lawrence free state high school parent newsletter · 1 new years day 6 classes resume 19 no...
TRANSCRIPT
Lawr en ce Free S ta te H i g h S c h oo l
Inside this issue:
Mark Your
Calendars
2
Phoenix Awards 3
Congratulations! 4
FINALS / ACT / SAT 5
Library News 7
Inclement Weather
Update—NEW
8
IMPORTANT DATES 9
Volume , Issue December 2014
Parent Newsletter
Dear Parents,
The craziness of the holiday season is upon us. No matter how each family
recognizes the December holidays, the hustle and bustle that defines this time of
year can impact all of us. Combine the rush of the normal distractions with im-
pending finals that mark the end of the first semester, and it becomes crucial that
we help our kids focus and plan for a successful December. To that end, I urge
each of you to monitor your child’s Skyward account carefully and communicate
quickly with teachers as the need arises.
Finals are scheduled for Thursday, December 18th and Friday,
December 19th. The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, December 18 Friday, December 19
Hour 1 8:05 – 9:05 Zero Hour 7:00 – 8:00
Hour 2 9:15 – 10:15 Hour 5 8:05 – 9:05
Hour 3 10:25 – 11:25 Hour 6 9:15 – 10:15
Hour 4 11:35 – 12:35 Hour 7 10:25 – 11:25
As the first semester winds down, final preparations for the second
semester are underway. Students and parents have the ability to view second
semester schedules in Skyward. Schedule changes for students wanting to drop a
class in order to add another can take place through Friday, December 12th. This
timeline allows our staff to balance class sizes and double-check student sched-
ules versus credit needs. Thank you for your understanding and support with this
matter.
Finally, I want to alert you to an important January mail-ballot election
coming up. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters in USD 497 that allow
patrons to vote for or against maintaining the 33% local-option budget for the
2015-16 school year. A “yes” vote keeps the status quo, including the current tax
implications. A “no” vote reduces the local-option budget back to 31%, which
results in a $1.4 million cut to the district’s budget. I urge you to visit
www.usd497.org for more information.
Sincerely,
Ed West Principal
Free State High School
PLEASE NO DELIVERIES
Due to the size of our student population
we are unable to accept special occa-
sion deliveries to students, (i.e. birthdays,
flowers, balloons, or gifts of any kind)
We would appreciate
your understanding and cooperation.
Students are asked NOT to make phone
calls for food deliveries for lunch
(i.e. pizza, sandwiches, etc.).
Such deliveries WILL NOT be accepted.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
DECEMBER
2 Raise the Roof
11 7 p.m.—Winter Choral Concert
13 8—11 p.m.—Winter Formal @ Abe & Jake’s
16 7 p.m.—Winter Band Concert
17 7 p.m.—Winter Orchestra Concert
18 FINALS
19 FINALS
22 WINTER BREAK BEGINS
25 CHRISTMAS
JANUARY
1 NEW YEARS DAY
6 CLASSES RESUME
19 NO SCHOOL—Martin Luther King Jr. Day
FINANCIAL AID
PRESENTATION
Date: January 20, 2015
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: LHS Auditorium
WINTEr formal
abe & jake’s
December 13
8:00—11:00 p.m.
Free State High School sponsored the annual Phoenix Award ceremony in November.
This ceremony is an opportunity for teachers to nominate students that have made a
transformation over the semester. The changes recognized included self advocacy,
students going the extra mile, asking for extra help, and assisting peers/classmates to
name a few. This award is a special privilege for all students eligible to be nominated.
Students received a certificate courtesy of one of our LEAP partners, Treanor Architects,
along with a certificate with the name of the teacher who nominated the student
along with the teacher’s comments, and a movie pass.
Abdulaziz Alabdulmunim Ali Alabdulmunim Nina Atkins Paul Bittinger
Mackenzie Blalock Nathanael Bond Sarah Conley EmmaLea Dailey
Taylor Donner Quailan Gibler-Fowler Alexander Hernandez Christian LaPointe
Asa Ortega Caitlyn Ozaki CaDence Pelkey Christopher Porter
Austin Priest Michael Quackenbush Chance Rivera Tianjing Rong
Trevaun Ross Isabel Salazar Samuel Skwarlo Sonal Soni
Kathryn Stanwix Ashlee Walker Julia Wang Sydney Zimmerman
Please congratulate
Sarah Conley (left image) and
Peyton Townsend (right image)
for being accepted into the
Merriam Parks and Recreation
High School Exhibition.
Also, please congratulate Claire Yackley
for winning the "Kansas, Keep it Clean"
calendar contest. In addition,
Peyton Townsend won second place in the
mixed media category for her flower
drawing, Freedom. I am so proud of these
young artists, I am never surprised at their
success, but always proud.
Rachel Downs-Blair, Art Teacher
The Kansas Scholastic Press
Association recognized the following
Free State High student journalists
as winners of their
October monthly contest:
Fiona McAllister—3rd Place
Sports Story of the Month;
Kenneth Palmer & Libby Stanford
3rd Place, News Story of the Month;
Maddie Birchfield & Lauren Brittain
2nd Place, Feature Story of the Month;
Tiffany McIntosh—1st Place,
Yearbook Design of the Month
(image at right);
Tori Karlin- 2nd Place,
Yearbook Design of the Month;
Christina Craig- 3rd Place,
Sports Photo of the Month
(image at right).
