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Surprise! Kiowa County schools are the most ‘futuristic’ in the world CONTACT US Phone: 620.672.5511 Address: 320 S. Main • Pratt, KS 67124 EDITORIAL [email protected] ADVERTISING [email protected] CIRCULATION [email protected] ONLINE www.pratttribune.com Make the Grade is created annually by GateHouse Media LLC, The Pratt Tribune parent company, and is distributed with various GateHouse papers across the country. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in the publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the management of the publication. Cover illustration: Pixabay ©2016 GATEHOUSE MEDIA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

By Jennifer Stultz [email protected]

P

ersonnel at USD 422 Kiowa County went through a tremendous struggle to provide school space and classrooms for students after the 2007 tornado destroyed the district’s facilities. Now, 10 years later, a surprise award naming the Kiowa County Mavericks number 1 in futuristic schools can be attributed to the rebuilding made necessary by that devastating event. “We didn’t have anything to do with applying for this award. We didn’t really even know anything about it,” said Superintendent Staci Derstein. “But it is a very nice honor, one for which we can certainly thank the architects who helped us design this school.” Derstein was an elementary

superintendent when the school was wrong with this one at the high school, extensively damaged by the tornado but the manufacturer is no longer in on 2007. She, then high school superexistence and we are having trouble intendent Darin Headrick, and high getting it certified to produce energy school principal Randy Fulton met again.” repeatedly with the architects hired to Other than the wind turbine trouble, rebuild the school to discuss ideas and Derstein was happy to say that the put energy saving plans into motion. other energy-saving measures incor“It was an incredibly busy time,” porated into the school’s buildings Derstein said. “We were all busy were greatly appreciated and successplanning this school, rebuilding our fully working. own personal homes with our families, “I really like the polished concrete continuing with all of our adminisfloors,” she said. “They are very low trative duties. I’m not sure how we maintenance and while other schools survived but we did, and there are a lot have their staff spending the summer of things about this school that we are stripping and waxing their tile floors, very proud of.” ours require very little to look nice.” Kiowa County Schools were named Derstein also said the schools air the first place futuristic school by a handling system was the best of the group called Inverse Innovations with best with CO2 monitors in the rooms rankings that appeared online earlier and a very clean ventilation system. this week. Geothermal heat and indirect sun for USD 422 specifically was called the lighting were ideas that were working best in Energetic Classrooms with well. their “paragon of sustainability.” “Our rooms are actually very bright Inverse.com notes that the school with the indirect sun light,” Derstein said. “It sometimes relies on geothermakes it hard for the mal heating and teachers to actually uses natural light as darken the rooms w See more articles well as an on-site enough to show windmill for energy online at movies. But we do supply. enjoy the low electrical www.pratttribune.com Unfortunately, bills for lighting.” the school’s wind So while the award charger has not been for being number 1 in in operation for the nation for futuristic schools is a bit several months, halted from harnessof a surprise the Greensburg-based ing wind power because of difficulties school system, the reality of living with certification. with energy efficient innovations isn’t “When the wind turbine at the out of the ordinary for teachers and hospital went down, we determined it students getting ready to start the was in the best interest to not use this 2017-2018 school year. Enrollment one until we could find out what the takes place August 9 and 10, with the first day of school on Thursday, problems with the other one were,” Derstein said. “There is nothing August 24, 2017.

4 / MAKE THE GRADE

USD 382 PRATT

New teachers at Pratt High School for 2017-18 Jeffrey Poort, the new USD 382 Band Director, graduated from Emporia State in 2014. He spent the last 3 years teaching Band in Oklahoma. He grew up in Clearwater, Kansas and is a big Chiefs and Royals fan. Poort also enjoys traveling or being active when not at work. His goals are to help kids learn an instrument (maybe more than one), learn to work together towards common goals, put on quality performances, and have lots of fun while they’re at it.

Jeffrey Poort, USD 382 Band Director

David Freitas is the new JAG Specialist at Pratt High School. He received my youth ministry as well as my business management degree from Barclay College in Haviland, Kansas. He previously worked with youth on many different platforms, from working at Pratt County Achievement Place to volunteering for multiple years at the local Friends’ church in Haviland. He was also a full time youth pastor in the state of Washington prior to returning to Haviland to begin this new position. Freitas said he believes these different types of experiences will make him an asset to the JAG program at Pratt. Freitas has been married three years to his wife Brandie, whom he met while attending Barclay College. They currently do not have any children but have two black labs and a cat, all of which seem to be our children. Brandie works in Pratt at Horizons mental health facility and is obtaining her masters in Clinical Psychology at Fort Hays State University this coming fall. He hopes the students he works with will succeed in the world after high school, and find themselves well prepared for whatever the world throws at them after high school. He wants to instill confidence in those who may lack in that area, and encourage independence so they will not fear entering life after high school but instead want to grab life by the horns and ride it.

