![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-65675d4a72ef8d0ca1e96d14-8a05a9d617ac.jpg)
![Logo](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/6c86/thumb-313a6c1414921c9aa0ffa97e4d49f014.png)
RELAY - December '23
Great Bend USD 428 - News and Highlights
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
- Trophies to the Table
- GBMS Winter Clothing Drive
- 2024 Cram the Van Results
- Let's Celebrate - December Birthdays
- District Highlights
- Community Resources
Quick Reads
Mark your calendar!
- Dec. 21 - End of the 2nd Quarter/1st Semester
- Dec. 22-Jan. 1 - No School, Winter Break
- January 2 - Teacher Work Day
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 personal network of friends and family.
Click here to learn more about the $250 referral bonus!
ALL IN Challenge - Random Act of Kindness
Our ALL IN Challenge for December is to complete a Random Act of Kindness. Consider how you might brighten the day for a coworker, student, or parent. We've included a few ideas below, but feel free to get creative!
Random Act of Kindness Ideas:
- Write a handwritten note to a coworker or student to celebrate a small win.
- Leave a candy cane or a sweet treat on someone's desk.
- Pick up an extra coffee or Sonic drink to share with a friend.
- Send a positive SeeSaw Message, email, or phone call to a parent.
- Make it a point to say "hello" and greet coworkers or students with a smile.
- Click here for more ideas!
📣Tell us how it went! Snap a photo or send a quick snippet to media@usd428.net. We'll return a few random acts of kindness as well!
-------------------------------------------------------------
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!
2023-2024 Staff Photo Directory
The 2023-2024 Staff Photo Directory is now available. You may want to bookmark this link for quick reference.
*Pro Tip: After opening the PDF, you can quickly search for a person by using the CTRL+F shortcut in the PDF.
BOE Meeting Highlights
From the Monthly Luncheon Meeting hosted by Jefferson Elementary on November 29
The monthly luncheon meeting began with a building report by Principal, Adam Niedens. 2nd-Grade was up first with Crew Wells leading BOE members and admins in a classroom game and may be used in a "morning meeting" which is a strategy to get kids engaged with each other and ready to start the school day.
Jefferson's presentations included:
- Special Education - Students from Ms. Davis' Alternative Learning Classroom shared details about their fresh fruit and veggie delivery program where students take snacks to Jefferson classrooms each afternoon. This program gives students a meaningful opportunity to develop social interaction skills, communication, and responsibility.
- Kindergarten - Students from Mrs. Westerhaus' kindergarten class shared "turkey jokes" they wrote earlier this month. They provided a laugh and a great example of making learning fun!
- Second Grade - Up first, Mrs. Herter's students shared part one of their recent turkey projects, writing clues to describe their favorite Thanksgiving foods. Mrs. Smith's students were up next with part two - creatively disguised turkeys with clues to discover which turkey went with each student.
- Fifth Grade - Students presented their recent research and poster projects on Food Webs and Native American Culture. The presentations were thoughtful and the posters were very creative.
- Sixth Grade - Excited by science, students demonstrated a recent "Germ Investigation" lab where they traced a hypothetical outbreak of strep throat back to patient zero. A handwashing unit using a "germ solution" and UV light helps illustrate how germs are spread and proper handwashing tips.
- STUCO - Members of the Student Council shared details about their re-imagined Veteran's Day celebration that led Veterans through the school in a "hollywood walk of fame" style event. Classrooms decorated the hallways with posters and cards, and kindergarten even shared a special song for them.
Mr. Niedens and Mrs. Beck, the instructional coach at Jefferson, wrapped up the meeting with some building stats and
- Daily Attendance Rate at Jefferson is 96%
- BLT is focusing on developing a successful behavior model to address chronic behavior issues and documenting those processes in Skyward for data collection and evaluation.
- Mr. Niedens talked about Jefferson's Capturing Kids' Hearts Activity Days. Once a month, he hosts a team-building activity where students work as a class or in groups as well as engaging with other adults in the building. These days have a positive response from students, connect to Jefferson's behavior model, and match the "focus word of the month."
- Benchmarking and Progress Monitoring - Mrs. Beck updated the board on benchmarking status and shared details about how students are getting involved in their own goal setting, physical graphing of their own results, and working with a growth mindset as they continue to build skills.
Kinders tell turkey jokes
2nd Grade Turkeys in Disguise
Students share about snack deliveries
4th Grade Research Projects
2nd Grade Disguised Turkeys
6th Grade Germ Investigation
Grants & Contributions Approved:
Lincoln Elementary:
- The Gifting Forward Foundation wishes to contribute a $250 Cram the Van prize for 3rd place to Lincoln Elementary.
- Holly Tittel, GBMS Librarian, wishes to apply for and receive a $500 grant from Midwest Energy, Inc. Community Fund for the middle school library.
- Amy Stein, GBMS STEM teacher, wishes to apply for and receive a grant for $528.21 from the Kansas Gas Donor Choice Project to purchase two Sphero Robots.
- Amy Stein, GBMS STEM teacher, wishes to apply for and receive a $575 “Giving Tuesday” Grant funded equally between a Columbia MO donor and the Donor’s Choose Network to purchase a 3D printer and filament.
GBHS:
- Athletics $1,050 for Touchdown Incentives from Marmie Motors Auto Group
- GBHS Band $1,063 from band parent's concession sales
- GBHS Athletics $53.97 Ohiopyle Prints
- Drama Club $488.74 Pizza Hut “Pizza Night Fundraiser”
Personnel Report
Licensed Appointments:
Ms. Kaylee Unruh, contracted substitute teacher
Other Business
The BOE also held two executive sessions,
- First, to discuss student discipline pursuant to the exception relating to actions adversely or favorably affecting a student under KOMA.
