Wildcat Growl
November 6, 2020
Future Ready Wildcats
De Soto High School staff and students endeavor to model the following core values:
INTEGRITY, INQUIRY, COMMUNICATION, PERSEVERANCE, and REFLECTION.
Principal's Message
Dear Wildcats and Families,
Congratulations to 3 Wildcats for their performance at the Kansas State High School Cross Country meet held in Augusta, KS. Sophomore, Sophie Landrum earned All-State honors by finishing 18th with a time of 20:14. Senior Carson Sturdy also earned All-State honors by placing 5th with a time of 16:11. This makes the third time Carson has earned All-State honors during his impressive high school cross country career. Junior, Brady Huggins placed 52nd with a time of 17:28. Great Job Wildcats!
Four Wildcat Volleyball players were selected to the All UKC Volleyball team. Senior, Brook Stonestreet, and Junior, Gracey Janes were recognized as 1st Team All-Conference. Junior, Lillie Sullivan, and Senior, Lynlee Hutchison were recognized as Honorable Mention All-Conference. Congratulations!
This is the end of the first quarter of the school year. Teachers will submit grades and we will be posting grades on Skyward next week.
As we move into the second quarter and schedules keep shifting, we know it can be difficult to plan very far in advance. We do want to get one date on your calendar, especially for the class of 2021 – the date of graduation. This year, graduation is scheduled to take place on May 22nd. We will share more information as we get closer, but wanted to get this date on your calendar and direct you to the information below regarding the ordering of the cap and gown.
We hope you are aware of the change to the schedule that begins Monday, November 9th. The schedule for November and December can be viewed on our website here.
The biggest change is that students of the cohort that is remote are required to check-in via Zoom each block of the day. Students are expected to be in the waiting room of the Zoom meeting at the beginning of class for attendance. The daily bell schedule can be viewed here.
Teachers have the discretion, based on the learning activities planned to keep the remote students in the Zoom meeting for a portion of or the entire block. Zoom links can be found on each course homepage. It is our goal that this increase in regular teacher/student contact will lead to greater student engagement and academic success.
The schedule for next week – the Academic Week at a Glance, can be viewed on our website here.
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
Cross Country
DHS had four teams compete at Olathe East
Football
Good Luck at Regional Playoffs
Paraprofessional Substitutes needed!
USD 232 is in need of paraprofessional substitutes who are flexible and willing to substitute throughout the district on an as needed basis. Stay-at-home parents make great substitute paraprofessionals! The ideal candidate is caring, compassionate and dedicated to the students’ success by looking for ways to support the teacher and making a positive difference in the lives of our children. Becoming a para sub is a great way to support the district, our students and our teachers which is needed now more than ever.
To learn more about becoming a substitute paraprofessional for the district, please speak with your Principal or contact Human Resources at the USD 232 District Office. Ready to apply? Click here > Paraprofessional Substitutes for USD 232
Attendance Procedure and Tips
Please remember to call DHS, preferably before 10:00 am on the day of the absence if your student is absent. This also includes Optional Remote Students.
You can also call in a prearranged absence ahead of time. The 24-hour attendance voicemail
is 913-667-6259. We also ask that students missing school as a result of an appointment to verify the appointment by turning in an appointment note/slip. This helps us ensure the absence is excused rather than considered as a parent request. Students can turn the note into the school office when they return from the appointment or email the attendance secretary at mpartlowwilliams@usd232.org.
Dropping off forms or items for your student?
Face Mask Facts
Face masks are required to be properly worn by all individuals in K-12 schools by Kansas Executive Order 20-59.
Wearing a mask is an important tool to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. This evidence-based approach is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
In compliance with the state order, USD 232 requires the wearing of masks at all times, with few exceptions. Exemption requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and require medical verification. Requests can be made by contacting our nurse at 913-667-6250 or mfarverlightcap@usd232.org.