David Freitas, PHS JAG Specialist

Dustin Hildebrand is the USD 382 high school math: algebra, algebra III, engineer by design-algebra, college algebra and college statistics teacher. He graduated from Bethany College in 2003 and went back to his home town school at Buhler High School to teach math and has been there the last 14 years. Hildebrand grew up in Hutchinson and still has family there. He has been married to his wife, Lindsay, for 11 years. They met at Bethany College where both played basketball. They have two daughters Kinley (6 years old-going into 1st grade) and Harper (4 years old-starting preschool). As a teacher he wants to give the students a positive educational experience and also to prepare them for their future, whether that is going to college or graduating high school and going into the work force.

USD 382 Contacts

Board of Education w w w w w w w

Bill Bergner, President Brian Shrag, Vice President Chris Drake Bill Skaggs Mark Fincham Donna Hoener-Queal Jennifer Hopkins

ACE Building w w w w w w

(620) 672-4500 Susan Patton, Superintendent David Schmidt, Curriculum Direc. Lisa Kumberg, Board Clerk Heather Van Slyke, Food Service Socorro Acosta, Payroll Clerk

Dustin Hildebrand, PHS Math

Southwest Elementary

Pratt High School

w (620) 672-4530 w Jason May, Principal w Kirsten Blankenship, Asst. Prin.

w (620) 672-4540 w Steve Blankenship, Principal w David Swank, Asst. Principal

Liberty Middle School w (620) 672-4540 w Tony Helfrich, Principal

& Activities Director


USD 382 PRATT

Pratt puts a focus on the future By Jennifer Stultz [email protected] New windows in the Pedigo building put a seal on efficiency, new paint on Zerger Field bleachers and a new press box welcome Pratt High School student, athletes and fans to a promising new year. Inside the school board meeting room in the Ace Building, a new “city” beckons preschool students to role-play learning that will lay a foundation for future success. USD 382 has emphasized career pathways and bridges to success for high school students for several years, following directives of the Kansas Can Initiative that promote individualized education plans for all students. Pratt schools go one step further and track what happens in the educational lives of Greenback students up to two years after they graduate. Hoping to use the information to plan and better prepare future students for success. Which is why 149 preschooler’s will have a chance to play in Greenback City, pretending to be doctors, gardeners, librarians, and restaurant owners, among other choices, using role-play to make social studies come alive.

“The whole concept is to teach students about their community and what their place might be someday,” said Pratt Curriculum Director David Schmidt. “Through structured play they can get a jump on academic success.” The mission of USD 382 has long been to prepare students for the future by offering high school classes that “make sense” instead of just meet long-time standards for graduation. Career cluster classes closely connect to technical training and career plans of all students who are counseled as they enter high school to pursue what interests them most.

“It’s what you do after you get that diploma that really matters,” Schmidt said. “We are taking ownership of student success here and starting at the ground level. That’s where it all starts, at the lowest level.” In addition to making their introduction to education a fun experience, the Greenback City for Pratt preschoolers brings focus to community, family and the structures needed to provide a strong foundation for real learning. More than eight store and business fronts can be changed and added to as teachers of five groups of youngsters find out what interests their charges have through the year. “We are very thankful to Richard Gimple for building these little playhouses for us,” Schmidt said. “It’s all a very exciting concept brought to us by pre-school teacher Dayla Garten. We can’t wait to see how it is used and evolves.” There are new teachers, new class offerings and new opportunities for Pratt students at USD 382 this year, but all is based on a renewed emphasis on student success that starts with three-and-four-year-old preschool students.

Have a great school year & Study Hard! -From PRMC!

