Lawr en ce Free S ta te H i g h S c h oo l

Inside this issue:

Daily Schedules 2

FEBRUARY Calendar 2

Mattress Fundraiser 3

Tutoring 3

Support FSHS 4

Scholarship Info 5

Personal Finance

Course

6

Congratulations 8

Inclement Weather 10

Mission & Vision 11

Volume , Issue FEBRUARY 2019

Parent Newsletter

Dear Parents:

February marks the beginning for preparations for the 2019-20 school year. Enroll-

ment for next year is taking place this month and we are asking for your assis-

tance. Enrollment data is important as it impacts the number of sections offered

for each class. Throughout this process difficult decisions are made when balanc-

ing staffing to meet the needs for filling student course requests. The decisions

that are made during the next few weeks cannot be undone when school starts

in August. It is essential that students provide us with the best course selection in-

formation as possible during the enrollment process. Please take an active role as

your student selects courses for 2019-20. New to the process this year is the Indi-

vidual Plan of Study. The IPS is required part of the state accreditation process.

Each current 8th through 11th grade student will be completing the IPS throughout

the next few weeks. Each IPS consists of four components: an Interest Inventory,

a four-year high school plan, and a two-year post high school plan. The IPS will all

be completed in an electronic portfolio. The electronic portfolio and plan will be

housed in Career Cruising. You may check with your student to see their account

in Career Cruising. Basically the IPS is a six-year plan for a student. The plan of

study can be changed or adjusted at any time. Please note the following dates

in enrollment process:

· On January 31 students complete their individual interest inventory.

· On February 20 students will complete their four-year plan of and make

course selections for 2019-20. All course requests for 2019-20 must be com-

plete by February 28.

· During February counselors will be meeting with the middle schools.

· On March 6 students will complete the post-secondary part of the IPS. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this process. Your attention in helping

us make the best schedule for 2019-20 school year is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Myron Graber

LFSHS Principal

WEDNESDAY—LATE ARRIVAL SCHEDULE

THURSDAY SCHEDULE

0 Period 7:00—8:00

1st Period 8:05—9:40

3rd Period 9:45—11:25

5th Period 11:30—1:30

1st Lunch 11:30—11:55

2nd Lunch 12:00—12:25

3rd Lunch 12:30—12:55

4th Lunch 1:05—1:30

7th Period 1:35—3:10

0 Period 7:00—8:00

1st Period 8:05—8:57

2nd Period 9:02—9:56

3rd Period 10:01—10:53

4th Period 10:58—11:50

5th Period 11:55—1:16

1st Lunch 11:55—12:20

2nd Lunch 12:14—12:39

3rd Lunch 12:33—12:58

4th Lunch 12:51—1:16

6th Period 1:21—2:13

7th Period 2:18—3:10

DAILY SCHEDULE—MONDAY TUESDAY FRIDAY

PLC 8:00—9:00

2nd Period 9:05—10:45

4th Period 10:50—12:50

1st Lunch 10:50—11:15

2nd Lunch 11:20—11:45

3rd Lunch 11:50—12:15

4th Lunch 12:25—12:50

6th Period 12:55—2:30

TEACHER PLAN 2:30—3:10

LOOKING AHEAD

FEBRUARY 2019

2 10 am—5 pm—MATTRESS SALE FUNDRAISER

4 6:30—Parent Information Mtg

Auditorium Enrollment 9—12

6 Free State BAND NIGHT at Zaxby’s

7 Concurrent Enrollment Mtg. at College

and Career Center

9 ACT TESTING

9 ASVAB TESTING

11 6 pm—Band Parent Organization Mtg.

11 6 pm—Track & Field Parent/Guardian

Informational Mtg—Black Box Theatre

13 7—9:30 am—Athletic Signing/Recognition

Ceremony

14 VALENTINES DAY

19 6:30—9:00 pm—Mid-Winter Band Concert

20 SPRING SPORTS PAPERWORK DEADLINE

21 KMEA Convention

22 NO SCHOOL

KMEA Convention

23 KMEA Convention

25 SPRING SPORTS BEGIN

26 7 pm—Java-n-Jazz LHS Bandroom

27 7—9 pm—Pre-Contest Choral Concert

LOOKING AHEAD TO MARCH

1 NO SCHOOL—Prof. Dev/Rec. Report Day

5 5—8:15 pm—Parent/Teacher Conferences

6 5—8:15 pm—Parent/Teacher Conferences

11—15 SPRING BREAK NO SCHOOL

21-23 7:00 pm—ENCORE 2019

SCHEDULES

DEBATE NEWS It has been a great December for Firebird Debate! We started by hosting our invitational tournament on De-

cember 1st – and we want to send a thank you to all of the LFS community who came out and judged for us!

We couldn’t do it without your support! While we were hosting, our novice teams were busy placing 1st AND

2nd at SMS – this is the FOURTH time this season that FS novices have placed 1, 2 at a tournament! And, some of

the varsity were competing at Maize High School, where we completed our regular season with more students

qualified to the Debate Coaches’ Invitational than any other school, and more DCI bids earned than any oth-

er school.

The following weekend we hosted the East Kansas NSDA National Qualifier and District Novice Championships.

In addition to hosting, we had several teams competing – and did they ever compete!

Our district is highly competitive and features some of the top teams in Kansas. 33 teams from 14 schools

competed to earn one of only three spots at NSDA Nationals next June, in Dallas. Two of those three

spots went to Free State!

Spencer Yost Wolff and Max Lillich finished with a 7-1 record and qualified to nationals!!

