Category Archives: Schools

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

FSHS Thespians Selected To Perform In Scotland

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The Fort Scott High School Theatre Department, under the direction of FSHS Thespian Director Angie Bin, has been selected to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest and most prestigious arts festival, as part of the American High School Theatre Festival (AHSTF).

Each August, Edinburgh, Scotland becomes the most magical and exciting place on earth as performing artists from all over the world take part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The whole city becomes a stage and visitors can view performances everywhere from playgrounds to conference rooms, from city parks to churches.

The Fringe Festival includes over 3,000 different performances of music, theatre, dance, and comedy during its three-week run.

Fort Scott High School’s performance will be showcased as a part of AHSTF in the summer of 2019.

Fort Scott High School, recognized for its entertaining and innovative productions, was selected by the AHSTF Board of Advisors, made up of college theatre professionals, to represent our community as part of the 2018 AHSTF program.

The Board reviews all completed applications and identifies the top high schools based on their most recent bodies of work, awards, community involvement, philosophies, and recommendations.

While in Scotland, AHSTF’s professional Technical Team ensures that the company’s lighting, sound, and property needs are addressed.

WorldStrides, the nation’s oldest and largest student travel company, will be making the travel arrangements for each high school group. The trip includes two days in London, England and ten days in Edinburgh in August of 2019.

A parent meeting for all FSHS performing art students interested in traveling and their parents will be held April 24 at 7:45 p.m. in Room 401 at the High School.

Contact: Angie Bin, 60-719-9622, [email protected]

Fort Scott, Schools

Christian Heights Performs Tom Sawyer

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Austin Bahr performs as Tom Sawyer and Trace Evans as his best friend Huck Finn in the Fort Scott Christian Heights high school play “Tom Sawyer” Saturday night at the school.

Fort Scott Christian Heights High School students entertained the community Friday and Saturday evening with its rendition of  “Tom Sawyer: An American Legend With Music.”

The play depicts a segment of life of Tom Sawyer life, who was an orphan boy in Missouri, circa the 1840s.

The cast is as follows:

Jeff Thatcher was played by Kole Wagner, Tom Sawyer by Austin Bahr, Mrs. Thatcher by Annalyse Gilmore, Becky Thatcher by Darci Kendrick, Aunt Polly by Kendra Bahr, Sid Sawyer by Seth Lowery, Cousin Mary by Emily Davenport, Ben Rogers by Benji Banwart, Joe Harper by Jason Avery, Jim Hollis by Drake Garcia, Ted Austin by Josiah Banwart, Amy Lawrence by Lily Leigh, Lyda Hollis by Annalyse Gilmore, Widder Douglas by Annie Tarter, Preacher/schoolmaster by J.B. Lowry, Judge Thatcher by Steven Avery, Hope Austin by Emily Davenport, Suzie Harper by Kathryn Hudiberg, Faith Harper  by Marissa Meanor, Huck Finn by Trace Evans, Doc Robinson by  Benji Banwart, Injun Joe by Bryce Meanor, Muff Potter by Jason Avery, The Constable by Lucas Gilmore.

Sound, lighting, and props were by Mike Avery and Larry Davolt.

Costumes were provided by Vickie Shead.

The stage crew was Lucas Gilmore, J.B. Lowry, Brandon West, Mike Avery and Tim Avery.

Following are scenes from the play:

Tom Sawyer, Jeff Thatcher, Mrs. Thatcher and Becky Thatcher.
Tom Sawyer wins the prize for the most memorized scriptures.

Becky Thatcher and Tom Sawyer get engaged.
Tom Sawyer ponders why he is always in trouble.
The funeral of Tom and Huck.
Tom surprises the community by coming to his own funeral.

Tom swears on the Bible at the trial of Muff Potter.

Principal Terry Chance does the sound equipment during the play.
The cast of Tom Sawyer thanks Mike Avery and Terry Chance for their help behind the scenes of the play.
Members of the audience take their leave following the play Tom Sawyer Saturday evening at Fort Scott Christian Heights school.

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

Prom Time: Here Are Walk-In Instructions

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The Fort Scott High School Prom 2018 is April 21, 2018, at the high school.

