Cheney USD 268 Patron Newsletter

February/March

The big news again this year in education in Kansas has to do with school funding. Most of you have probably heard all of the proposed cuts from the Governors office that are needed to balance the State budget. There has been some news that the actual expendi-tures in education will go up, and that is not exactly true. The State is proposing to put some additional money into the States retire-ment fund but that is because they have neglected that fund for years and it is getting to a point that it is critical to fund KPERS (Kansas Public Employee Retirement System) or it will not have any longevity. The other funds that they are trying to main-tain or increase are in the area of Special Education. Now both of the funds are critical to maintain but neither have great impact on what happens in the regular classroom on a daily basis. The increase in Special Ed will help us keep some of the district finances for use in other areas but that increase in Special Education that they are talking about will not allow anything additional. In a nutshell, the State is in financial straits and the districts are going to have to make cuts for the third year in a row. In the past we have tried to make cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. It is getting to a point that we may not be able to keep the cuts from effecting the daily operation of schools. These are trying times all around and we appreciate your support as we proceed through the decision making process of how to make the budget balance. On a local note, I have had several comments concerning our rules or policies for Snow Days and the notification system we use. I will tell you that deciding on what to do for school on those days when we have bad weather is one of the hardest decisions to make. We do not have a hard fast plan like the larger

districts such as Wichita. Instead, we try and make the decisions based on the current and projected conditions. We are in the business of education, but on the other hand we must be concerned for the safety and welfare of the students and staff. The decision of whether to go to school or not effects all the patrons differently and that is what makes this a hard decision, as you can not make a decision like this work for everyone. We hope you have contingency plans for those days when the weather is bad and we have to make that decision to cancel school. The issue with the automated notification system that I have heard about is that if and when I do make the call to close school or other important situations, our system is set up to call all the numbers that we have listed in our directory. Some people get three or four calls on those mornings to both home and cell phones. If you do not like having all of those calls, you will have to notify us to take some of your phone numbers out of our system. Just remember, if we do that we will no longer have that number to use as a contact number due to the fact that our auto-mated system pulls all of its information from our student data base. We set up the auto-mated system as a convenience for not only the school but the parents as well. We hope that for the few times we need the system during the year that it is a valuable tool for you as well. Thanks for your continued support of our schools locally and with our legislators. Remember, if you want to contact a legislator, their numbers are on our district website at www.cheney268.com. Mr. Alstrom

"Bear in mind that the wonderful things you learn in your schools are the work of many generations. All this is put in your hands as your inheritance in order that you may receive it, honor it,

add to it, and one day faithfully hand it on to your children." ~Albert Einstein

Inside This Issue

From the Superintendent, Thomas J. Alstrom

Cheney USD 268 Board of

Education

Don Albers Van Dewey Greg Giefer Mark Graf

Marcia Kampling Terry Kohler Amy Scheer

Cheney USD 268 Educating Minds...Connecting Hearts…

Touching Lives… Welcome to Our Family

Wellness Corner

8th Grade Play Info

Counselor’s Corner

CHS News

CHS Music News

CMS News

CES News

CES Physical Education is Awesome!

CES/CMS Artist’s Corner

PALS News

Parents As Teachers

Inclement Weather Closing Information

Wellness by Weber Randy Weber, CMS Physical Education

Many, many New Year’s Resolutions are made at this time of year, and statistics say that a very low percentage are ever carried out. Of course, one big one is to lose weight and exercise. That is exactly why exercise equipment is advertized during this time of year. Here in the Middle School, we are trying to come up with an alternative to all the “junk food snacks” by encouraging everyone to eat healthier. We are preparing to help you all save money by creating your own healthy low carb snacks quickly and easily by dehydrating fruit, which is fun and easy. Dehydrators can be purchased relatively inexpensive considering the cost of other non-healthy snacks. I’m betting the kids will enjoy making and eating the dehydrated fruit. In P.E., we’ve been playing an active game of “Pilo-Polo”, or as the kids refer to it as the “Q-tip” game similar to hockey but using a whiffle ball and “soft tipped” sticks. Let’s give the fruit a chance, and everybody exercise more!

