Happy New Year!

News from the Superintendent

USD 377 recognized with State Level Awards

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) recently announced the launch of the Kansans

Can Star Recognition program, designed to recognize districts for success achieved in the individ-

ual outcome areas. For the inaugural year, of the program the state recognized districts in the

following areas:

*Commissioners Award

For exceeding the predicted postsecondary effectiveness rates

*Kansans Can Star Recognition (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Copper)

Academically Prepared for Postsecondary Success

High School Graduation

Postsecondary Effectiveness

USD 377 was recognized with the Commissioner’s Award and Bronze for High School Graduation

and Postsecondary effectiveness.

The Commissioner’s Award recognizes those districts that outperform their predicted postsecond-

ary effectiveness rate above a .4 standard deviation.

The postsecondary effectiveness rate is the percent of ninth graders that graduate in four years

and meet one of the four following outcomes within two years of High School graduation:

1. Student earned an Industry Recognized Certification while in High School.

2. Student earned a Postsecondary Certificate.

3. Student earned a Postsecondary Degree.

4. Student enrolled in Postsecondary in both the first and second year following High

School graduation.

A district’s predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate factors in the degree to which identified risk

factors known to depress effectiveness rates, such as poverty, chronic absenteeism and student

mobility, are present in a district’s student population.

To achieve the bronze level for postsecondary effectiveness, a district must be performing at or

above its predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate and have an actual rate ranging from 50%-

59.9%

High School Graduation Rate is based on the 4-year graduation cohort. The bronze level recog-

nizes districts who are performing at or above their predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate

and have a graduation rate between 90%-92.9%.

These recognitions are the result of hard work by students and staff as well as a supportive com-

munity. USD 377 will continue to work to provide the best educational experience possible for our

students now and into the future.

Unified School District #377 Atchison County

Community Schools

E f f i n g h a m , K S J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0 B O A R D O F

E D U C A T I O N

O F F I C E

(913) 833-5050

Dr. Andrew Gaddis, Supt.

JSH School

Principal: Deanna Scherer (913) 833-2240

Elementary School

Principal: Mandi McMillan (913) 833-4420

Board of Education Members

Nancy Keith

President

(913) 833-5075

Barbara Chapman

Vice President

(913) 360-9335

Kelli Bottorff

(913) 669-3817

Lori Jones

(913) 426-5749

Lori Lanter

(913) 370-5889

Corey Neill

(913) 426-0769

Greg Smith

(913) 370-7700

Provide quality educational

opportunities designed to produce

well-rounded students with a solid

foundation for lifelong learning.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26

27

28 29 30 31

JV/VBB (H) Horton

5pm

Booster Club Meal

JHBB @ Oskal.

4:30pm

FRBBB C Team @

Maur Hill 7pm

ES StuCo Blood Drive

@ JSH Commons

2-6:30pm

JVWR @ Topeka

9am

HSWR @ Rossville

9am

GWR @ Burlington

9am

JHBB (H) McLouth

4:30pm

JV/V Scholars Bowl @

Holton 4pm

JHBB @ JCN 4:30pm

HSWR @ Halstead

JV/VBB @ VF 5pm

No School-Staff

Development

JHBB (H) VF 4:30pm

JHBB @ Everest

4:30pm

K-State Band Clinic

HSBB @ VF

Washburn College

Visit

JVWR @ Holton

3:30pm

GWR @ Rock Creek

4pm

K-State Band Clinic

HSBB @ VF

Forensics

@ Sabetha 8am

“We the People”

Competition 9:30am

JHBB (H) P-Ridge

4:30pm

V Scholars Bowl @

JH

HSWR @ Halstead

GWR @ Bashor-

Linwood 9am

No School

Classes Resume

JHBB (H) JH 4:30pm

HSGBB

@ JCN (Winchester)

JV Scholars Bowl

@ Oskal. 4:15pm

JHBB (H) Xavier

4:30pm

HSWR @ Holton

5:30pm

FFA Speech Contest

@ Wamego

KS Army National

Guard Rep 12:02pm

After Prom Mtg. 6pm

BOE Mtg. 6:30pm

HSBB @ VF

No School No School—PLC

Day

JV/VBB (H) VF 5pm

Lions Club Meal

HS GWR (H) 9am

JV/VBB @ Maur

Hill 5pm

K-State

Band Clinic

HSGBB @ JCN

January 2020 Page 3

BOE News and Highlights

The USD 377 Board of Education met in regular

session on Wednesday, December 11th at 6:30pm

at the Board Office.

Approval of Agenda: Approved as presented.

Recognitions/Presentations:

Washburn Math Day: Sara Kimmi-1st place, Gracie

Postma-2nd place, Jayden Mcnerny-3rd place.

NEK All League Volleyball: Addison Schletzbaum-

Hon. Mention. NEK All League Football: Braden

Brull-2nd Team Offensive Line & 2nd Team Defen-

sive Line. Gunnar Koontz-Hon. Mention Defensive

Line. Trystin Myers-1st Team Kick Returner, 2nd

Team Linebacker, Hon. Mention Running Back.

Tucker Smith-1st Team Running Back, 1st Team

Linebacker. 2A All State Football Honorable Men-

tion: Trystine Myers-Linebacker, Tucker Smith-

Running Back.

Consent Agenda:

Approved as presented.

New Business:

KASB Policy Update First Reading. Action will take

place in January.

Executive Session:

The Board approved the hiring of Katie Madden as

School Nurse at a pay rate of $26.50 per hour.

The Board accepted the terms for the resignation

of Paul English from all duties as discussed.

The next board of education meeting will be held

on January 8th at the Board Office at 6:30pm.

