Category Archives: Schools

COVID-19, Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Senior Serves on Kansas Learning Plan Commission

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Elizabeth Ngatia. Submitted photo.

USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong nominated Fort Scott High School Senior Elizabeth Ngatia to serve on the Kansas Learning Plan Commission, started by the Kansas State Department of Education.

The KSDE asked all school districts to nominate one senior from the graduating class of 2020 to be on the task force to assist other seniors across the State of Kansas in dealing with the pandemic of COVID-19.

“I felt so honored, thankful to have a superintendent who believed in me so much,” she said. “The nomination was to represent the USD 234 school district and our seniors.”

Hessong was impressed with Ngatia as a student at FSHS, he said.  “After hearing some of her speeches, I was moved by the passion she had for topics she was conveying to the listener. I was not aware of Elizabeth’s personal story at the time of the nomination, but when she shared her story with me I knew she was the right choice to nominate for her to represent USD 234.”

Once nominated, Ngatia wtote a bibliography about herself and  waited to see if she was selected to be a part of the 50 students selected.

“After the meeting with the 50 students, a few weeks passed and KSDE contacted me about being a part of an even smaller group to help have a more focused conversation that can benefit students,” she said.

The group met online for discussion beginning May 1.

The following is an email interview with Ngatia.

What do you do on the commission?

“I discuss my thoughts, ideas, and concerns about my struggles as well as other seniors and their struggles through this trying time with fellow seniors in Kansas, and the staff of the KSDE.”

How do you meet?

“We meet every few weeks on Zoom calls as a group.”

Elizabeth Ngatia,  top middle , in a Zoom meeting with others on the Kansas Learning Plan Commission. Submitted photos.

 

What is the commission all about?

“The commission is all about… the leaders of the Kansas education system, getting to hear from students about how we are coping with everything. They are able to have an insight on what ways they may be able to help with such a drastic change. However, the commission goes beyond Covid-19 and the burden it has been. We discuss how and what educators can do to help address some of the barriers seniors face. What they can do to create, and improve, some of the high school learning experiences for future graduates.”

Has anything good come out of the experience of the pandemic that shut down the country, for you?

“I think for me I took the time to grieve and be heartbroken about the situation. I took the time to remember all the things that would no longer be accessible to me, once I got past that grieving stage, I reminded myself that this is the way that it has to be, that although it has affected many important areas of my life, I must look at the positives. I quickly recognized how lucky and blessed I am to have a home life where I feel safe, cared for, and can easily focus on my online studies well. At the end of the day, you must take the bad situations and make them good, I am happy to have gotten this extra time with my family, this extra to also re-evaluate and discover more about myself before moving on to a new chapter of my life.”

What challenges have there been?

“For me, asides from the common missing being with friends and extended family, it was navigating post-secondary education plans without the help of teachers and especially the counselors.”

What are you looking forward to in your education?

“I am really looking forward to being in the leadership community at Washburn University and being around such a family-like atmosphere. I am also really looking forward to studying pre-law (political science) in the capital city where I will hopefully get to work with some of our state lawmakers and see everything in action, hopefully, pick up a few skills!”

“Elizabeth has a bright future in front of her and I know by her participating in this task force, others will be able to learn and relate to her story and she will help her fellow seniors across the State of Kansas in dealing with COVID-19 in a positive manner,” Hessong said.

 

Ngatia shared a little of her life journey with fortscott.biz:

She was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya, and her parents worked hard to support the family.

  “At the age of seven, my family immigrated to America,” Ngatia said. “My parents picked up jobs at local fast-food restaurants to support us.”

The culture in Kenya and the U.S. were immensely different, she said and she felt like she was out of place due to her strong accent, financial issues and other cultural differences.

Her family became her source of motivation.

Her parents told her the American Dream was meant for her and her sister.

  “They pushed us to be successful because this is an opportunity not many have in Kenya,” she said.  

The faith and support of her parents helped her realize the opportunities she has before her, and she looked for ways to change the status quo, by getting involved in many school activities to fulfill the goals she had, she said.

 

Fort Scott, Government, Schools

Minutes of USD 234 Board of Education Meeting May 11

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Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met virtually on Monday, May 11, for their regular monthly meeting.

