Tiger Newsletter
November, 2020
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE TIGER DEN!
From the desk of FSHS Principal Amber Toth:
Please reach out to us immediately if you do not have reliable Internet and are in need of a wifi hotspot. Call FSHS @ (620)223-0600.
Equal means everyone getting the same thing. Fair means everyone getting what they need. Our mission at Fort Scott High School is to meet students where they are. As a staff, we have spent the last year training staff on what it means to teach from a trauma informed perspective. Students come to us with all different ability levels, experiences, gifts and talents. It is our job to ensure they are successful. The most important piece of that puzzle is ensuring a student is ready to learn. That is the plate we build education upon. Approaching education from that perspective, means we have to provide tiers of support based upon the needs of individual students. Some of the supports we provide are for all students. However, some of the supports that are needed are based upon what a child individually needs to be successful. It may mean a child isn’t having their basic necessities met. In order for that child to learn, they must be rested, fed, and safe. It may mean a child needs emotional support. In order for that child to learn, they may need a plan to deal with anxiety, depression, trauma and trust. It may mean a child needs academic support. In order for that child to learn, they may need acceleration, remediation or organizational skills. It is because true education can only occur when we meet kids where they are, that we provide a variety of resources. We are utilizing our early release half days for both remediation and enrichment. We have the ability to provide mental health services without a child having to leave the building. We can also provide the opportunity for students to Zoom with a therapist when not in the building. Our partnership with Communities in Schools allows for a mentorship program, future planning, and connections with the community. Our building has a clothes and food pantry to ensure students have access to clothes, hygiene items, and clothes. We love our children. I say “our” because we can’t do it without the partnership of parents. Regardless of how kids come to us, we are going to love them through it, put them first, and do whatever it takes to ensure that we meet their individual needs.
From the desk of Assistant Principal, Dr. Robyn Kelso:
FSHS Tiger Families -
Thank you for your continued support of our students, our staff and our school community during this time. If you would be so kind, please click on the link below to take our USD 234 Reopening Feedback Family Survey. We will use survey feedback to help us determine how we may continuously improve our planning and communication as we continue to respond to changes brought on by the current COVID-19 pandemic. This survey is anonymous, and we appreciate your time and honesty in providing us with this important information. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.
Speaking of surveys...
Dear Parents:
Our school will soon be administering the Kansas Communities That Care Student Survey* in early December. This survey is taken by 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade students statewide. I believe this survey is a valuable tool to help us understand how students behave, think and feel about alcohol, marijuana and other drug use, bullying and school safety. The KCTC survey measures teen substance use, delinquency, and related problem behaviors in schools and communities. The survey, which is completely anonymous, gives us insight into the problems students face and shows what we can do to help them succeed. The information is important for planning effective prevention programs in our school and community and provides data to assist in applying for grant funding.
Dr. Robyn Kelso, FSHS Assistant Principal
620-223-0600
1005 S. Main Street
Fort Scott, KS 66701
FSHS FALL FINALS, WEEK OF DECEMBER 14th!
From the desk of Coach Del, Athletics/Activities Director:
FORT SCOTT TIGERS - 2020 FALL SPORTS WRAP-UP
When the 2020-21 school year started this Fall, there was plenty of uncertainty as to how Fall Sports and Activities would be able to happen in the midst of COVID-19. Coaches and athletes were faced with new challenges never seen before: daily temperature checks, wearing masks, social distancing, constant schedule changes and cancellations, quarantines, etc. There were serious doubts in a lot of people’s minds as to whether we would be able to complete our seasons in each of our sports. Not only did each sport finish their season, the Tigers finished the Fall with collectively one of the most successful season’s in recent memory:
Girls Golf - Karlie Chipman and Ryann Thurston both qualified for State, with Chipman finishing 6th at the State Meet in Emporia after finishing 1st at the Independence Regional. The duo also finished in the Top 10 in SEK League competition, with Chipman finishing 4th overall and Thurston finishing 6th.