Please go to usd377.org for monthly

Breakfast and Lunch Menus!

PARENTS AS TEACHERS

When you join PAT we will schedule a

convenient time and place to visit with

you. It lasts about one hour and in-

cludes all the family members who

would like to participate. We will bring

you information about your child and

we will encourage and support you on

your parenting journey.

If you are pregnant or have a child un-

der 3, please contact Elize Cilliers at

(620) 388-1825 for more information

about this free program.

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regula-

tions and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and

employees, and institutions participating in or adminis-

tering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminat-

ing based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability,

age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activi-

ty in any program or activity conducted or funded by

USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means

of communication for program information (e.g. Braille,

large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.),

should contact the Agency (State or local) where they

applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of

hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA

through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

Additionally, program information may be made availa-

ble in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, com-

plete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint

Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://

www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at

any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA

and provide in the letter all of the information request-

ed in the form. To request a copy of the complaint

form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form

or letter to USDA by:

(1) Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence

Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) Fax: (202)

690-7442; or (3) Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

January 2020 Page 4

During the winter months, a possibility always exists of school closures and/or schedule changes due to inclement weather. Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about emergency school closures. Q: When are decisions made about school closures and how will I know? A: The district makes every effort to decide and announce decisions to close schools before 6 a.m. The planning and review process actu-ally begins the night before. Once a decision is made, a message will be sent to USD 377 families via our eNotes notification system (text & email). Local media will be notified of the closure. The district’s social media sites, Facebook and Twitter, are also updated. eNotes sign up: http://www.usd377.org/enote_portal_account USD 377 Webpage: http://www.usd377.org/ Local Media: KAIR, WIBW, KCTV5, KSNT, KTKA, KTMJ, WDAF, FOX4

If school is dismissed early, your emergency contact information collected during school registration is used to contact you. Make sure your phone numbers and email are up to date in Pow-erSchool.

Q: What factors go into the decision? A: Weather and road conditions are checked throughout School District beginning the night before an-ticipated inclement weather. The school district gathers as much information as possible before making a decision. District officials monitor ongoing weather reports, road conditions and local / state law en-forcement agencies. District transportation officials will provide a recommendation before 5 a.m. to the superintendent responsible for making the final decision after a thorough review of all available data collected. Q: How can I make sure my student is safe? A: Since parents are the primary protectors they will need to decide what is best for their children. The option to keep children home when weather conditions are extreme is always at the parent's discretion and the school understands and respects the decision. Parents are urged to make arrangements at the beginning of each school year for their children in case of school closures. Parent contact infor-mation, including work phone numbers, should be kept up-to-date in PowerSchool. Q: What about school bus transportation when the weather is bad? A: All bus stops will be serviced in inclement weather unless an emergency announcement is made via the local media, district Website and eNotes. In inclement weather, buses may run late for a variety of reasons. Prepare your child, in suitable clothing, to wait additional time at the bus stop, (usually less than 15 minutes). Parents should have a contingency plan in the event that a bus is running extremely late or breaks down before reaching the bus stop. Discuss with your child what to do and who to call if the bus does not arrive. Have a neighbor, or reliable student "buddy" at the same stop that can help. Answers to Additional Questions can be found at: http://www.usd377.org/98571_2

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSURE INFO

SNAPSHOTS OF ATCHISON COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

January 2020 Page 6

JSH NEWS

By Deanna Scherer

It’s January and its 2020. Cold and Glistening. January makes its appearance and slows us down after the busy days of the holiday season. How did the year of 2019 disappear so quickly? It slowly slipped away as your stu-dents grew and learned and developed into more independent individuals. As the sparkle of 2020 appears, it is nice to reflect back on where we’ve been and where we are going. We are encouraged by the students of the school who participate in activities and give of themselves for the school. We are equally encouraged by those who humbly work hard towards achieving high academic marks. Let us be opti-mistic that today’s students will provide for a future filled with hope. Let’s see what Santa might have brought for our ACCJSH Students this coming year--

1. students and parents who recognize that it takes hard work, dedication, and self sacrifice to make it all happen 2. students and parents who accept that failure can mean success--falling down helps us to know what it feels like, especially when we have the courage to get up and try again 3. educators, coaches, and mentors who can lead with commitment, positivity and strong guidance 4. for our community, hope that we can keep the lights on in this rural school, in our rural homes, in our rural businesses, and on our rural main streets 5. for those who serve, whether it be a soldier, our police force, our paramedics and fire departments, our hospitals and clinics, or our clergy that you continue to have the courage and endurance to provide for our safety and well being 6. for all those employees who give endlessly in their jobs--hairdressers, restaurant employees, outdoor workers, grocery and retail, etc--not everyone gets the attention, but it takes all to make the operation go smoothly 7. Love and understanding for our neighbors, our politicians (even when we don’t agree), our families and most of all for ourselves--put away the guilt over “should haves, could haves, and world haves” and live with grace and hope 8. Parents who believe it is important to say “No” --genuine happiness from your student may be found when he or she learns to appreciate what you can give them without overextending yourselves

January 2020 Page 7

Don’t forget to send hats, coats and

gloves with your children.

Congratulations to Victoria Caplinger who

submitted an exemplary essay for Voice of

Democracy. She is pictured here with Fred

Gage for the Local VFW post 1175. Her essay

will now be submitted at the state level to

further compete throughout the state of

Kansas.

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The next Board

of Education

Meeting is

scheduled for

January 8th @

6:30 pm.

USD #377 is currently looking

for individuals to fill substitute

positions for Teacher, Teacher

Aide, Custodial and Bus Driver.

If you would like to apply for a

substitute position, please apply online at

usd377.org under job listings. USD #377 does

not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

national origin, sex, disability or age.