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Wildcat Growl
October 8, 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 members of our Wildcat Tennis team! They finished 2nd as a team at the UKC tournament last Tuesday. Ava O'Brien and Lily Endsley earned 1st Team All-UKC, and Kylie Albright, Ella Lawson, and Clara Ortiz earned 2nd Team All-UKC. Coach Justin Hoffman earned UKC Tennis Coach of the Year. The team also qualified 3 members for the KSHSAA 5A State Tennis Tournament. Congrats: Ava O'Brien and Lily Endsley qualified in doubles, and Kylie Albright in singles. Way to go team!
The DHS Golf team placed 3rd in the UKC tournament last week. Congrats to Leah Jernigan and Alli Fandre for earning 2nd Team All-UKC, and to Alexis Berard and McKenzie Laster for earning Honorable Mention All-UKC. Great job!
Information about the various activities we have planned for FutureReady Day - on Tuesday, the 17th of October is included below. It will be necessary for students to return permission slips (DHS-planned college visits) in the coming weeks. The senior college visit/job shadow forms will be due Friday, October 27th.
We hope you've noticed DHS's academic and social behaviors, which we call The WildCAT Way. Over the course of the second quarter, we will specifically focus on reinforcing and supporting students with three behaviors:
- Committed - Academic Engagement: By completing assignments, asking questions, taking notes, actively participating in class, and seeking out opportunities during seminar
- Accountable - Responsible Use of Electronic Devices: By being mindful and respectful with electronic devices, students can enhance their learning and foster a positive school environment
- Thoughtful - Treats Others and the School with Respect: It is crucial for students to treat others with respect, and is a fundamental aspect of being a responsible and considerate member of our school community. October is National Bullying Prevention Month.
The end of the school year's first quarter is Thursday, October 19th. After teachers submit quarter 1 grades, they will be posted to Skyward on Tuesday, October 24th.
Just a reminder that we do not have school on Friday, October 20th, and Monday, October 23rd.
Several links to important information have been included below.
Thanks, and have a great week.
Sam Ruff
Principal
De Soto High School
Future Ready Day, October 17th
Future Ready Day, October 17th, is just around the corner. We are excited about the opportunities that DHS students will have that day.
On the morning of October 17th, Freshmen and Sophomores will take the PreACT. Testing room locations will be posted in the commons by Thursday, October 12th. Students will need to check those locations before the morning of October 17. These locations will also be communicated to students in their seminars on October 16. Testing date, students will need to report to those rooms when arriving at school.
Juniors and Seniors who have signed up to take the ACT on October 17, will need to check their room locations in the commons. On the morning of October 17, those juniors and seniors will report to the assigned location. The majority of juniors and seniors who are taking the ACT will be in the social studies hallway. Seminar teachers will also have the room locations to communicate to the students the Monday before.
We have a variety of college visits planned for juniors who are not taking the ACT. Last week, juniors were asked to complete a survey indicating where they would like to go for a college visit. Students had a choice to attend JCCC, KCKCC, University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC), Emporia State, Northwest Missouri State, Pitt State, K-State, or KU. Permission slips for these visits will be coming home soon and need to be returned on October 10. Students can bring money to purchase lunch from the postsecondary institution cafeteria, bring their own lunch, or sack lunches will be available for pickup from our cafeteria.
Also on October 17th, most of the senior class will explore future opportunities through a job shadow or individually planned college visits. Some of our students are taking the ASVAB, a Military Services assessment. Job Shadow/College Visit forms for seniors are due October 27th. We are thankful to our staff for assisting us in providing these opportunities for our students – and thankful to our students for representing DHS well.
Enrichment Activities – Afternoon
On the afternoon of the 17th, teachers will be facilitating differentiated activities covering a wide variety of areas. During this time, students can explore topics of interest they may not be exposed to during traditional class times.
During seminar on Monday, October 9th, Students will use Minga Flextime Manager to sign-up for the sessions they want to attend. Each session will be approximately 45 minutes in length. Students are expected to sign up for three total activities and attend all activities for which they are registered.
Below are examples of several activities that will be offered. We are excited about the opportunities available to students on this day.
Admissions and Scholarship Essay Writing
Preparing for Your College Experience
Disc Golf Basics
Whys and Ways to Travel Abroad
Turn Your Hobby into a Business
Hour of Code
If you have any questions, reach out to Cat Monroe, School Improvement Specialist, cmonroe@usd232.org
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WHILE EARNING A LITTLE EXTRA INCOME
USD 232 is looking for one or more individuals to split a bus route that have either their LPN or RN licensure. We have some wonderful students with medical needs who are in need of either an LPN or RN to assist them while riding the bus to and from school. The hours are listed below and days to work flexible. If interested, please contact Sara Hoepner, Special Services Coordinator at shoepner@usd232.org, or Lee Hanson, Director of Special Services at lhanson@usd232.org, or Tara Harmon-Moore, Coordinator of Nursing Services at THarmonMoore@usd232.org for additional information. The job is also posted on our district website at https://www.applitrack.com/usd232/onlineapp/default.aspx?Category=Health+Services.
Bullying and Online Harassment
Cat Booster Club
Note from 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
Wichita State University Scholarship Competition
Applications are now open for Wichita State's annual scholarship competitions for the senior class of 2024! A variety of scholarships are awarded to competition participants, including three of the largest scholarships in Kansas! See link below for information and participation requirements for each competition. Students should be admitted to Wichita State by October 15 and submit scholarship competition materials by November 1 to compete.
https://www.wichita.edu/admissions/undergraduate/dsi.php?scrlybrkr=5d272641
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.