Kinsley High School - Kihischo Yearbook (Kinsley, KS)

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DISTRICT-WIDE KINSLEY-OFFERLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences Friday, November 9, 1984 Southside Elementary Offerle Middle School Kinsley High School VOLUME 2, NUMBER 3 OCTOBER 18,1984 KINSLEY, KANSAS 67547 Continuing the winning tradition of musicals at KHS, ‘Hello, Dolly’ cast dedicates effort for another success When the curtain rises November 16-17 for the perfor mance of the musical, Hello, Dolly,” it will feature the talents of approximately 40 high school students. With nearly 120 students at tending high school this year, the musical cast makes up about one-third the student body. This high level of student involvement is one of the reasons for the musical's past success at Kinsley High School. Ginny Blanton, senior, and a veteran of three musicals, says. “I have worked with different people every year. It gives me a chance to get to know some kids better. But putting on a musical means overcoming several problems. Jean Edney, director of the musical, explains, The biggest problem I had was with casting. I had to keep in mind all the different activities the students are involved in, how easy they are to get along with, how responsible and cooperative they are, and their grade levels. Younger students have two or three other chances at being in a musical. Mrs. Edney chose Hello, Dolly over others because of its adaptability. It has a small cast, it’s not exceptionally long, and the characters fit people I knew I had to work with,” Mrs. Edney says. Casting Hello. Dolly takes place in the 1890’s. It is the story of a matchmaker, Dolly Levi, played by Amy Livengood. Dolly spends her time fixing everyone up with the perfect match. One day while arranging a marriage for the well-known half millionaire Horace Vandergelder, played by Shawn Bruce, she falls in love. Only this time, it is with the groom himself. After much med dling, she finally convinces him that she is the one he’s been looking for. Dolly fans will recognize the tunes of Hello, Dolly, Put on Your Sunday Clothes, and We’ve Got Elegance, which were sung by such celebrities as Carol Channing on Broadway and Barbara Streisand in the movie version. Along with the songs, the audience will see dancing. We are using basic steps like the waltz and the polka, Mrs. Edney says. Lois Behnke, OMS fifth grade teacher, will accompany on the piano. Mrs. Edney adds, I would like to have some orchestration, either with community band or high school band members. It would really look professional. Background Mrs. Edney has had plenty of practice at being professional. She has participated in the musicals Carousel, Man of la Mancha. Fiddler on the Roof. My Fair Lady. and the opera 'The Ballad of Baby Doe. I feel really confident about this musical. she says. The only changes that we might make would be to cut out a song or dance routine. We don’t want people to sit there for three hours and be bored to death, she adds with a laugh. The musical, which takes place in Yonkers, N.Y., requires the help of a good stage crew. We’ll have to make about three set changes. It is going to take a little work to get them together, Mrs. Edney explains. Costumes will also take some advance planning. The dress of the 1890’s includes long full skirts for the ladies, an outfit not easy to find. Mrs. Edney adds, “We put an ad in the paper requesting donations. There are a few costumes left over from past musicals, but mostly I'm going to rummage through a lot of closets. Dolly (Amy) is a small person so we may have trouble fitting her.” Mrs. Edney also plans to borrow costumes. I beared Pratt produced this musical last year; I'm hoping I can borrow clothing from them. Whoever said the best things in life are free was. of course. just kidding. The best musicals go for about $300. “The royalty fee is one of the biggest expen ses. It was $270 plus $30 for the conductor’s score, Mrs. Edney points out. Time But perhaps the largest cost of putting on a musical is time. Those involved have to take time in order to fit everything in. Blanton adds. “It’s hard to schedule both work (Denny’s Jack and Jill) and practice. But I’ve worked it out so I can work from 4 to 7 on nights when I have play practice. I just get around it somehow. (Continued to page 24) Amy Livengood, who plays Dolly Levi in the musical Hello. Dolly, trades hard work for dreams of stardom. 23

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School nurse gets involved “I like people. This is how Mary Sparks, school nurse, feels about her job as she spends 30 hours per week working with students at Southside, OMS, and KHS. Mrs. Sparks says, “I don’t know everyone yet, but I would like to be a little closer to the students. The problem with this kind of communication comes with her duties divided among three schools during the week. “I'm trying to be fair about my time. I’m trying to spend the same amount of time at each school, she says. Mrs. Sparks attended Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee, Illinois. She spent four and one-half years in nurse’s training. Mrs. Sparks says, I’ve done a lot of work since I got out of school six years ago. She has worked with adult and adolescent psychiatry and gynecology. She has also worked with Dale Atwood, M.D., Kinsley, and in a hospital setting. Her challenges for the future include wanting to educate younger children. If the children are raised with good habits, they stay with those good habits. She will teach a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) course to junior high level students during this school term. I can show them films or have demonstrations, but I can’t stand in front of them and speak to them. I’m not a teacher.” She remarks, “I like the attitude here. The kids and teachers have positive outlooks on life.” Below Mary Sparks, school nurse, fill out forms. Upper right: OMS staff: Kenneth Schnitker-janitor. Ruth Wetzel and Janie Comes-cooks. Not pictured: Mrs. David Whipple-janitor. Middle Southside janitor. The Reverend Raymond Daniels. Bottom KHS staff: Sandy Kerns, Luet-ta Katz cooks; Jasper McSpadden janitor, and Glessna Kin -cook. Not pictured: Brian Sparke-janitor. Behind the scenes... 22

