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Wildcat Growl
March 6, 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 spring, we will be celebrating the commencement of the 100th graduating class of DHS. Incidentally, when DHS was painted last summer, we removed the graduation composite pictures from the wall in the commons for storage. We have close to all of the 100 composites. We plan to return the pictures to the walls of DHS for students, alumni, and families to enjoy - this time, in new frames along the south wall of the main hallway. We hope you get a chance to check them out as they return to the walls of DHS.
We are in the final stages of collecting course selection forms for next year. On Friday, 3/13/2020, we will mail confirmation of those requests to parents. Please review the selections and let us know if there is an error or needed change. The deadline for changes to a student’s course request is April 3, 2020.
Seniors and senior parents should have received a letter in the mail a few weeks ago containing information about graduation (now 42 school days away). A copy of this letter can be found here. Order information was also provided to students who qualify to wear an Honor Cord during our graduation ceremony. As of today, 86 of the 130 students qualifying for an Honor Cord have ordered their cord.
The end of the third quarter is Friday, 3/13/2020. Spring Break begins Monday 3/16/2020 and continues through Monday, 3/23/2020. Students return to a Green day on Tuesday, 3/24/2020.
We have found students are texting parents directly when they feel ill asking to be picked up or released from school without seeing the nurse. In an effort to track illness and encourage students to remain in school, please ask your son or daughter to go to the nurse’s office if they are feeling sick. If the nurse believes the student needs to go home, please know that she will call you to discuss your student’s care. If you choose to take your student home or release them from school without utilizing the nurse, please know the absence will be recorded as a parent request. Students are allowed five parent requests per year before the absence will be recorded as unexcused. Thank you for your support as we work to keep all students healthy and in the classroom. If you should have any questions, please let us know.
Applications for 2020-2021 Ambassadors and Mentors (A&M Crew) are open until March 24th. This student organization provides assistance in a variety of ways throughout the year. One of A&M's most valued services is providing mentoring to the Freshman class. Information is below for students interested in applying for A&M Crew.
Kansas State Assessments are scheduled to take place this spring. Junior students will take the science exam the week of March 30th. Sophomore students will take the ELA exam the week of April 6th, and the math exam the week of April 20th. Thank you in advance for scheduling appointments around these important weeks.
As part of our student-lead initiative “Culture of Care”, DHS students are hosting our biggest student service event to date, Aid for TLC, on April 4th from 8 pm to 12 am! Wristbands will be sold for $10 the night of the event and students will have the opportunity to partake in a wide variety of activities such as dodgeball, gaming tournaments, and even a film festival. All of the proceeds raised will be given to the Student Council’s organization of the year Kids TLC, which assists families in the Kansas City area. Students will enter through the athletic commons where we will also be taking donations from those within the community. We hope all DHS students are able to attend!
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
Forensics
At Basehor-Linwood on 2/29 we placed 1st as a squad from 15 teams and had 7 NEW STATE CHAMPS QUALIFIED ENTRIES!
Lily Thompson - 1st poe/ SQ Kaitlin Torres- 1st imp/SQ, 1st OO/SQ Hunter Finerty-3rd imp/SQ, 4th OO Isabel Book - 4th pie/SQ Lily Werner- 1st POI/SQ Jackson Truelson - 2nd Info 10/SQ
7 NEW STATE CHAMPS QUALIFIED ENTRIES!
Grey Crist/Sophia Stine 3rd Duo Interpretation and Grey - 5th Humorous Interpretation Oliver Stutzman - 6th impromptu Yazmin Adams- 3rd Program of Oral Interpretation Nevaeh Bartlett- 3rd Informative 10 Gavin Billinger- 5th Informative 10
Results
Finals results from Olathe South on 2/8-2/9:Lily Thompson - 1st prose/ SQ Kaitlin Torres- 1st impromptu/SQ, 1st Original Oration/SQ Hunter Finerty-3rd impromptu/SQ, 4th Original Oration Isabel Book - 4th poetry/SQ Lily Werner- 1st Program of Oral Interpretation/SQ Jackson Truelson - 2nd Informative 10/SQ
Science Olympiad regional competition results
On Saturday, February 29th, the DHS Science Olympiad team competed in the regional tournament at JCCC. The team placed 7th overall out of 19 teams with the highest placement at regionals in our team’s history. To earn this placement, we had more students medal at regionals than ever before:
3rd Disease Detectives = Sara Murphy and Reagan Ames
3rd Dynamic planet = Sara Murphy and Brent Smith
4th Forensics = Kyle Smith and Luke LeBar
4th Designer Genes = Daniel England and Luke LeBar
5th Codebusters = Caleb Kmiecik, Brent Smith, and Kyle Smith
5th Boomilever = Scott Blanck and Zach Myers
6th Ping Pong Parachute = Scott Blanck and Zach Myers
6th Wright Stuff = Eli LeBar and Will Lawson
6th Fossils = Mason Laney and Scott Blanck
Other participants included Isabel Haake Lauren Fandre and Alex Boresow.
