- A PU B L I CA TI ON OF U SD 376 Volume 36: Issue 1 FROMYOURSUPERINTENDENT: JIMGORACKE After an exciting first week in Sterling, I am even more excited to be the new superintendent of schools. I hope our students and staff are as excited as I am to have school start!!! My first few months will be spent getting to know our students and staff so I will be out and about a lot. I t may take me awhile, but it is important to me to get to know everyone. As super intendent, my two pr ior ities ar e: 1. Don?t mess up any of the gr eat things that ar e going on in Ster ling Public Schools! I feel extremely fortunate to be able to come into a district that is doing so well. With beautiful facilities, a budget that is as good as it gets for the tough times we?ve had, a number of successful and innovative programs, and a skilled and dedicated staff, I really could not ask for a better school district. I promise to be careful with the good things and honor Sterling traditions. 2. To challenge our excellent staff to find innovative ways to make sur e ever y student is tr uly r eady for what comes after high school. T hat won?t be the same for every student. I want college bound students to leave Sterling High School with as many transferable concurrent credits as possible, as well as the skills, knowledge, and work habits necessary to excel at whatever school they choose to attend. I want students that don?t plan to attend college to be well prepared to enter a vocation program or trade that offers a good, livable wage. Most of all, I want AL L of our kids to leave Sterling Public Schools understanding the importance of working hard and being a good member of their community. Just like I promise to be careful with the good things, I promise that I will look for ways to make meaningful progress so that Sterling is an even better place for our students. Just a reminder that this is the only issue?i n Black And W hite? that will be mailed to all patrons. T he rest will be available on our website at www.usd376.com. I f you do not have access to the internet, please contact the district office at 620-278-3621 or let your school secretary know. We will be happy to mail you a copy. T here is a lot of enrollment information in this issue, and I encourage you to read through carefully if you will have a student in school this year. I also encourage EV ERYONE enrolling students to fill out the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals. I know it is a long form, and it is a pain, but I would appreciate it if you would fill it out, even if your child will bring their lunch every day or if you don?t think you will qualify. Many programs and funds are dependent on accurate reporting of the number of students that qualify for the program, so it is very important that we get approval for every student that qualifies even if you choose not to use the benefit. As I said, I am very excited to get the school year started! Please feel free to call or drop by the district office to introduce yourself, or just chat.
Page 2 B o ar d o f Ed u cat i o n W el co m e W elcomeback!! The summer is passing quickly, and it?s hard to believe that we?ll soon begin another academic year in USD 376! Please consider this note as a?welcome?from your Board of Education. The staff, faculty and administrators within the district are busy preparing for an engaging year for the students we serve, and purposefully placing those students as our top priority as what we do in our schools and within our classrooms center fully on the needsof the children of our community. Regarding the Board and our monthly meetings, please know that you have an open invitation to attend any of our meetings, so that we may hear from you in regards to your comments, questions, concerns, and praises in relation to our district. Meeting dates and times are available on the calendar at www.usd376.com, typically falling on the second Monday of each month, beginning at 7pm in the high school library. Members of the Board of Education include: Jon Oden (Vice-President), Brian Foster, Michael Gray, Amy Svaty, Jaret W ohler, and myself. We have an open spot that will be filled after the fall elections, as well as the positions that are up for