Wildcat Growl
February 16, 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 Wildcat Students and Parents,
Thank you to all the parents that visited DHS during Parent-Teacher Conferences. We shared information on AVID Elective, AP Capstone, and Senior Symposium. We hope that you were able to hear your student talk about their Individualized Plan of Study (IPS) with their Seminar teacher. If not, you can ask your student to share this information with you anytime. They have online access to their personalized Xello page. Early feedback from teachers indicated real value in talking through how 2020-21 course selection and student’s plans for their future are connected. If you were unable to attend, please know that you can always contact us to discuss academic progress or post-secondary planning.
Earlier this month we were able to host 8th-grade students and their parents for an information session we call Future Wildcat Night. Before the presentation, students got an opportunity to visit with our Activity and Athletic sponsors and current students during an activity fair. If you were not able to attend, we posted the presentation on our website under Student Services.
On Tuesday, February 25th, all juniors will be taking the ACT that is provided by the state of Kansas. As a reminder ACT is used for college admissions, university scholarships, and can predict college readiness. This ACT test can be a reportable ACT test that students can submit to colleges. In November it was communicated that juniors would be signed up unless parents chose to opt their student out. Parents and students do not need to do any additional registration through ACT. As we get closer to this exam, DHS will share testing room locations for all juniors. After the exam, ACT will mail every student their score report to their home address.
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
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Congratulations to this years Hall Of Fame Inductees!
Congratulations to Scholars Bowl for being the UKC Conference Champions!!
The De Soto Scholars Bowl team earned the 2020 Regional Championship after going 11-1 in the regional tournament, hosted by F.L. Schlagle High School. The team includes members Sara Murphy, Abi Yarbrough, and Luke LeBar, along with senior captain Brandin Chase and seniors Mason Ericson and Austin Bradley. All players answered at least seven questions at the tournament, and the team averaged 79.6 points per round, scoring on about half of the questions. St. James placed second with a 10-2 record, followed by Seaman and St. Thomas Aquinas. The Scholars Bowl team has now qualified for the State Tournament and will compete on Saturday, February 15th at Seaman High School in Topeka.
The team is coached by Phil Hamilton and Philip Kaul.
Girls Varsity Bowling
Varsity Girls Basketball
Congratulations DHS Visual Arts
Varsity Boys Basketball
Varsity Boys Bowling
Varsity Wrestling
Planning Successful Transitions for Special Education
Our families play an important role in supporting their child with special needs as they navigate different transitions throughout their school careers. At this forum, we will have staff available to share information and answer questions parents may have pertaining to transitions. If you are interested in attending on forum on Feb. 25, please register HERE.
Homework Request Information
When your student is absent from school, please encourage your student to reach out to teachers requesting assignments missed due to the absence. Certainly parents can also reach out to teachers, but part of becoming an independent learner is communication, being organized and advocating for yourself. If your student is experiencing a longer term absence (a week or more), our counselors are available to assist in this process.
Five Day Exclusion
The seven day exclusion policy for influenza (flu) has changed from seven days to five days. Students and staff who are diagnosed with the flu will be excluded for five days, starting with the first day of symptoms. For example, if a staff member feels ill on Sunday and goes to the doctor and is diagnosed with flu on Wednesday, the five day exclusion starts on Sunday.
Students and staff must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication to bring down the temperature. If a staff member has followed the five day exclusion, but still has a fever on day six, the staff member must still be excluded until fever free with medication.
Johnson County Library offering College and Career Planning program
Johnson County Library is offering an upcoming College and Career Planning program at two different locations:
College and Career Planning
Planning for the expense of a college education can be overwhelming and intimidating. College and Career consultant, Jason Anderson, will discuss the college admissions and financial aid landscape to help you lesson the worry.
Tuesday, Feb 18th 6-730 @ Blue Valley Library 9000 W 151st St, Overland Park, KS
Tuesday, Mar 10th 6-730 @ Lenexa City Center Library 8778 Penrose Lane, Lenexa KS
Sandwiches and sides will be served starting at 5:30 pm.
