Wildcat Growl
August 23, 2019
De Soto High School staff and students endeavor to model the following core values:
INTEGRITY, INQUIRY, COMMUNICATION, PERSEVERANCE, and REFLECTION.
Principal's Message
Parents and Students,
We’ve had a great start to the 2019-2020 school year. This week, we shared the DHS goals for the year with our student body. The goals focus on helping our students plan and prepare for what comes after they leave DHS - to help them become Future Ready Wildcats. Part of this process includes ensuring students have the knowledge and skills required to be academically successful.
On Thursday, August 22nd, we hosted over 400 parents on Parent Information Night. Hopefully, you were able to attend. If not, feel free to reach out to any of our teachers with questions or insights concerning your student. I also want to mention our appreciation to the students of A & M Crew that assisted last evening. Thank you. We have such a great student body at DHS.
Tonight is 2019 DHS Fall Fest. The fall sports showcase and multi-activity event taking place in various locations across our campus. Everyone is invited. The first event starts at 5:00. Bring your entire family to join in on the fun.
The school district is hosting an informational meeting on Tuesday, August 27th from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the Theater of DHS for parents regarding the new student devices, as well as Canvas, our new learning management system. Canvas is replacing Blackboard Learn.
The district is conducting scheduled delayed start days on September 18th and November 6th to help prepare should a delayed start be necessary due to inclement weather. This will allow the district to consider the logistics involved in postponing the start of the school day and help prepare families should this action occur.
The district is testing this plan based on the number of school closures caused by inclement weather during the last school year. The school day will end at its regular time on September 18 and November 6. Families are encouraged to make plans now to accommodate these scheduled delayed starts. For more information about the delayed start and calendar information visit: http://bit.ly/2M9zCnV
We want to continue to share some important information and reminders for parents. Please remember to call DHS if your student is absent. The attendance line is 913-667-6259. We also ask that students missing school as a result of a physician/medical/dental appointment verify the appointment by turning in an appointment note/slip from the healthcare provider. This helps us ensure the absence is excused. Students can turn the note into the school office when they return from the appointment.
We are looking forward to an exciting fall semester.
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
Technology Night
Study Tables
Study Tables:
De Soto High School is providing time and space for students to collaborate and study after school. Study Tables will take place in the Student Union Monday through Thursday from 3:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Students will have the opportunity to give and receive academic assistance from classmates. this supervised time is intended to support students in pursuit of academic success.
Personal Electronic Devices
Attendance Procedure and Tips
Traffic
We are consistently looking for ways to improve traffic and pedestrian flow; increasing the safety of our students and saving you precious time. The DHS traffic pattern can be viewed on our website, here. A couple of items we need your assistance with:
Maximizing student drop-off line capacity
As you pull up to the south main entrance, pull forward as far as possible before letting children exit the vehicle. Many vehicles are stopping directly in front of the sidewalk that leads to the main entrance to let their children out. As a result, there is considerable amount of space left open between that point and the end of the sidewalk. This is leading to traffic back up in the front circle in the mornings.
Picking students up in the afternoon
When you arrive to DHS in the afternoon to pick up your student, if you arrive before dismissal please pull as far forward along the sidewalk as possible. If a line is already established along the curb toward the student parking lot, please pull around the west side of the building in order to line up along the curb. This will prevent vehicles from needing to do a U-turn in the back parking lot where students are walking. We appreciate your assistance in advance.
Message from Student Services
De Soto High School students are invited to attend the Shawnee Mission College Clinic on Wednesday, October 16th at 6:30 p.m. at Shawnee Mission East High School where over 200 colleges will be represented! You can find more information by clicking on the link below.