Decatur County Community High School
605 E Commercial St, Oberlin, KS 67749
September 15, 2024 (Schedule at the bottom, Skip What You Want)
Follow us on Twitter at @DCHSREDDEVILS or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Oberlin294/
Decatur community,
This past Friday night was the first football game in the three years that I have been here that I think I will truly remember the game. I remember my first game here a few years ago because of the 1000s (okay, dozens but definitiely multiple dozens) of kids running around everywhere, throwing balls, multiple crying, some fighting, and none watching a football game.
I will remember this past Friday because of the game, because of the resilience, because of heart that was shown by the coaches, the fans, and, most importantly, our boys. When the dust cleared, we had lost, but I tell you what, sometimes when you lose, you win.
Remember the movie Rocky? Spoiler alert. He lost. It is one of the most inspirational movies of all time, a tale of achievement and hope, even in defeat. He lost, but he had won over his cornermen, the entire crowd, his opponent, and most imortantly, himself.
Our boys won over their coaches, their crowd, their opponents, and, most importantly, themselves.
Their coaches are proud.
There was no one that was watching that wasn't proud or isn't super excited about the next game. Everyone in that crowd believes that we will be successful.
Their opponents found out that they were for real, and they must feel fortunate to have escaped with a win.
The boys know they can play, and they know they could have won. Their confidence level is high.
We lost, but in so many ways, we won, just like Rocky.
Now it's time to bounce back, learn from the loss, and grow. It's Rocky II time.
Spoiler alert. This time, he wins.
Shoutout to new business teacher Tamera Rice. Ms. Rice is teaching our Career and Life Planning course. This course brings so much application to what students will be doing with their lives and involves a lot of reflection and goal setting. She shared some of the goals that students had written along with other work, and they weren't just simple, "get a job" or "go to college" goals. While those existed, they were thorough, with some having well over 25 goals. I'm excited to see where this class can take us.
Shoutout to new ELL (English Language Learner) Coordinator Elaine Marcuson. Many of you know Mrs. Marcuson. She worked for the district years ago, and her boys graduated from DCHS with some of our current teachers. Mrs. Marcuson walked into my office one day late this summer looking to sub for us. When I saw ELL on her application, I couldn't help but ask for a bit more information. She has been in the same position with Cheylin, and we are very fortunate to add her to the district. I could write a whole message on the purpose and benefit of an ELL (sometimes known as ESL, or ESOL) coordinator, but I will leave it at the fact that it will be big for us. When I mentioned she would be joining the staff, the response from staff was ecstatic. Welcome aboard, Mrs. Marcuson.
Shoutout to the junior high band students. This past Friday night, the JH band students joined in with the pep band. Personally, I loved it. In a school our size, several of our band students end up on the football field or basketball court playing or even cheering. That takes away some of our band students. It was nice to have a big band present, and it was a great experience for our younger band members who really got a taste of what a pep band is all about.
Shoutout to our JH football team for their come from behind victory over Wallace County. Let's hope it is a precursor to next week's Homecoming game where the high school hosts Wallace County. It has been since October of 2021 that the JH last lost a football game, an incredible stretch that was put to the test last Thursday. Trailing at halftime, the boys pulled it together in the second half to win going away. You remember the close ones much more than you remember the easy ones.
Shoutout to new (kind of) science teacher Ladd Wendelin. Aside from hearing good things from students and staff about this science class, I looked over on Friday night and he was right there playing with the band. It has been great to see how involved he is throughout the school and community.
Shoutout to Mrs. Witt and her applied math students. When school started, the applied math class began preparing their resumes for mock interviews with me. Mrs. Witt has really instilled the value of a solid resume and all of the aspects that go along with it. I interviewed about half a dozen students this week, and I have about half a dozen more. I have been really impressed with the professionalism that each student has brought into my office to go along with the strength of their resumes. I spend about half an hour with each student, and it is one of my favorite activities of the year.
Shoutout to the JH volleyball team. The girls are off to a great start with dominant perfomances in both of their opening matchups while remaning unbeaten. We will hope that the trend continues in St. Francis. Great job ladies, and congratulations to our two new coaches Jasmine Olson and Bailey Brownawell on a great start to the season.
