the hornet connection valley center-park...
TRANSCRIPT
The Hornet Connection Valley Center-Park City-Kechi-Wichita www.usd262.net
Inside This Issue: March 2013 ● Volume 1, Number 2
“From the Desk of Mike Bonner”
“Feel Better, Be Healthy, Live Longer”
“Athletic News & Highlights”
“Kindergarten Enrollment”
“Navigating the Digital World”
“News from the Valley Center Nurses”
“Anti-Bullying Task Force”
“Shining Stars in Our District”
“Checking In at Abilene”
“News From the West Side”
“Education Happenings at Wheatland”
“News from VCIS”
“News from VCHS”
“What the Heck is TLC?”
“New Staff”
“VCMS Art Students”
“State Assessments”
“VCHS Clubs”
“How Do We Generate Money?”
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Valley Center USD 262 USD 262 school district serves approximately
2,750 students in grades pre-kindergarten
through twelfth grade. Valley Center is a grow-
ing and progressive 5A suburban district that
takes pride in employing the most qualified
staff as possible to help reach and maintain the
mission and vision of the district.
USD 262 District Office 143 S. Meridian Avenue
Valley Center, KS 67147
316.755.7000
316.755.7001 (fax)
www.usd262.net
Check us out on Facebook!!!
What’s Going on with
School Funding? Do you remember people going
out and stockpiling
food, purchasing gen-
erators, and sleeping
in bunkers out of fear
of what the new year
may bring in 2000?
Some people were
predicting mass chaos
and a complete shutdown of Ameri-
ca’s infrastructure out of concern that
the technology controlling this infra-
structure would fail as the digits
changed from 1999 to 2000.
As some of you may recall, Amer-
icans were also very concerned about
rising gas prices as we moved to a
new millennium. The average price
per gallon of unleaded fuel increased
from $1.34 to $1.70 between 1999
and 2000. The cost for fuel has dou-
bled since then. Minimum wage has
also increased from $5.15 an hour in
the year 2000 to $7.25 today, a 29%
increase. According to the U.S. Bu-
reau of Labor Statistics, overall cost
of products has increased 36% since
2000. All of us have noticed the in-
creased cost of most products over
the last thirteen years, but as a super-
intendent, I also see the impact it has
on our schools. The challenge Kansas
schools are facing, however, is that
we are receiving roughly the same
amount per student in state funding
as in the year 2000 (see illustration
on page 8).
A new report was recently re-
leased ranking teacher’s pay in the
U.S., and there are only eight states
in the entire nation that pay teachers
less than our state. Although teacher
pay may be lower than most states,
we are consistently in the top ten in
the nation in regard to student
achievement, college preparedness,
and learning opportunities. Taxpay-
ers in Kansas are getting a great bar-
gain for the quality of education re-
ceived versus dollars spent. I fear,
however, that unless Kansas begins
to invest in education, our days of
being at the top educationally will be
a distant memory.
Many legislators, including the
governor, have shared that funding
for education has increased, and they
are somewhat accurate. The number
of students enrolled in Kansas
schools has increased in the last few
years; the students receiving trans-
portation and free lunches have in-
creased; and the amount spent to fund
bond issues has increased. What has
not increased is the amount of money
provided to schools for classroom
instruction and opportunities. In
2005, following a ruling by the Kan-
sas Supreme Court, legislators agreed
to equalize property taxes and to in-
crease the amount school districts
received per student to $4,492. This
year, our funding level is at $3,838
per student, and local property taxes
are only equalized at 79%. This has
required local school boards across
Kansas to increase property taxes and
make dramatic cuts. If our district
was funded at the amount agreed to
by the Kansas Supreme Court and the
legislative body of 2005, Valley Cen-
Cory Gibson
From the Desk of Cory Gibson... Superintendent
What’s Going on with School Funding?
Continued on page 8
2 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
From the Desk of Mike Bonner… Assistant Superintendent
USD 262 Staff District Office
Cory Gibson Superintendent
Mike Bonner Assistant Superintendent [email protected]
Susan Harris Director of Finance
Becky Khosravipour Learning Coordinator
Molly Rainey Director of Food Service [email protected]
PJ Reilly College/Career Readiness Coordinator
Gavon Smith Director of Transportation [email protected]
Kay Tibbs Director of Technology [email protected]
Rick White Director of Operations [email protected]
District Schools
Pete Bastian Principal-West Elementary [email protected]
Kathy Bradham Principal-Wheatland Elementary
Kent Hipp Principal-VC Middle School
Mark Hoy Principal-Abilene Elementary
Greg Lehr Assistant Principal-VC Middle School
Jamie Lewis Principal-VC High School [email protected]
Greg Mittman Assistant Principal-VC High School
Sally Nold Assistant Principal-VC High School
Jamie Wetig Principal-VC Intermediate School
The Hornet Connection is published every nine weeks
by USD 262 Valley Center Schools
143 S. Meridian Avenue
Valley Center, KS 67147
District Gears Up for
Teacher Interviews Each spring, school districts begin
the process of bringing new teachers to
their district to replace those who retire
or have to resign their positions. Re-
search shows having a highly qualified
teacher is one of the main fac-
tors for student success. There-
fore, the Valley Center adminis-
trative team works extremely
hard to recruit and hire the best
teachers available.
In the next few weeks, build-
ing principals and I will travel to
Kansas State University, Kansas
University, Emporia State Uni-
versity, and Pittsburg State Uni-
versity to attend each universi-
ty’s teacher interview days.
These events allow school districts to
meet and interview not only students
getting ready to graduate from each
university’s education program, but
also any other educator who may be
looking for a new position. I have also
been working with high school stu-
dents who are interested in teaching as
a profession, on marketing materials
for these events the district can use to
help attract potential teachers. We be-
lieve it is important to actively seek
quality teachers and attending these
interview days helps us do just that.
Our process for filling our open po-
sitions begins with posting the position
on our website, on twitter, and on the
Kansas State Educational Employment
Board’s website which can be found at
www.kansasteachingjobs.com. Once
the position closes, the building princi-
pal screens all applicants looking for
those he/she believes may be a good
fit. Once the list is narrowed, three to
five finalists are called in for
interviews. Usually, a team
comprised of the building prin-
cipal, assistant principal, and
select teachers interview the
candidates, then discuss the
strengths and weaknesses of
each candidate. Following the
interviews, the principal checks
references on the candidate
he/she is most interested in.
