Back to School 2018

August 4 and 5, 2018

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THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS

Welcome to Sacred Heart DEAR SACRED HEART FAMILIES,

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elcome to a new and exciting school year! I am looking forward to beginning this journey in Christ with all of you. I have been humbled and energized by the communal spirit present and love for Catholic education that I have encountered since my arrival.

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Welcome to Emporia Christian School

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MPORIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL begins its 26th year of existence for the 2018 – 2019 school year. We are excited to welcome back our current students and many new students that will be joining us for the first time.

Catholic education is a sacred endeavor and one that requires a special commitment on your part. That commitment entails recognizing a need for development on a personal and spiritual level along with the academic. Your decision to send your children to Sacred Heart symbolizes a commitment to making God known, loved, and served in your children as well as in our greater community.

I truly believe that God’s love flourishes in community. This love must be our guiding light and is our salvation. Jesus tells us in Matthew, “For where two or three gathers in my name, there I am with them.” I know that this love is very present here at Sacred Heart, and I know that through it we can and will transform lives.

At Sacred Heart, we recognize the power of education and the importance in its transmittance. Our duty is to ensure that the students entrusted to us receive every opportunity to grow in the knowledge that God bestowed upon us. We

COURTESY PHOTO

Darby O’Neill with his fiancée.

will work tirelessly to continue to grow ourselves so that we might best meet the needs of all of our students.

As we begin a new school year, we look forward to celebrating the journey with you and working together to accomplish all that we can. Your support is invaluable in this process.

We hope that all of you are as excited for this journey as we are and anticipate a Christ-filled school year!

Yours in Christ, Darby O’Neill, Principal Sacred Heart Catholic School

We are especially thrilled to continue our reduced tuition for Kindergarten – 8th grade students from $4,000 down to $1,500 per year (with a half-day kindergarten option for $750 per year). We are looking forward to serving the many families that have taken this opportunity to enroll their children with us. Our mission is, and always has been, to provide our students with a solid foundation for their academic and spiritual growth through an education that is from a Christian world view.

Emporia Christian School provides Preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds, and Kindergarten – 8th grade. Our classes are combined for the 1st and 2nd grades, 3rd and 4th grades, 5th and 6th grades, and 7th and 8th grades. The 7th and 8th grade students receive an online/blended classroom experience with part of their work being done online while other work is done through direct instruction. We provide Art, Music, and Physical Education for our Elementary and Middle School students and have upgraded our technology offerings over the course of the past 2 years that allow us to enhance the students’ learning experiences.

COURTESY PHOTO

Trisha Fullerton in her office.

Our mission is to continue to provide a Kingdom Education for families in Emporia and the surrounding areas. We still have openings in our Elementary and Middle School grade levels and would welcome parents that have interest to stop by and visit with us at any time about enrollment.

We are located at 1325 C of E Drive and can be reached during business hours between 8:00-4:00 at 620-342-5353.

Mrs. Trisha Fullerton Principal

ALL ABOUT SCHOOL BOARDS The Emporia Gazette

Just what is a school board anyway?

Schools don’t operate like privately held companies. They have internal and external oversight, which is good when they are not only funded by our taxes but responsible for the care and education of our children.

One external oversight is the school board. It is a collection of citizens that meet regularly with school officials on everything from meals and curriculum to building improvements and long-term goals.

The group may be called a school board, board of education or something similar. They should reflect the diversity of the community they are in, gender and ethnicity.

Emporia Public Schools’ board members are elected by the community. In the case of a sudden resignation, a replacement may be appointed, as is happening now with Mike Helbert’s position.

School boards in America date back to colonial times. In 1647, the Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law requiring towns to establish and maintain schools, which were administered via town meetings. As school matters became more complex, control was given to the citizens’ elected representatives, the “selectmen,” and later to committees of townspeople who hired the schoolmaster, provided schoolhouses and attended to other school-related matters (www.nsba.org).

According to the National School Boards Association, the most important responsibility of school boards is to work with their communities to improve student achievement in their local public schools. School boards derive their

How to contact the Emporia School Board MICHAEL CROUCH

Vice President of Advancement, Flint Hills Technical College 620-757-8416 mcrouch@fhtc.edu ART GUTIERREZ

Head of Systems and Technical Services, ESU William Allen White Library 620-342-9403 Email: art.gutierrez@ usd253.net SUSAN BRINKMAN

Assistant Director, Center for Great Plains Studies 620-342-2204 Email: brinkman.susan1@ gmail.com MELISSA OGLEBY COURTESY PHOTO

Membership of the Emporia Public Schools Board of Education. Front Row: Susan Brinkman, Doug Epp, Michael Crouch, Michael Helbert (now retired). Back Row: Kevin Case (Superintendent), Grant Riles, Melissa Ogleby, Art Gutierrez and Dana Witten (Board Clerk)

Ideally, school board members board meetings, and they establish engage community members in procedures for people who wish to speak or ask questions during the many informal ways: public comment period.

