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Wildcat Growl
September 5, 2022
Our Vision:
De Soto High School ensures all students learn at a high level and have a positive sense of belonging, developing each student to be ready for their future.
Principal's Message
Wildcat Family,
We hope you enjoyed the Labor Day weekend.
We would like to continue to recognize our new Wildcat staff. This week we welcome Sue Smith, Jacob Penner, and Mikki Gotham to DHS. Mrs. Smith teaches French and Study Skills. Mr. Penner teaches World Geography and AVID. Mrs. Gotham teaches Art. We are excited they are part of our team.
Picture retakes will take place Wednesday, September 7th during the 4th block class. Students will need to make their way to the Blackbox during their lunch if they need picture retakes.
The Breakfast Club: DHS will offer morning homework assistance in the areas of math and English beginning Thursday, September 8th. Math and English teachers will run the sessions from 7:00 am - 7:30 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a light breakfast provided to students in attendance. Check out the flyer below for more information.
Home Game Parking: This Friday we will host the first varsity football game of the season. We ask that all Wildcat fans park/tailgate in the DHS parking lot on the south side of the tennis courts and use the south gate. We’ve communicated to all of our visiting schools to park at Lexington Trails. Thank you.
Homecoming week begins Monday, September 12th. Fun activities are planned to take place all week long, ending with the dance on Saturday, September 17th. More information is included in this newsletter or can be found on our website, here.
We hope to see you at Parent-Teacher Conferences. The conferences will be held on Wednesday, September 28th from 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm, and Thursday, September 29th from 9:30 am – 8:00 pm.
Wednesday conferences will take place at DHS in person in the commons and the aux. gym. This open format allows parents to stop by tables as teachers become available throughout the evening.
Thursday conferences will take place by appointment in both a virtual and in-person format based on the needs of the parent. Look for an online invitation from teachers to sign-up for Thursday conference times.
Conferences are a great opportunity for parents to get early feedback and collaborate on the success of their students. Please note that teachers will be unavailable on Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:00, and Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 in order to eat. Thank you.
Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Kaul are hosting a PSAT prep Camp in the weeks leading up to the PSAT. The purpose of the camp is to help students maximize their score potential. Sophomore and Junior students taking the PSAT in October may want to check it out. Detailed information is included in this newsletter.
Thanks, and have a great week!
Sam Ruff
Principal
De Soto High School
Attendance Procedure and Tips
We want to share some important information and reminders for parents. During the summer, we added a new Attendance Office to the north student entrance (door #21). This new student-only entrance/exit will be where students should be dropped off or picked up during the school day (7:50 am - 2:55 pm). Visitors will continue to use the Main Entrance on the south side of the building.
Please remember to call DHS, before 10:00 am on the day of an absence if your student is absent. You can also call in a prearranged absence ahead of time. The 24-hour attendance voicemail is 913-667-6259. We also ask that students missing school due to a physician/medical/dental appointment verify the appointment by turning in an appointment note/slip from the healthcare provider. This helps us ensure the absence is excused rather than considered a parent request. Students can turn the note in to the attendance office when they return from the appointment.
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 a self-directed 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.
School Meals
KC Metro College Fair:
The KC Metro College Fair is an excellent opportunity for all high students to visit with college reps from over 85 colleges. Financial aid presentations are also available. Students who attend may enter to win prizes, including a MacBook and Amazon gift cards. The college fair will take place at Olathe North on September 12th, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 PM.
Need to contact the Counselors?
DHS Counselors and Social Worker
Crissy Johns (A-G): CJohns@usd232.org
Abbey Heller (H-N): aheller@usd232.org
Kaitlin Britt (O-Z): KBritt@usd232.org
Joe Kordalski (Social Worker): Rkordalski@usd232.org
Cat Booster Club
Securly App
Parents can have peace of mind in knowing your student’s search history and time on their device. See your student’s online activity in real-time and catch up with weekly email snapshots by signing up with the Securly app. Follow the link for more information and directions.