The principal them forwards
the person recommended for the posi-
tion to the district administrators. A
second interview is scheduled with
either Superintendent Cory Gibson or
me. Following a successful interview
at the district level, the candidate is
recommended for hire to the Board of
Education.
We know how vital it is to recruit
and attract quality teachers to our dis-
trict and believe our process allows us
to do just that. We have no more im-
portant a task as an administrator than
to recruit and hire the best possible
teachers for our kids.
Mike Bonner
Graphic courtesy-revjeanlenk.blogspot.com
Feel Better, Be Healthy, Live Longer
The district Health and Wellness
committee has been hard at work re-
writing and revising
the current wellness
policy. The plan
presented focuses on
creating opportuni-
ties for all USD 262
staff to engage in
healthy activities from
eating more fruits and vegetables to
exercising. Currently, the district is
participating in an eight week chal-
lenge, “Take Charge of Your
Health.” The challenge outlines the
goal for all participants to eat five
servings of fruits and vegetables dai-
ly, and to get 30 minutes of physical
activity at least five days a week.
This challenge is being facilitated in
Feel Better, Be Healthy, Live Longer
Continued on page 4
Graphic courtesy-1.pgcps.org
March 2013 The Hornet Connection · 3
Athletic News & Highlights... Vic Noordhoek—Athletic Director
Vic Noordhoek
2013-2014 Kindergarten Enrollment We are excited about beginning your child’s educational journey in the Valley Center Public School system! This spring we will conduct our kindergarten enrollment on Thursday, April 4, 2013, from 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the district office located at 143 S. Meridian Avenue. The Valley Center School District offers a full-day Kindergarten program district wide. The purpose of this time is to meet and enroll our future full-day kindergarten students and to gather the appro-priate documentation. The forms you will need to bring to the enrollment are:
Birth Certificate copy
Immunization records
Completed Health Assessment (dated August 20, 2012 or after)
Proof of Residency in the Valley Center School District.
If you have any questions, please contact one of the elementary school secretaries at the number listed below:
Abilene Elementary Diane Truman 316.755.7020 West Elementary Michele LaMastres 316.755.7030 Wheatland Elementary Lorie Riopel 316.755.7040
We look forward to seeing everyone at KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT!
Mark Hoy, Abilene Principal
Pete Bastian, West Principal
Kathy Bradham, Wheatland Principal
Welcome
To
Kindergarten
Graphics courtesy—blackandsilverwallpaper.com & lucasgrade3.wikispaces.com
The Valley Center High School basketball teams com-
peted very well this winter. Both the high school girls and
boys basketball teams continued to show im-
provement and had their best seasons in six
years. The high school girls were the Cheney
tournament champions and finished third in the
league. The boys placed fourth in the league
this season and return quite a few varsity players next year.
The middle school seventh and eighth grade boys basketball
teams finished their seasons with 7-6 and 3-10 records re-
spectively. The seventh grade girls finished fourth in the
league with a record of 7-6 and the eighth grade girls were
the regular season Pioneer League champions with a record
of 5-1 and an overall record of 10-3.
The wrestling teams continued to maintain excellent pro-
grams at both the high school and middle school. The high
school team finished second in the AVCTL, second at the
Regional tournament and fifth at the State tournament.
Their only loss in the league came to Ark City the eventual
State Tournament champion. During the season, the Hor-
nets tied their dual record for the most season wins with 32
wins and 2 losses. In addition, the Hornets qualified 10
wrestlers to compete at the State Tournament and six of
them were medalists - David Ortiz (132) 6th, Zac Sander
(285) 5th, Ryan Delforge (106) 4th, Josh Ortiz (152) 2nd,
Tony Bluml (160) 2nd, and Chad Blair (182) 2nd. The JV
team had a very good year winning the AVCTL JV Tourna-
ment for the 12th time in the last 15 years. They are poised
along with wrestlers moving up from the middle school to
continue the tradition next year. The middle school wres-
tling team won the Valley Center Tournament and finished
second in the Pioneer League tournament. The Hornets had
medalists in 15 of the 18 weight classes including the fol-
lowing league champions: Mike Turkali (90), Sam Weldon
(115), Don Boone (134), and Hagan Henderson (265).
Bring on the Spring Season! Despite record snowfall on
the first day of spring practice, our coaches and athletes are
anxious to get their seasons going. A few of the individuals
and teams to watch for include the girls soccer team led by
all-state player, Holle McQuitty, and several all-region play-
ers. They should be contenders for the league title. Chris
Beneke, competed at state last spring and returns to lead the
boys golf team this season. The track team also returns sev-
eral quality athletes including seniors, Meagan Williams,
the defending state champion in Javelin and Discus, as well
as Morgan Wedekind, a premier distance runner who was a
medalist in each of her previous trips to state. The Hornet
softball and baseball teams will be young this year, but each
returns a few all-league players including Perrin Spears,
Gabby Sandoval, Keaton Canaday and Kelby Bahr. We
hope you make time come support the Hornets this spring!
4 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
Navigating the Digital World—Go Paperless Kay Tibbs—Director of Technology
Kay Tibbs
coordination with the Sedgwick
County Health Department.
In addition to our district-wide
health challenges, many of our own
staff have begun to lead eight-week
exercise groups. Currently we have
the following exercise groups:
Running—Lee Owens
Yoga—Sue Lincicome
Cardio—Andrea Boone
Long Runs—Aubrie Lehr
Future health events:
March:
Stepper’s Challenge (10,000 steps/
day).
Health Assessment—March 6, 2013.
May:
”Chug a Jug” drink 64 oz. of water
per day.
Yoga Class
Running Group
Feel Better, Be Healthy, Live Longer
Continued from page 2 VCHS Drama
The VCHS Drama Department com-
pleted their night of one act shows, The
Night of No-Brainers IIIII, on February
14, 2013. The cast performed Check
Please, Tom Sawyer, and It’s a Won-
derful Life radio play. Around sixty
students were involved in the show and
approximately 600 community patrons
attended the performances.
On April 26-27, 2013, the Thes-
pians will be presenting their final
show of this school year. The evening
will begin with a short play called
Check Please 2. Following that perfor-
mance a melodrama show, Royally
Flushed, or...the Day the Casino Came
to Valley Center will be presented.
Recently I had the opportunity to
take a vendor through each building as
we took inventory of the district’s cop-
iers. It was wonderful to get out since
the day was sunny and I do love seeing
learning going on. So, even though the
tour was on my least favorite piece of
technology, it wasn’t
a total waste of time.
