FFA gives thanks to advisor
The WaKeeney FFA chapter and alumni members held a thank you/going away party for Advisor Ron Smith and family at the swimming pool park on May 15.
During the surprise party, the FFA officers presented Smith with a belt buckle and FFA hat to thank him for all he has done for them. Then each organization member gave a personal thanks to Smith.
Dakota Bliss and his father Dan Bliss cooked up hamburgers and hotdogs. The officer team provided the desserts.
After six years at TCHS, Smith accepted a job to teach at Linn, Kansas, a community in north central Kansas. Smith reflected on his years at TCHS.
“I appreciate all the support from the faculty and staff and FFA alumni and business supporters.
“Over the past years, for the most part, I have had a great group of kids. Our FFA has been strong implementing new programs, such as PALs and Kids’ Ag Day, and the kids have had tremendous production out in the shop with new technology like the CNC plasma cutter.
“My proudest accomplishment is starting the eighth-grade program.
“I look forward to a new chapter in my family’s life.
Assembly addresses change, celebrates success
 |
Addressing the student body at an assembly on May 15, stucco co-presidents Kristen Hanks and Tabitha Wolf share their ideas for the 2013-2014 school year. |
Newly elected co-student council Presidents Tabitha Wolf and Kristen Hanks conducted an assembly in the TCHS auditorium during activity period on May 15 to share their ideas for the upcoming year.
First, Wolf and Hanks shared the importance of student council, and they encouraged students to apply for stucco positions in the future.
The pair shared their ideas for the 2013-2014 school year. First, they told the student body that “rather than punishing students for being ineligible, we are looking for ways to help students and encourage them to do better” academically. Next, they went on to explain that they would like to continue the “recognition assemblies,” which recognizes academic and athletic achievements within the high school. The presidents then shared their last idea--the plan is to have a senior-freshman buddy/mentor type system in which, after an application process. Stuco sponsors will decide the freshmen/senior partnerships.
 |
| Showing off their golf t-shirts, the team celebrates the season’s success, which includes the varsity team’s qualifying for State play. During the assembly, held on May 15, Coach Mark Pfannenstiel invited members of the student body to join the team, which could lead to an enjoyable lifetime leisure activity. The team's shirts were provided by alumni member Wade Cook, who is the owner of coarseculture, a golf gear clothing line. |
After the presidential address, the golf team was recognized for their first-place finish at Regionals earlier in the week. Coach Mark Pfannenstiel told the student body that they were pleased, but “fully expected to win.” He went on to say that at State competition in Emporia on May 20, the outcome shouldn’t be any different. “We expect to win.”
Science teacher keeps students excited
 |
Taking advantage of the planetarium dome, James Burk’s earth and space science class watches videos of extraterrestrial activity. During the last few days of school, high school and elementary students were given the opportunity to explore scientific concepts in the digital planetarium. |
By Tabitha Wolf
For a short time, high school and elementary students are excited to experience the interactive Digital Planetarium, which they can view during the last weeks of school.
 |
Burk seized the opportunity to excite his science students with an enterable, blowup dome which displayed things, such as simulated views one would see through the Hubble telescope, the sky without atmosphere, close looks at the planets and stars, and many other subjects. Burk’s connections with Fort Hays State University allowed him to check out equipment to use for teaching.
Sharing in this experience, elementary science Teacher Tammi Wynn’s kindergarten through fifth grade science classes were invited to explore the dome. Also, all of Burk’s classes and any interested student were allowed to observe scientific video in the planetarium.
ABOVE: Excited to see what is in the “bubble,” Tammi Wynn’s second-grade science class enters the Digital Planetarium. FHSU supplied the dome for students to get a better look at planets, stars and many interesting topics. (Photo by Tabitha Wolf)
14 grads ready to meet life’s challenges
The first and only row of graduates in the TCHS gymnasium held only 14 seniors; the venue was hardly full due to the Class of 2013’s small size. However, the tears and smiles of family and friends during the ceremony reflected their great love and pride for the outgoing grads.
After the seniors processed into the gymnasium to the song “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” Principal Myron Flax welcomed everyone to the commencement ceremony. Then the grads honored their parents with roses, while the song “Let Them Be Little” played.
Former TCHS Teacher Doug Durr offered words of wisdom to the attentive graduates. Durr encouraged the grads to “have a positive attitude,” "have a good work ethic,” "rely on “preparation,” not “luck” to reach success, and “remember your roots, keep in touch with your classmates. . . . and tell your family thank you.”
Before the graduates received their diplomas, the senior choir members sang “My Wish” with the group for the last time.
Flax then presented the class before USD 208 Board of Education members, Doug Minson, John Reeder and Tammy Riedel, presented the diplomas to the graduating class.
A video presentation, prepared by Cherell Owens and Shelby Zahn, followed after with a look back in time of the grads from their childhoods to the present.
To close the ceremony, Flax invited those in attendance to sing the “Alma Mater.
The graduates then stood in a receiving line on the front sidewalk of TCHS as community members offered congratulations.
Evening of Excellence highlights achievement
Community and school organizations and families provided scholarships at the Evening of Excellence awards presentation in the TCHS auditorium on May 8.
Those who were honored with awards or scholarships included the following:
Awards:
Dale Dennis Educational Achievement—Bailiee Fritts
Kansas Regents Curriculum—Bailee Fritts & Rose Lewis
TCHS Alumni Citizenship Award—Bailee Fritts & Cameron Staples
National School Choral Award—Jerris Reeder
Vocal Merit—Haden Finley & Bethany Schneider
Third-Year Choir Member Award—Jerris Reeder
Four-Year Choir Member Award—Bethany Schneider
National Honor Society—John Griffith, Cameron Staples, Bailee Fritts, & Jerris Reeder
Outstanding Athlete Awards—Cameron Staples and Bailee Fritts
Outstanding Junior Athletes—Addie Zeman & Clayton Riedel
Scholarship Presentations:
TCEA—Bailee Fritts
Oddfellow #304/ Rebekah Lodge #465—Cherell Owens
Christ the King Catholic Church—Cameron Staples & Michael Goff
Knights of Columbus—Cameron Staples
American Legion—Rose Lewis
WaKeeney Jaycees—Rose Lewis
Applegate—Michael Goff & Jerris Reeder
Hutchinson Memorial—Cameron Staples
First United Methodist Church—John Griffith
Trego Hospital Endowment Foundation—Jerris Reeder
Eagles Aerie #3774/Eagles Auxiliary #33774—Bailee Fritts
Michael L. Dreiling Memorial—John Griffith
Shaw Family Memorial—Cameron Staples
Nancy L. Scott Memorial—Bailee Fritts
Farm Bureau—Bailee Fritts & John Griffith
Trego County—Jerris Reeder
Pat and Goldie Gardner Memorial—Bailee Fritts & Cameron Staples
Pugh/Rhoden Memorial—Bailee Fritts
Bill and Mary Lou Harvey Memorial—John Griffith & Cameron Staples
Encourage your children to read this summer
By Diane DeBackerThe Kansas State Department of Education is pleased to support the Read Kansas Read summer program along with Governor Brownback and the State Library.
Information about Read Kansas Read can be found at http://www.readkansasread.ks.gov/default.htm including bookmarks, a reading log, links to finding appropriate reading-level books, and details about prizes. I encourage you to visit the website and consider sending information home with your students about the importance of reading over the summer months.
Summer break often interrupts the learning process, especially for students from low-income families. Summer achievement loss is particularly evident in reading ability. We can assist the summer achievement loss by encouraging students to Read Kansas Read!