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Wildcat Growl
December 6, 2019
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,
Congratulations to Cody Adams and Ashlen Boresow. Both have been named the November Students of the Month. Cody and Ashlen are both involved in multiple activities at DHS and we are proud they are DHS Wildcats!
I'd also like to congratulate Brian King and DeAnn Thaemert. Both have been named the November DHS Teachers of the Month! We appreciate all that they do for DHS!
Congratulations to Mindy Fry! Mrs. Fry has been chosen as the ECKMEA High School Choir Teacher of the Year for 2019-2020. We are proud of Mindy and glad she is a DHS Wildcat.
On Thursday, December 19, 2019, De Soto High School will recognize 251 students as Academic Letter winners for the 2018-2019 school year. Students are awarded an Academic Letter if they achieve a 3.7 GPA for two consecutive semesters (Fall to Spring). This year’s recognition will take place at the conclusion of the varsity girls’ basketball game (approximately 7:15 PM).
Exciting news! The Board of Education approved courses that will allow De Soto High School to offer the AP Capstone Diploma Program. AP Capstone is an innovative program that allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success, such as research, collaboration, and communication. The program consists of two courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar (this is a scheduled class and should not to be confused with our seminar that occurs at the end of each day) and AP Research.
In AP Seminar, typically taken in 10th or 11th grade, students choose and evaluate complex topics through multiple lenses; identify credibility and bias in sources; and develop arguments in support of a recommendation. AP Seminar is a project-based learning course. Official AP Seminar assessments include research reports, written arguments, and presentations completed during the academic year. Students complete the course by taking an end-of-course written exam in May.
In the subsequent AP Research course, students design, execute, present, and defend a yearlong research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest. They build on skills developed in AP Seminar by learning how to understand research methodology; employ ethical research practices; and collect, analyze, and synthesize information to contribute to academic research. Like AP Seminar, AP Research is a project-based course. Each student’s official AP Research score is based on their academic paper, presentation, and oral defense. There’s no end-of-course exam for AP Research.
De Soto High School is also excited to offer a new program called AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID is designed to support students toward high academic achievement, and college readiness. We plan to begin the program, which includes the AVID Elective, next year with a group of freshmen students selected from those that apply. If you are interested in learning more about AVID, please contact Lindsay Hothan at lhothan@usd232.org.
Mark your calendars for April 29th! De Soto High School will be hosting an academic showcase and senior recognition, we are calling - Spotlight-DHS. This evening event will highlight our senior class before they officially become Wildcat Alumni and showcase many of the outstanding projects and activities taking place at DHS.
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
Ashlen Boresow
2020 Hall of Fame Inductees
Cody Adams
12 Days of Giving
The USD 232 Education Foundation is getting geared up for our FIRST end of year giving campaign, lovingly named 12 Days of Giving, in honor of our 12 schools in the district. Every dollar raised as part of this campaign will be used to support educational excellence for the students of USD 232, through teacher grants and school programs. Now is the time for our community to come together to imagine the possibilities these contributions can have in our district! Learn more www.usd232.org/educationfoundation or at follow us on Facebook or Twitter @USD232EF.
Donate now >> https://gkccf.kimbia.com/usdt00 or thru PayPal http://bitly.com/2sDVrTZ
#USD232EF #12daysofgiving232 #232imagine
Volleyball All Conference
2019 Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic
Boys Soccer All Conference
All Conference Football
Congratulations to the newest members of NHS!
John Philip Sousa Honor Band
Scholars Bowl
The JV Scholars Bowl team has had a successful last two weeks. On November 26th, we went to Tonganoxie, finishing with a 5-2 record and missing finals by a tiebreaker. Then, on December 2nd, we competed at a very competitive Olathe Northwest tournament, earning a 5-2 record and qualifying to Quarterfinals before losing to the eventual tournament champion. We have three more meets this semester before wrapping our season up with four meets in January.
DHS Debate
DHS finishes 2nd as a squad at Basehor-Linwood on 11/23 and Kaitlin Torres and Kaitlyn Tait also take 2nd as an individual team.
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.
Notes from the Nurse
Thank you for your support!
Vision Testing November 20-21
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.
When should my student stay home?
An important part of high school is practicing skills for adulthood, like attending school when you have mild symptoms. Students need to develop the ability to successfully push through minor discomforts. This builds confidence in their ability to conquer hardships and prepares them for future employment with limited sick days.
Stay Home!
If your child has vomited or had diarrhea in the last 24 hours, please keep them home until they have been free of these symptoms for a FULL 24 hours without ibuprofen or Tylenol for a FULL 24 hours. When you send them back too early, you are choosing to expose others and risk prolonging your child's recovery.
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.