April 2025 Edition

Thursday April 17, 2025

• **11:45 am Early Dismissal

Monday, April, 28,2025

• 6:00 pm Kindergarten Round Up

Dear Wakefield Families,

Dear Wakefield Families,

April showers bring May flowers, but in Kansas, April can bring just about anything - sunshine, rain, or even a surprise snowflake or two.

As the weather gets more unpredictable, it's essential to dress in layers. This way, you can adjust your outfit according to the temperature changes throughout the day.

For students, it's a good idea to pack a light jacket or sweater in your backpack, just in case the temperature drops. You might also consider wearing breathable, moisture-wicking clothing to keep you comfortable, regardless of the weather.

And don't forget to check the forecast before leaving for school to get a sense of what the day might bring. Stay dry, stay warm, and stay prepared for whatever April throws your way.

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, many students are actively participating in extracurricular activities. While these events are an essential part of the school experience, it's crucial that students stay on top of their schoolwork.

When a student is absent from class due to a school-related event, they are still responsible for completing their assignments and catching up on any missed material. To avoid falling behind, we encourage all students to communicate with their teachers ahead of time to make necessary arrangements.

As the school year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to the entire Wakefield community. To our students, parents, teachers, and staff, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence. It's been an incredible year, and we're so proud of everything we've accomplished together!

Sincerely,

Mr. Moneypenny

Wakefield K-12 School

Principal

https://www.usd379.org/page/summer-learning-2025

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

• *Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

Friday, April 4, 2025

• School Librarian Appreciation Day
• 3:00 pm High School Track Meet @ Bennington

Saturday, April 5, 2025

• WS Regional Music Festival

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

• WS State Music Festival Band & Choir

Thursday April 10, 2025

• 9:00 am - 5:00 pm WSL Forensics @ Herington
• 4:00 pm Wakefield Junior High School Track @ Solomon

Friday April 11, 2025

• 3:00 pm Wakefield High School Home Track Meet

Sunday, April 13, 2025

• Booster Club Meeting

Monday, April 14, 2025

• 6:00 pm Board of Education Meeting

Thursday April 17, 2025

• **11:45 am Early Dismissal
• Teacher Professional Development PM
• 3:00 pm Wakefield High School Track @ Chase County
• 4:00 pm Wakefield Junior High School Track @ Goessel

Friday, April 18, 2025

• **No School – Students and Staff
• **Board Office Closed

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

• *School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
• Quarter 4 Progress Reports

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

• *Administrative Assistant Day

Thursday April 24, 2025

• 10:00 am Wakefield Junior High School Track @ Herrington

Friday, April 25, 2025

• 3:00 pm Wakefield High School Track @ Solomon

Saturday, April 26, 2025

• WS State Music Festival

Monday, April, 28,2025

• 6:00 pm Kindergarten Round Up

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• 7:00 pm Elementary Spring Concert

Check out our culinary class and their beautiful Cream Puffs! The recipe is posted below, so you can make some too. If you do, be sure to tag us in a photo of your culinary creation!!!!

A foot injury isn't stopping Mrs. Bybee from teaching and energizing her students! Today, they were learning about finding the area of regions within another object.

Mr. Steppe runs an archery unit for all middle and high school students in his P.E. classes. They learn about safety, technique, and skills needed to be successful.

Please join us in congratulating our JH and Hs squads for the 2025-2026 season.

JH: Macie Nix, Aubree Gibson, Bailee Avery, Harper Bartlett, Allysen Thomas, Katie Crerend, and Lorelei Uken

HS: Cheyeanne Balderson, Brooke Draper, Jaralyn Rush, Nevaeh Gibson, Hayden Kirchner, Hannah Kirchner, and Lyla Liebau.

Junior High students attended the WSL Music Competition. Eight soloists received a one rating, the choir received a two, and our instrumental duet received a two.

Seventh graders in Mrs. Crabtree's ELA class are in the middle of writing opinion pieces. After writing rough drafts and going over a revision checklist, students are also using a program called Writable, which is a part of the new HMH English curriculum.

Mr. Freeman's Algebra I students were in the middle of a review over the past few weeks to prepare for a test. Specifically, they were working on exponents and slope intercept

Mr. Seuser's World History classes are diving into Nationalism and the empires of Europe. Today, they were focusing on the Ottoman Empire. Mr. Seuser brings it with his own sword (pointer)!

7th graders were architects in Mrs. Bybee's math class!

Students found measurements (area and perimeter) of floorplans, designed their own apartment, and calculated the cost of flooring and baseboards

Mrs. Ehlers' third graders kicked off their measurement unit incorporating fractions by measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch. Students measured their own height and discussed how to create a line plot using our data

Mrs. Hughes teaches a Culinary Essentials class at WHS. It is a pilot program this year, with the goal being for it to be added under the Restaurant and Event Management Career Technical Education pathway. Today, her students were learning how to make frosting, fill a piping bag, and decorate cupcakes. Even if students are not planning to go into a culinary arts field, it is a life skill they are learning!

To celebrate the 120th day of school, Mrs. Judy's first graders wrote a sentence saying what they would do with $120. Just some of the great answers they wrote:

"I would buy a Lamborghini"

"I would give it to the poor people"

"I would sell it for more money"

To ensure a smooth and safe drop-off experience for all, please note the following:

When dropping off students in the back of the school, please do not park in the designated parking spaces. These spaces are reserved for our high school student drivers.

To maintain a steady flow of traffic, you may drop off students in either the front or back of the school.

When dropping off, please have students exit the vehicle from the passenger side closest to the sidewalk. This allows drivers to pull away safely.

Promoting Independence and Safety

To foster independence and ensure building safety, we kindly request that parents/guardians refrain from walking their students into the building. Instead, you may escort them to the entrance doors and allow them to enter on their own.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in maintaining a safe and efficient drop-off process.

