Sabre Nation Newsletter
November 2020 Issue
Dear Families,
Sumner Academy students and families, welcome to November. I am excited to see both students and staff finding their groove in this virtual learning environment. I could not be more proud of our families and their continued partnership in seeing the success of all students at Sumner. Some families may have received notification in the mail from Spectrum if you are eligible for the internet services provided by our KCKPS Board of Education. Additionally we will be transitioning to our new learning management system, Canvas very soon. Teachers just received access and will begin merging content and information will be provided to get students and parents connected. Google Classroom has been beneficial for us but Canvas offers even more, to create a more robust learning environment. This transition is critical as our virtual learning will be a big part of our learning for the foreseeable future. Be on the lookout for some creative ways to support students with virtual homework help in the evenings with information coming out in the next couple of weeks. First quarter grades will be available the week of November 9th. Families, I encourage you to continue to monitor your student’s grades and reach out to teachers if you have any questions.
As always, thank you for all you are doing and continue to be safe and stay well!
Sincerely,
Mr. Rick Malone
Principal
Resource for Classes
We planned ahead and distributed our resources for first semester. If you are still needing resources for your classes, please call the main office and schedule an appointment. This includes art resources, novels, other texts, and hotspots. Please make sure you call ahead of time. 913-627-7200/
Monday, Nov 2, 2020, 07:45 AM
Sumner Academy of Arts & Science, North 8th Street, Kansas City, KS, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
SUMNER ACADEMY MASKS
THEY ARE HERE!!!!
Sumner mask are available for sale in the front office. Stop by and pick up or if you’re having trouble picking a design buy all three. Masks are $10 a piece . All proceeds go toward Sumner Athletics and Activities. Call ahead or stop by the building to purchase. Ring the door bell and we will bring it out. If you have questions please email sherlice.wesson@kckps.org or call 627-7200.
If you need it mailed, we will mail it out. There is a mailing fee.
What is New in the Student Support Centers
Behavioral Health Team
Tip 1. Routines
Students should set up a daily routine. This should include getting out of bed and getting dressed. They should attend synchronous learning for the complete amount of time and use asynchronous time to complete work assigned by the teacher. Use the time after school to complete assignments or homework.
Tip 2 Designated Space
Tip 3. Limit Distractions
Tip 4. Communicate
Tip 5. Brain Breaks
Quote of Inspiration
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GRADES AND ASSESSMENT
Please make sure you turn in all your work from first quarter before this date so your quarter grades reflect the work you have done! Communicate with your teachers, administrators, counselors, and social workers.
PSAT
11th Grade: The PSAT has been postponed until January. The ACT is currently set for February. When we have official dates and times, we will let you know.
In the Stacks
Please remember 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!
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. If anyone is interested in being part of the student editorial staff (CAS or CP points, anyone?), contact Mr. Bauman or Ms. Mandina (lisa.mandina@kckps.org).
Remember to access unbiased sources of news and monitor your social media use and stay healthy mentally! https://www.adfontesmedia.com/
Please vote if eligible and encourage family and friends to vote!
Remember 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!
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
PTSA
Membership is Needed!
Thank you to Rachel Russell who is serving as our PTSA president this year!
For more information please email
Vacant Officer Positions that are open: Treasurer/Secretary
o Secretary is responsible for taking minutes and sending out meeting reminders.
o Treasurer is responsible for the general PTSA account finances including keep accurate bookkeeping, reviewing statements, and reporting on the finances of the association
Sunflower House Child Protection Project
SUMNER ACADEMY ATHLETICS
Winter Conditioning
Sabre Parents and Student Athletes,
Our winter sports staff was excited to kick off offseason conditioning on Monday October 19th. The conditioning schedule is very similar to the fall 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.
The KCKPS athletics staff is working hard to understand the considerations and recommendations released Kansas State High School Athletics Association for winter sports. The KCKPS board of education adopted the KSDE Gating Criteria and will be using this criteria as they make decisions related to winter sports. If you would like to monitor the gating criteria it can be found at https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas. The is a helpful video that explains the criteria at https://vimeo.com/455933203.
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
The Sumner Success Center is up and running at full steam!
