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RELAY - February '24
Great Bend USD 428 - News and Highlights
![RELAY - February '24 Great Bend USD 428 - News and Highlights](https://cdn.smore.com/u/2071/977ec52315b121cdc52b6f3da7924730.jpg)
It is the goal of the monthly RELAY to connect our staff with news and highlights from across our schools and community. There are so many successes, positive stories, and virtual smiles to share!
We hope you enjoy this brief update. Take a moment to learn something new, celebrate with a colleague or friend, and pause to see the good happening all around you.
In this issue:
- Quick Reads
- BOE Luncheon Meeting Highlights from Riley
- Let's Celebrate - February Birthdays
- District Highlights
- Community Resources
Quick Reads
Mark your calendar!
Feb. 9 - GBHS Homecoming 🏀
Feb. 11 - Super Bowl Sunday 🏈
Feb. 12 - BOE Meeting at 5pm
Feb. 19-20 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Feb. 22 - 11:45am Dismissal
Feb. 23 - NO SCHOOL
Feb. 27 - BOE Luncheon Meeting at Park
Employee Referral Program
Personal referrals are the best way to find new employees!
With the launch of the Employee Referral Program, we're giving you a few more reasons to share job openings with your network of friends and family.
Click here to learn more about the $250 referral bonus!
Why I love my school!
We need your help compiling positive parent and staff testimonials for Public Schools Week which will take place in late February. Please take a minute to complete the brief survey, link below, and share a photo of your family, you and your coworkers, your child, etc. that we can use to accompany your words on social media.
I'm happy to answer any questions you might have! Please respond by February 9, 2024.
We want to hear from you! Click here to submit a brief testimonial!
ALL IN GREAT BEND!
Thanks to the team members who shared their ALL IN stickers in action!
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ALL IN Great Bend is meant to encourage a mindset of collaboration and a shared investment in our students, families, and community. 'All In' also applies to our school culture and how we support you from the district office, as well as how you support each other in your classrooms and buildings. Collaboration will be at the heart of everything we do because when we work together, we can achieve extraordinary results.
If you have not received a t-shirt, please email Andrea Bauer with your shirt size and building location. We have shirts available in sizes L - 3X. Thanks!
School & Community News
Save the Date!
As we prepare for the expansion of Little Panthers Preschool (opening in August of 2024 with up to 288 spots!), the Pre-Enrollment fair is right around the corner. If you have a young learner in your household, be sure to save the date of April 10 and join us for the Preschool & Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment Fair.
More information will be provided soon. Below, please enjoy a few photos of Little Panthers Preschool staff touring the new building last week!
Entry/Lobby at new LPP & District Offices
Preschool Hallway
Preschool Classroom
Great Bend High School Thespian Students Shine at Kansas Thespian Conference
Theatre students from Great Bend High School recently attended the prestigious Kansas Thespian Conference in Wichita, Jan 5-7. This annual event brought together aspiring thespians from across the state, providing them with a unique opportunity to showcase their skills, learn from industry professionals, and compete in various categories.
To earn the distinguished title of Thespian, students had to accumulate 100 hours or earn 10 points of theatre experience. Great Bend High School proudly took eight troop members to represent their program.
The conference schedule included enriching activities designed to inspire and educate the next generation of theatre professionals. Attendees watched three performances from schools across Kansas, carefully selected by judges from the Kansas Thespian Committee.
One of the highlights of the conference was the opportunity for students to participate in auditions for scholarships, visit college booths, attend additional shows, or take classes led by industry professionals. These classes provided valuable insights into the world of theatre and offered a glimpse into the various career paths available to aspiring performers.
The evenings were filled with excitement as students from across Kansas engaged in friendly competitions. Great Bend High School Thespian students showcased their exceptional teamwork and creativity, earning a 2nd place trophy for creative costuming.
The creative costuming competition involved teams working collaboratively to create a costume from a bag of unknown items, showcasing their ingenuity and adaptability. The GBHS team members were Sheridan Johnson, Ellie Damm, Emery Meza, and Anna Bitter.
Holly Johnson, GBHS Theatre Teacher, expressed pride in the achievements of her students, stating, "We are incredibly proud of our theatre students for representing our school with such dedication and creativity. The Kansas Thespian Conference was a valuable experience that not only enhanced their skills but also opened doors to future opportunities in the theatre industry."
There are several exciting events on the horizon for the GBHS Theatre Department. “The Play that Goes Wrong” is their next production, scheduled for February 16-18. In March, the Advanced Theatre students will take their first department trip to Branson, MO where students will gain industry and career insight into performing arts, arts management, set design, audio-visual production, as well as perform at Silver Dollar City. Students are currently fundraising to cover the costs of the theatre trip. For more information, please contact Holly Johnson, GBHS Theatre Department at 620-793-1521.
Up Next for GBHS Theatre
GBHS Theatre presents "The Play That Goes Wrong"
Feb. 16 @ 7pm, Feb. 17 @ 2pm & 7pm
$5 advanced tickets, $7 at the door
You all know the classic whodunnit story, there has been a murder at a country manor, and an inspector is set on the case to find who the culprit is. However, when this plot is given to the accident-prone thespians at The Cornley Drama Society, everything that can go wrong… does!
Board of Education Meets at Riley
On Thursday, January 26th Beth Rein, principal of Riley Elementary, greeted the Board of Education Members with a "Donut you love Riley" themed report. The information included "good things," celebrating academic and social-emotional gains, as well as a review of Rocket Math, and an empowering launch by Mrs. McCulley's kindergarten students.
