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Published by Marketing and Communications Vol. 9, No. 13 · October 25, 2010
Morris Administrative Center · 201 N. Water · Wichita KS · 67202
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WPS News features:
Thirty students recognized during 99% Awards
Three schools receive Challenge Awards
Eighth-grade students take part in Career Day
Employee Inside Information:
Sign up for Mindless Method weight management program
Open enrollment for employee benefits underway
Red Carpet recognizes excellent customer service
School Highlights:
Woodland students learn about milk from the source
Allison students have work critiqued by author
Points of Pride:
Northeast student takes first in national art contest
Dodge teacher shares ice cream gift with students
Thirty students recognized during 99% Awards
Thirty students
were recognized
by the Board of
Education during
the 99% Awards
ceremony for the
first quarter on
October 18. The
99% Awards
recognize middle
school and high
school students
who are making
a contribution to
their school, but
who may not be
getting the
recognition they
deserve for doing
the right thing.
During the
ceremony,
Photo by Susan Arensman
principals,
teachers and
counselors shared stories about each student who was nominated and explained why they were chosen for this
recognition and why they stand out among their peers.
Front row from left: Jazelle Thomas, Northeast Magnet; Keyla Garcia, Curtis; Atziri Campos, Hamilton; Dallas
Wilson, Truesdell; Sara Martinez, Pleasant Valley; Miguel Tovar, Jardine; Rachel Blue, Brooks and Osvaldo Bailon,
Horace Mann.
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Second row from left: Donnie Parker, Coleman; Heather Rogers, Heights; Chyna Taylor, Northwest; Adrian Esparza,
North; Luis Miguel Rodriguez, Mead; Angie Williams, West; Zachary Nelson, Sowers; Johnathan Moore, Wells; Britt
Leake, Hadley and Gabrielle Swank, South.
Third row from left: De’Nay Barnhizer, Metro-Boulevard; Alexis Siniaho, Wilbur; Ernesto Diaz, Southeast; Tino Soliz,
Mayberry; Michael Kristek, Gordon Parks Academy; Kevin Rutledge, Blackbear Bosin Academy; Russel Stroud,
Robinson; Brady Elbrader, Metro-Meridian and Scott Garrison, Stucky.
Not pictured: Hana Choi, East; Emilie Logan, Allison and Aron Martinez, Marshall.
Top
Three schools receive Challenge Awards
Students at Northeast Magnet work on problems during Algebra 2 class.Northeast Magnet received a
Challenge Award for achievement in eleventh-grade math. Photo by Susan Arensman
Three schools have received
Certificates of Merit as part of
the Challenge Awards from
the Confidence in Public
Education Task Force. The
award recognizes schools for
outstanding achievement and
accomplishment in reading
and/or mathematics based on
2010 state assessment
results, despite facing
significant challenges in
school population.
The schools honored are:
Horace Mann Dual Language
Magnet – Sixth-, seventh- and
eighth-grade reading and math
Metro-Meridian Alternative
High School – Eleventhgrade
reading
Northeast Magnet High
School – Eleventh-grade math
In addition to receiving the award, each school will be asked to provide information on their instructional strategies
and techniques used to achieve their success, which will be made available to other schools.
The schools will be recognized Nov. 10 during a special ceremony in Junction City.
Top
Eighth-grade students take part in Career Day
Eighth-grade students from every middle school in the district took part in the first Career Day held at WSU. More
than 3,000 students visited booths in different career fields including manufacturing and engineering, health
sciences, business and marketing, arts and communications, environmental and agricultural and human resources
and services. Colleges, universities and military representatives were also represented.
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The students were asked to visit booths in the top three areas
of their career interests, according to Kansas Career Pipeline
tests the students took in seventh grade. The Kansas Career
Pipeline measures career interests and skills to explore
different occupations that fit their talents.
The students will complete assignments in their social studies
classes related to their experiences at Career Day.
The Career Day was sponsored by the W.G. Williams
Community Foundation.
Top
Truesdell Middle School students take a manual dexterity test
for aviation students at the Wichita Area Technical College's
booth. Photo by Susan Arensman
Woodland students learn about milk from the source
Woodland students learn about milk from Lily the cow and a representative from Southwest Dairy. Photo by
Susan Arensman
made into different products.
Students at Woodland
Health and Wellness
Magnet got an up-close
lesson on where milk comes
from during a visit from Lily,
a jersey cow. Southwest
Dairy brought its mobile
dairy classroom to the
school, which features the
cow. Students learned about
what products are made
from milk, how many
servings of milk a day
children should have and
how milk creates strong
bones, teeth and skin.
During the demonstration,
Lily was hooked to a milking
machine so students could
see where milk comes from
directly. The students
learned how the milk is
“This is a great lesson for our students, especially for our students who have never visited a farm,” said principal
Lichelle Alford.
