January 27, 2009

Santa Fe Wins Salina Science Olympiad Regional

The Santa Fe Middle School won the Salina Science Olympiad regional competition at Kansas State University on January 14. The team competed in 23 different contests. Placing first for Santa Fe were Nat Dick, Keagan Attebery and Keil Stauffer in Experimental Design and Alex Trumble and Neil Schmucker in Amphibians and Reptiles. Second place finishes included Austin Crumrine and Hugh McConnell in Ecology, Nat Dick and Cory Martens in Road Scholar and Cory Martens and Neil Schmucker in Bio-process Lab. Colton Funk and Keagan Attebery placed third in Elevated Bridge and Disease Detectives. Other team members included Katelyn Dorrell, Gabe Libel, Danica Williams, Julie Vo, Clinton Unruh, Madison Akers and Titus Minkevitch. The team is coached by John Pescitelli and Dennis Flickner. The Science Olympiad team will compete at State competition on April 4 at Wichita State University.  

Top Photo: Keil Stauffer and Clinton Unruh launch a Trajectory during the regional Science Olympiad competition.

Bottom Photo: Front row - Keil Stauffer, Titus Minkevitch
Middle row - Gabe Libel; Julie Vo; Danica Williams; Madison Akers; Alex Trumble; Colton Funk
Back row - John Pescitelli; Keagan Attebery; Clinton Unruh; Nat Dick; Cory Martens; Dennis Flickner
Not pictured - Austin Crumrine; Katelyn Dorrell; Hugh McConnell; Neil Schmucker

January 21, 2009

Watching History Happen

Students got the chance to watch the presidential inauguration ceremony on Tuesday at Chisholm Middle School. 

Photo: Chisholm Middle School students watch as President Obama is sworn in during the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday.

January 21, 2009

Newton Drama Troupe Performs Well at State Conference

Newton High School Drama Troupe students did well at the Kansas State Thespian Conference earlier this month, sweeping the top three spots in the One Act competition and performing admirably in other areas as well.

Newton’s troupe, the oldest troupe west of the Mississippi., was named a Gold Honor troupe, the highest level that can be achieved. Troupe awards are based on community service activities, fundraisers, touring productions, and other activities. Newton students Rebecca Epp, Jimmie Norman, Abi Epp, & Claire Blann also earned second place in the Creative Costume team contest

The Top three places in the Original One Act competition went to Newton students Mycah Westhoff, for “Unearthed”; Amanda Young, for “Puppets on a String”; and Abi Epp, for “An Innocent Hope”.

Newton student Michael Stauffer was one of four regional representatives who helped coordinate the conference. In addition, eight Newton seniors auditioned and received several callbacks to colleges.

The Newton High School Drama Troupe sponsor is Cassandra Conley.

Photo: (left to right) Some of the Newton High School Drama Troupe members who attended the State Thespian Conference January 8-10, 2009, were Michael Stauffer: Regional Representative, and Original One Act Play winners: Amanda Young, Abi Epp, and Mycah Westhoff.

January 20, 2009

Newton Students Win Spelling Bee

Seventh- and eighth-graders from Newton, Hutchinson, Maize South and Derby competed in the Pioneer League Division I Spelling Bee last week at Santa Fe. Santa Fe student Henry Jantzen placed first in the 7th grade competition. In the 8th grade spelling bee, Chisholm student Taylor Goerend placed first and Ryan Walker from Santa Fe placed second.

photos courtesy of Carolin Moore
top photo: Santa Fe student Henry Jantzen spells a word in the final round of the 7th grade spelling bee. Jantzen went on to win the competion.

bottom photo: Pictured are Newton middle school students who placed in the Pioneer League Division I Spelling Bee: Left to Right- Taylor Goerend, Ryan Walker and Henry Janzen.

January 14, 2009

NHS Wii Sports Unit

Students in Health Elliot’s PE IV class at Newton High School recently participated in a Wii Sports unit. Students were able to compete against each other using the video game. Unlike traditional video games, the Wii console is motion sensitive and requires body movement by participants.

top photo: English instructor Justin Helmer and senior Rylan Dalke race each other while using the Wii video console during a recent PE class.

bottom photo: In addition to sports activities, the students also got the chance to test their musical abilities. Shown are Alex Navarro on guitar, Nathan Murphy on the remote and April Webb using the microphone.