Girls Tennis - Ella Beth and Emma Daly finished 4th in Double at Regionals to qualify for the State Tournament in Topeka. The Doubles team finished the season with a record of 20-5.
Volleyball - Lady Tiger Volleyball was very competitive the entire season and had several highlights. They finished 2nd in both the Erie and Anderson County tournaments. The Junior Varsity had a successful season and won the Fort Scott JV Tournament. The Freshmen won the Chanute tournament and finished the season 20-5. The SEK league coaches voted Montana LaRoche to the All-SEK 1st team, and Abby Altic to the All-SEK 2nd team.
Soccer - Tiger Soccer had their most successful season in several years, finishing the year
8-7-2 and winning 6 out of their last 8 games to finish the season. They earned the 2nd seed in Regionals and the right to host a first round playoff game for the first time in 8 years. The Tigers battled hard in terrible weather, but fell to Ottawa 2-1. Gavin Pytlowany and Collin Thomas were selected to the All-SEK 1st team, and Elijah Self and Noah Martin were selected to the 2nd team.
Cross Country - Both Cross Country teams had another successful season, with the Girls finishing 1st in the SEK and the boys 2nd. At the Regional meet in Chanute the Girls finished 2nd as a team, with the Boys finishing 3rd. Both teams qualified for the State meet in Wamego. Team members competing at State were: Girls - Addie Fowler, Kenzi Hardesty, Emily Farrington, Lilly Westhoff, Tarra Worthing, Alaenah Michaud, and Mesa Casper. Boys - Dryden Cosens, Gibson Fess, Trenton Peck, Caleb Allen, Grant Feagins, Trevin Worthing, and Connor Gorman.
...AND league coaches voted Tracey Bogina as SEK Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year!
Football - Despite having two games canceled from their schedule due to a quarantine situation, the Tigers put together one of the most successful seasons in school history, finishing the regular season 6-0. With a win vs. Coffeyville in the final regular season game, they clinched the 2020 SEK Championship. They entered the playoffs the #2 seed in the East division, and defeated Bonner Springs at home in the 1st round of the playoffs. The following week they fought hard but fell to six-time defending State Champ Bishop Miege, finishing an outstanding season 7-1. Several Tigers earned All-League honors:
Malachi Vann - 1st Team QB and Offensive MVP
Jamar Franks - 1st Team RB
Jordan Johnson - 1st Team RB
Nick Emerson - 1st Team WR
Syllvin Roark - 1st Team OL
Kaden Conner - 1st Team OL
Grayson Quick - 1st Team DL
Miles Bowman - 1st Team DL
Jacob Stinnett - 1st Team LB and Defensive MVP
Luke Bradbury - 1st Team LB
Donald Harper - 1st Team DB
Will Wunderly - 2nd Team DB
...AND Head Coach Bo Graham was selected as SEK Coach of the Year!
No matter what sport you talk about, everyone had to endure some major changes this year with the COVID-19 guidelines and protocol that were in place. With the success that we had across the board, there are some groups of people that deserve to be thanked for their extra efforts:
Tiger Athletes - As always they worked extremely hard to be successful on the court, field, or course. But this year they were asked to endure things that were new and unusual to them: wearing masks at practices, games, and on buses; practicing social distancing; not being allowed to eat treat bags on buses or eat at restaurants after games; and dealing with constant changes to the schedule due to quarantine situations. Almost every sport experienced multiple changes to the schedule, but the kids stayed patient and did not let it affect their performances in competition. They were forced to go through a lot but handled it like Champions!!!
Tiger Coaches - The coaches also had to endure all of the things mentioned above. But when planning for their season and competitions this year, not only did they have to worry about game plans, strategies, etc., they also had to deal with plans for temperature checks, social distancing on trips, making sure everyone had their masks on, etc. They did a fantastic job of keeping their teams focused on the task at hand and prepared them to face any obstacle that was thrown their way. Despite all of the extra responsibilities and added stress to an already difficult job, all of our coaches stepped up and did everything that was asked of them to keep our athletes safe and still focused on being successful.
