Wildcat Growl
April 15, 2024
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,
The DHS Site Council hosted the first ever Academic Excellence Banquet on Sunday, April 14th at the Barn at Kill Creek Farm. Members of the Class of 2024 with a weighted GPA of 4.3 or higher were invited to the event. Congratulations to the following students: Isabelle Butler , Kennedy Farrier, Ailey Freeman, Marisa Johnson, Nate Meyer, Blake Miller, Bryce Miller, Carson Miller, Daniel Morozov, Cael Province, Marissa Rajapakse, Brett Tickle, and Samuel Vogel. USD232 staff invited to attend include: Bruce Yarbrough, Jack Sachse, Laura Sixta, Micah Tenner, Junelle Woolery, Tom Byers, Tod Hessong, Phil Hamilton, Kelli Schram, and Phil Kaul. Thank you to Hall of Fame member, Neil Erisman and USD232 Superintendent, Dr. Cory Gibson for speaking at the event.
US News and World Report ranks De Soto High School #7 in all of Kansas in 2023-2024. Schools are ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. The rankings include data on nearly 25,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Congratulations to Ryan Robie! Coach Robie was recognized with the Eddie Ryan Award - given to the KC Metro’s best coach voted on by the Greater KC Basketball Coach Association.
Congratulations to the DHS Forensics team! Coach Will Mercer and the team won the UKC Championships. Way to go!
This week is prom week at DHS. We will begin the week with an all school assembly recognizing spring activities and the prom court on Monday, April 15th. We will be on the assembly bell schedule.
A reminder that students do not have school on Thursday, April 18th or Friday, April 19th.
The DHS Prom will occur on Saturday, April 20th at the Ball Event Center in Olathe, Kansas (21350 W 153rd St, Olathe, KS 66061). Additional information is below.
Spotlight-DHS is just around the corner. We have a lot of student learning ready to show our community. Start the night off by celebrating the Class of 2024 and their Post Secondary Plans. Each senior who completed the survey will be recognized during the Senior Showcase from 6:00-6:30 pm. Once this event concludes, it will be off to the Academic Open House event. Students in various courses will present and highlight their learning throughout the semester. We cannot wait to see you there!
Important information for parents and members of the Class of 2024 can be found on our website, here.
The Final Exam schedule for the second semester can be found on our website. It will be important for students to attend during this time. We will expect students that are absent during final exams to take their exams when they return.
De Soto High School takes pride in offering a wide variety of camps and summer programs for the students of our community. There is Summer Weights and Conditioning which is encouraged for all sports participants. Information and sign-up links to all the camps can be found by visiting: https://dhswildcatnation.com/summer-camps/
Thanks, and have a great week.
Sam Ruff
Principal
De Soto High School
2024 Seniors Recognized at the Academic Excellence Banquet
Forensics Wins Championships!
Norah Kelly – Dramatic Interpretation – 5th place
Lucinda Mater – Humorous Interpretation – 3rd place
Lucinda Mater – Program of Oral Interpretation – 3rd place
Kennedy Farrier – Impromptu Speaking – 1st place
Kennedy Farrier – Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking – 1st place
You-Ha Kim – International Extemporaneous Speaking – 3rd place
You-Ha Kim – Informative Speaking – 2nd place
Jay Schlotzhauer – Informative Speaking – 3rd place
Chloe Weber – Informative Speaking – 4th place
Chloe Weber – Original Oration – 2nd place
Henry Walawender – International Extemporaneous Speaking – 2nd place
Aurora Straight – Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking – 2nd place
Aurora Straight – Original Oration – 3rd place
Alayna Marovec – Prose Interpretation – 4th place
Alayna Marovec – Poetry Interpretation – 1st place
Claire McGinn – Poetry Interpretation – 4th place
Claire McGinn – Original Oration – 5th place
Austin Chase – Informative Speaking
Congrats, Coach Robie!
Student Wildcats of the Month - February
Staff Wildcats of the Month - February
State Science Olympiad
On Saturday, April 6th, the DHS Science Olympiad team competed in the state tournament hosted by Wichita State University. Our students competed against the top 12 small division (4A and under) schools from across the state in 23 events ranging from building and engineering challenges to knowledge and skills testing in various scientific disciplines. Our team of seven was small, but we held our own. While we experienced the usual setbacks (thinking a tower that holds 15 kg of sand without breaking could be built less than 12 hours before competition, forgetting the flash drive with the robot code, etc.), the team medaled in four individual events and shattered DHS state placement records!
Astronomy, 2nd place: Evan Johnsson and Addie Easter
Wind Power, 2nd place: Evan Johnsson (using a build and notes made by Matthew Barber who was unable to attend)
Codebusters, 3rd place: Isabella Holwick, Daniel Morozov, Cael Province
Dynamic Planet, 3rd place: Isabella Holwick and Cael Province
Other student participants included Isabelle Butler and Diego Diaz; their efforts were crucial to securing our 8th place overall ranking.
