CKL Cross Country - Pearce 2nd & Albin 6th

At the Central Kansas League Cross Country meet, Owen Pearce finished 2nd and Josie Albin finished 6th!

The It Matters Campaign Concert with Jake Gill

Kingman-Norwich Substance Abuse

Prevention Coalition Presents

"The It Matters Campaign Concert

with Jake Gill"

Opening for Jake Gill will be Kingman HS singers

May 21st

7:00 - 9:30

At the Gazebo at the park

The Coalition will be handing out FREE water bottles, sports bags, T-shirts and balls. 

Please come and be a part of this exciting free event and support the Kingman County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition.

Catch Both Games of Tuesday’s Doubleheader Between Kingman & Halstead Live

Catch both games of today’s doubleheader between Kingman & Halstead live at the following websitehttp://www.adastraradio.com/sports.php or direct link at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/adastrasports2

First Pitch @ 4PM.

KHS Madrigals - Singing Valentines!!

For a minimum donation of $15, the KHS Madrigals will sing a song of your choice to your Valentine!  Song choices include: Lollipop, Over the Rainbow, and Can't Help Falling in Love.

Available Friday, 13th 9:30-10:30am and Saturday, 14th from 9-12am through Cleo's Flower Shop.

To schedule your slot, please contact Debbie Minor at 620-532-3136.

Too much or too little...

Educators face many challenges. Student responsibility is one that my staff currently struggles with. We have an endemic where students regularly do not complete assignments or work outside of the standard school day on homework. It is not relegated to any particular teacher or subject area, or with any one grade level. When high school students fail to turn in assignments or projects, there are two general reactions from staff centering around student responsibility. 

The first reaction, "They knew it was supposed to be turned in and they did not get it done. There are consequences in real life and the chance for 'do-overs' is the exception, not the norm. The students have to learn to be responsible and own the consequences that come with their choices. By not giving them the grade they earned, a zero, we enable them and will most likely see them make the same decision later on."

The second reaction, "They did not get their assignment turned in, but it is important they master the material because they will need it for future lessons. By not having them complete the assignment, I am increasing the likelihood they will fail in the future. But, any frustration or concern the student may feel will be amplified if I continue to allow them to fail. How much additional time and opportunities should I give them when it is their choice and they continue to make the weaker decision?"

This is something that occurs on a daily basis in our schools. Those that follow the first reaction are not completely wrong. The same goes with teachers with the second reaction. I believe it's a balance between the two, but it becomes even more complicated when we start looking at individual students. Some need more assistance. Some need more consequences. There is not a one size fits all answer. What works for one student does not work with another. We are constantly trying to find the best answer, but it is a moving target. We can hit a home run one day and strike out the next. So, how much do we help students and how much should natural consequences come in to play? 

There are also differences in what the parents want for their kids. Some parents want us to let them fail to teach them responsibility. "They must learn from their mistakes!" Other parents want teachers to teach responsibility and give multiple opportunities and constant communication. This is another moving target as not all parents have the same beliefs/ideals. I believe communication is essential, but even then there is always the chance of differing ideas between teachers and parents, making it difficult to find common ground. 

I believe there must be a balance. Students need to be responsible, but we must recognize and act upon opportunities to teach responsibility. Students need to be responsible, but teachers need to recognize the ones who are not responsible and take appropriate action to reinforce positive, responsible actions. Continual communication with students and parents is essential, but at some point students must put forth effort to be responsible. The question becomes, "Where is the fine line between too much and not enough?"

Where is the year going!

I'm not quite sure how it happened, but the end of the first quarter has come and gone! We must be in some kind of time warp, because it seems like we just started school yesterday. Never the less, we are getting to a very busy time of the year so here are some suggestions for the coming weeks.

1. Don't hesitate to notify teachers if you have questions about your child's progress in class. We are always available by phone or email.
2. The next eight weeks are full of fun events, both in and out of school and it can be easy for students to fall behind. Maintaining constant communication is a great way to avoid end of the semester surprises.
3. Regularly check the parent portal and teacher websites to track past, present, and future student assignments. We have awesome tools for teachers, students, and parents for greater active participation at your disposal. Don't forget they are there! If you have questions or concerns, please contact the teacher(s) right away.
4. I encourage you and your child to be a part of the many upcoming school activities. Post season volleyball and football seasons are underway and our teams are doing well. Basketball season is also right around the corner. Our all school play is coming up in a couple of weeks, as well as our Veterans Day celebration. These are a great opportunity to see KHS students showing their performance abilities. There will also be band and choir concerts in December. Our students are working hard preparing for these events and I an excited to see their many talents.
5. Take time to enjoy the upcoming months! It is easy to slip into survival mode and go from one event to the next. I hope you have the chance to enjoy what your child(ren) are a part of. I am amazed at their talents and thoroughly enjoy every opportunity to see them in action!

In closing, we are always reflecting on our practices to improve how we help students achieve to their fullest potential. We know this is not their final stop and we recognize the awesome role we have in helping them prepare for their next step. We believe very strongly in what we do at KHS, and I want to thank you for entrusting us with your child. Have a great 2nd quarter!

C.L.A.S.S.

I had the opportunity to spend the day watching our students interact with their peers. They practiced honing their leadership skills through activities led by Joe Coles. It was awesome seeing students step out of their comfort zone while practicing skills that will beneficial to themselves and those around them. I can't wait to see the positive influence on the students at Kingman High School and be a part of the climate change in the building.