp Invention will be held at Sunset Elementary School under the direction of principal Janet Weaver. The camp is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., June 9-13. The cost is $185 if registered by the early bird deadline of March 31, and goes up to $205 afterwards. An additional $5 can be saved by registering online. To register or to see more detailed descriptions of the daily activities visit www.campinvention.org.

photo: Newton Public Schools Extended Learning Program held a parents’ Night February 28, to introduce interested parents to ELP and the Camp Invention Summer Program. Attendees participated in a problem solving exercise similar to those in Camp Invention. South Breeze student Sport Tegethoff prepares to deploy his team’s mini-marshmallow launcher.

updated March 12, 2008

Newton students participate in Model UN
A group of Newton High School students recently visited Topeka to take part in the Model United Nations event held March 3-4, 2008, at the Kansas Expocentre.

Delegates and officers who attended were:
Front row, left to right: Jacob Skala, officers Anna Unruh, Ruth Wiens, Scott Rempel, Emilie Doerksen, and Sarah Vog; and Alex Beck. Second row: Abby Schrag, Hannah Anderson, Maria Jantz, Sammantha Baldwin, Jalayn Zehr, Saraqh Dudte, Grace Choe, Monica Voth, Feilisha Kutilike, Hannah Vogt and Andrew Walker. Back Row: Skylar Williams, John Bergen, Matt Hutton, Janae Janzen, Matt Krehbiel, Joanna Epp, Bill Newell, Kevin Leary, Seth Williams, Creigh Bartel, Arin McMullen, Ben Kreider, Greg Schuck, Gannon Benson and Megan Leary. Not Pictured: Phillip Bradshaw, Natalie Hagman, Clay Jarrell.

updated March 12, 2008

MathCounts at Newton Middle Schools
Chisholm and Santa Fe Middle Schools’ MathCounts teams fared well in the regional competition February 16, in Hutchinson. The two teams placed first and third respectively, earning them both a trip to the state competition this past weekend. Chisholm’s Kendall Schmidt had the overall best score at the regional competition and took second in the countdown round.

Chisholm MathCounts members are back row, left to right: Jacob Bartel, coach Paul Buller, Kendall Friesen. Front row: Emma Bradley, Austin Regier, Sara Slifer Santa Fe’s MathCounts team members are left to right: coach Cindy Rambo, David Jantz, Sarah Harrington, Sharon Long, Mark Kreider, Nat Dick.

updated March 12, 2008

Auto Tech students win, place and show at Pratt
Newton Automotive Technology students swept the top three places at the Recent Pratt Community College Auto Tech competition. Matt Baumgartner won 1st place and Paul Hagman placed 2nd. Each received a full scholarship offer from the college. Ryan Wiebe placed 3rd in the competition and was awarded a $1500 scholarship. The Newton Automotive Technology Program is coordinated by Cory Unruh.

.Photo: Shown with their medals from the Pratt Community College Auto Tech contest are, left to right: Matt Baumgartner,1st place; Paul Hagman, 2nd place; and Ryan Wiebe, 3rd place.

updated March 12, 2008

Middle Schools awarded Best Buy grants
Best Buy recently presented two $2,000 grants to Newton Middle Schools. Sarah Kauffman at Chisholm Middle School and Mollie Sultenfuss at Santa Fe Middle School were informed in February that they had won the awards for their schools. On March 5, Best Buy representatives visited the district to present the two with company gift cards for $2,000 each, along with free 1-gig Geek SquadTM portable USB drives.

Photo-top:Best Buy representative Dustin Kessler presents a gift card and certificate to Chisholm Middle School teacher Sarah Kauffman.

Photo-bottom:Best Buy representative Dustin Kessler presents a certificate and gift card to Santa Fe teacher Mollie Sultenfuss.

updated March 07 2008

Fine Arts Hall of Fame nominations accepted
Nominations are being accepted from now until April 1, 2008 for the Newton High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame. Nomination categories include art, theatre, instrumental music and vocal music. To nominate a past NHS student or teacher or for more information please download the nomination form (.pdf).

NHS Athletic Hall of Fame
Newton High School is accepting nominations for the NHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Nominees may be former NHS athletes who graduated from Newton at least ten years ago, former NHS coaches who coached at Newton for at least five years and have been out of coaching at Newton for at least five years, and at-large nominees who have made significant contributions to the Newton Athletics program.
Hall of Fame Application(.pdf)

updated March 08, 2008

Klock awarded health grant
Newton High School senior Kathryn Klock was one of ten young people nationwide awarded a health grant by Del Monte Foods. Klock won a $2,500 Do Something Good for You grant. The grants are designated for individuals who want to promote healthy living in their communities. Klock’s application requested funds for the creation of a "user-friendly weight room" at Newton High School. The grant will be combined with other health-related grant funds the high school received to purchase an elliptical machine and stationary bicycle. Once installed, the equipment will be available for students and staff to use at specified times before, during, and after school.

Photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Newton High School senior Katie Klock is shown presenting a check to Newton High School principal Ken Rickard for $2,500. Klock received the funds from Del Monte’s Do Something Good for You grant and donated the proceeds to the high school for exercise equipment.

updated March 8, 2008

Newton Jazz Ensemble II performs at HCC festival
The Newton High School Jazz Ensemble II participated in the Hutchinson Community College Jazz Festival on January 31. The group performed for an audience of fellow student musicians as well as a panel of judges. After the concert, the students rehearsed with Jay Sollenberger, a jazz trumpet player from Kansas City.

Several individuals were recognized with Outstanding Musicianship awards, including Kaila Hine (Clarinet), Zach Edwards (Alto Sax), Garrett Schuck (Tenor Sax), Tim Regier (Trumpet), Aubrey Schrag (Percussion), and John Bergen (Bass). Jazz Ensemble II is under the direction of Greg Bergman. The group will perform next at Newton High School on March 31.

Photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Several Newton High School Jazz II students practice new arrangements for their next performance. Shown are, front row, left to right: Kaila Hine, Zach Edwards, Garrett Schuck and Bryce Volk. Middle row: Tim Regier and James Herbison. Back row: John Bergen, Jake Sorensen and Joshua Johnson.

updated March 5, 2008

Children’s illustrator visits Newton
Nationally renowned children’s book illustrator Meredith Johnson visited Newton elementary schools last week. Johnson entertained area children with her delightful drawings and stories of her inspiration for them, gleaned mostly from life experience.

The children giggled in delight as Johnson described the entertaining antics and escapades of her two now-grown children and their many pets, pointing out which illustrations in which books were inspired by them. It is the special touches, such as putting red cowboys boots on many of her characters because both of her children wore red cowboy boots obsessively in their youth, that make Johnson’s illustrations and characters unique and beloved.

In addition to talking about her background and drive to draw, Johnson encourage the children to use their own imaginations to draw or do whatever it is that they dream of. As she read aloud from one of the books she has illustrated, “Mr. Rover Takes Over,” she asked the children to imagine other ways they might have drawn the story, which features a dog as a substitute teacher who takes over the classroom.

Johnson, who lives in La Cañada, California, has been illustrating children’s books for 20 years and has illustrated nearly 100 books. Her goal in her school presentations is to encourage children to explore their creativity and develop their desire to write and draw, along with encouraging a love of books and reading.

Photo (by Jeanie Fuller): Meredith Johnson describes an incident to Northridge students in which her son lost his front teeth, inspiring her to subsequently include little boys sans front teeth in many of her book illustrations.