Lawr en ce Free S ta te H i g h S c h oo l

Inside this issue:

Mark Your

Calendars

2

Phoenix Awards 3

Congratulations! 4

FINALS / ACT / SAT 5

Library News 7

Inclement Weather

Update—NEW

8

IMPORTANT DATES 9

Volume , Issue December 2014

Parent Newsletter

Dear Parents,

The craziness of the holiday season is upon us. No matter how each family

recognizes the December holidays, the hustle and bustle that defines this time of

year can impact all of us. Combine the rush of the normal distractions with im-

pending finals that mark the end of the first semester, and it becomes crucial that

we help our kids focus and plan for a successful December. To that end, I urge

each of you to monitor your child’s Skyward account carefully and communicate

quickly with teachers as the need arises.

Finals are scheduled for Thursday, December 18th and Friday,

December 19th. The schedule is as follows:

Thursday, December 18 Friday, December 19

Hour 1 8:05 – 9:05 Zero Hour 7:00 – 8:00

Hour 2 9:15 – 10:15 Hour 5 8:05 – 9:05

Hour 3 10:25 – 11:25 Hour 6 9:15 – 10:15

Hour 4 11:35 – 12:35 Hour 7 10:25 – 11:25

As the first semester winds down, final preparations for the second

semester are underway. Students and parents have the ability to view second

semester schedules in Skyward. Schedule changes for students wanting to drop a

class in order to add another can take place through Friday, December 12th. This

timeline allows our staff to balance class sizes and double-check student sched-

ules versus credit needs. Thank you for your understanding and support with this

matter.

Finally, I want to alert you to an important January mail-ballot election

coming up. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters in USD 497 that allow

patrons to vote for or against maintaining the 33% local-option budget for the

2015-16 school year. A “yes” vote keeps the status quo, including the current tax

implications. A “no” vote reduces the local-option budget back to 31%, which

results in a $1.4 million cut to the district’s budget. I urge you to visit

www.usd497.org for more information.

Sincerely,

Ed West Principal

Free State High School

PLEASE NO DELIVERIES

Due to the size of our student population

we are unable to accept special occa-

sion deliveries to students, (i.e. birthdays,

flowers, balloons, or gifts of any kind)

We would appreciate

your understanding and cooperation.

Students are asked NOT to make phone

calls for food deliveries for lunch

(i.e. pizza, sandwiches, etc.).

Such deliveries WILL NOT be accepted.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

DECEMBER

2 Raise the Roof

11 7 p.m.—Winter Choral Concert

13 8—11 p.m.—Winter Formal @ Abe & Jake’s

16 7 p.m.—Winter Band Concert

17 7 p.m.—Winter Orchestra Concert

18 FINALS

19 FINALS

22 WINTER BREAK BEGINS

25 CHRISTMAS

JANUARY

1 NEW YEARS DAY

6 CLASSES RESUME

19 NO SCHOOL—Martin Luther King Jr. Day

FINANCIAL AID

PRESENTATION

Date: January 20, 2015

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: LHS Auditorium

WINTEr formal

abe & jake’s

December 13

8:00—11:00 p.m.

Free State High School sponsored the annual Phoenix Award ceremony in November.

This ceremony is an opportunity for teachers to nominate students that have made a

transformation over the semester. The changes recognized included self advocacy,

students going the extra mile, asking for extra help, and assisting peers/classmates to

name a few. This award is a special privilege for all students eligible to be nominated.

Students received a certificate courtesy of one of our LEAP partners, Treanor Architects,

along with a certificate with the name of the teacher who nominated the student

along with the teacher’s comments, and a movie pass.

Abdulaziz Alabdulmunim Ali Alabdulmunim Nina Atkins Paul Bittinger

Mackenzie Blalock Nathanael Bond Sarah Conley EmmaLea Dailey

Taylor Donner Quailan Gibler-Fowler Alexander Hernandez Christian LaPointe

Asa Ortega Caitlyn Ozaki CaDence Pelkey Christopher Porter

Austin Priest Michael Quackenbush Chance Rivera Tianjing Rong

Trevaun Ross Isabel Salazar Samuel Skwarlo Sonal Soni

Kathryn Stanwix Ashlee Walker Julia Wang Sydney Zimmerman

Please congratulate

Sarah Conley (left image) and

Peyton Townsend (right image)

for being accepted into the

Merriam Parks and Recreation

High School Exhibition.

Also, please congratulate Claire Yackley

for winning the "Kansas, Keep it Clean"

calendar contest. In addition,

Peyton Townsend won second place in the

mixed media category for her flower

drawing, Freedom. I am so proud of these

young artists, I am never surprised at their

success, but always proud.

Rachel Downs-Blair, Art Teacher

The Kansas Scholastic Press

Association recognized the following

Free State High student journalists

as winners of their

October monthly contest:

Fiona McAllister—3rd Place

Sports Story of the Month;

Kenneth Palmer & Libby Stanford

3rd Place, News Story of the Month;

Maddie Birchfield & Lauren Brittain

2nd Place, Feature Story of the Month;

Tiffany McIntosh—1st Place,

Yearbook Design of the Month

(image at right);

Tori Karlin- 2nd Place,

Yearbook Design of the Month;

Christina Craig- 3rd Place,

Sports Photo of the Month

(image at right).

