LHS WEEKLY MESSAGE
Week # 34: Hoping that April Showers Bring May Flowers
April 26, 2020
Louisburg High School,
202 Aquatic Louisburg, KS
Follow us on Twitter at USD416_LHS
Twitter followers: 603
Louisburg,
April 2020 May be the craziest month that I have ever experienced in my life. There was lots of rain, no Pizza Hut (more my kids' concern than mine), a oneway grocery store, and a stay at home order for our little 'burg. By the time next week rolls around, perhaps May will bring us a little hope that maybe we can start returning back to normal. The governor will make her announcment about the restrictions that we have on May 3rd, a week from today. Perhaps, we will be able to enjoy those flowers that April left behind. I am going to have one final simple week this week, as May will bring with it a lot of information.
Weekly Shout Outs and Other Things You Should Know (FAQs at the Bottom)
SENIOR TRIBUTE (COMPOSITES AND BABY PICTURES)
Many of you have seen the “Senior Spotlights” that Andy Brown has been putting out through his Louisburg Sports Zone. You may have also seen them as I put them in the Weekly Message each week as well. Starting this week, we will begin our “Senior Tribute.” Each student has been sent a form via school email that they have been asked to fill out. On the form, they can also upload some pictures to go along with it. The Tributes will first show up on Twitter individually, scattered over the next few weeks, and then they will be collected in the Weekly Message at the end of each of the last weeks of school.
Shout out to Barbara Smith, owner of First Impressions Photography. She took and provided the senior composites for us, and we are going to use them over the course of the next few weeks. I used senior Olivia Chase's composite as an example. Each student’s composite will be featured in a small bio along with the pictures that are being provided. Parents here are some ways that you can help:
1. Check with your students to see if they have indeed filled out the form and uploaded pictures. The baby pictures are not required, but they definitely make it more fun. You can even send your favorite one to me directly if you like, or just make it a fun activity with your student to take a stroll down memory lane and look at old photos. If a student has no picture, they will still have their composite shown, and if they don’t fill out the bio, it will just say their name. I want the whole class represented.
2. Follow and share on Twitter. The bios and pictures will first come out on Twitter. Follow and encourage your family to follow Louisburg High School @usd416_LHS so that they can easily see the picture of all of our graduates. It is also the easiest way to see the Weekly Messages where they will be posted in one place over the next few weeks.
3. Parents, please be looking for your own form to fill out on your senior soon as well.
Be Looking for our Back in the Day section with staff members as well. Here are a few of you students' teachers when they were younger.
CAP AND GOWN PICK UP
Last Tuesday, Jostens' rep Christ Curtis showed up to pass out Caps and Gowns to our seniors. The whole process went smoothly, and the majority of the students were able to get their caps and gowns.
Shout outs to Mr. Morgan, Mrs. Quinn (Pictured left), Mr. Pickman, and Mrs. Stevens for coming out on Tuesday to make signs, chalk the entry with positive messages, and give a tremendous greeting to their senior advisory students as they picked up their gowns, all done in acceptable fashion with social distancing practices in place.
Parents, if you or your student still needs to pick up a cap and gown, please email me to set up a time to pick them up. I’m anxious to start seeing pictures of our students in their cap and gowns.
Senior Lauren Vincent on Pick Up Day!
Senior Liz Jacobs Drags Pet Cat Along to Pick Up Day!
Senior Andie Masten Drags Mom Along to Pick Up Day!
Sports and Activities Update
We are happy to know that in these tough activities related times that our local Sports reporter, Andy Brown at Louisburg Sports Zone continues to seek out and report on the news concerning our schools and students. Please find links to the recent stories available at his website. He will continue to do write-ups this spring.
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
2020 Senior Spotlight: Erin Lemke
Erin Lemke almost didn't even give soccer a try her freshman year. Since that time, Lemke has become one of the program's best players as she was a two-time team captain, not to mention an all-league and all-state player.
2020 Senior Spotlight: Lauren Cutshaw
Lauren Cutshaw has grown up in the game of softball and one of her best memories came as she helped the Lady Cats to a regional title. The Louisburg catcher is trying to stay in the right frame of mind during a difficult time.
2020 Senior Spotlight: Andie Masten
Andie Masten never gave soccer a thought until her junior year. As it turned out, she didn't regret playing as she was a member of the Wildcat state runner-up team in 2019. Although her senior season was cancelled, Masten enjoyed her time with the program.
2020 Senior Spotlight: Ryan Haight
Ryan Haight was looking forward to the opportunity to get back on the golf course with his seven other senior teammates as the Wildcats were poised to earn a second state trip to the state tournament. It was supposed to be a year to remember.
THANK YOU ANDY BROWN!
Gassman signs with Nothern Iowa to run track!
Carlee Gassman made it all official today during a signing ceremony with her family. She has signed to run track at Northern Iowa. Gassman is a 5-time state medalist with the Wildcats and holds the school record in the 300-meter hurdles and as a member of the 4x100 relay.
Pickman named as new LHS activities director
2020 Senior Spotlight: Trent Martin
Rutherford, McMullen (pictured) given national recognition
The highlight of my week was cap and gown pickup. There is a reason that every educator got into this profession, and it is not the lessons that they are creating at home in the absence of traditional school. It is the day to day interactions that educators get to have with students.
