Kansas State Department of Education Invites all Kansans to Join the Conversation!

February, 2015

Online tool provides opportunity for public to study and submit feedback on current content standards

TOPEKA – The Kansas State Department of Education today launched Join the Conversation!, an online tool available at http://standards.ksde.org that provides Kansas citizens the opportunity to study and submit feedback on the state’s current English language arts and mathematics academic standards. The standards, known in Kansas as the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards, were adopted by the Kansas State Board of Education in 2010 and represent what students should know and be able to demonstrate at each grade level.

Kansas has had content standards for more than 20 years and conducts a review of its standards every seven years. The current standards will be up for review in 2017. The goal of Join the Conversation! is to collect public input on each of the mathematics and English language arts standards at every grade level and provide that feedback to help guide the work of the standards review team.

“This Join the Conversation! initiative gives us an opportunity to not only collect feedback about the standards, but to really showcase what they are and what they require students to learn,” says Interim Commissioner of Education Brad Neuenswander. “We are hearing from our schools and educators that the standards, while not perfect, are creating some really great things in the classroom. The public’s feedback will help us tweak them to ensure they are providing the very best framework for our students to succeed in whatever path they choose after graduation.”

The online tool will be available until October 30, 2015 for teachers, administrators, parents, students, higher education representatives and all others who are interested to read the standards by grade level and content area and provide feedback. Participants may make suggestions on moving a standard to another grade level, creating a new standard, or rewriting a specific standard.

“The College and Career Ready Standards raise the rigor, encourage relevance, and provide the complexity that will help students be successful in the 21st Century,” says Jeff Baxter, Leavenworth High School English language arts teacher and 2014 Kansas Teacher of the Year.  “The standards align with a logical learning progression for students from one grade to the next that makes academic sense and promotes responsible citizenship.”

Comments provided about specific standards will be evaluated by a team of Kansas educators from all levels specializing in the specific content areas. Any changes recommended by this team will be presented to the Kansas State Board of Education for its consideration.

To Join the Conversation!, go to http://standards.ksde.org.

New Kansas Education Commissioner Hosting Community Conversations

NOTE:  The following news release was written by KES Principal, Adrian Howie for release to the elementary parents. I felt it needed to be shared to the district. 

Incoming Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson will host “Kansas Children. Kansas’ Future” community conversations across the state to give Kansas residents the opportunity to answer the question, What is the future we want for our children and what role should education play in supporting that future?

Parents, educators, legislators, school board members, business community members and other interested parties are encouraged to attend. Your feedback will be used to help shape Kansas’ strategic plan for education.

While there are 13 opportunities to be a part of this event, the conversation will come to our area on:

Date: January 27

Location: School Service Center

Address: 3850 N. Hydraulic

City: Wichita, KS

Time: 1:00-3:00

Date: January 28

Location: ESSDACK

Address: 1500 E. 11th, Suite 200

City: Hutchinson, KS

Time: 1:00-3:00

The outcomes of these conversations will impact all schools in Kansas, including ours. As such, I encourage you to attend this important event and let your voice be heard.

For more information, please visit the Kansas State Department of Education website at www.ksde.org 

School Board Recognition Month

January 2015 is School Board Recognition Month, a time to say a formal ‘thank you’ to a dedicated group of individuals - our school board members. The theme this year is “School Boards Lead so Student Achieve.” This reflects the invaluable contribution our elected school board members who volunteer countless hours in their roles as leaders in our community.

School board members in USD 331 Kingman-Norwich develop policies and make decisions that help shape the future of our education system, and in turn our community. This community entrusts them with the responsibility of an annual budget of approximately $10 million, 1000 students, 160 employees and three attendance centers along with numerous other assets.

Our board of education preserves the core of our democracy - public education. They ensure that decisions affecting our communities’ children in both Kingman and Norwich are made by people who are elected locally to represent our local values, hopes and dreams for our children.

Showing appreciation for the important work of school boards should be a year-round process, but too often we neglect to recognize the dedication and hard work of these men and women.  This January, the staff and students of our district are asking all members of the community to take a moment and thank a school board member. Thank them for volunteering their time and fulfilling this very important civic responsibility to make local control of public schools in our community possible.

We applaud them for their dedication for leading our schools so that today’s students can become tomorrow’s leaders. The men and women serving USD 331 Kingman-Norwich and their years of service are: David Lux, president, 4 years; Andrea Shipley, vice president, 6 years; Allen Young, 12 years; Matt Ricke, 4 years; Jeff Branstetter, 4 years, Tammy Schrag, 4 years; Jeff Samuelson, 2 years.

Connect to Your Family and Friends During the Holiday

A little over 6 months ago, Mr. Howie (KES principal) provided the 8^th grade promotion speech for Kingman and delivered a phenomenal speech focusing on two themes; choices and disconnecting in a connected world. As we all approach a school break, finish final exams and the end to a semester of school that has flown by, I would like to reiterate Mr. Howie’s points about "connecting by disconnecting" with regard to your family and friends over the holiday break.

