EDUCATION CONNECTION — Winter 2014 1 Discover the Difference
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Winter 2014 TEC PROGRAMS GIVE STUDENTS HARMON STUDENTS A HEAD START IN CREATE PLAN FOR AN ACTIVITY HUB THEIR CAREERS DISTRICT CONTINUES EFFORTS TO ENHANCE 2010 N. 59th St., Kansas City, KS 66104 KS City, Kansas St., 59th N. 2010 SCHOOL SAFETY Kansas City Kansas Public Schools Public Kansas City Kansas EDUCATION CONNECTION — Winter 2014 1 Discover the Difference At Kansas city Kansas community college, “Making Life Better” is more than just a slogan. Since 1923, it’s been a tradition. “Making Life Better” Kansas City Kansas Community College 7250 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66112 913-334-1100 • www.kckcc.edu “An Equal Opportunity Educational Institution” 40225919 MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT Discover the Difference One of the early college and career experiences. We prepare our students to be successful in college and careers, by reasons I providing them with college and career experiences, enjoy living in beginning early in high school. We constantly examine what the future may require of our students. We don’t Kansas City, have a crystal ball, but we do pay close attention to Kansas (KCK) leading economic indicators. These indicators proj- ect that 64% of the jobs in Kansas will require post- is that we secondary credentials by 2018. Our rapidly changing have a clear world requires that we continuously improve and evolve so our students are prepared. sense of who Preparation begins with ensuring our children enter we are, both school ready to learn. We have formed strong commu- nity partnerships and will double the number of chil- as individuals dren served in preschool, from 800 to 1,600 starting in and as a August of 2014. Those students must receive a strong D r. Cynthia Lane literacy foundation. Today, walk into any classroom S uperintendent of Schools community. and you will find students highly focused on reading, writing, reasoning, and speaking across all subject We value family and community, and nurture self- areas. Classrooms are filled with the productive noise determination in our children. We pull ourselves up of students working together, debating issues, and by our boot straps (or high heels) and move forward solving real world problems. Business and industry At Kansas city Kansas no matter what the obstacles and challenges. Here in leaders partner with us to expand our “classrooms” KCK, we don’t wait for the door to be opened for us. beyond the school campus, providing career explora- With the support of our family tion, workplace visits, intern- community college, and community, we open the ships, and leadership programs. door and take control of our own Preparation begins Students attending each of our journeys. with ensuring our children “Making Life Better” is more than just a slogan. high schools begin college and So, what does this have to do enter school ready to learn. technical college courses as early Since 1923, it’s been a tradition. with the Kansas City, Kansas We have formed strong as their sophomore year. If I were Public Schools? Everything! We “ to forecast where the district is community partnerships don’t follow the path others may headed, I would tell you that and will double the travel. We have the “attitude” to the graduating class of 2020 will move away from the ordinary, number of children served have the supports and resources and to take extraordinary actions in preschool, from 800 to necessary to complete at least one to achieve results that matter for 1,600 starting in August of full year of college, or a technical our students – both now and for 2014. Those students must degree/certification(s), before their future success. receive a strong literacy graduating from high school. It was attitude and determina- foundation. Today, walk That preparation will give them tion that led the district to es- the skills and credentials they tablish a vision of becoming one into any classroom and you need to be “prepared for college of the top 10 school districts in will find students highly and careers in a global society.” the nation. That same attitude focused on reading, writing, Attitude, absolutely! Anything “Making Life Better” compelled us to establish a single reasoning, and speaking less would not be the KCK way – goal: Each student will exit across all subject areas. “Inspiring Excellence: high school prepared for college Kansas City Kansas Every Grownup, Every Child, and careers in a global society. Every Day.” Community College Determination to prepare all our students for college and careers separates us from 7250 State Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66112 the ordinary, and requires a high level of focus and Check out Dr. Cynthia Lane’s willingness to do things differently. Excellent educa- ” 913-334-1100 • www.kckcc.edu tion across the district, in every school and in every blog, “It’s Up to Us” at “An Equal Opportunity Educational Institution” classroom, is what is required. To reach our goal, we