|
O'DEA: Capping a year of school success
By DENISE O'DEA, From The Desk Of The Superintendent
|
|
Like all school districts, Wellsville has had many highlights and accomplishments this year. The following (continued from last week) are more of the 2007-08 highlights of the students and staff of USD 289:
• Elementary students Ashtyn Rottinghaus, Katie Becker, Taylor Wallis, Gabrielle Martinez, Logan Messenger, Hailey Watson, Kassy Wise, Trevor Shalkoski, Cole Silsby, Zach Ball, Michael Douglas, Sierra Savage, Abby White, Cailtin Carter and Jared Klamm reached the 500 Point Club in Accelerated Reader. What a great achievement. In addition, our elementary school students read a total of 25,196 Accelerated Reader points this school year. This is the most Accelerated Reader points accumulated by our student body since the program began.
• Christian Conner, fifth grade student, placed first in the local elementary spelling bee, second in the Franklin County spelling bee and 13th in our regional spelling bee.
• Several of our students in the elementary and the middle school competed in a variety of math competitions: the KCATM competition in Olathe and the league math contest by Baldwin City. Our students represented our schools very well with several medals earned. Wellsville Middle School boasts 55 math club members.
• The Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA) organization at the high school continues to represent Wellsville very well. Clint Newton was re-elected to the Kansas FBLA Presidency. He is only the second person to do this since FBLA was established in Kansas in 1953 Clint will also be running for the office of National FBLA Treasurer.
Wellsville FBLA placed first in the District VII Conference, the first time since we switched to this district. At this year’s state competition in Topeka, Wellsville had 17 students score in the Top 10. Five individuals will be representing Wellsville at the National Convention in New Orleans, La., in late June. Our local Annual Report placed first at state; therefore, our FBLA Annual Report will be representing Kansas at the National Conference in Chicago this summer.
• At the Highland Art Festival, Laura Landreth received two honorable mention ribbons (comparable to third place) for two of her photographs. In addition, at the Pioneer League Art Festival, the high school had six students receive 12 awards. Also at league, the Chalk Drawing Competition received a third place for their drawing team. Team members were: main artists and workers, Audrey McTaggart and Meghan Rush; other helpers, Gage Martin, Sara Calvert and Shukriya Nazridod. Overall Wellsville placed fourth at league art.
• The middle school boys track team had a total of 28 athletes (19 eighth graders and nine seventh graders) participating this year. The seventh grade finished third in the league meet out of 14 schools. They did not break any school records but they performed at a high level all year considering they had a limited number of participants. The eighth grade finished first or second in every meet this year except for the league meet. They received fifth place at league out of 14 schools; all but two were larger enrollment than us. The eighth grade also placed second at the Eudora Invitational meet out of six schools.
• The 2008 Lady Eagles track squad had another very good season. Thirty-five girls competed for us this year and all gave a very good effort. As a team, our girls placed fourth at the Snowball Invitational, third at the Perry Invitational, first at the Perry Frosh/Sophomore Invitational, second at the Silver Lake Invitational and tied for sixth out of 20 teams at the Redbud Relays. We had three League Champions who also will be League record holders as this was the inaugural Pioneer League meet: Sara Calvert, discus, 115 feet, 2 inches, season best; Kylie Hoffman, pole vault, 9 feet, season best; and Carrie Shirk, triple jump, 35 feet 3.5 inches.
• 2007-08 saw a continuation of our state assessment testing cycle. This is the third year that students in the third through eighth grades participated. Testing included: third, math and reading; fourth, math and reading; fifth, math and reading; sixth, math and reading; seventh, math and reading; eighth, math and reading; 10th, math; 11th, reading. In addition, select grade levels saw testing in science and social studies.
During the months of March and April, 983 reading, math, science and social studies tests were completed by our students. Several mini labs were added to help with small group and/or individual testing. The online testing was completed without any major problems and made it possible for us to have immediate feedback on our results. Although results will not be official until certified by the state sometime this summer, preliminary results indicate that all of our grades made Adequate Yearly Progress with several grades making the Standard of Excellence.
In addition, USD 289 had 148 students reach the Standard of Excellence on the Kansas state reading assessment. That is 23 percent of the student population in grades 3-11. USD 289 had 126 students reach the Standard of Excellence on the Kansas state math assessment. That is 20 percent of the student population in grades three through 11.
• The sixth grade staff had an auction to reward the students for performing well on the state assessments. The students earned “funny money” based on their scores. The students were able to bid on a variety of items purchased with fundraiser money or donated by staff, people from the community or local businesses. It was a lot of fun for the kids and we hope to make it an annual tradition.
• PTO stayed very active in the life at the elementary school. The elementary outdoor marquee is in operation. In addition, the PTO sponsored, organized and conducted the Academic Awards night for fourth and fifth graders. They also sponsored the KFKF Family Fun Night, Donuts for Dads, Muffins for Moms, teacher appreciation week luncheon for teaching staff and the PTO Walk-a-thon fundraiser.
• Four student teachers from area universities chose to do their student teaching experience in the Wellsville schools during the 2007-08 school year. All of these were at the elementary level.
• At the annual Academic Banquet May 1 at the high school, more than 100 high school students were honored for various achievements ranging from individual awards in classes to installation of new National Honor Society members and perfect attendance.
• Twelve staff members were recognized for years of service to USD 289 at the annual Board of Education Appreciation breakfast May 22. In addition, Linda Floyd and Nancy Gretencord were honored for their dedicated service to USD 289 with their retirement announcements. Earlier in the year, longtime maintenance director Roger Canaan, longtime technology director Mike Cooper and longtime custodian Roger Johnson also retired after many years of service to the district.
• Sixty-five seniors walked across the stage one last time May 18 to receive their high school diplomas.
Denise O’Dea is superintendent for Wellsville schools.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
