THE USD 251 COMMUNICATOR - January 2021 - Amazon AWS
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NORTH LYON COUNTY PATRON NEWSLETTER
THE USD 251 COMMUNICATOR
January 2021
Superintendent’s Message:
Submitted by: Robert W. Blair
Dear North Lyon County USD 251 School Community,
During the month of December, our school district completed the installation of new air purifiers in all of our HVAC units on
both campuses. In all areas without central HVAC systems, portable air purifiers were provided. Both were paid for with grant
monies.
On December 16th, the North Lyon County USD 251 Board of Education held a special meeting to consider the feasibility of
starting a pre-school in the near future. The first year instructional cost of starting a pre-school would be about $80,000; this
would fund one teacher, one teacher aide, and classroom supplies/materials. The district is currently looking at numerous options
for the location of a pre-school. If possible, we would like to start the program utilizing existing space. This month, USD 251
will be sending out a survey link to parents of children ages 2-4 that live within USD 251 district boundaries. The survey will
determine the level of interest that parents have in half day versus full day pre-school, level of interest in fee based childcare for
children after either half day or full day pre-school ends on a daily basis, and the need for transportation services for either half
day or full day pre-school. School revenue for pre-school is more difficult to estimate due to the uncertainty of the number of
students at this time. The state of Kansas currently funds half-day preschool for four year old at risk students. The current crite-
ria for at risk funding is the following:
(Student’s must meet one of the following criteria)
Poverty: Qualifies for free meals under the NSLP
Single parent families: Custodial parent is unmarried
DCF referral: Reason for referral must be signed by DCF
Teen parents: At least one parent was a teenager when the child was born
Either parent is lacking a high school diploma or GED
Limited English proficiency
Lower than expected developmental progress in at least one area
Child qualifying for migrant status
Child experiencing homelessness
For example, during the 2021-2022 school year, Kansas plans to fund four year old at risk students at $2,353 plus weightings for
at risk and transportation. During the 2022-2023 school year, each four year old at risk student would be funded at $2,423 plus
weightings for at risk and transportation. In addition to the .5 funding, USD 251 would have the opportunity to apply for several
pre-school grant opportunities. The importance of pre-school for communities cannot be understated. Students who are behind
when entering Kindergarten often struggle throughout school and may never catch up with their peers. Pre-school helps prepare
children for Kindergarten and beyond.
Beginning in January 2021, the North Lyon County USD 251 Site Council and Board of Education will begin a collaborative
process led by the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) to begin writing a 5-Year Strategic Plan. The plan will be mis-
sion-driven and results-focused and be utilized as a guide for the school district to ensure we are doing our work in ways that
align with who we are as a community to create a clear direction for the future. The goal is to complete the strategic plan prior to
the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. I will provide you with periodic updates as this process moves forward.
As I reflect on the beginning of the second semester this month, I am proud of what our school district and community have ac-
complished this school year! We have been committed, from day one, to keep our doors open to students! It has not been an easy
task during a pandemic. There have been many obstacles to overcome, but our district’s “Together We Succeed” motto has reso-
nated time and time again. Our staff members have been tremendous! They have shown their dedicated and caring attitude
through it all. The community and parents have supported us through these challenging times. Through it all, we have succeeded
to do what some said could not be done!
Thank you for your continued positive support for our kids!
Principal’s Perspective
Happy New Year to all those across North Lyon County! This first semester, we accom-
plished what many across the country could not do and that was to make it the entire semester
with students in school! Not once did we shut down! Reflecting back, I want to start by thank-
ing my staff as this all started with them. Several staff members joined me as we made a “all
students in school” plan that was approved by the Lyon County Health Department. It then
took all staff and students to make that plan work. Yes we had to wear masks, yes we had to social distance, and yes
we had to take extra safety precautions to limit how many would quarantine if/when a student or staff was positive,
BUT all of that is a small price to pay for students being able to learn in the classroom and in order to keep students
and staff healthy and safe. In appreciation for what all our students and staff endured to make this “in-school” plan
work, we did a little celebrating at the end of this past semester with a hot chocolate bar for all students and staff, plus
just a good half day of social, emotional activities to cap off one amazing semester unlike any we have had before!
One last thought is that I want to sincerely thank all our parents and community members that have been very under-
standing of our plan and what simply needed to be done in order to keep our kids in school.
Coming up in January, Jr High basketball will be wrapping up their season with their varsity tournament. The
tournament, due to COVID, will be played at two sites. The girls will play at West Franklin and the boys at Lyndon.