Alexi Somerville and James Vereen finished with a 6-2 record and also qualified to nationals!

In the East Kansas Novice Championships, which features the top 40 novice teams from our NSDA District, Free

State had four teams place in the top 6!

Ryan Duan and John Marshall - 3rd

Simon Rutland and Sheya Bhakta - 4th

Serena Rupp and Audri Gutierrez - 5th

Rita Joseph and Abbey Hosslet - 6th

We ended our December (competitively) at the 6A, 4-Speaker Regional hosted by our friends at Lawrence High School.

Again – the Firebirds competed strong! The Firebird Team of Zach Hill, Jacob Wilkus, Alexi Sommerville and James Ve-

reen finished with an 8-2 record, and earned 24 ballots (out of 30) on the weekend. This was good enough for a

2nd place finish and ensures that we will now have 14 students (the maximum allowed) representing Free State

at the State tournament next month in Garden City!

WHAT SENIORS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS 2019

Every year, Douglas County businesses, organizations and individuals

generously sponsor local scholarships for seniors at both high schools.

Over 60 scholarships have been established for Free State Seniors.

Mark your calendars NOW for the following dates!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, AFTER 4 P.M.

Visit the Free State webpage and click on the Student Services tab to locate the LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP link.

Download the following information/forms:

Local Scholarship Information Sheet—Important information and deadlines

Description List and Quick Reference Sheet—Description of the scholarships and criteria. Learn which ones you are

eligible to apply for.

General Application to use for those scholarships requiring the General Application

Private Applications—Listed individually on the website. Please DO NOT USE the General Application for the Private

Scholarship Applications.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18 by or before 4 p.m.

Deadline to Submit Applications

LATE and INCOMPLETE applications WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Return applications to the Student Services Office

MONDAY, APRIL 29, 7 p.m.

Senior Recognition Ceremony by invitation. Invitations will be mailed the third week in April.

Questions and/or Assistance?

If you have questions or need assistance with the Local Scholarships Program, please contact

Bryan Duncan at bduncan@usd497.org / 785-330-1908.

Kansas Student Aid

Applications for the

2019-2020 academic year

are available.

Online applications are

available at

kansasregents.org >

Students > Student

Financial Aid.

The school board honored Free State High 2-Speaker

Debate State Champions Max Lillich and Spencer

Yost-Wolff, seniors.

Jocelyn Wilson, a Southwest Middle School

student, and Demetrius "Dee" Kemp, a Free

State High security guard, received the MLK

Heart of Service Awards during the district's

ONE DREAM event on Thursday. This award is

presented to individuals making a significant

impact on the community through consistent

service. Wilson volunteers at the Lawrence

Shelter and helps to organize donations at a

local thrift store. Kemp commits to feeding

families during the fall and winter holiday

seasons. Through his efforts, more than 60

food baskets were supplied to needy fami-

lies.

Congratulations to Jocelyn and Dee!

The Liberty Hall stage will warmly welcome three Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence candidates for the

2019 Youth of the Year ceremony on Thursday. Serving as the premier event for more than 4,000

Boys & Girls Clubs across the country, the upcoming Lawrence celebration will feature Ruth Gathun-

guri, Clay LaPierre and Allie Martinez. The program will begin at 7 p.m. and is free for the public to

attend. Tasked with a difficult assignment, judges will tally the scores after the speeches to deter-

mine the 2019 Lawrence Youth of the Year. Their decision will be announced at the conclusion of

the ceremony. The winner will then go on to represent Lawrence in the state competition. State win-

ners advance to regional competitions; regional winners advance to the National Youth of the Year

event. Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence has produced the Kansas Youth of the Year in four of the last

seven years, most recently being Gathunguri in March.

Ruth Gathunguri - The reigning 2018 Kansas Youth of the Year, Ruth Gathunguri

is dedicated to serving youth in Lawrence. She is a member of the Boys & Girls

Club staff at the Sunset Hill Elementary location and is making her third Youth

of the Year appearance. Ruth is the Co-President of the Student Body and is a

member of 'Can We Talk?' as a senior at Free State High School.

Clay LaPierre - Clay LaPierre has attended the Boys & Girls Club since sixth

grade. Already a proven success, Clay was named the Junior Youth of the Year

at the Teen Center during his eighth grade year. A junior at Lawrence High

School, Clay is a member of the Chesty Lions Marching Band. At the Club, he

serves as the treasurer for the Dane Floyd Keystone Club, a community service

initiative led by high school students.

Allie Martinez - Allie Martinez is junior at Free State High School with a passion for

creating art in many forms, from painting and drawing to singing as a member of

the Free State Aurora Choir. She began her Boys & Girls Club days in elementary

school and earned Junior Youth of the Year honors in fifth grade.

L a w r e nc 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 Educate all

students and

empower them to be

responsible citizens

and life-long learners

in a changing world.

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 and accept personal

responsibility for their actions.

Students will be involved in academic and co-curricular pursuits that will contribute to personal

growth and wellness.

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 stand-

ards 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 community.

Free State staff and students will create and sustain effective partnerships with the Lawrence busi-

ness 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 stand-

ards.

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: Myron Graber

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:

Amy McAnarney A—FA

Steve Heffernan FE—LA

Amanda Faunce LE—RI

Lisa Boyd RO—Z

Students are assigned

to the following

counselors:

Bryan Duncan A—FA

Sarah Leeser FE—LA

Marc Conover LE—RI

Ken Hile RO—Z

Tina Mitchell STAR

Ednice Metz SOAR