PSAT Registration
PSAT Registration
This week an email was sent out via Skyward to all 10th and 11th grade students and their parents/guardian about registering for the PSAT. This is an optional exam. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of taking the PSAT please click the link below! If you have specific questions about how to register please check your email sent on 11/2 titled “PSAT Registration.”
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10
College Fair
Upcoming College Fair:
The National Association of College Admission Counseling is hosting 3 upcoming virtual college fairs on November 8th. For more information please visit: www.virtualcollegefairs.org.
College Virtual Nights
KSU Careers in Event, Hotel & Restaurant Management Virtual Night:
KSU is hosting a virtual event for students interested in the event or hotel/restaurant management on Thursday, November 12th at 6 pm. In this event student will learn of dynamic opportunities in lodging, foodservice and event management, as well as learn from industry professionals about how their degree as led them to a degree they love. To register, go to: https://k-state.secure.force.com/events/#/list?category=Academic%20Interests
Pittsburg State University Virtual Honors Event:
Pittsburg State University is excited to announce their very first Virtual Honors Day to be held on Saturday, November 7th starting at 10:00 am. The event should last between 60-90 minutes depending on questions that may arise. They will be presenting a number of important topics including the application and selection process, the academic offerings and expectations of the program, the social offerings of the organization, as well as the many other benefits of being selected to this cohort of high achieving students. To register for the event, email Craig Fuchs, Director of the Honors College at cfuchs@pittstate.edu. The event will be hosted on Facebook Live.
FAFSA 2021-22 Application Opens Soon!
FAFSA 2021-22 Application Opens Soon!
Seniors who are attending a post-secondary institution next year need to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This application will determine eligibility for grants and scholarships and many colleges and universities, but also provides loans as well. Students can begin filling out the 2021-22 application, starting October 1st. For more information, please visit: www.studentaid.gov.
JCCC has a helpful website on completing the FAFSA and offers assistance daily from 10 am – 3 pm via Zoom. Visit https://www.jccc.edu/admissions/financial-aid/ for more information.
The Johnson County library is offering an online step by step session to help students and parents with the FAFSA process. The next session available is October 28th from 6:30 to 8 pm. Students must register by visiting the following link: JCCC FAFSA Event.
District Recommendation for Students Returning from Quarantine or Isolation
If a student is gone from school due to a COVID-19 quarantine or isolation, the district is recommending that students disinfect their textbooks, library books and MacBook at home before coming back to school.
Thank you.
Volleyball
Boys Swimming
Volleyball Coach of the Year
Securly App
Parents can have peace of mind in knowing your student’s search history and time on their device. See your student’s online activity in real-time and catch up with weekly email snapshots by signing up with the Securly app. Follow the link for more information and directions.
Prepped and Ready
Prepped and Ready is a presentation to help equip parents for the transition into parenting teenagers. Prepped and Ready aims to help you learn what steps you can take before a crisis develops with your teenager. We seek to empower you to address the hard topics that can be very uncomfortable and we talk about changes each one of us can make within our own homes to make them safer.
The Prepped and Ready presentation was developed after Shayla Sullivant, MD spent many hours with families in crisis at Children's Mercy. After providing advice to parents on the next steps to take, many parents asked an important question: Why didn’t anyone ever tell me this sooner?
The Prepped and Ready presentation provides a brief overview on the following topics, with an emphasis on suicide prevention:
Eating disorder prevention
Home safety (including storage of firearms, medications, etc.)
Screen time
Self-care
Substance use (including vaping)
Suicide prevention
As a parent, you face new challenges that our parents never encountered, but there are steps you can take that make a difference. Prepped and Ready can address problems before they become too big and together, we can take steps to prevent tragedies from happening within our own homes.
Register for an upcoming online presentation:
November 10, 2020 – 6:00 p.m. Register for the virtual event sponsored by councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw, 5th District and Kansas City Public Schools.
December 8, 2020 – 7:00 p.m. Register for the virtual event sponsored by ADHD KC.