Back to School

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the emporia gazette Friday, August 9, 2013

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Online enrollment for Emporia schools began for the fall semester July 23.

The process has come a long way, and will allow one family, currently vacationing in Japan, to enroll their student in the Emporia School Dis-trict — a world away.

In the beginning, about eight years ago, the Emporia School District start-ed a central enrollment, meaning it centralized individual enrollments for each building into one location.

Administration mailed out forms and information to parents in advance and asked parents to bring them back filled out.

Come enrollment day, parents could sign up for transportation, food service, get immunizations for their child and so on, all in one location.

Over time, the realization set in, that the amount of paper being mailed was overwhelming.

“As technology has improved, we have moved from that to doing it on-line,” Nancy Horst, community rela-tions director, said. “When we started our central enrollment, everything was paper and pencil and we had ev-erything in one location.”

The goal, said Horst, is to make the enrollment process easy and seamless, while eliminating paper waste.

“We have a room set aside here at Mary Herbert and some extra staff coming in,” she said. “So, they can come here and get some assistance.”

Full-scale online enrollment only began a year ago, and last year, it was held at Emporia High School.

“Now we’re in year two, people are probably a little more comfortable with it, and we’re going to be prepared at Mary Herbert to help people be-tween Tuesday and Aug. 2,” Horst said before enrollment opened.

While last year was the first time for completely online enrollment, the process of electronic enrollment has been phased into practice gradually over the past several years.

For the first time last year, there was some apprehension among par-ents, Horst said, but this year was sim-pler and quicker.

“We have re-populated some of the forms so they don’t have to retype ev-erything,” Horst said. “We’ve made some improvements on the site itself.”

The district trials the website with parents before launch, and the feed-back this year was positive.

Letters were mailed to parents of all returning students and kindergar-ten students who were pre-registered during kindergarten orientation. The letters included a unique log-in code for each child in the family. The code is required to access a student’s infor-mation and make needed updates and corrections.

Parents were asked to complete their enrollment by Aug. 2.

The district has eliminated text-book rental fees K-12 and pay-to-par-ticipate fees at the middle and high schools. Therefore, no fees were as-sessed for K-5 students, and 6-12 stu-dents were required to pay only a $10 activity fee per student. Yearbook and high school parking permit fees were optional.

online_enrollment A success

By Ben Fitch

[email protected] We would like to welcome our students, staff, parents and patrons to the 2013-14 school year! The start of school provides en-thusiasm, excitement, and a fresh start for students and staff. We are looking forward to another successful and rewarding year.

Southern Lyon County continues to re-ceive outstanding academic achievements on state assessments. Our academic suc-cess is a tribute to our students, staff, and parents. Our district is fortunate with many outstanding contributions towards post sec-ondary scholarships for students to contin-ue their educational and career goals after graduation.

Our athletic and activity programs have enjoyed many successes over the years. We have a good balance of programs for our students to choose from. Students are en-couraged to participate in various activities throughout the school year. Our communi-ties support and enjoy our students’ suc-cesses in all areas.

Facility improvements included annual roof replacements to maintain the integ-rity of our attendance centers and facili-ties. Building and bus security cameras are updated annually. Each building will have classrooms and areas with new flooring and paint.

We will be expanding our classroom opportunities with technology as we enter into the second year of our one to one tech-nology initiatives. Southern Lyon County one to one technology initiatives; both PC and apple operating platforms, promethe-an interactive white boards in each class-room, document cameras, and Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) mobile labs are available for additional opportunities for students and staff in grades K-12. Our tech-nology initiatives continue to bring an excit-ing era for student learning opportunities.

We are committed and dedicated to provide opportunities for students to expe-rience academic success and have the op-portunities of activities, fine arts, vocational programs, and athletics in a positive atmo-sphere. We pride ourselves in low student to teacher ratios in building a strong founda-tion for academic success! We continue to work towards and achieve our goals and ob-jectives at USD 252! Thank you to our staff, patrons, and USD 252 Board of Education!

Parents and/or guardians interested in enrolling their children in our district should call 620-392-5519 to get the proper information or visit our website at www.usd252.org. First day of classes will be Aug. 21 starting at 8 a.m.! We are proud of our students, parents, patrons and communi-ties!