“IF BOYS WORE THE SKIRTS” Cheney Middle School 8th Grade Play

By Sherri Conrad, Director

“If Boys Wore the Skirts” is the title of Cheney Middle School’s Eighth Grade play. This play raises questions about what might happen if girls continue to copy the clothes that boys wear. You will not want to miss this one act play as it is one laugh after another. Mrs. Conrad is thrilled to have 38 students involved as either a cast or crew

member of this year’s play. The students will perform on Friday, February 25th at 2:15 for the elemen-tary and middle school students and again at 7:00 p.m. for the public. Please remember to save the date for an evening packed full of laughter! Cast and Crew Members: Elyssa Kohler, Kelsey Riedel, Kelsey Reida, Samantha Montgomery, Brooke Morris, Oakley Kaufmann, Brock Leroux, Jake Tatge, Braden Bartlett, Sydney Hufford, Jordan Ternes, Mikaela Smith, Dylan Heck, Cameron Hill, Taylor Overlees, Alyssa Webb, Logan Mason, Michael Benward, Ethan Teague, Eli Fast, Emily Jacobs, Megan Miller, Taylor Denney, Caitlin Molyeneux, Moriah Wood, Trace Quick, Covey Becker, Brandon Torres, Alex Thisius, Sarah Smith, McKenzie Wulf, Justyne Temme, Kathryn Helten, Aeriana Whitney, Luke Walker, Casey Veith, Chaz Robinson, and Wesley Jackson.

Cheney Counselor’s Corner Jeanine Long, CES Linda Patterson, CMS Debbie Hillman, CHS By Debbie Hillman, CHS Counselor-dhillman@cheney268.com or 316-542-3113 First and foremost, I would like to thank the seniors and senior parents who attended the Financial Aid meeting held in early January. I always appreciate having a good turnout when presenting information. Thank you! As we sit here today, the weather is gorgeous outside. It doesn’t appear to be your typical winter day; however, tomorrow may bring something totally different. I guess that is one way to view what goes on in a person’s own personal life, and we must try and remember to enjoy each and every day no matter what. Each day we have should be looked upon as a gift. The winter months tend to wear on people so take that extra moment to reach out to those around you with encouragement and friendliness. I hope this is not only a lesson during the winter months but throughout the year. CHS students have been busy with academics, fine arts, athletics, ACT tests, Heart to Heart, and many other activities. The next main items for the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will be thinking about the courses they would like to take during the 2011-2012 school year. I know, it is hard to believe we are gearing up for pre-enrollment, but spring will have come and gone before we realize. Another main activity in March will be the CHS Career Fair. What a prime opportunity for students to listen to speakers talk about their career. It is never too early to start thinking about and researching what students want to do when they graduate. It will be a great day of learning, yet a break from the traditional school day. Seniors will be planning for their schedules during the 2011-2012 school year but in a different way. I encourage lots of communication at home with your senior about their plans for next year. Whether it pertains to living arrangements and job search, to joining one of the armed services, to planning a college schedule, communica-tion and planning needs to happen. As parents and educators, we need to remember that things have changed since our days of high school. In doing so, we can better help our children/students become more informed and better prepared citizens. I am always available to help in whatever capacity I can so please contact me with any and all questions you might have. We have great kids at CHS, and I am thankful for who they are and what each one accomplishes. I have a feeling that as spring rolls in we will be reading about a lot of successes that have happened with our CHS students. A great support system can always put a little extra pep in one’s step. College Goal Sunday is on February 13th, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. It’s a great opportunity for students who think finances will be a roadblock to their post-secondary education. High school seniors and their parents will receive FREE, personalized help in filling out the FAFSA form and learning about financial aid options. One of the best parts is that there will be FOUR $500 scholarship drawings at the end of the College Goal Sunday event at the 23 locations across the state. Typically, event attendance takes about 30 minutes. Parents can either bring their 2010 income tax return or estimate their 2010 earnings and revise it later. www.CollegeGoal.org. Happy Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day! Debbie Hillman, CHS Counselor dhillman@cheney268.com

