RELAY - April '24

It is the goal of the monthly RELAY to connect our staff with news and highlights from across our schools and community. There are so many successes, positive stories, and virtual smiles to share!

We hope you enjoy this brief update. Take a moment to learn something new, celebrate with a colleague or friend, and pause to see the good happening all around you.

In this issue:

• Quick Reads
• BOE Luncheon Meeting Highlights from Eisenhower
• Let's Celebrate - April Birthdays
  
• District Highlights -
• Community Resources
  

Personal referrals are the best way to find new employees!

With the launch of the Employee Referral Program, we're giving you a few more reasons to share job openings with your network of friends and family.

Click here to learn more about the $250 referral bonus!

Major moves this week with Park345 moving up a spot in front of Welcome to the Jungle and Walk this Way moving in front of Bunion Brigade. We have 35 participants averaging more than 10k steps a day! Wild Stride ends on April 4.

Top Teams:

• ZumbaChiefs - 2,451,644
• Park345 - 2,039,514 - "snuck in from behind Welcome to the Jungle"
• Welcome to the Jungle - 2,001,802
• Walk This Way - 1,440,646 suck in from behind Bunion Brigade
• Bunion Brigade - 1,317,452

Top Individuals:

• Lilia Guyton - 797,351
• Pablo Ibarra - 691,936
• Blanca Gonzalez-Martinez - 630,410
• Deborah Amador - 512,048
• Stephanie Banda - 493,157

Abigail Jonas, principal of Eisenhower Elementary, welcomed the Board of Education for their monthly luncheon meeting on Wednesday, March 27.

The meeting featured several grades & departments sharing student programs and achievements from the school year.

• Abby Jonas, Principal - Mrs. Jonas provided a breakdown of demographics in Eisenhower and some of the celebrations they are focusing on with improved student behaviors over the last semester and nurturing building culture. Eisenhower has 283 students in their building with an average class size of 18-24 students per class, 31 students at Little Panthers Preschool, and 5 special education rooms.
• Tandi Mai, Instructional Coach - Mrs. Mai discussed academic data with the BOE members, sharing that students are more aware of their goals and working hard every day to show improvement. "I Did It" cards are a way to motivate students and celebrate wins in the progress journey.
• Katy Barkow, Kindergarten - Students shared details about their "ABC" book publishing project where they are illustrating and assembling an alphabet book.
• Kieara Patten, 1st-grade Teacher - Student shared their "Life Cycle of a Plant" unit. Students brought freshly planted green bean seeds after they had completed a seed dissection earlier in the month and germination during Spring Break.
• Rahcel Wiehl, 5th-grade Teacher - Students demonstrated their robotics unit - building, coding, and operating their robots.
• Kaylin Knaple, 5th-grade Teacher - Students discussed the writing process and read selections from a recent poetry unit "Favorite Seasons" where they wrote and illustrated poems to depict their favorite season. Summer seemed to be a favorite among the group that presented!
• Brooke Reif, 6th-grade Teacher - Students showcased a recent postcard project where they worked to collect postcards from all 50 states, and beyond. Their next step in the project will be selecting a state and doing a research project on it.
• Megan McGuire/Kaitlyn Tuey, Special Education Teachers - Showcased some of the adaptive tools they use to facilitate communication in their classroom with non-verbal and non-seeing students. Their passion for their students is palpable as they work every day to meet their individual needs.
• Kalee Maneth, teacher and STUCO Sponsor - Ms. Maneth introduced several STUCO members and invited them to share about the leadership program that is working to create connections both inside and outside the school. The group has hosted "penny wars," worked a concession stand for a PTO event, delivered cookies to local first-responders & businesses, as well as reading daily announcements. They are making a positive impact at Eisenhower as the program is developing.

GBHS wishes to accept the following contributions:

• The Tenth Street Eyecare wishes to contribute $100 to the GBHS Drama Club.
• Nex-Tech Wireless - $250 to Theatre for Advanced Theatre Trip
• Central KS Assoc. of Retired Teachers - $250 to Band Trip
• Schoolfundr Inc. - $5,304.99 for misc. donations made to Band Trip
• Panther Booster Club - $150 to GBHS Athletics to cover State Wrestling ad
• Panther Booster Club - $1,824 to GBHS Athletics to cover student admissions to sub-state and state games
• Panther Booster Club - $165 to GBHS Athletics to cover protein bars for athletes
• Marmie Chevrolet GMC wishes to contribute $4,044 to the GBHS Volleyball Program

USD 428 Director of Food Service Kristy Alvord wishes to apply for a USDA Fresh Fruits and Vegetable grant for all five USD 428 elementary schools for the 2024-2025 school year. This grant provides healthier snack choices in schools and introduces a variety of produce that students may not otherwise have the opportunity to sample.