Welcome back to school inSouth Lyon county

By Mike ArgABright

USD 252 Superintendent of Schools

teddy beAr clinic

Emporia GazEttE photo

Children had an opportunity to experience first-hand what might happen if they visited their doctor or the hospital emergency department at the annual teddy Bear Clinic held each april by Newman regional health. this non-threatening introduction to medical professionals can help soften the fear and anxiety young children feel when they visit their doctor. Children also learned about health and basic safety rules. Children and parents had an opportunity to visit fun and educational booths, see emergency vehicles including a fire truck, ambulance, medical helicopter, and more.

The emporia gazeTTeFriday, August 9, 2013

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Think bullying is just harmless teas-ing? An estimated 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of at-tack or intimidation by other students, according to the National Education Association. And Yale health research-ers have found a connection between suicide -- the fourth leading cause of death in children ages 10 to 14 -- and bullying and being bullied.

Experts say that kids themselves have the power to put a stop to bully-ing. Unfortunately, both victims and bystanders don’t always know the best way to handle bullying situations as they occur.

“Most kids feel terrible when they see friends or classmates get bullied. They want to help, but they don’t what to do,” says Alice Cahn, Cartoon Net-work Vice President of Social Respon-sibility. “Having strategies for these situations can help prepare children to intervene when the time comes.”

With this in mind, Cartoon Network launched the award-winning Stop Bul-

lying: Speak Up in 2010 to educate kids on what to do when they see friends getting bullied. In partnership with official advisors, including staff from the US Departments of Education and Health and Human Services; and part-ners including CNN, The Anti-Defa-mation League, the Pacer Foundation, and nationally recognized academic experts, the bullying prevention cam-paign aims to put a stop to this com-mon and serious problem.

The pro-social campaign is offering these tips for parents and kids to help stop bullying in their schools:

✦ Tell an adult: When someone gets bullied, tell a parent, teacher or trusted adult. Talking about it isn’t tattling or snitching. It’s helping someone out. ✦ Be friendly: Bullying can make a vic-tim feel alienated and lonely. Saying a few kind words to the person who has been bullied makes a huge dif-ference. ✦ Volunteer: Your school’s bullying prevention program needs parents and students to help encourage ev-eryone to speak up against bullying.

✦ Say it loud: Ask your school to fly or display the official Stop Bullying: Speak Up flag, which indicates that the school is a place where bullying actions will not be tolerated. ✦ Learn more: Free online resources can help you learn how to deal with bullies. Visit www.StopBul-lyingSpeakUp.com to access pub-lic service announcements, two 30-minute documentaries and tips sheets for parents and teachers that offer a step-by-step guide for safe and effective ways to be an active bullying bystander. The site also provides links to the Anti-Defama-tion League, Boys and Girls Club of America and other partners provid-ing expert advice about bullying. All materials are available in English and Spanish. “Don’t stop there,” says Cahn.

“These resources are meant to spark a conversation.”

No child should feel like his or her school is not a safe place to learn. Par-ents, teachers and students can work together to make a difference.

StatePoint Media

Tips for Talking WiTh Your kids abouT bullYing

Childhood obesity rates have skyrock-eted over the past 30 years. Right now, one-third of American kids are overweight or obese.

“Unfortunately, healthy eating for kids isn’t always stressed consistently,” says Debbie Blacher, founder of Wholesome Tummies, a children’s food franchise devot-ed to bringing nutritious meals to schools. “Many kids lack access to nutritious food and good information about healthful eat-ing and behaviors.”

Since most kids consume half their daily calories at school, healthy eating habits must be addressed both at home and in the classroom, she stresses.

Blacher, a mom herself and an expert on crafting healthful school lunches, is offering these lunch packing tips for parents:

✦ Make a bento box: Instead of packing the traditional entrée and sides, make lunch out of small snacks in a multi-compartment box. Hardboiled eggs, raisins, an apple or other fresh fruit, crackers, tuna fish, pasta salad, veggies, dips and more.

✦ Travel the world: Go with an interna-tional theme each day, such as Mexican, Asian or Italian. Include an educational note about the meal’s origin.

