Wildcat Growl
April 17, 2020
Future Ready Wildcats
De Soto High School staff and students endeavor to model the following core values:
INTEGRITY, INQUIRY, COMMUNICATION, PERSEVERANCE, and REFLECTION.
Principal's Message
Dear Wildcat Students and Parents,
We hope this edition of the Growl finds you and your family healthy and safe.
Earlier this week, we got an opportunity to see many of our senior students as we passed out yard signs and graduation materials. We will plan and communicate an alternative date for those unable to make it. A separate email will go out to seniors and senior parents about that plan soon.
I hope to clarify what we have found to be some confusion about semester grades. The district protocol specifically states: "Students who reasonably engage in work assigned to them will receive semester grades no lower than their third quarter grade."
Some students have misinterpreted the protocol to mean the semester grade will automatically be the same as the third quarter grade, so fourth-quarter grades do not count. Students are still expected to complete assignments, take tests/quizzes, and engage in learning opportunities, and as long as students make a reasonable effort to do so, the semester grade will not be lower than the third-quarter grade. If a student chooses to stop participating and completing assignments, the semester grade may be lower. Each student should do their best and stay in communication with their teacher(s) about any barriers they experience engaging in the Continuous Learning Plan.
Exceptions to this protocol are AP Classes, College Now Classes, Quickstep Classes, and Credit Recovery Courses. AP, College Now and Quickstep classes are governed by agreements with outside agencies. Teachers for these courses will let students know the specific expectations. All students enrolled in these courses will have the same expectations regardless if they are planning to receive college credit or take the AP Exam.
Below the 'Principal's Message' is an image of the "We Love The Class of 2020" yard signs that the DHS Booster Club and several staff members have worked with us to provide to each of our seniors. We have also provided an opportunity for the entire De Soto community to purchase a yard sign to show our support for the Class of 2020. Let's show the Class of 2020 that the entire De Soto community stands behind and appreciates them!
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
Information from the DHS Media Center!
DHS LMC 2.0
Yes, believe it or not you can still read and use the library while at home!
The library catalog, resources and eBooks/eAudiobooks are just a few keystrokes away.
Enroll in library page by clicking on DHS MC Canvas or on the link DHS LMC Destiny Catalog
Check out our Instagram/Twitter pages @dhsmediacenter2 for post on current book reviews, the question of the week, national daily holidays and what my crazy dogs and I are up to while at home.
If you need further assistance please feel free to contact me at jsosna@usd232.org during office hours M-F from 8:00 to 12:00.
Message from Student Services
UMKC Pharmacy Camp Summer 2020:
UMKC Pharmacy is hosting a one-day event that will give future pharmacy students an opportunity to see what it's like to study pharmacy and a glimpse of a day in the life of a pharmacist through a variety of career practice areas! Students will perform hands-on experiments in the lab & through classroom activities, learn from pharmacy practitioners in a variety of practice settings, meet with current pharmacy students, faculty and deans, and tour the UMKC School of Pharmacy facilities.
The event is taking place at UMKC in Kansas City on Friday, June 26th and is for any high school student who has completed 9th grade or above. Space is limited. For more information and to register for the event go to UMKC Pharmacy Camp.
April 4th ACT Test Date Change:
Due to the current circumstances, the ACT is canceling the ACT that was scheduled for April 4th. All students who were registered can change to the June 13th or July 11th test, without additional fees. Please log in to your ACT account to select your new test date. DHS will not be a test site on either of these dates, but there will be multiple high schools near us that will be offering it on these dates.
Changes in DHS Senior Scholarships:
Some of the scholarships that were being offered to seniors this year have moved their deadlines back and the protocol for turning the scholarship in. Please check out the Student Services Scholarship page for more information: DHS Senior Only Scholarships.
If you have additional questions, please email Mrs. Johns at cjohns@usd232.org
AP Exam 2020 Update:
College Board announced last week that they are still giving students opportunities to earn credit for their AP Classes. If students registered by the deadline of March 20th, students will be taking their exams online on the dates that are designated. For more information please visit https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update. As more information is released, Mrs. Johns will be communicating with all students who registered for the exam.
Upcoming Virtual College Fair:
In April there were a few college fairs that were to be held in the KC metro area. Under the circumstances, college admissions programs are now offering a FREE opportunity for students to still attend, but virtually! This college fair will be held April 20-22nd. For more information, go to https://www.strivescan.com/virtual/. As the date approaches there will be more information posted on the website link.
The Kansas Youth Community Change Conference
The Kansas Youth Community Change Conference is going virtual! It is still free and sessions will take place from April 20th through May 21st.
Here’s how it works:
- Everyone who plans to attend must register for virtual KYC3 here: www.dccca.org/events/KYC3. You no longer have to register as a team.
- When you register, you’ll pick each session you are interested in participating in.
- Teens who participate in the sessions will receive prizes! Prizes include a KYC3 moisturizer ball (eOS chapstick), pen, button, foam fidget putty, collapsible water bottle, color-changing sunglasses, and a KYC3 cinch bag.
- Every teen who registers will receive a KYC3 t-shirt.
- The keynote speaker Javier Sanchez from Youth to Youth will be facilitating his sessions on Friday, April 24th at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. You won’t want to miss it!!
We’re offering 22 different sessions for teens to attend, you can view the full agenda here: https://www.dccca.org/kansas-youth-community-change-conference-kyc3-agenda/