Superintendent's Ramblings
Lots of Good Stuff Happening!
Marching Band Ends Season on a Wet Note
After another very successful marching band season, the LHS Pride of Lyons Marching Band had to call it quits early for the 2023 season due to the weather. The band had prepared to play at the 1-2-3-4A State Championships on Saturday, October 28 and were one of the favorites to win the whole contest. However a lightning delay and then the eventual cancelation of the event left the band with a feeling of unfinished business. The band had marched in three parades, performed at the State Fair, and several other contests, receiving Outstanding ratings at each one! Band instructor Andrew Scherer used the the situation as a teachable moment, by encouraging the members to keep their chins up rather than dwell on the disappointment. The band will have another performance this coming weekend at the Lyons Chamber of Commerce Veterans Day parade at 9:00 am at the city square.
It's Buffer Week
Buffer Week is a week designated by the Kansas State Activities Association to give kids a week off between the fall sports season and the winter sports season. The only exception is for the few football teams still in the playoffs. Of course, they cannot take a week off in the middle of run at a State Championship. However, the thousands of other high school athletes are not permitted to practice during Buffer Week. The week gives athletes' bodies an opportunity to recover from the strenuous fall sports, and it gives injuries a chance to heal. It also affords the kids and coaches an opportunity to relax mentally before the long winter sports season begins on Monday, November 13. From that point on, it is non-stop practice and competitions through the end of the school year, with short breaks for Christmas and Spring Break.
LHS Boys Locker Room Gets Facelift
The Lyons High School boys' locker room looks better now than it ever has! Head basketball coach Sam Schmidt together with his wife Sheila took on the project of painting the locker room prior to the basketball season starting on November 13. After a lot of elbow grease cleaning and painting, the locker room looks like a college locker room. The shower and locker room walls and floors were painted including the Lion logo prominent throughout. The painting was done by local artist Kristi Battershell.
El Potrillo Above & Beyond for October
El Potrillo sponsors the Above & Beyond recognition for USD 405 by giving each month's winner a gift certificate worth $25. The monthly winner is selected from among nominees submitted to the Staff Care Committee. The winner for October is Coach Sam Schmidt. For more information about the reason for his nomination and award, see the previous article. Also nominated for the month of October is a whole group of worthy individuals: Gerard Paz Lostes, Alicia Carlton, Wanda Arriola, Megan Moor, Lynette Ferguson, Dan Reazin, Bridget Babcock, Tawanna Berry, Leah Bowers, Courtney Farmer, and Sam Lehman.
Halloween Contest for Staff
Staff at each USD 405 building had the chance to win a cup full of candy corn, candy pumpkins, and Reese's Pieces at their respective buildings last week. Winners for each building are shown below.
Rice County Learning Center - Blasa Ortiz
Park Elementary - Celia Lopez
Frisbie Education Center - Cheryl Davis
Lyons Middle School - Diana Villanueva
Lyons High School - Patti Kreis
Central Elementary School - Veronica Landeros
LHS Drama Presents "Godspell"
Make plans to visit Lyons High School this Thursday or Friday night or Sunday afternoon to watch the Lyons High School presentation of the musical "Godspell".
Veterans Day Assembly this Friday
USD 405 and the Lyons High School Air Force Junior ROTC will honor our nation's veterans on Friday at 10:00 a.m. in the LHS auditorium. The program this year will include the posthumous induction of LHS alum and West Point graduate, Dr. Laurence Archer. This year's veteran's address will be by Lyons High School's new Senior Aerospace Instructor Colonel Russ Allen. Veterans and their families are invited to stay for lunch following the ceremony as guests of the school.
LHS Athletes Make All-League Teams
Congratulations to the the following Lyons High School athletes who were selected by Central Kansas League coaches for all-league honors. Kennedy Grizzle (10) was named to the volleyball honorable mention squad. Jorge Cereceres (11) was named 2nd team offensive line and honorable mention defensive line, Ethan Luck (11) was named first team defensive back, and honorable mention as a wide receiver and as a returner, Solomon Goforth (12) was named first team punter and honorable mention kicker, and Deacon Showalter (11) was named as honorable mention linebacker. Congrats to all five of these LHS student-athletes!