Wamego Middle School - USD 320

Mrs. Vici Jennings, Principal
1701 Kaw Valley Rd.
Wamego, KS 66547
Wamego Middle School
Items for the Good
October 2009
First, and foremost, three individuals were left out of the recognition for our Live LIFE Right
assembly. No game show is complete without judges, and ours did a spectacular job – Mr. Bowser,
Mrs. Callahan, and Mr. Zahn.
Student Council members for 2009-2010
President: Mary Hobbs
Vice President: Hannah Lincoln
6th Grade: Kelli Jensen, Parker Waters, Riley Wilson, Aaron Pachta, and Brianna Klecan
7th Grade: Maggie Shermoen, Gabby Klein, Allison Seufert, Trent Griffin, Brittany Finney, Wyatt
Totten, and Tristan Walsh.
8th Grade: David Howard, Zach Jones, Amanda vonSeggern, Eion Blanchard, Colby Nelson, and Cody
Totten.
Mrs. Werner continues to conduct the Girl-2-Girl seminars at WMS. The focus of these seminars
is information: self-image, proper nutrition, and personal responsibility. This latest seminar was
about body image and the role the media plays in how young adults, specifically young women, view
themselves and how they “should” be. Each seminar has been highly informative and leaves times
for participation and questions.
The KAYS participated in the yearly Walk for Warmth sponsored by the Council of Churches and
the Community Health Ministry. The students collected pledges and had a wonderful Sunday
afternoon with friends walking throughout the Wamego community.
Student Council Spirit Week is always a huge hit at the middle school. Students participated in
Weird Socks and Shades Day, Dress as a Faculty Member Day, 80’s Day, Dress as your Idol Day,
and Red Raider Day. Special awards were given for participation, including two Fan of the Game
certificates for concession stand purchases and Raider gear.
Twelve students and four adults attended the William Allen White Festival in Emporia on October
10. The students went to hear the authors of this year’s WAW winning books, Jennifer Roy for
Yellow Star and Sarah Pennypacker for Clementine.
Football, volleyball, and cross country seasons have come to a close! The Raider football teams had
great seasons; the seventh graders were undefeated and are this year’s NCKL champions. Seventh
grade volleyball players also finished first in NCKL, posting a very successful season. According to
Coach Patton, IF there were league standings for middle school cross country, our seventh and
eighth grade would be NCKL champs! Thanks to all the coaches who guided our students: Jerry
Through collaboration with colleagues and community, WMS ensures a high quality, challenging education
which maintains high expectations for all.
Ph: 785 � 456 � 7682
Fax: 785 � 456 � 2944
www.usd320.com

Johnson, Travis Hardenburger, John Schmidt, Shane Neel, Kandi Williams, Marcia Gier, Linda
Hodges, Tina Callendar, Rick Patton, and Julie Baer.
October 26-30 students celebrated Red Ribbon Week. Throughout the week students participated
by wearing a wrist band showing their support for drug and alcohol abuse awareness, as well as a
special presentation by Mrs. Werner to each class and a canned food drive “Can Drugs!” Tuesday,
the students were most fortunate to hear a presentation by Mr. Mark Brown, a nationally known
lecturer who presented on the power of bystanders in solving bullying. Through humor and great
examples, he had 294 students focused and quiet, hanging on his every word. Special Thanks to Dan
Strohmeyer, our QSP representative for giving WMS this special opportunity. The week concluded
with our first quarter Academic and Activity Recognition Assembly. Standard of Excellence class
awards were announced, as well as perfect attendance.
Mrs. Nordberg presented library awards for those students who participated in the past summer’s
Where in the World Are You postcard contest. Traveled furthest north: Kentin Brummett and
Brianna Klecan; furthest south: Teagan Neel; furthest east: Maxx Dillinger; furthest west: Cody
Filbert; Overseas east: Kyle Mueller; and Overseas West: Madison Bowser.
Coach Patton, Coach Johnson and Coach Gier presented their teams and recognized their records
and participants.
Mr. Wilson announced that the magazine sales (begun October 5 and concluded October 26) had an
initial turn in of approximately $5200. The overall sales winner this year was eighth grader Eion
Blanchard.
Mr. Petermann and Mrs. Jennings presented awards to students and teachers for their
participation in Red Ribbon Week: Joseph Haug, Kaitlyn Devora, Levi Hannon, Daniel Dietrich, and
Eva Valdez and Mr. Bowser’s homebase for canned goods; and for Raider Trader cards.
Wrestling and girls basketball has already started, and will see their first competitions the week of
November 2.
Faculty News
Mrs. Diederich spent one week this past summer attending an AG in the Classroom workshop.
Recently, her afternoon graphics class got the opportunity to walk across the practice field to
obtain some information on agriculture. Using our new digital cameras, they took some pictures of
equipment in the nearby alfalfa field. A KSU ag student was kind enough to field the students
questions concerning the importance of alfalfa. Students are going to use their photos to create
brochures/flyers/pamphlets about Kansas agriculture and its importance. You can see her report
on her blog, http:// wamegoart.blogspot.com.
We’ve added to our family again – Eli and Suzy Sprenkle welcomed Cassie Sprenkle into the world on
October 1, 2009. She weighed in at a whopping 5 lbs. 15 ozs. At last report, all were doing well.
Mrs. Phyllis Herzog welcomed her fourth grandchild on October 8, Kenzie JoAnn Bellinger.
Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Coleman, and Mrs. Hodges attended a conference on HIV/AIDS and Human
Sexuality. Mrs. Jennings also attended the KCHS health conference in Wichita.
Mr. Chandler and Mr. Petermann attended KATE in Dodge City as presenters and learners, and Mrs.
Hodges attended the KAPHERD Convention at ESU. All have shared with staff the exciting
strategies they learned.
Through collaboration with colleagues and community, WMS ensures a high quality, challenging education
which maintains high expectations for all.

Mr. Chandler will be one of the spotlight speakers for the MACE Technology Convention in
Manhattan on March 4 and 5. He has been a presenter many times, and this year was asked to be a
featured presenter to the entire convention. Woot!
Through collaboration with colleagues and community, WMS ensures a high quality, challenging education
which maintains high expectations for all.