BOE members also heard a report from English Language Teachers, Kelsey Scheuerman & Traci Miller, about the KELPA (Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment) that will be administered to 135 students during the week of Jan. 29 - Feb. 2. For Scheuerman & Miller, preparation for KELPA is a year-round effort. Not only do they focus on language skills, but also on preparing students for the test platforms and process. They look forward to celebrating results with their students in the weeks ahead.
The meeting closed with a few words from Panha Phall, a fourth-grader at Riley whose family is from Cambodia. Panha shared what he loves most about Riley, which included the kindness and acceptance he feels from students and staff. He then shared a sweet treat, a box of donuts from his family's store - Daylight Donuts, with each BOE member.
Grants & Contributions:
- GBHS Drama Club wishes to accept $1,000 from Scooter’s Coffee to be used towards the Advanced Theatre trip.
- Central Baptist Church wishes to contribute $200 to Lincoln Elementary School for unpaid student lunch accounts.
- GBMS Booster Club wishes to contribute $100 to the GBMS Library for trivia prizes.
GBHS Security Camera Proposal - Unanimously Approved
The BOE unanimously approved the purchase of Verkada security cameras for Great Bend High School. CommLink IT provided a $20,000 discount for a total purchase price of $202,793.99. This will replace all aging cameras and monitoring systems at GBHS with a high-quality system, one management/monitoring platform, and enhanced tools and features to support student safety and security.
Let's Celebrate!
Cody Cale receives R.O.S.E. Award
Cody Cale, District Support Specialist, is nominated for the R.O.S.E. Award. Cody was at a varsity basketball game and noticed a person in distress was turning blue as they exhibited the universal sign of choking. Cody quickly proceeded to perform the Heimlich maneuver to eject a throat obstruction. Cody’s quick response and knowledge of the maneuver changed a dangerous situation into a positive ending. Thank you, Cody, for being present and knowing how to respond!
The Board of Education’s continuing efforts to recognize individuals or groups for their services to the school district, the R.O.S.E. (Recognizing Outstanding Support of Education) Award was created.
Welcome, baby Loralai!
Matt and Leah Yancey are thrilled to introduce, Loralai Annisue! She was born on December 19, 6 lbs 6oz and 17 inches. Big brothers Ian & Kolten are ready to spoil their sweet baby sister.
Leah is the Library Tech Specialist at Riley Elementary School. Congratulations, Yancey Family!
GBHS Alum receives Horizon Award
Morgan Kaiser, Valley Center High School business teacher was named a 2024 Horizon Award winner by the Kansas State Department of Education earlier this month. Kaiser is a graduate of Great Bend High School.
The Horizon Award is a program developed by the Kansas State Department of Education that honors and recognizes exemplary first-year teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding. The program is a regional competition with four regions corresponding to the state’s U.S. Congressional districts. Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each region, for a possible total of 32 teachers in Kansas."
The Horizon Award is becoming a tradition for GBHS alumni as well as Valley Center. Aaron Miller, also a GBHS graduate and teacher at Valley Center, received the award last year. He and Morgan Kaiser are pictured together below.
Eisenhower mural celebrates the life of former custodian, Joe Murphy
After "retiring" from Midwest Energy after a 30 year career as a technical systems coordinator, Murphy began a second career at Eisenhower as a custodian where he worked for 20 years until the age of 77. Murphy passed away on October 31, 2023 and the family designated Eisenhower Elementary as a beneficiary of memorials collected in his honor. A dedication reception was hosted on January 31, bringing together past and present Eisenhower staff as well as Joe's sons, Patrick (of Wichita) and Mark (of Olathe) for the celebration.
Abby Jonas, principal, and Tricia Reiser, former principal, offered remarks about Joe's dedication to his job and the students and staff he served. The mural was painted in December during Winter Break by Anna Popp, Great Bend native. Jonas extended her appreciation to the Murphy family as well as the Eisenhower PTO for their assistance in bringing this mural to life for students to enjoy for decades to come.
Former Eisenhower staff in attendance.
Do you have a celebration to share?
Molly Brown's KTOY Team Visits USD 428!
Park Elementary School Celebrates Earth Day
District Leadership Team Collaboration & Teambuilding
Explore Great Bend Calendar of Events
Be sure to follow Explore Great Bend on Facebook for news and events!
I Love Great Bend Month
(Please note all stores have various hours - it is happening during their open hours from Feb. 1 - 24, 2024!
Camp Hope Fundraiser at Barton
Support Camp Hope and show your COUGAR pride! Purchase a $12 t-shirt and receive two free GA tickets to the Barton vs. Hutchinson basketball games on 3/2/24. All proceeds benefit Camp Hope.
Return the Order Form to Heather Panning by Feb. 14, 2024.
Barton Theatre Presents: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Jeremy Sams
Make plans to attend the spring musical production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The production includes several USD 428 staff members and students.
Performance Schedule:
- Feb. 29 & March 1 @ 7:30pm
- March 2 - 2pm & 7:30pm
- March 3 - 2pm
Tickets can be purchased at shows.bartonccc.edu
USD 428 Staff 10% Discount
GB Car Care is proud to offer USD 428 staff a year-round 10% discount on all interior and exterior detailing services.
Make a Difference Contest
ONE LUCKY STUDENT WILL BE SELECTED EACH MONTH THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR TO WIN AN AWESOME PRIZE PACKAGE. Click Here to submit an entry!
Share Your Stories and Activities!
It only takes a few minutes to share the GREAT things happening in your classroom! Email high-resolution photos and a quick caption and we'll share it with the community on social media!
Quick Photo Caption:
"Students are learning _______________, by doing ______________."
Submit News to media@usd428.net.
Connect with USD 428
Email: media@usd428.net
Website: www.GreatBendSchools.net
Location: 201 South Patton Road, Great Bend, KS, USA
Phone: 620-793-1500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/USD428/