Leading the Region in Healthcare! 200 Commodore - Pratt, KS 67124 - (620) 672-7451 - www.prmc.org

6 / MAKE THE GRADE

USD 438 SKYLINE

Skyline looks ahead to new year By Gale Rose [email protected]

A new grade level is starting up at Skyline this year with addition of pre-school classes. Some shuffling of kindergarten rooms made way for the new class that could have 30 students, said Skyline Superintendent Becca Flowers. Teachers aid Brooke Hammond, who is getting her early childhood certificate, will run the pre-school program and current kindergarten teachers will oversee the students. Skyline is in the second year of its ag program and the program has a new teacher, Ryan Kinsler, to oversee the classes as well as take on the FFA advisor role. Kinsler will teach classes in welding, animal science, agronomy and small engines. The goal of the ag program is to introduce students to more employment opportunities in agriculture. Kinsler is a graduate of Kingman High School, has associates degrees

from Hutchinson Community College in diesel mechanics and farm and ranch management with a bachelors in agronomy from Fort Hays State University in 2016. A couple of other teachers at Skyline are not new to the school but will be in different teaching positions. Harmony Harts will be teaching third grade after

taking a couple of years off when her fourth child was born. Prior to that she taught in Skyline elementary for three years after spending seven years teaching in Pittsburg. She has a degree in elementary education from Pittsburg State University. Also tackling new positions at Skyline is Lori Anschutz who will coach volleyball and teach math. Anschutz has previously coached volleyball, basketball and track. She spent six years at Skyline teaching high school special education and four years teaching math and science at Liberty Middle School for USD 382. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a masters of education in building leadership from Newman University. One other teaching change is sisters Hannah Barilla and Leah Befort, daughter’s of High School Principal Herb McPherson, will each be a half time teacher for second grade.


USD 438 SKYLINE

Skyline New Teacher

Ryan Kinsler, Ag Teacher & FFA Sponsor

“Skyline is in the second year of its ag program and the program has a new teacher, Ryan Kinsler, to oversee the classes as well as take on the FFA advisor role. Kinsler will teach classes in welding, animal science, agronomy and small engines. The goal of the ag program is to introduce students to more employment opportunities in agriculture. Kinsler is a graduate of Kingman High School, has associates degrees from Hutchinson Community College in diesel mechanics and farm and ranch management with a bachelors in agronomy from Fort Hays State University in 2016.”

, t t a r P of y t i ber C e m a Th h C ea r A t t a The Pr ommerce & of C VB C t t a r The P

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. –Nelson Mandela

8 / MAKE THE GRADE

USD 350 • ST. JOHN-HUDSON

A letter from the St. John Superintendent By Josh Meyer, Superintendent As we begin another school year, the word that keeps coming to mind is optimism. Things are not all rosy quite yet, but after a few years of flat funding and a state legislature that seemed to loathe the idea of public education; our state is now headed in a positive direction regarding public school funding and policy. It has been a few years since I’ve been able to report any positive news about our school budget. One of the necessary cuts last year was the elimination of the elementary principal position. As superintendent, I took on those duties. The Board determined last

spring that we did not have enough budget information to know if it would be feasible to add that position back. I will be serving as elementary principal for another year. On the surface, it seems easy to reduce costs by cutting administrative positions. However, this is not an ideal situation. Our kids and our teachers need a great principal who can devote proper time and energy to provide quality leadership for our elementary school. At this point, the Board’s goal is to search for an elementary principal to take over in the 2018-19 school year. Mr. Olive will continue to serve as Jr/Sr High principal. We’ve got some exciting things going on in our district this year. We’ve added

Chromebooks to the 5th & 6th grades so we are now one-to-one from 5th grade through high school. Mr. Delp has been building a high tunnel greenhouse to use with his Environmental Resources & Wildlife class. We will be implementing a new reading curriculum in the elementary grades. Our staff always stays focused on our mission to “ensure that students will find their purpose and become successful, lifelong learners and positive contributors in a changing world.” We are looking forward to a great school year full of purpose, passion, and pride. If you ever have questions or concerns or would just like to visit, please feel free to contact me.

St. John High School Learning Center opens in space at library

Enrollment information for St. John is located at this link:

http://www.usd350.com/vimages/shared/vnews/ stories/5317480e21ffc/2017-18%20Calendar%20 Adopted%204-10-17.pdf

For several years, USD 350 has contracted with the ESSDACK service center for services provided at the Stafford County Learning Center. Students in our district could take classes for credit recovery or diploma completion at Stafford. As of this school year, we will have our own learning center in St. John to take care of student and adult learning needs. The learning center will be located in the basement of the Ida Long Goodman Memorial Library. Adults who have not earned their diploma may attend for free in most cases. The Learning Center will also help

students who need to make up credits during high school. The Learning Center will also serve as a location for St. John students to take online college courses or other courses not offered at SJHS. While online courses are not ideal, this Learning Center will allow us better to meet the needs of students to prepare them for their chosen career path. Kristen Knight and Lisa Cornwell supervise the learning center. If you have questions or are interested in getting your diploma, please contact the school office.