President David Stewart opened the meeting.  The board approved the official agenda.  The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:

 

A.    Minutes

B.    Bills and Claims

C.    Payroll – April 17, 2020 – $1,375,747.90

D.    Financial Report

E.     Bond Proceeds Reconciliation

F.     Activity Fund Accounts

 

Stephanie George, KNEA President, presented a report.  Administrators from each building shared information with board members.

Superintendent Ted Hessong expressed thanks to administrators and directors for their leadership throughout the pandemic.  He also discussed competency-based learning, CARES federal money, a return-to-work plan, and the Return-to-School Committee.

Gina Shelton, Business Manager, discussed closing down the financials, CARES federal money, a food service/food distribution update, and insurance renewal.

Board members approved the following items:

·       Roof change order

·       Roof payment

·       2020-21 Calendar

·       2020-21 Fees

·       Greenbush Energy Group Participation Agreement and Hedging Authorization for 2020-21

·       LEA Assurances

The board also reviewed summer projects.

Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.  The board then went into executive session to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and returned to open meeting.

The board approved the following employment matters:

A.    Transfer of Rachelle Thomas, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to a fifth grade position for the 2020-21 school year

B.    Transfer of Rhonda Dawson, high school secretary, to high school activities/athletic secretary for the 2020-21 school year

C.    Transfer of Pam Hutchison, high school teacher aide, to high school secretary for the 2020-21 school year

D.    Contract extension for Angella Curran, high school debate/forensics sponsor

E.     Employment of Dalaina Smith as Director of Academics for the 2020-21 school year

F.     Employment of Paulette Howard as a K-12 gifted teacher for the 2020-21 school year

G.    Employment of Courtenay Slinkard as a high school English/Language Arts teacher for the 2020-21 school year

H.    Employment of Reyna Valenzuela as a high school English/Language Arts teacher for the 2020-21 school year

I.      Employment of Larry Amer as a high school art teacher for the 2020-21 school year

J.      Employment of Abigail Helt as high school/middle school choral teacher for the 2020-21 school year

K.    Employment of Danny Larsen as Eugene Ware physical education teacher for the 2020-21 school year

L.     Resignation of Curtis Horton as a high school assistant football coach, assistant basketball coach, and freshman boys’ head basketball coach at the end of the 2019-20 school year

M.   Resignation of Erica Clark as a high school assistant cheer sponsor at the end of the 2019-20 school year

N.    Resignation of Brendon Blackburn as a middle school football coach at the end of the 2019-20 school year

O.    Resignation of Jayci Cosens as a middle school second session intramural coach, 8th grade boys’ basketball coach, and intramural track coach at the end of the 2019-20 school year

P.     Resignation of Steve Williams, middle school boys’ assistant basketball coach, at the end of the 2019-20 school year

Q.    Employment of Kaitlin Arnold as a Winfield Scott first grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year

The board adjourned.

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Special Night Planned for FSHS 2020 Grads on May 16

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The class of 2020 at their prom. Submitted photo.
Fort Scott High School staff wanted a way to recognize the senior class on the night of their original graduation date, Jeff DeLaTorre, athletics/activities director said.
To honor the FSHSClass of 2020 on that evening,  Saturday, May 16, staff members have planned a”Senior Cruise Night”.
Students in vehicles will follow a lead car around the city starting and ending at the high school. Vehicles must be street legal, he said.
Students are invited to wear their cap and gown on the cruise.

” We saw that some other schools around the area were doing something similar to this so we thought it would be a good way to recognize them,” DeLaTorre said.

 

A parent or family member is encouraged to drive the vehicle on the cruise so their 2020 senior can fully enjoy the event, he said.

Students who have not picked up their cap and gown yet, can still do so,  DeLaTorre said.