By Linda Patterson, CMS Counselor – lpatterson@cheney268.com or 542-0060 Wow! Where does the time go! It’s hard to believe we are already in February, waiting for warm weather to come (and stay), and looking forward to Spring Break. Didn’t we just put our Christmas decorations away? It amazes me that our 8th graders are about out the door and soon we will be getting ready for a new bunch of 6th graders.

Classroom Counseling The 8th graders have been learning all year about the Kansas Career Pipeline and how to use it. This will be an important tool for them throughout high school. The students have currently taken the Interest Inventory, Skills Assessment, and Values Survey. They have also spent time exploring possible career choices. Next, students will begin learning how to build a resume’ as they continue to do career searches. The 6th and 7th grade classes continue to have counseling lessons and discussions on Bullying and the Six Pillars of Character….trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Treating each other with Kindness and Respect and developing Com-passion and Empathy toward one another is always my goal! CMS Ambassadors Still Going Strong Ambassador show great leadership with past and upcoming activities.

December 13-20 – “Christmas Dollar Days” February 7-11 – Random Acts of Kindness Week February 14 – Valentine Express February 15 – Assist with CPMSL Academic Day hosted at CMS February 23 – Mix It Up Day at Lunch March – Assist with Parent/Teacher Conferences

Christmas Dollar Days Ambassadors along with CMS Student Council sponsored “Christmas Dollar Days” to help raise money for needy families. Students paid a dollar each day to participate in fun activities. What an amazing experience! Students would pay…then give some more. I truly believe they discovered the enjoyment that giving brings. CMS students raised over $600 to help purchase food for Holiday gift baskets for some senior citizens in our community. What a great feeling it is to work with such compassionate students CMS STUCO Happenings January - Student Council organized a pep rally on January 12th to recognize our Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball Teams on their great season and wish them luck in their CPMSL Tournament. February - Students are now busy planning a Valentine’s Day activity – “Valentine Express.” They will also be helping with Random Acts of Kindness Week. March – St. Patrick’s Day and the coming of Spring SODA Members looking to build their new organization! Twenty 6th and 7th grade SODA members were randomly selected to participate in a Leadership Conference with a nationally known speaker, Bill Cordes. Norwich High School SADD Chapter played host to a middle school leadership conference on January 25th called “Steppin’ Up”. Students had the opportunity to meet other middle school students while participating in fun group activities. They also learned about the importance of being a good leader versus a person who makes excuses for their poor choices. Norwich SADD students helped our Cheney SODA members by discussing activities and programs to plan for the rest of this school year. SODA members will be working hard at organizing educational activities for the month of April which is Alcohol Awareness Month. Red Ribbon Training for SODA members attending will be April 26th at the Holiday Inn Holidome in Topeka, Kansas. I’m looking forward to taking some students up for this training! CONGRATS USD 268!!! In November, Ms. Long, Mrs. Hillman, and I submitted a nomination to be judged for the 2010 Kansas Red Ribbon Campaign for the educational activities that are planned during Red Ribbon Week. We were pleased to find out prior to Christmas that our school district was selected to receive a “Tying It Together” State Level II Plaque. Only one Level II Plaque is awarded to a school each year. The Red Ribbon Recognition Luncheon was held on February 4th in Topeka where we counselors had the honor to receive this award for the district. This plaque shows that Cheney School District is working hard to provide drug education for our students and community.

Counselor’s Corner, cont’d...