Public viewing of the building is from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, walk-in is from 6:30 to 8 pm and prom is from 8 to 11 pm.

“This year’s walk-in will be starting at the southeast corner of the high school,” according to Roberta “Bert” Lewis, an instructor at the school.  “To get in line, you will need to drive north on Main, turn into the southwest corner of the parking lot by the tennis court. (directly east of Key Hole), then continue east toward the back parking lot. Valet parking will be available southeast corner of the east parking lot. If someone is picking up your car they can meet you at this location.”

Parent parking and viewing of walk-in:

Parent parking will be allowed on the street west of school, stadium, gravel lot west of the school, and at Buck Run. Handicap parking will be available on the north side of the school.

Parents will NOT be allowed to park in the west (front) lot, at the pool, or on State Street between 9th and 12th streets.  Also closed for walk-in will be Scott street from 10th to 12th and 11th street from State Street to Main.

Click here, then click on the image to enlarge for a map of the parking and walk-in rules:

Prom map 12-Apr-2018 08-08-40(1)

Parents will be able to set up chairs or watch from bleachers in the back parking lot.

The east entrance to the high school, steps, and grand entrance will have viewing areas and picture options, but there will be no seating in this area.

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

Middle School Day Of Beauty At FSCC

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Kerragan Davis with stylist Krista Simpson.

The Fort Scott Cosmetology School participated in a community service project this past Saturday.

In conjunction with the FSMS VIPs, the parent group at Fort Scott Middle School, eight student stylists donated their afternoon to style the hair of middle school students. This was the fifth year of the event, scheduled to coincide with the annual TWIRP dance.

Julia Allen with stylist Chelsey Morris.

This event benefits both the middle schoolers and the cosmetology students, as the middle schoolers get “dolled up” before the big dance and the college students get to practice creating different hairstyles.

Kyndal Hughes with stylist Allison Shumaker.

“We are so appreciative of the cosmetology school for continuing to volunteer their time each year,” said FSMS VIP President Stephanie George. “We had twenty-two students sign up for the event this year. Everyone really enjoyed themselves and they all looked fantastic! We look forward to this project every year.”

Khya Brown with stylist Cali Emerson.

The cosmetology school is located on the college campus in Fort Scott. They are looking into expanding their hours so that they can take appointments in the evenings and Saturdays.To make an appointment, call 620-223-2700.

Kenli Coleman with stylist Madison Grado.
Kerragan Davis with stylist Krista Simpson.
Area News, Fort Scott, Schools

Aggie Day Draws Over 1,300 Students at FSCC

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Over 1,300 high school students, from 90 schools, converged on Fort Scott Community College Aggie Day April 6, according to Ryan Edgecomb, an agriculture instructor at the school.

Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma high school buses line parking lots at FSCC for Aggie Day April 6.

Former FSCC Agriculture Instructor Gary Harvey started the event in the mid-1970s, said  Edgecomb.

“This is my 15th Aggie Day,” Edgecomb said. “The Ag Department hosts the event. Blake Davis is my teaching partner and livestock coach.”

FSCC Ag Instructor Ryan Edgecomb, right, shares a light moment with area high school ag teachers, following the Ag Teachers Brunch in the Ellis Arts Center Friday morning.

Students competed in a variety of areas, including agronomy, entomology, farm management, floriculture, food science, livestock, meat evaluation, milk quality and products, nursery/landscape, poultry, speech, veterinary science,  and reasonings.

Those from Bourbon County schools who ranked in the top ten in the contests:

In the Intermediate Live contest, Clay Brillhart, Uniontown, received 2nd place; Zach Snyder, Uniontown received a 10th place.

In the Junior Live contest, Tate Crystal, Uniontown, received the 3rd place.

In Senior Questions Live, Graham Hathaway, Uniontown, received the 2nd place; Kolby Shoemaker, Fort Scott, received a 10th place.

In Senior Reasons Live, Kolby Seested, Uniontown, received the 3rd place.

In the Veterinary Science contest, Maddie Ard, Uniontown, received 2nd place; Aubry O’Neal, Uniontown, received the 8th place.

In the Junior Speech contest, Hannah Beerbower, Uniontown, received the 4th place.

