November 2013 - Great Bend USD 428

Relay
Staff Newsletter
from the Office
of Public Information
FOR LIFE — JUNE 10
Volume 23 Issue 3
November 2013
LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN
Ed Foundation event
needs your support
Tickets still
available for
Nov. 26 dinner
Tickets are now on sale
for the 24th annual USD
428 Education Foundation
dinner that will be held on
Tuesday, Nov. 26 at the
Great Bend Convention
Center.
The USD 428 Education
Foundation is issuing a
challenge to each school in
the district to fill an eighttop table for this year’s fund
raiser.
Tickets are available at the
District Education Center
for $50 each (the same price
as in 1989).
“We’re shaking things up
a bit this year and moving
back toward our roots,” said
Jennifer Schartz, USD 428
public information director.
In the early years, the fund
raiser was a gourmet dinner,
but for the past few years it
has been more casual and
has included live and silent
auctions.
“We’ve taken the best of
both ideas and I think we
have come up with something pretty special,”
Schartz said. “It will be a
fine-dining experience with
china, real linens and fresh
flowers and a very nice
catered buffet.”
The theme for the evening
is Boots, Bling and Beer
and will allow for women to
dress in upscale country
bling if they like, while the
men can just dress in jeans
and boots.
The evening will feature a
beer tasting during the 6:30
p.m. social. Six different
micro-brewed beers from
Gella’s in Hays will be
available for sampling. Flavors include Pumpkin Ale,
American Wheat, Oatmeal
Stout, IPA, Pale Ale and
Brown Ale.
Wine will also be available.
The Education Foundation
opted to seek sponsors for
Tricia Reiser, USD 428 Education Foundation president, poses
with a two-piece wooden beverage cooler that was built by the
Great Bend High School Manufacturing class taught by Travis
Straub. The cooler will be offered by silent auction at the foundation's fund-raising dinner on Nov. 26.
Continued on Page 2
Pursuing Excellence
November 2013
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Page 2
Nancy Schuetz and Zusseth Pinello, sponsors of the Great Bend High School El Sol Mexican Dancers, present girls wearing new costumes acquired through a 2013-14 Education Foundation minigrant. It was the first update in nearly 20 years.
Minigrants help supplement school funding
Continued from Page 1
the evening to help with
fund raiser rather than have
an auction.
Those businesses stepping
up to the plate include Great
Bend Regional Hospital,
Stueder Contractors, Venture Corporation and
Wheatland Electric Co-op.
Haney Liquor will provide
keg beer and wine.
During the past 24 years,
the fund raiser has provided
more than $250,000 in minigrants to teachers so they
can provide educational opportunities outside the normal funding stream for their
students.
“If you have ever received
a minigrant or plan to apply
for one in the future, please
consider supporting this
fund raiser,” said Superintendent Tom Vernon.
Four members of the USD 428 Education Foundation meet to discuss this year’s dinner fund raiser.
They are from left, Kim Mitchell, MelEesa Stueder, Kevin Mauler and Bob Hiss. This year’s Boots,
Bling and Beer event will be on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Members of the foundation include Tricia Reiser,
president; Kevin Mauler,
MelEesa Stueder, Molly
Hildebrand, Annalee
Crotinger, Kim Mitchell and
Bob Hiss. Tickets may also
be purchased from any
foundation member.
“It would be nice to see a
Pursuing Excellence
table of educators from each
school supporting this
worthwhile fund raiser,”
Vernon said.
Let the challenge begin!
November 2013
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Page 3
Members of the Great Bend High School Lady Panther volleyball team pose with some of the Park School students who received mini
volleyballs during a drawing.
Team serves up
inspiration for kids
learning volleyball
It was point, game, match for Park School students recently
when a unit in physical education class culminated in a field
trip and the opportunity to meet members of a real winning volleyball team.
Park School PE Teacher Tom Grieb taught a volleyball unit
for the past couple of weeks and in the class students learned to
pass, set, serve and play “Champions of the Court.”
To take the experience to the next level, he consulted with his
fellow teacher, Kelsey Perry, who is also the Great Bend High
School volleyball coach.
Perry helped arrange for the students from Park School to
take field trip to watch the Lady Panther volleyball team
demonstrate their advanced skills and techniques.
To top off the experience, students’ names were drawn to win
a mini volleyball donated by Venture Corporation.
“It was a very fun afternoon for the Park students as well as
the volleyball team,” Perry said.
The GBHS volleyball team makes a tunnel for all students to
go through as they leave the gym.