Check out the Sumner FOCUS, our electronic newsletter. Weekly updates come out every Wednesday. Lots of great information about upcoming events, scholarships, FAFSA, testing, and SO MUCH MORE. https://sites.google.com/m.kckps.org/sumnerfocus/home
We also drop our weekly podcast Casual College Conversations. In our most recent episode, Taylor and DeVries discuss their experience with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) back in the day. Check out Sabre Nation TV on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWC5EaP_H-iiHOT55XDWSGg
Students who are taking Concurrent Credit courses need to checkout their Google Classroom for Taylor Talks. Each Wednesday, Mr. Taylor, our College and Career Facilitator offers advice and strategies for keeping up with your college credit courses as well as important information about what you need to do in order to ensure your college credit is ready to transfer to your college or university.
Seniors and families,
Students really need to be working on their FAFSA now, but it can be really difficult, especially the first time through. We are here to help! Each week are there some new videos posted on the Sumner FOCUS to help families see the process of FAFSA, but we are happy to work with you individually to help you. Please use these links to set up a family appointment to complete the FAFSA.
Dr. DeVries – https://calendly.com/martha-devries
Ms. Ramirez (can provide help in English or Spanish) - https://calendly.com/leslie-ramirez-2
Let us know if you need us to arrange a translator to assist in the process!
IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
For the Class of 2021
We have 28 seniors finishing their requirements for the IB full Diplomas Program. Students are working hard to finish their Extended Essay, a 4,000 word independent research project that is due in mid November. The full IB Diploma Class of 2022 has 26 students this year. They had their Junior IB dip can Retreat in late September. Senior members of the IB Student Advisory Board did a wonderful job of planning and running the retreat. Thank you IB Advisory Board members for your leadership!
IB DATA HIGHLIGHTS
The 2020 IB results were released in the July and Sumner Academy had some very good results. Eleven of the 22 seniors earned the IB Diploma. Of those 11, four were awarded the IB Bilingual Diploma, which is the most prestigious of the IB awards. In the IBCP program, 31 students earned the IB CP Certificate. Of those, 12 were awarded the CP Bilingual Certificate. To be eligible for the bilingual award in both the DP and the CP requires a student to be enrolled in 2 Language A subjects. For our students, the students take both English Literature IBH and Spanish Language and Literature IBH or IBS. Congratulations to all our Sumner Academy IB students!
Our IB and ACT scores also are used for the Kansas Seal of Biliteracy, awarded by the state of Kansas Board of Education. Sumner Academy earned 22 Gold Certificates and 34 Silver Certificates of Biliteracy. Congratulations to our World Language and English departments and the 56 students who earned this award, illustrating the importance of being proficient in 2 or more languages!
IB CAREER PROGRAMME
What is PPS?
The personal and professional skills (PPS) in the IBCP Program at Sumner Academy is a course that aims to develop responsibility, practical problem-solving, good intellectual habits, ethical understandings, perseverance, resilience, an appreciation of identity and perspective, and an understanding of the complexity of the modern world. Emphasis is on the development of skills needed to successfully navigate higher education, the workplace and society. With that in mind the PPS will be very practical in nature. The CP core consists of four components: language development • approaches to learning • community and service • reflective project (All of which will be completed in personal and professional skills I and II)
Reminder: To be awarded the CP Certificate, students must:
1. complete all components of the CP core to a satisfactory level
2. earn a minimum score of 3 in at least two IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses attempted (between 2 and 4 Standard Level or Higher Level DP courses)
3. complete a career-related study to the school’s satisfaction.
4. It is the school’s responsibility to determine the appropriate career-related studies which fulfill criteria set by the IB.
The CP core consists of four components: language development • approaches to learning • community and service • reflective project
National Honor Societies
Spanish NHS
French NHS
French National Honor Society will be celebrating National French Week November 4th-10th. Members will plan activities and promotion of French language and Francophone culture for these days to be shared with the school. Keep your eye out for fun games and opportunities to join. Member of French National Honor Society are inducted each year in the spring after earning three consecutive semesters of an A in their French classes. As a member, they participate in activities, provide tutoring to other French students, and work to promote French language in our school in and community. Interested in joining French NHS? Talk to your French teacher!
Sumner NHS
Members should be continuing to seek out opportunities to volunteer so that they can meet their required hours to remain an active member of NHS. Senior NHS members should consider applying for a national NHS scholarship by going to www.nhs.us
Drop Dr. Aspleaf an email if you have any questions.
