Superintendent Ramblings
Lots of Good Stuff Happening!
LHS Students Visit Spain
Twenty-one Lyons High School students and five adults took a trip to Spain in March to visit a school and learn about life there. The group was able to visit a wide variety of historic and cultural sites. Next month, students and staff from Spain will visit Lyons. Our visitors will attend school and activities and visit sites of interest around central Kansas. This is the second year of the international exchange trip scheduled and sponsored by LHS Spanish teacher Roser Puig. Visitors on both sides of the ocean stay with host families while visiting.
New Salt Car at Salty Archer Field
The City of Lyons Community Development Coordinator's Office in conjunction with community partners has placed several salt cars around town to commemorate the imporanace of salt mining to the community's history. Former Community Development Coordinator Alisha Hommon coordinated the project through the Office of Rural Prosperity's public art grant. The grant helped to bring retired salt cars up from the Lyons Salt mine, sandblast and prime them, and then worked with local sponsors and artists to implement colorful designs before placing them around town. Lyons High School was one of the cooperating partners and received a car that was painted with the school colors and mascot and placed at the entrance to Salty Archer softball field on South Dinsmore. The old weathered signs will be replaced this spring.
AFJROTC Helps with Commodities Distribution
Each month, community volunteers gather at the First Baptist Church of Lyons to unload, unpack, repack, and distribute food. This month the Lyons High School Air Force Jr ROTC unit assisted. According to the commodities distribution coordinator Larry Dumler, the cadets "did a wonderful job, both inside and out. When they were asked to do something, it happened like clockwork." Approximately 100 families were assisted.
Lyons Students Compete at USA Wrestling State Tournament
Two Lyons students came away from the USA wrestling state tournament with medals. Gunner Beaver (3) earned 6th place in the 8 & under 67 pound division, and Gage Grizzle (6) earned 5th place in the 12 & under 105 pound division. Also qualifying for and competing at the state tournament were Ava Almanza (7), Landon Lewis (7), Taylor Baxter (8), Justin Lee (8), Kennedy Grizzle (10), and Nate Dold (11).
Former Park Elementary Teacher Dee Orth Selected to Kansas Teachers Hall of Fame
Retired Park Elementary teacher Dee Orth has been selected to the Kansas Teachers’ Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Mrs. Orth will be formally inducted during a ceremony in June in Dodge City. Mrs. Orth taught in Lyons elementary schools including South, Park, and Central for a total of 30 years. Prior to teaching in Lyons, she taught in Chase for 13 years. Former student Delaney Gibson said Mrs. Orth "is a super kind teacher who wants the best for all students." Teaching colleague Tina Ludwig stated, "Dee was the colleague you went to for all your reading questions because she could answer your questions and if she didn’t know, she’d do some research and find the answer." Former Park Elementary Principal John Cannon added, "Dee was an educator that every principal, teacher, student, parent and co-worker would want to interact with and have in their building."
Salty Archer Field Gets New Scoreboard
Salty Archer Softball Field at Lyons High School has a new much-needed scoreboard. The new scoreboard looks great and will be easier to read. The sign above the scoreboard will be repainted to improve the appearance even more.
Hall of Fame Holds Induction Ceremony
The 1997 3A 4-Speaker Debate State Champions were inducted. Team members include Lori (Church) Kopp, Zach McClure, Clint Colberg, Lacey Crowl, and Coach Ken Troyer.
The 1999 3A 4-Speaker Debate State Champions were inducted including McClure, Crowl, Jayson Tobias, Brook (Lippelmann) Walker, and Coach Ken Troyer.
The 2005 3A State Champion Improvised Duet Acting Team consisting of siblings Megan Dwyer-Shaffie and Casey Dwyer were inducted.
Three oustanding individual forensics students were also recognized.
Kara (Wilder) Murphy was a three-time State Champion and in three different events. She was the 3A State Champion in Prose in 2001, and doubled as State Champion in 2003 in Serious Solo Acting and Poetry.
Keenan Hogan was a two-time State Champion, winning the 3A Extemporaneous Speaking title back-to-back in 2007 and 2008. Keenan was also a National Merit Scholar.
Seth Peckham was also a two-time State Champion. He won back-to-back 3A State Championships in Extemporaneous Speaking in 2005 and 2006.
Zach McClure, a member of the 1997 and 1999 debate teams was also recognized for his prior induction into the Hall of Fame. Zach was a National Champion in Expository Speaking in 1999, a National Merit Scholar, and two-time 3A State Champion including Informative Speaking in 1998 and in Extemporaneous Speaking in 1999.
Ken Troyer was also recognized for coaching three state championship teams, including the 1997 and 1999 debate teams and the 2006 forensics team.
Pictured below standing:
Lacey Crowl, Brook Lippelmann, Ken Troyer, Jayson Tobias, Lori (Church) Kopp
Shown on Zoom in background:
Casey Dwyer, Megan Dwyer-Shaffie, and Clint Colberg
Spring Play Successful
The 2024 Lyons High School Spring Play, The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon had four showings including their dress rehearsal in front of the middle school student body on March 21, and shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There were many positive comments about the quality of the show. Congratulations to Director Ardynn Hershberger and the cast and crew!
Long-time Board of Education Member Gary Smith Resigns from Board
Gary Smith served nearly 15 years on the USD 405 Board of Education and recently announced his resignation from the board as his family is selling their Lyons home and moving. During his time on the board, the district built a new middle school, survived COVID, and started a project to replace four million dollars worth of 50-year-old HVAC systems, primarily at Lyons High School and Central Elementary. Gary served as the chairman of the HVAC Committee and was board president for several of his years of service.
Shown below: Gary Smith receiving a plaque recognizing his 15 years of service from USD 405 BOE President George Stover
Bowers Recognized with the El Potrillo Above & Beyond Award
Lyons High School Art Teacher Leah Bowers was recognized with the Above & Beyond Award for March. According to one of her two nominations, she was the ringleader and planner for a fundraiser for a fellow employee who is undergoing difficult times with a health situation. According to her other nomination, she organized a silent auction and gathered over 40 items for a silent auction that generated almost $6000.
Each month, the Above & Beyond honorees are given a $25 gift certificate to El Potrillo courtesy of the restaurant.
Other nominations for the month of March include: Stephanie Geeves, Ardynn Hershberger, Dan Reazin, Julie Tommer, Trish Stover, Swain Williams, and Laura Rhodes.