Shoutout to art teacher Anthony Marshall. I spent a class period with Mr. Marshall this past week. His students were working on some artistic vocabulary in their lesson. They were using Michelangelo as their source. Mr. Marshall was using strategies that we had just talked about in an inservice, and his focus was on having his students talk "academically." They had to describe the work, use examples, and have discussions using art vocabulary. It's not as simple as write a word and put it in a sentence. The process and technique he was using is very similar to the way babies learn to speak and older adults learn to talk in another language, a true immersion of the vocabulary. It may sound simple, but it is a master teacher strategy that is the mental weight lifting that pushes our kids to get smarter and retain knowledge.
Shoutout to all of the students that participated in the hall decoration contest. The theme this year was video games. Many of you will appreciate some of the retro games that were chosen as themes:
Freshmen: Space Invaders
Sophomores: Donkey Kong
Juniors: Tecmo Bowl
Seniors: Pac Man
Each hall brought back memories. Congratulations to the seniors for winning. We'll see if they can keep it going this week during the float competition.
Homecoming Week
Here's a peek at the week ahead:
Monday:
- Pajama Day
Tuesday:
- Spirit Animal Day
Wednesday:
- Classes Pick
Thursday:
- Dress Like Your Favorite Staff Member
- Pep Assembly & Bonfire starting at 6:30
- Float Building 7:30-9:00
Friday:
- Red Devil Gear
-Float Building
- Assembly 1:30
- Parade 2:30
- 7:00 Game
- King and Queen Coronation at Halftime
(Last year's Queen Ana Freeman pictured)
- Homecoming Dance following the game
Event Guidelines
Decatur Community:
Here is a reminder of the following policies at all home activities:
- Once inside the stadium/building, all students/children should remain in the stands during home activities. It will be the responsibility of parents/guardians to monitor their children during these events.
- 5th grade students and below should be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult at all activities.
- 6-8 grade students should be seated in the student section or with a parent or responsible adult.
- 9-12 grade students should be seated in the stands..All balls are to remain outside of the stadium and off school grounds.
- Students should not be running around or causing disruption to those trying to enjoy the game.
- Any recurring issues may result in the student/child being asked to leave.
DCHS has a supportive community that makes for a great environment at all home events, and we want to ensure an enjoyable and safe experience for everyone.
GO BIG RED!
The Addams' Family Musical
This year's musical will be the Addams' Family. The cast and crew auditioned this past week and will spend the next few months getting prepared for a show that has always been a popular high school musical in the state of Kansas. There will be more information coming out. For now, we will leave you with the some dates to plan for and a synopsis of the The Addams' Famiy Musical.
Dates: Saturday, November 16 @ 7:30
Sunday, November 17 @ 2:30
Synopsis: In its typical creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky fashion, the ghoulish Addams family is visiting the graveyard for an annual gathering of all family members, living dead, and undecided, to celebrate what it is to be an Addams. However, the family encounters an unforeseen obstacle when Wednesday decides to introduce her new “normal” boyfriend Lucas to the family. In protest, Uncle Fester enlists the help of the Addams’ ancestors to call an end to the young budding romance. As Wednesday admits that she is falling in love, Morticia, Gomez, and Pugsley worry about her changing ways. As the families of Wednesday and Lucas come together for dinner one fateful evening, chaos ensues and the two families find themselves admitting deep secrets and coming together in ways they never would have imagined. The Addams Family Broadway Musical tells the story of love and friendship through adversity, with a comical and macabre yet poignant spin.
Varsity Volleyball Season Record (3-9)
L vs Wheatland 25-23, 22-25, 14-24 (0-1)
L vs Hoxie 13-25, 22-25 (0-2)
W vs Quinter 25-16, 25-16 (1-2)
W vs Dighton 24-26, 25-21, 25-22 (2-2)
L vs Rawlins 21-25,14-25 (2-3)
W vs Rawlins 26-24, 14-25, 28-26 (3-3)
L vs Wallace County 16-25, 25-23, 15-25 (3-4)
L vs Cimarron 25-19, 11-25, 18-25 (3-5)
L vs Golden Plains 17-25, 23-25 (3-6)
L vs Wheatland 25-22, 24-26, 16-25 (3-7)
L vs St. Francis 17-25, 22-25 (3-8)
L vs Golden Plains 25-12, 21-25, 24-26 (3-9)
Decatur County Community Junior/Senior High School
Email: jholloway@usd294.org
Website: https://www.usd294.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/DCHS
Location: 605 East Commercial Street, Oberlin, KS, USA
Phone: 785-475-2231
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Decatur-Community-JrSr-High/372347636275932
Twitter: @DCHSREDDEVILS