Mr. Howie pointed out how the internet and social media can be both a “blessing and a curse.” The ability to instantly access information over the internet and connect to friends and family who are not physically nearby is truly a blessing. Yet, Mr. Howie further points out that texting, snap-chatting, and using other social medias and posting anything about anyone without looking the other person into the eye can be a curse and often leads to challenging issues. It is completely different looking someone in the eye and directly talking to another person. The benefits include truly getting to know someone else and often can lead to lasting friendships and personal encounters often end with a handshake or even a hug. 

As you get together for relaxation and hopefully quality family time during the break, I hope you all consider putting the electronic devices away, talk to each other, play some games together, celebrate with each other and that each of you truly connect over the holiday. Some of the greatest educational innovators who integrate technology everyday place rules on their own kids and families often requiring them to turn them off and put away devices. These technology leaders have “tech free” weekends and "device free" family vacations. Certainly, I hope you use Facetime or Skype to connect to those family members and friends far away, but you might consider a “device free” holiday for those physically present.

On behalf of the Board of Education, administration, and staff, I wish you a blessed and safe holiday break and we look forward to a great second semester and hope you all get connected!

Student and teachers attend national band and conference

Submitted by KES Music Teacher, Pat Dixon

The National Association for Music Educators National conference was held in Nashville, TN October 26-29, 2014.  Kingman High School Junior Patrick Orr was selected to perform in the National Honor Band.  To be eligible to perform in this elite group, Patrick first auditioned and performed his bassoon in the South Central Kansas District band and the Kansas Music Educators Association All-State Band. Patrick was one of 155 Band members and one of only five bassoonists in the National Band.  

Two Kingman music teachers, Roger Wilson and Patricia Dixon, were the official sponsors for Patrick.  Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Dixon attended 4 days of sessions, performances, speeches and concerts.

What Parents Need to Know about Enterovirus D68

The following was sent to superintendents from the United States Department of Education and Kansas State Department of Education. The source is the Center for Disease Control.

Every year, millions of children in the United States catch enteroviruses that can cause coughing, sneezing, and fever. This year, the enterovirus that is most commonly causing respiratory illness in children across the country is enterovirus-D68 (EV-D68). Take basic steps to keep your child from getting and spreading EV-D68.

Infections with enteroviruses are usually common in the United States during summer and fall. This year, beginning in mid-August, states started seeing more children in hospitals with severe respiratory illness caused by EV-D68. Since then, CDC and states have been doing more testing, and have found that EV-D68 is making people sick in almost all states. Most of the cases have been among children. EV-D68 is not new, but it hasn't been as common in the past. While this has been a big year for EV-D68 infections, CDC expects the number of cases to taper off by late fall.

Children are at higher risk for EV-D68

Infants, children, and teenagers are at higher risk than adults for getting infected and sick with enteroviruses like EV-D68. That's because they have not been exposed to these types of viruses before, and they do not yet have immunity (protection) built up to fight the disease. If your child has asthma, he or she may be at greater risk for severe respiratory illness from EV-D68.

Know the signs of symptoms of EV-D68

EV-D68 can cause mild to severe respiratory illness.

• Mild symptoms may include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches.
• Severe symptoms may include wheezing and difficulty breathing.

Call your child's doctor if he or she is having difficulty breathing, if you feel you are unable to control symptoms, or if symptoms are getting worse. If your child develops severe illness, he or she may need to be hospitalized.

Washing hands correctly is the most important thing you can do to stay healthy.

Follow these steps to protect your children from EV-D68 & other viruses.

Children with asthma are particularly at risk for severe symptoms from EV-D68 infection.

Help protect your family from EV-D68

To help avoid catching and spreading EV-D68, parents and children should always follow basic steps to stay healthy.

• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Washing hands correctly is the most important thing you can do to stay healthy. See Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils, with people who are sick.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve, not your hands.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
• Stay home when you are sick and keep sick children out of school.

EV-D68 treatment

There is no specific treatment for EV-D68. Talk to your child's doctor about the best way to control his or her symptoms.

If your child has asthma

Children with asthma are particularly at risk for severe symptoms from EV-D68 infection. Therefore, if your child has asthma, take some steps to prepare in case he or she catches EV-D68. CDC recommends you do the following to help maintain control of your child's asthma during this time:

• Discuss and update your child's asthma action plan with his or her doctor.
• Make sure your child takes his or her prescribed asthma medications as directed, especially long-term control medication(s).
• Make sure your child knows to keep asthma reliever medication with him or her or has access to it at all times.
• Get your child a flu vaccine, since flu and other respiratory infections can trigger an asthma attack. SeeVaccination: Who Should Do It, Who Should Not and Who Should Take Precautions
• If your child develops new or worsening asthma symptoms, follow the steps of his or her asthma action plan. If symptoms do not go away, call your child's doctor right away.
• Make sure caregiver(s) and/or teacher(s) are aware of the child's condition, and that they know how to help if the child experiences any symptoms related to asthma.
• Call your child's doctor if he or she is having difficulty breathing, if you feel you are unable to control symptoms, or if symptoms are getting worse.

Voter Registration

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Tuesday, October 14

Return completed applications to your county election office by the close of business or register to vote online with a valid Kansas driver's license or nondriver's identification card and a pdf of your citizenship document by the 11:59 p.m. Exercise your right to vote in this upcoming election.