Wildcat Growl
January 17, 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
Wildcat Students and Parents,
On Thursday, DHS held the Quarter 2 CLASS Awards ceremony in which 61 students were recognized by teachers for demonstrating the DHS Core value of perseverance. The slide show that accompanied the awards can be reviewed, HERE. Congrats to each student recognized!
Next week, current sophomore and freshmen students will meet with counselors to discuss course selection for the 2020-2021 school year. Core teachers submitted course recommendations for students and those recommendations will appear on the Course Selection Form. AP and Honor Course meetings are scheduled to take place in the weeks leading up to Parent-Teacher Conferences. These meetings provide an opportunity for students to become more informed about the academic rigor of these courses.
We are excited to host Future Wildcat Night on Thursday, February 6th. 8th- grade students (the Class of 2024) and their parents are invited to visit DHS on this evening to hear about what DHS has to offer. An activities fair will be held from 6-7 pm in the commons with the main presentation beginning at 7 pm.
Information about upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences can be found on our website, HERE. Wednesday, February 12 will include an AVID 9 Elective, AP Capstone Diploma, and Senior Symposium presentation. Please note a change in schedule from previous years. This year, we set aside time each day for the teachers to eat dinner. Please know that teachers will not be available during this time.
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
Debate Headed to State
Boys Swim Team
Sign up for Drivers Education
De Soto High School's Driver Education winter class program starts Tuesday, January 21, 2020. To reserve a space for your student, you must turn in the enrollment form along with payment to the DHS office. These forms are also available on our DeSoto High School website and in the office at the high school.
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.
Hearing and Vision Screening for Sophomores
10th graders with Health this semester will have hearing and vision screenings Jan. 29th and 30th. Please bring/wear your glasses if you have them.
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.
DHS Course Selection for 2020-2021
Important Information DHS Course Selection for the 2020-2021 School Year:
As we begin the second half of year, we are also gearing up for course selection for the 2020-21 school year. Please read through the following information and keep in mind the dates for our course selection process.
Course Selection Meetings: In these meetings students will be receiving their course selection form for next year. To conserve on costs of printing and paper, the district is no longer providing a copy of the course guide. Students will be able to access the course guide on the high school website next week. Counselors will be discussing graduation requirements, college admission requirements, AP vs. College Now classes, and course opportunities. All meetings will take place during the student’s social studies class:
· January 14 and 15: Juniors
· January 21 and 22: Freshmen and Sophomores
Course Selection Forms: Forms will need to be turned into Student Services no later than February 19. To complete the form, students will need to select enough classes for the year. In addition, alternates will need to be listed in case there are conflicts or classes fill up. Forms will also need to be signed by students and parents.
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.
Scholarships
Scholarships for Seniors:
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.
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
Discover Law Day at UMKC
The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law is proud to host Discover Law Day on Saturday, February 1st from 10 am to 2 pm. Lunch will be served, and there is NO COST to participants. Questions? Contact the UMKC Law Admissions Office at law@umkc.edu or at 816-235-6264.