renewal, so please take the time to consider the candidates carefully. Finally, please help us welcomemr. Jim Goracke as our new Superintendent of Schools! We?re excited to have him leading our district into the?17-?18 academic year, and we welcome you to stop by and visit with him at the district office or at regular Board meetings. Thank you for your continued support and active engagement as community members for our school district and students! Ken Brown President of the Board of Education USD 376? Sterling Sc ho o l St ar t s * * Th ursday, A ugust 17: 8:00-12:30 f or K -7, new students, and f resh men onl y* * * * K -3 Open House Wednesday, A ugust 16: 6:30-7:00* * A n opportuni ty f or your K -3 student to meet h i s/ h er teach er and drop of f sch ool suppl i es. * * Fri day, A ugust 18: Fi rst f ul l day of sch ool f or A LL STUDENTS* * Enrol l ment i nf ormati on may b e f ound on page 5 of th i s document. * * A ugust 14: Fal l Sports practi ces b egi n.* *
Page3 Lib r a r y n o t es Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd nos,sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor Dear par en t gubergren, s/ gu ar dian sit amet. I h ope you h ave en joyed a r est f u l an d r elaxin g su m m er an d ar e r eady t o begin a n ew Lorem consetetur sadipscing sch ool year! As t h e ipsum begindolor n in gsit ofamet, sch ool appr oach es, I welitr, an t ed t o r em in d you t h at you r sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore et sch ool libr ar y n ot on ly in clu des book s an d m agazin es f or you r st u den t t o ch eck ou t an d dolore magna aliquyam erat, sed diam voluptua. At vero eos r ead, t h e libretaraccusam y also et prjusto ovides var ietety ea of rebum. on lin e r esou r ces t h at can be accessed t h r ou gh duoadolores t h e libr ar y w ebsit es u sin g an y device w it h an In t er n et con n ect ion. Th ese on lin e Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est r esou r ces ar e a par t of t h e libr ar y t h at n ever closes, allow in g u s t o pr ovide libr ar y Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, ser vices t o st u den t s all day ever y day r egar dless of w h et h er or n ot sch ool is in session. Fr ee ebook s, r esear ch dat abases, lan gu age lear n in g sof t w ar e, ACT t est pr ep, r ecom m en ded r eadin g list s an d m u ch m or e ar e available t h r ou gh t h e libr ar y w ebsit es. Each sch ool?s libr ar y w ebsit e also in clu des a lin k t o Dest in y, t h e libr ar y?s on lin e cat alog of available pr in t m at er ials an d ebook s. St er lin g Gr ade Sch ool Libr ar y w ebsit e f or gr ades K-6: h t t p:/ / w w w.u sd376.com / sch ools/ st er lin g_gr ade_sch ool/ libr ar y St er lin g High Sch ool/ Jr High Libr ar y w ebsit e f or gr ades 7-12:h t t p:/ / w w w.u sd376.com / sch ools/ st er lin g_h igh _sch ool/ libr ar y You r libr ar y st af f is dedicat ed t o pr ovidin g u p-t o-dat e pr in t an d digit al r esou r ces f or st u den t s an d st af f. You r st u den t w ill at t en d a libr ar y or ien t at ion session in Au gu st w h er e s/ h e w ill lear n h ow t o access libr ar y ser vices. Please let u s k n ow if you or you r st u den t n eeds h elp in locat in g, accessin g, or u sin g an y of ou r r esou r ces. Sin cer ely, Am y Br ow n lee K-12 Teach er Libr ar ian br ow n leea@u sd376.com 620-278-3112 ext. 1322
K CD A A l l - S t a t e W o m en ' s Ch o i r Fo l l ow i n g au d i t i o n s t h i s p ast sp r i n g, t w o St er l i n g H i gh Sch o o l st u d en t s w er e sel ect ed t o at t en d t h e K an sas C h o r al D i r ect o r s A sso ci at i o n C o n v en t i o n as m em b er s o f t h e A l l - St at e W o m en?s C h o i r i n T o p ek a. K at i e C o m l ey an d L au r en Sch u er en w er e sel ect ed f o r t h e ch o i r, w h i ch w as co m p r i sed o f ov er 80 h i gh sch o o l w o m en si n ger s r ep r esen t i n g h i gh sch o o l o r co m m u n i t y ch o i r s f r o m acr o ss t h e st at e. T h e m em b er s o f t h e ch o i r r eh ear sed f o r t w o d ay s, Ju l y 6-7, an d gav e a co n cer t t h e ev en i n g o f Ju l y 7, at 7:30 p.m., at t h e Gr ace Ep i sco p al C at h ed r al i n d ow n t ow n T o p ek a. Th e gu est co n d u ct o