Register online https://www.jocolibrary.org/events or call 913-826-4600.
Message from Student Services
College Credit Deadlines Approaching:
Students who are enrolled in DHS Classes that count toward college credit, need to be aware of the upcoming deadlines. Please visit the College Credit/Dual Enrollment page for more information
For more information on each of these programs and how to enroll please click here.
Scholarship Information:
Looking for money to help pay for college? Check out the DHS Student Services Scholarship page! Throughout the year scholarships will be posted that are available to seniors. There is also a “Scholarship Search Tips” that can help aid the search process. Click here to go to the page.
College Visits:
If your student will be going on a college visit, students must fill out a College Visit Form. Forms are available in Student Services or online by clicking here. Students are to take the form with them on the day of the visit and bring it back signed by an admissions representative.
JCCC Scholarship Application: Deadline April 1, 2020
Seniors: if you are going to JCCC next year, don’t forget to fill out the JCCC scholarship application. The Scholarship Priority Deadline is April 1. There are millions of dollars available for a variety of degree and program areas. With just one application, students could be eligible for hundreds of JCCC scholarships.
In addition, Johnson County high school graduates are eligible for:
- CavGuarantee Scholarship (3.25+ GPA)
- Guarantees $500 for their first year at JCCC
- President’s Scholarship (3.50+ GPA)
- Covers 12 credit hours and $300 for textbooks each semester and is renewable
Course Selection Information:
- Course Selection Meetings: Last week, counselors concluded meetings with the individual grade levels. To view the presentations that were given go to: https://www.usd232.org/Page/4417
- Course Selection Forms Due Date: Forms will need to be turned into Student Services no later than February 19th.
- Honors/AP Course Meetings during Seminar: This time is specifically set aside for Honors and AP teachers to meet and discuss with interested student’s information about their Honors or AP course. Students are highly encouraged to attend to help determine if the Honors/AP course is the right fit for them. Meetings will begin January 27 and run through February 11 during seminar. Students will receive a Honors/AP Course meeting schedule during their course selection meeting.
- Course Selection Change FINAL Deadline: Students will have until April 3rd to make any changes in their course selection for next school year. After this deadline, no schedule changes will be allowed unless it meets the specific criteria that is listed on the course selection form.
Scholarships for Seniors:
All of the local scholarships that are available to DHS seniors will be posted on the Student Services website by the end of February. These scholarships include: De Soto Teachers Association, DHS Cat Boosters, VFW, Casey Blake Johnson Running Scholarship, J. Trenton Hughes Memorial Scholarship and a few others. Please note the application deadlines are in April, but each scholarship has different deadlines. Winners are announced at Senior Breakfast/ Awards Ceremony in May.
Olathe Healthcare Scholarship:
The Olathe Health Healthcare Career Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to seniors graduating from the high schools in our service area who choose to pursue a career in the healthcare field. Olathe Health will award scholarships annually to graduating seniors at each of the area high schools. The deadline for this scholarship is February 28th. For more information visit: https://www.olathehealth.org/scholarships
High School Hangar Days!
It’s a future female aviator’s dream. High school women are invited to the Garmin hangar for free flights in a Garmin plane, flight simulations fun and tours of the hangar. Oh, and did we mention the pizza? Because there will be pizza. Students can choose to attend March 3 or March 5. Space is limited. Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 26th. All waivers must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned prior to the event. If you have any questions, please contact Garmin HR representative Katie Allgood at katie.allgood@garmin.com or 913-441-1950. Students can also visit High School Hangar Days website for information.
De Soto Wildcats Customized Yard Sign
DHS - "Start thinking about warmer weather with a NEW Wildcat Yard Sign!"
Order Forms Now Available. The 2020 Spring Order Deadline will be Tues, March 24th.