The car cruise will drive around points in Fort Scott that have been a part of the students’ educational journey.
Senior class members in years past have gone to their former elementary and middle schools for a walk-through the halls which honors them.
So the cruise night route will go to each of the district’s schools, sort of a trip down memory lane.
” We chose this route for a couple of reasons,” DeLaTorre said.   “One, we wanted to spread it out so people could be present along the route and still practice social distancing.”
“But the significance of going by Eugene Ware Elementary, Fort Scott Middle School, and Winfield Scott Elementary was to kind of take the place of the traditional ‘Senior Walk-Through’ that the senior class usually gets to do at the end of the year.  They usually walk the halls of each of these buildings one more time and the students and teachers congratulate them.  The Class of 2020 won’t get to do that so we thought we would include the schools in the Senior Cruise.”
On May 16, the seniors will follow a route that will be led by School Resource Officer Mike Trim.
Senior students are asked to arrive at the high school by 6:45 p.m.
The event will start at 7:00 p.m.
The line up will be starting in the southwest corner of the  FSHS front parking lot, and the line will proceed to the east, on the south side of the high school and will weave into the east parking lot.
Here is the route:
-Start at the southwest corner of FSHS
-turn north on Main Street and go to 6th Street
-turn west on 6th and go to National Avenue. Turn north on National
-stay on National until Wall, turn east
– stay on Wall until Margrave, turn south
– at 3rd Street turn east (in front of Eugene Ware)
– at Broadway turn south
– at 6th turn west until Margrave, then turn south
– at 10th turn east and head up to middle school
– turn south on Sheppard and then turn west on 12th
– at Margrave turn south until East National
– follow East National until National. Head north and then turn west on 12th
– take 12th to Crawford and turn north, then turn west on 10th
– follow 10th (in front of Winfield Scott) to Horton
– At Horton turn north and go to 6th and continue east on 6th
– At National turn south. At 9th turn east and cruise ends at 9th and Main in front of high school
The route is highlighted in yellow in this map submitted by FSHS Activities Director Jeff DeLaTorre.
“Community members are asked to be present along the route to recognize our senior students,” DeLaTorre said.
Here are some important items to remember for this event:
– All social distancing guidelines must be followed. Seniors will need to stay in their vehicles before, during, and after the event.
– One senior student per vehicle (unless it is siblings).
For the high school senior to be able to enjoy the experience more, it is encouraged that a parent or family member to drive the vehicle for them.
– Community members are asked to be present along the route to recognize the senior students but are asked to stay in their vehicles to practice social distancing.
If you live along the route you are invited to come out on your porch or front yard to show your support.
– This is not a parade!
All traffic rules and laws must be followed, including stop signs, stoplights, etc.
Also, because it is not a parade all vehicles must be street legal.
Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Speech and Debate: 11 Qualified For Nationals

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Submitted by Angella Curran, FSHS teacher
This year Fort Scott High School qualified 11 students to nationals!!
While we won’t be traveling this year, we will still be competing through an online competition.
FSHS also received the Leading Chapter Award, which is only awarded to 110 schools in the nation each year.
 Despite the hardships, we have all been facing I am very pleased to announce that these amazing students will be representing our school!
Congratulations to the 2020 National Speech and Debate Association National Qualifiers:
Madison Toth (sr): Program Oral Interpretation
Elizabeth Ngatia (sr): Program Oral Interp and DUO (will compete in DUO)
Zoe Self (sr): Foreign Extemp and DUO (Will compete in DUO)
Mark Adams (sr): Congress House and Lincoln Douglas Debate (Will compete in Lincoln Douglas)
Shekhar Gugnani (soph): Public Forum Debate and Congress House (Will compete in Congress)
Neil Gugnani (soph): Public Forum Debate and United States Extemp (Will compete in US Extemp)
Ivy Bailey (jr): Congess Senate
Jonie Antonio (sr): Congress House
Hannah Vann (sr): Congress Senate and World Schools team(Will be competing in World Schools)
Kinsley Davis (fr): World Schools team
Lillian Collins (fr): World Schools team
Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS THESPIANS HOST VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

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FSHS Thespian Troupe members attending the 2020 KS State Thespian Festival. Left to right, top row – Angie Bin, Tailynn Harding, Jacob Ham, Italeigh Harding, Sierra Long, Amber Russo, Wendy Monahan, Christina King, Levi Bin, Daniel Watson. Second row – Carlee Studyvin, Alexis Williams, Israel Carreno, Kaitlyn Leavell, Olivia Wilterding, Tina Ramirez, Montana Laroche, Mackenzie Peoples, Avery Dorsey, and Justin Stevens. Bottom row (Thespian Officers) – Ashanti Green, Zaria Byrd, Alexa Bukowski, Dominic Cannon, Mesa Jones, and Sage Hill. Submitted photo.

The Fort Scott High School Thespian Troupe #7365 held it’s 3rd Annual Golden Thespie Awards Banquet on May 4.