r f o r t h e w o m en?s ch o i r w as D r. Pam El r o d - H u f f m an, D i r ect o r o f C h o r al A ct i v i t i es at So u t h er n M et h o d i st Un iver sit y. K at i e w as gi v en sp eci al r eco gn i t i o n at t h e co n cer t f o r b ei n g sel ect ed t o t h e h o n o r ch o i r f o r al l t h r ee y ear s o f h er el i gi b i l i t y. Pi ctu r ed at Ri gh t : K ati e, D r. Pam El r od H u f f m an, an d L au r en Sch u er en. Remi nd A pp Popul ar Communi cati on Tool M an y teach er s i n U SD 376 h ave ch osen t o u se an ap p l i cat i on cal l ed Rem i n d to com m u n i cate to p ar en t s. Rem i n d i s a f r ee com m u n i cati on tool th at l ets teach er s r each st u d en t s an d p ar en t s on an y d ev i ce, i n cl u d i n g tex t. Teach er s ar e abl e t o sen d "cl ass m essages" as w el l as i n d i v i d u al m essages. You d o n ot n eed t o h ave a sm ar t p h on e t o access Rem i n d, ju st an em ai l ad d r ess or p h on e t h at can r ecei ve an d sen d tex t m essages. I f y ou r ch i l d 's teach er ch ooses t o u se r em i n d, y ou w i l l be gi ven an i n f or m ati on sh eet w i t h a "cl ass cod e" t o si gn u p. Pl ease be on th e l ookou t f or t h i s i n f or m at i on. Page 4
Page 5 EN R O L L M EN T I N FO R M A T I O N W e w i l l agai n b e d o i n g en r o l l m en t o n l i n e t h i s su m m er. Yo u w i l l b e ab l e t o en r o l l y o u r ch i l d r en f r o m t h e co m f o r t o f y o u r ow n h o m e, t h e b each, y o u r su m m er r eso r t, et c. (as l o n g as y o u h av e I n t er n et access!) st ar t i n g Ju l y 24 t h. T o access t h e p age o f i n st r u ct i o n s o n t h e v ar i o u s?p i eces? r eq u i r ed t o co m p l et e en r o l l m en t, p l ease go t o o u r w eb si t e w w w.u sd 376.co m (o n o r af t er Ju l y 24 t h ) an d p o i n t y o u r m o u se at t h e D i st r i ct I n f o r m at i o n h ead i n g. T h at sh o u l d p u l l d ow n a l i st o f o t h er o p t i o n s, o n e o f w h i ch i s O n l i n e En r o l l m en t. W h en y o u cl i ck t h at l i n k, y o u sh o u l d b e t ak en t o t h e p age o f i n st r u ct i o n s t o h el p y o u co m p l et e en r o l l m en t. I f y o u p r ef er, h el p w i t h t h i s p r o cess w i l l b e av ai l ab l e at t h e h i gh sch o o l o n A u gu st 7 f r o m 1 p m t o 7 p m an d at t h e gr ad e sch o o l o n A u gu st 8 f r o m 1 p m t o 6 pm. A l l r et u r n i n g st u d en t s i n gr ad es 1 t h r o u gh 12 w i l l n eed t o b e en r o l l ed o n l i n e. A n y n ew st u d en t s, i n cl u d i n g p r e- sch o o l er s an d k i n d er gar t n er s, w i l l n eed t o b e en r o l l ed t h r o u gh t h e o f f i ce o f t h e sch o o l w h er e t h e st u d en t w i l l b e at t en d i n g. Grade Sch ool Enrol l ment Jr/ Sr Hi gh Enrol l ment (ONLI NE ENROLLM ENT A V A I LA BLE Jul y 24th at w w w.usd376.com) (ONLI NE ENROLLM ENT A V A I LA BLE Jul y 24th at w w w.usd376.com) A u gu st 8t h f r o m 1-6 PM A u gu st 7t h f r o m 1-7PM Gr ad e Sch o o l C o m m o n s A r ea Gr ad e Sch o o l C o m m o n s A r ea (I f y ou n eed h el p w i t h on l i n e en r ol l m en t, assi st an ts an d com p u t er s w i l l be av ai l abl e d u r i n g th i s en r ol l m en t t i m e.) (I f y ou n eed h el p w i t h on l i n e en r ol l m en t, assi st an t s an d com p u t er s w i l l be avai l abl e d u r i n g t h i s en r ol l m en t t i m e.) * * N ew stu d en ts (i n cl u d i n g p r esch ool an d k i n d er gar t en stu d en ts) M U ST en r ol l at th e of f i ce of th e bu i l d i n g th ey w i l l be at ten d i n g.* * * * N ew stu d en t s (i n cl u d i n g p r esch ool an d k i n d er gar ten stu d en t s) M U ST en r ol l at t h e of f i ce of t h e bu i l d i n g t h ey w i l l be at t en d i n g.* * * * N ew ou t - of - d i str i ct stu d en ts m u st ap p ly to at ten d St er l i n g sch ool s (at t h e of f i ce of th e bu i l d i n g th ey w i l l at t en d ) bef or e f i l l i n g ou t en r ol l m en t f or m s. * * N ew ou t- of - d i st r i ct stu d en t s m u st ap p ly t o at t en d Ster l i n g sch ool s (at t h e of f i ce of t h e bu i l d i n g t h ey w i l l at t en d ) bef or e f i l l i n g ou t en r ol l m en t f or m s.