✦ Include a surprise: Kids love surprises, such as favorite photos, stickers or a reminder about an upcoming event. A lunch box surprise can make your child’s day extra special. Busy parents may not have the time to

pack lunch each day. But programs like Wholesome Tummies are providing schools with affordable, healthy, kid-friendly lunch-es. More information can be found at www.wholesometummies.com.

But nutrition is only half the equation. As screen time competes for kids’ atten-tion, active time is decreasing. And exercise is crucial to preventing obesity, improving motor skills and providing a social outlet.

Unfortunately, not all kids are receptive.“One of the biggest challenges is getting

shy kids to participate,” says Jyl Camhi, co-founder of Great Play, a children’s gym fran-chise that uses interactive technology and a progressive curriculum based on motor-skill development.

Camhi is offering tips to coax a child for-ward in a group fitness scenario:

✦ Allow spectating: The first time in a new environment can be emotionally drain-ing. Stay for an entire class and return the next time.

✦ Never force participation: Be a source of comfort for your child while he or she sits on the sidelines. Your child will feed off your energy.

✦ Look for peer leaders: Outgoing children are often thrilled to help another child feel more comfortable.

✦ Sometimes leaving helps: Oftentimes kids behave better when they don’t have a parental crutch to lean on.

✦ Pay attention to leaders’ personalities: Whether it’s classes, sports or school, the leader can make or break the experi-ence. Does the coach make kids com-

fortable? Look for telltale signs and find a coach that works well with your child.More information about kids’ fitness or

to find a Great Play Franchise near you can be found at www.GreatPlay.com.

There are some trends not worth follow-ing — and an unhealthy lifestyle is one of them. With the right tools and tricks, you can be a positive influence on your kids’ health.

kids need To eaT, so eaT healThYStatePoint Media



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1. Reduce clutter and get organized

Stacks of workbooks and papers make studying appear as a daunting task. Help your child organize his or her learning materials and store them in a dedicated place such as a filing cabinet or paper folders – one for each subject. Consider pasting a chart on the inside front cover of the folders to (1) track the amount of time spent studying for each subject, and (2) note what chapters and assignments have been completed. This will organize your student’s educational materials within your home and document his or her learning accomplishments for the school year.

2. Monitor noise levelsWhether your child is working inde-

pendently or together with you, phones, televisions and outside noises distract children and pull them out of their stud-

ies – even if it is coming from another room. Be aware of when your child is studying and encourage family and visi-tors to avoid unnecessary interruptions, such as loud video games or conversa-tions. Consider turning off or silencing electronic devices that can interfere with students’ concentration during study time.

3. Designate an “education space”

Designate a room, or even a table, as your student’s learning space. Setting aside a specific area of your home where studying takes place creates an environ-ment conducive to learning, much like a working classroom atmosphere. You and your child will come to associate that space with productive study habits.

4. Create a routineHaving a set time scheduled each day

when learning or homework occurs cre-ates good habits for you and your child.

Tips To make The homemore conducive for learning

Special to The Gazette This also is important for other mem-bers of your family, so they can avoid creating distractions during study time. Do not allow yourself or your child to occasionally watch a favor-ite television show or go over to a friend’s house during this sched-uled time. You must treat it as “study-only” time to reinforce the importance of the learning pro-cess.

5. Make learning enjoy-able

Showing interest in your child’s ideas and progress makes learning a positive process. Ask your child what materials or environment he or she needs to effectively learn and study within the home. Remember, learning at home doesn’t always have to be re-stricted to your residence – visiting a local science mu-seum or taking in a play may be related to your child’s school work.


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Across the country, parents are begin-ning to notice that today’s classroom looks quite different from what they experienced in their own school days. From personalized learning technologies to new educational standards, teachers and administrators are using a variety of tools to ensure students are better prepared to succeed than ever before.

In this era of innovation in education, this school year will be particularly exciting in part because states will be piloting assess-ments aligned to the Common Core State Standards, the new set of K-12 educational standards designed to improve students’ readiness for college and future careers.

So just what do these changes mean for your kids?• Shift to New Standards

Schools nationwide are finding new ways to provide individually tailored lesson plans while addressing the Common Core State Standards, often relying on a new generation of educational technologies that help students learn and succeed at their own pace.