Laurie L. Folsom,

Journalism/Graphic Design Teacher

CONGRATULATIONS!

ATTENDANCE

OFFICE

330-2503

Donna Madl

FINALS

Thursday, December 18

Hour 1 8:05 –9:05

Hour 2 9:15—10:15

Hour 3 10:25—11:25

Hour 4 11:35—12:35

Friday, December 19

Zero Hour 7:00—8:00

Hour 5 8:05—9:05

Hour 6 9:15—10:15

Hour 7 10:25—11:25

FREE STATE HIGH

PHOTOGRAPHY

Students from Free State High School's photography

program have partnered with

Lawrence Habitat for Humanity for a photo exhibit.

The exhibit, titled 'Home,' features

photographs and mixed media pieces that portray each

student's interpretation of what 'home' is.

The Opening Reception will be at Douglas County Bank's

Sixth Street and Folks Road branch from 5-6 p.m. on

Tuesday, December 2.

The work will hang until December 19.

~Marsha Poholsky—photography teacher

ACT Test Dates—2014-15

Date Registration Deadline

Dec. 13, 2014 Nov. 7, 2014

Feb. 7, 2015 Jan. 9, 2015

April 18, 2015 March 13, 2015

June 13, 2015 May 8, 2015

SAT Test Dates 2014-2015

Date Registration Deadline

Dec. 6, 2014 Nov. 6, 2014

Jan. 24, 2015 Dec. 29, 2014

March 14, 2015 Feb. 13, 2015

May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015

June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015

Free State Photography Students entered the Association of Texas Photographers Fall Contest

and received several awards. The contest had more than 6500 entries from 81 schools

in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, California and New York.

Alexa Malik - BEST IN SHOW

Cierra Campbell - FIRST PLACE IN FASHION

Harper Comstock - FIRST PLACE IN TIME EXPOSURE

Kayla Clark - THIRD PLACE IN ARCHITECTURE

Christina Craig received 4 honorable mentions

Cierra Campbell received 2 honorable mentions

Morgan Noll, Harper Comstock, Nick Popiel, Kristina Foster,

Alexis Luinstra, Ty Hartman, and Finn Dobbs

all received an honorable mention.

Please congratulate these students on their

fabulous achievements.

CONGRATULATIONS!

CONGRATULATIONS . . . . . to the Talon yearbook staff for their "Best of Show" award for the 2014 "We Are Here" edition of

the Talon by the National Scholastic Press Association. The Talon was recognized last week at the fall NSPA

convention in Washington D.C. NSPA "Best of Show" is awarded to the 10 best yearbook publications

represented at the fall convention. With over 6,500

attendees from all over the U.S. at the D.C. convention ,

the Talon stood out as one of the "best of the best" in the

nation.

While their award was announced earlier this fall, the Free

Press newspaper staff was recognized at the fall NSPA

convention in Washington, D.C. last week for their National

Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Finalist award for

the 2013-14 Free Press. NSPA Pacemaker Finalists are

among the top 50 student newspaper publications in the

U.S. Congratulations, students!

Laurie L. Folsom, Journalism Graphic Design Teacher

LIBRARY NEWS

Overdrive is here!

The Free State Library is happy to announce that more e-books are now

available to students, and staff. E-books allow users to access digital content

on a variety of devices—phones, tablets, laptops and desktops.

Instructions:

1. Go to the Overdrive website: https://www.overdrive.com/ and set up a free

Overdrive account with an mail address and password. Look at the top right

side of the page to sign up for an account.

2. Go to the link for the page for the USD 497 Overdrive account:

http://usd497.lib.overdrive.com/ and use your network username and pass-

word to access the content.

3. From there you can check out books or put books on hold. You are in

charge!

4. Need help? Go to help.overdrive.com to get help with installing the app for

your device.

WHEN WILL SCHOOL SCHEDULE

CHANGES BE ANNOUNCED?

The district’s goal is to make

announcements by 10 p.m. the

preceding night whenever possible, or

by 6 a.m. No announcement is made

if schools are in session as scheduled.

WHO MAKES THE DECISION?

You! Parents may choose to keep their

children home for health and safety

reasons. Please notify your child’s

school of this decision.

The superintendent confers with other

administrators and the district’s student

transportation provider and makes

school schedule decisions based

upon safety, current weather condi-

tions, forecasts and the condition of

roads, sidewalks and school parking

lots.

HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT SCHEDULE

CHANGES?

The district sends automated phone

and email messages to staff and

parents. Call 785-832-5000 or visit

www.usd497.org Local media also

make frequent announcements. If

there is no announcement, it is likely

classes are in session as scheduled.

HOW IS A TWO-HOUR

DELAYED START

MANAGED?

When unsafe weather

conditions require the district to delay

the start of school by two hours, buses

will pick up students at their regular bus

stop two hours after the regularly

scheduled time.