January 14, 2009

Walton Flower Thank Yous

Students from Walton Rural Life Center made special flower deliveries to several area businesses and other schools. The flowers, which were raised in the school’s greenhouse, were in appreciation of the support given to the charter school.

 photo: Newton High School principal Ken Rickard accepts a pot of flowers from Walton Rural Life students Anthony Romero, Tanner Duerksen, Lindsey Gile and Seth Stucky.

January 14, 2009

Seniors Present One-Act Plays

Newton High School senior drama students will present several one-act plays this Thursday evening, January 15, at the high school at 7:00 p.m. The plays and their respective directors are: “Werewolf?” directed by Michael Stauffer and Josh Scheuermann; “Clueless!” Directed by Abigail Epp and Jenae Janzen, and written by Jenae Janzen; “Not so Grim Fairy Tales” directed by Kallie Attebery; and “Public Affairs - The Love Course” directed by Rebecca Epp. The public is welcome.

January 14, 2009

Newton BPA Students Excel at Regional Competition

More than a dozen Newton High School students attended the Regional Business Professionals of America Conference, December 11 & 12, 2008, in Wichita. Fourteen Newton students competed against students from Wichita and Maize for recognition in several business skills categories.

Several Newton students achieved 1st or 2nd ratings in the competition: Austin Burch, Krista Saylor, and Danielle Tolle placed 1st in Administrative Support Team; Krista Saylor placed 1st in Payroll Accounting; Kayla Dunnahoo placed 1st in Prepared Speech; Tana Reynard placed 1st in Legal Office Procedures; Kayla Dunnahoo, Shannon Cooper, Annamarie Rodriguez , and Laken Maughan placed 2nd in Video Production Team; Liz Senn placed 1st in advanced Interview Skills; and Brandon Palmer placed 2nd in Interview Skills. Several other Newton students placed in the top 10 in their categories. Melinda Rangel is the Business Technology Coordinator and BPA sponsor for Newton High School.

photo: BPA students who attended the Regional Conference in Wichita last month are (left to right) Lauren Kemph, Liz Senn, Tana Reynard, Krista Saylor, Shannon Cooper, Brianne Moreland, Laken Maughan, Lindsay Rhoades, Danielle Tolle, Annamarie Rodriguez, Austin Burch, Kayla Dunahoo, Brandon Palmer, Jamie Miller, and teacher Melinda Rangel.

January 14, 2009

Two Newton Teachers Receive White Eagle Grants

White Eagle Credit Union recently announced the recipients of their 2008 teacher grants. Erica Rickard, Journalism Teacher at Newton High School, and Jim Hoffman, Counselor at Chisholm Middle School, were each awarded approximately half of the $500 amount that the local credit union provides in annual education grants.

Rickard will use her portion of the grant funds to purchase 22 copies of the book “Tuesdays With Morrie.” The text will be used for the Column Writing unit of her journalism class.

Hoffman will use the funding he received to purchase video program materials that support positive character development. The videos encourage students to exhibit qualities such as honesty , cooperation, respect, kindness, self control, empathy, forgiveness, and many other desirable character traits.

top photo: Teacher Erica Rickard (left) receives a grant check from White Eagle Credit Union representative Debbie Morse.

bottom photo: Chisholm counselor and White Eagle Credit Union grant recipient Jim Hoffman (left) encourages students to show their appreciation for the grant during an assembly, as Chisholm Principal George Leary receives White Eagle Credit Union promotional items from Debbie Morse.

January 8, 2009

Santa Fe Music Teacher Wins Horizon Award

Kristin (Tombaugh) Anschutz, vocal music teacher at Santa Fe Middle School, has been named a 2009 Horizon Award Winner. She is one of 32 outstanding Kansas first-year ('07-'08) teachers to be recognized. As such, she will participate in a state conference in February and will be recognized for her achievement at that time. Anschutz is the third recipient from USD 373 in as many years -- Erica Rickard from Newton High school was honored two years ago, and Derrick Richling from Walton 21st Century Rural Life Center was recognized last year. Congratulations to Kristin on this much deserved honor!

Photo: Kristin Anschutz (left) is congratulated by USD 373 Board of Education President Carol Sue Stayrook Hobbs during a reception in honor of her Horizon Award announcement.