To see the full results: http://www.fortscott.edu/AggieDay/Results

The event is sponsored by Purina and Purina Mills Honor Show Chow, which also includes an ag teacher brunch.

“We are honored to have Purina and Honor Show Chow back as our sponsors for a third straight year, and we’re grateful for their support,”  Edgecomb said.

Edgecomb said the event has multiple purposes.

“It’s a recruiting tool for FSCC, allowing students to see and showcase our school,” he said.

In addition, the event is “an educational contest to help schools prepare for district and state events,” Edgecomb said.

Over 100 support people are employed to help with Aggie Day: faculty, staff, students and former students, Edgecomb said.

Some highlights of the days activities in photos:

 

 

Fort Scott, Schools

March Madness at Eugene Ware Elementary

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From left FSCC Basketball Coach Blake Cochran, Jon Barnes, Donnie Flowers, Tyler Zinn, John Montgomery, Lucas Kelley, J. M. Gregg, Aaron Williams, Andre Nelson, Dontrell Sanders, Jayden Davis, George Brocato, and Daemar Jones introduce themselves at the beginning of the March Madness Reading Challenge assembly.

It takes practice and lots of it, to do anything well, including reading.

That in a nutshell, is what the Fort Scott Community College Basketball Team told the students at  Eugene Ware Elementary during an award assembly Wednesday afternoon.

During the month of March, students have been competing with other classes in reading the most minutes.

The classroom winners of each grade level were given a poster of the FSCC Basketball Team along with a promised extra recess, during the assembly held in the school gym.

The winners were: Carrie Southwell’s 3rd grade class with 3, 220 minutes of reading, Joyce Flanner’s 4th grade with 3,002 minutes and Jill Couch’s 5th-grade class with 2,232 minutes.

During the assembly, students were randomly picked from the audience to participate in a basketball throw challenge.

The winner of that challenge was Quadar Moreland, a fourth-grade student. Because of his win, all 4th-grade students were given autographed posters of the team.

Brenda Hill, an instructional coach at Ware, and Mary Mauer, a teacher, collaborated on the idea of capitalizing on basketball’s March Madness national competition to encourage students to practice reading.

Below are photos of the afternoon assembly.

Carrie Southwell gives her 3rd-grade students “high fives” following the announcement that the class read the most minutes for the reading competition.
Students lined up to take a turn at getting the ball through the basketball hoop.

Some students needed a little extra help getting the ball through the hoop and the college basketball players helped.

Quadar Moreland gets some encouragement from the FSCC basketball team following his win of the basketball contest.
Students look over the poster of the FSCC Basketball Team while waiting in line to get it autographed.

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

Fort Scott High School Track Meet At Paola

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FSHS Track Coach Tracey Bogina and Freshman Ella Beth watch a team member during the Paola Invitational Track Meet April 5.

Photos submitted by Brian Wade

Fort Scott High School participated in the Paola Invitational Track Meet April 5.

The following photos are spotlights on some of the Fort Scott athletes who participated.

 

Andrew “Bubba” Callahan

Makyn Wade
Kyle Tome
Ella Beth
Abby Humble
Makyn Wade
Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Hires New Superintendent, Ted Hessong

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Ted Hessong was hired as the new superintendent for Fort Scott schools.

Ted Hessong, currently superintendent of USD 456, was hired Tuesday evening by the USD 234 Board of Education. He will begin June 2, 2018, and was hired on a two-year contract as the new superintendent in Fort Scott’s school system.

The following is a FortScott.Biz  interview with Hessong.

What motivated you to get into education?

“My mom was a teacher at Fort Scott Middle School, which was a great example of what a teacher should be. I was also active in sports and I wanted to be a basketball coach since 7th grade.”

Education?

” I graduated from Fort Scott High School and earned an Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from Pittsburg State University. I also received my Master’s in Building Leadership and District Certification from PSU.”

Experience?

” My first two years in education I was a science teacher and coach at Pleasanton Junior/Senior High School in Pleasanton, Kansas. I then accepted a position at Frontenac Junior High and High School teaching science and coaching, where I did my student teaching. I spent 17 years at Frontenac School district, where I went from a teacher to assistant principal for the 6th-12th-grade building. I then became the first junior high principal at Frontenac because we separated the junior high from the high school. The last five years at Frontenac I was the high school principal following the retirement of one of my mentors, Joe Martin. The past two school years I have been the superintendent at Marais des Cygnes Valley School District, which is composed of the communities of Melvern, Quenemo, and Olivet in Kansas.”