USD 350 • ST. JOHN-HUDSON

New teachers at St. John-Hudson USD 350: Mike Manderino, high school English, new assistant junior high school football coach

Mike Manderino is our new high school English teacher and assistant junior high football coach. He was working as a resource teacher in Pratt before coming on board at SJH. Mr. Manderino has 26 years of teaching experience in PE and language arts at the high school and college level.

Josh Lopez, new junior high school football coach Josh Lopez will be coaching the junior high football team this year. Coach Lopez grew up in Great Bend and played football at Dodge City CC.

Stephanie Smith, high school office secretary Stephanie Smith will be working in the high school office now. She was working as a paraprofessional in the preschool, but will now replace Zoe Staub as the high school secretary.

Katie Jensen will be supervising our distance learning program for high school Spanish. Mrs. Jensen lives here in St. John with her husband and daughter and has been working periodically in our library. She has a degree in Spanish.

Katie Jenson, distance learning program for high school Spanish

Cindy Allen, returning from retirement teaching preschool

Roxanna Vicars, moving to new position teaching second grade

While she is not new to our school system, Roxanna Vicars will be moving to a new position. She will be teaching second grade this year. She was previously employed by our special education cooperative and taught preschool here in St. John.

Mike Joiner, new high school head football coach Mike Joiner has been selected as our new high school head football coach. He has been a pastor and worked in the oil industry. Coach Joiner grew up in Ellinwood. He has already been hard at work with the boys this summer. Reuben Martin has moved up from the junior high program to be the high school assistant coach.

At the time of this writing we have some paraprofessional positions left to fill, so you will see a few new faces in addition to the ones listed above

Cindy Allen has agreed to come out of retirement and help us with preschool this year. She will be taking over Ms. Rox’s classroom as she moves over to second grade. Mrs. Allen taught for many years before retiring three years ago. We are glad to have her back with us, even if only for one year.

Kristen Knight is transitioning from the learning center to elementary music. Mrs. Knight has served our district as a teacher’s aide and the director of the learning center. She taught elementary music in Eudora before moving to Stafford County.

Kristen Knight, transitioning from learning center to elementary music

Adam Mortiz, industrial arts teacher Adam Moritz is our new industrial arts teacher. He comes to us from Stafford schools but he and his wife have lived in St. John for a couple of years. Mr. Moritz grew up in Hays where his father is also an industrial arts teacher.

10 / MAKE THE GRADE

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HELPFUL TIPS

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POSITIVE Help your child deal with school year changes

By Melissa Erickson More Content Now

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hange is hard for everyone. Entering a new school is one of the biggest changes a child may encounter in his young life. Parents can help smooth the transition and make it less traumatic. “A lot of parents may feel anxiety about a change of school, but they should be careful not to project those feelings on their kids. Their child may not be feeling the same thing,” said parenting expert, blogger and author Richard Greenberg, who shares an analogy: “If you got in a taxi and said to the driver, ‘Take me to the airport’ and he said, ‘I

don’t know how to get there,’ you wouldn’t feel too good about it. Kids are in the back of our cab. The key is to project confidence.” Put yourself in their shoes and try and remember how it felt to be a kid in a new situation, he added. “Let them know you’re part of the process. Project that this is going to be great. They’re going to have fun. Change is a part of life. It’s a part of growing up. Tell them that you’re proud of them. Use the power of positive thinking,” Greenberg said.

Make a friend early “Friends play an enormous part of success in school,” said educational psychologist and parenting, bullying and character expert Dr. Michele Borba, author

of “UnSelfie.” “Friends keep kids happy. They make a child want to go to school. They are a support system.” If you can connect your child with one friendly face before school starts, it can ease the process of changing schools. “Walking into a new school without knowing someone is stressful,” Borba said. “The goal is to make your child feel secure in dozens of ways. Whatever you can learn and discuss ahead of time will reduce their anxiety.” Look for opportunities for your child to meet neighbors and potential classmates over the summer. Check out library and park district programs and the local newspaper to see what’s happening in your area.

