Wildcat Growl
September 20, 2019
Future Ready Wildcats
De Soto High School staff and students endeavor to model the following core values:
INTEGRITY, INQUIRY, COMMUNICATION, PERSEVERANCE, and REFLECTION.
Principal's Message
Wildcat Parents and Students,
We hope to see you at Parent-Teacher Conferences next week. The conferences will be held on Wednesday, September 25th from 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM, and September 26th from 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM. This is a great opportunity for parents to collaborate on the success of their student. Information is posted on our website, here. Please note that staff will be rotating in shifts to eat around mealtimes on Wednesday and will take an hour dinner break from 4:30 to 5:30 on Thursday, teachers will be unavailable during this time.
We also invite you to an information and workshop session on Wednesday, September 25th at 6:30 PM. This takes place during Parent-Teacher Conferences. The session and workshop topics include ‘how parents can use Skyward and Canvas’. The initial presentation will be designed for parents new to the district, but all parents are invited.
Students from the Family & Consumer Science Department want to help make conferences easier for you next week! They will be providing fun activities in Mrs. Friday’s room for children over the age of one. We hope to see you then.
On October 24th, all Freshmen and Sophomore students are scheduled to take the Pre-ACT. This important assessment simulates the ACT test experience, predicts ACT test score, and offers insight to students towards post-secondary readiness.
On the same day, the Senior students will be able to select from several different activities including:
- Senior Service Day - community service projects planned by StuCo,
- taking the ASVAB - a test provided by the United State Military Entrance Processing Command measuring developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success),
- individually/self-planned college visits*, or
- job shadow*.
We are sending each Senior a survey to self-select which activity they are choosing for our planning purposes. (*college visits and job shadows require the completion of a form found in Student Services)
Additionally, on October 24th Junior students will participate in a field trip to either the WWI Museum or a college visit. Those junior students attending the college visit will have an opportunity to select from a list of colleges. All transportation will be provided by DHS. Juniors will be sent a survey asking them to rank their preference from the list of schools, so we can organize the days. Those attending a college visit on Oct. 24th will attend a field trip to the World War I Museum on November 5th. Those who attend the World War I field trip on October 24th will attend a college visit on November 5th.
Kind Regards,
Sam Ruff
Congrats to Mr. Matt Bradford!
Corinne Daise, National Merit Semi-Finalist!
Homework Request Information
When your student is absent from school, please encourage your student to reach out to teachers requesting assignments missed due to the absence. Certainly parents can also reach out to teachers, but part of becoming an independent learner is communication, being organized and advocating for yourself. If your student is experiencing a longer term absence (a week or more), our counselors are available to assist in this process.
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.
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.
shawneemissioncollegeclinic.com
Upcoming College Fairs:
• September 30th, 6:00-8:00 pm: Kansas City Area Christian College Fair at Maranatha Christian Academy, Shawnee, KS.
• October 9th, 6:00-8:30 pm: De Soto College Planning Night at DHS
• October 16th, 6:30-8:30 pm: Shawnee Mission College Clinic at Shawnee Mission East
• October 22nd, 8:30-11:30 am and 5-7 pm: Kansas City National College Fair at KC Convention Center, KCMO
College Credit Deadlines Approaching:
Students who are enrolled in DHS Classes that count toward college credit, need to be aware of the upcoming deadlines. Please visit the College Credit/Dual Enrollment page for more information.
- College Algebra at JCCC: October 4th
For more information on each of these programs and how to enroll please click here.
KSU Engineering Nights:
K-State Engineering is offering free events in the Kansas City area for high school students who are interested in the engineering field. For more information and to register for the event please visit: http://engg.k-state.edu/engineering-night.
- Thursday, October 10th: Shoal Creek Golf Course, Liberty area
- Thursday, November 7th: Kiewit, Lenexa, KS
- Tuesday, November 12th: Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, Independence, MO
Scholarship Information:
Looking for money to help pay for college? Check out the DHS Student Services Scholarship page! Throughout the year scholarships will be posted that are available to seniors. There is also a “Scholarship Search Tips” that can help aid the search process. Click here to go to the page.