With the budget
crunch looming over
our heads and the fact
that our printers are
often in need of a
repairman, I thought I’d plant the seed
of going paperless. So, here’s my
“seed”…
Experts say when going paperless
take one step at a time, just like with
any major change. Recognize that it’s
an ongoing process and there are just
some things that simply must be on
paper. I’m going to suggest one more
thing to consider and that is related to
school, using notebook paper is OK.
I’m focusing on all the copying with
its paper and toner use. Notebook pa-
per is exempt from this rant.
When I was a teacher we had to
walk to school, barefoot, uphill, in the
snow, both ways…. That was before
computers and the Internet! Yes, I am
older than the Internet. That being
said, when my first Apple lle was de-
livered to my classroom and connected
to the Internet, I was in resource heav-
en! Throughout the
years as that Apple
lle was replaced with
newer, faster, strong-
er computers, teach-
ers were expected to
go paperless. Why
do we need paper when we have the
world at our fingertips? At first I re-
sisted the directive to go paperless as I
printed out lesson plans, art, science
and math activities as well as letters to
parents, certificates for my students
and a plethora of other documents nec-
essary to support my student’s learn-
ing. Then one day I couldn’t get to my
desk. The paper monster had taken
over not only my desk, but the floor
around it, and the shelves behind it. I
also realized that when I wanted to
retrieve a document I’d go to my com-
puter, look it up, and see it from there.
I had a printed out copy of it some-
where near my desk, but there was no
way I could find it.
Technology has evolved quite a bit
since those days. Now we have
Google Drive, DropBox, flash drives
and millions of other choices to save
and share our information. Going digi-
tal has never been more convenient or
as easy as it is now. I’ve collected a
list of links that hopefully will inspire
you to go paperless in your classroom:
Go Paperless – Write on Your Desk!
TeachPaperless Blog
Paperless Classroom
Paperless Math Strategies
Going Paperless – from Earth Day
2011, but still great suggestions
Most importantly make going pa-
perless fun for both you and your stu-
dents. If you’re having fun learning
you’re more likely to continue the
skill.
Graphic courtesy-tarheelimaging.com
March 2013 The Hornet Connection · 5
We (the nursing department) cannot believe we almost are three quarters of the way through another great year here in
USD 262. Our attention is already being turned toward next year and immunization requirements for our students. Every
year the state of Kansas provides guidelines based on recommendations from the ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immuniza-
tion Practices).
Please go to the following link to view the 2013-2014 School Requirements:
http://www.kdheks.gov/immunize/download/Immunization_Requirements_Cheat_Sheet.pdf
CURRENT SIXTH GRADERS: (PLEASE READ!)
Those students who are going to be going into seventh grade for the next school year will need to have had a Tdap
(Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis) and a total of two doses of the varicella (chickenpox) immunization to fulfill their
requirements.
Immunizations are so important to keep our students healthy so they are at their op-
timum to learn. Our district policy is for all students to be up to date prior to
starting school. During one stop enrollment and kindergarten enrollment, the
Sedgwick County Health Department will be present at the enrollment site for im-
munizations your student might need regardless if they are new to the school or re-
turning. Please watch for announcements of upcoming of dates and times they will
be available.
Please note your student can be excluded from school until the necessary requirements are met. Yearly documentation of
medical conditions where immunizations cannot be administered is required.
When enrolling your student in our district for the first time or if your student will be a kindergartner, the following will
also be needed prior to starting:
A recent health assessment from your physician if your child is 9 years old or younger and has not previously been a
student in Kansas. The physical may have been done within the last year prior to the date of enrollment. A copy of the
health assessment form can be found under the health services tab on the district’s website.
State issued birth certificate (cannot not be a hospital certificate or letter). A copy will be made for your student’s
file. The following is a link if you do not have a copy that one may be requested via online or mail.
http://www.kdheks.gov/vital/birth.html
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school nurse for clarification.
News from the Valley Center Nurses...
Graphic courtesy wischoolnurses.org
(Graphic courtesy-unital.k12.wy.us)
Anti-Bullying Task Force Update
Did you know that nationally, the
National Center for Education Statis-
tics reports that 32 percent of
students report being bullied
at least once during the school
year. While this is a shocking
statistic, Valley Center
schools have put together a
committee of 12 people and
created an Anti-Bullying Task
Force to help our students feel safe in
school. The committee is comprised of
school administrators, teachers, law
enforcement and community mem-
bers. The ultimate goal of the Anti-
Bullying Task Force is to make sure
that all students feel safe and that par-
ents feel comfortable sending their
children to Valley Center schools. The
task force has developed an action plan
to tackle the bullying issue in
our schools.
First, we will review and
improve district policies. We
will look at individual poli-
cies and determine what
needs to be changed and
what is working well. Se-
cond, we will create a systematic ap-
proach for identifying and handling
bullying in our district. Many times
buildings handle bullying behavior in
different ways and this will give each
building consistency in dealing with
those behaviors. Third, we will create
a communication plan for staff, stu-
dents, and community in regard to
what is being done to help prevent and
address bullying. This will keep the
Valley Center staff, students, and com-
munity up to date on what is going on
in our schools in regards to anti-
bullying education and how we are
being proactive in our ap-
proach. Fourth, we will create a sys-
tematic way for students and parents to
report bullying. While these reporting
items exist currently, we will be look-
ing at ways to modify them in order to
make them easily accessible for every-
one. Finally, we will provide ongoing
snapshots of professional development
Anti-Bullying Task Force Update
Continued on page 14
Graphic courtesy-discovergabriola.blogspot.com
6 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
Shining Stars in Our District
Go Hornets!
VCMS Student Artists Fourteen students from VCMS re-
cently drew portraits for The Memory
Project. This project is a national pro-
ject that delivers special original por-
traits to orphans that may not have a
single personal photograph. The por-
traits will be delivered to Vietnam and
Jamaica. When received, the orphans
will have their photograph taken, hold-
ing the portrait and a copy will be re-
turned to VCMS student artists to keep
as a memento.
Back row—(left to right) Jacob Yochum, Aaron Coash, Courtney Henderson, Emily Klusener, Adalberto Reveles-Rodriguez, Brendan Burke, Kristina Lay. Front row—(left to right) Kaylee Watson, Mary Montgomer (not shown), Alexa Hunter, Arianna Fonseca, Payton Dun-can, and Ryan Ranzu.
Horizon Award Recipient Brianna Reyes, Language Arts
teacher at VCMS, was
recently recognized by
Dr. Diane DeBacker,
Kansas Commissioner of
Education, as a Horizon
Award winner. The Hori-
zon Award program allows all school
districts the opportunity to nominate
first year teachers for the award. To
be eligible for a Horizon Award,
teachers must have successfully com-
pleted their first year of teaching and
have performed in such a way as to
distinguish themselves as outstanding.