The visit was sponsored in part by Kansas State University, which provided purple backpacks to all the students at
the end of the demonstration.
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Allison students have work critiqued by author
Students at Allison Traditional Magnet enjoyed
a special guest during lunch on Oct. 7. Author
Lois Ruby met with a group of 30 students
during lunch to discuss books and the writing
process. Before her school visit, she asked the
students to email her with their own writings.
She read their stories and provided them
feedback in the same fashion she receives
feedback from her own editors and publishers.
The students were excited to have a
professional writer as a mentor.
Ruby has written books including Miriam’s Well,
Steal Away Home, and Soon Be Free.
Author Lois Ruby talks about the writing process with Allison students. Photo
courtesy Allison
Top
Sign up for Mindless Method weight management program
Employees have the opportunity to participate in The Mindless Method, an online program for managing weight and
creating better eating habits. The program provides participants the information needed to change eating habits
without subscribing to a strict diet. The Mindless Method plan is personalized for each participant and is not a "one
size fits all" program.
Dr. Brian Wansink, creator of The Mindless Method, will help kick off the program and tell employees more about it
on Thursday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hughes Metroplex, 29 th and Oliver.
Dr. Wansink is excited about the district being involved in the program and is offering it at a discounted rate.
Employees can have a special rate of $5 per month per person through payroll deduction, a $15 per month savings.
Employees who participate will also earn half of their wellness credits for 2012. The discounted program will run
January – June 2011.
Employees and their spouses can enroll in The Mindless Method during the Open Enrollment period.
More information on the Mindless Method and the kick-off meeting can be found on Employee Benefits and Risk
Management’s portal site.
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Open enrollment for employee benefits underway
Online open enrollment for employee benefits goes until November 15. Because of changes to the health care plan,
every benefited employee must enroll online or will not receive coverage for 2011. Employees can enroll in the
health plan with wellness credits, the health plan with an annual premium or cash option, add or remove dependants,
change beneficiaries, and enroll in Flex Spending. Employees who choose the cash option must also enroll to
continue receiving cash option payments.
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New this year, employees who enroll in the health plan with wellness credits will need to take a survey before they
enroll.
Employees interested in watching the Health & Flex Plan Town Hall Meeting video and/or reviewing the slides before
enrolling in benefits, can click here and find the video and slides under Announcements.
For more information, contact Risk Management at riskmanagement@usd259.net
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Red Carpet Award recognizes excellent customer service
Schools that provide warm, friendly environments and provide excellent customer service have the opportunity to
receive $1,000 with the Red Carpet Award. Schools have an opportunity to receive the Red Carpet award by making
visitors feel welcome and part of the school family. Providing outstanding customer service is extremely important to
advance education and build partnerships with families and communities.
The Red Carpet Award application process has been revised. Schools are no longer required to have customer
service training. Schools need to submit an application and a one-page narrative that describes a family-friendly
environment, how that environment is evaluated and how families are engaged as partners.
More information and forms are located on the Parent and Community Support portal site. The deadline for fall
applications is November 19. The completed applications are due to the Parent and Community Support Office, room
503 in the Alvin Morris Administrative Center.
For more information, please contact Parent and Community Support Network at 973-4668.
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Northeast student takes first in national art contest
Tri Vo, senior at Northeast Magnet, won first place in the American
Academy of Pediatrics Children’s Art Contest. The contest’s theme was
“Protecting the World’s Chidren from Tobacco and Secondhand Smoke.”
Vo’s drawing, I want to Breathe Fresh Air, placed first in the grades 9-12
category. His artwork was selected among hundreds of entries from 39
states and 13 countries.
Earlier in October, Vo traveled to San Francisco to be recognized by the
AAP, and was given a $500 prize. The AAP also gave Northeast a
matching award of $500.
Tri Vo, senior at Northeast Magnet, drew I want to
Breathe Fresh Air and won first place in the
American Academy of Pediatrics Children’s Art
Contest. Photo courtesy Northeast
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Dodge teacher shares ice cream gift with students
Kim Morrissey, P.E. teacher at Dodge Literacy
Magnet, received a special treat from Blue Bell
Creameries. To celebrate Morrissey being
named a 2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year
Finalist, the company provided ice cream
sandwiches to all students and staff.
Morrissey helped pass out the frozen treats
and received several hugs from her students
as they congratulated her.
Ray Pemberton, Blue Bell Sales Manager, Brent Harris, Wichita Territory Operations
Manager and Kim Morrissey, P.E. teacher, handed ice cream to Dodge students.
Photo courtesy Dodge
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© 2010 Wichita Public Schools. All Rights Reserved.
The Wichita Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex,
disability, age, veteran status, or any other legally protected classification. Persons having inquiries may contact the
School District's Title IX Director/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator for adults at (316) 973-4420, or Section 504
Coordinator for students at (316) 973-4650, 201 N. Water, Wichita, KS 67202.
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