The summer is nearing an end once again and I hope it’s been
a time of rejuvenation for all of you as it was for me. Ending the 2015-2016
school year only a few months ago was a troubling time. The Supreme Court ruled
the school finance formula unconstitutional and gave the legislature until the
end of June to fix it or schools could be closed. Fortunately, a legislative
compromise was found and signed into law and districts are moving forward
preparing schools for the upcoming school year. Your support of the schools
made a huge difference and is appreciated. Thank you for your continued support
of USD 331 schools.
On behalf of the USD 331 Board of Education, faculty, and
staff, I want to welcome ALL students and parents to USD 331 and Kingman and
Norwich Schools. We all hope the upcoming school year will be fun, challenging,
and a period of great growth for our students. Many teachers continued their
professional learning to develop new skills over the summer. Custodial and
maintenance staff cleaned, repaired, and updated facilities and other staff
made additional preparations to make the upcoming school year a great one for
our students. Enrollment has been completed and teachers and staff will
return for additional in-service professional learning. Returning students will
be returning to move up a grade and, as always, new students and families will
enter USD 331 schools for the first time as school begins for grades K-12 on
Wednesday, August 17th. The USD 331 faculty and staff are excited to
meet their students for another school year.
What is new this year? The past couple of years the
Commissioner of Education, Dr. Randy Watson and staff from the Kansas State
Department of Education went across the state to numerous communities to get
input from parents, patrons, and business people on what they saw as important
in education. From that data, the Kansas State Board of Education developed a
vision for the state and developed student outcomes and those are being
implemented beginning this school year. The five outcomes are 1) kindergarten
readiness, 2) increasing graduation rates, 3) increasing the percent of
students completing a credential or pursuing postsecondary education, 4)
development of and individual plan of study focused on career interest, and 5)
social/emotional factors relative to student success measured locally. In
addition to the USD 331 Board of Education beginning the process to update the
District Strategic Success Plan to incorporate the state vision, below is a
list of how USD 331 staff will meet these outcomes?
1.
Kindergarten
Readiness: Teachers in preschool will meet with other early childhood
teachers (K-2) and begin discussion on what skills students need in order to be
prepared for kindergarten. State Screening tools already available will be
utilized along with local assessments to determine kindergarten readiness and the
information and process will be shared with parents. Research clearly
demonstrates the connection of kindergarten readiness to a successful school
career.
2.
Graduation
Rates: Though USD 331 already graduates more students than the state average,
it’s not 100% and 100% is the district’s goal. For the past few years, an adult
learning center has been implemented in the district. To serve students who
struggle in the traditional school, a virtual school also is available to the
students of USD 331. The virtual school tools have also been used the past few
summers to help students who did not complete their courses throughout the school
year to make them up over the summer. Online tools have been expanded to assist
students this year in driver’s education and health opening other curricular
opportunities and choices. Other outcomes listed below should also help
increase graduation rates as the goal will always be 100%.
3.
Postsecondary
Education and/or Credential: The district has data available
identifying USD 331 graduates who enrolled in a postsecondary institution, if
they received a technical credential, associate degree, and even a bachelor or
graduate degree. This is important data to analyze and share with the
community. The district works with individual students to help them attain
career pathway completion and technical credentials and will continue looking
at ways to expand. The high schools are scheduled to attend a college and
career fair in Hutchinson in November that showcases postsecondary and future
career options. Parents are encouraged to attend with their child or children.
4.
Individual
Plans of Study: Beginning at the 6th grade, students will
begin to explore their interests and how those relate to future careers. Each
year, students will add to an electronic portfolio tied to their interests and
possible career choices. Teachers have already received training on the state-approved
tool (Career Cruising) to assist students. Parent-Teacher conferences will
continue to evolve into a review of interest/career counseling and connect
current and future courses to those student interests.
5.
Social/Emotional
Success: All schools have already implemented character education and
bullying prevention and provide counseling to students. From those programs,
character traits will be connected to success in students’ educational career
and to future success in post-secondary education and careers.
In addition to working to ensure USD 331 students meet or
exceed the outcomes above, there will be a new English Language Arts/Reading
series introduced at the elementary level and updates in the math curriculum.
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) science and engineering curriculum will continue to
be taught from elementary through high school with an expansion of a middle
school course at Norwich and Environmental Sustainability course at Kingman
High School. The district goal for PLTW is to both meet a vital need for
engineers and related careers and to build a science curriculum built upon a
“hands on” and problem-solving context. Curriculum updates in all courses will
be examined and updated throughout the year.
All staff, too, will continue work on professional learning
goals and develop new skills to improve instruction, build positive student and
parent relationships, and provide the best education available. The staff is
committed to preparing citizens ready for college and careers and assisting each
student to rise to his/her potential. We welcome our students and parents and
will work hard to help every student succeed. Thank you for entrusting your
child to USD 331 Kingman-Norwich.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Diepenbrock, Superintendent of Schools
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