Laurie L. Folsom,
Journalism/Graphic Design Teacher
CONGRATULATIONS!
ATTENDANCE
OFFICE
330-2503
Donna Madl
FINALS
Thursday, December 18
Hour 1 8:05 –9:05
Hour 2 9:15—10:15
Hour 3 10:25—11:25
Hour 4 11:35—12:35
Friday, December 19
Zero Hour 7:00—8:00
Hour 5 8:05—9:05
Hour 6 9:15—10:15
Hour 7 10:25—11:25
FREE STATE HIGH
PHOTOGRAPHY
Students from Free State High School's photography
program have partnered with
Lawrence Habitat for Humanity for a photo exhibit.
The exhibit, titled 'Home,' features
photographs and mixed media pieces that portray each
student's interpretation of what 'home' is.
The Opening Reception will be at Douglas County Bank's
Sixth Street and Folks Road branch from 5-6 p.m. on
Tuesday, December 2.
The work will hang until December 19.
~Marsha Poholsky—photography teacher
ACT Test Dates—2014-15
Date Registration Deadline
Dec. 13, 2014 Nov. 7, 2014
Feb. 7, 2015 Jan. 9, 2015
April 18, 2015 March 13, 2015
June 13, 2015 May 8, 2015
SAT Test Dates 2014-2015
Date Registration Deadline
Dec. 6, 2014 Nov. 6, 2014
Jan. 24, 2015 Dec. 29, 2014
March 14, 2015 Feb. 13, 2015
May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015
June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015
Free State Photography Students entered the Association of Texas Photographers Fall Contest
and received several awards. The contest had more than 6500 entries from 81 schools
in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, California and New York.
Alexa Malik - BEST IN SHOW
Cierra Campbell - FIRST PLACE IN FASHION
Harper Comstock - FIRST PLACE IN TIME EXPOSURE
Kayla Clark - THIRD PLACE IN ARCHITECTURE
Christina Craig received 4 honorable mentions
Cierra Campbell received 2 honorable mentions
Morgan Noll, Harper Comstock, Nick Popiel, Kristina Foster,
Alexis Luinstra, Ty Hartman, and Finn Dobbs
all received an honorable mention.
Please congratulate these students on their
fabulous achievements.
CONGRATULATIONS!
CONGRATULATIONS . . . . . to the Talon yearbook staff for their "Best of Show" award for the 2014 "We Are Here" edition of
the Talon by the National Scholastic Press Association. The Talon was recognized last week at the fall NSPA
convention in Washington D.C. NSPA "Best of Show" is awarded to the 10 best yearbook publications
represented at the fall convention. With over 6,500
attendees from all over the U.S. at the D.C. convention ,
the Talon stood out as one of the "best of the best" in the
nation.
While their award was announced earlier this fall, the Free
Press newspaper staff was recognized at the fall NSPA
convention in Washington, D.C. last week for their National
Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Finalist award for
the 2013-14 Free Press. NSPA Pacemaker Finalists are
among the top 50 student newspaper publications in the
U.S. Congratulations, students!
Laurie L. Folsom, Journalism Graphic Design Teacher
LIBRARY NEWS
Overdrive is here!
The Free State Library is happy to announce that more e-books are now
available to students, and staff. E-books allow users to access digital content
on a variety of devices—phones, tablets, laptops and desktops.
Instructions:
1. Go to the Overdrive website: https://www.overdrive.com/ and set up a free
Overdrive account with an mail address and password. Look at the top right
side of the page to sign up for an account.
2. Go to the link for the page for the USD 497 Overdrive account:
http://usd497.lib.overdrive.com/ and use your network username and pass-
word to access the content.
3. From there you can check out books or put books on hold. You are in
charge!
4. Need help? Go to help.overdrive.com to get help with installing the app for
your device.
WHEN WILL SCHOOL SCHEDULE
CHANGES BE ANNOUNCED?
The district’s goal is to make
announcements by 10 p.m. the
preceding night whenever possible, or
by 6 a.m. No announcement is made
if schools are in session as scheduled.
WHO MAKES THE DECISION?
You! Parents may choose to keep their
children home for health and safety
reasons. Please notify your child’s
school of this decision.
The superintendent confers with other
administrators and the district’s student
transportation provider and makes
school schedule decisions based
upon safety, current weather condi-
tions, forecasts and the condition of
roads, sidewalks and school parking
lots.
HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT SCHEDULE
CHANGES?
The district sends automated phone
and email messages to staff and
parents. Call 785-832-5000 or visit
www.usd497.org Local media also
make frequent announcements. If
there is no announcement, it is likely
classes are in session as scheduled.
HOW IS A TWO-HOUR
DELAYED START
MANAGED?
When unsafe weather
conditions require the district to delay
the start of school by two hours, buses
will pick up students at their regular bus
stop two hours after the regularly
scheduled time.