Here are some more tips: • Visit the school’s website. Take a virtual tour and download a map of the school if possible. Check the school calendar and read the school rules and dress codes. • If possible, visit the school and talk to the teacher or an administrator before classes begin. • Practice your introductions. Have your child come up with a short conversation-starter: “Hi! My name is Mike. I just moved here from Baltimore and I play baseball.” That way he’ll be ready with something to say to new acquaintances. • Remind your child that it’s normal to feel anxious and let them know you’re there for them if they have questions. • If your child is concerned about riding the bus, brief your child on safety rules and visit the bus stop in advance. Point out familiar landmarks and reassure your child that an adult will be on hand when they disembark at the school. • Parents can contact the school’s parent teacher organization, which can provide information about the new school. Volunteering is a great way to become a part of a new community and make new friends for both parent and child. • No matter how anxious you are when dropping off a child at a new school, don’t linger, Borba said. That will only increase their anxiety.

BIGSTOCK.COM


TALK TALK the

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ellphones are a big part of kids’ lives. It’s how they keep in touch, make plans and even make contact with new friends — and strangers. While parents are allowing younger and younger children access to phones, these devices are opening up both opportunities and dangers that kids might not be ready for. A whopping 84 percent of teens 15 to 18, 60 percent of kids 10 to 14 and 22 percent of kids 6 to 9 own phones, according to C+R Research. But the dangers can lie with any smart device. “Parents also need to think in terms of handhelds such as iTouches, tablets and anything with Wi-Fi capability,” said internet privacy and cybersecurity lawyer Parry Aftab, who founded and runs WiredSafety, a cybersafety help group. “Parents withhold cellphones without realizing they’ve handed a child

an iPad or tablet that’s just as connected.” Not understanding just what kids are doing on their phones is a big mistake. “The No. 1 thing parents find surprising in general is that anything parents can do on their home computer kids can do on their phones,” said Rob Zidar, co-founder of internet safety firm ThirdParent. “Adults use technology differently than kids. There’s no way a parent can keep up. You use common sense but there’s no rating system for apps,” Aftab said. “One hundred percent, phones are opening up things kids are not ready for,” Zidar said. While parents would never let their child drive a car without training and a license or even cross the street without teaching them to look both ways, “at the age of 9 or 10 we hand them a phone and it opens up a whole new set of risks,” he said.

Open a dialogue Concerned parents may want to ban phones and social media, but

a better idea is to show a concerted interest in kids’ online lives, both experts agreed. Signing a cellphone contract works for some people, but “in general kids vary so much and one size doesn’t fit all,” Zidar said. The goal is tech transparency. Ask your child how they use their phone. Ask what apps they’re using and how they’re using them. “Convince your child they can talk to you if they are unsure of anything. If they think something is unsafe online. If someone they don’t know or someone they think is inappropriate has followed them. If they think they’ve been hacked that they can come to you,” Zidar said. “Parents need to parent even when the child is more tech-savvy. Parents have the life experience to help.” Educating kids about digital safety is a constant dialogue and requires a strong relationship. Many children fail to tell their parents about something they were uncomfortable with online because they’re afraid their parents will take away their phones, Zidar said. Losing phone privileges means losing their lifeline to their social group, he

added. Parenting in the 21st century means teaching your child to have digital street smarts. “Trust but verify everything,” Aftab said. To find age-appropriate apps, talk to your school librarian or media specialist then test the apps out with your child, Aftab said. Set rules, time limits and guidelines for disconnecting, such as at the dinner table and before bed, Aftab said. Parents should lead by example. Kids don’t understand privacy issues like adults do. “Make them aware that people can misuse their information. (Tell them) don’t share anything you wouldn’t want shared with your least-favorite person at school who might misuse that information,” Aftab said.

What is the right age? A level of trust must be in place once you’ve decided your child needs — not just wants — a phone. “Are they old enough to deal with the stuff that comes with owning a phone? Are they good enough decision makers? Do you trust they’ll come to you if they’re unsure about something?” Zidar said. Parents should always have kids’ passwords, but when they’re older than about 13 keep them in a sealed envelope and use them only in an emergency, Aftab said. You should be checking in but only when they give you reason to, she said. If left on, location services will show a user’s location either publicly or in metadata. Zidar recommends turning location services off so that others cannot find where your child is, especially if she’s Snapchatting photos from Dunkin’ Donuts every day after school. A more sophisticated option is to go into each app and turn off location services to prevent it from tagging a child’s geographic location, he said. Be active and engaged, but realize the best way to protect a child is to limit the amount of screen time and balance it out with other healthy activities, Aftab said.