WINTER 2015

LISTEN TO THE POEM STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN DISTRICT-WIDE POETRY SLAMS

KCKPL MOBILE LIBRARY COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU

THIRD GRADERS GIVE EACH OTHER REASONS

TO BELIEVE

2010 N. 59th St., Kansas City, KS 66104 KS City, Kansas St., 59th N. 2010 Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Public Kansas City, Kansas

EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 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”

40225976 MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

college entrance exam, the ACT. We refer to our plan “Nothing as Diploma+. Our world is moving and changing. changes until KCKPS students will be prepared. something Diploma+ Begins in Early Childhood We begin Diploma+ with our youngest children moves” who are preparing for kindergarten by developing (Albert pre-academic, language and social skills. Elemen- tary students are advancing with rigorous academic Einstein). studies, and will soon be participating in “capstone” We understand projects to demonstrate academic and social pre- Mr. Einstein was paredness for middle school. Middle school students speaking to the laws are developing visions and plans for their futures by of motion; however participating in college campus tours, visiting indus- his words have great tries around the metro area, and learning about high meaning to the Dr. Cynthia Lane demand careers through activities like “Career Jump- Kansas City, Kansas ing.” Superintendent of Schools Public Schools, a school district that is Commitment and Collaboration are known for innovation and system-wide educational reform. We have learned that meaningful change Essential happens when we are all working toward a clear goal Imagine the power we have to impact life outcomes supported by a thoughtfully developed plan. as we surround our children and youth with a unified message about the importance of graduating Diplo- A Clear Goal ma+. We invite you to be part of Diploma+. Here’s In KCKPS our goal is clear. We are preparing “each how: student to exit high school prepared for college and careers in a global society.” To make the promise of “college • Become a mentor. and career prepared” a reality, the Board of Educa- • Become involved in the “Caring for Kids” adopt- tion established a focused plan that includes rigor- a-school program. ous achievement targets for our schools. Our schools • Join our literacy movement, “Read Today, Lead have, in turn, established growth and college ready Tomorrow.” targets for each student. Setting targets allows us to • Participate in “Career Jumping” or serve as a know if our students are on track and on time for guest speaker during career days. success. When students are on track, we celebrate and • Host students for a visit to your business or spon- push them forward. If a student is lagging behind, we sor a college campus visit. work to provide the supports necessary to address the • Join our Diploma+ Advisory Board. challenge. • Sponsor an intern, or provide real projects that our students could complete for your business. Each Student Prepared Researchers at Georgetown University have found To learn more about how to become involved, that by the year 2020 in Kansas, 70 percent of good contact Lori Hewitt, Diploma+ specialist at lori. paying jobs will require training and credentials [email protected], or Tina Richardson, Student Ser- beyond a high school diploma. Today we are encour- vices program specialist at [email protected]. aging our high school students to take college classes and/or to complete industry-recognized technical credentials. Last year, 36 percent of our students graduated with college credit. For the graduating Check out Dr. Cynthia Lane’s class of 2021, we are moving from “encouraging” to “expecting.” By 2021, KCKPS students are expected to blog, “It’s Up to Us” at graduate with their high school diploma plus at least one year of college completed, or an industry-recog- blog.kckps.org nized certification or credential, or at least a 21 on the

EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 3 IN THIS ISSUE

Superintendent’s Message 3 Education Connection is a quarterly newsmagazine of the Kansas City, Kansas Watch for the Mobile Library Coming Public Schools (KCKPS). Editorial copy and 5 to a Neighborhood Near You! photography are created by the KCKPS Communications Department and produced 6 Third Graders Give Each Other by NPG Newspapers. To receive a copy of Reasons to Believe in Themselves the magazine, call (913) 279-2242. A Spanish translation of the stories included in Education Watch the 2014 Reasons to Believe Connection is available on the district’s website Celebration Online and on at http://kckps.cloudaccess.net/community/ KCKPS-TV education-connection.html.