Pursuing Excellence
November 2013
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Page 4
DAY
It was back to school for teachers on Oct. 21 as USD 428
hosted Curriculum Day. The special day-long inservice allowed
educators to expand their personal depth of knowledge on the
subject of depth of knowledge and also explore the 16 Habits of
Mind as suggested by Arthur L. Costa, Ed.D. and Bena Kallick,
Ph.D. Pictured at top left, high school and middle school English teachers work on a writing program; center left, teachers
enjoy a break at the high school; bottom left, Riley School
teachers personalize aprons to hold random sticks, cheer sticks,
timers and other things for use during lessons; above, Tim
Friess, high school principal, addresses a request from former
student, Allison Ohnmacht, during a break.
Pursuing Excellence
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November 2013
Page 5
USD 428 Education Foundation
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Tuesday, Nov. 26
Tickets are $50
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Nov. 5 – Dan Heath, fall play
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Nov. 12 – Rollie Peter, FFA
Nov. 19 – Barbara Watson, debate
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Nov. 26 – Santa’s Workshop, Diann Henderson,
Great Bend Recreation Commission
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Room 428 airs on KVGB 1590 every Tuesday at 11:35 a.m.
Pursuing Excellence
November 2013
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Staff gets involved
in homecoming
Upper left, Eric Dowson, Park School
teacher, runs to keep up
with a float. Top, Travis
Straub, woodworking
teacher, drives the high
school’s electric car.
Above, Bryan Scott,
Riley School teacher,
pulls a float with a big
green tractor. Left, Mark
Dewald and Austin Russell, band instructors,
prepare to start the pregame program.
Pursuing Excellence
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November 2013
Page 7
Staff boosts homecoming spirit
’Merica
Monday
Meredith Musil, Jessica Ferguson
Paula Laudick, Kathy Goad, Rhonda Snyder, Pam Jenkinson
Teresa Frieb, Dawn Galusha
Tim Friess, Kerri Batman, Erin Bentley, Randy Wetzel
Pursuing Excellence
Kristen Baker, Kay Burns, Debbie Koelsch
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November 2013
Page 8
GBHS Fall Homecoming
Right, Daniel Schneider, Zac Bartel, Lisa Thompson, Jeremy Foster
Above, Barbi Harris, Karen Clark
Dressing alike adds to fun
TWIN DAY
(& Triplet Day & Quadruplet Day)
Debbie Koelsch, Janette Bryant, Wendy Popp
Mandy Charles, Emily Mulch
Pursuing Excellence
Novem ber 2013
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Page 9
graduations scheduled
Park School students try
on riot gear for size.
Monday, November 18
Lincoln School 6 p.m.
With Great Bend Police Officer Jefferson Davis
Thursday, November 21
Jefferson School
1:30 p.m.
With Great Bend Police Officer Jacob Harlow
Friday, November 22
Eisenhower School 1:30 p.m.
With Great Bend Police Officer Jefferson Davis
Pursuing Excellence
November 2013
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Page 10
ABOVE, Shannon Wedel,
elementary art teacher,
puts up a new display of
student artwrork at the District Education Center. Left,
Two attendees to the Education Foundation sponsored Great Bend Chamber
of Commerce coffee on
Sept. 26 enjoy the gallery.
The art show draws many
proud parents to the DEC.