Congratulations Brianna!
Brianna Reyes
Winning SSEP Patch Congratulations to VCHS senior,
Katie Jennings! Her SSEP
Mission Patch design has
been voted the winning
design
by the
VCHS student
body. As a result,
her patch design
will fly alongside
the winning SSEP experiment to the
International Space Station this fall.
Sunflower Dance Festival The VCHS Lady Stingers recently
attended the Sunflower Dance Festi-
val, held in Concordia, Kansas. They
won the following awards: Judges
Award for Precision, Judges Award
for Technique, Judges Award for
Choreography, Sweepstakes Award,
and Shining Star Award. Makayla
Williams, senior, also received a so-
loist award. Congratulations girls!
Spelling Bee Champ Lily Bolte won the seventh grade
Pioneer League Spelling Bee on Janu-
ary 8, at the Augusta Middle School.
Several VCMS seventh graders were
top ten finalists. Way to go spellers!
SSEP Recognition was given at the Febru-
ary school board meeting to the follow-
ing teachers for all their hard work on
the SSEP (Student Spaceflight Experi-
ment Program). Pictured are: Kristen
Joyal, Jeff Tracy, and Riley Green-
wood.
Not pictured: Eugene Allyn, Stephanie Capps, Kyrie McKee, Chad Baalman, and Christina Carlson.
VCHS Art Recognition Congratulations to Eszter Suri, sen-
ior, who will represent VCHS at the
2013 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
Eszter was awarded a Silver Key for
her watercolor painting, “Peacock Wa-
terfall.” Her painting and other selected
artworks are currently on display at the
Wichita Center for the Arts.
Fall 2014 will mark VCHS as the
first school from the state of Kansas to
launch a student designed experiment
into space. The winning experiment,
designed and proposed by VCHS stu-
dents, Logan Burks, Garrett Chandler,
Cole Klinkhammer, and Samuel Shea-
han, will be conducted by astronauts
aboard the International Space Station,
and the results will be immediately re-
layed back to the students for review.
Congratulations!
March 2013 The Hornet Connection · 7
Checking In at Abilene Mark Hoy—Principal, Abilene Elementary
Mark Hoy
February began with a proclamation
from some of my kindergarten stu-
dents, “Spring will be here soon be-
cause the groundhog said so!” I don’t
think I agree with their reasoning, how-
ever, I do agree that before we know it
we are going to have flowerbeds burst-
ing with color, bugs reappearing, and
students off for a week with their own
spring break itineraries.
With three-fourths of the school
year almost behind us, we have several
things we have been working on and
many things to celebrate! Sometimes it
is just easier to group information for
easy reading, so, here we go!
Our work on transitioning to the
Common Core State Standards for
English Language Arts and Math is in
full swing. Our English Language Arts
Focus Team has laid the
groundwork for grade
level Professional Learn-
ing Communities (PLCs)
to begin working on curriculum map-
ping and resource alignment to meet
the new challenges coming down the
pike. Professional Development
throughout the district has focused on
this effort since the beginning of the
school year, and we will continue the
curriculum mapping process on our
next district in-service day on March
29, 2013.
After a two year process of filling
out applications, being selected from
the hundred of applica-
tions submitted, and then
securing funding for trans-
portation from our PTO,
this year’s fourth graders at Abilene
will get the chance to attend a five day
science and math academy at
McConnell Air Force Base this spring.
For five consecutive Tuesdays, our
students will be working with STAR-
BASE trainers to understand Newton’s
Laws of Motion, the engineering de-
sign process, technology innovations in
aerospace science, and data analysis
from mathematical operations. We are
thrilled for our students to get this won-
derful opportunity.
In March we will begin our Kansas
State Computerized Assessments
(KCAs). Third and fourth grade stu-
dents are required to take the KCAs in
both Reading and Math and fourth
grade will also take the KCA for Sci-
ence. This year, Abilene’s fourth grade
students have also been selected to take
the NAEP (National Assessment of
Educational Progress) assessments for
Reading. This assessment will be used
to compare how students from Kansas
are measuring up against students from
the rest of the United States.
This year Abilene Elementary re-
ceived the Loyal Lin-
coln Award (pictured
on the left) granted
from the Kansas Chap-
ter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma So-
ciety. It was given to the school in
recognition of five consecutive years of
participation in the Pennies for Patients
program. The award is hanging in the
foyer of the school when you first
come in. Each year students get the
opportunity to collect pennies, or other
coins, and return them to the school.
All the money goes directly to support-
ing this great cause. This year Olive
Garden is helping sponsor this organi-
zation’s fund-raising efforts and the
classroom that raises the most money
in each school building receives a ca-
tered pasta lunch! This year Abilene
students and staff raised $1,370.43 for
the Kansas Chapter of the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society. Way to go!
We are beginning to prepare for
kindergarten enrollment. On Thursday,
April 4, 2013, from 8:30 a.m.-12:00
p.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the District
Office located at 143 S. Meridian Ave.,
we will be conducting kindergarten
enrollment for students who will be in
kindergarten in the fall. Please see the
district website for a list of documents
needed to enroll these new VC stu-
dents!
Abilene’s Art, Science, and Litera-
ture Fair is coming up on April 22,
2013. Students will be able to enter
writing, artwork, and science projects
for all to see! The evening will also
have adult-led science demonstrations
and art centers in which students can
participate. Chris Cakes will be here to
serve dinner, that is, if you can catch it!
LITERALLY! We are expecting a
great turn-out!
Finally, our GranPals program is
already starting to prepare for next
year. Ms. Marsha Collins, our school
counselor, is looking
for dedicated individ-
uals who would like
to be GranPals for the
2013-2014 school year and who would
be willing to volunteer their time in our
school with individual students helping
them in the areas of reading and math
for one hour a week. Our goal is to
have each GranPal start with first grade
and continue with him/her through
fourth grade. This has been a wonder-
ful experience for our students and for
the volunteers! If you are interested,
please contact our school at
316.755.7020.
So, enjoy the beginning of spring,
and next time you see a groundhog, tell
him, “Thank You!” You’ll make some
kindergarten students very happy!
District Office “Goes Red” In support of the American Heart
Association’s “Go Red” campaign, the
entire District Office staff wore red to
work on Friday, February 1, 2013.