For example, if a child normally catch-
es the bus at 6:45 a.m., the pick-up
time on a two-hour delayed schedule
is 8:45 a.m. Likewise, schools open two
hours after their regularly scheduled
start time.
Any before-school care, practices,
activities or zero-hour classes will be
canceled. A cold breakfast will be
served two hours later than your
school’s regularly scheduled serving
time. School lunch will be available as
usual and school dismissal times
remain the same.
While school administrators report to
school at the regularly scheduled time,
teachers and staff will not be on duty
until 15 minutes before school begins.
As a result, schools cannot provide
supervision for students prior to the
start of school. Custodians report to
work at the direction of the Facilities
and Maintenance Department. The
District Office will open at its regularly
scheduled time, unless an alternative
announcement is made.
Safety is the primary focus when a
determination is made to close schools
or to delay the start of school by two
hours. A delayed start may allow
temperatures to warm, storms to pass,
morning fog to lift and/or roads,
sidewalks and parking lots to be
cleared.
WHO’S ON DUTY WHEN SCHOOLS ARE
CLOSED?
The District Office is open and staffed.
School employees with 12-monthy
contracts report to their buildings for
duty. Schools cannot provide child
care when buildings are closed.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WEATHER
WORSENS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?
The district tries to avoid
unexpected early dismissals.
However, on occasion, early
dismissal is unavoidable. Parents
should make prior arrangements for
supervision of their children.
It is important for schools to be able to
reach parents and designated child
care providers during daytime hours.
Please make sure to give your child’s
school current phone numbers and
emergency contact information.
When it is necessary to dismiss
children early during a regular school
day, the district will contact parents
and area media outlets. If weather
condition worsen and schools remain
open, parents may choose to pick up
their children early after informing
school staff.
WHAT COLD WEATHER PROVISIONS ARE
MADE FOR ELEMENTARY RECESS?
Elementary recess is held indoors if the
temperature or wind chill falls below 15
degrees. Children should always wear
appropriate clothing, including winter
coats, hats, gloves or mittens and
boots during cold-weather months.
PLEASE NOTE
School schedule change
announcements apply to Adult
Education Services, but do not affect
Lawrence Virtual Schools.
USD 497 INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES
WINTER band CONCERT
DECEMBER 16
7:00 P.M.
WINTER CHORAL CONCERT
DECEMBER 11
7:00 P.M.
WINTER ORCHESTRA
CONCERT
DECEMBER 17
7:00 P.M.
WINTEr formal
abe & jake’s
December 13
8:00—11:00 p.m.
L a w r e n c e F r e e
S t a t e H ig h S c h o o l
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of
Lawrence Free State
is to create a safe,
positive learning
environment so
students can
become lifelong
learners and
productive citizens in
a global society.
VISION STATEMENT
Student Growth & Development
Students will be committed to high levels of academic achievement in order to develop skills
necessary to become independent, life-long learners.
Students will grow in their awareness and preparation for careers.
Students will participate in community service and increase their awareness of and participation
in the democratic process.
Students will give their best efforts to achieve high, yet attainable, goals.
Students will accept personal responsibility for their actions.
Students will be involved in academic pursuits that will contribute to personal growth.
Effort and achievement will be encouraged, recognized and celebrated.
Curriculum
Students will engage in comprehensive studies of college preparatory and vocational courses.
Through active, relevant instruction, teachers will challenge and hold students to attain high
standards of achievement.
Students will attain mastery of essential knowledge and skills. Staff will collaborate to develop
integrated curriculum that raise expectations and hold students accountable for achievement.
Learning Community
Staff will model life-long learning by participation in effective staff development aimed at
student and school improvement.
There will be open and ongoing communication among all members of the Free State communi-
ty. Free State staff and students will create and sustain effective partnerships with the Lawrence
business and civic community.
Parents will play an active role in the education of their children, monitor their children’s perfor-
mance, and understand the importance of their children’s attainment of proficiency on all
standards.
Co– and Extra-Curricular Activities
Students will be involved in at least one co– or extra-curricular activity.
Staff members will be expected to moderate, coach, assist, or direct at least one co– or extra-
curricular activity.
Students parents, and staff will demonstrate school spirit by attendance of co– or extra-curricular
activities.
Climate and Culture
All members of the learning community will be responsible for promoting a positive atmosphere
through collaboration and communication.
Staff, students, and parents will celebrate student and staff achievements.
Staff and students will seek wellness physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
All members of the learning community will treat each other with mutual respect, consideration
and acceptance.
Principal: Ed West
4700 Overland Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049-4130
(785) 832-6050
Fax: (785) 832-6099
Mascot: Firebird
School colors:
Hunter Green & Silver
Students are assigned
to the following
Assistant Principals:
Keith Jones A—E
Steve Heffernan F—K
Mike Hill L—Q
Lisa Boyd R—Z
Students are assigned to
the following counselors:
Bryan Duncan A—E
Joel Frederick F—K
Tina Mitchell L—Q
Ken Hile R—Z