Members of the Emporia Pub✦✦they talk with parents, the melic Schools district have a vested dia, and local organizations ✦✦they post information on school interest in how the school is operated and whether the children are websites ✦✦they bring citizen groups togeth- receiving the best education possi✦✦employing the superintendent ble. Stay in touch with your school er on a variety of issues ✦✦developing and adopting poliboard members as well as pertinent cies, curriculum, and the budget; The NSBA states local school school staff to make sure you under✦✦overseeing facilities issues; and boards should encourage commu- stand what your child needs and re✦✦adopting collective bargaining nity members to attend open school ceives during school hours. agreements. power and authority from the state.

In compliance with state and federal laws, school boards establish policies and regulations by which their local schools are governed.

Your school board is responsible for:

Senior Accountant at Agler & Gaeddert, Chartered Partner at Twin Rivers Wine & Gourmet Shoppe 620-481-7129 Email: mogleby@gmail.com GRANT RILES

Retired Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.

620-794-3662 Email: gcr110@yahoo.com DOUG EPP

Farmer/Insurance Agent/ Retired Teacher 620-481-9725 Email: Doug.Epp54@gmail. com

Confidence with every Smile Electrical Contractor Residential-Commercial-Industrial 601 W. 6th • 620-342-2176 Emporia, Kansas

WELCOME BACK STUDENTS!

Call Today! 620-343-3000 3021 Eaglecrest Dr., Suite A, Emporia • hannahbraces.com

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THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS

Did you know?

Ransomware is a form of malware (malicious software) that takes over a computer. Ransomware can lock down all operations on a computer and deny users access to their data. Computer users cannot reverse this lock down without the help of the hacker, who usually requires a ransom in return for a decryption key. The costs can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, say IT experts. The U.S. Department of Education has warned that hackers are employing ransomware as they target schools with insufficient security. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, schools are particularly vulnerable because their security is not always up to par and they have information that’s of value to hackers, including students’ personal information. According to McAfee, more than 4 million ransomware variants have been detected online, a 270 percent increase since 2013, and ransomware is expected to be a continuing and significant problem for schools.

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EMPORIA, KS

620-342-8032

D R L AU D I E.CO M

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August 4 and 5, 2018

August 4 and 5, 2018

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THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS

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Germ Alert: School hygiene tips Children are in close contact with others at schools and daycare facilities, where germs can be easily transmitted. Children may not be as conscientious as adults in regard to the health risks associated with poor hygiene. These tips can keep students stay healthy and help prevent germs from being transported home, where they can affect other members of the family.

Hand washing is essential to good hygiene. Children should wash their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before eating and after playing outdoors.

Children can bring along their own tissues and use

them when their noses become runny. Tissues should be promptly discarded after use.

Parents should ensure that fingernails are clean, as under the fingernails can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Clipping fingernails and regular hand washing can remove a number of germs.

Keep ill children home from school, especially if they have a fever. Kids should not return to school until they are fever- or symptom-free.

Toys and community supplies should be washed or disinfected regularly to kill germs. Cleaning classroom furniture regularly also can help establish healthy educational environments.

People make a difference in Emporia Public Schools. Our teachers, administrators, professional support staff and the Board of Education are committed to preparing all students for tomorrow’s opportunities. The administration, staff, Board of Education and Emporia NEA all welcome these new teachers and principals to our family this fall. We know they will make a difference.

Christina Addison EMS, Physical Education Hanna Anderson Timmerman, Grade 4 Emily Baker EMS, Assistant Principal Michelle Barnhart EMS, Grade 8 English Instruction Strategies

Allison Crump EMS, Grade 6 English Language Arts Bailey Davis Timmerman, Grade 1 Megan Day Timmerman, Student Support Specialist

Jason Friesen EHS, Science

Danielle Litke Walnut, Grade 1

Emily Griffin Walnut, Special Education

Alex Lundry Village, Special Education

Kacie Hastings EMS, Theater Ana Heil Village, Grade 5

Emely Magana Logan Avenue, Kindergarten Jane Magathan-Krone Logan Avenue, Student Support Specialist

Janell Neer Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative, Academic Coach Special Education Erika Nault W. A. White, TBD Elementary Special Education Holly Ross Village, Music