8 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
News from the “West” Side... Pete Bastian—Principal, West Elementary
Cory L. Gibson
Pete Bastian
I can’t believe that it is almost Spring
Break! Where has this year gone? West
third and fourth grade students are gear-
ing up for state assessments. This year
third graders will be taking the math and
reading assessment and the fourth grad-
ers will be taking the math, reading and
science assessment. Each year teachers
work diligently preparing students for
these assessments. Each year the stu-
dents do GREAT and I am excited to
see the results from this year too.
Parents, please continue to reinforce
good attendance habits with your son/
daughter. Attendance and accuracy of
attendance is extremely important in
school. Excessive absences may result
in missing work, which is difficult to
make up. Please also be sure to email
or call Michele when your son/daughter
is not going to be at school. This infor-
mation is used to accurately mark the
reason for the absence. Michele’s con-
tact information is: 316.755.7030 or
The recent events in Connecticut
have heightened awareness about safety
and security in
our schools. I
want to assure
you that the
safety and secu-
rity of our students is our top priority
and is something we concern ourselves
with every single day. Our school has a
clear, specific response plan in the event
of any type of emergency incident in
our school. Our school conducts at least
four “scenario-based” drills each year.
We also conduct 10 evacuation/fire
drills throughout the year. West Ele-
mentary off school grounds reunifica-
tion site is Calvary Baptist Church
which is just south of West on the left
side of Sheridan Street.
We are excited about beginning your
child’s educational journey in the Val-
ley Center Public School system! This
spring we will conduct our kindergarten
enrollment on Thursday, April 4, 2013,
from 8:30 am - 3:00 pm at the District
Office located at 143 S. Meridian Ave.
The Valley Center School District of-
fers a full-day Kindergarten program
district-wide. The purpose of this time is
to meet and enroll our future full-day
kindergarten students and to gather the
appropriate documentation. The forms
you will need to bring to the enrollment
are:
Birth Certificate copy
Immunization records
Completed Health Assessment
(dated August 20, 2012 or after)
Proof of Residency in the Valley
Center School District.
Thanks again to our wonderful par-
ent community and if you ever have any
questions or comments, please feel free
to email me at [email protected]
or call the school at 316.755.7030.
“Like” us on Facebook at West Elemen-
tary School.
ter USD 262 would be able to lower local property taxes
while increasing funding for our students by $2.5 million
dollars.
The majority of legislators have not shown any interest
in increasing funding for our students, and are even at-
tempting to make changes to the Kansas constitution to
allow the governor to handpick the state’s top judges as
well as to limit the power the state’s courts have over
school funding measures. These two constitutional amend-
ments are intentionally designed to give more control to
the governor and legislators in regard to school funding
with no legal recourse if they choose to further decrease or
inequitably fund our schools. I’m a strong believer in
checks and balances in our legislative process. More im-
portantly, I believe that our future in Kansas and America
is based on a well educated work force. We are on a dan-
gerous path in Kansas, as expectations are rising, finances
are below the constitutional amount, and our future is
hanging in the balance.
From the Desk of Cory Gibson (continued) Superintendent
Graphic courtesy-masponline.us
March 2013 The Hornet Connection · 9
Education Happenings at Wheatland Kathy Bradham—Principal, Wheatland Elementary
Kathy Bradham
The new year is off on a strong
start! All students were assessed in
reading and math using our AIMSweb
winter benchmark. We are VERY
pleased with the progress that our stu-
dents have made since the start of the
school year. Our AIMSweb data re-
flects significant growth in reading and
math skills. We are proud of our stu-
dents’ gains and attribute that to the
hard work they put forth in the class-
rooms on a daily basis. We know that
our instructional program is strong
based on the results we see on a daily
basis too. Our teachers, aides, and par-
ents have helped to make a positive
difference in our growth!
As we start the New Year, we are
fortunate to have an outstanding group
of “granpals” volunteering at Wheat-
land! Many of these individuals are
retired teachers who still have a strong
desire to see children meeting with suc-
cess, so they volunteer a few hours a
week in the primary grades. These
folks are assigned to an individual stu-
dent or a few students and then follow
them into the next grade. They work on
reading and math skills as well as serv-
ing as a role model for many of the
students. It is not all about academic
skills. It is also about making and de-
veloping positive relationships, show-
ing that we can all connect in many
ways. The children love their
“granpals” as much as the “granpals”
love being here. As a matter of fact,
one has frequently shared how much
she loves coming and working with
students. She believes that it has helped
her stay energized and she looks for-
ward to her time at school. This pro-
gram began last year as the
“brainchild” of Mrs. Marsha Collins,
school counselor. If you know the say-
ing, “A picture is worth a thousand
words,” then you can visualize the hap-
py times our youngsters have with their
buddies.
Another support program offered at
Wheatland is the partnership we have
established with Friends University’s
Family and Marriage Counseling grad-
uate program. This partnership with
Friends University allows graduate
student counselors to offer free coun-
seling services to students and families.
The graduate students have finished all
of their necessary coursework and are
beginning their required clinical con-
tact hours. With parental consent, the
student intern works with individual
students during the day or after school
as a therapeutic intervention. The in-
terns are supervised by the school
counselor and administrator as well as
the Friends University supervising ad-
ministrator. Families may also partici-
pate in this service for free. Services
are available through a referral at no
cost to the parents and/or families.
Information remains confidential and
all parties benefit from this service.
The Kansas Center for Health
Learning visited Wheatland on January
11, 2013, for a full day of healthy liv-
ing tips. Each grade was treated to
hands-on learning opportunities on
topics such as the “Inside Story” where
students looked at the internal organs
with help of Organ Andy and an organ
apron. First grade students learned sen-
sible habits for their five senses. Se-
cond grade students were informed of
“do’s and don’ts” about bullying while
third grade students observed how their
respiratory systems worked. Fueling
My Body was the topic of discussion
for fourth graders. They learned how to
eat nutritional foods that help keep
their bodies strong as well as learning
healthy eating habits. These programs
were made available to our students
through a grant underwritten by New-
ton Medical Center.
January brought many days filled
with fun learning activities for Wheat-
land students. Students celebrated Kan-
sas Day on January 29th with a sing-
along assembly, recitation of poetry or
students’ compositions and sharing of
Kansas projects. Students with perfect
attendance during the second quarter
will be recognized with a perfect at-
tendance certificate. Other students will
be recognized with Character Count
Certificates by their teachers.
Stay in touch with school events by
reading the school’s newsletter posted
monthly on our website. PTO events
and other activities are listed there for
your convenience.
First graders at Wheatland Elementary celebrate the first 100 days of school.
