SABRE NATION NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER EDITION
Dear Families,
Sumner Academy Families,
Welcome to the end of November, this is usually when I remind families of our inclement weather policies but the remote world has changed what that looks like now. As we enter December I want you to be mindful of two important things. First we should have some clarity on what January 26th, the start of the second semester will look like. There are lots of factors the board will have to review in moving forward with a plan on what hybrid will look like, specifically for high school. Additionally we will be sharing specific information around access to Canvas, our new learning management system. Whenever there is a change there comes some frustration but we will work hard to eliminate those frustrations to ensure a smooth transition. Canvas is a much more robust system than Google Classroom and will allow many more features. It should come as a one stop shop for students, families, and teachers. As we enter the Thanksgiving break we always encourage students to unplug if they are able and rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Thanksgiving break is a great holiday to spend time with family but it also comes at a critical time for a nice pause and reflection on student’s success. When we return we will have 6 short weeks with a holiday break in between for students to increase their grades and turn in missing assignments. Families thank you for your work so far and we ask you, to continue to be learning partners with us and help monitor your students' success.
Enjoy the extended break and we will see everyone back in the virtual classroom on Monday, November 30th. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rick Malone
Principal
Sumner Academy
Clear up Confusion
Get Organized
Advice
Tutoring Schedule
Sumner Academy Students: We are excited to announce virtual homework help Monday through
Thursday from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Feel free to log in when you can and work on what you need. We have teachers available from multiple contents that can help with specific content questions, as well as general study tips.
SUMNER SUCCESS CENTER
Important Information and Deadlines
Seniors
If you have not completed your FAFSA yet, now is the time. To get the most money possible you need to submit in December. If you need help, check out the information in the Sumner FOCUS and schedule an appointment with the one of our SSC team members using these links:
Dr. DeVries - https://calendly.com/martha-devries
Ms. Ramirez (fluent in Spanish) - https://calendly.com/leslie-ramirez-2
Freshmen and Juniors
KC Scholars will open in January – check out this website to learn how you can get money to pay for college this year.
KCKCC students
Last day to withdraw from receiving college credit from your concurrent classes is December 1st.
If you are interested in K-Step Up college credit courses contact your TAAP Teachers, Counselors, or Mr. Taylor.
All Students
Each week the Sumner Success Center produces an electronic newsletter called the Sumner FOCUS and a podcast called Casual Conversations about College.
Take time to check them both out each week!
The Sumner FOCUS – homepage
Sabre Nation TV – Youtube channel – look for Casual Conversations
Senior Graduation Announcements
Graduation will be the scheduled during the week of 5/24/20.
Seniors last day will be 5/19/20
In the Stacks: Sumner Academy Library News
We hope you are all staying healthy mentally and physically. We miss you in the library but are still here for you to contact about any needs! Here’s what’s happening:
We have so many resources that will help you succeed at sumnerlibrary.weebly.com. Access eBooks, databases, English and Spanish language newspapers, and so much more! Contact Ms. Mandina or Mr. Bauman for research help!
Interested in a free book and hearing a famous local author speak? We have a limited number of copies of Megan Bannen’s (The Bird and the Blade) second book, Soulswift, available for pick up at Sumner for students eager and willing to attend a virtual author event in January. Contact Ms. Mandina (lisa.mandina@kckps.org) if interested!
Race Project KC is happening this year! We will have five field trips. They will be virtual unless things change by spring semester. This is a great program to learn about KC’s dividing lines and connect with other metro high schools and have the difficult discussions that our nation too often fails to hold. If any student is interested in joining Race Project KC (https://www.raceprojectkc.com/), contact Mr. Bauman in the library: boyd.bauman@kckps.org
Sabres! Get your creative submissions ready for QuaranZine, a chronicle of our lives during these trying times through artwork, photography, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc. Stay tuned for more information.
Remember to access unbiased sources of news and monitor your social media use and stay healthy mentally! https://www.adfontesmedia.com/ The public library has many good resources, as well: kckpl.org.
Follow us on social media (one of the few good uses of social media!). https://sumnerlibrary.weebly.com/contact.html
· Contact a librarian for any questions. Stay safe, Sabres!
Sumner Academy Debate
What's New!
The Sumner Academy Debate/Forensics team won a grant from the National Speech & Debate Association for virtual tournament technology support. This will be a great support in keeping our debate program strong. We
Mrs. Jamelle Brown was featured in the Rostrum Magazine (The National Speech & Debate Association's Quarterly publication). The article was about surviving virtual competition. Our school has been extremely active this season in the virtual debate realm and we are very proud of our team.