Counselor’s Corner, cont’d… By Linda Patterson, CMS Counselor – lpatterson@cheney268.com or 542-0060 Students Learn about Internet Safety According to research, about 17 million youth ages 12 to 17 use the Internet. That's approximately 73 per-cent of teenagers in the United States. For many of these teenagers the Internet is an important part of their everyday lives. Texting and communicating on facebook with friends has become a daily occurrence. They use web sites for classroom projects, for school reports, and for information on current events. Many teens exchange and play music and games via the Internet. Our teens are becoming more and more tech savvy. This is why it is so important why our students learn and understand its proper use as well as the dangers. Tracey Glover, the NetSmartz Trainer with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas, will be here in the near future to talk with our students about Internet Safety. Please visit with your student and let them share this important information with you. What are parents to do?

♦ Limit the amount of time! ♦ MONITOR – MONITOR - MONITOR ♦ Watch or listen with your child. ♦ Discuss the risks! ♦ Talk with other parents. ♦ Educate yourself!

It’s our job to know what our kids are watching, reading, typing, and who they are talking to! GET IN THE KNOW!!!

By Jeanine Long, CES Counselor-jlong@cheney268.com or 316-542-3137 During the last month I was able to hear Barbara Coloroso speak about bullying. She is an international bestselling author and for the past 38 years an internationally recognized speaker and consultant on parenting, teaching, school discipline, positive school climate, bullying, grieving, nonviolent conflict resolution and restora-tive justice. Her book, The Bully, The Bullied and The Bystander is a must read. I also encourage you to visit her website www.kidsareworthit.com Barbara has a no-nonsense approach to bullying and offers advice for parents and educators. This week I was visiting with a parent about some issues her son has recently been dealing with. She mentioned they are a family that makes it a point to eat dinner together every night and it was during dinner that her child spoke about a situation he had faced at school. I encourage you to visit with your child, about his or her day as much as possible and if it happens to be during a shared meal, even better. As always thank you for the opportunity to work with your child and if I can be of any assistance to you, your family or your child, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Principally Speaking…..Ron Traxson SIX SIMPLE WAYS TO BE A GOOD SPORT It is difficult to attend an interscholastic event without witnessing some act of poor sportsmanship. Anytime a large group of people gathers, the chances of witnessing unfavorable sporting behavior increases. Peer pressure is a powerful way to curb acts of poor sporting behavior. Not supporting individuals who display poor sportsmanship and instructing them about good sportsmanship can curb this disturbing trend. High school athletics and extra curricular activities are learning environments where positive sportsmanship is essential. The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) recognizes the importance of instilling positive sportsmanship at all interscholastic events. The KSHSAA calls on the school community – teachers, coaches, directors, students, parents, and fans to strive for sportsmanship in everything they do by teaching the values of dignity, equity, fairness and respect. The following six steps will help everyone understand their responsi-bilities at an athletic or fine arts event.

Cheney High School-Ron Traxson, Principal

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve always imagined.” ~Henry David Thoreau

Understanding the rules The necessity to be well informed is essential. Know the rules. If you are uninformed, refrain from expressing opinions about the officials, coaches, players, or administrative decisions. The spirit of good sportsmanship depends on conformance to a rule’s intent as well as to the letter of a given rule. Model your best behavior Good sportsmanship requires one to understand his/her own prejudices that may become a factor in his/her behavior. The true value of interscholastic competition relies on everyone exhibiting behavior which is representative of a sound value base. A proper perspective must be maintained if the edu-cational values are to be realized. Your behavior influences others whether you are aware of it or not. Acknowledge all skilled performance Acknowledging and applauding an opponent’s good performance displays generosity and is a courtesy that should be regularly practiced. It not only represents good sportsmanship, but also re-flects a true awareness of the game by recognizing and appreciating quality. Respect the opponents Opponents are guests and should be treated cor-dially, with thoughtfulness, be provided with the best accommodations, and accorded tolerance at all times. Be a positive representative for your school, team, and family. This fundamental is the Golden Rule in action.