Wheatland staff participates in the American Heart Association’s “Go Red” campaign to bring awareness to heart disease.
10 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
News from Valley Center Intermediate School Jamie Wetig— Principal
Students participate in the “Battle of the Books.”
Students in Art Club show off their Dale Chihuly inspired water bottle chandelier.
After growing her hair to out to the middle of her back, VCIS student, Brooke Postlethwait, cut and donated her hair to “Locks-of-Love.” For more information you can go to www.locksoflove.org.
Holly and Heidi Smith and their family were recently featured in the Wichita Eagle for provid-ing emergency shelter for kids after traumatic events. In the last year and a half, Dan and Heather Smith, along with their five daughters, have given shelter and temporary care to 76 children, most of them 4 years old and younger.
Students in Mrs. Fonseca’s class incorporated Art and Math into a project on measurement and creating straight lines that appeared to be curved.
Aerobics anyone? The music classes are using movement to understand the structure of a Mozart Symphony.
National GO RED DAY! VCIS staff wore red in support of the American Heart Association “Go Red Day.” This movement is to bring attention to heart disease.
G
O
V
C
I
S
H
O
R
N
E
T
S
Valley Center Intermediate School
Achieving Excellence As we approach Spring Break, I would like to take this
time to review with you some of the exciting opportunities
and activities that our students have participated in…
What are VCIS students doing?
Battle of the Books - Go Red Day - Locks-of-Love Re-
cycling - Art Club - Caring for Others
During the last few months, Valley Center Intermedi-
ate School has seen several accomplishments, activities,
and exciting things happen. The articles presented today
provide a brief glimpse into the awesome things that our
students are doing while “achieving excellence” in the
classroom and in the community.
Emily Westbrock, a sixth grade student at VCIS helped to organize a recycling program start-
ing this semester. She took on this project as part of her efforts to earn her “silver badge” for
Girl Scouts.
11 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
News from Valley Center High School Jamie Lewis—Principal; Greg Mittman—Assistant Principal; Sally Nold—Assistant Principal
Financial Aid FAFSA Tips:
1) Remember the FAFSA is free. If you need help, ask
your financial aid office or call the FAFSA Help Desk at
1.800.4.FED.AID
2) Fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1,
and each successive year once your student is in college.
Early submission maximizes chances of receiving aid.
3) Fill out a “FAFSA on the web” worksheet: Click
“Before beginning a FAFSA,” then “Print a Pre-
application Worksheet.” Use the printout as a guide
before committing answers online.
4) DO NOT enter online answers directly from the paper
FAFSA. Online FAFSA question are in a different or-
der than the paper version.
5) Sign the application: If you are filing as a dependent,
make sure your parents sign too. You can us your PIN if
signing electronically.
6) Save your FAFSA online if you can’t finish it in one
session: Click the “Save” button at the bottom of each
step to save for 45 days.
7) Don’t leave a field blank. If a question doesn’t apply,
enter “0”.
8) Make a copy of your FAFSA for your records.
PIN: Your key to online identification—the Personal Identi-
fication Number (PIN) is the code that the U.S. Department
of Education uses to identify you online. To obtain a PIN,
eligible students and parents can visit www.pin.ed.gov
(students and parents can each receive their own PINs).
Click on “Apply for PIN” near the top of the page. Allow
four hours for PIN instructions to be sent via email. Do not
reveal your PIN to anyone. The PIN allows anyone to elec-
tronically sign federal student aid documents and access
your confidential information.
ACT ACT Prep Workshops offered by Wichita State Universi-
ty cost $32.00 and will be offered two more times this year.
The dates are Saturday, March 2nd for the April 13th ACT
test and Saturday, May 4th for the June 8th ACT test. Stu-
dents can register online at www.registerblast.com/wsu.
Test Date: Registration Date:
April 13, 2013 March 8, 2013
June 8, 2013 May 3, 2013
Late registration is March 10-23, 2013 and May 4-17,
2013 respectively. Juniors who have not taken the ACT test
should consider the April 13th test date or the June 8th test
date.
Graphic courtesy-K-state.edu
Enrollment Enrollment for the 2013-2014 school year began
with class meetings for the juniors and freshman on
February 20th and sophomores on March 6th. Meetings
were held during seminar period. Students were given
enrollment information at that time. Mr. Reilly also
gave a presentation concerning concurrent credit enroll-
ment at WATC. Mr. Garwood and Ms. Krack will
meet individually with students during their English
class to determine class course selections and remain-
ing graduation requirements.
A meeting was held on March 7, 2013, for all cur-
rent 8th grade students and their parents. Enrollment
information was discussed and department chairs were
available for questions.
2013 Prom VCHS Prom is April 6, 2013 in the Commons. The red
carpet procession begins at 7:30 p.m. and music begins at
8:00 p.m. The theme this year is “The Venetian.”
A website has been developed by VCHS junior, Emily
Voegeli. The website was created to provide students with
the opportunity to purchase/sell gently used prom dresses.
Contact Information:
Phone: 316.737.6442
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.facebook.com/
PreviouslyWornFormalDresses?fref=ts
The January prom fashion show was a huge success!
Mr. Beougher’s
Carpentry II Class
Mr. Beougher’s Residential
Carpentry II class students
recently completed this on-
site shed project.
GREAT JOB!!!
March 2013 The Hornet Connection · 12
News from Valley Center High School (continued) Jamie Lewis—Principal; Greg Mittman—Assistant Principal; Sally Nold—Assistant Principal
Jamie Lewis
Cooperative Activities in Mrs. Persyn’s Classroom Students were asked to design a carrier that would hold
36 cupcakes without touching each other, and that also pro-
vided space for a person’s fingers when getting them out.
Nathan Lackey’s design had three layers that folded out
much like a tackle box and then would spin back to resemble
a spiral staircase for serving as well. The second activity
was a Human Knot. These activities strengthen communica-
tion, leadership and problem solving skills.
Mr. Klusener’s Government Class Kansas’ Fourth District Representative, Congressman
Mike Pompeo, visited with senior U.S. Government students
on February 19, 2013, at VCHS. He presented a brief intro-
duction about himself and his role as our District Repre-
sentative in Washington, D.C. The students then had about
45 minutes to as questions about issues in which they are
interested. This was a unique opportunity for our students to
learn more about how government affects them. This was
the first sitting United States Congressman to visit Valley
Center in quite some time.
Congressman, Mike Pompeo, visits with Valley Center High School students.