Page 6 C r o s s C o u n t r y P u t s i n M i l es t h i s Su m m er T h e SH S an d SJH S cr oss cou n t r y team s h ave been get ti n g togeth er at 7:0 0 am on Fr i d ay s th i s su m m er t o get i n a gr ou p r u n an d en joy br eak f ast toget h er. W e've h ad 14-18 r u n n er s each w eek an d h ave tr avel ed to v ar i ou s l ocat i on s t o r u n. O u r f i n al gr ou p r u n of t h e su m m er w i l l take p l ace at th e San d D u n es St ate Par k n or t h of H u t ch i n son. S p o r t s Pa r en t i n g 10 1 I t?s h ar d to bel i eve th at th e f al l sp or t s season s ar e ju st ar ou n d t h e cor n er. T h e f i r st even t i s Fal l Sp or ts O r i en tati on f or p l ay er s an d p ar en ts on A u gu st 10 t h @5:30 p m i n O SA C. T h i s d at e i s v er y i m p o r t an t f o r p ar en t s an d at h l et es. T h e f i r st even t i s t h e Fal l Sp or ts O r i en tati on f or p l ay er s an d p ar en ts on A u gu st 10 t h @ 5:30 p m i n O SA C. T h i s even t w i l l gi ve p l ay er s an d p ar en ts an op p or t u n i t y t o h ear som e i m p or t an t m essages r egar d i n g th ei r sp or t. I t w i l l on ly l ast abou t 30-45 m i n u t es. T h er e w i l l be?h ou sekeep i n g? m essages f r om m y sel f an d al so w i l l p r ov i d e an op p or t u n i t y t o m eet coach es, d i scu ss p h i l osop h y, an d ask qu esti on s. I k n ow m an y of y ou say,?i?ve h ear d t h i s coach?s p r e- season sp eech m an y t i m es, w h y sh ou l d I go??. W el l t h e an sw er t o t h at qu est i on i s easy. I t n ever h u r ts to be r em i n d ed of t h e m an y t h i n gs w e t ake f or gr an t ed an d th e m essage sen t to y ou r ch i l d by at t en d i n g i s i n v al u abl e. Pl u s, even ol d coach es d o m ake ch an ges. Pl ease f i n d ti m e to at ten d. A gai n, th i s w i l l be a qu i ck r em i n d er an d m eet i n g w i t h coach es. W e l ook f or w ar d to seei n g y ou t h i s f al l! A u gu st 10 t h @ 5:30 p m - Fal l Sp o r t s O r i en t at i o n (f o r p l ay er s an d p ar en t s) * D o n?t f o r get an y st u d en t p ar t i ci p at i n g i n a sp o r t m u st h av e a cu r r en t sp o r t s p h y si cal, co n cu ssi o n, i n su r an ce, su b st an ce f o r m (s) t u r n ed i n b ef o r e t h ey can p r act i ce! * Pl ease co n t act m e i f y o u h av e an y q u est i o n s r egar d i n g t h e u p co m i n g seaso n. M cken zi Fl i ck i n ger Ju n i or H i gh Secr etar y / Act i v i t i es Coor d i n ator St er l i n g Secon d ar y Sch ool s 620.278.3646 (sch ool ) f l i ck m @u sd 376.com
Page 7 C o u n s el o r ' s C o r n er Junior High and Senior High Enrollment is Monday, August 7 th from 1:00? 7:00 p.m. We will hand out your class schedules on this date. If you would like to make a change to your schedule you can email me your requested changes at wohlert@usd376.com or we will also have the first week of school to make changes. Senior s: 1. There is an ACT test on September 9, 2017. Registration must be completed by August 4. Go to www.actstudent.org to register or look at the other 2017-2018 test dates. 2. Start thinking about which colleges you want to visit. I can assist you in setting up those visits once school begins. 3. Remember, some colleges have early application and scholarship deadlines. Wichita State University is October 1 st and KU and KSU have a deadline of November 1 st. Plan ahead if you are considering these schools. Junior s: We will be giving the PSAT test in October. This test is for National Merit scholarships and is a good prep for ACT or SAT tests. If you are planning to attend a four year school, it would be wise to take it. More information will be coming! I?m looking forward to a great year working with all junior high and high school students. Enjoy the rest of your summer! Mrs. Wohler