McGraw-Hill Education’s Reading Won-ders is one such tool. Available in both all-digital and print/digital formats, it is the first K-6 core reading program designed specifically for the new standards.

“Even before the advent of the Common Core, we knew that preparing students for the demands of college and careers required setting a solid foundation in skills such as reading comprehension and writing,” said Christine Willig, senior vice president of products at McGraw-Hill School Educa-tion. “When the new standards reiterated the importance of these skills, we saw an opportunity to build an entirely new pro-gram that would address the Common Core requirements, by leveraging contemporary cognitive science about how we learn, using

cutting-edge digital tools.”• personalized Learning

Education research has shown that in-struction becomes more effective when tailored to students’ unique learning styles and needs. Personalized learning tends to lead to deeper learning – which will help students meet many of the new Common Core standards. As classrooms continue getting bigger however, delivering that sort of individual attention to students becomes more difficult.

With this in mind, Reading Wonders was built using entirely new educational tech-nology, offering interconnected platforms personalized for students and teachers and accessible across any device.

Other digital learning tools use addi-tional techniques to help students succeed. McGraw-Hill Education’s LearnSmart and FLEX Literacy, for example, each use “adaptive” technology to continually assess students’ knowledge, skill and confidence levels and to create a unique study path designed to help each student in the top-ics and concepts they need most – a level of personalization previously only available from a personal tutor. LearnSmart deliv-ers this adaptive learning experience for a variety of high school subject areas, while FLEX Literacy incorporates it into a com-prehensive, Common Core-specific reading and language arts intervention system for students in Grades 3–8.

More information about new digital programs, including those designed specifi-cally for the Common Core State Standards, can be found at www.mheducation.com.

In this ever-evolving educational land-scape, keeping up with the changes can seem daunting – but it needn’t be. Parents can rest assured that teachers are increas-ingly equipped with new technologies that ensure their students are getting the person-alized attention they need to improve their chances for long-term success.

What EvEry ParEnt nEEds to KnoW about ChangEs in thE Classroom

StatePoint Media



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ADMIRE — The debate over Common Core standards is as far reaching as Ad-mire, and it is heating up.

Local legislators and state school board representatives were confronted with overwhelming opposition Sat-urday morning when they met with around 20 members of the community at the Admire Community Center.

It was a public forum organized by Ginny Graham of Reading, who said she wanted to know more about Com-mon Core. Graham has a daughter who is a teacher, and they have talked about the issue at length.

“I got online, and I got information,” she said. “I started talking to a couple members of the school board, and they didn’t have any clue.”

Granted, the members of the USD 251 North Lyon County school board were new members, said Graham, but she still wasn’t happy with what she was hearing.

The discussion over Common Core standards has received some attention in the past six months: a bit of a frustra-tion, said Sen. Jeff Longbine — also in attendance — since the process started around two years ago, and there was little to no feedback then.

“The difficulty we have as legisla-tors at this point is separating what is fact and what is fiction,” Longbine said. “We really need to examine what the facts are and get to the bottom of each of the concerns.”

The initiative is a state-led effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

As a collaboration between teachers, school administrators and education experts, the standards were developed in hopes of creating benchmarks for students preparing for higher educa-tion or the national workforce, regard-less of where they live.

Opponents of the initiative argue that the program drains initiative from teachers by enforcing a homogenous curriculum that ignores cultural dif-ferences among classrooms in various areas of the country.

Kansas State School Boards repre-sentative Sally Cauble said the state school board was caught off guard by

Forum in Admire:Common Core reCeives CritiCism

By Ben Fitch

[email protected]

Joe Ahlquist/GAzette

Sally Cauble, vice chair of the Kansas association of School Boards, fields questions during a public forum regarding the Common Core State Standards initiative, an initiative to establish standards in reading and math on a national scale, Saturday at the Community Center in admire.


Joyce thierer, a history professor at emporia State University, listens during a public forum regarding the Common Core State Standards initiative on Saturday.


Sen. Jeff Longbine speaks during a public forum regarding the Common Core State Standards initiative, an initiative to establish standards in reading and math on a national scale, on Saturday, July 27, 2013, at the Community Center in admire.


the opposition to Common Core stan-dards.

