Parsons District Schools

Parsons Middle School seventh grader Brooklynn Hiben was declared the champion of the Labette County Spelling Bee today at Parsons Middle School. Brooklynn competed against students from nine other schools within the county. She spelled the word "campaign" correctly, after it was misspelled by Oswego Jr. High 8th grader Lilliahna Olmos. Brooklynn then correctly spelled the word "pistachio" to take the win. She will represent the county at the State Spelling Bee in Topeka in April. Lilliahna, the runner up, will take Brooklynn's place should she not be able to attend.

Maintenance staff worked Wednesday afternoon to smooth concrete on a pad poured for a new storage shed which will be used to store sports equipment for the PHS sports teams.

Middle school FACS students held a Chili/Soup Cookoff for teachers to compete in. Three staff entered. Students coordinated the event , made cinnamon rolls to go with the entries, and were the judges. Mrs. Helton claimed the Grand Champion Prize with her Chicken Gnocchi Soup.

Mr. Gilpin climbed behind the controls of a mini excavator Wednesday and dug out the marked areas for concrete footings to be poured for the new hard-sided greenhouse that will be built for students once all the funds are raised. The greenhouse will allow for a greater variety of plants to be grown than is currently possible in the hydroponics lab, where they grow fresh greens for the cafeteria.

Check out tonight's teaser at 6 pm on KOAM about Guthridge's Haunted Stage. The full story, featuring Guthridge students and 4th grade teacher/Haunted Stage creator, Cody Holmes, will air Sunday at 9 or 10 pm.

At Monday's regular meeting of the USD 503 Board of Education, the instructional coach for Lincoln shared the good news that the percentage of students entering Lincoln “kindergarten ready” has continued to increase. Students are screened prior to entering kindergarten using the Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot as a tool to determine if children have reached developmental milestones, as well as to identify their needs so instructors can tailor instruction to them and provide needed support. This year, 68% entered kindergarten at or above grade level in math and 56% in reading compared to 66% and 49% in 2024 respectively. Other elementary grades have seen increases in percentages of students who enter at benchmark levels. For example, fifth grade math saw a 14% increase in students entering at benchmark, an increase from 50% to 64%. Tests are administered again throughout the year to determine how students are advancing in learning. The dedicated instructional coaches for each building reported good gains for students so far in lower grades. Jane Good reported the high school has remained fairly level in its benchmark percentages, except for the incoming freshman class, which showed increases. Instructional coaches also updated the board on curriculum alignment. Guthridge instructional coach Michell Piva explained that curriculum alignment is a process of ensuring the learning goals, planned instruction, actual teaching and methods of student assessment are all working together to achieve student outcomes. It also includes mapping curriculum to state standards, and ensuring curriculum builds on itself across grade levels and horizontally across different courses, and vertically to improve student outcomes. Curriculum alignment is important as it provides a clearer pathway for students to learn intended content and skills, provides instructional coherence and ensures what is taught, how it is taught, and how it is assessed are all working towards the same goals, making instruction more effective. Piva said curriculum alignment also helps reduce achievement disparities and ensure comprehensive learning. Piva and other instructional coaches explained their processes, including how teachers document what they are teaching, share what curriculum they are using and their assessments of it and whether it worked for them or not. The information is accessible to other teachers, and as new instructors come to the district, they add to the list of instructional data the curriculum they bring with them to try. “It is an excellent opportunity for teachers to take a look at what others are doing and what is working, ” Good said. Superintendent Lori Ray said curriculum alignment is an ongoing process: “Curriculum is a living document. ” IN OTHER BUSINESS, the board: Heard October is National School Principals Month. Heard Oct. 24 is Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Heard Oct. 24 is early dismissal at noon/staff is working on grades for end of first nine weeks. Heard Oct. 27 will be parent teacher conferences from 4 to 7:30 p.m.for all grade levels. Oct. 28 will be high school/middle school conferences from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 29 elementary conferences will be 4 to 7:30 p.m. Discussed first reading of the job descriptions for the superintendent, assistant superintendent and communications officer. Accepted $1,535.59 in donations for the month of August. Discussed Parent Engagement and Staff Surveys. Hired Tanner Perez as part-time custodian; Marcus Burgess as part-time custodian; LaKaito Barr-Miller as high school head track coach; Jackie Robison as high school secretary; Sarah Jones as bus monitor; Devin Martinez as head baseball coach; Jaran Dixon as assistant football coach; MacKenzie Spencer as pre-school aide; and Jericha Laver as Lincoln Title I Aide. Approved transfers of employment for Alesha Morrison from preschool aide to Behavior Room aide and Daisy Smith from Lincoln Title I aide to full-time preschool substitute. Approved the intent for termination from employment of Raheeme Dumas as high school assistant football coach. Accepted the resignations of Cammie Geoge, Lincoln part-time custodian; Krisit Snider, PHS assistant boys basketball coach; Ivory Kelly as high school assistant football coach; and Jeremy Stenstrom, as middle school science teacher. Approved the additional compensation for the Business Manager Laura Allison’s salar

Board of Education Minutes from the September 8, 2025 meeting: https://aptg.co/d8LmXq

PHS JAG-K students attend the Reach One Teach One Foundation's "Level Up: Own The Year! Tools to Unlock Your Potential" conference. Speaker Lee Reliford addressed topics such as taking responsibility for the choices we make; setting goals (visualizing what you want); behaviors (self discipline and self-control); and accountability (utilizing your resources). Students also toured the LCC campus.

Mr. Ozier's science students visited Prairie West Pond to gather plants and other life to create their own self-sustaining mini aquatic ecosystems. Algae, plants, small snails, and minnows were among items students collected to observe in the classroom in coming days and weeks.

Kindergarten participated in science lessons in action Monday, as they learned about push, pull and lift through various fun activities.

PHS students touring Ducommun learned that parts for everything from Boeing 737's to the Perseverance Mars Rover are built right here in the Parsons plant. They learned a wide array of jobs exist at Ducommun for all education levels beyond high school, if they are willing to show up, learn and put in the hard work. With its great benefits, higher wages , opportunities for college internships and potential for advancement, Ducommun is a top consideration for some graduates.

Agenda for the October 13, 2025 Board of Education meeting: https://aptg.co/D5dfTR

PRC Elite Dance Company

Parsons Tumbling Classes

PRC Elite Dance Company