Fowler USD #225
June 2020 Newsletter
Where Education is Experienced
School of Character Award
The Kansas State Department of Education recently announced the 2020 Schools of Character Recognition recipients which include BOTH Fowler Grade School and Fowler Junior/Senior High School! We are 2 of 8 schools in the state being recognized for shifting school culture, and the only school in southwest Kansas earning the award. Fowler Grade School has fully implemented a phenomenal student leadership program based on the 7 Habits by Stephen Covey, and Fowler High School has fully implemented a phenomenal mentoring program.
The virtual recognition ceremony is available to view at go.smokyhill.org/SOC2020. It was also posted to our school Facebook page and website.
State School of Character and Honorable Mention School of Character
Criteria for selection are based on Character.org’s 11 Principles of Character, which include providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort. In Schools of Character, adults embrace their critical role as models. Teachers work together as professionals - along with parents and community members as partners - to positively shape the social, emotional, and character development of the young people entrusted to them each day. Students in these schools feel safe, respected, and connected to those around them, allowing them to thrive academically and socially and be motivated to give back to their communities.
State School of Character
Complete High School Maize - USD 266 - Maize, Kansas
Honorable Mention School of Character
Beloit Elementary School - USD 273 - Beloit, Kansas
Stockton Elementary School - USD 271 - Stockton, Kansas
Shifting School Culture Recognition
Recognizes schools and districts that have developed and implemented an SECD initiative or program for at least one year and are transforming the school culture, district culture, or both - as well as growing student SECD skills. These initiatives or programs must support the KS SECD Standards and the school or district KESA goals, the Redesign Principles, or a combination of the above.
Beloit Elementary School - USD 273 - Beloit, Kansas
Cottonwood Elementary School - USD 305 - Salina, Kansas
David Brewer Elementary School - USD 453 - Leavenworth, Kansas
Fowler Grade School - USD 225 - Fowler, Kansas
Fowler Junior/Senior High School - USD 225 - Fowler, Kansas
Lakeside Elementary School - USD 250 - Pittsburg, Kansas
Stockton Grade School - USD 271 - Stockton, Kansas
Sunset Elementary School - USD 373 - Newton, Kansas
Enhanced Spotlight Recognition
Recognizes schools and districts that are implementing new initiatives or are enhancing existing initiatives that will strengthen the social, emotional and character development skills in their students and school climate. Initiatives must support at least one of the KS SECD Standards strands and support one or more of the KESA 5R’s, the Redesign Principles, or both.
Caldwell Elementary School - USD 360 - Caldwell, Kansas
Green Springs Elementary School - USD 233 - Olathe, Kansas
Lakeside Elementary School - USD 250 - Pittsburg, Kansas
Lakeside Elementary School - USD 272 - Cawker City, Kansas
Marais des Cygnes Valley District - USD 456 - Melvern, Kansas
Olathe West High School - USD 233 - Olathe, Kansas
Spring Valley Elementary School - USD 475 - Junction City, Kansas
Class of 2020 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Valedictorian
Daughter of Jeff & Tammy Bollinger
Salutatorian
Son of Van & Cathy Heinz
8th Grade Promotion Video
Class of 2024 Valedictorian and Salutatorian
Valedictorian
Abby Zortman
Daughter of Jeff & Catalina Zortman
Salutatorian
James Littlewood
Son of Ed Rarden & Erica Littlewood-Rarden
2019-2020 Fowler Junior/Senior High School Honor Roll
Honor Roll with Distinction: 4.0 GPA
Landon Bollinger, 6th Grade
Abby Zortman, 8th Grade
Avery Bollinger, 11th Grade
Sydney Bollinger, 12th Grade
Kate Cunningham, 6th Grade
Dray Dawson, 6th Grade
Brenna Faurot, 6th Grade
Lillian Littlewood, 6th Grade
Micah McDowell, 6th Grade
Eddy Mendoza, 6th Grade
Logan Shelton, 6th Grade
Olivia Durbin, 7th Grade
Bianca Hankins, 7th Grade
Kiera Holt, 7th Grade
Danny McLachlan, 7th Grade
Lexus Shelby, 7th Grade
Alex Zortman, 7th Grade
Rylan Bollinger, 8th Grade
Jacelyn Huelskamp, 8th Grade
James Littlewood, 8th Grade
Wolfe Self, 8th Grade
Ethan Boese, 9th Grade
Summer Dowling, 10th Grade
Charlie Littlewood, 10th Grade
Elijah Zortman, 10th Grade
Morgan Durbin, 11th Grade
Angelica Mendoza, 11th Grade
Jahim Ross, 11th Grade
Blaze Bilodeau, 12th Grade
Darien De La Torre, 12th Grade
Caleb Heinz, 12th Grade
Joaquin Velez-Prieto, 12th Grade
FHS Student Earns State FFA Degree
Fowler High School congratulates Caleb Heinz, senior, on earning the State FFA Degree. This is the third highest degree an FFA member may receive, and it is the highest that any state association may bestow on its members.