 

This year’s banquet was quite different, as it was held over a virtual Zoom call. Current Thespian Officers and Thespian Director Angie Bin made the presentations. Officers include Vice President Sage Hill, Historian Alexa Bukowski, Publicity Chair Zaria Byrd, and State Representatives Jenna Stockstill and Ashanti Green.

 

The troupe recognized Thespians who performed at the KS State Thespian Festival in January including Mackenzie Peoples – Musical Solo, Amber Russo & Wendy Monahan – Duet Acting, Tina Ramirez – Musical Solo, and Dominic Cannon and Sage Hill – Duet Acting. Special recognition went to the following students who received Superior Ratings at State and will perform in the Virtual International Thespian Festival in June: Ashanti Green – Monologue, Mesa Jones – Musical Solo and Jenna Stockstill – Musical Solo. The troupe was also recognized for receiving the highest state honor a troupe can receive, the Gold Honor Troupe Award given for performance, public service, community involvement, and troupe organization. This is the fourth year in a row that Fort Scott has received the Gold Honor.

 

The FSHS Thespian Improv Troupe was recognized for participating in Operation Show this year at the Westport Coffee House Theatre in Kansas City, MO under the direction of Mark Bergmann. These students studied improvisational comedy with professional actors and performed for a public audience along with other students from around the KC area. They include Daniel Watson, Kaitlyn Leavell, Justin Stevens, Lola Umarova, Jo Goodbody, Dominic Cannon, Wendy Monahan, Tina Ramirez, Sierra Long, Anthony Russo, and Improv Troupe Captain Amber Russo.

 

To letter in Theatre, students must participate in both main stage productions (cast or crew), participate in 6 theatre-related fundraisers, activities, or community service projects, and be in good academic standing. First year letters went to Israel Carreno, Kinsley Davis, Bareigh Farrell, Ashanti Green, Jacob Ham, Christina King, Luke Majors, Khris Patel, and Olivia Wilterding. Second year bars were awarded to Alexa Bukowski, Zaria Byrd, Avery Dorsey, Gabriel Graham, Tailynn Harding, Sage Hill, Mesa Jones, Wendy Monahan, Amber Russo, Jenna Stockstill, Carlee Studyvin, and Alexis Williams.

 

The highlight of the banquet is the awarding of the Golden Thespies. These are awards voted on by the troupe members. Honors went to the following: Most Involved – Alexa Bukowski, Drama Mama (someone who helps out everyone else) – Zaria Byrd, Drama Papa – Jacob Ham, Newcomer of the Year – Kinsley Davis, Designer of the Year – Amber Russo for lighting design, Techie of the Year – Jacob Ham for Stage Management, Dancer of the Year – Addy Labbe, Singer of the Year – Mesa Jones, Actor of the Year – Sage Hill, Actress of the Year – Ashanti Green, and Triple Threat (best overall singer, dancer, and actor) – Mesa Jones.

 

The troupe also recognized graduating seniors and ended the banquet with a slideshow of pictures from throughout the year. New officers will be elected when the new school year starts.

 

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Online Classes Pose Some Challenges For Middle School Student

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Alexis Tourtillott at home doing online school work. Submitted photo.

 

Alexis Tourtillott, age 11, attended Fort Scott Middle School until the COVID 19 Pandemic, closed down classes nationwide in March 2020.

Tourtillott started about a month ago to do lessons with teachers on the internet as a part of USD 234 Continuous Learning Plan.

“I started four weeks ago and I am doing online school for about five classes,” Tourtillott said via an email interview.

“A typical school day is waking up, doing a zoom class, then work,” she said. “I probably spend about one-and-one-half hours on it daily.”

She has faced some challenges, she said.

Submitted photo.

“Doing my work at home is kind of hard because there are so many distractions,” Tourtillott said.  “My greatest challenge is pushing myself to do the work even though I don’t want to.”

“I think the new learning plan is going well, especially for the amount of time the teachers had to plan for it,” Alexis mother, Amy Wiltse said. “I cannot imagine the stress that this causes for them.”

 

Bourbon County, Schools

New WBE Kindergarten Teacher: Haley Troutman

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Haley Troutman

Haley Troutman, 27, is the new kindergarten teacher at West Bourbon Elementary school in Uniontown for 2020-2021.