Page 8 SJH/ SHS Calcu lat or Recom m en dat ion s f or 7-12 M at h st u den t s: St u den t s in Jr. High an d High sch ool n eed t o h ave t h eir ow n calcu lat or t h at is n ot in t er n et capable. Ph on es, t ablet s, et c., ar e n ot allow ed on an y t est or qu iz an d ar e u p t o t h e discr et ion of t h e t each er h ow t h ey can be u sed in class. For t h is r eason, w e r ecom m en d t h e f ollow in g calcu lat or s. 7t h gr ade t h r ou gh HS Geom et r y: Scien t if ic calcu lat or? t h ese can be pu r ch ased locally f or $10-15. An y br an d sh ou ld w or k, bu t TI an d Casio ar e r eliable br an ds. Algebr a II an d above: Gr aph in g calcu lat or s ar e n eeded? t h ese gen er ally r u n $80-100, alt h ou gh you can u su ally f in d t h e Casios f or less ($40-$50), You can also f in d t h em u sed an d on -sale. TI-83/ 84 an d Casio br an ds ar e r ecom m en ded. St u den t s can pu r ch ase older m odels on -lin e, bu t be aw ar e t h at t h e n ew er m odels do h ave som e added f eat u r es. Som e h igh er m odels (ex. TI-89, et c) ar e n ot ACT appr oved. If you h ave a qu est ion on a specif ic m odel n u m ber, you can ch eck w w w.act.or g. Gr aph in g calcu lat or s w ill last st u den t s f r om Algebr a II t h r ou gh an y college level m at h cou r se.
Page 9 USD 376 Fee I nf ormati on Break f ast and l unch pri ces, tex tb ook, and acti v i ty f ees are as f ol l ow s: Break f ast: Lunch : $ 1.50 per student K -6: $ 2.60 $ 2.00 per adul t 7-12: $ 2.80 A dul t: $ 3.60 Ex tra M i l k : $ 0.40 A l a Carte: $ 2.70 Tex tbook Fees: A th l eti c Fees: $ 30 per student (max. $ 100/ f ami l y) JrHi : $ 25 Hi gh Sch ool : $ 50 * A ny student q ual i f yi ng f or f ree l unch i s el i gi bl e f or f ree tex tbook s. (M ax. $ 100/ f ami l y) Dri v er's Educati on Fee: $ 104 ($ 187 f or onl i ne program) Retu r n ed Ch eck Pol i cy : U SD 376 ch ar ges a $15 p r ocessi n g f ee f or r et u r n ed ch eck s. Sh ou l d w e r ecei ve 3 r et u r n ed ch eck s i n on e sch ool y ear f r om th e sam e f am i ly, th e f am i ly sh al l be p l aced on a "cash on ly " basi s f or th e r em ai n d er of th e y ear or u n t i l al l ou tstan d i n g f ees ar e col l ected. D i st r i c t M ea l Ch a r g i n g Po l i c y The district?s meal charging policy is as follows: A charge account for students paying full or reduced price for meals may be established with the district. Charging of a la carte or extra items to this account will not be permitted. Any student failing to keep his/her account solvent as required by the district shall not be allowed to charge further meals until the negative account balance has been paid in full. However, such students will be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received. Students who have charged the maximum allowance to this account and cannot pay out of pocket for a meal will be provided an alternate meal consisting of a cheese sandwich and milk. Payments for school meals may be made at the school, the district office or online. Prepayment of meal costs is highly encouraged. Parents/Guardians will receive notice of low or negative meal account balances through emails from USD 376.