Sincerely,

Wakefield Staff

Arrival Time

• Doors open at 7:50 am. Please do not arrive before this time, as there is no supervision outside the building until then.

Breakfast

• Students eating breakfast may enter at 7:50 am.
• Students must remain in the cafeteria until they finish their breakfast.
• All food must be eaten in the cafeteria, food is not to be taken to the gyms.

School Security

• To ensure student safety, we kindly ask parents not to enter the building with their student. By limiting building access, we can maintain a secure environment for everyone.

Important Notice Regarding PE/Athletic Locker Rooms

• Please note that the PE/Athletic locker rooms will not be available for use in the morning due to the lack of supervision before school.

Secondary Students

• At 7:50 am, secondary students may:
• Enter the building
• Visit their school locker
• Report to the Old Gym, where they must remain until 8:05 am.

Important Notice Regarding PE/Athletic Locker Rooms

• Please note that the PE/Athletic locker rooms will not be available for use in the morning due to the lack of supervision before school.

Inclement Weather

• In case of bad weather, elementary students will report to the New Gym.
• Please use the entrance doors located by the Elementary Playground.

Parents/Guardians,

To ensure student safety and facilitate smooth transportation after athletic events and activities, we have implemented a new procedure:

Post Athletic/Activity Travel Form

Access the form: Visit our school website and find the "Post Athletic/Activity Travel Form" on the left side of the page.

Fill out the form: Complete the form prior to the event, indicating your intention to transport your child home.

Submit to coach/sponsor: Give the completed form to the coach or sponsor before leaving for the event.

Important Reminders

If you forget the form, coaches/sponsors will have paper copies available at the event.

Parent/Guardian transportation only: Your child must be transported home by their parent/guardian.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in ensuring our students' safety and well-being.

Regarding school policies, we have noticed some students engaging in public displays of affection (PDAs). While most students comply with warnings, we will be strictly enforcing the student handbook policy for those who continue to disregard this rule.

Affectionate Behavior (Wakefield Handbook)

Students should dress in a manner, which will not be disruptive to the educational process. This dress code was developed to give students a wider variety of clothing to wear. If at any time the principal or teacher believes that a student’s attire is a disruption, that student will be asked to change. This especially applies to clothing fads or trends that become popular for a short period of time. Also, the school reserves the right to disallow or restrict any clothing worn by students to school or school activities that might be associated with a gang or gang activity.

Any extra-curricular group may require a more stringent dress code and those students wishing to participate will also abide by the code for that group.

1. Shorts as approved by the administration are acceptable for school wear. No shorts that look like underwear are allowed. Spandex shorts are not allowed unless worn under other shorts. Shorts must be acceptable in length. Acceptable length is coming to the ends of the fingertips when the student’s arms are down at their sides.
2. Clothing with inappropriate, abusive, crude/profane/obscene/suggestive/distasteful language or artwork is not acceptable for school wear. Examples: clothing with alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, explosives, gore, sexual innuendoes, etc.
3. Clothing that is inappropriate or that exposes chest, shoulders, bare midsection or button such as: bare midriffs, bare backs, spaghetti strap tops with bra straps showing, fishnet shirts, sheer tops with bra straps showing, halters, tube tops or tops without shoulder straps. Pants, jeans, sweats, overalls and shorts are to be worn at waist level. No excessively loose clothing, undergarments showing, or short-shorts. No “sagging”, etc.
4. Clothing that has straps or suspenders must be fastened over the shoulders.
5. Clothing must be worn in the manner for which it was designed. Clothing designed as under garments must not be worn as outer garments.
6. Footwear must be worn at all times during school. Bedroom slippers are not allowed.
7. Students are not allowed to wear hats, caps, or other headgear while in the building prior to or during the regular school day.
8. No colored or dark glasses should be worn except under a doctor’s prescription or direction.
9. The wearing of heavy coats in the classroom is discouraged. Coats may be subject to search at any time at the discretion of the administration.
10. Chains longer than six (6) inches, or jewelry that could cause injury (ie. Spikes, sharp edges) will not be allowed.
11. Gang writing and/or symbolism is not allowed on school papers, notebooks or any material at school or school activities. This includes marking(s) on the body. Gang related colors, language, gestures or designs are not allowed in school or at school activities.
12. Exceptions to the school dress code will be made for formal school events such as Prom and other similar events. Clothing should still be kept in good taste with proper covering of the chest and midriff areas. If in doubt as to what is appropriate, follow the building dress code and/or contact the building administrator.
13. The administration reserves the right to refuse participation if inappropriate clothing is worn.

• First 5 minutes: Students cannot travel during this time to ensure they don't miss crucial instructions.
• Last 5 minutes: Travel is not permitted, allowing teachers to provide closing remarks, homework assignments, and key takeaways.

Rationale

• Attending the beginning of class is vital for students to receive essential instructions. Late arrivals force teachers to repeat information, disrupting the learning environment. By being present from the start, students stay informed and engaged.
• Similarly, the last five minutes are critical for teachers to:
• Provide summary remarks
• Assign homework
• Offer additional guidance

Grades 6-12 Must Sign Out Digitally Before Leaving Class

Here's How:

• Digital Sign-Out Process
• Access the Schoology page for your current class.
• Click the "Sign Out" button.
• Complete the Google Form with the designated dropdown options.

Benefits

• This digital sign-out process enables us to:
• Track travel data trends
• Identify potential issues
• Improve classroom management and attendance monitoring
• Your cooperation and participation will help us refine our processes and enhance the learning environment.

Key Features

• Easy access via Schoology
• Streamlined Google Form
• Efficient data collection

Thank you for your cooperation on this new procedure!