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Wildcat Growl
April 23, 2023
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
Dear Wildcats and Families,
We are thrilled to announce the following students as the 2023 Prom Candidates: Adrianna D'Andrea, Olivia Baker, Elvia Nino-Elliott, Jabriann Wakes, Tate Atkinson, Gavin Kraxner, Christian Nelson, and Dillon Stanley. Congratulations!
We are delighted to share that Adrianna D'Andrea and Christian Nelson were crowned at the coronation ceremony held on Friday, April 21st. Congratulations to all of our Prom Candidates!
We would like to extend our gratitude to our Pep Club members and sponsors, Katie Fitzpatrick and Melissa Lehrman, for helping our students organize and plan the assembly. We also want to congratulate Pedro Carrillo Ortega for earning recognition as the "Kindness Ambassador" at DHS.
We are proud to announce that two DHS bands participated in the KSHSAA's State Large Group Festival last week. Our Wind Ensemble received a 1 rating, and our Symphonic band received a 2 rating. Congratulations to Matt Bradford, Phillip Kaul, and all the DHS instrumentalists!
Our Wildcat Choirs also participated in the KSHSAA event and received Excellent (2) ratings. Way to go, Mindy Fry and all the Wildcat singers!
Congratulations to Violet Conley, the newly elected 2023-24 Student Council President, and Maya Rozelle, the new Vice President.
We are excited to celebrate our Kansas Bowling Coaches Association All-State Bowlers, Colby Lovegren and Antonio Miranda.
Remember that there will be no school on Monday, April 24th.
We are pleased to invite the entire community to DHS on April 26th for Spotlight-DHS. This event will take place from 6-8:30 pm and is designed for our students to show off and celebrate their achievements and hard work. The senior showcase will begin at 7:30 in the PAC. This event promises to be a memorable one filled with performances, academic demonstrations, and recognition of our senior students' postsecondary plans.
We cannot stress enough the importance of regular school attendance. Consistent attendance is vital for students' academic and social development. Regular attendance ensures that students do not miss critical instruction, assignments, and assessments that can impact their academic success. Furthermore, being present in the classroom helps students build positive relationships with their peers and teachers, leading to a sense of belonging and improved mental health. Additionally, consistent attendance teaches students the value of responsibility and punctuality, skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Therefore, it is essential that students attend school regularly to maximize their potential and set themselves up for success.
Lastly, we are happy to announce that Ice Cream and Cram will return to DHS beginning May 8th through the 11th. Teachers and tutors will be available after school from 3:00-4:00 PM in the Union to provide assistance to any student in attendance. This is a fantastic opportunity to spend time with others preparing for Final Exams.
Thank you for your attention, and we wish you a great week.
Sincerely,
Sam Ruff
Principal, De Soto High School
Wednesday April 26th Collaborative Team Late Start
Making a Difference Award
Making a Difference Award
Nominations are currently accepted for the Making a Difference Award. All staff members are eligible to receive this award. Making a Difference nomination form > https://bit.ly/USD232MAD
2022-2023 Band and Choir Results: Solo and Ensemble Festival
Band Results:
Superior (I) Ratings
Solos
- Maggie Stelzer, flute
- Trever Tilton, flute
- Addie Warnes, alto sax
- Jackson Langford, tenor sax
- Cole Bichelmeyer, trumpet
- Anna D’Andrea, trumpet
- Tristan Feener, trumpet
- Nic Weaver, trumpet
- Aidan Hamer, trombone
- Nick Maskil, trombone
- Dylan Handley, euphonium
- Makayla Carroll, bass
- Sam Vogel, drums
Ensembles
- Clarinet Choir I
- Sax Quartet I
- Sax Quartet II
- Sax Quartet III
- Brass Quintet I
- Trombone Quartet I
- Brass Quintet II
- Trumpet Quartet I
- Trumpet Quartet III
- Percussion Trio
- Percussion Quartet
- Percussion Sextet
Excellent (II) Ratings
Solos
- Alyssa McNemee, flute
- Fin Smajda, oboe
- Sydney Moore, clarinet
- Reid Kalkman, marimba
- Emma Fullmer, marimba
- Ben Stelzer, vibraphone
Ensembles
- Flute Quartet I
- Clarinet Choir II
- Trumpet Quartet II
- High Brass Trio
- Trombone Quartet II
- Low Brass Trio
Choir Results:
Superior (I) Ratings
Solos
- Rose Rulifson - treble solo
- De Soto Voce - mixed ensemble
- De Soto Descants - treble ensemble
Excellent (II) Ratings
Solos
- Ellie Dossett - treble solo
- Alexis Marchand - treble solo
Ensembles
- Wildcat Singers - tenor bass ensemble
- De Soto Treble Choir - treble ensemble
Great job, everyone!
2023 Kansas High School Stock Pitch Challenge
First Place: Wildcat Accounting – De Soto HS
Accounting 2 students - Nick Budimlija, Evan Marincovich, Alonso Gamboa and Nate Meyer
Goal of the Competition
The Kansas High School Stock Pitch Challenge is a scholarship competition that invites all Kansas High School students to compete and learn about stock investing. Students work in teams of up to five with access to resources to guide them through the competition. The competition aims to teach students about stock analysis, finance, and investment while developing essential teamwork and communications skills.
The competition is hosted by Kansas State University College of Business Administration’s Department of Finance and Center for Principled Business. Scholarship prizes are awarded as follows:
1st Place team members will each receive $1,000 in K-State Scholarships.
2nd Place team members will each receive $750 in K-State Scholarships.
3rd Place team members will each receive $500 in K-State Scholarships.
Overview
Each team will write a report on their chosen company, with buy and sell recommendations. They will submit the report two times and receive feedback from judges each time to improve the report. The final report will include approximately three months of stock tracking for an overall buy/sell recommendation.
The top teams will be invited to visit campus on April 28 to learn more about Kansas State University and opportunities for aspiring business leaders.
Attendance Information
We want to share some important information and reminders for parents. 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.
School Meals
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.
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
DHS Senior Only Scholarships
Scholarships for the De Soto High School Class of 2023 are now available. All applications can be found at https://www.usd232.org/Page/3287. Please follow the instructions for each individual application and submit by the deadline. All scholarship winners will be announced at the Senior Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023.
· Jess Johnson Scholarship (Rotary Club): Deadline April 30
Kansas ScholarShop
In partnership with Sallie Mae, Kansas State Treasurer’s office has launched the Kansas ScholarShop initiative. ScholarShop aims to restore hope and excitement for students seeking educational and career advancement after high school. With access to 6 million scholarships worth up to $30 billion; students can search and find scholarships, grants and awards tailored specifically to their deepest passions. For more information visit: https://kansascash.ks.gov/scholarshop.html
UMKC 2023 Pharmacy Summer Camp!
UMKC is hosting a a one-day, activity-packed experience giving students a glimpse of not only what it's like to be a pharmacist, but also an opportunity to see firsthand what it's like to study at one of our three UMKC Pharmacy campuses providing hands-on exercises and the ability to learn about the wide variety of pharmacy career practice areas! Any student who has completed 9th grade or above, current college students, or individuals looking for career change are encouraged to attend! The cost is $40 and students can choose from one of the following locations:
- Friday, June 2, Columbia, MO (University of Missouri Campus)
- Friday, June 16, Springfield, MO (Missouri State University Brick City Campus)
- Friday, June 23, Kansas City, MO (UMKC Health Sciences Campus)
For more information, visit UMKC Pharmacy Summer Camp
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.