In order to receive this honor, Heinz met a lengthy list of minimum Kansas qualifications which include being an active FFA member for at least two years, completing two years of instruction in agricultural education, demonstrating proficiency in at least ten parliamentary procedure motions, demonstrating leadership, earning $2,000 or working 600 hours in a supervised agriculture experience, maintaining an average of “C” or better in classes, and completing at least 25 hours of community service.
“Caleb has served as a student leader in FFA since Fowler High School re-established our chapter three years ago,” said Principal Corri McDowell. “He has also demonstrated leadership in other aspects of our school, including the organization of multiple blood drives for the American Red Cross this year.”
Recipients of this award are traditionally honored at the annual State FFA Convention. Heinz will be recognized at 10:00 a.m. on May 29th during the virtual 92nd Kansas FFA Convention.
FHS Student Earns Associate's Degree
Fowler High School congratulates Avery Bollinger on earning her Associate’s Degree from Dodge City Community College as she wraps up her junior year of high school. Through her Individual Plan of Study, including collaboration between herself, her mentor, parents, and principal, Avery had developed a plan to achieve this goal.
“We believe the Individual Plan of Study helps us to create a personalized pathway for each of our students, despite being a small school. The school works collaboratively with the student and their parents to find a way to meet each student’s goals,” said Principal Corri McDowell. “For some students this involves dual-credit courses, whereas for others it involves career and technical training, traditional high school coursework, or becoming a Kansas State Scholar.”
Avery completed 64 credits over two years through a combination of dual credit courses offered at Fowler High School, on site at Dodge City Community College, and online through Dodge City Community College and Fort Hays State University. She finished her degree with a 4.0 GPA.
Option 1: Minneola Clinic
Option 2: Meade Clinic
Physical forms were included in the student award packets. Physicals are required for any 6th-12th graders planning to participate in sports next year.
Chris Weber Award
Chris Weber was a classroom teacher here at Fowler who taught above average, average, and below average students. She was truly delighted to see improvement in her students throughout the year. The Weber Family recognizes one student from each grade who has shown the most improvement in behavior, attitude, and academics. This year's class nominees are as follows:
Kindergarten: Kinsley Padgett
1st Grade: Harley Carrillo
2nd Grade: Chase McDowell
3rd Grade: Jeylin Valencia
4th Grade: Natalie Bollinger
5th Grade: Cass Reid
From the 3rd -5th grade nominees one student is chosen as the overall winner for the year. This student's name is engraved on a plaque displayed in the FGS trophy case. This year’s overall winner of the Chris Weber Award is Natalie Bollinger. Natalie's teacher, Mrs. McLachlan, writes, "Natalie has a great attitude towards school. She always has a smile on her face when she walks through the door. She loves reading and writing and has a gift for each. However, where she shines is in math. Not because it comes natural but because it doesn’t. Math has been a subject that Natalie has to work at. She has come to understand that when she struggles it is a sign that her brain is getting bigger."
Congratulations, Natalie! We're all proud of you!
Irene Wells Scholarship
Irene Wells was a remarkable person. She was interested in her community and the people within it, especially the young people. Mrs. Wells dropped out of school at the age of 17, got married and started her family. She realized how important her education was and went back to school at the age of 34 to work on her high school diploma, receiving it in 1949. In 1960 she received her Bachelor’s Degree and went on to receive her Master’s Degree. She truly knew the value of good education and wanted every child to go as far as possible. She taught at Fowler Schools from 1978 until retiring in 1983.
Mrs. Wells set up a scholarship in 2001 to help students pay for college. Each year a student is chosen from third through fifth grade that has the most improved STAR reading and math scores from the previous year. A $100 scholarship will be designated for the student and held until he or she graduates from High School. Mrs. Wells encouraged all students to save ten cents (0.10) out of every dollar they earn or that is given to them toward a college fund, not to be used for any other purpose, until they graduate from High School.
This year’s recipient has improved her math score by 1.4 grade levels and her reading score by 1.2 grade levels. Bryanna Lyman is this year’s recipient of the Irene Wells Scholarship Award. Congratulations to Bryanna in the 3rd grade for a job well done!