Tiger Parents and all Tiger Fans - Everyone had to face new situations at sporting events this Fall, including our parents and fans! From having their temperatures taken at entrances, to wearing masks during games or events, nothing was quite the same this year. We even had to deal with seating capacity limits at some locations, which meant limited number of tickets available. Not ideal situations, but our fans handled it great and without any major issues. There was a certain amount of patience and cooperation that was necessary to get through all of this, and our fans stepped up and helped make these situations as smooth as they could possibly be.
Winter sports are beginning, and we will face a whole new set of challenges as COVID-19 guidelines will continue to be in place. I know our coaches and athletes involved in these Winter sports are excited and ready to get going, and will continue to do the best they can to stay safe and make sure our seasons are as successful as possible.
GO TIGERS!!!
Jeff DeLaTorre
FSHS Activities/Athletic Director
Fort Scott High School Tiger Basketball Schedule
Fort Scott High School Tiger Wrestling Schedule
FEEDING HUNGRY TIGERS...
USDA has approved all students in USD234 to receive a free breakfast and a free lunch UNTIL JUNE 30TH! PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE COUNTED! Sign up for lunch with your first hour teacher. Remote students will sign up in the morning when they log-in to their learning classroom.
Milk is 50 cents If your child brings a lunch from home and wishes to purchase milk for their sack lunch. Parents may send a check to put in the child's meal account or put money online through the Webstore on the USD234 website found under Quick Links.
A Message from Lewis Dunkeson, CIS Site Coordinator, FSHS
#AllinforKids | In Schools to Help All Students Succeed
Dear Parents/Guardians:
If your student is currently enrolled in our Communities In Schools program at USD 234, find out about the multitude of student supports provided by the program. Please, click on the link to learn more about Communities In Schools.
The Show Must Go On…
from Ms. Bin:
Fort Scott High School Thespians regret there will not be a performance of "The Monologue Show" by Don Zolidis in front of a live audience at this time.
FSHS Thespians WILL continue to stream performances from Nov. 22-24. Tickets are available from fortscotthighschooltheatre.ludus.com.
Current ticket holders should e-mail Angie Bin at angela.bin@usd234.org to transfer your ticket to a streaming-on-demand ticket (that can be used any time Nov. 22-24) or to receive a refund.
Tiger Threads Navigates the 2020-21 School Year
Morgan Sage
Business Teacher
FBLA Adviser
Fort Scott High School
(620) 223-0600
Order online @ https://tiger-threads.square.site/
FSHS DEBATE KEEPS WINNING!
On November 14th, the Talking Tigers competed remotely in the Great Bend tournament. Out of 27 Varsity teams, there were only three undefeated and two of those were Fort Scott! Using quality points to break the tie, Neil Gugnani and brother Shekhar placed second and the duo of Ashton Nave and Jadelynne Russell claimed 3rd place! All Tiger Teams walked away with wins! In the photos below, the Gugnani boys and Ashton are pictured separately because they participated off site. Congratulations to the entire Tiger Team!
2nd Place!
3rd Place!
More Talking Tigers!
FSHS After School Choir Continues to Grow
Three cheers for Jordyn McGhee for making it into the SEKMEA District Choir for 2020-2021!
Yay!
MJ:) Mary Jo Harper BME: Pittsburg State University MM: Kent State University Music, Eugene Ware Elementary USD 234 Fort Scott, KS
New Chapter of FCCLA at FSHS!
FSHS’s new FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapter is off the a great start with 37 members! Mrs. Bowman, the new Family Consumer Sciences teacher at the high school, is the advisor. FCCLA is a nationally recognized Career and Technical Student Organization that puts family first. Students learn leadership skills through career preparation and community involvement. FCCLA is working on ways to help with the community this year including chalking the windows for the elderly at Medicalodge in Fort Scott over Thanksgiving and “adopting” a couple families in need this Christmas. For more information, email carissa.bowman@usd234.org
Día de los Muertos display in FSHS Art Gallery
Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday that was celebrated this year on Monday, November 2. On this day, it is believed the souls of the dead return to visit living family members. Many people celebrate this day by setting up altars with favorite foods, drink, and photos of the departed.