From Mr. Lewis Valley Center High School is approaching one of the busi-
est times of the year. As we enter the first part of March, it is
critical that you have discussions with your child about sever-
al items. A few of these include State Assessments, 2013-
2014 Enrollment, and for seniors—Graduation!
With state assessments occurring now through the end of
April, it is imperative that you help stress to your child the
significance of taking the assessments seriously, so as to per-
form at the highest level possible. Along with this, I would
recommend ensuring that your child gets an appropriate
amount of rest each night and maintain a well balanced diet.
Additionally, the counseling office has initiated a series of
2013-2014 enrollment meetings with current 9th, 10th and 11th
graders as well as the 8th graders at VCMS. Please take some
time to ask your child about the courses he/she desires to en-
roll in for the next year, and ensure that those courses match
his/her plans for the future. And finally, for our senior class,
graduation is just around the corner (scheduled for May 12,
2013, at 3:00 p.m. at Koch Arena). If you haven’t already
done so, now would be the time to contact our counseling
office should you have any questions regarding credit re-
quirements, scholarship, postsecondary education, etc.
Pride is a characteristic that we strive daily to instill in
everyone associated with VCHS and our school community.
And with the many educational and activity-related opportu-
nities provided to our students and staff, we have much to be
PROUD of! Be sure the “like” VCHS on Facebook or follow
us on Twitter @VCHShornets to keep up on the latest hap-
penings.
Most winter activities/athletics are nearing the end of
league competition and are preparing for Regional/State level
competitions. Best of luck to each of these student groups,
and may all of us reiterate the highest degree of support for
their academic/athletic endeavors. Along with that, I also
what to express our appreciation for the students that com-
prise our Dance Team, Cheer Squad, and Pep Band. The en-
ergy and enthusiasm combined with the amazingly high lev-
els of performance that these groups bring to VCHS is incred-
ible. They can be counted on to fully support their peers and
enhance the atmosphere of a crowd, while pushing one anoth-
er to never settle for anything less that the best performance.
In turn, they are to be commended for their efforts.
In closing, I wish to encourage all parents to attend Parent-
Teacher conferences (during the evenings of March 11 &
March 13), as ongoing communication between home and
school is essential to the success of our youth. As always,
thank you for your continued support of VCHS students and
staff.
March 2013 The Hornet Connection · 13
What the Heck is TLC? Pat Vossen—TLC At-Risk Aide
New Staff
Presented by the VCHS
Vocal Music Department
March 8 & 9, 2013 7:00 PM
VCHS Auditorium
Tickets $5
The Learning Center classroom
(TLC) at the high school, in its se-
cond year at VCHS, is designed to
help students earn a diploma without
interrupting their educational plan. It
is an alternative setting using comput-
er based online learning. Students
earn credits in a computer lab format
without the usual distractions of a
regular classroom. It is individual-
ized and designed to be self-directed
and self-paced.
The majority of TLC enrollees are
students recovering credits, particu-
larly seniors needing to graduate with
their class. Other students complete
classes required for graduation before
participating in the spring session at
WATC. Students new to the district
also enroll in TLC program to fulfill
course requirements. Thirty-five stu-
dents assigned to TLC throughout six
class periods are completing 80 dif-
ferent classes and attend regular clas-
ses. TLC has to be flexible and
adaptable to meet the needs of stu-
dents as well as meet the standards
set by the school.
Success is a key at the TLC. Last
semester, over 30 students successful-
ly earned credits with a 94% overall
completion rate. Along with gaining
needed credits, students improved
their reading, keyboard and computer
skills. They navigate online curricu-
lum programs and us the internet to
complete alternative assignments.
Austin Telford, a TLC student,
had this to say, “I think The Learning
Center (TLC) is an awesome program
to help kids that get behind in their
credits to catch up. I love the envi-
ronment and the people in it. I per-
sonally like the online classes be-
cause of the ability to work at my
own pace and not get overwhelmed
with a lot of homework. The teachers
do a great job of motivating and en-
couraging students and helping them
get back on track to graduate.”
School counselors and administra-
tors refer students based on need and
construct a plan of study best suited
to support school success.
The Valley Center School District
is pleased to welcome
Gavon Smith as our new
Director of Transporta-
tion. Gavon began his
duties in January after
serving as the transporta-
tion director for the Hays, Kansas
public schools for the past 11 years.
Learning all the items necessary to
perform the job has been quite a tran-
sition. Everything from people’s
names, to routes, to fueling require-
ments has to be learned. Assimilating
all the new information in a short pe-
riod of time has been a challenge, but
Smith believes he is well on his way
to conquering this challenge.
Also moving to Valley Center with
him is his wife, Ann, his daughter,
Addi, who is in the seventh grade at
VCMS, and his daughter, Sammi,
who is a junior at VCHS.
Gavon Smith
Graphic courtesy-bjbus.net
14 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
VCMS Art Students Excel at 2013 Scholastic Competition
Eleven art students in Mrs. Moun-
tain’s art classes at Valley Center Mid-
dle School have had their work accept-
ed in the 2013 Eastern Kansas Region-
al Scholastic Art Show. The Eastern
region is made up of seventy counties.
This is the 90th anniversary of Scholas-
tic Art competition and has proven to
have more entries than ever before.
The Awards are structured so that
student work is judged first at the re-
gional level and then at the national
level. All students, no matter where
they live and go to school, register
their work online according to regional
guidelines.
After work is registered online and
submitted according to regional guide-
lines, the works are judged by local
professionals in the visual and literary
arts. Students have the chance to be
selected for Gold Key, Silver Key and
Honorable Mention Awards. Then,
students and their teachers celebrate at
a public ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on
March 10, 2013, at The Center for the
Arts in Wichita.
Works that receive Gold Key
recognition at the regional level are
automatically included in the pool of
work that is judged nationally among
Gold Key winning work from across
the country.
Three artists from VCMS received
GOLD KEY awards:
Briona Laughlin
Koyie Underhill
Peyton Leinen
Six artists from VCMS received
SILVER KEY awards:
Adalberto Reveles Briona Laughlin
Brooke Arnold Sammy Boese
Isabel Bowring Morgan Jones
Two artists from VCMS received
HONORABLE MENTION
Emily Klusener Aaron Coash
opportunities for all staff in regards to
bullying education. This will keep the
staff of Valley Center schools up to
date on the latest education in regards
to bullying and how we can better pre-
vent this behavior in our
schools. While these are five broad
steps, they will provide the foundation
for helping USD 262 be a safer envi-
ronment for all of our students.