Pursuing Excellence
November Birthdays
November 2013
1
Cindy Prescott
2
Kelsey Scheuerman
3
Patti Blackwell
4
Carla Maneth
Doris Flores
Susan Courson
Liliana Luna
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Tiffany Cargill
5
Sharon Ferguson
7
Carolyn Oetken
9
Sharon Jenkins
Linda Martin
Janet Degenhardt
10
Margaret Flint
Health Insurance Information
Cash Difference from Prior Year
(113,088)
October
(49,256)
November
(120,640)
December
(27,823)
January
(43,537)
February
(6,471)
March
(72,310)
April
88,066
May
157,845
June
(23,961)
July
15,223
August
21,266
September
The Relay is a
staff newsletter
created for, by
and about USD
428 employees
under the direction of Jennifer
Schartz, public information director. It is published in both
hard-copy and electronic formats each
month during the school year. Items for
publication may be submitted by the 25th
of each month to:
jennifer.schartz@usd428.net
Tony Crough
11
Loretta Gray
Karen Smith
Erin Bentley
13
Melody Johnston
Barbara Harris
Matt Mazouch
14
Kay Burns
Rosalia Sandoval
Tricia Reiser
15
Blythe Murphy
16
Monica Reza
17
Eric Dowson
Lori McLeland
Page 11
18
Marilyn Holinde
19
Dawn Galusha
Dale Kuhlman
20
Traci Suppes
Michelle Moore
Maggie Miller
24
Ronda Baird
26
Nichole Jeffrey
Sharon Jelinek
Judy Sneath
Amber Snook
Alicia Huntington
27
21
Trina Rector
22
Edna Jones
Ashley Riley
Dennis Johnson
23
Brian Vesta
Cheryl Muth
28
Monta Wolf
Lisa Babcock
30
Nancy Baxter
Peggy Haag
Misty Jimison
HEALTH CARE SERVICES RESERVE FUND
RENEWAL OCTOBER 2012
CARRYOVER
BALANCE:
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
PREMIUMS
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
CLAIMS PAID
272,075 $
273,633 $
271,427 $
265,047 $
270,973 $
270,613 $
270,114 $
270,121 $
267,137 $
264,062 $
244,006 $
303,363 $
225,262 $
190,208 $
273,120 $
220,060 $
284,432 $
275,101 $
329,602 $
214,704 $
226,618 $
435,038 $
263,222 $
283,940 $
DIFFERENCE
$
46,813 $
83,425 $
(1,693) $
44,987 $
(13,460) $
(4,488) $
(59,488) $
55,417 $
40,521 $
(170,976) $
(19,216) $
19,422 $
CASH BALANCE
2,384,853
2,431,666
2,515,091
2,513,398
2,558,385
2,544,925
2,540,437
2,480,950
2,536,367
2,576,888
2,405,912
2,386,696
2,406,119
PRIOR YEAR’S (Renewal October 2011) WORKSHEET
Premiums
Claims Paid
Difference
CARRYOVER BALANCE:
$
270,361 $
107,118 $
163,242
OCTOBER
$
258,658 $
239,064 $
19,593
NOVEMBER
$
261,853 $
192,162 $
69,691
DECEMBER
$
266,625 $
314,456 $
(47,830)
JANUARY
$
249,155 $
246,901 $
2,254
FEBRUARY
$
262,653 $
304,208 $
(41,555)
MARCH
$
254,926 $
248,574 $
6,352
APRIL
$
261,226 $
366,186 $
(104,959)
MAY
$
256,100 $
285,358 $
(29,257)
JUNE
$
237,650 $
226,820 $
10,830
JULY
$
250,075 $
308,474 $
(58,399)
AUGUST
$
278,474 $
265,095 $
13,379
SEPTEMBER
Pursuing Excellence
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
Cash Balance
2,381,512
2,544,754
2,564,348
2,634,038
2,586,208
2,588,463
2,546,908
2,553,260
2,448,300
2,419,043
2,429,873
2,371,474
2,384,853
November 2013
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Page 12
Ed Foundation
SAYS
The USD 428 Education Foundation sponsored the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce coffee on Sept. 26. The non-profit fund-raising group used the event to kick
off the ticket sales for its annual dinner. Above, MelEesa Stueder, committee
member, visits with Jan Westfall. Right, Andrea Bauer, gets ready to hand out tickets for the drawing while Superintendent Tom Vernon watches. Below, school
board members Cheryl Rugan and Kevin Mauler visit with Tom Vernon. Below
right, community members enjoy coffee and coffee cake.
Pursuing Excellence
November 2013
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Page 13
Little people tackle
really big problem
Riley School recently observed Bullying Awareness Week
with a poster contest for students. Michelle Daniel, family support worker, said that 16 awesome
posters were selected for special recognition.
She said the theme for
the contest was “Laughter Hurts.”
Winning posters
were hung in the
school’s entryway.
Kimberly
Pilo
Nevaeh Estes
and
Eli Contreras
Marlen Gonzales
Hector
Dominguez
Edgar Ruiz Lopez
Brianna
Ordonez
Michelle Daniel, Riley School family support worker, congratulates Joanna Diaz.
Pursuing Excellence
November 2013
Personnel Agenda
Page 14
Q&A
Cody David Lanterman
Dave and Misty Lanterman, Park School thirdgrade teacher, announce the
birth of their son, Cody
David Lanterman. He was
born on Oct. 7, weighed 8
lbs., 2 oz. and measured 20
1/2 in. long.
•••
Olivia Blackwell
Olivia Blackwell, Great
Bend High School sophomore and daughter of Mark
and Patti Blackwell, CPTA,
has joined the cast of The
Prairie Nutcracker Ballet.