have put a special focus on blog.kckps.org 40225919 early childhood education, literacy at all levels, and EDUCATION CONNECTION — Winter 2014 3 IN THIS ISSUE Superintendent’s Message 3 Education Connection is a quarterly newsmagazine of the Kansas City, Kansas 5 Holiday Card Artist Public Schools (KCKPS). Editorial copy and photography are created by the KCKPS Hands-On Learning Communications Department and produced by NPG Printing. To receive a copy of the 6 District Continues Efforts to magazine, call (913) 279-2242. A Spanish Enhance School Safety translation of the stories included in Education Connection is available on the district’s website Race Promotes Wellness of at http://kckps.cloudaccess.net/community/ 7 education-connection.html. Mind, Body and Spirit Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools District to Host 10th Annual Central Office and Training Center 2010 N. 59th St. Math Relays Kansas City, KS 66104 (913) 551-3200 8 TEC Programs Give Students a www.kckps.org Head Start in Their Careers Superintendent of Schools 10 2013-2014 District Calendar Dr. Cynthia Lane (third quarter) Chief of Staff David A. Smith 11 Photos from the 2013 Marching Band Festival Communications Manager Tammy Dodderidge 12 Harmon Students Create Plan Editor, Education Connection for an Activity Hub KCK Board of Education George Breidenthal Legislative Goals 13 Dr. Evelyn Hill Brenda C. Jones Richard Kaminski Vicki Meyer Christal Watson Gloria Willis COM M UNICATION RESOURCES Website www.kckps.org Facebook Kansas-City-Kansas-Public-Schools Twitter Twitter.com/kckschools Superintendent’s Blog, “It’s Up to Us.” Blog.kckps.org KCKPS TV Channel 18 or 98.18 on Time Warner Cable (in Wyandotte County) 4 EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2014 HOLIDAY CARD ARTIST The artwork of third grade student Sunday One, of Silver City Elementary School, was recently seen by patrons and community leaders across the county and throughout the metro area. It was used on the district’s 2013 holiday card. Sunday was recognized by the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education for her outstanding art. HANDS-ON LEARNING Burns & McDonnell recently hosted 21 Wyandotte High School students for a worksite tour. The students were challenged with the task of designing a university and developing next steps for structural, mechanical, electrical and construction planning. With guidance from Burns & McDonnell engineers, students used math functions to support their design concepts. After the event, students walked away with a renewed excitement for math and a better understanding of what it takes to become an engineer. SIGN UP FOR TEXT ALERTS Parents, students and community members who want to receive important information about the district via text messaging can sign up for the district’s Text Alert Messaging System. This information includes emergency information, school closings and more. Signing up is easy. Access the link through the homepage of the district’s website, www.kckps.org (click on “sign up for text alerts”). Register as a new user and provide your phone number. Be sure to complete all the information. EDUCATION CONNECTION — Winter 2014 5 DISTRICT CONTINUES EFFORTS TO ENHANCE ScHOOL SAFETY KCKS P IS JOINING OTHER LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN KANSAS WHO ALREADY HAVE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN PLACE, INCLUDING BLUE VALLEY, SHAWNEE MISSION, AND WICHITA. When parents put their child on a bus, or drop their Chief Rick Armstrong child off at the school building door, their most basic ex- Hired pectation is that the child will return home in the evening, An important component of exactly as they left, just a little bit smarter. And research converting to a police depart- is very clear: The safest place for the vast majority of ment is having strong leader- children during their week is school. However, tragic ship to run the department, incidents whose names everyone knows, including Col- and the district is fortunate umbine and Newtown, Connecticut, have shaken some of to have one of the very best our confidence around schools and safety. coming in as its new police In the October, 2013 issue of Education Connection, an chief: retiring Kansas City, article explained the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools’ Kansas Police Department (KCKPS) new Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which Chief Rick L. Armstrong. guides students and staff on how to respond in the event Armstrong will begin work of a school emergency. The SRP has been implemented for the district in February across the district, in collaboration with local first re- 2014. sponders, and students and staff are being trained on how “We are thrilled to have to respond appropriately to any emergency situation. someone of Chief Arm- strong’s experience and quali- KCKPS Police Department fications to assist us in forming Another critical piece of the district’s crisis preparation our new police department,” for emergencies concerns the staff who are called on to Lane said.