Superintendent’s Ramblings

The Lyons schools and the Lyons Recreation Commission have a new set of portable, regulation soccer goals courtesy of Gonzalo and Esther Villasenor. The Villasenors are soccer fans and wanted to make sure that youth who wanted to play soccer had access to a set of regulation goals. The goals are currently located on the practice football field north of the high school.

Lyons High School students Will Miller, Deacon Showalter, and Sam Steele, along with two students from Little River High School, Treyton Olander and Tobias Jesseph, placed 4th in the nation in the LifeSmarts national competition held in Cincinnati last week. In addition, Sam Steele won a cash award for his digital poster. The team is coached by Rice County Special Services Cooperative Gifted and Talented teacher Tina Steinert, who was selected as the national LifeSmarts Coach of the Year!

LifeSmarts, the nation's premier consumer program, has never been more relevant. Entering its 29th year, LifeSmarts provides real-world education for students who learn about core consumer topics and develop critical thinking skills. Participants focus on five key topic areas: consumer rights and responsibilities, the environment, health and safety, personal finance, and technology. The goal of LifeSmarts is to create consumer savvy young people who will be well equipped for adult life in today's complex global marketplace.

Once again, the Lyons High School band proved how good they are by earning a load of I and II ratings at the State Instrumental Festival.

Outstanding (I) Ratings:
Kyrsten Young - Sophomore Flute
Mia Bryant - Junior Clarinet
Cherish Galliart - Sophomore Alto Sax
Jarrett Smith - Senior Tenor Sax
Gilberto Silva-Paez - Freshman Trombone
LHS Saxophone Quartet
LHS Percussion Ensemble (6 students)

Excellent (II) Ratings:
Merlin Behnke - Senior Alto Sax
Marianna Boese - Sophomore Horn
Zane Moore - Sophomore Trombone
Grant Buckley - Sophomore Marimba
LHS Brass Ensemble (17 students)

USD 405 Board of Education President George Stover has been elected to serve a two-year term on the Kansas State High School Activities Association Board of Directors, representing Boards of Education in Congressional District I, KSHSAA Division II (small schools). The Board of Directors is the legislative branch of the KSHSAA and meets twice per year in Topeka to review recommendations from various organizations and groups and set policies that govern middle school and high school sports and activities in the state. Congratulations, Mr. Stover!

The Lyons Middle School and Lyons High School bands held their spring concert on Thursday evening. The concert showcased solos, ensembles, and bands and was attended by approximately 800 family members and fans of the band. Congrats to all the musicians, director Andrew Scherer, and assistant director Chiton Brinson. Thank you to John and Mary Jo Berkheimer for their years of accompanying our soloists and to Dan Reazin for running the light and sound.

Approximately 200 attended the Athletic Banquet on Wednesday evening. Coaches and athletes from all sports were recognized. Most Outstanding Athletes were recognized as well. Caitlyn Belote was an all league selection in both volleyball and basketball and is a track and field standout. She has signed to play basketball at Sterling College. Ethan Luck is a 3-sport standout athlete.

The Air Force Junior ROTC fell onto some difficult times over the past couple of years. The Senior Aerospace Instructor had to resign a couple of years ago due to serious health issues. That put the LHS unit on probation because the Air Force requires two instructors. Then in January 2023, the remaining Aerospace Instructor resigned, leaving the unit without a single instructor. However, the unit will remain in place for 2023-24 because a new instructor has been hired to head the unit while the school continues its search for a second instructor.

Retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Angela Evans has been hired to take the helm beginning July 1. Currently, she is an instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center south of Hutchinson.

She has already met the cadets in the program and has already scheduled events with them, and she is assisting in the search for a second instructor. She also has AFJROTC experience as an instructor in the program in Colorado Springs.

The Lyons schools celebrated Cinco de Mayo with a variety of music, games, and food today. Pictured below are Central Elementary students waiting for their turn at the piñata!