She has two years of experience teaching at Precious Lambs Preschool and two years teaching at Eugene Ware Elementary School in Fort Scott in Grades 3 and 4.

Troutman completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from KSU in 2014, then took a position with Precious Lambs Preschool as their director/lead teacher.

“To gain more experience in childhood behaviors, I worked for a year at SEK Mental Health as a children’s case manager,” she said.

“In 2018, I began Kansas State University’s Master of Arts in Teaching Program (MAT program). I have spent the last two years as a 3rd and 4th-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary. It has been a wonderful journey, but I am beyond excited to settle in my hometown.”

Troutman’s hometown is Uniontown, Kansas.

“I am so excited to be an Eagle again,” she said.  “The staff has been so welcoming and wonderful to me already.”

She is married to Stuart and has three children, Molly (age 8), Sadie (age 5), Jett (age 2).

 

What is the best part of teaching for you?

“I love building relationships with students and their families. It is also rewarding to see the gains that children make throughout the course of a school year, both socially and academically.”

 

What are the greatest challenges?

“I would say, ensuring that every student is challenged at his/her academic level while meeting the needs of the whole group. I love the challenge of differentiation. Additionally, being a responsive teacher can be challenging; being able to notice what is working and change what isn’t.”

 

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS New Technology Teacher: Matt Glades

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The Glades family: Matt, Alyssa and sons, Bishop and Maddox. Submitted photo.
 Matt Glades, 32, is the new Fort Scott High SchoolTechnology Teacher for 2020-21.
” I spent nine years at Fort Scott Community College,” Glades said. ” I worked as a coach, adjunct instructor, TRiO Counselor, Director of Admissions, and sponsor for the President’s Ambassador Program.”
Glades earned an Associate of Science Degree from Fort Scott Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Missouri Western State University and a Masters Degree in Health, Human Performance, and Recreation from Pittsburg State University.
He is currently working towards a Master’s in Education at Fort Hayes State University.
His hometown is Galena, KS.
He is married to Alyssa,  and they have two sons-Bishop and Maddox.
In his spare time he likes sports, coaching, movies, and spending time with friends and family, he said. He is a member of Community Christian Church and the USD 234 Mentor Program.
How did you become an educator?
“Education was not my first choice out of college. I honestly thought that I would never have the courage to be able to speak or teach in front of students. I worked for an engineering firm in Springfield, MO for almost a year. However, during that time I felt like I wasn’t in the right place. God was watching over me and changed my life forever. I would spend the next decade working with students at Fort Scott Community College. In the Fall of 2019, I was fortunate to coach for the FSHS football team and I felt that this is where I needed to be. I am very thankful and excited to be a part of USD 234.”
Is there someone who inspired you?
“I have been truly blessed to have had such amazing teachers and coaches in my life. I can only hope and pray that I can replicate their qualities and attributes to help students grow.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“To me, the best part of teaching is having the ability to have a positive impact on someone. Working at FSCC, I was able to see the difference one person can make in another person’s life. There’s nothing quite like having someone come back and thank you for helping them. “
What are the greatest challenges in teaching for you?
“I think the biggest challenge that I will face is trying to help students settle back into a school routine during my first year as a teacher.”
Fort Scott, Schools

Local Students Take First and Second In Kansas History Day

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Adelynn Nolan, left, and Katelyn Dancer perform their history presentation. Submitted photo.

Students are still working on school competitions, even in the pandemic.

For some local students, the work paid off with earning the right to go to nationals. However, the pandemic has stopped them from physically going to College Park, Maryland to the national competition.

“They were disappointed,” Fort Scott Junior High and High School Enrichment Teacher Angie Kemmerer said.