“But that’s coming down from a na-tional movement,” she said. “The state of Kansas has been into Common Core for two years.”

Indeed, several school districts throughout the state have fully imple-mented the English standards outlined by Common Core, but the math stan-dards are only just beginning.

The forum in Admire was Cauble’s fourth over Common Core standards.

“No one has ever complained about what the standards are,” she said. “It all seems to be that it was developed on a national level.”

It’s a possibility that there is a fair amount of misinformation, Longbine said. However, one revealing truth re-mains: educators are in overwhelming support of Common Core standards. Longbine has received more than 900 emails from educators within his dis-trict in support of Common Core.

Sarah Malcolm, a teacher from the North Lyon County school district, was at the forum to share her valuable per-spective. Malcolm teaches ninth- and 12th-grade English and theater foren-sics classes, and has been teaching for a decade.

She said members of the Admire community were possibly apprehensive about the idea of “national” standards, but notably, “national” does not mean “federal.”

“It’s not necessarily that the govern-ment is trying to force it,” she said. “Curriculum is still locally driven, and it’s still locally decided.”

Malcolm said the standards rein-force what is “quality teaching.” The accountability factor of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, in support of standards-based education reform, is important, she said.

“I think this is more skills-based,

which means it’s going to be more dif-ficult to assess, and it’s going to have to be assessed differently, but I think teachers are in favor of it because we know these are the skills kids need, rather than whether they know the right answer on a test,” Malcolm said.

Also in attendance, and with a unique perspective of the issue, was Rep. Ron Highland of the 51st District. Highland serves on the education and education budget committees.

“There’s discontent all over the state,” he said. “The parents that are involved with their students’ education are concerned because what we are see-ing is a trend towards sameness.”

That inhibits students who excel from achieving further and leaves struggling students without the atten-tion they need to catch up, he said.

“Everybody will be the same, and they are wanting to do that across the entire country,” he said. “As a state, is that what we really want?”

That was a concern, as well as the cost, Highland said. The indication he had received was that funding for Com-mon Core was not a reallocation, but new money.

Graham said she wanted to make sure children in the community were getting a good education, and the pos-sibility of Common Core implementa-tion being a misappropriation — a sen-timent posed by some attendees of the forum — was not a worry for her.

“I would give the kids 75 percent of my earnings if I knew they were get-ting a good education and that the ad-ministrators weren’t getting all of the money,” she said. “I want the money to go to the kids.”

Progress with standards is at differ-ent levels throughout the state, but the Emporia school district is at between 80 percent and 90 percent of implemen-tation.


Sarah malcolm, an english teacher at Northern heights high School in allen, participates in a public forum regarding the Common Core State Standards initiative on Saturday.


rep. peggy mast speaks during a public forum regarding the Common Core State Standards initiative on Saturday morning at the Community Center in admire. about 20 members of the community turned out for the session with state legislators and school board officials.


rep. ron highland speaks during a public forum regarding the Common Core State Standards initiative on Saturday.


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Parents can do everything in their power to provide children with the proper tools and supplies to stay orga-nized this school year. But when their kids get to school, all preparations can easily get thrown out the window -- or, into a messy locker.

As the one piece of real estate stu-dents keep without regular parental re-view, the locker is often a place of dis-organization and a pitfall in the path to being and staying organized.

To help students get their lockers in order and, in turn, keep them function-al and organized for efficient learning, follow these quick tips:

ShelvingNotepads, pens, papers and other

everyday items tend to get stuffed in the bottom of lockers without arrange-ment, leading to wrinkled assignments,

smashed food, and lost books. Use durable, long-lasting locker

shelves, like the Five Star Stackable Shelf or Five Star Top Shelf Extender, to create additional space for school supplies. These locker shelves hold up to 100 pounds, so books, binders and other supplies can quickly and easily be stacked or thrown into the locker.

Keep personal items and academic supplies separate for quick and easy access to both. With an organizer like the Five Star Hanging Locker Shelf, students can store a makeup bag or running shoes in the top compartment and textbooks, folders and binders in the bottom, creating an easily acces-sible space.