For example, if a child normally catch-

es the bus at 6:45 a.m., the pick-up

time on a two-hour delayed schedule

is 8:45 a.m. Likewise, schools open two

hours after their regularly scheduled

start time.

Any before-school care, practices,

activities or zero-hour classes will be

canceled. A cold breakfast will be

served two hours later than your

school’s regularly scheduled serving

time. School lunch will be available as

usual and school dismissal times

remain the same.

While school administrators report to

school at the regularly scheduled time,

teachers and staff will not be on duty

until 15 minutes before school begins.

As a result, schools cannot provide

supervision for students prior to the

start of school. Custodians report to

work at the direction of the Facilities

and Maintenance Department. The

District Office will open at its regularly

scheduled time, unless an alternative

announcement is made.

Safety is the primary focus when a

determination is made to close schools

or to delay the start of school by two

hours. A delayed start may allow

temperatures to warm, storms to pass,

morning fog to lift and/or roads,

sidewalks and parking lots to be

cleared.

WHO’S ON DUTY WHEN SCHOOLS ARE

CLOSED?

The District Office is open and staffed.

School employees with 12-monthy

contracts report to their buildings for

duty. Schools cannot provide child

care when buildings are closed.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WEATHER

WORSENS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?

The district tries to avoid

unexpected early dismissals.

However, on occasion, early

dismissal is unavoidable. Parents

should make prior arrangements for

supervision of their children.

It is important for schools to be able to

reach parents and designated child

care providers during daytime hours.

Please make sure to give your child’s

school current phone numbers and

emergency contact information.

When it is necessary to dismiss

children early during a regular school

day, the district will contact parents

and area media outlets. If weather

condition worsen and schools remain

open, parents may choose to pick up

their children early after informing

school staff.

WHAT COLD WEATHER PROVISIONS ARE

MADE FOR ELEMENTARY RECESS?

Elementary recess is held indoors if the

temperature or wind chill falls below 15

degrees. Children should always wear

appropriate clothing, including winter

coats, hats, gloves or mittens and

boots during cold-weather months.

PLEASE NOTE

School schedule change

announcements apply to Adult

Education Services, but do not affect

Lawrence Virtual Schools.

USD 497 INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

WINTER band CONCERT

DECEMBER 16

7:00 P.M.

WINTER CHORAL CONCERT

DECEMBER 11

7:00 P.M.

WINTER ORCHESTRA

CONCERT

DECEMBER 17

7:00 P.M.

WINTEr formal

abe & jake’s

December 13

8:00—11:00 p.m.

L a w r e n c e F r e e

S t a t e H ig h S c h o o l

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of

Lawrence Free State

is to create a safe,

positive learning

environment so

students can

become lifelong

learners and

productive citizens in

a global society.

VISION STATEMENT

Student Growth & Development

Students will be committed to high levels of academic achievement in order to develop skills

necessary to become independent, life-long learners.

Students will grow in their awareness and preparation for careers.

Students will participate in community service and increase their awareness of and participation

in the democratic process.

Students will give their best efforts to achieve high, yet attainable, goals.

Students will accept personal responsibility for their actions.

Students will be involved in academic pursuits that will contribute to personal growth.

Effort and achievement will be encouraged, recognized and celebrated.

Curriculum

Students will engage in comprehensive studies of college preparatory and vocational courses.

Through active, relevant instruction, teachers will challenge and hold students to attain high

standards of achievement.

Students will attain mastery of essential knowledge and skills. Staff will collaborate to develop

integrated curriculum that raise expectations and hold students accountable for achievement.

Learning Community

Staff will model life-long learning by participation in effective staff development aimed at

student and school improvement.

There will be open and ongoing communication among all members of the Free State communi-

ty. Free State staff and students will create and sustain effective partnerships with the Lawrence

business and civic community.

Parents will play an active role in the education of their children, monitor their children’s perfor-

mance, and understand the importance of their children’s attainment of proficiency on all

standards.

Co– and Extra-Curricular Activities

Students will be involved in at least one co– or extra-curricular activity.

Staff members will be expected to moderate, coach, assist, or direct at least one co– or extra-

curricular activity.

Students parents, and staff will demonstrate school spirit by attendance of co– or extra-curricular

activities.

Climate and Culture

All members of the learning community will be responsible for promoting a positive atmosphere

through collaboration and communication.

Staff, students, and parents will celebrate student and staff achievements.

Staff and students will seek wellness physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

All members of the learning community will treat each other with mutual respect, consideration

and acceptance.

Principal: Ed West

4700 Overland Drive

Lawrence, KS 66049-4130

(785) 832-6050

Fax: (785) 832-6099

Mascot: Firebird

School colors:

Hunter Green & Silver

Students are assigned

to the following

Assistant Principals:

Keith Jones A—E

Steve Heffernan F—K

Mike Hill L—Q

Lisa Boyd R—Z

Students are assigned to

the following counselors:

Bryan Duncan A—E

Joel Frederick F—K

Tina Mitchell L—Q

Ken Hile R—Z