For the fourth consecutive year and for the fourth time in our team’s history, these students have qualified to participate in the state tournament on Saturday, April 4th at Wichita State University. We will be up against the top teams from all over the state of Kansas in a variety of events that include complex building and engineering challenges as well as comprehensive problem solving and knowledge-based exams. Please congratulate these students on this achievement if you see them!
Varsity Wrestling
Journalism State Bound Students
Big congrats to the following students. We had nine students qualify in 11 categories for the Kansas Scholastic Press Association state journalism contest on May 2 in Lawrence.
Abby Knuth – sports writing
Sydney D'Andrea – editorial cartoon
Abig Yarbrough – yearbook copy & yearbook sports
Camryn Robbinson – feature writing & news page design
Lynlee Hutchison – news writing
Natalie Nusz – news writing
Erin Pickert – yearbook sports
Megan Brownell – student life photo
Lauren Stanton – student life photo
Jazz Band got Superior Rating at KU!
Jazz Band got Superior ratings and 4 Outstanding Solo awards at KU today! This is the first time in many years that we have achieved those marks at a jazz festival, and is more impressive because more than half of the band is freshmen. It looks like it could be a pretty good group over the next few years.
Applications for Ambassadors and Mentors (A&M Crew) for 2020-21
Applications for Ambassadors and Mentors (A&M Crew) for the 2020-21 school year can be submitted through March 24, 2020. A & M Crew members serve DHS as Freshman Focus Mentors, provide building tours for new students, volunteer for event support throughout the year, and assist with peer tutoring during after school Study Tables. One teacher recommendation form is required with all applications. Any DHS student who will be a junior or senior during the 2020-21 school year is eligible to apply. Current A&M Crew members will need to reapply. Any questions can be directed to Abby Adams aadams@usd232.org . To apply online: Click Here. To have teachers submit the Teacher Recommendation Form: Click Here.
Corinne Daise - Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program
Prom Fundraiser
Junior and Senior Information
The Juniors and Seniors will be having a Fashion Show on March 24th at 7pm. Juniors and Seniors interested please sign up using the google form below. If you don’t have anything to wear, there may be some available outfits in Mrs. Friday’s room. It is crucial that students sign up before March 6th so that we can approve outfits and make a script and programs. It would be really cool if some students wore their parent’s old prom or wedding attire. We are also looking for students to help backstage and with music/lighting. If you have any interest please email or come see Mrs. Friday. mcfriday@usd232.org
Sign up Link:
https://forms.gle/pEXXMW7EieHJNM2b6
Deadline to sign up is Friday, March 6th
Outfits must be approved by Mrs. Friday before March 11th!
Mandatory Fashion Show run through & directions- March 10th during seminar.
Tickets for the show will go on sale at lunch at the end of this week and will continue until Friday, March 13th.
Adults- $8
Children and Students- $5
All proceeds go to this years Prom.
PROM
Our Roaring 20’s Prom will be at the Ball Conference Center in Olathe on April 25th at 8pm. No entry past 9pm. Outside guest forms must be turned in by April 17th! If students plan to bring an outside guest, forms must be turned in before tickets can be purchased.
AFTER PROM
Due to very little student interest for the past several years, Booster Club will not be taking the lead on organizing this event. The DHS Booster Club is prepared to make a monetary donation to help fund this event. Unless several parents want to plan After Prom for DHS, there will be NO After Prom this year.
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 an 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.
Five Day Exclusion
The seven day exclusion policy for influenza (flu) has changed from seven days to five days. Students and staff who are diagnosed with the flu will be excluded for five days, starting with the first day of symptoms. For example, if a staff member feels ill on Sunday and goes to the doctor and is diagnosed with flu on Wednesday, the five day exclusion starts on Sunday.