- Second, to discuss an individual employee’s performance pursuant to non-elected personnel exception under KOMA.
School & Community News
Trophies to the Table
MPIRE Realty Group and Kansas Trophy Experience partner with USD 428 to Provide Locally Harvested Meat to Families this Holiday Season
MPIRE Realty Group and Kansas Trophy Experience initiated a new collaboration with USD 428 to bring the gift of fresh, local meat to the tables of families in the community this holiday season. Thanks to the generosity of these partners, venison (deer meat) harvested throughout hunting experiences will be processed by B&B Quality Meats in Larned, KS, and then donated to families within the USD 428 school district.
The first distribution date was held on Monday, November 20th, where 200 lbs of frozen meat packaged in 1lb bags was distributed in less than 15 minutes.
“We had about 200 pounds ready to go for the first round,” said Trevor Olsen, owner and guide with Kansas Trophy Experience, “and it’s still early in the deer season.”
Olsen has been a hunting guide for over 13 years, facilitating wild game donations throughout that time for out-of-state hunters.
“Trophies to Tables gives us a specific destination and a way to deliver the meat to those who need it and will use it,” said Olsen.
Rachel Thexton, a counselor at Great Bend High School, expressed her gratitude, stating, "This is a blessing that came at the right time. The holidays can be hard for some families, and we appreciate the generous people at MPIRE Realty and Kansas Trophy Experience who have stepped up to help."
Thexton, who also serves as a core volunteer for Great Bend High School's Panther Pantry and Hygiene Closet – a resource providing food and personal care items to students in need – underscores the positive impact of such community-driven initiatives.
More distribution events will be held as meat is processed and becomes available. Families and staff will be notified via email.
GBMS Stuco launches Winter Clothing Drive
GBMS is excited to announce a special initiative in collaboration with the Family Crisis Center and the GBMS Student Council—the Winter Clothing Drive.
From December 1st to December 20th, GBMS invites you and your family to participate in this heartwarming effort by donating gently used or new coats, winter hats, and gloves of all sizes—from infant to adult. Together with the Family Crisis Center, GBMS Stuco aims to make a positive impact on the community, bringing joy and warmth to families in need during the Christmas season.
- What to Donate: Gently used or new coats, winter hats or earmuffs, and gloves of all sizes.
- Drop-off Location: Great Bend Middle School
- Duration: December 1st to December 21st
This collaborative effort will not only benefit those in need but will also support the Family Crisis Center's free clothing storefront, creating a softer and warmer space for those seeking assistance. We encourage you to clean out your storage closets and find those old coats that could use a new home. Every contribution, big or small, makes a meaningful impact. Let's come together as a community, guided by the spirit of giving and kindness.
Thank you for your support in making this winter a little warmer for everyone. Together, as the Great Bend Middle School Student Council and the Family Crisis Center, we can spread the spirit of giving and make a positive impact on our community.
Wishing you and your family a joyful holiday season!
2024 Cram the Van Results
Wheatland Electric recently announced the results from the 2024 Cram the Van Food Drive. Lincoln was the TOP collector in USD 428 with a total of 1,660 lbs. Today we want to celebrate ALL our buildings and the collective impact we made as a district. Together, our schools collected a total of 4,240 lbs of non-perishable food for the Barton County Food Bank.
Your participation and donations mean so much to the families served.
Lincoln received 3rd Place* in the pounds per student out of all Great Bend Schools - Congratulations!
(*Competition includes private schools and the homeschool coop).
- Lincoln - 1,660 lbs
- Jefferson - 780 lbs
- Riley - 760 lbs
- Eisenhower - 200 lbs
- Park - 200 lbs
- Preschool - LPP & Helping Hands - 420 lbs
- GBMS - 220 lbs
Total USD 428 - 4,240 lbs
Shannon Wedel named KAEA Overall Art Educator of the Year
We’re beyond proud of Shannon Wedel who has been named the 2023 Overall Art Educator of the Year by the Kansas Art Education Association!
Share your congratulations below!
Read more: https://www.gbtribune.com/.../wedel-earns-outstanding.../
Do you have a celebration to share?
GBHS Art Club boosts holiday spirits downtown!
GBHS NHS
Vocal Music Showcase, Nov. 8 @ Senior Center
2023 Cram the Van - Lincoln Lions claim 3rd place!
Subs night out!
Substitute Teachers gathered for a social event after hours in November. Thanks for all your work!
GBMS Band Members (pic above), GBMS Orchestra (pic below)
Sneak Peek - GB Reads launches January 8!
Explore Great Bend Calendar of Events
Be sure to follow Explore Great Bend on Facebook for news and events!
Christmas in Great Bend
Get out and enjoy the Holidays in Great Bend!
- Dolly Trolly Holiday Lights Tour - limited FREE tickets are available, view their Facebook Page (Click Here) for cancelations and more information.
- Trail of Lights
- Free Ice Skating in Downtown Great Bend
- Window Decorating Contest - Vote before Dec. 3rd for the People's Choice Award at the Rosewood Bargain Barn - 1215 Main St.
GB Rec Hosts Santa's Workshop Dec. 4
Step into the North Pole and join Santa Claus for an evening of holiday fun!
Bring your letters for Santa. This event is designed for children Preschool age thru 6th grade.
- When: December 4
- Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
- Where: City Auditorium (1214 Stone St.)
- Cost: Admission is free.
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/