Creative Writing Class with Mrs. Hartman
Students could choose to write a spooky story or a slam poem. For the spooky story, students were given two different story starters and both had to be included, although together the two didn't make much sense.
Students who chose to create a slam poem chose the assignment that was more intensive. They had to watch videos of Slam Poetry and then fill-in several brainstorming worksheets before they could complete the final poem.
All submitted works are ficitious.
Jeni Hartman
English Teacher
Fort Scott High School
1005 S Main St.
Fort Scott, KS 66701
620-223-0600
Jaye
Nothing.
Nothing Nothing Nothing.
You ask what I did this morning,
Nothing.
You ask what I ate,
when I went to bed,
How I feel- anything
You ask me anything and I sat Nothing.
Nothing is real
It is relative
Because nothing for me isn’t just empty
Nothing for me is the lack of everything
It is the lack of sound or sight in a memory.
Nothing is my lack of dreams
I have dreams but i can’t remember them anymore
Nothing is my everything
Nothing is my start and end
Nothing is how I wake up and how I go to bed
Nothing isn’t always nothing though
I have thousands of thoughts and sounds and visuals
All running through my head at once.
My brain knows everything
But nothing is strong enough-
Tangible enough to remember
The only thing I remember is bad things
I remember that recurring nightmare from when I was 5
A big ball of static chases a smaller one
The race through a field of TV static walls
I remember because i see it everytime I look at static
I remember how my heart raced and how I couldn’t breath
But I’d choose nothing over that fear anyday
I remember getting lost at the fair
Of being 8 and alone
I remember wandering around
I remember crying in fear
Tall people, kids running, the sound of crisp leave crunching
I remember going to the announcer and telling his i was lost
I remember my dad walking over and saying he saw me the whole time
But I’d choose to forget over that memory anyday
I don’t remember lunch
I don’t remember waking up
I don’t remember assignments or walking to class
My head is full of Nothing until it’s full of everything
I would choose anything over my general nothing
I would choose fear over the emptiness I feel
Everything is neutral till it is extreme
I feel nothing and nothing hurts more than everything
My memory is full of nothing
Nothing and yet this was written in 5 minutes
Nothing and yet I could write 4000 words
I could tell you a story for hours
Then as soon as I stop talking
I forget our entire conversation
Nothing then everything all at once
Nothing then everything
Everything then nothing
Whatever the story is
Whatever the time is
I will forget
I will forget your face
I will forget your name
I will forget everything about you till I have a reason to remember
Boys Will Be Boys
As a little kid, we were told stories about the monsters under the bed. By the age of 8, I met the monster who made me scared of going to bed. Playing dress up and house soon turned into watching movies and his version of house. The movies became locking of the doors. House turned into years of fear of men.
By the time I was 10, I was taunted by boys who called me fat.
When I was 13 I had developed an eating disorder. I remember when warmth became cold. A slight touch to my skin would leave a bruise for weeks. Happy smiles became into the feeling of insecurity of taking off my hoodie. Just years later I would be a skeleton with skin just to look at.
I had already experienced rape, anorexia, depression, and anxiety all before the time I was 15.
At the age of 15, I had already had issues with my mind and lines on my arms that would be blamed on the cat if anyone was to see. My mind was a battleground trying to fight the battle between my self-worth image and self-destroying thoughts. Afraid of what may come from looking at the weight on the scale that sat on the shelf. Men would catcall me on the streets and I would just continue walking silently in fear because I knew if I said something rude back he’d just threaten to shoot me like the last guy.