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HIGHLIGHTING One scholastic custom ends; should another begin? No more valedictorian or salutatorian. That evidently is the wav the Board of Education of USD No. 347 feels as the members’ recent vote to eliminate the valedictorian and salutatorian showed. The idea is now open for public opinion with three readings. Barring any widespread protest by the public or any sudden change of mind by the board members the valedictorian and salutatorian will pass into history. However, board members and administration are preparing a new idea. Instead of just honoring the top two in the class, the top ten percent of the graduating class will be honored. This will give more top students the recognition that they deserve. Some parents may not like the idea that their Johnny may not be the only one getting any attention or credit. But this change should eliminate some of the hard feelings and controversy that have occurred in the last two years. There have been accusations about the top students taking easy classes, controversy about the figuring of the valedictorian's and salutatorian’s grade point average, and controversy with parents who felt that their child deserved an award more than someone else’s child did. Unfortunately, but surely, some controversy will still exist. We’ve got a chance, however, to start a new tradition. Although the valedictorian and salutatorian are often considered part of the history of commencement exercises, the idea of honor students could rapidly become a better way of recognizing academic success. We hope this idea will give students a goal for which to strive. Although it is still the elite few who will be honored (and that's the way it should be), maybe we can get away from the competition between the top two individuals as has occurred in the past. Let's keep our fingers crossed. And make vour feelings known. Even though you may be against this measure, the board needs your input. Get involved. -Shawn Bruce Class of 1986 ‘Attitude’ becomes key word in handling high school vandalism matter Vandalism occurring at the high school the weekend of Oc tober 7 could, according to prin cipal Dana K. Randel. cause “damage to run into the thousands of dollars, primarily because of the hours it will take to put the disarranged files back into order. Sometime between 10 p.m. Saturday. October 6. and 10 a.m. Sunday. October 7. the building was entered, probably as Randel speculates, through a taped or wedged door. John Davis discovered the vandalism when he came into the building Sunday around 10 a.m. Since then, we have discovered that the entry was forced. says Randel. The vandalism includes the following: The hallways and the cafeteria eating area were covered with the foam from the three fire extinguishers placed throughout the building; contents from selected freshman lockers were strewn in the upper level hallway: bottles of taco as well as barbeque sauce were taken from the refrigerators in the cafeteria and poured in various places throughout the building. The contents of three four-drawer file cabinets belonging to the counselor were dumped and strewn-as well as sprinkled with taco and barbeque sauce; available sheets of music in the music room were strewn around; four of the recently planted trees around the east and the south sides of the building were sawed. At the student assembly Monday. October 8. Randel noted that this is the best job of vandalism that we have had here-and the janitors concur. This represents an attitude that has got to stop. We’ve got to know who did it! Approximately 15 teachers, staff members, board members, administrators, and community individuals spent on the average of three hours each Sunday cleaning the building and salvaging what materials could be saved for the files. Nadine L. Stallard, counselor, notes that she keeps basically two types of information in these files: the cumulative folders of the classes of 1983 and 1984; and career or occupation material published primarily by Chronicle Guidance. The occupational material is a series of occupational briefs organized by D.O.T., a numerical system indicating the amount of preparation needed for one to enter the various careers. Several teachers use the material under Miss Stallard's direction to stress vocational op tions within the various academic areas. Issue In analyzing the matter. Ran del admits that one could ask why the file cabinets were not locked, why the cabinets were not in a different location, how the security at the building might be tightened, how the of- fenders should be punished when identified. “The paramount issue underlying all of these questions is attitude. says Randel. Why does the intruder (or intruders) have total disregard for public property, for the school, for Even though Blanton plays a minor role, she enjoys the time she spends working on her part. Irene Malloy is the best charac ter I’ve had. She doesn’t pretend to be more than she is. She wants I try to lead the kids to think positively about the matter. I tell them that we can send our thoughts to Kathy and say our own prayers on Kathy’s behalf. And I keep them informed as to Kathy’s condition, says Mrs. Behnke. Mrs. Adams admits that teaching sensitivity is a foggy area. It’s hard to talk about these aspects of life. But it’s important to discuss these aspects when the students ask the questions.” Asking questions proves beneficial. First, the students are probing, are developing critical skills: What will happen if the kidney doesn’t work? What will happen if... Second, through discussion the authority? And when we talk about attitude, we’re dealing with the attitude not only of the students but also of the school personnel and the community. The legal authorities continue to handle the situation. Musical cast anticipates continued public support (Continued from page 23) a man and she's out to get him. Teaching sensitivity remains a foggy' area (Continued from page 25) Tickets for November 16 and 17 performances of “Hello. Dolly goon sale November 1. Reserved tickets will be sold to adults for $2. Persons with activity passes will be admitted with charge. Tickets will be sold at the door. students gain new awareness. They learn to distinguish fact from rumor . . . and they become more sensitive. Through discussion, the kids realized that the Kregar family might have expenses in Denver other than Kathy’s medical care. Money would be needed for her parents to stay in a motel, to eat. to travel. says Mrs. Adams. How does one teach caring? You try to do so in a detached manner. concludes Mrs. Behnke. “It means letting the students know that you care . . . even if it means that the kids see me cry when I am overly sen sitive to a situation. And so the teachers continue to try to teach the unteachable. 24