Daichi Tadokoro Timmerman/Village, Music Morgan Taylor EMS, Grade 7 Science Rachel Tebben Walnut, Grade 3 Hannah Thomas Riverside, Grade 1

Deirdre Deiter Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative, School Psychologist

Rebecca Hochman Village, Grade 2

Lauren Borcherding Logan Avenue, Grade 1

Brenda Dennis EHS, Assistant Principal

Christopher Hubbard Riverside, Music

Kara Buck Logan Avenue, Grade 2

Emmaline Durand EHS, Special Education

Gylnnis Jackson EHS, Math

Megan Burtness EHS, English Language Arts

Megan Espitia Riverside, Grade 2

Megan Krause Village, Kindergarten

Chelsea Miller Walnut, Kindergarten

Aaron Scott Walnut, School Psychologist

Kayla Wheeler Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative, Speech Language Pathologist

Morgan Claassen EMS, Math

Tonya Forbis Walnut, Grade 2

Sara Law Logan Avenue, Grade 5

Elizabeth Moore Maynard, Teacher- 4 year olds

Riley Sorem EMS, Grade 8 Science

Michelle Wilkes Riverside, Grade 1

Jessica Bollig EMS, Grade 6 Math

Monika Markus EMS, Music John Martin Village, Principal

Jeanna Scheve EHS, Instructional Coach Kristine Schmidt Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative, Gifted Facilitator Margaret Schmidt EHS, Business

Tabatha Weaver Timmerman, Special Education Jenna Weimer EHS, Math

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THE GAZETTE, EMPORIA, KANSAS

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August 4 and 5, 2018

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THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO …

The school bus is free, safe transportation for schoolchildren to get to and from school. It helps reduce the amount of traffic at schools and is a great help to parents who have jobs that interfere with school hours.

There are “no transport” zones around each elementary school, where staff have determined it’s a safe walking distance or a quick driving distance (no more than 1.5 miles). Parents with children who go to schools outside their zone, are picked up at preschool or who have special needs can arrange to have a bus come by.

For students at EMS and EHS, buses cover most of the city, save for a no transport zone west of the schools. See the maps at http://www. usd253.org/home/about-us/ district-services/business-operations/transportation.

To find out if there is a bus stop in your neighborhood and what time the bus will be there, go to www.usd253. org. On the right is a box that says “Quick Links.” The second item is “Bus Schedules.” Click on that to go to the transportation page.

Next, on the right is another “Quick Links” box.

The second item there is “Infofinder.” Click on that.

You will find a map of the entire United States of America.

Choose the state of Kansas, then choose Emporia Public Schools.

One questions how quick this quick link is. NOW, on the left is a place to enter your home address and the specific school you seek (or choose “All schools)”. Then a map will show your location and the nearest bus stop.

The Director of Transportation is Becky Douglas.

✦✦Follow the driver’s directions when crossing the street.

✦✦Remain seated at all times.

Other: ✦✦Face forward in his or her seat. ✦✦Not place feet or knees on seats ✦✦Only properly mounted science or against seat backs. projects will be allowed. No live ✦✦Keep hands to self. animals will be transported. ✦✦Not use tobacco (smoking or ✦✦Glass, firearms, electronic chewing). games, knives, balls, bats and ✦✦Not eat on bus. skate boards will not be transported.

These are the bus rules for ✦✦Talk in a normal conversation tone. ✦✦If seating arrangements do not 2018-19. For more information, ✦✦Not lower windows below black allow room for large items to call 341-2219. line (half-way) unless otherwise be safely stored without blockinstructed by driver. ing aisle or exit, the students Waiting at the bus stop ✦✦Be quiet at all Railroad crosswill be asked to make other ings. the students will: arrangements for transporting these items. ✦✦Be on time (should not be more Leaving the bus the than 5 minutes early).

Bus Discipline Notice: ✦✦Show respect for the property student will: of others.

Parent will be notified by phone ✦✦Leave seat only when instruct✦✦Conduct themselves in an orcall or letter. ed by the driver. derly and safe manner. ✦✦Exit from front to back in an ✦✦Stay at least 3 feet back from 1ST OFFENSE - Warning orderly manner. the roadway when the bus ar2ND OFFENSE - 3 Days off Bus. ✦ ✦ Keep feet and hands out of aisle rives. Line up single file and 3RD OFFENSE - 10 Days off Bus. while others are exiting. prepare to board the bus. ✦✦Keep hands to self when exiting 4TH OFFENSE - Loss of Transportation privileges. the bus.

