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
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.
Dozens of PHS seniors applied to colleges, trade schools, jobs, or examined military options during the all day Apply Kansas event today. Some students also filled out federal financial aid applications. LCC and Pitt State staff were on hand to help guide and answer questions.
PRC Elite Dance Company
Parsons Tumbling Classes
PRC Elite Dance Company
Tiffany McLean first hour students have been putting in the hard work to expand offerings at The Magic Bean coffee shop they operate by the PHS Library, and meet the growing demand of customers. Friday they offered free taste testing of one of their new Italian sodas. McClean's students garner life and employability skills working in the shop. They pitch ideas of what to offer, and assist with inventory and purchasing, making drinks, delivering to customers in their first hour, and also learn about money. During first hour students and staff can order hot or cold plain or flavored coffees, lattes, teas or Italian sodas. In addition, McClean's students will also soon be selling holiday craft items they have been making in other classes. Proceeds from the store help pay for McClean's students to take field trips.
Intro to Skilled Trades students presently learning beginning automotive skills , tear down a four stroke engine from an old Oldsmobile station wagon, to learn the basic parts and their operation. They will fix issues and reassemble it for it to be used in a different car.
PHS students and fans filled the football stadium with Viking Spirit and American Spirit Friday during the 2025 Homecoming game, which the Vikings won 34-14! Way to go Vikes!
Members of the 1975 PHS football team met on the field with their line coach, Harley Turner, during the Homecoming 2025 half time, to be honored for contributing to one of PHS's most memorable sports moments. Fifty years ago the team went to Sub-State and held a 12-1 record.
PHS Homecoming 2025 tailgate competition brought out the school spirit in students. Activities included best executed tailgate (spirit, decor, costumes, and food) class chants, spirit sticks, tug-of-war. Every class was amazing, making it hard to choose for the judges. Themes included Super Heroes, New York, Safari, and the 2000s (Y2K).
Garfield second grade students participated in a Place Value Bootcamp Thursday, but physical rigors were exchanged for mental rigor through fun activities like place value Uno, place value wars, building place value towers, and making place value bracelets.
Today is National Food Service Employee Day. Take a minute to thank our wonderful food service staff for all they do!