Licensed Appointment:

• Ms. Morgan Irwin, Teacher of Social Studies at GBMS
• Mr. Andy Gwennap, Teacher of Special Education for BCSS at GBMS
• Ms. Rashelle Metcalf, Teacher of Life Skills at GBMS
• Mr. Mark Cook, Teacher of Science at GBMS

Licensed Resignation:

• Ms. Jamie Sorenson, Teacher of Grade 6 at Jefferson Elementary
• Ms. Kaylin Knaple, Teacher of Grade 5 at Eisenhower Elementary
• Ms. Kaitlyn Browning, Teacher of Grade 1 at Lincoln Elementary

Great Bend High School students recently had the opportunity to participate in the Kansas Job Olympics hosted by the Ellis County Transition Council at the Schenk Building in Hays, KS on March 27.

Job Olympics is a competition developed to promote transition and employability skills for a broad spectrum of high school students in special education. Job Olympics brings together regional schools and hundreds of students throughout the area. Competitions in 28 categories represent actual job and employment situations and are judged by business people from the community and professionals in education.

Trish Berger, special education teacher at GBHS, credits the activity with several positive impacts on student learning and life preparedness, including:

• Reinforces the skills that have been developed by students within the classroom
• Motivates the student to improve social skills, friendships, and experiences
• Gives practical application to support the goals and objectives for Life Survival Skills
• Allows students to have pride in their achievements and increase their employability skills

After the Job Olympics, competitors and schools were recognized with ribbons and custom t-shirts for top prize winners. GBHS was proud to bring home 15 awards.

Great Bend High School Results:

• 1–LouAnn, Bagging Groceries
• 2-LouAnn, Food Prep
• 1-LouAnn, Rolling Silverware
• 1-Nayeli, Busing Tables
• 1-Nayeli, Food Prep
• 2-Everardo, Kids Meals
• 1-AJ, Recycling
• 1-AJ, Small Gas Engines
• 3-Monte Velasco, Towel Folding
• 1-Eric, Towel Folding
• 1-Eric, Vacuuming

Cooper John Herter, son of Bailey & Johnathan Herter, was born on March 22, 2024. He was 7lbs, 14 oz., and 20 inches long. Bailey is a 2nd-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary. Congratulations on this sweet new addition!

If you have a birth announcement, anniversary, personal accomplishment, or a celebration to share with your 428 family - please email andrea.bauer@usd428.net to be included in the monthly RELAY!

Community events and coupons for local businesses too!

Be sure to follow Explore Great Bend on Facebook for news and events!

• April 4-6 - Eggstravaganza
• April 5-6 - Alltex Trade Gun and Knife Show
• April 26 - Friday's on Forest
• April 27 - Spring Market
• May 1-4 - KCAC Baseball & Softball Championships
• May 3 - Downtown Art & Wine Walk
• May 11 - Cinco De Mayo Festival
• May 11 - Paws & Claws Car Show
• May 23-24- KSHSAA 2-1A Baseball Championship
• May 31-June 2 - June Jaunt Festival

The season opener is June 1st at 7 p.m. The Bat Cats offer free family fun all summer long. Be sure to head out, catch a game, and cheer on the guys!

Full Schedule - Click Here!

The Great Bend Zoo has a new friend to introduce...we've welcomed a prickly new friend! Greta is a 3-month-old albino hedgehog joining the zoo’s education ambassador program. Our educational programs reach thousands of children and adults each year! Hedgehogs are such unique creatures, they don't use their eyes to hunt as much as they use their ears and nose. They also have anywhere from 5000-7000 spines to protect themselves.

GB Car Care is proud to offer USD 428 staff a year-round 10% discount on all interior and exterior detailing services.

BARTON COUNTY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, ENTER THE "Make a Difference Contest" AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

ONE LUCKY STUDENT WILL BE SELECTED EACH MONTH THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR TO WIN AN AWESOME PRIZE PACKAGE. Click Here to submit an entry!

It only takes a few minutes to share the GREAT things happening in your classroom! Email high-resolution photos and a quick caption and we'll share it with the community on social media!

Quick Photo Caption:

"Students are learning _______________, by doing ______________."

Submit News to media@usd428.net.

Email: media@usd428.net
Website: www.GreatBendSchools.net
Location: 201 South Patton Road, Great Bend, KS, USA
Phone: 620-793-1500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/USD428/