Students and staff must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication to bring down the temperature. If a staff member has followed the five day exclusion, but still has a fever on day six, the staff member must still be excluded until fever free with medication.
ACT Registration Deadline:
- To register for the ACT, students need to go to www.actstudent.org.
- Additional test dates this year are: June 13th and July 18th
Johnson County Library offering College and Career Planning program
Johnson County Library is offering an upcoming College and Career Planning program at two different locations:
College and Career Planning
Planning for the expense of a college education can be overwhelming and intimidating. College and Career consultant, Jason Anderson, will discuss the college admissions and financial aid landscape to help you lesson the worry.
Tuesday, Mar 10th 6-730 @ Lenexa City Center Library 8778 Penrose Lane, Lenexa KS
Sandwiches and sides will be served starting at 5:30 pm.
Register online https://www.jocolibrary.org/events or call 913-826-4600.
Message from Student Services
College Credit Deadlines Approaching:
Students who are enrolled in DHS Classes that count toward college credit, need to be aware of the upcoming deadlines. Please visit the College Credit/Dual Enrollment page for more information
For more information on each of these programs and how to enroll please click here.
Scholarship Information:
Looking for money to help pay for college? Check out the DHS Student Services Scholarship page! Throughout the year scholarships will be posted that are available to seniors. There is also a “Scholarship Search Tips” that can help aid the search process. Click here to go to the page.
College Visits:
If your student will be going on a college visit, students must fill out a College Visit Form. Forms are available in Student Services or online by clicking here. Students are to take the form with them on the day of the visit and bring it back signed by an admissions representative.
JCCC Scholarship Application: Deadline April 1, 2020
Seniors: if you are going to JCCC next year, don’t forget to fill out the JCCC scholarship application. The Scholarship Priority Deadline is April 1. There are millions of dollars available for a variety of degree and program areas. With just one application, students could be eligible for hundreds of JCCC scholarships.
In addition, Johnson County high school graduates are eligible for:
- CavGuarantee Scholarship (3.25+ GPA)
- Guarantees $500 for their first year at JCCC
- President’s Scholarship (3.50+ GPA)
- Covers 12 credit hours and $300 for textbooks each semester and is renewable
Course Selection Information:
- Course Selection Change FINAL Deadline: Students will have until April 3rd to make any changes in their course selection for next school year. After this deadline, no schedule changes will be allowed unless it meets the specific criteria that is listed on the course selection form.
Scholarships for Seniors:
All of the local scholarships that are available to DHS seniors will be posted on the Student Services website by the end of February. These scholarships include: De Soto Teachers Association, DHS Cat Boosters, VFW, Casey Blake Johnson Running Scholarship, J. Trenton Hughes Memorial Scholarship and a few others. Please note the application deadlines are in April, but each scholarship has different deadlines. Winners are announced at Senior Breakfast/ Awards Ceremony in May.
“A Diamonds’ Family Vacation” – Spring Show 2020
Join the Diamonds on a vacation like no other. The Diamonds’ Spring Show will take you around the world, featuring routines from their award winning competition season as well guest performances from the Jr. Diamonds, Diamond Dudes and more! Tickets go on sale March 23rd.
Show Date/Location: Saturday, April 4th @7:00pm in the De Soto High School Theater. Enter through the Main and North De Soto High School entrances.
Tickets: $5.00 in advance (through Diamonds Dance Team Members) or $8.00 at the door.
De Soto Wildcats Customized Yard Sign
DHS - "Start thinking about warmer weather with a NEW Wildcat Yard Sign!"
Order Forms Now Available. The 2020 Spring Order Deadline will be Tues, March 24th.
De Soto High School Journalism
Attention Parents of Seniors
Order your Ads for Yearbook
Angst
USD 232 recognizes that some of our staff and families were unable to attend the community screenings of Angst held earlier this school year, therefore, we are partnering with IndieFlix to make the film available for members of our school.
Starting on Saturday, February 29 thru Sunday, March 8 (expiring at midnight) all community members in our district will be able to watch Angst as a Private-Pay-Per-View for a fee of $25.
Here is the link PPPV opportunity; this link will be active starting on Saturday February 29:
https://www.indieflix.com/pppv/Angst/USD232/angst-pppv.html
The Angst PPPV Program will include:
· One 24-hour period to watch this educational film (43 minutes)
· At home discussion guide to help your family open up the conversation