District-Wide Poetry Slams Give Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools 8 Voice to Young People Central Office and Training Center 2010 N. 59th St. Kansas City, KS 66104 10 Graduating Students Prepared for (913) 551-3200 College and Careers www.kckps.org

2014 Battle of the Books Photo Page Superintendent of Schools 11 Dr. Cynthia Lane KCKPS Students Get Connected on 12 the Bus Chief of Staff David A. Smith 13 2014-2015 District Calendar Communications Manager Tammy Dodderidge Raptor Days at Wyandotte County Editor, Education Connection Lake KCK Board of Education George Breidenthal Dr. Evelyn Hill WINTER 2015 Brenda C. Jones LISTEN TO THE POEM STUDENTS PARTICIPATE COMMUNICATIONS Richard Kaminski IN DISTRICT-WIDE POETRY SLAMS

Vicki Meyer KCKPL MOBILE LIBRARY COMING TO A RESOURCES Christal Watson NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU THIRD GRADERS GIVE EACH OTHER Gloria Willis TO BELIEVE REASONS Website www.kckps.org

Facebook Kansas-City-Kansas-Public-Schools

2010 N. 59th St., Kansas City, KS 66104 KS City, Kansas St., 59th N. 2010 Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Public Kansas City, Kansas

EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 Twitter Twitter.com/kckschools 1 Superintendent’s Blog, “It’s Up to Us.” Blog.kckps.org KCKPS TV-18 Channel 18 or 98.18 on Time Warner Cable (in Wyandotte County) Or Channel 145 on Google Fiber. YouTube www.youtube.com/KCKPSTV

4 EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 WATCH FOR THE MOBILE LIBRARY COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU!

If it’s big and yellow, and you Sandra Findley, Mobile can use the computer to check Platt is also waiting every see it in different places in your Library librarian, and Jessica e-mail and access the Internet. time the Mobile Library arrives. neighborhood, it’s probably a Devon McClanahan, Mobile Li- At the Westgate Towers/ While he has also used the West school bus. But what if it’s big brary associate, serve as librar- Westgate Villa stop on a cold Branch and downtown librar- and lavender? Well, if you’re ians on the bus once it arrives at Thursday morning, patrons ies, he says that the mobile lucky, it’s the newest addition each site. But since their library John Mendez and Timothy Platt library gives him everything he to the Kansas City, Kansas Pub- is mobile, in between stops, were thrilled to have the Mobile needs. lic Library (KCKPL), the new they serve as bus drivers! Nei- Library pull up to their front “It gives me access to reading Mobile Library! On October 1, ther of them had ever driven a door. books and getting movies, and 2014, KCKPL introduced the large vehicle before beginning Mendez was checking out using the computer,” he noted. Mobile Library, a key compo- this job, so they both received copies of current movies, in- “Since the mobile library is nent of the library’s mission three weeks of training through cluding “Batman” and “Grav- here, some of the elderly folks of connecting members of the the district’s Transportation ity,” and also picking up a copy who live here come out of the community with information, Department in order to learn to of One Day at a Time by popular building and use it. I get kids’ tools, resources, and welcoming drive the Mobile Library. author Danielle Steel. He is a movies for my grandkids to spaces to enrich their lives. “I never thought I would be regular, making sure to come watch when they are with me, The Mobile Library serves driving a out every and books to read with them. individuals who have difficulty bus,” McCla- time the I am able to find what I want, reaching a library branch. It nahan said. I get kids’ movies for Mobile Li- when I want it.” extends current library ser- “But I have my grandkids to watch when brary stops. Platt wants everyone to know vices to the larger community, gotten used they are with me, and books While he about the Mobile Library. and helps to lessen the digital to it. The to read with them. I am able has always “We need to put the word divide by providing an on- other day, I “to find what I want, when I been a out. The library is a world all site wireless connection and a was driv- want it. reader, the to itself,” he said. “A book will mobile computer lab. In other ing my own – Timothy Platt nearest li- take you into a world you have words, it brings books and vehicle, and frequent patron of the brary, West never been in. With a book, you materials to people across the making a Mobile Library Branch can go anywhere in life.” community. turn, and for Library, is Information about the Mobile The Mobile Library stops at a split second, I thought: ‘Wait, four miles” away. It had been Library, including a schedule of 24 locations throughout the I didn’t check my back end!’” eight or nine years since he had stops, is available on the library community, coming back to Once the Mobile Library is on last renewed his library card. website at kckpl.org. Click on each location once every two location, patrons have access to “I have been coming since the “About KCKPL” and choose weeks. At some of the locations, all the services of a bricks and first time it stopped here,” Men- “Mobile Library.” patrons are standing outside, mortar library. They can check dez noted. “I am here every waiting for the bus to pull up. out books and movies, and they time it comes.”

EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 5 THIRD GRADERS GIVE EACH OTHER REASONS TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES

When the Kansas City, Kan- the students paired up and in- baseball. His dad coaches him to Believe initiative and the ac- sas Public Schools launched the terviewed each other and wrote to play better. complishments and ideas of the Reasons to Believe program in nomination essays. Here’s an Alumni Honor Roll members. 2002, one of the goal was to in- example from a student at He received honors. He They had the interview process spire students to reach for their Whittier Elementary School: received an award for helping modeled for them prior to con- dreams and believe in them- his community. He helps his ducting their own interviews. selves. Through the program, Felipe Ramirez is a third family. He helps his dad to The students created Rea- successful graduates are rec- grade student in Mrs. clean his room. He helps his sons to Believe banners using ognized and inducted into the Haught’s class. He will mom by taking care of his the district’s template design, Reasons to Believe Alumni Honor graduate in 2024. He will brother and sister. He believes complete with photos of them- Roll. They are showcased as graduate from college in this makes him a reason to selves. They presented their reasons to believe in the impact 2028. I believe Felipe should believe. nominations orally in class of a KCKPS education. be considered for the Third or at special events involving The reach of the program Grade Reasons to Believe in The project was created by parents. Many have displayed continues to grow each year. KCKPS because he is a good teacher leaders Teri Fulton their Reasons to Believe essays This year, third graders in the artist in school. He also works and Jennifer Fergerson. It is a and banners in their buildings. district nominated each other hard in school. performance task for the Social The displays serve as a daily for a “Third Grade Reasons to Studies Standard that states: reminder of their goals and Believe in KCKPS” honor. Using He has been involved in “societies are shaped by beliefs, their belief in their classmates questions from the actual Rea- school, sports and after school ideas and diversity.” Students and themselves. sons to Believe nomination form, activities. He plays soccer and were introduced to the Reasons

WATCH THE 2014 REASONS TO BELIEVE CELEBRATION ONLINE AND ON KCKPS-TV The 2014 Reasons to Believe Roll also sat down for one-on- KCKPS-TV and are posted on (channel 145). The network also Celebration was captured on one interviews to talk about YouTube. is streamed on the district’s video and is airing on KCKPS- their memories of growing up KCKPS-TV is available to website, www.kckps.org. The TV. It also has been posted on in the district, and the individu- Time Warner subscribers in Wy- district’s YouTube channel is the KCKPS YouTube channel. als who gave them reasons to andotte County (channel 18 or www.youtube.com/kckpstv. Several members of the 2014 believe in themselves. Those 98.18) and to Google Fiber sub- Reasons to Believe Alumni Honor videos are also being aired on scribers in Wyandotte County

6 EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 Twelve outstanding alumni were inducted into the 2014 Reasons to Believe Alumni Honor Roll on November 20. The alumni are: (back row, from left) Lloyd Freeman, Sumner Academy Class of 2000; Marcus Newsom, F.L. Schlagle Class of 1988; Dr. Jayson Strickland, Washington High School Class of 1989; Wesley G. Burt, Sumner Academy Class of 1999; Norman Brown, Wyandotte High School Class of 1982; (middle row, from left) Drue Jennings, Argentine High School Class of 1964; Phil S. Dixon, Wyandotte High School Class of 1974; Harold L. Simmons, Wyandotte High School Class of 1965; Dr. LeeRoy Pitts, Sumner High School Class of 1951; (front row, from left) Dr. Simone Ellis, Sumner Academy Class of 2001; Nedra Bonds, Wyandotte High School Class of 1966; and Dr. Christi Walter, J.C. Harmon High School Class of 1976.

...to our KCK Board of Education!

EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 7 DISTRICT-WIDE POETRY SLAMS “LISTEN TO THE POEM”

