After the Thanksgiving break, which I feel we all needed, I think we are back on track to end this semester with success. In the last three weeks of school, we will be having several events that keep the sanity for all of us in tact. We are calling it, the Reindeer Games. These are events for students during passing periods, and some fun week long games for staff as well. We had several brain break activities for students during passing period this past week (see the house cup section for more), we also had a blast as a staff searching for the Secret Stryker this week. All week, the staff had three Strykers that were in hiding all week and during passing period and commons areas and lunch time, they could ask if each other was the secret Stryker, and then the Stryker would be passed along. I was just a judge for this, but I still had a blast seeing how much strategy the staff was having with this one. In the end, Mrs. McKenzie, Mr. Andrews, and Christina came out on top having the secret Strykers in the end. They were awarded come commerce bucks for their victory, and the staff earned some much needed fun passing period activities. This weeks hopes to be just as much fun.

We will have a special Christmas themed spirit week for students and staff all week (see the calendar for the days) and the end of this week is not only the Stuco winter informal, but also the first home Basketball game and Santa is coming to down. During the game, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the commons to check on our Cobras to make sure they have been good boys and girls all year long.

Then comes the big and important week of finals. We only have two weeks left. I really hope that students have been listening when I have been saying to contact teachers early, because now is crunch time and finals time. There is some light at the end of the tunnel for some of you with exemptions though (see the exemptions section). However, I wouldn't rely on those exclusively to save you. Plus those have to be earned.

Finally, this week saw two more signing days, which are events that brings me great joy as we get to celebrate our students making the ultimate decision as to their plans beyond high school. Students have asked me in the past about those that aren't planning on attending college and my answer is yes i would gladly celebrate students choosing alternate paths. If someone wants to administer their oath of enlistment at the school, I would be right there, or is someone wants to celebrate their commitment to a post secondary career then I would like to celebrate that as well.

While I am glad I took a week off from these, I feel like I shouldn't have as there is so much to talk about. Oh and did I mention basketball starting for the high school as well as the new stuff coming out of the digital media class? Too much. Let's get to it.

"Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind" The Doctor

From the first day to the last day, It's a great day to be a COBRA!

Derek E. Smith

The exemptions are something we introduced last year and they are back again. Quite simply, for every exemption that you have, you can exempt an assignment that you attempted in a class. This could be a homework assignment that you did horribly at, or a quiz/text that you bombed, or one of the upcoming finals. These arent just finals, they can operate for past assignments as well. There are some exemptions to the exemptions though. They can't be used in college classes as those are driven by a syllabus outside of Jackson Heights hands, and teachers can say certain assignments are required to stay in the gradebook. A major take away from this is that exemptions are for assignments that you have completed. You can't just exempt something you never did or get out of taking the final.

Now how do you get said three finals.

1. All grades: complete you student led conferences in person with your seminar teacher

2 & 3 Grades 7-11 MAP testing for ELA, MATH, or Science scoring proficient or hitting expected growth in two of the three will give you two exemptions.

2 & 3 for Seniors. Complete two of the following: job shadow/college visit, complete FAFSA, complete ASVAB, or participate in Apply Kansas.

I will send out an email by Wednesday letting you know how many exemptions you have qualified for. You will then let your teachers know what you plan on exempting and they will mark you down.

COBRAS,

As the basketball season gets ready to tip off, we would like to bring to your attention to a couple of new aspects. “Starting this basketball season, the KSHSAA will recognize a League Sportsmanship Champion which is inclusive of the girls’ and boy’ teams (players and coaches), spirit squads, pep bands and spectators based upon regular season basketball contests as evaluated by the adopted sportsmanship rubric. Each high school League/Conference Champion will be awarded a championship trophy.“

More information about this can be found on the KSHSAA’s website or the link provided: KSHSAA SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD

Several schools we play this year have signed up to be pilot schools with the KSHSAA for the basketball shot clock. This will be new to everyone this year, and we hope to add this to our gym in the future. We ask that spectators please be patient as this is new to everyone and there will be a learning curve for all parties involved. We ask that you refrain from any negative comments towards those running the shot clock or game clock.

