Wildcat Growl
January 21, 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,
Snowball Week begins Monday, January 22nd. The spirit week includes daily dress-up themes and an all-school assembly taking place during Seminar before Friday night's basketball game against Piper. The dance is on Saturday, January 27th.
Course selection for the 2024-2025 school year is underway. Below is a list of the new courses offered at DHS next year. The course selection timeline can be found on our website, here.
Congratulations to the following students for making this year’s All-State bands: All State Jazz band, Nick Maskill - Trombone, and All State Band, Keegan Flynn – Clarinet and Fin Smajda – Alternate Oboe. Way to go!
Student Wellness: Thanks to support from the USD232 Foundation, our district will be presenting ANGST (video trailer) on January 25, from 7:00-8:30 PM in the De Soto High School Performing Arts Center. In partnership with the KC Center for Anxiety Treatment, the event will include a paneled discussion following the viewing. For more information regarding this event, check out the district homepage.
Semester 1 grades have been posted in Skyward. If your student has an incomplete, they need to contact their teacher to schedule a time to finish any remaining coursework. Due to the number of days school has been cancelled, we have extended the deadline to complete semester 1 coursework, including the taking of final exams to Friday, January 26th.
Academic Letter Recognition for the 2022-23 school year will take place on Tuesday, January 30th. Students will be recognized at the conclusion of the girls’ basketball game which typically ends around 6:45PM. Each student will be allowed 2 complimentary admissions to the game. Students are awarded an Academic Letter if they achieve a 3.7 GPA for two consecutive semesters (Fall to Spring). For each subsequent year that the student continues to receive a 3.7 GPA or higher, the student will receive an academic bar that can be placed on their letter. Due to the number of students that will be recognized, we will not be able to announce each individual name, but will have the students proceed onto the court to be recognized as a group.
We are excited to host Future Wildcat Night on Wednesday, February 7th from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. 8th-grade students (the Class of 2028) and their parents are invited to visit DHS. We will host an Activity Fair for extra & co-curricular groups and provide school tours from 6:30 to 7:00. The academic transition presentations will begin at 7:00 pm.
ACT for Junior Students: On Tuesday, February 27, 2024, Junior students will take the ACT at DHS. More information will be coming as the date nears.
Thank you,
Sam Ruff
Principal
De Soto High School
Debate Champs!
Bella & Luci Guess finished with a 9-2 record including a 2-1 win over Topeka Seaman in the state final of the 2-Speaker tournament earning DHS its first-ever KSHSAA State Debate Championship!
De Soto Debate
Over this past weekend, the debate team went to the KSHSAA State Debate Championship at Olathe North. We took two teams in the 2-speaker division as well as a team in the 4-speaker division.
Debate Championship Results
Aurora Straight & Amelia Caylor finished with a 3-3 record and a top 25 finish in the 2-Speaker tournament – an impressive run for two novice debaters!
4-Speaker Team
Our 4-speaker team of Austin Chase & Jay Schlotzhauer (Aff), Kennedy Farrier & Henry Walawender (Neg), and Chloe Weber (Alt) finished in 4th place on a ballot tiebreaker in the 4-speaker tournament, narrowly missing out on two KSHSAA trophies for DHS (special shoutout to Henry & Kennedy who finished 6-1 beating the otherwise undefeated champion BVSW).
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.
True Blue ® KSHSAA Scholarship Application Process
The KSHSAA and Capitol Federal Foundation ® will award True Blue Scholarships intended to support Kansas High School graduates in postsecondary efforts. This one-time scholarship is for students graduating during the 2023-24 school year. These funds will be made payable to a two-year or four-year accredited college, university or technical school in the name of the selected student. Awards are non-renewable, one-time scholarships in the amount of $2,000 provided for a student in each activity administered by the KSHSAA. You may contact the KSHSAA at kshsaa@kshsaa.org or 785-273-5329 with any questions.
Eligibility
Students must be seniors attending and graduating from a member school of the Kansas State High School Activities Association during the 2023-24 school year and have rostered in the chosen activity their senior year. They must be considered as students in good standing as confirmed by their building principal. Students must enroll and attend a post-secondary institution of their choice as a full-time student within two years of graduation. Applicants must be in their final semester of high school. If you are a Division I bound athlete, please check with your institution about eligibility for this scholarship before applying.
Selection Criteria
The student will be selected based upon an assessment of the following components:
Community Service (30%)
· Length of service in school
· Length of service in the community
· Variety of service in school
· Variety of service in community
Academic achievement (30%)
· Cumulative GPA through 7 semesters
· Standardized test scores
· Academic awards from school or others
· College Prep/Honors level classes
Breadth of school activity participation (20%)
· Number of full seasons/years in each activity
· Number of KSHSAA sponsored activities
· Number of other school sponsored activities
Activity achievement (20%)
· Varsity level participation
· Varsity letters earned
· All-league honors
· All-state honors
Application Process
· All components of the application must be submitted digitally by 11:00 p.m. on March 1, 2024. Failure to complete submission by designated deadline will make the student ineligible for the scholarship.
· Scholarships will be awarded in categories noted online. Even though the student may participate in multiple activities, they may only apply for one category award (one application per student).
· The student shall submit a scholarship application which reflects school activity participation; this component is reviewed by a school or district administrator.
· The student shall complete an essay of no more than 500 words in response to the following prompt: "How participation in school activities has helped me become a better citizen."
· The student shall submit one reference letter reflective of community service completed by the student during their high school career.
· The student shall submit an official seven-semester high school transcript.
· The student and parent shall provide appropriate release to the selection committee to review the application materials and to approve using the name and image in local and social media if the student is selected as a scholarship winner.
· Applications may be submitted during the open application period of December 15, 2024, to March 1, 2024.
True Blue KSHSAA Scholarship Categories for all KSHSAA Activities
· 34 total scholarships, payable to post-secondary institution
· $2,000 one-time award, non-renewable
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
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.