district’s high schools have been invited to “When they (the students) get up on perform and compete against each other stage and the audience snaps for them and in district-wide poetry slams. A total of the audience claps for them or people go six slams (or competitions) will take silent – it’s the power of the words. The place. While the students receive scores students realize, ‘Hey, I wrote that.’ It’s from judges in the competitive for- wonderful to see,” Grissom said. mat, the final scores are secondary to the intent of the slams, which is to Listen to the Poem unify the students while fostering Students gain valuable life skills and aca- a community of poets. demic skills from participating in poetry The ultimate goal for all slams. They begin to become more focused students would be to advance to on public speaking, presentation skills the Louder Than a Bomb (LTAB) and body language. And their writing and poetry slam competition in Chi- thinking skills are enhanced. cago. Held each spring, it brings Stauffer believes one of the most impor- together more than 70 teams of youth tant qualities of a good poet is his or her from throughout the world. But first, ability to listen. the KCKPS students would need to “I think that is something we don’t value qualify for the 2015 local LTAB competi- enough – listening to other people and tion, which will be held in Kansas City, developing an idea of what’s going on in Missouri. others,” he explained. “All good poets have an extremely fine tuned eye and ear Listen to the Poem to what’s going on in the world and what’s Katrina Saccucci, F.L. Schlagle High going on within themselves, and that School senior, began participating comes from listening.” h’ayla Clark has been writing poetry in poetry slams this year and said it has since she was six years old, and she helped her to “be a better me.” She doesn’t Poetry? Boring? Not at All! think of it as a competition. said she’s never going to stop. She What about the stereotype of poetry as “We’re there to get together as a family – finds it easier to write than to speak. boring and difficult to understand? Stauffer J to make USD 500 a whole,” Saccucci said. It enables her to get her feelings out – to said if that’s what students think, then he “We’re really not there to be judged. We’re share her story without fear or judgment. hasn’t done something right. there to express ourselves.” It’s all about expressing herself. “We’ve messed up if they think it’s Students present their poems individu- nerdy or boring. I think we’ve just been The Wyandotte High School senior is one ally and are scored by a group of judges giving them bad poetry. Maybe it’s because of a number of high school students in the – with a point range of 1 to 10 (10 being the we’ve been teaching it the wrong way and Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools who best). While it’s a thrill for students to earn we’re more focused on meter and rhyme have been engaged in poetry slams. Poetry a “10” for their performance, the responses as opposed to presence and poise and the slams bring students together to perform from the audience are just as impactful. power of the words,” he said. “Maybe the their individual poetry in a competitive but “Listen to the poem!” the audience will stuff we’ve given them is from older, dead, supportive environment. often shout, when the judges read the white guys. Poetry isn’t boring because it’s The goal of slams is two-fold: scores. This means they think the scores about us, and we’re not boring.” • To give young people a voice. are too low. And when the poet on stage Poetry comes in all forms, he said. This • To break down barriers that exist in the reaches into the depths of the souls of stu- school year, he used American rapper Ken- community and city. dents in the audience, the unified snapping drick Lamar’s “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City” “We try to design the slams to be events of fingers can be heard throughout the album for his poetry unit. The students where young people can share how they room, as a way of saying, “We feel you. We analyzed the songs on the album not only feel,” said Tim Stauffer, English teacher at understand.” for poetic devices, but also for how Lamar Wyandotte and co-sponsor of Wyandotte’s Schlagle poetry club sponsor Amelia developed his message in the course of the poetry slam group, W. Dotte Poets. Grissom said the power of the words is the text. This school year, teams from all of the ultimate reward. 8 EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 GIVE VOICE TO YOUNG PEOPLE