NJHS - National Junior Honor Society
8th Grade Students: If you were inducted last year in middle school you are eligible to continue your membership here at Sumner. Please email Dr. A (stephen.aspleaf@kckps.org) your former school and your NJHS advisor. Once I receive confirmation from that advisor, you will be a member of NJHS. We will look to meet via ZOOM in December for a service project activity done remotely.
Student Unions and Clubs
TUF
Black Student Union
BSU:
The Black Student Union will begin having remote meetings. Our mission is to celebrate our culture, educate, and promote unity. We aim to instill excellence in all students. We have meaningful discussions at our meeting as well as plan school events and community service. If you're interested in joining please email Tia Patrick at tia.patrick@kckps.org.
Latino Student Union
Medical Club
Debate and Forensics
Congratulations to our debaters who competed on October 27th in the Debate-KC High School Virtual Invitational Tournament. The following debaters placed:
Andrew Serrano - 3rd Place, Congressional Debate
Victoria Guerra - 4th Place, Congressional Debate
Bennett Addink/Isaac Lainez - 2nd Place, Varsity Team
Ara Melquiades/Riley Verdict - 1st Place, JV Team
Ara Melquiades - 3rd Place, Policy JV Speaker
Karen London/Levi Villarreal - 2nd Place, Policy Team
Levi Villarreal - 2nd Place, Policy Novice Speaker
Karen London - 4th Place, Policy Novice Speaker
Sumner Academy, 2nd Place School Sweepstakes
GO SUMNER ACADEMY DEBATE!
Yearbook Purchase
Yearbook Pictures
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BwEqSsw4W6vaak0wEy3iACzc6-O2A1a0/view?usp=sharing
Sumner Vocal Music Concert
Be Inspired by Song!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rYwzKFzdnBU7GX9tgbN2Po0dtKTYchHo/view?usp=sharing
8th Grade News
Our word for the remainder of the semester in 8th-grade is self-efficacy. Self-efficacy means the belief in your own ability to succeed in achieving a goal--having the confidence to know you can do whatever you set your mind to by managing how you think, feel, and behave. We believe here at Sumner Academy that self-efficacy is a character trait that should be cultivated in order for our students to have the intrinsic motivation to succeed at a high level. Not only academically but also communally.
As the Principal of 8th-grade, I want to thank you for being a support to not only our students but our Sabre Nation community. Once again, I am here as a resource and a support to you and your student(s). Feel free to reach out any time!
Rebecca M. Skinner
Assistant Principal of 8th Grade
Office: (913) 627-7251
Cell: (913)485-3755
9th and 10th Grade
It's safe to say that this has been a back-to-school season we will never forget. I wish to commend you on all the work you continue to do each day. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to be successful in the virtual world. Being Sabres, I am confident in your abilities to continue your learning and finish this semester strong as we prepare to take the next steps, which will be with our hybrid learning plan in January.
.
While your teachers and administrators are doing their best to ensure all students are exposed to an engaging curriculum and effective teaching, here are some suggestions that may help with stress you may experience while you study:
1. Identify certain people or situations that stress you out and stay away from them
2. Organize your work.
3. Find a release valve – this could be a hobby or activity
4. Make time to relax.
5. Eat healthy and exercise.
6. Cultivate and build healthy relationships with people
(From “How To Manage Stress” by J.P. Forrest)
Le Baptista
Assistant Principal 9th and 10th Grade
Office 913-627-7218
11th and 12th Grade
Not being in school has presented us many challenges. I know it can be hard and we are all in different places in our lives. The most important thing we can do is communicate! Talk to your teacher if you are struggling. Reach out. If they don't know you are struggling, they can't help you. Please be on the look out for information from Ms. Martha DeVries and Leslie Ramirez about scholarships and FAFSA!
Stay on top of your grades. You are on the home stretch and almost there. Keep your heads up and finish strong Sabres.
Remember this quote:
"Some people feel the rain, others just get wet." Bob Marley
Brian Dolezal
Assistant Principal 11th and 12th Grade
913-340-4307
Sumner Academy of Arts and Science
Email: rick.malone@kckps.org
Website: sumner.schools.kckps.org
Location: 1610 N 8th St, Kansas City, KS 66101
Phone: 913-627-7200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sumneracademy
Twitter: @kckps_sumner