They will each play a full tournament bracket (against the 7 other schools in our league) with the final game on Janu-
ary 16th. Attendance, based on the most recent KSHSAA policy is limited to parents and legal guardians only. Wres-
tling and Quiz Bowl will get their season underway mid January. Quiz Bowl will be entirely virtual with competi-
tions taking place against other schools via zoom. Wrestling, as we started last year, is done through a cooperative
agreement with Council Grove. We will have a half dozen Jr High students wrestling in what is about a 6 week sea-
son and ends when Quiz Bowl does, just before track season starts. Students can compete in wrestling and in quiz
bowl but have to choose on meets as there are a couple that occur at the same time. The Lyon County Spelling Bee
will also be held this year and will be virtual. We will post more information and links on our USD 251 North Lyon
County Facebook page.
I hope that you all had a safe and healthy Christmas and New Year. I know we are ALL ready for 2021 to
bring with it some normalcy. My resolution is that soon, I will no longer have to mention the work COVID or quar-
antining! Best of wishes to you on your resolution!
Go Cats!
Corey Wiltz
NLC Elementary Principal
4th Grade News
Students are busy learning about “Changes in the Earth Over Time” in science. One of our activities involved
making different tectonic plate movements out of graham crackers with frosting and chocolate chips to illustrate
earthquakes, formation of mountains and valleys or rifts.
On December 7th we discussed the importance of remembering our Veterans and Pearl Harbor Day. Dr. Cot-
tenmye described visiting the Arizona Memorial with parents, students and her own children about 18 years ago. That
was a great trip!
4th graders are endeavoring to master multiplication facts. Thank you for encouraging them to work on them at
home. IXL is set up for them to practice at home as well. The ADS by Kids-for the Emporia Gazette, are going well.
Again thank you to all for helping us stay healthy and engaged. Please continue to encourage safe practices.
Happy Holidays, Dr. Cottenmyre
6-8 Science
Science 2020 has, without a doubt, been a very different experience. I like to refer to it as “science on a cart” be-
cause on most days, I wheel a cart from class to class since teachers travel to each room instead of students. Whenev-
er possible, I have continued a hands-on lab approach to teaching the NGSS standards. This feat involves much addi-
tional work such as: set up and clean up, counting/measuring quantities of chemicals or items needed, transporting wa-
ter in bottles, carrying buckets as well as garbage bags for water and waste disposal, all in addition to other required
equipment such as electric balances, probeware, graduated cylinders, tape, glue, scissors and a computer. If possible,
we have gone outside to do labs and have taken advantage of the beautiful fall days!
Sixth grade students have been learning about the Sun-Earth-Moon System. We have studied the stars, planets,
moon phases and solar/lunar eclipses. Students have completed many modeling activities. These have included: plan-
et sizes with play dough, moon phases with individual Tootsie Pops, gravity with water balloons, Sun-moon size with
balls on the football field as well as calculating and measuring the size of the moon as well as the distance to the
moon. Technology has been a valuable resource. Students have used Breakout Rooms in Zoom to have small group
discussions, Explore Learning Gizmo for interactive labs, Generation Genius Videos, Kahoot review games, Whodun-
nit Reviews and Nearpod activities. Furthermore, students had the opportunity to participate in the International Ob-
serve the Moon Night as well as observing the Christmas or Bethlehem Star formed by the conjunction of Saturn and
Jupiter, an event which had not occurred in 800 years.
Physical science has been the focus for both seventh and eight grade classes. The seventh grade has learned about
states of matter, atoms, the periodic table and waves. This has included many activities such as graphing phase chang-
es, black plates and ice cubes, black boxes, identification of mystery powders, modeling atoms, elements, compounds
and mixtures with marshmallows, and creating Bohr Models of elements as well as models with marbles and BB’s,
while learning mnemonic devices like APE MAN to assist with calculations. Technology has been vital here also with
students using interactive powerpoints, Generation Genius videos, Kahoot review games, Explore Learning Gizmo
with interactive labs, Nearpod activities and Breakout rooms in Zoom for collaboration.
Eighth grade began by reviewing many items listed above, then transitioned to equations, conservation of mass,
pH, chemical reactions, kinetic and thermal energy. Students participated in several hands-on labs including: the But-
ter Battle, Chemical/Physical Change, Acids-Bases, and Conservation of Mass. We have modeled balanced and unbal-
anced equations using marshmallows and paper unifix cubes, and learned mnemonic devices like RAP to assist with
equations. Technology has played an important role here also. Students have used Generation Genius, Kahoot review
games, Explore Learning Gizmo Interactive Labs, Nearpod activities, Escape Rooms and Zoom for collaboration.
During this time, there are many items to be thankful for. Something that could easily be overlooked is the tech-
nology provided by our district. First, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Blair and the Board of Educa-
tion for purchasing the site licenses for Generation Genius and Explore Learning Gizmo. These programs have been
invaluable in assisting the coverage of the science standards. Next, the new Smart Boards are quite amazing! Finally,
the students and teachers greatly appreciate the one to one laptops which are used daily.