“Reading music is as good as poetry,” Jachai Hill, a senior at Schlagle, said Stauffer said. “I mean, there’s so much she began to experience the impact poetry out here every day and a lot of of poetry when her freshmen English people don’t look at it. So if I tell the teacher gave the class an assignment to kids to look at music as poetry it kind of write a poem about their lives. shifts that debate in their mind.” “I’ve been writing ever since,” she said. “There’s freedom in writing. I’m a Why Poetry? whole different person when I write.” Stauffer said he sometimes provides Abe McDonald, a junior at Wyan- his W. Dotte Poets club students with dotte, joined W. Dotte Poets this school prompts, to give them practice in start- year. He said he heard about the club ing a poem or getting in touch with on the school announcements. An avid their emotions or surroundings. Here’s writer since age seven, he thought he an example he gave them: would check it out, and he fell in love with it right away. Make 5 lists. List everything you: “Poetry for me is a way to express • heard last night myself in ways that I’m really not com- • saw last night fortable talking about. I was a very shy • touched/felt last night kid and was really uncomfortable with • tasted last night talking about my feelings,” he said. • smelled last night His poems focus on everyday life – Then using only the words generated both happy and tragic experiences. He from these lists, create a sensory poem WHAT IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE likes to tell stories with his poems as about what happened to you last night. well. BY MARLOWE UNDERWOOD Wyandotte senior Jacob Michel joined F.L. SCHLAGLE HIGH SCHOOL W. Dotte Poets last December and he From Tears to Laughter still has vivid memories of the first Sharing poetry is a very personal ex- I wish it were what it’s supposed to be. meeting. perience. The slams provide a forum for I feel like the system’s controllin’ me. “I remember sharing my ideas and ev- sharing, listening and accepting. This Pinning and holdin’ me down, eryone was listening,” he recalled. “Ev- gives voice to young people. Now listen closely, eryone was just listening to everyone’s Grissom said the emotional impact is Rounds bust in the open, ideas. They understand where people everything from tears to laughter. And clowns laughin’ and jokin’ are coming from and they respect each “Frequently my hair stands up,” she But my society’s broken. other’s views.” said. “It’s a physical connection almost Schools are teachin’ and coachin’ with these kids who are really sharing While kids are cheefin’ and chokin’, Teaching Poets to Be Poets deep inside themselves.” Drinkin’ and smoking… While she receives no monetary pay- Many of the students involved in the Concentration easily broken. ment for being Schlagle’s poetry club poetry slams agree that their poems But I just gotta do different sponsor, she is rewarded constantly by come from something they experience Gotta break from my division, the words of the students. or feel or observe. Some of the poems Instead of mobbing and crippin’ “I love my poetry club kids,” she said. are raw and uncomfortable to hear, but I chose to sit and I listened. that enhances their power. I had a vision that I would fit the position of a high school graduate. Gotta finish the mission. I gotta right to write about what is right, Instead of causing a fight. Because you can kill with a knife but it can also get you life. Thrown in the cell – no lights, No sun, no son, no wife. Reminiscin’ about what life was like. But life’s not a joke to me… I just wish it were what it’s supposed to be…

Watch a video about the KCKPS Poetry Slams online at www.YouTube.com/KCKPSTV.

EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 9 WORKING TO GRADUATE PREPARED FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS

Often, when people are about to begin a wide variety of classes, from In- a task, the question that is heard is: “Are troduction to Literature to College you ready?” This is also an important Spanish to College Biology and question that needs to be asked of every Physics. For some, the classes al- student who graduates from the Kansas low them to earn both high school City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS): Are and college credits, while explor- you ready? Are you prepared for college ing various interests and career and careers in a global society? options. For others, including This past spring, the district introduced Ramos, they allowed them to get a new benchmark for what it means to be necessary college courses com- “prepared for college and careers.” It is pleted while still in high school. called Diploma+ (see graphic). Recently, a “Money has always been an is- Each student will exit high school group of Wyandotte High School stu- sue at my house,” Ramos said. “I prepared for college and careers dents were asked about how enrolling in don’t want my parents to spend in a global society. college classes fits into their preparation that much. When I saw this op- to graduate “college and career-ready.” tion [college classes] I thought All of the students began taking col- I would take advantage of it. With Diploma+, each student will lege classes the second semester of their My plan is to take classes at the receive a high school diploma, sophomore years. For each of them, the community college this summer along with at least one of transition to the rigor of “college-level” and fall, and I will be done with the following: classes was an eye- all of my opener. pre-nursing Marcellus Brown, I have totally stepped classes, and ONE YEAR OF COLLEGE COMPLETED a junior said, “I had it up, and learned how to then transfer to learn to manage to a four-year my time and sched- schedule and prepare myself. college to AN uling, to make sure College classes take you out finish the last INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED I got my work in. “of your comfort zone, and two years of CERTIFICATE OR The more rigorous really push you, and help you my degree. CREDENTIAL classes really helped get ready for college. I will have me learn to be on more than – Erykah Jackson AT LEAST A 21 ON THE task.” 50 college Junior at Wyandotte ACT® COLLEGE Diego Ramos, a High School credits when senior, agreed, and I graduate READINESS ASSESSMENT also noted that the from Wyan- students taking college classes are all dotte!” ” focused. For Victoria Littlejohn, a junior, “You don’t have any of the fooling the biggest challenge has been first semester, so that I could work in a around that we have in school,” Ramos adapting to the expectations of college real job second semester, and save money said. “The college classes really helped us teachers. for college,” she said. Escobar eventually to mature.” “It is difficult to adapt to different wants to go on to medical school, and to Erykah Jackson, a junior, said that teaching styles,” Littlejohn said. “My become a pediatrician. when she first began taking college class- teacher is from the community college, Monica Dirks, a senior who will gradu- es, “it wasn’t good” because the teacher and they don’t stand over and babysit ate with more than 40 college credits, expected her to be organized, prepared, you. I think kids need to experience real also wants to go into a profession where and self-motivated, and she wasn’t. But college-level teaching.” she can help others. “I want to be a food she has grown. Kimberly Escobar, a senior, took two chemist,” she said, “and use my knowl- “This year I am doing well,” Jackson years of college classes, and now is en- edge to reduce the prevalence of obesity said. “I have totally stepped it up, and rolled at the Technical Education Center and diabetes in our community.” learned how to schedule and prepare my- at the Kansas City Kansas Community For all these students and many more, self. College classes take you out of your College, where she has already earned Diploma+ is giving them a real taste of comfort zone, and really push you, and her Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) certifi- what college is like, while moving them help you get ready for college.” cate. down the road of preparation for college, These students have been able to take “I wanted to earn my certificate the careers and life. 10 EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 2014 Battle of the Books

EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 11 KCKPS STUDENTS GET CONNECTED ON THE BUS

High school students who ride the bus information services for KCKPS. “And Fives said since the laptop initiative gained more study time this year thanks this was one of our original goals when began, he has witnessed students trying to the installation of WiFi units on school we started our one-to-one laptop initia- to get WiFi access on several occasions buses. tive in 2007.” during their travels to and from school. Two-thirds of the Kansas City, Kansas Through the district’s laptop initiative, Some have disembarked the bus near an Public Schools’ bus fleet is now equipped every high school student is provided elementary school with their computers with Cradlepoint wireless routers, al- with their own laptop computer to use open trying to connect to the school’s lowing students to access the Internet during the school year. The goal is to Internet. Others have stopped in the and check email on the district’s laptop ensure that KCKPS students have the parking lot of the Central Office look- computers. same access to computers as students in ing for access. And many spend their “The installation of these units extends more affluent districts, and to foster a afternoons at McDonald’s on Wednesday the instructional day for students,” said more creative environment for students early release days to take advantage of Joe Fives, director of technology and and teachers. the free WiFi there. The district piloted the WiFi connec- tion on buses last school year to evaluate its effectiveness and to see how readily students would engage in using it. Early on, bus drivers reported that a number of stu- dents were get- ting online and seemed engaged and focused. Installation of the WiFi units began in the spring of 2014 and was completed at the start of the current school year. A total of 100 of the dis- trict’s 150 buses are equipped with the technology. The district focused on all the buses that transport high school students. These same buses are ones that are used for field trips and as activities buses, which transport students home later in the school day, after they finish after-school activities. The technology is connected to the bus engines so it activates when the buses are started. Like all district Internet access, this access is filtered to keep students in appropriate and safe environments. KCKPS is one of only a few local dis- tricts to provide this type of service to its students. “We want to provide any opportunity we can for our students to engage in in- struction both inside and outside of our buildings,” Fives said.

12 EDUCATION CONNECTION — WINTER 2015 2014-2015 DISTRICT Don’t Miss CALENDAR R aptor Days at Wyandotte County Lake February Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2015 4 Early Release/ Family Advocacy Mr. & Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library and James P. Davis Hall 5 Family Advocacy Day/No School for Students Hours and activities at 10 Board of Education the FL Schlagle Library: Meeting Saturday, January 24, 16 Holiday/ 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, Administrative January 25, Noon – 4 p.m. offi ces closed Operation Wildlife 24 Board of Education volunteers will have live Meeting birds of prey on exhibit (including owls, hawks and March falcons) and will talk about 10 Board of Education the birds and their natural Meeting history. A craft area will be 12 Last Day of Third available for children and Quarter eagle/water birds viewing 13 ½ Day Records will be available outside. Prep/ ½ Day Inservice 16-20 Spring Break Hours and activities at 24 Board of Education James P. Davis Hall: Meeting Saturday, January 24, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and April Sunday, January 25, Noon – 4 p.m. 14 Board of Education Meeting Operation Wildlife 16 Kindergarten volunteers will have live Roundup birds of prey on exhibit 17 Teacher Non-Duty (including owls, hawks and Day/No School falcons) and will talk about 22 District ACT the birds and their natural Testing Day history. It’s a perfect photo 28 Board of Education opportunity! Meeting

The full district calendar is accessible from the homepage of the website, www.kckps.org (click on “calendars”).

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