Respect the officials The officials of any contest are impartial arbitrators who are trained and who perform to the best of their ability. Mistakes by all participants in the contest are a part of the game. We should not rationalize our own poor or unsuccessful performance or behavior by placing responsibility on the officials. This value is critical for students to learn for later application in life. Be proud of who you are Never allow your ego to interfere with good judgment and your responsibility as a school representative. Regardless of whether you are an adult, student, player, coach, director or official, this value is paramount since it suggests that you care about yourself and how others perceive you. The KSHSAA calls on the school community – teach-ers, coaches, directors, students, parents, and fans – to strive for sportsmanship in everything they do by teaching the values of dignity, equity, fairness, and respect.

Remember Sportsmanship is Everybody’s Responsibility!

Online Course for Sports Parents A new online education course - "The Role of the Parent in Sports" - is now available through the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) at www.nfhslearn.com. "Parents of students who partici-pate in athletics make a huge difference in the quality of the sport experience for their sons and daughters," said Tim Flannery of the NFHS. "This online course provides information and resources to help parents understand their role in insuring an educational experience for their son or daughter."

Music Notes

By Layton Nance, 6-12 Music Director

High School  Sara Sagner, a CHS senior has been selected to the All-State All-Class Kansas Music Educators Conference Honor Choir. She auditioned live, in front of judges in November and scored highly to be one of the top vocalists in this area and the state. This is the highest honor a musician can achieve in high school. We are so proud and excited for her! She will attend the State Workshop in Wichita on the 24th and 25th and then put on a concert on Saturday, February 26th at 1:15 in the Century II Concert Hall. Congratulations Sara! On Saturday and Sunday, January 29th and 30th, twenty-nine CHS choir members attended Cloud County Community College and Tom’s Music House’s 41st “Youth For Music.” Students were selected through an audition process to perform in the Brown Grand Theater, an historic restored opera house. Students rehearsed all day Saturday and early afternoon on Sunday before the 2:00 concert. Students participating were: Jakob Busher, Jessica Looslie, Shelby Riedel, Sara Sagner, Mason Fast, William Durant, Brittany Harris, Jillian Nixon, Trevor Morris, Bryce Wulf, Logan Dehning, Taylor Goldsmith, Brandon LeFevre, Lucas Utz, Trea House, Brent Wilson, Elizabeth Looslie, Jackie Kutilek, Jessica Marshall, Katrina Ukena, Lauren Hoffine, Kaitlin Nance, Kevin Downey, Tasha Dawson, Jessica Voss, Meaghan Rader, Paul Frank, Sammy Everitt and Josie Locke. The CPL Honor Choir was held on January 15th at Belle Plaine H.S. The following students rehearsed during the morning and much of the afternoon to perform a great concert at 4:00.

Brittany Harris 

Shelby Riedel 

Alex Powers 

Kaitlin Nance Kylie Patterson Trea House 

Derek Burt Brandon LeFevre 

Braden Miles 

Mason Schell 

Taylor Goldsmith 

Brent Wilson 

Austin Martin Taylor Siruta 

Kevin Downey 

Brittany Harris 

Shelby Riedel 

Alex Powers 

Kaitlin Nance Kylie Patterson Trea House 

Derek Burt Brandon LeFevre 

Braden Miles 

Mason Schell 

Taylor Goldsmith 

Brent Wilson 

Austin Martin Taylor Siruta 

Kevin Downey 

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole,

flows from heaven to the soul.” ~Unknown

Cheney Middle School-Amy Wallace, Principal

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Things are back in full swing at CMS. I hope you all enjoyed some quality time with your families over the holiday break. It continues to amaze me how fast the year is flying by.