I was taught, no. Trained to follow the rules of dressing a certain way so my shoulders didn’t distract the boys. Why?” Because boys will be boys.” Why was I taught on where not to be or what not to wear? Because I am a woman and my body and the way I dress decides if I was asking for it or not. Why do my shoulders and skin have to be hidden because it “distracts” the boy? Why do I have to be brainwashed into society’s rules of what I can and can not do with my body? Because... boys will be boys.
No. You will teach those boys in how to respect my body and not rape me. Boys will not be boys. I will not hide my body for you to lower my self-worth and image myself because boys cannot control themselves. Boys will not be boys so stop using that excuse. Boys will be pigs until they are taught on how to respect me. I am a woman. We are women.
Ele
As I walk slowly, the blinding sun flashes in my view.
I look ahead and see you…
And, as out of place as I must be, you look upon me.
I try my best to look down at my feet, our eyes- I’m praying, do not meet.
And then as I see you walk by- and cry my silent cry, begging for another day.
You return to me- and suddenly, I let you in once more.
You seem to play fine,
but inside I know that you feel miserable in this world full of stars,
but you want to get a new galaxy.
I try and I try,
but I know that I can’t ever make you stay.
How deeply you blind me,
and how strong your “love” binds me.
Will I ever learn to live again?
Will my heart ever give me a chance to think for myself? What foolish questions.
What a foolish heart…
to let a boy in, just to tear it apart.
When the bells rings,
you are already gone,
taking my heart with you.
I sit alone, empty through the rest of my day-
wondering when I can tell you that I feel this way.
Slam Poem by Kelsey
I don’t like my hair
I don’t like my height
I don’t like my big feet
I don’t like my nose
There are so many things I would love to change about myself
But how would I look when if I was “perfect”?
There is no pleasing yourself
You have to learn to love every imperfection about yourself
I don’t like my weight
I don’t like my big thighs
I don’t like my eye color
All of these things I can’t stand about myself are still part of who I am
Deal with your flaws
Work on making yourself happy when others can’t
Nothing stands out more than confidence
I don’t like my eyebrows
I don’t like my style
I don’t like my body shape
I don’t like me
But it could be worse they say
At least your somewhat pretty they say
At least you can pull a guy they say.
All of these things can be said
But yet, none of them feel true
I dislike more about myself than I like
But I carry that with pride
I carry that with my self confidence
No one can change the way you look at yourself
It’s up to you to make a change.
I love my strength and weight
I love my eyelashes and nose
I love my style and height
I love my hair and big feet
I love my eyebrows and body shape
I love me
More than anyone else ever could.
Slam Poem by Jericho
She walks with a fun strut.
She talks in a fun manner.
She talks about fun things.
The wind blows her hair in a fun way.
Her eyes shimmer with fun.
When we hang out, we have fun.
We go out and have fun.
Our conversations are fun.
We talk about fun things.
Our eyes shimmer with fun.
Our car rides are fun.
We hang out at her place and have fun.
When we cuddle, we have fun.
She is faithful to me.
She comes home early.
We don’t have any arguments.
Every time we are together, we are having fun.
No matter what, we have fun!
But suddenly, things changed.
She lost her fun strut.
She talks in an un-fun manner.
She talks about bland things.
The wind that blew her hair is gone.
That shimmer of fun in her eyes is gone.
When we hang out, we don’t have fun.
When we go out, we don’t have fun.
When we talk, it’s not fun.
When we ride in the car, it is not fun.
When we hang out at her place, it’s not fun.
When we cuddle, it’s not fun.
Me seeing a suggestive text from a “friend” is not fun.
Her coming home late is not fun.
Our arguments are not fun.
It’s not fun when she sleeps at her “friend's” house.
When we are together, we don’t have fun!
When, when, when, when, when, when, when did all the fun leave?
The when turns into why.
Why would would she do this?
Why did this have to happen to me?
Why did the fun have to leave?