The Kansas History Day Competition was held online this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
  Fort Scott Middle School had six students and Fort Scott High School had one student compete by submitting four projects in all.
Four students from this group took first and second in the junior group performance category.
“It’s unusual for one school to take first and second in the same category,” Angie Kemmerer said.
This year’s theme was “Breaking Barriers in History”.
“Students engaged in intense historical research using primary and secondary sources, visited the World War I Museum and the Edward Jones Historical Research Library, and conducted interviews to develop their projects,” Kemmerer said.
“Even though their time was cut short due to school closures from the epidemic, each of these students continued to work on their projects from home,” she said.   “As the competition changed from an in-person to a virtual format, students adjusted to the new requirements for each of their chosen categories.”
FSMS seventh-graders Caroline Barnes and Madelyn Cook created a junior group exhibit titled “Fly Girls” featuring women that broke barriers by being the first Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). Jacqueline Cochran formed the WASPs, Ola Mildred Rexroat was the first and only Native American WASP, and Hazel Ying Lee was the first of two Asian women and died in service without military recognition.  Deanie Parrish is one of the original WASP’s who is still alive. This groups of brave women inspired generations of women to follow in their footsteps like Nancy, Deanie’s daughter, who joined the military. The WASPs were part of the push for women to have equal rights as men, even if they didn’t realize it at the time, according to information provided by Kemmerer.

FSHS freshman Katelyn Leavell did a senior individual performance on unsung hero Anna Coleman Ladd titled: “Breaking the Barrier of Social Stigma: Anna Coleman Ladd and the First World War”.

“My project relates to this year’s theme because social stigma is one of the most prominent and hard to overcome barriers in society,” Leavell said. “My project focuses primarily on this barrier and the stigma of disabled WWI veterans. The barrier of social stigma based on physical disfigurements from combat was the hardest to break. Anna’s artistry and mask-making abilities covered the problem areas for a soldier so the world couldn’t see that part of them. With the newfound confidence, the men were able to find themselves and overcome that stigma. Though many were buried with their masks, they still had the confidence through their lives to go out into the world, unrestricted by physical barriers and social anxiety.”

Qualifying for the National History Day Competition in the junior group performance category are the two Fort Scott Middle School groups; eighth-graders Katelin Dancer/ Adelynn Nolan and Kaitlin Hardwick/ Regen Wells.
First place in the junior group performance category was Music to Everyone’s Ears: How Motown Broke Society’s Barriers by Katelyn Dancer and Adelynn Nolan.

The group knew they wanted to choose a topic that challenged the normal thought process and related to the theme in a creative way, according to information provided by Kemmerer.  The group’s first ideas consisted of artists, scientists, and musicians- people who broke barriers on a smaller scale and within their career field.   In the end, they decided on Motown because it included that artistic charm.

The most difficult aspect of the project was the script, and was rewritten four times before it was finalized.

Motown’s sound played an important role in demolishing the barrier of race that previously divided the country. Black and white audiences alike attended Motown concerts.  Motown also had a significant influence on the music industry, bringing about modern forms of musical production, management, and style.

Second place in the junior group performance category:  From Soldiers Heart to PTSD: Breaking the Barriers Around Mental Health by Kaitlin Hardwick and Regen Wells
Kaitlyn Hardwick, left, and Regen Wells perform their history day presentation. Submitted photos.

 While doing research on disabled American veterans,  the group found multiple articles pertaining to the topic of mental health within soldiers and veterans of WWI. After more research, they decided that they would choose the development and social acceptance of mental health, specifically Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, in soldiers and veterans of major wars.

The stigmatized barrier around the acceptance of PTSD in our society as a mental disorder was the topic chosen. People who had the disorder were shunned and undiagnosed and it was seen as a flaw.

The project was a performance about the journey to overcoming this stigma, highlighting several moments on the path to PTSD recognition. In the groups performance, they discussed the effect of PTSD on veterans of the Civil War, in WWI, WWII, the Vietnam War, and how it has evolved over time into what it is today.
PTSD  has developed from an unknown mental illness that was not treated, to a treatable condition in not only veterans, but in survivors of trauma such as sexual assault, abuse, natural disasters and accidents.
It is estimated that 3.5 percent of U.S. adults have PTSD. Approximately, 1 in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD within their lifetime. So much has happened to bring PTSD into societal acceptance, and not just in America. All around the world the barrier has been diminished for getting help for mental illness.
About National History Day

The range of NHD topics encompasses all disciplines and all areas of the world, according to the information provided. These projects speak volumes on how this program promotes global awareness. But it also fosters self-awareness, and creative real-world problem solving that can lead students to understand how each one of us has the potential to positively impact our world. 

“NHD allows students to experience the exhilaration that comes from being innovative thinkers and producers.” Kemmerer said.” As their teacher, I hope these experiences help them realize they have the potential to change the world for the better — and the skills to do it.