College Visits:
If your student will be going on a college visit, students must fill out a College Visit Form. Forms are available in Student Services or online by clicking here. Students are to take the form with them on the day of the visit and bring it back signed by an admissions representative.
FAFSA Application Opening October 1st!
FAFSA Application Opening October 1st!
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opens October 1st. This is the form that current senior students and parents fill out for federal aid for college. Federal Aid comes in the form of Grants, Loans, and Scholarships.
If you are looking for assistance with the FAFSA, JCCC is offering an event. They are offering an opportunity for students to get FREE help with their FAFSA! The event is going to be Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 from 6:30-8:30 pm. This event is open to the public and will be held on the JCCC campus, in the Regnier Center. More event information including RSVP and a map can be found online: www.jccc.edu/freefafsa.
ACT Registration Deadline:
- The registration for the October 26th ACT is Friday, September 20th. To register for the ACT, students need to go to www.actstudent.org. DHS is a test center for this date.
- Seniors: Please keep in mind that the October and December ACT’s are the last test dates that KU and KSU will use for their university scholarships that they award.
- Additional test dates this year are: December 14th, February 8th, April 4th, June 13th, and July 18th.
Step-by-Step Through the FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is an essential tool when applying for scholarships, grants and loans for college. Filling out the FAFSA can be nerve-wracking and confusing. Don't Give Up! Jason Anderson, CommunityAmerica Credit Union's College and Career Consultant will walk you through the FAFSA line by line. This program will be presented at the following locations:
Wed, Sept 25th: 6-7:30pm @ Antioch Library 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Merriam
Mon, Oct 7th: 6-7:30pm @ Monticello Library 22435 W 66th St, Shawnee
Sandwiches and sides will be served starting at 5:30 pm. Register online https://www.jocolibrary.org/events or call 913-826-4600.
KSU Career Connections: Interior Design Event
On Thursday, September 19th, KSU is hosting an event for students and parents interested in learning about different career paths that are available in the Interior Design profession. The event is from 6p.m-8p.m. in Lenexa. Registration will begin at 6:00p.m. and the main event begins at 6:30p.m. This event is free to attend! To register for the event please visit http://www.k-state.edu/admissions/kccareers.html.
College Representatives Visiting In September: (2:20-3:00 in Student Services)
9/23: Baker
Important Notes from the Nurse
*** Letters were recently sent out to all families with students deemed non-compliant with the required immunizations. Please check with your family doctor to make certain USD 232 has the most recent copy of your child's immunizations. Doctors offices don't routinely send them to the school nurse, you must request a copy. In the past 36 hours the school has been having issues with the fax number. If your doctor sent your child's immunizations during this time frame please have your student bring them into the office. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Thank you!
Anne Lightcap BSN, RN
IMMUNIZATION UPDATE:
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has implemented a new vaccination requirement for the 2019-20 school year. For the upcoming school year, all students entering into their junior year need one dose of the meningococcal vaccine if they were not vaccinated prior to their 16th birthday. They will need TWO doses if their first dose was before their 16th birthday.
I will be notifying families of any students that DO NOT have the required vaccines on file, or have a religious or medical waiver on file to exempt their student.
USD 232 has extended the timeline for the required documentation. This vaccine must be documented or a medical/religious waiver be on file for your student by October 14th, 2019.
If you have record that your student has had this vaccine, please send in a copy, email mfarverlightcap@usd232.org or fax (913-667-6251). If your student has not had this vaccine please schedule an appointment with your pediatrician to discuss this vaccine before October 14th.
You may look this information up on Skyward family access under Health Info choose “Display Options” next to your student’s first name, select “Show Vaccinations”. Skyward will display which vaccinations are deemed Noncompliant.
Thank you! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Nurse Lightcap