Easy AccessBooks should sit upright in the lock-

er to maximize space and be displayed with the spines facing out so it’s easy to see which books are needed. Arranging books to align with their class schedule

also makes it easy when students have just a few minutes between classes.

Save locker space and time between classes by magnetically storing pens and pencils on the locker door. The Five Star Neo Storage Pocket has industrial-strength magnets that ensure no mat-ter how hard the locker is slammed, the pocket will securely stay on the locker door. Contents stay in place for an easy grab-and-go at the next locker stop.

Set a ScheduleEven with an organization plan in

place, it doesn’t take much for a locker to get cluttered all over again. Create a cleaning schedule — either weekly or even once-a-semester — to straighten up and reassess the contents of the locker.

Include a weekly locker purge where all unnecessary items are removed and all missing supplies are replaced.

For more ways to organize a locker, visit www.MeadFiveStar.com.

Help StudentS Keep Organized lOcKerStHiS ScHOOl YearStatePoint Media


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Gazette File Photo

4-h is one activity area school children can participate in year-round. information can be found at the Lyon County extension office, 2632 W. U.S. highway 50 or 341-3220.

Gazette File Photo

Football is one of many sports available to students at emporia Schools. participating in athletics can help improve students’ health and mental focus.


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the emporia high School Cheerleaders entertained the crowds at the hispanics of today and tomorrow’s Fiesta 2012. the annual Fiesta is the biggest multicultural event in the school year, and children of all ages participate in the parade, dancing, contests and compete for the title of King and Queen.this year’s Fiesta is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Las Casitas park in emporia. the annual hott Fiesta raises funds for local scholarships. Donations and sponsors are being sought, and the community is invited to participate in the Fiesta parade.For more information, contact Sally Sanchez, 620-366-1094, or izzy gonzalez, 344-3300, or email [email protected]. also visit the organization’s website: hottfiesta.com.

If your child will ride a bike to school, make sure a bike helmet is on your school list. By wearing a helmet, your child’s risk of head injury decreases by 85%. Toddler through adult sizes are available. These low cost helmets are available for only $7.75 at the following locations:

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We have a full assortment of Back to School supplies.Local school supply list are available.

In a perfect world, all children would be enthusiastic about starting a new school year. But in the real world, some children will be reluctant, nervous, or annoyed about exchanging their summer fun for the classroom. How do you get kids moti-vated about going back to school?

While you can’t dole out pep talks during the school day, you can take steps at home to get kids excited about school all year long:

Set an ExampleOff to work? If you act grumpy about

the day ahead of you, your kids will take your cue. Over breakfast, be posi-tive and upbeat. If your kids have ap-prehensions about school, their friends or after school activities, talk to them in a constructive way about what’s bothering them.

At dinner, remember to check in with them again. Tell them about what you did that day and ask them about what they learned.

Make Schoolwork FunCool school supplies can inspire

your kids to stay organized and moti-vated. Think colorful and cheerful de-signs and personalized back to school supplies, which can give kids a sense of ownership and pride over their school work.

For example, MyChronicleBooks, creates folders, journals, spiral note-books and even stickers that can be customized with names and school subjects. To foster after school learn-ing, thinking, doodling and dreaming, consider personalized Ivy and Bean journals.

Go the Extra MileEncourage your kids to do more

than just go to school and come home. It’s in their art classes, on the basket-ball court and playing in the concert band where they will discover their talents and interests they didn’t know they have.

Extracurricular and after school ac-

tivities provide a great social outlet for kids and are where some of the best memories of school days are made. If the school doesn’t have programs that interest your child, investigate other classes, teams and activities offered locally.

Customize LunchAdd a little flair to lunch room

drudgery. Remember to always pack a favorite snack or des-sert to give your kids some-thing to look forward to midday.

From pirates and prin-cesses to dinosaurs and trains, ditch the paper bag in favor of a lunch box featuring your children’s interests. And personalizing the lunch box with their names can help prevent lost lunch mishaps. More information can be found at www.MyChronicleBooks.com.

From brighter moods to better grades, getting kids excited about the school year will have positive conse-quences.

How to get kids excited about tHe new scHool yearStatePoint


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Back to School

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Transcript of Back to School