Boarding the bus the student will:

✦✦Sit only in assigned seat (If seats are assigned). ✦✦Keep items out of the aisle (Band Instruments, bags etc.) ✦✦Get settled in a seat as quickly as possible and remain seated.

HELP KIDS CALM FIRSTDAY-OF-SCHOOL JITTERS The first day of school can be an exciting time, especially for children who have never before attended school. But even youngsters excited about the first day may also experience some jitters. Such nerves are normal, and parents can help kids calm those jitters in various ways.

Talk about the first day as it approaches. A child’s first day of school is a milestone, and parents may do various things to commemorate the occasion. The excitement leading up to the first day can spark kids’ enthusiasm, but it also may lead to some anxiety about the unknown.

Parents can quell those fears by discussing the first day as it approaches. Explain why the first day is so special, encouraging youngsters to share their feelings. If kids express fears about their first day, parents can explain they felt similarly on their first day of school but quickly adjusted.

Let kids choose their own clothes.

Parents may be tempted to buy special outfits for their children for the first day of school. But kids who are jittery about their first day may calm down if allowed to choose their own attire for the big day.

A favorite T-shirt or outfit might be just the thing to comfort kids feeling a bit nervous about their first day of school.

Get a head start on your morning routine. As summer winds down, begin acclimating children to the morning routine they can expect when the school year begins. One to two weeks before the first day of school, start waking children up when they will need to be up for school. Kids who are accustomed to the morning routine may be more calm on their first day of school because of their familiarity with their new schedule. Going cold turkey on

Riding the bus the student will:

the first day of school may make kids less enthusiastic about attending school.

Attend school orientation events and plan some play dates in advance of the first day. Seeing familiar faces might make kids forget all about their jitters when they arrive at school on the first day. Inquire about school orientation events and attend as many of those sessions as possible. If encouraged to do so, take kids along so they can meet prospective classmates.

Arrange for play dates with those classmates in advance of the first day so kids have a few recognizable faces their own age come the first day of school.

Start the day off on the right foot. The night before the first day of school, make sure kids’ outfits are clean, their supplies are packed and ready to go and their lunch is made. The less parents have to rush around on the morning of the first day of school, the calmer kids are likely to be.

Dr. Stephen Haught emporthob@sbcglobal.net

620-343-7275 • 919 W 12th Ave.

Student cyber security precautions Thanks to advancements in technology, students and educators are increasingly turning to birth, tablets and computers when working on daily assignments and classroom activities. Students rely on the internet for research and keeping in touch with teachers and other students, and work is even assigned and completed via digital platforms.

Despite the upside of technology, cyber crime is a potential pitfall of all that time spent online. The internet provides instant access, and that can put students at risk.

According to Verizon’s 2016 Data Breach Investigations Report, the education sector ranked sixth in the United States for the total number of reported “security incidents.” Schools are data-rich, meaning they give hackers access to information like identification numbers, birthdates, email addresses, financial data, medical records, and more.

Students must understand cyber security risks when working and sharing data online. The following are some tips students can follow.

PROTECT PASSWORDS. Students are urged to keep their passwords to themselves. This prevents others from using accounts maliciously or even in seemingly harmless ways that can put you in trouble, such as searching for inappropriate content in school. Choose complicated passwords that can’t be easily guessed, and opt for twostep authentication whenever offered.

USE SECURED WIFI NETWORKS. Free or open WiFi connections are not encrypted, meaning they can be ac-

cessed by anyone. Many cyber criminals gain access to information through these channels. Schools should have encrypted systems in place.

LIMIT WHAT YOU SHARE ON THE INTERNET.

Students are urged to be aware of what they share online.

According to DataManagement, a computing service, information posted to social media is permanent, and deleted items aren’t necessarily gone. Exercise caution on social media. Don’t post unless it is something you would be comfortable sharing in public.

WATCH OUT FOR PHISHING SCAMS. Phishing usually occurs through fraudulent email messages that mimic the look of reputable solicitations. Scammers rely on these tactics to tempt people to click on links or download attachments that can put malware on a device and steal personal data. Exercise caution with all links and downloads.

SCHEDULE ROUTINE BACKUPS. Data can be lost if a device crashes, so routinely back up personal devices and home computers. Backups can be stored on external hard drives or with cloud services.

EXERCISE CAUTION WHEN FILESHARING. UC Santa Cruz’s information technology services says viruses and malware can be transmitted by filesharing software, and files offered by others may not be what they say they are. Only used school-approved filesharing options.

Cyber security is something students should prioritize this school year. The right security measures can protect students, their classmates and their schools.