Family?

“I have three children.”

What interested you in the position in Fort Scott?

“Fort Scott has tremendous respect throughout the state of Kansas as a top-notch district. I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to return to my hometown to lead the district that really gave me my start in education.”

What do you feel you bring to the district?

“I feel my leadership experiences have prepared me to lead Fort Scott in a variety of areas to provide the best opportunities for the students of Fort Scott to experience success.”

What assets do you see in USD 234?

” The biggest asset Fort Scott has to offer is the teachers, staff, and students at Fort Scott. All these groups are what make Fort Scott an excellent school district.”

Any concerns?

“No concerns at this time.”

Any interests besides education, hobbies?

“My biggest interest is spending time with my family and friends.  I also enjoy sports, playing golf and mowing.”

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

FSHS Future Business Leaders Tour Capital

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Submitted photo.

Future Business Leaders of America visited Topeka for the State Leadership Conference on March 27-29.

The conference is a two-day event hosted at the capital each year, according to Morgan Robbins, the Business Teacher and FBLA Sponsor at Fort Scott High School .

“Students from schools all over the state of Kansas compete in various events,” she said. ” All of our students competed in objective tests, in topics including personal finance, business law, hospitality management, health care administration and more. We were so lucky to get to meet with Caryn Tyson and listen to her briefly speak about her work before we left Topeka on Friday.”

Front, from left:
Beth Nuss, chaperone; Lauren Madison; Emma Martin; Morgan Rohr; Senator Caryn Tyson; Daevin Caldwell; Hudson Horn; FBLA Sponsor and FSHS Business Instructor Morgan Robbins.

Back, from left.
Katie Harvey, Sami Rogers, Nick King, Alec Michaud, Matt Campbell, and Carter Goldston

Government, Kansas, Schools, Submitted

Governor Colyer Releases Statement on School Finance Legislation

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“In the last two weeks, I have had many productive meetings with education stakeholders and legislators, listening to their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.  I am confident that we can reach an agreement on a solution that ends the school finance litigation and serves the best interests of our children and the state of Kansas.

I applaud the work of the Kansas Senate this week to address the equity fixes required by the Kansas Supreme Court.  I also appreciate the hard work of the House’s K-12 Education Budget Committee.

Last month, I shared with Kansans a framework for responding to the school finance ruling:

  1. We must keep our schools open.
  2. We need a definitive solution that ends the school finance lawsuits for good.
  3. Increased funding should be accomplished using a phased-in approach that will give schools time to plan and spend most effectively.
  4. We need to ensure the investment is sustainable without increasing the tax burden on Kansas families.
  5. Lastly, and I think most importantly, we must insist on accountability and improved outcomes.

As I have said before, I will support any effort that meets these objectives, keeps our schools open, and ends the cycle of litigation once and for all.

As legislators go home this evening for Easter weekend, I am calling on the legislature to send a school finance bill to my desk before they leave Topeka again.  Let’s get this done.”

Fort Scott, Schools

FSCC Kids Fair April 14

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The Fort Scott Community College Kid’s Fair  is from 9 a.m. to noon April 14 at Bailey Hall South Parking Lot.

“This event is sponsored by Fort Scott Community College  Community Relations Committee, we do it twice a year for the community kids just for fun and use it as a chance to get to know the community members,” Kassie Fugate-Cate, Director of Strategic Communications and Student Activities said.

Popcorn, cookies, drinks, games, and prizes will be offered.

“And of course, our teddy bear clinic sponsored by Student Nursing Organization (SNO),” Cate said. ” The kids bring their stuffed animals or dolls and they get a check-up like on ‘Doc McStuffins’.”

The event will be held in the south parking lot of Bailey Hall.

“We plan to have John Deere, our first responders, FSCC Cosmetology, FSCC STEM club, FSCC Athletics, and FSCC President’s Ambassadors present during the event along with FSCC SNO,” Cate said.

For more information contact Cate at 620.223.2700 ext. 5248 or

[email protected]