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Grant money allows trip to State Capitol

By Amelia Fabrizius
Twenty-five TCHS students traveled to Topeka for a tour of the Kansas Museum of History on November 16.

The trip was funded by a grant approved last spring from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. The funds enabled the district to pay for the transportation costs, as well as the fees charged for the tours.

At the museum, the students saw the sesquicentennial exhibit “150 Things I Love About Kansas,” along with the rest of the museum’s exhibits. The group participated in an hour-long guided tour, followed by a half hour self-guided tour.

After the museum tour, students stopped at the West Ridge Mall in Topeka for a short time. Later the crew ate a Coyote Canyon in Salina and then headed back to WaKeeney.

The students were accompanied by Brenda Brock, Tara Burnham, Gwen Hammerschmidt and John Luhrs.

Classes’ format challenge
for foreign language students

By Salena Gano
Because a foreign language teacher resigned last spring, Trego High School turned to software programs to further students’ education in Spanish and French.

Ten students signed up to try this self-directed, computer-based approach to learning a language.

Using voice-recognition software, Bailee Fritts pronounces Spanish words to see if she is saying them correctly.   Fritts is one of 10 students taking a computer-generated foreign language course.

Students offered up reasons why they took the technology-driven classes.

“I need the class to be a Kansas Board of Regents Scholar, “said Kristen Hanks.

“Having that on a résumé looks good when you apply at a business,” said Blake Hudson.

Four students who took foreign language previously just wanted to further their knowledge of a foreign language.

Students did find some positives about computer-assisted learning. The positives included “getting to work at your own pace,” and “taking your time without having to wait for everyone else to learn it.”

Unfortunately, students noted problems with the foreign language classes’ format.

“If I get stuck at a certain point in the lesson, I won’t be able to have a discussion with an instructor about better ways to understand the content,” said Allison Carr.

Huxman reported that students have a solution for getting stuck on concepts, however.

“We usually come together as a class and conclude an answer.”

Another student admitted she turns to “Google and iTranslate app. on my iPod” for help.

Other problems deal with testing. In the classes the tests are not weighted any more than the daily grades are, and the students are allowed to use any notes for the tests. However, some students still do not feel confident in taking the tests.

“There is not a specific way to prepare for the tests, except to take notes,” said Ashley Morales.

“It’s hard because you don’t know what will be on [the test], and they ask questions over stuff they didn’t go over. I also failed a test because there were no instructions,” said Carr.

One student has figured out how to be successful on tests.

Said Bailee Fritts, “Just take good notes for the test.”

Students also reported that the technology used in the classes can cause learning difficulties for them.

“The microphones have problems, so I have missed questions because of that,” said Carr.

Nicole Hendrix said, “The software says you’re saying [a foreign word] wrong, even though you aren’t.”

Of the two software programs foreign students use—Rossetta Stone and Odyssey Ware--the students prefer Rosetta Stone hands down over Odssey Ware.

One Spanish III student commented about the two programs.

“Rosetta Stone is user friendly because it is more clear and offers you more examples. I don’t like Odssey Ware because it assumes I can read fluent French. Instructions are unclear and ask off subject questions,” said Morgan Powell.

Overall, 10 students rated the foreign language classes on a scale from 1-5, with 5 being an optimal learning experience. The average rating for the 10 students was 2.5. Also, of the nine of the 10 students surveyed about whether they would take a computer-assisted foreign language class again, eight said they would do so.

Five TCHS students were named Kansas Honor Students for being in the top 10% of their class.  The students included (front from left) Lexi Riedel, Lexsie Newcomer and Amelia Fabrizius; (back) Joe Wolf and Deven Schoenthaler.

Seniors recognized for academic records

A Kansas Honors Program at Hays High recognized five TCHS seniors, among a group of 53 students from four counties.

Local students nominated by Principal John Luhrs for inclusion in the honors program and banquet, held on October 13, included Amelia Fabrizius, Lexsie Newcomer, Lexi Riedel, Deven Schoenthaler and Joe Wolf.

The Kansas Honors program, sponsored by the University of Kansas Alumni Association, recognizes seniors who rank in the top 10 percent of their high school classes. 

The students received a certificate and special edition of the American Heritage Dictionary, in both hardback and electronic versions.  They also have a chance to qualify for a $4,000 scholarship to Kansas University.

 

 

USD 208 students shine in academics

USD 208’s students demonstrated excellence in academics last spring on their Kansas Assessments.

Trego Community High School students achieved Standard of Excellence in reading and math.  Also, this year’s junior class took the reading and math assessments a year early under the state’s “opportunity to learn” provision.  That provision allows teachers to test early to help identify students who need additional instruction to pass the KCA reading and math assessments. All students taking those assessments passed the reading and math tests a year early.

Trego Grade School achieved Standard of Excellence building wide in math and reading.  Grades 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 achieved Standard of Excellence in reading.  In math, grades 4, 7, and 8 made Standard of Excellence.  Seventh grade also made Standard of Excellence in science.

District teachers continue to prepare students for KCA testing that takes place each spring.  The criteria for students to make the Standard of Excellence get more difficult each year.

 

Deven Schoenthaler, competing among 1.5 million students, earned the distinction of "Commended Student" by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Schoenthaler honored for academic talent

Deven Schoenthaler received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation this week to inform him that he was named Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2012 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2012 competition by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Schoenthaler is the son of Steve and Nora Schoenthaler.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation released this memo: "The young men and women being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success. These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success."