These are the moments that touch an educator’s heart. Having been without students since early March, you could tell that both teachers and students alike were craving for even the simplest interactions with each other. Like all people, emotions can be drastically different given the exact same situation. There were giant smiles that said, “I am so happy to see you.” There were nods and hellos that simply said, “I’m doing fine,” and there were tears from both sides that said, “This isn’t the way our high school year was was supposed to finish."
Surely, enjoyable, but not easy in the least. Whatever the next few weeks bring, we will finish strong, and we will do it together.
Until next week,
Jeremy Holloway
Learning
Living
Leading
The Wildcat Way
FAQS
GRADUATION
One question that I keep getting is about Graduation. Louisburg, like most area high schools, is still in a wait and see approach. Graduation will happen, but when and what exactly it looks like is not as clear. I will tell you that we have gotten the bill for the caps and gowns, and the Booster Club is paying for them just like always. Seniors will be getting their caps and gowns. We will arrange a way to get these to students, and I will stay in communications on dates. I know that many are wanting them for pictures, and I don’t want anyone to miss out on that experiences. Huge shout to Jenny Diederich and Susan Caldwell for all they do with the Booster Club.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT): 837-1711 or HELP@USD416.ORG
Huge shout out to our IT department which includes the whopping duo of Stacie Shaffer and Richard Griffin. The two of them have worked nonstop to make this transition as smooth as possible. They have added rights to sites, trained staff on usage, and done everything in their power to make this as successful an endeavor as possible. If your student has any difficulties with their Chromebooks, please use the email or number provided. That is Stacie Shaffer’s extension, and she is manning all of the repairs. She will schedule a time for meeting if a meeting is necessary. Best ways to contact:
1. Email: help@usd416.org
2. Call 837-1711
PERSONAL BELONGINGS
The other questions that I get on a fairly repeated basis deal with personal belongings. Until further notice is given, no personal belongings will be picked up from the school. The building is closed, and there are only essential operations going on in the building at this time. I know that this can be frustrating, and I appreciate your patience and understanding. As soon as something changes, I will let you know.
SO, HOW DOES THIS CONTINUOUS LEARNING LOOK? (THIS PORTION WILL REMAIN FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR)
1. When do students start? Classes should all be accessible on Monday, March 30. Many teachers have already opened some classes to allow students to get started, and that’s okay. Several students have been chomping at the bit, and you would be amazed at how many are ready for something to do.
2. How do students get assignments? Student at LHS are very familiar with Google Classrooms, as the majority of our teachers have always used them. Now they will all be using them. Our students are equipped for this. Parents can also follow along and to see the assignments in these same Google Classrooms. Any student that has access to this has what they need to be successful. Of course, always communicate with the teacher. Students should have already received an invitation to each Google Classroom if they weren’t already a member. My daughter is an example, and she has been contacted by every one of her teachers.
3. What if my student doesn’t have internet? Every student and/or guardian has been contacted and has a plan in place that will work for them.
4. How much work should my student expect? Your student should expect a workload of approximately 20 minutes a day per class. Some students, as with every assignment, will need less time, and others will need more. Teachers are aware of this. We at the high school are very aware of the variety of challenges that have been placed on many households, and we do not want to overload students. Again communicate with the teacher.
5. What will that work look like? Like all high school classrooms, the work will vary greatly based on the layout of the classroom and the class that is being taken. Some examples will be daily assignments, weekly assignments, and even long term assignments. Remember, those assignments will still average out to approximately 20 minutes a day, even if the assignment may take 2 weeks. At the high school level, students have been managing this all along, and now where these skills come into effect. This isn’t something to be feared. They got this.
6. What if my students don’t have the materials they need from their locker? Teachers are aware that students were left without books and many of the materials that they have used throughout the year. Lessons have been designed and resources added to compensate for this. Your teacher can give great advice, and most of our texts are online anyway.
7. When will students be able to get things out of their lockers? At this time, the building is closed until the end of the year. Food items have been removed by Mr. Hinkle and I, and there is no current time set for personal items until guidelines change. I will keep everyone up to date on those changes. I apologize for the inconvenience.
8. Are classes scheduled and face to face? No, there are not scheduled class times. This has been asked a few times, but, no, you will not attend your regular blocks at the regular time. There may be a few scheduled contacts, but not regularly scheduled classes.
9. How do students contact teachers? Every teacher will have three office hours per day. Some are lumping them, and some are spreading them out throughout the day, even into the evening hours. You can email a teacher any time, but, during office hours, you know that they will be able to respond very quickly and potentially chat in some way. Always try email first, unless the teacher has made other arrangements. Some students are having open Zoom meeting for students to jump in and talk and get help in a face to face computer environment. Teachers will also still have access to their school numbers. If you call their number, please leave a voice message for the teacher, and they will be sent an email.
Louisburg High School
Email: hollowayj@usd416.org
Website: https://www.frontierleagueks.org/public/genie/976/school/13/
Location: 202 Aquatic Drive, Louisburg, KS, USA
Phone: (913)837-1720
Twitter: @LhsUsd416