In closing I would like to thank the parents at NLC. You are the best! I appreciate everything that you do!
Mrs. Heins
6-8 Science
Principal’s Pen
Together We Succeed
Peggy Fort
Northern Heights High School Staff hopes that everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! With the close of
2020, we would like to thank our parents, board members, and community for all your support this first semester. Happy New
Year 2021!
Mid year tests and surveys given in December:
AIMSweb Benchmark Testing - Math (K-2) & Reading (K-8, select HS)
Wellington Engagement Index - ALL classes, gr. 6-12
Communities That Care Survey
ACT
NHHS Calendar
January 4th-6th Teacher Inservice January 15th NHHS Basketball-Lyndon at NHHS-4:30pm
January 7th Students return to school January 16th Wrestling-NHHS at Topeka-9:00am
Wrestling at Council Grove-5:00pm January 18th - 23rd
NHHS Basketball at Chase County-4:45pm Flint Hills Basketball Shootout-Location TBD
January 8th ACT Registration due for 2/6/21 Test January 22nd Wrestling-NHHS at Council Grove 2:00 pm
NHHS Basketball at Council Grove-4:30pm January 26th NHHS Basketball at Rural Vista-4:30pm
January 9th Wrestling-NHHS at Herrington-9:00am January 28th FHL League Scholars Bowl-via zoom
January 12th NHHS Basketball-West Franklin at NHHS- January 29th FFA-Ag Management, Poultry, and Milk Quality
4:30pm January 30th Wrestling-NHHS Girls at Washburn Rural
January 13th Board of Education Meeting at District Office Wrestling-JV at Marion
7:00pm
FCCLA Citizenship Day February 2nd NHHS Basketball-at Burlingame-4:30pm
January 14th Wrestling-NHHS at Rock Creek-6:00 pm
Happy New Year- Peggy Fort
NHHS Counselor News
On Wednesday, February 3rd at 6:30pm, I will be holding a sophomore meeting for parents and students. Prior to knowing what
this school year had in store, I scheduled meetings on the school calendar to set aside time to meet with parents and students at
each grade level. The idea behind this is to allow parents to ask questions and plan the next stage for their student. I didn’t want
to eliminate this just because we can’t meet in person, so I am holding the meetings virtually. These meeting will include a small
presentation and question session with Bryan Crouch from Flinthills Technical College. Further information will be provided in
an email to parents and students.
Future meetings - all held at 6:30pm:
∗ Freshmen-Wednesday, March 3rd
∗ 8th grade-Wednesday, March 31st
Important Dates:
∗ State ACT Workkeys: Wednesday, February 24th- given at NHHS during the school day
∗ State ACT given at NHHS online between the dates of March 9-11 during the school day
Jessica Woodrow - Counselor
SAFE
The SAFE team draws a winner each month and Olivia Barrett was the winner for December. Enjoy your gift card Olivia!
Mekenzy Lucas is our student running SAFE this year, and was recently chosen as one of the Kansas SAFE students of the
month. She won a $25 gift card and is also entered to win a $250 scholarship at the end of the school year.
Angel Tree
Northern Heights High School FCCLA and FFA students went shopping for presents for our annual USD 251/ North Lyon
County Angel Tree shopping. NHHS students, FCCLA, FFA, and some individual classes worked hard to raise money and
adopted thirty-six students. They had fun raising the money, shopping, and wrapping presents for families. This is something the
kids look forward to every year and even with strict guidelines, they still managed to get it all done.
NHHS Door Decorations
NHHS Students had fun taking some time off from the rigors of the classroom to make some festive door decorations for some of
the NHHS staff. Kids know their teachers pretty well, as the door decorations reflected most of their personalities pretty well!
USD 251 Prospective Preschool
Children who attend preschool enjoy both short-term and long-term benefits. These benefits include improved
academic and school readiness, higher graduation rates, and lower incarceration rates. Preschool lays the groundwork
for successful experiences for learning, socially, emotionally, and academically throughout a child’s education. 90%
of a child’s brain is built before the age of five, therefore, the first five years are crucial due to the brain’s ability to
make connections. Studies have shown that the more intellectual stimulation a child receives at the age four, the more
developed the parts of the brain devoted to language and cognition will be. For example, a child’s vocabulary is
largely developed during this period. A typical 2-year-old will have a 200-300 word vocabulary. A typical 4-year-
old will have a 1500-1600 word vocabulary. Early childhood education is more than preparation for kindergarten. It
focuses on the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs so that a solid foun-
dation for lifelong learning can be established.
USD 251 is exploring the possibility of providing a 4-year-old preschool. If you have a child or children ages
2, 3, or 4 years old, please complete the following survey so that we gather as much information as possible to assist
our planning. The survey may be accessed at: http://bit.ly/3mHUQqA
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