ASSESSMENT DATES The upcoming months will be filled with State Assessment Testing. These assessments are very important and it is critical that your children be in school on test days. We ask for your help in scheduling appointments, etc. around these dates if possible. CMS testing dates are:

CENTRAL PLAINS MIDDLE SCHOOL LEAGUE ACADEMIC DAY On February 15, Cheney Middle School will host the fourth annual academic day for the league. We combine the annual science, math and art competitions into one massive day! All of our league schools will be here. More details will be coming out soon, but there will be NO SCHOOL for Cheney Middle School students that day. School will be in session as usual for CES and CHS. BATTLE OF THE BOOKS The Cheney Middle School Battle of the Books team is ready to start the 2011 season. During February, the team will compete in three regular competitions with two other area schools and then compete in a final tour-nament on February 23, 2011, at Harper against five teams. The location and times of the competitions are listed in the Cheney USD 268 Activities Calendar. The team consists of Emma Hays, Addie Dewey, Matthew Slusser, Logan Nuessen, Kailey Walker, Renee Sturchio, Kaleigh Black, and Haley Albers. Have a great season!! SCHOLAR’S BOWL Our 7th and 8th grade Scholar’s Bowl is gearing up for a great season! They begin competition this week. Team members are Kristina Zerger, Ethan Teague, Chase McCormick, Sabrina Rich, Sierra Lutz, Trevor Lies, Sydney Dalton, Samantha Montgomery, Ryley Dewey and Covey Becker. The location and times of the competitions are listed in the Cheney USD 268 Activities Calendar. Good luck!! CMS FRIENDS The CMS parent group is back up and running. Information about meetings will be coming out via AlertNOW. Officers for the year are: Shelia McGuire, President; Donna Veith, Vice President; Lora Alloway, Treasurer. Come see how you can get involved!!

6th Reading March 29, 30, 31

6th Math April 5 and 7

7th Reading March 29, 31, April 4

7th Math April 5 and 7

7th Science April 21 and 27

8th Reading March 15, 16, 17

8th Math April 4 and 8

6th Reading March 29, 30, 31

6th Math April 5 and 7

7th Reading March 29, 31, April 4

7th Math April 5 and 7

7th Science April 21 and 27

8th Reading March 15, 16, 17

8th Math April 4 and 8

At a recent conference I attended, I was intrigued by the focus of one of our presenters. The topic was “Teaching Leadership Skills to Kids.” Joe Coles was the speaker and his focus was preparing kids for their future by teaching them the role of leadership. Mr. Coles has a specific concern with boys and leadership. His comment was, “Somewhere, at some point, someone is sending the message to boys that it is not cool to be a leader. This is being told to them by actions, reactions, and attitudes they are learning via media outlets (sports figures, actors, musicians, etc.).” In researching this topic and what schools can do about this, I found a few websites that had some ideas not only for schools, but for parents at home. I strongly encourage you

as parents to look into this topic. There are some methods for handling situations at home, responding to problems kids have, and ideas for leading and following a leader who is heading into a positive direction. State Assessment season is upon us! In the next couple of months, CES 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be reviewing state standards in preparation for these tests. As most of you know, Cheney schools have had a lot of success with these assessments in the past, even as target scores have risen each year. Once again, the target scores will be higher for all Kansas schools to reach. Realistically, it will eventually be difficult for any school to meet the standard of excellence on these assessments, but that won’t keep us from trying our best! We have always celebrated our students’ success, not only on these assessments, but in all grade levels with student performance. We’ll meet with the students soon about goals for them to reach and how we will celebrate their success. In the past month, we’ve had problems at some student lockers and with student property. As you know, our lockers are used strictly for storing coats and book bags. Students have started bringing other items such as silly bands, jewelry, snacks, toys, and games for reasons not related to the school day. Unfortunately, this has caused problems. Either their personal property has been misplaced or it has been taken by someone else. Because of this, we are banning students from bringing equipment to school that cannot be easily replaced. Such items might include (but are not limited to) I-pods and video games. If your student brings something like this to school, we will hold it until we have contacted the parent and made arrangements for sending it home. Below is an excerpt from our student handbook. I’ve highlighted the areas that apply to our recent occurrences. Other school rules 1. If the wind chill drops to 20 degrees or lower, recess will be held indoors. 2. Equipment and toys should not be brought to school unless a teacher allows it. The school is not responsi-

ble for lost, stolen, or broken items. 3. Student lockers will not have locks on them. They are strictly used to store coats and school bags. 4. Profanity and obscenity are prohibited. 5. Students should not bring dangerous objects to school such as knives and weapons or explosives and incendiary

devices. Students possessing such dangerous objects could be expelled up to 186 school days. (Board Policy JCDBB)

