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Wildcat Growl
May 9, 2020
Future Ready Wildcats
De Soto High School staff and students endeavor to model the following core values:
INTEGRITY, INQUIRY, COMMUNICATION, PERSEVERANCE, and REFLECTION.
Principal's Message
Wildcat Students and Parents,
This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Our awesome DHS Cat Booster Club delivered yard signs (image below) and gift bags to staff members’ homes. The DHS staff is grateful for the support of the booster club and the entire De Soto community. Thank you!
Congratulations to Mrs. Donna Rhodes! In addition to Mrs. Rhodes retiring at the end of the school year, she was selected as the DTA Teacher of Excellence for 2019-2020.
The Board of Education approved a new date for the DHS graduation ceremony, which is now scheduled for Saturday, July 25. The Board took this action on Monday, May 4.
While what ultimately takes place in July may be determined by the Governor’s Ad Astra Phases to Reopen Kansas, our current plan is to as closely as possible replicate the events that would have taken place this May. This includes hosting Senior Breakfast/Awards the morning of July 24th (with required graduation practice immediately following) and having the graduation ceremony inside the DHS main gymnasium. The start time of the graduation ceremony has yet to be established, but we hope to start in the late morning. We will make adjustments if needed, as we learn more information.
Beginning on Monday, May 18th, we made arrangements for students to come to DHS to pick up personal belongings left in their locker and gym locker, return textbooks, athletic uniforms and equipment, and other items. Students should bring a bag to remove all contents from their lockers. Specific important information can be found on our website.
Seniors and students not returning to DHS for the 2020-2021 school year will need to return their USD232 owned MacBook and charger during textbook/materials return. Returning freshman, sophomore, and junior DHS students will not need to turn in the MacBook for the summer.
A reminder for our senior students - you have several important items to address before the end of the school year. Most importantly, you need to make sure to finish the year engaged in your academics. We are here to support you but also need you to finish strong.
Seniors - when you return your USD232 MacBook, you will also need to complete and turn in the Senior Checkout Sheet to student services. This document will be sent directly to your USD232 email address. We will also have copies available for you during the textbook/MacBook/materials return on May 18 - 20. Completing the Senior Checkout sheet is required to receive the graduation tickets that will be mailed to your home address later this summer.
With only two weeks left of school many students are thinking about summer plans. For many, that includes summer strength and conditioning. The current plan is to offer our strength and conditioning program beginning June 1 through online programming. We cannot allow for in-person workouts under the current plans to reopen Kansas. We will offer virtual workouts that student-athletes can complete at home that will include video demonstrations from our strength coaches. We will operate our strength and conditioning program under this virtual format until school districts are allowed to safely resume face-to-face workouts. Additional information about summer weights and conditioning plans for the summer of 2020 can be found on our website.
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
Technology Help Desk
Please remember that the fastest way to start getting a solution to any technology issues is to contact our help desk. This is also available to all students. Educators, please encourage students to contact the help desk with issues they are experiencing.
Technology Help Desk
Get help with district technology
Students and Parents: You can reach our Help Desk by calling 816-382-4840.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Employees: You can reach our Help Desk by dialing extension 3500 (internally) or by calling 816-382-4840.
OR -- complete an online Help Desk ticket at http://helpdesk.k12itc.com
Reminder to Seniors
Virtual Spirit Week starting May 10th
Securly App
Now that we have transitioned to on-line learning parents can have the peace of mind in knowing your student’s search history and time on their device. See your student’s online activity in real-time and catch up with weekly email snapshots by signing up with the Securly app. Follow the link for more information and directions.
Get Caught Reading
May is “Get Caught Reading” month! A campaign launched by the Association of American Publishers to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read! So, let's see who gets caught reading this month?? #GetCaughtReadingMonth
Follow the DHS Media Center on Instagram/Twitter @dhsmediacenter2
Message from Student Services
UMKC Pharmacy Camp Summer 2020:
UMKC Pharmacy is hosting a one-day event that will give future pharmacy students an opportunity to see what it's like to study pharmacy and a glimpse of a day in the life of a pharmacist through a variety of career practice areas! Students will perform hands-on experiments in the lab & through classroom activities, learn from pharmacy practitioners in a variety of practice settings, meet with current pharmacy students, faculty and deans, and tour the UMKC School of Pharmacy facilities.