As our announcer says before every game, and it should be noted, “These competitions are being conducted according to the rules of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Spectators should assist in the promotion and achievement of good sportsmanship ideals by taking personal responsibility for their actions.” Get out and support the Cobras this basketball season and represent our school with respect and honor.

Brad Alley Derek Smith

Athletic Director High School Principal

Monday: Fuzzy Sock Day

• MS Girls Basketball NEKL Tournament

• Board of Education Meeting 7:00 pm

• HS Basketball @ Troy 4:30 pm

Thursday: Christmas Hat/Ugly Sweater Day

• MS Girls Basketball NEKL Tournament

• HS Basketball Vs. St. Marys @ Home 4:30 pm
• Winter InFormal (After the game for two hours or until midnight-will post on media)
• Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the commons during the game to pose for pictures with the little ones
• Sunflower e-Sports State Championship @ Highland Community College

• Powerlifting @ JCN
• MS Girls Basketball NEKL Tournament TBD
• ACT Testing

Dec 16-20

Monday:

• Christmas Concert 7:00 pm

Tuesday:

• Hs Basketball @ Onaga 4:30 pm

Wednesday:

• NA

Thursday: Last Day of School Release at 12:15

Friday: No School

• HS Basketball Vs. McLouth @ Home 4:30 pm

Speaking of Honor Flight, we have been ramping up on next years honor flight. i have sent out the guardian applications to students. HF11 will go to DC November 10/11 2025 and we have already started our first big fundraiser. The cooks have started the Pies of Honor for this year. You can fill out the attached google form to order your pie.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo3XyfRVRozFgMJnIGKSyPCtDlB82estF088A0W8PgXa0mPg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Or if you just would like to donate to the cause. you can send a check to the high school to the jackson heights honor flight.

or those of you that are tech savy. you can venmo to @Jackson-Heights-Honor-Flight

"Reindeer Games"

This past week we had a few brain break events during passing period, which were great for keeping students minds at rest going into the final weeks of school before the break. We saw everything from paper air plane toss contests to guessing how many M& Ms were in a jar. The students engaged throughout the week and we had a great time.

Some spotlight students in each house this week were:

House Corn Fed Cobras: Angel Parrett For being the best conductor there ever was.

House Gold Rush: Becca Amon for volunteering at the Wetmore Christmas event last weekend.

House Snake Kingz: Rigsby Scott For an exceptional signing day event

House Triple G: Nicole Amon For stepping up as a freshman to start in Friday night's game against Royal Valley.

I frequently let y'all know that growing up in Pennsylvania, snow hit a bit differently. this is a picture from my dads front porch this past week. FYI they did not cancel school. I am aware that infrastructure is quite a bit different in areas that get as much snow as this does and thus they wind up having the ability to do snow removal at a much higher pace. In fact, my township in Pennsylvania spent more on road salt last year the state of Kansas. However, I still get a chuckle when people start bugging me for snow days when snow is in the forecast or there is a sciff on the ground.

We took Hiccup and Hank to the Cosmosphere for his birthday last Sunday. Hiccup is all about outerspace right now. If you ever get the chance to get down there and check it out, I highly recommend it. If for anything, getting to see a SR-71 that actually flew missions. The Blackbird was one of the birds that I was excited to work with when I joined the Air Force, Sadly it was mothballed the fall that I enlisted. Still it was pretty awesome to get to see one in person. And to see the wonder in my sons eyes at everything that was down there.

It's a great day to be a Cobra!!

Email: derek.smith@jhcobras.net

Website: jhcobras.net
Location: 12692 266th Rd Holton, KS 66436
Phone: (785)248-4386
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jackson.Heights.USD335

https://www.citylinktv.com/channel/cobra

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a0QJd_3uUnHcCppNy4KIttr-i_TO_Q1QcxSKC8PZaHo/edit