Kinsley High School - Kihischo Yearbook (Kinsley, KS)

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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

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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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Its People . . . V OMS teachers find students do reach out to show concern; through participation, students examine other perspectives How is Kathy doing? . . . Did she get our cards? Mr. Inman ... was the balloon approach successful? How do the doctors do that? Offerle Middle School students have repeatedly showed that they care during the past four weeks of school with two of their members suffering serious medical problems: Bill Inman, principal: Kathy Kregar, sixth grader. Mr. Inman has been hospitalized in Wichita hospitals twice for heart-related matters; he now has returned to the school on a limited basis. Kregar was airlifted to University Hospital, Denver, September 26 for emergency treatment dealing with kidney problems. She remains hospitalized in Denver. It’s amazing how frequently the classroom conversation turns to Kathy or to Mr. Inman. says Lois Behnke, sixth grade teacher. And the majority of the kids want some way of showing their concern. Banket of apple During Mr. Inman’s last stay in the Wichita hospital, the students made cards. Mary Kallaus' fourth grade class made a basket of apples with Mrs. Kallaus making from construction paper a large basket. Each student then wrote a get-well wish on an apple that fit into the basket. Before Mr. Inman underwent one of his major tests at the Wichita hospital, says Mrs. Behnke. the card arrived. The nurse saw to it that Mr. Inman saw this basket of apples. The message came back to us that particular day that this card from the students meant a great deal to Mr. Inman. When Mr. Inman returned to school Monday, October 1, Lyn del Adams, fifth grade teacher, says, he came around to the various rooms, thanking the students for their thought fulness. The mood of the room was one of excitement; you could just see the pride that the students felt as they seemed to say, ‘I’m glad that I made that card for Mr. Inman.’’’ Contribution Students immediately began considering how they could help Kregar when they learned of her emergency trip to the Denver hospital. The students and I had been putting coins into a Statue of Liberty bank this fall, says Mrs. Behnke. We had earlier agreed that whenever a student uses poor grammar, the student would put a coin into the bank to help refurbish the Statue of Liberty. But the Friday after Kathy’s trip to Denver, the students asked if that money could be sent to Kathy, continues Mrs. Behnke. By the end of the day. a sufficient amount had been collected from all of the students, staff, and faculty members at OMS. Mrs. Marcy of the Offerle Post Office paid the express postage so that the Kregar family could get the money the following day. “It was the day of homecoming at the high school, Mrs. Adams says. But when the students were given an opportunity to give, you saw those students digging into places you wouldn’t believe and bringing forth pen nies, dimes, quarters. I heard comments such as this: “I don’t really need to go to the Potpourri today.’ Two days later, continues Mrs. Adams, students were still bringing money in- some saying that this is from my family’; others saying that ‘I want to help Kathy.’ We have learned that it’s not quantity but quality that counts. This was most evident when Mrs. Miller announced over the intercom how much money had been collected for Kathy; the kids just yelled! Teaching sensitivity How does a teacher teach students to care? Mrs. Behnke responds. I don’t teach it; I do it. She finds some construction paper and begins making a card and soon the majority of the students want to do the same. (Continued to page 24) Middle school students define caring. . . OMS student Jason Cooper designs a card for his classmate. Kathy Kregar. Cooper says that several differences exist between a hospital in Denver and the local county hospital. Caring is . . . someone who cheers you up when you are sad. someone who gives you flowers on a rainy day. someone who misses you when you are gone. - Shelley Mund-henke Caring is . . . loving enough to show it. - Jennifer Groen Caring is cheering a friend up when they’re down. Caring is sharing happy times. Caring is sending a get-well card when a friend is sick. -Renee Overstreet Caring is helping people and taking care of people and sharing with people means loving them too. -Dustin Lee Davidson. Caring is sending someone a card who is sick. Giving is getting someone special a gift. Sharing is letting someone use your belongings. Love is caring enough to send something on a special holiday.-Justin Panzer 25