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Wildcat Growl
May 30, 2023
Our Vision:
De Soto High School ensures all students learn at a high level and have a positive sense of belonging, developing each student to be ready for their future.
Principal's Message
Wildcats and Families,
Congratulations to the Wildcat Baseball team on an amazing year. The KSHSAA Regional Championship team defeated Spring Hill and St. Thomas Aquinas to make it to the KSHSAA State Finals matchup vs. Bishop Carroll, where they lost a close 6-7 game to earn 5A KSHSAA State Runner-up. We are proud of you, Wildcats!
Congrats to the DHS Baseball team for winning the UKC Championship. Several Wildcats earned All UKC recognition: 1st Team: Jack Millman, Cade Martinez, Dillon Stanley, Noah Thompson; Honorable Mention: Jason Webb, Max Thurman, and Will Burger. An additional congrats to Coach Joel Thaemert, who is the UKC Baseball Coach of the Year. Great job!
The Boys and Girls Varsity Track teams were also competing in the KSHSAA State meet in Wichita over the weekend. Multiple Wildcats earned All-State honors. The girls team finished 4th and the boys team placed 18th. Congratulations to Ella Capling for becoming the 5A Triple Jump State Champion. Congrats to Emaleigh Towner, who placed Runner-up in the Shot Put.
Three members of the De Soto Boys Golf team competed at the 5A State Golf Tournament held at Turkey Creek Golf Course in McPherson, KS. Seniors Tate Atkinson and Bret Thurlow scored 89 and 95, respectively, on the first day of the tournament. Senior Will Kerr scored a 7-over par 77 which qualified him for day two of the tournament. Congrats!
Congrats to members of the DHS Softball team for earning All UKC recognition: 1st Team: Marisa Johnson; 2nd Team: Maddie Reynolds, Jade Chames, Casey McCollum, and Zoe Church; Honorable Mention: Kaitlin Cook. Way to go!
A change in what was communicated this spring, Inter-state Studios has decided to email a link directly to the parent email address that will enable you to view and purchase graduation photos.
Many of our students enrolled in Honor and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in the fall have summer assignments. Information about the assignments can be found on our website, here.
In-Person Student Enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year takes place Thursday, July 27th, and Friday, July 28th. Below are the Enrollment days/times.
- Thursday, July 27th, 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM
- Friday, July 28th, 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Online enrollment is now available through Skyward. We would appreciate the completion of online enrollment before Thursday, July 27th. If all items have been completed via online enrollment, only the student is needed to attend in-person enrollment. Important activities that will take place during in-person enrollment include:
- Confirm online enrollment and the payment of fees (which can be done online),
- Arrange bus transportation (can be done online),
- Set-up/pay student nutrition (can be done online),
- Receive the 2022-2023 yearbook,
- Have a picture taken for the yearbook and student ID,
- Receive a draft copy of your semester 1 schedule, and
- Attain a parking permit (please complete the online form beforehand).
The De Soto High School Main Office hours are Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM beginning May 30th through June 8th. The offices will be closed from June 9th to July 24th. Once the office reopens on July 24th, it will be open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Please park and enter the building through the south main entrance.
A special thank you to members of the Ambassadors and Mentors Council and Student Council for meeting with us on Wednesday, July 19th. We appreciate you spending part of your summer vacation planning the 2023-2024 school year.
Thanks, and have a great summer.
Sam Ruff
Principal
De Soto High School
Drew Proctor, Kansas Teacher of the Year and Horizon Award Nominee from USD 232
De Soto High School Class Composites
Making a Difference Award
Making a Difference Award
Nominations are currently accepted for the Making a Difference Award. All staff members are eligible to receive this award. Making a Difference nomination form > https://bit.ly/USD232MAD
A Message From Our Nurses:
End of year wrap up:
Medication in the health office needs to be picked up by the end of the school day on May 25th or our nurses will dispose of it.
Information for next year:
Immunizations: Students who will be 11th graders next year will need at least one dose of the meningococcal vaccine on or after their 16th birthday, as required by KDHE. Alternatively, a religious exemption signed by a parent/guardian may be provided, or a medical exemption signed by the student’s physician. Please email updated immunizations to our nurses at the addresses below.
If your child receives any new immunizations over the summer, please send those to be recorded in Skyward to the email below. If nothing has changed and they were a student in the district last year, we do not need another copy.
Health Conditions: If your child has a new health condition, please update this information during enrollment on Skyward. If your child has diabetes, seizures, severe allergies or asthma, please complete the health intake form on Skyward enrollment or on our website. https://www.usd232.org/Page/3183 Forms may be emailed to the addresses below.
Medications: If your student will take a scheduled or as needed medication, please have their physician complete and sign this form. Medication must be in its original, labeled container. https://www.usd232.org/Page/3186
Physicals: Forms must be dated on or after May 1, 2023 and may be sent to our athletic secretary, Lori Cater lcater@usd232.org We encourage you to make a copy for yourself in case one is needed for camps outside of our district.
Have a safe and healthy summer!
Dianne & Jill
Attendance Information
We want to share some important information and reminders for parents. We added a new Attendance Office to the north student entrance (door #21). This new student-only entrance/exit will be where students should be dropped off or picked up during the school day (7:50 am - 2:55 pm). Visitors will continue to use the Main Entrance on the south side of the building.
School Meals
Homework Request Information
When your student is absent from school, please encourage your student to reach out to teachers requesting assignments missed due to the absence. Certainly, parents can also reach out to teachers, but part of becoming a self-directed independent learner is communication, being organized, and advocating for yourself. If your student is experiencing a longer-term absence (a week or more), our counselors are available to assist in this process.
Need to contact the Counselors?
DHS Counselors and Social Worker
Crissy Johns (A-G): CJohns@usd232.org
Abbey Heller (H-N): aheller@usd232.org
Kaitlin Britt (O-Z): KBritt@usd232.org
Joe Kordalski (Social Worker): Rkordalski@usd232.org
UMKC 2023 Pharmacy Summer Camp!
UMKC is hosting a a one-day, activity-packed experience giving students a glimpse of not only what it's like to be a pharmacist, but also an opportunity to see firsthand what it's like to study at one of our three UMKC Pharmacy campuses providing hands-on exercises and the ability to learn about the wide variety of pharmacy career practice areas! Any student who has completed 9th grade or above, current college students, or individuals looking for career change are encouraged to attend! The cost is $40 and students can choose from one of the following locations:
- Friday, June 2, Columbia, MO (University of Missouri Campus)
- Friday, June 16, Springfield, MO (Missouri State University Brick City Campus)
- Friday, June 23, Kansas City, MO (UMKC Health Sciences Campus)
For more information, visit UMKC Pharmacy Summer Camp
Securly App
Parents can have 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.