6. No tobacco, alcoholic drinks, or dangerous drugs shall be brought to or used upon school grounds (Appendix B). 7. Tackle games are not allowed. 8. Throwing of dangerous objects is not allowed at school; this includes rocks, clods, snowballs, etc. 9. Students are discouraged from bringing cell phones to school. In the case that one is needed for after

school communication to a parent, approval must be made with the classroom teacher. The teacher may require that the student allow her to hold the phone until the end of the day to prevent disruption during school hours.

10. Skateboards and healies (shoes with wheels) are treated like bicycles. They may be ridden to school, but students are not allowed to ride them on the sidewalk. Students will not be allowed to use them in the building or for recess unless allowed by a teacher for class or reward. 

Cheney Elementary School - Jamie Rumford, Principal “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” ~ Unknown

CES Continued…. Physical Education is Awesome! By Melanie Tolar, CES PE Teacher “Come on Spring, we are ready for some warmer weather!” But, we’ll make the most of our cold weather and learn some new ways to keep our bodies moving. In January we learned some kickboxing moves with our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders by working out to the videos “Turbo Jam”. The kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders practiced Yoga moves at this time. We are pulling out more cold weather activities such as Cup Stacking which also is great for thought processes and right brain/left brain training. Be ready for your child to fill you in on our fun activities! We have started our Power Panther Pals healthy eating program with our 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. This is a grant from the Ks State Department of Education that provides 8 weeks of lessons, all the educational materials and healthy snacks for the students to make during class and also encourages families to try the recipes at home. There will be informational newsletters sent home four times through the PPP lessons to all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Please take the time to read through those newsletters with your child. They also have recipes included that are easily made at home! The kids love this class and I am glad that we can provide the extra learning for them! February is Heart Month. Take time to exercise and to provide your body with healthy foods. Some healthy tips to protect your heart: (Taken from a report by Teresa Dumain in MediZine’s Healthy Living)

♦ Track Your HDL Men’s level is a reading of 40 or higher, Women’s levels are 50 or over ♦ Avoid saturated fats eat no more than 12 g of saturated fat per day (4 oz of meat) ♦ Switch to good fats eat more omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and olive and canola oils ♦ Get your blood sugar tested ♦ Know your family history ♦ Quit smoking ♦ Stay away from second-hand smoke ♦ Walk for 30 minutes a day ♦ Replace a daily serving of meat with a handful of nuts it can lower your risk of heart disease

by 30% ♦ Understand pill-related risks ♦ Eat more fruits and veggies ♦ Start the day with oatmeal ♦ Root out hidden salt ♦ Love your life! Happier people enjoy a 22% lower risk of developing heart disease.

With the New Year come many New Years’ resolutions. One is to eat more fresh fruits and vegeta-bles. According to Alyse Levine, MS, RD founder of Nutrition Bite LLC, studies show that plain water is just as effective at removing pesticide residue from your fruits and vegetables. A vinegar solution reduces bacteria by 90% and viruses by 95%. Scrub produce with one part vinegar to three parts water then rinse it under water for 30 seconds.

Shocking Fact: 600. The number of calories we have added to our diets since 1970 according to the 2010 US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report. The culprit? Grain-based desserts….cookies and cake!

Artists Corner By Michaeline Kohler, K-8 Art Teacher

Cheney Elementary School...