The Sumner Academy high school and middle school Debate teams brought home 35 medals this month alone plus a 1st Place School Sweepstakes trophy. Congratulations Sumner Debate!
PTSA
MEMBERSHIP IS NEEDED!
Thank you to Rachel Russell who is serving as our PTSA president this year!
For more information please email
SUMNER ATHLETICS
As you likely know by now, the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools Board of Education voted 5-2 to approve a phased in approach to starting sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The board approved the recommendation by administration to allow student athletes to being practice on January 4, 2021 for basketball, swimming and bowling. The decision to start wrestling will be reevaluated early January. Games will begin January 18th and students competing will be required to continue learning remotely during the spring semester. There will be no spectators during the games, instead the games will be live streamed on the NFHS Network.
Our winter sports staff will continue preseason conditioning November 19th thru December 18th. The conditioning schedule is very similar to the winter with our workouts taking place Monday thru Thursday from 3:45pm to 5:30pm. You can check out the Sumner athletics webpage or the school’s social media for a more detailed schedule.
As always remember KSHSAA and the district require all individuals to have a physical dated after May 1st, 2020 in order to participate in any conditioning, practice or competition. If you weren’t able to make our physical clinic at Sumner in August feel free to reach out and we can provide you with some resources that can make getting a physical more accessible.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns around athletics or activities here at Sumner Academy please feel free to reach out to ty.collins@kckps.org or contact the main office.
GO SABRES1
#4theAcademy
IMPORTANT DATES: International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Due to the continued uncertainty in education this fall and winter, the IB has modified some of its assessment. Many of the exams requirements have been modified for this spring, meaning that certain topics will not be assessed. This makes the Internal Assessment (IA) in each course more important and a higher percentage of the overall IB score. If the situation worsens in the spring and exams are either canceled (as they were around the world last May) or the local authorities prevent us from testing, then the IA will be even more important for the IB score.
The scores that the students earn in their IB courses can award the students credit at their university. Four-year state universities in Kansas offer credit for IB scores of a 4 or above. While we know that remote learning is difficult in so many ways, the students work in their IB courses is important and can still earn them possible credit. It is crucial that the students complete their Internal Assessments in each of their IB courses so that they are not only successful in their Sumner courses but also in their IB score.
The linked 2020 – 2021 IB Internal Assessment Calendar is a guide to the very important due dates that your student must make. Please feel free to contact the teacher with any questions about your student’s IA. If you have any general questions about IB assessment or the IB program, please contact Paula Biggar, IB Diploma Program Coordinator at paula.biggar@kckps.org.
Please click on this link for very important dates regarding your Internal Assessment for IB.
IB Career Program
Why Is Career & Technical Education So Important?
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) by Chris Zook October 17, 2019
Career and technical education (CTE) is one of the most important parts of the modern American education system. While it may seem like CTE has only been praised recently, CTE has a proven history of preparing students for high-demand careers that help them live their lives to the fullest. Even when it was called “vocational education” or “vo-tech,” CTE still played a pivotal role in students’ lives. So what is it that makes CTE so crucial to education as a whole? There are seven strong data points to support this claim. You may notice that most of these reasons have to do with students, as opposed to teachers or administrators. That’s because CTE is so focused on student outcomes. I am so delighted that students, Claudia Perez and Chase Campbell, have agreed to share in video here their experience in career programs at Sumner Academy. Please consider career courses at Sumner and feel free to reach out to Edward.gunter@kckps.org to discuss any pathway questions or information about the IB Career Certificate program in grades 11-12.
Student Testimonials for IBCP
Behavioral Health Team
Mental Health Resources
In efforts to better support your students during this time of virtual learning, we sent them a survey and were able to obtain some valuable feedback in return. Look for more details coming to you soon in our Bright Arrow message!
Be aware of the symptoms of anxiety and depression available here Signs & Symptoms. Please feel free to have your student follow up with one of our Social Workers/Counselors/Nurse listed below to discuss their mental health and obtain community resources if necessary (see link for additional resources). We are here to support you!
Social Workers
Baillie Woydziak Chelsea Farmer
913-735-3604 913-627-7219
baillie.woydziak@kckps.org chelsea.farmer@kckps.org
Counselors
Robert Lopez Tia Patrick Carmelita Michalakis
913-627-7220 913-627-7246 913-627-7221
robert.lopez@kckps.org tia.patrick@kckps.org carmelita.michalakis@kckps.org
Nurse
Renee Carter
913-627-7222
renee.carter@kckps.org