December Update

The first semester of the 2007-08 school year is about to end. December is a very busy month with programs and activities almost every evening during the week. We would like to encourage each student to do their very best keeping up with their studies as well as getting plenty of rest.

The USD 420 Board of Education, Administration, Faculty and Staff would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Honk

The community is still a buzz about the school musical “Honk” that was performed in November! Congratulations to Ms. Wassemiller, Mrs. Camarena and Mr. Graversen and students who were involved in the OCHS production. The crowds enjoyed the performances very much.

OCHS Basketball

The OCHS Basketball Season will begin at the Central Heights Tournament the week of December 3. Please call the high school office or check www.usd420.org for more details.

Holiday Music Schedule

Grades 5-12 Vocal Concert (December 10)
Grades 9-12 Instrumental/Jazz Concert (December 11)
Grades K-5 Sing-A-Long (December 12)
Grades 5-8 Instrumental Concert (December 20)

All Music Programs will be held in the USD 420 Auditorium

Bus Safety

This school year we have experienced an increase in the amount of vehicles passing USD 420 school buses with the red flashing lights on while unloading and loading students. Please be very cautious when you see a yellow school bus. Be prepared to stop just in case. The Highway 31 area east of town has had the most problems with vehicles passing buses. Remember it is against Kansas law to pass a school bus that has its red flashers on. Drivers will be ticketed by the local Police. Please help us in protecting our students.

Veterans Day 2007

We would like to thank Staff Sergeant Russell Cowan who brought back a flag from Iraq and presented it to Mr. Stoppel at the Veteran’s Day Ceremony on November 12. We appreciate the many veterans and active military personnel of Osage City and the commitment you have made to our country.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Break
November 21-23

American Education Week

AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK
November 11-17, 2007

“The future of America is written on school blackboards and in student notebooks. The quality of thought in our classrooms today will determine the quality of our lives a generation hence”

Lyndon B. Johnson

As I look at the classrooms of our community, I see quality. I see students who are eager to better themselves academically and in the activities they are involved in. I see highly qualified teachers and staff who encourage students to work to their fullest potential. They spend numerous hours inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom working with students to give them opportunities that we could of never imagined when we were in school because of the advances in technology and the information highway that is available today.

USD 420 is a district of quality with increasing test scores, academic and extra curricular accomplishments as well as former students achieving great success in college and university settings. Faculty and staff work countless hours to stay abreast of the latest educational methods by continuing professional training and working on advanced college degrees.

The community has also encouraged the district to be one of quality. We appreciate the continued support and working relationships between school, city and business.

As we celebrate American Education Week we want to thank each individual of USD 420. Because of your determination and support we can continue to be a district that focuses on academic quality and helping our students achieve great things.

David Carriger
Superintendent
USD 420 Osage City

School Play

HONK!

Please make plans to attend the school play on November 9 and 10 at 7:00 P.M. Ms. Wassemiller and Mrs. Camarena are working with students to present the play HONK! Don’t miss this performance, it is sure to be very entertaining.

November Update

Conferences Well Attended

We would like to thank those parents who attended conferences last week and met with teachers about how their students are performing in class. It’s very important to have communication between home and school and working together to accomplish what is best for each student in USD 420.

School Safety

We would like to again thank the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Osage City Police Department and Kansas Wildlife and Parks, who helped assist USD 420 with searching lockers and screening students before classes on October 19. USD 420 is always concerned about student and staff safety at school and at school activities. We appreciate the support shown by the community over the past two weeks during this situation.

Weather Information

Whenever weather conditions are such that classes or activities may not be held or busses might not run, students and parents should listen to the following media outlets:
WIBW TV Channel 13, WIBW 580 AM Radio, KTKA TV Channel 49, KSNT TV Channel 27, 94 Country Radio and 106.9 FM Radio. We will also use the School Reach system for cancellations. Please make sure the offices have current contact phone numbers on file.

Thanksgiving Break
November 21-23, 2007

Fall Activity Wrap-Up

USD 420 had one of the most successful fall activity seasons in the history of the school. Congratulations to all the programs.

High School
Football
­6-3 record

Volleyball
Flint Hills League Champions
25-15 record

Boys Cross Country
Flint Hills League Champions
Regional Runner-Up
Team Advances to Class 3A State Meet
10th Class 3A State Meet

Girls Cross Country
Flint Hills League Champions
3rd Place Regional Meet
Two Girl’s Advance to Class 3A State Meet

Girls Golf
Class 1A-4A Regional Champions
11th Class 1A-4A State Tournament

Marching Band
1 Rating at the Baker University Marching Festival

Middle School
Football
6-1 record

Volleyball “A” Team
3-5 record

Volleyball “B” Team

8-2 record.
Lost in the FHL Championship Game to Mission Valley.

Growing a Kind and Thoughtful Child
Parenting Institute

Today’s children live in a world where they are bombarded with negative messages, many of which devalue respect for others. To help children grow into responsible, caring individuals, adults must be intentional in teaching children how to treat others with compassion, respect and thoughtfulness. We can do this on a daily basis by:

being a good role model in how we treat our spouse and other family members;
practicing courtesy and respect to all with whom you interact, i.e., store clerk, repairman, strangers;
demonstrating respect for authority figures;
involving children in acts of kindness (fixing dinner for a shut-in, decorating a birthday cake for a sibling, making or shopping for a grandparent’s gift) ;
coaching children in social skills;
intervening at signs of physical or verbal abuse among siblings and peers;
teaching children to be gentle with younger children and animals;
reading stories together and talking about the feeling of the characters;
using media and daily situations as springboards for communication and learning
avoiding overindulgence;
setting firm, loving limits;
establishing expectations and consequences for children’s behaviors;
explaining you own values, actions and choices;
providing positive feedback for children’s act of kindness and respect.