The task force has gotten off to a
great start and we will keep you updat-
ed as we progress in our job to make
Valley Center Schools safer for our
students. The tentative plan is to work
on the Anti-Bullying plan for the next
year and have it roll out in Spring of
2014. You trust USD 262 with your
children every day and we want to
make sure that we are providing them
with the safest and best education pos-
sible. If you have any questions re-
garding the Anti-Bullying Task Force,
please contact Greg Lehr, at
[email protected], or Sally Nold
Anti-Bullying Task Force Update
Continued from page 5
March 2013 The Hornet Connection · 15
It’s Time for State Assessments Rebecca Khosravipour—Learning Coordinator
The Valley Center FBLA club
recently participated in the District V
FBLA Competition on February 2,
2013. Twenty students participated,
and the group came home with a total
of 28 top-10 awards. The group accu-
mulated enough points to rank fourth
in the district out of 13 schools.
The following students placed first
in their respective events: Kelby
Bahr, Wyatt Vieux, Morgan McDon-
ald, Hannah Powell, Dylan Powell,
and Ajay Carpenter. The students
will continue their efforts at the State
FBLA Competition at the Topeka
ExpoCenter on April 4-5, 2013. Con-
gratulations Hornets!
VCHS Clubs
The Valley Center DECA group
attended the regional competition at
Newman University on February 7,
2013. Twenty-four students placed in
the top three (12-1st, 5-2nd, 7-3rd).
The following students placed first
in their respective events: Garrett
Chandler, Denny Dester, Zach Malo-
ney, Eli Faulhaber, John McCune,
Kevin Friend, Tyler Pohlenz, Ethan
Hawkins, William Horn, Ryan
Scheibmeir, Emily Warner, and
Alexa Schultz.
All students represented VCHS
extremely well. Our next stop is the
state competition in Overland Park.
Go Hornets!
It’s state assessment time in Valley
Center! Our students began taking the
state assessments in reading, math, sci-
ence, and history on February 28, 2013.
These assessments provide us with an
additional view of how our students are
continuing to progress as learners. The
data received also allows us to evaluate
the overall strength of the learning op-
portunities we provide. From this in-
formation we are able to make neces-
sary adjustments to our curriculum and
instruction and identify areas to target
for improvement.
Thank you for your continued sup-
port at home encouraging our students
to do their very best on these assess-
ments. Please emphasize the im-
portance of getting plenty of rest, hav-
ing a positive attitude, reading and re-
reading questions to ensure understand-
ing, and tackling every question with
perseverance and a problem-solving
mentality!
Spring 2013 State Assessment Schedule:
Feb. 28-March 4
8th Grade Reading
March 4-8
3rd/4th Grade Reading (Abilene)
4th Grade Science (West)
4th Grade Science (Wheatland)
6th Grade Reading (Intermediate School)
March 11-15
4th Grade Science (Abilene)
4th Grade Reading (West)
5th/6th Grade Reading (Intermediate School)
7th Grade Reading (Middle School)
March 25-29
5th Grade Reading (Intermediate School)
April 1-5
3rd/4th Grade Math (Abilene)
3rd Grade Math (West)
4th Grade Reading (Wheatland)
6th Grade Math (Intermediate School)
7th Grade Science (Middle School)
High School Reading
April 8-12
4th Grade Math (West)
6th Grade Math (Intermediate School)
8th Grade Math (Middle School)
High School Math
April 15-19
3rd Grade Reading (West)
3rd Grade Reading (Wheatland)
4th Grade Math (Wheatland
5th Grade Math (Intermediate School)
7th Grade Math (Middle School)
High School Life Science
April 22-26
3rd Grade Math (Wheatland)
5th Grade Math (Intermediate School)
High School Physical Science
April 29-May 3
High School US History
Becky Khosravipour
Graphic courtesy-lucassdocblog.blogspot.com
16 · The Hornet Connection Volume 1, Number 2
The Hornet Connection The editor reserves the right to edit submitted information for content and space availability. Questions?
Contact Janet Staab at 316.755.7000 or [email protected]
USD 262
School Board
Dave Spears Board President
Brad Barbour Board Vice-President
Bart Balthazor Board Member
Roger Joyal Board Member
Colin McKenney Board Member
Rhonda Price Board Member
BOE Goals for 2012-2013 All district students will continue to improve their academic performance and college and career readiness as indicated by an increase in:
the number of students taking the ACT
the composite scores and college readiness standards attained from the ACT
students meeting or exceeding grade-level benchmarks in the AIMSweb math and read-ing assessments
the development , in grades K-5, of career awareness and exploration emphasizing foundational knowledge and skills, including 21st century skills
the development of personalized career ex-ploration, including interest inventories and plans of study, for 6th through 12th grade stu-dents
the number of students enrolled in CTE path-way courses
the number of students in CTE pathway
courses earning technical credentials or indus-
try-recognized certifications
USD 262 will maintain the most effective teaching staff possible through:
effective recruiting, hiring, and retaining practices
providing quality professional learning oppor-tunities
implementing and evaluation system that leads to increased teacher effectiveness
Emergency Closings and School Delays
During emergencies, it may be necessary to alter the school day with a delay, cancellation or early dismissal. In such cases, the local television stations, KNSW (Channel 3), KAKE (Channel 10), and KWCH (Channel 12), along with local ra-dio stations, and www.kansas.com will be notified by school district officials. You may also check our website, www.usd262.net, Facebook page or Twitter for closing or delay information. For the safety of our children, parents are strongly encouraged to have a plan in place in the event of an early dismissal, delay or cancellation. Residents are requested NOT to call any of the television/radio stations or the transportation facility for information. Stations have indicated school closing infor-mation will be repeated often.
A Breakdown of This Year’s Budget: Estimated Revenues
Fund Max
Amount
Source Purpose
General
Fund
$15,847,486 12% Local /
88% State
Salaries, Supplies, Operations
LOB $4,525,509 47% Local /
53% State
Salaries, Supplies, Operations
Bond $4,622,378 56% Local /
44% State
Bond and Interest Payments
Food
Service
$1,574,388 Federal/State/
Fees
Food /Food Service Operations
and Salaries
Federal $311,024 Federal Staff Development and
At-Risk Services
Capital
Outlay
$189,783 100% Local Vehicles, Building Repairs,
Technology
Notice of Non-Discrimination
Valley Center USD 262 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, handicap/disability, or age. Persons having inquiries may contact
the district’s ADA and Section 504 Coordinator, 143 S. Meridian Ave., Valley Center,
KS 67147. Telephone: 316.755.7000.