Our third artist of the year is French artist, Claude Monet. Monet was the inventor of Im-pressionism, a soft and often blurry look at the world. Students walked into the art room filled with books and reproductions about this artist who lived from 1840-1926. There is even a “Monet Box”, filled with clues about the artist(an Eiffel tower, French Franc, a brush, palette and a flower). Students watched a video “Linnea in Monet’s Garden” about a young girl who travels to France to see Monet’s Garden and work. Kindergarten students will make a palette and paintbrush magnet. They will also paint in

the style of Monet. First grade artists are painting with watercolor to create a waterlily work of art. The flower and lily pad will be made out of a coffee filter. Meanwhile, second graders will draw flowers and make fans. They will also be making clay birds to hang in Monet’s garden. Our third grade students will be using oil pastels to make a Japanese Bridge with water and trees. Fourth graders will make a modern impressionist work of trees with a leaf printed border. Artists in fifth grade will make a painting using Monet’s style to give the impression of a person in a landscape. We continue to recognize outstanding student artists with the “Artists of the Month” program. Our last artists were Lane Grace, Jaiden Ternes and Madison Murray. Our new artists will be chosen soon and will reflect Monet’s work.

CHENEY MIDDLE SCHOOL The Central Plains Middle School League art competition will once again be hosted by Cheney on Tuesday, February 15. Our students will compete in 12 different areas of art. Each teacher is allowed to show 25 pieces of work. It is a difficult task when we have so many talented artists. There is an Art Challenge on the day of the show. Each year, teams of students complete a 4 foot by 6 foot drawing of a famous artwork. We have taken first place the last 2 years in this event and hope to repeat a win this year. March is Youth Art Month and one middle school student will have work sent to the Capitol at Topeka to be on display. That selection has not been made at this writing, but recognition will be announced later. Also, look for Middle School art in the Citizens State Bank lobby during the month of March. It’s a great way to showcase student work to people who may not see it on display at the school. Our middle school program continues to push students to excel to the best of their capabilities.

“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.”

~Paul Strand

P.A.L.S. (Parents Assisting Local Schools) By Ann Sigwing

P.A.L.S (Parents Assisting Local Schools) has been very busy!

The Box Tops and Best Choice labels programs are bigger than ever. If you have any saved up, send them to CES with your student. Make sure to include their name and classroom. We are approaching a deadline at the end of February.

We have a Movie Night on Saturday, February 26th. Families are having a blast at these events and we have started movie giveaways!

Babysitting will again be provided by the National Honor Society students during the Valentine’s parties. If you are in need of this service, please notify cheneypals@yahoo.com or call the CES office.

The State Assessments are approaching next month and PALS will again be providing snacks for the students at this time.

We are also gearing up for the big Spring Spaghetti Supper and Raffle on April 2nd. We are in need of more parent support during this planning time. Just a little help from everyone would make a huge difference. Please get involved!

We are all very busy with family time these days. No one wants to sit during a long meeting when things need done at home. The PALS meetings have been both informative and short. Please make time to join us.

Dates of our upcoming meetings are as follows:

♦ February 15th (cancelled)

♦ Thursday, February 24th at 7:15

♦ Tuesday, March 8th at 7:15

Inclement Weather Closing Information

If in the event of school closing due to bad weather, the District will do its best to inform the public by 6:30am. We will be contacting the following local radio and television stations around the area for your convenience. Please remember, if you have a child attending Cheney Schools, you will receive an automated telephone call from our ALERT Now Notification System, so please be sure your child’s school office has your updated phone and email information. ♦ KSN Channel 3 Television ♦ KAKE Channel 10 Television ♦ KWCH Channel 12 Television ♦ KKRD Radio (FM 107.3) ♦ KFDI Radio (FM 101.3) ♦ KICT Radio (FM 92.3) ♦ B98 FM Radio ♦ Country 102.9 Radio ♦ Wichita Eagle Website

Parents As Teachers (P.A.T.) Angie Overlees, PAT Coordinator

“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation”

~C. Everett Koop The P.A.T. program is designed to provide parents with practical and effective information on growth and development of infants and toddlers. Studies show that families who have been involved in this program have children that are more advanced in language development, have better social skills, and enter Kindergarten ready to learn. Participation in P.A.T. is free and is open to all families who live in Cheney USD 268 with a child, birth to 36 months of age. To enroll, contact the P.A.T. office at 542-3137 ext. 2732 or stop by our room at Cheney Elementary School.