The event is taking place at UMKC in Kansas City on Friday, June 26th and is for any high school student who has completed 9th grade or above. Space is limited. For more information and to register for the event go to UMKC Pharmacy Camp.
April 4th ACT Test Date Change:
Due to the current circumstances, the ACT is canceling the ACT that was scheduled for April 4th. All students who were registered can change to the June 13th or July 11th test, without additional fees. Please log in to your ACT account to select your new test date. DHS will not be a test site on either of these dates, but there will be multiple high schools near us that will be offering it on these dates.
Changes in DHS Senior Scholarships:
Some of the scholarships that were being offered to seniors this year have moved their deadlines back and the protocol for turning the scholarship in. Please check out the Student Services Scholarship page for more information: DHS Senior Only Scholarships.
If you have additional questions, please email Mrs. Johns at cjohns@usd232.org
AP Exam 2020 Update:
College Board announced last week that they are still giving students opportunities to earn credit for their AP Classes. If students registered by the deadline of March 20th, students will be taking their exams online on the dates that are designated. For more information please visit https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update. As more information is released, Mrs. Johns will be communicating with all students who registered for the exam.
College Admissions Resource Document
We know during this time of uncertainty many senior students and families may have a lot of questions and concerns regarding post-secondary plans. The Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) and Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) are working together to develop resources to provide information to alleviate some of these concerns and answer important questions.
We developed a College Admissions Among COVID-19 document that provides helpful admissions and financial aid links and virtual tools from Kansas public and independent institutions, as well as college and career exploration tools and articles related to college-decision making for 2020 graduates. We hope that you find this resource helpful. The link will auto-update as additional information is added.
State of Kansas Student Financial Aid
The Kansas Board of Regents is responsible for the administration of state-funded grants and scholarships for students attending public Kansas colleges and universities. Some of these scholarships are available to students who typically show financial need as determined by results of filling out the FAFSA. Scholarships are available in the following areas:
- Kansas Career Technical Workforce Grant
- Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship
- Kansas Military Service Scholarship
- Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Program
- Kansas Nursing Service Scholarship
- Kansas Teacher Service Scholarship
- Kansas State Scholarship
For more information visit: https://sfa.kansasregents.org/login.jsp. The deadline for submitting these scholarships has been extended to June 1st.
Information from the DHS Media Center!
DHS LMC 2.0
Yes, believe it or not you can still read and use the library while at home!
The library catalog, resources and eBooks/eAudiobooks are just a few keystrokes away.
Enroll in library page by clicking on DHS MC Canvas or on the link DHS LMC Destiny Catalog
Check out our Instagram/Twitter pages @dhsmediacenter2 for post on current book reviews, the question of the week, national daily holidays and what my crazy dogs and I are up to while at home.
If you need further assistance please feel free to contact me at jsosna@usd232.org during office hours M-F from 8:00 to 12:00.
The Kansas Youth Community Change Conference
The Kansas Youth Community Change Conference is going virtual! It is still free and sessions will take place from April 20th through May 21st.
Here’s how it works:
- Everyone who plans to attend must register for virtual KYC3 here: www.dccca.org/events/KYC3. You no longer have to register as a team.
- When you register, you’ll pick each session you are interested in participating in.
- Teens who participate in the sessions will receive prizes! Prizes include a KYC3 moisturizer ball (eOS chapstick), pen, button, foam fidget putty, collapsible water bottle, color-changing sunglasses, and a KYC3 cinch bag.
- Every teen who registers will receive a KYC3 t-shirt.
- The keynote speaker Javier Sanchez from Youth to Youth will be facilitating his sessions on Friday, April 24th at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. You won’t want to miss it!!
We’re offering 22 different sessions for teens to attend, you can view the full agenda here: https://www.dccca.org/kansas-youth-community-change-conference-kyc3-agenda/