This is the second time she
has been in the ballet and
can be seen in four different
Cathie McManaman, Jan Flint, Dena Hiss,
Walt Crist and Graham Hiss
parts. The show will be held
at the Fox Theater in
Hutchinson Dec. 13-15.
Tickets for the play can be
purchased at www.prairie
nutcracker.com.
•••
Cathie McManaman,
transportation secretary, is
the middle generation in her
family. She not only is a
grandmother, she still has a
living grandfather. The
group recently posed for a
five-generation picture.
They included her grandfather Walt Crist, who is 94,
her mother, Jan Flint, her
daughter, Dena Hiss, and
her grandson, Graham Hiss.
•••
Jeremy Rusco, son of
Clark and Donna Rusco,
Jefferson School fifth-grade
teacher, was recently honored as a 2013 Outstanding
Recent Graduate by Emporia State University. Jeremy
Ryan Axman, technology
coordinator, was recently
asked by a teacher how to
extend the bulb life of his
projector without having to
turn the projector on and off
all day.
It seems that the cool
down and warm up of the
projector takes a long time.
Axman said the answer is
to use the “Pic Mute” or
“AV Mute” button on the
projector remote.
When you press this button it turns off the bulb, but
leaves the projector on allowing you to start the projector quickly again.
Try it and see if it works
for you. It will extend the
life of the projector bulbs
and save electricity along
the way.
questions?
Jeremy Rusco
was a 2006 ESU graduate
with a degree in business
administration. He received
this honor, in part, for starting Dynamic Discs, a premier disc-golf retailer. He
started the business in 2005
as an eBay company that
now has retail storefronts in
Emporia, Kansas City and
Lewisville, Texas. Disc golf
is one of the fastest-growing
sports in the United States.
Pursuing Excellence
Please submit questions
of a general nature to
Jennifer Schartz,
Relay editor, at
jennifer.schartz@usd428.net.
Selected questions will
be answered in future
newsletters.
USD 428 does not
discriminate on the basis
of race, color, national
origin, sex or disability.
November 2013
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Yes, We Can*
Please recycle
your aluminum cans every
first Friday at Jefferson School.
Proceeds go to the
Jefferson Jets Cure
for Life team to aid
in cancer research.
*Beat Cancer!
Pursuing Excellence
Page 15
November 2013
Relay
School board inspects
gym during walkthrough
A board of education walkthrough of the
nearly completed gym at Great Bend Middle School during a special meeting on
Oct. 23 resulted in a few more items on the
to-do list by construction crews. BOE members indicated concerns about concrete
and drainage issues and a wheel-chair
ramp that is not ADA compliant. Steve Rotramel, project supervisor, assured them
that all of the necessary work will be done
to their satisfaction before the project is
completed. He said he is hopeful that the
building will be done by the end of November, but new items on the list may move
that date back. At top, the outside of the
new gym is nearly complete; center,
Dwight Young and David Meter look at the
sub-floor before the wooden gym floor is
layed; right, board members look at a
ramp on the south side that does not meet
ADA requirements and will be replaced.
Pursuing Excellence
Page 16
November 2013
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B LUE P RINT
P
PR
RAC
ACT
TIIC
CE
E
Pursuing Excellence
Page 17
Students of Jake Hofflinger, Great
Bend High School technologies
teacher, show projects in various
stages of completion during a unit
on Production Blueprint Reading.
Students made World Fair Pavilions after researching a country of
their choice and selecting an architectural style to best represent
that country. Then they created a
plan view and elevations of each
building and built a foam model
using the plan view. The buildings
are all built to the scale 1/4 inch =
2 feet. Each building has a specific function and square footage
and foot traffic circulation was figured into the design. Pictured at
left are Alan Bobbit, Keaton Reneau, Conrad Montoya and Dominique Rideaux; below are Ivan
Gonzalaz, Storm McNett and Tyler
Robb.
November 2013
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Building leadership
INSPIRED
BY
leadership building
Great Bend High and Middle School building leadership
teams convened last week for a follow-up training session
to learn more professional learning communities from Dr.
Kelly Gillespie, Southwest Plains Regional Service Center director. Pictured include at top left, Janette Bryant and Gillespie;
top right, Tim Friess, Chris Battin and Gillespie; and here, Jessica Ferguson, Janette Bryant, Julie Buzard and Kayci Scott.
Pursuing Excellence
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