Sinkhole
Hi, my name is Olivia Payne. I'm 9 years old and I have long blond hair, blue eyes, and really tall. I have one brother Oliver Payne who is my twin and he has the same color of eyes, hair and he's really tall too, my mom is Christy and my father is Brad Payne. They both have brown hair and brown eyes. My Family is small. My dad moved here in college and met my mom so they stayed here in town and my mom's family died in a car wreck so we don't have a lot of family to visit. I like it that way because it's just us and our best friends that live down the road.
People were putting up Halloween decorations. Since it's that time of. Halloween is my favorite holiday and the day before Halloween is my brother and I's birthday. I always dress up in the funniest costumes like last year I dressed up as a fat gorilla and my brother was a banana. We always dress up together and try to make it funny.
The day it all started was on October 15, 2020, a normal day, a normal day at least that's what we thought it was.
I was outside playing with my brother on the playset. All of a sudden my father ran outside.
He yelled, “Kids come inside and hurry.”
I yelled back, “What's wrong dad.”
He replied, “Just come inside, you're not in trouble, now hurry.”
Oliver and I ran up to the house, opened the door and mom and dad were crying. They sat us down at the table to tell us the horrible news.
He said, “Kids there has been an accident. A sinkhole has appeared at the edge of town and swallowed the Smiths house whole, and it's getting bigger minute by the minute, something like a monster came out of it. I just want you to know that I love you.”
Right after he said that we heard a loud giant noise the monster was outside our window. It was something I've never seen before. It has the head of a lion, upper body of a gorilla, legs of a cheetah, a salmon fish tale, with ladybug wings, a fairy wand, and the devil's horns it had to be at least 69 feet tall. He was destroying the houses as he walked away.
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH,” my brother and I yelled.
Our parents quickly put their hands over our mouths.
“Don't make a sound,” they said.
We nodded and held their hand. It moved on and was no longer in sight. and we didn't know what to do so we went to the living room and turned on the tv to see what the news said.
The news channel said, “Breaking news a new monster has come out of a sinkhole in Fort Scott Ks. President Chad Davidson later today gave a speech and said the military is working on this so stay home and try to do things as normal as possible……”
Then the electricity went out.
“What just happened,” Oliver said.
I screeched, “AHH WHAT HAPPENED.”
Dad answered back, “I don't know.”
Mom looked at dad and said, “Honey look outside.”
We all scurried to the door and it was all black the whole world was black. Except one part of the sky had a little circle of fire getting bigger and bigger every second.
I looked at dad and mom and gasped, “ Dad what is that in the sky.”
“I have no freakin' clue sweet heart,” dad replied.
We went inside to get some flashlights but they wouldn't work so we tried to start a fire but the match or lighter wouldn even start. It's like the monster took all the light out of the world. I bet he waved the wand around and wished that it all went away.
“What's that noise?” Oliver said.
We all rushed outside and the light thing in the World was right there.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,” we all screamed.
Then the asteroid type thing hit the earth and we all died.
The End
Congratulations, Kiran Bailey!
From Tiger to Coyote!
Kiran Bailey signs with Kansas Wesleyan University to be part of the KWU Dance Team. Kiran will be double majoring in Pre-Physical Therapy and Pre-Athletic Training. Pictured is the Bailey family. Seated, l-r: Kiran's mom, Malinda; Kiran; Kiran's dad, Eric; standing, Kiran's siblings, brother Kaleb and sister Kelcie.
GRATITUDE
Be grateful for the kindly friends that walk along your way;
Be grateful for the skies of blue that smile from day to day;
Be grateful for the health you own, the work you find to do,
For round about you there are men less fortunate than you.
Be grateful for the growing trees, the roses soon to bloom,
The tenderness of kindly hearts that shared your days of gloom;
Be grateful for the morning dew, the grass beneath your feet,
The soft caresses of your babes and all their laughter sweet.
Acquire the grateful habit, learn to see how blest you are,
How much there is to gladden life, how little life to mar!
And what if rain shall fall to-day and you with grief are sad;
Be grateful that you can recall the joys that you have had.
Edgar Albert Guest