Prom Spirit Week Dress Up Days
Free Dental Screening April 23rd
Dear Parents/Guardians:
De Soto School District, in compliance with state requirements, will offer free dental screenings for De Soto High School students on Tuesday April 23, 2024.
If you wish to have your child participate, please complete the attached form and return it to your De Soto High School nurses by Monday April 22, 2024. If your child does participate in the free dental screening, a copy of the results of the screening will be provided.
Thank you for your support of student health services. Please feel free to contact your school nurses with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Tara Harmon-Moore, BSN,RN,BA
Coordinator of Health Services
Athletic Signing Day, Wednesday, May 1st
The DHS athletic department is planning an Athletic Signing Day for Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 in the Main Gym beginning at 3:00pm.
We are currently compiling a list of students that have signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers after high school.
If you have signed a letter of intent with a college/university, please use the link below to complete a form so the athletic department at DHS has a complete list of all students graduating in 2024 that plan to compete at the collegiate level.
Link to form: https://forms.gle/S7zjSBxYbXsyZmi86
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
Apply for our free Future U STEM camp
We are excited to invite rising high school juniors and seniors to join us at Burns & McDonnell headquarters June 17-20 for the opportunity to connect with engineers, architects, technologists and construction professionals.
Along with engaging speaker sessions and hands-on activities, students will have the opportunity to visit two critical infrastructure projects and meet the professionals working on those projects. Students will also hear from college admission specialists who will talk about future education opportunities.
Join us for Future U from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 17-20. Space is limited. Application deadline is April 19. All applicants will be notified of their status by May 3.
Click here for more information. https://info.burnsmcd.com/future-u
UMKC Summer Pharmacy Camp
Engage with current faculty and practicing pharmacists, view experiments in the lab and interact with current students to find out what it’s like to be a pharmacy student at UMKC. Students will take part in making actual medicine in the compounding lab, hear from community pharmacists about their daily roles, interact with clinical pharmacists in specialty practices such as oncology, pediatrics, cardiology, emergency room and more and learn from School of Pharmacy faculty and students about what it's like to be a member of UMKC at all three campus locations.
Spots are limited and are on a first come first serve basis. For more information go to UMKC Summer Pharmacy Camp.
NO COST Summer STEM Camps - Deadline Extended
This June, the University of Kansas is offering totally free residential summer camps for high school students interested in a career in STEM. We are looking for current sophomores and juniors (rising juniors and seniors) who are interested in math, physics, aerospace engineering, and computer science for this opportunity. Our camps offer the chance for students to get hands-on experience in these fields, working with innovative researchers and scientists and envisioning future careers while exploring college life and studies in a safe and fun environment.
We have three camp sessions – two one-week camps focused on exploring research interests for rising juniors and seniors (classes of 2025 and 2026), and one two-week camp offering both exploratory and preparatory experiences, so that students will come to college fully ready for college-level coursework, for rising seniors (class of 2025). Students who attend these camps will also be offered priority for scholarship funds and other opportunities. These camps will happen in Lawrence, KS, and students will be housed in the KU dorms with a meal plan. All expenses except transportation are taken care of by a grant from the DoD.
The application deadline is May 1. I’ve attached fliers with more information, and you can also find out more at the following links:
https://cresis.ku.edu/summer-camps-cresis
https://www.k-state.edu/stem-career-education/summercamps/kusummercouses.html
Here are the links to the applications:
https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9yMLLclEJ8g4nZk?Q_CHL=qr
Technology Opportunity for Female Students
Parents and Guardians,
KC Tech Council is currently accepting online applications for LEGiT (Leadership and Empowerment for Girls in Tech) KC program. The program introduces girls to the wide variety of opportunities that come with tech careers in the KC area which include cybersecurity, software development, UI/UX, tech sales, product development, engineering, marketing and several others.
The goal is to ignite passion for the pursuit of a tech career where it may not have previously existed, and at a time when many young women are making the big decisions on their journey post high-school.
This new program, backed by Panasonic Energy, Burns & McDonnell, Meta, and other company partners, is meticulously designed to empower and equip female students in their final years of high school with comprehensive tech exposure, career pathway guidance, leadership opportunities and invaluable mentorship.
If your student is interested, please fill out the short application by April 15, 2024. Previous technology experience is not a prerequisite. Applicants simply need to have genuine interest in exploring the vast possibilities of a career in tech. For further information, please visit LEGiTKC.org.
QUICK LINKS
We are passing along an opportunity for female high school students entering their junior or senior years. Although the school district is not directly involved with the organization, we recognize the opportunity may be of interest.
K-STATE Engineering Night
If you are interested in studying Engineering at K-State, please join representatives from KSU on Thursday, April 18th from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm at the K-State Olathe campus. Students will learn more about engineering degrees, scholarships, career opportunities, and industry partners. K-State engineering will award 1 - $1000 scholarship at this event to a high school senior or transfer student in attendance. To register for the event click on this website: https://engg.k-state.edu/engineering-night/.
Bullying and Online Harassment
Cat Booster Club
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.
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.