Insider NORTH KANSAS CITY SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER

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1 Insider NORTH KANSAS CITY SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER FALL 2015 NKC Schools Back in Full Swing IN THIS ISSUE Welcome New Administrators Summer Construction Completed Classes All Summer for Two Schools North Kansas City Schools Kansas City, MO NE 46th St

2 When seconds matter, we re ready. From rapid emergency assessments to life-saving treatment, you have access to our experienced cardiac team and leading-edge technology. And when years matter, we ll help knowing we have the passion and expertise to care for your ticker...now and for a lifetime. Find a Cardiologist at MeritasHealth.com/TickerExperts. Clinic locations extend into the Northland, Liberty, Independence, Excelsior Springs and Richmond areas. Learn more about our comprehensive cardiovascular program at nkch.org/cardiacservices North Kansas City Hospital

3 Navigating the Course for Success A Message from Dr. Paul Kinder, Interim Superintendent Welcome to the school year. This is an exciting time for NKC Schools and we are all ready to get to work. I am Paul Kinder, and I will be serving as the interim superintendent for this school year. Your Board of Education has asked me to assist NKC Schools throughout the year as members determine the future leadership of the district. It is an honor and privilege to work alongside the outstanding staff of NKC Schools and I am excited to get to know the community. I have been in education for more than 37 years and most recently served as the superintendent of the Blue Springs School District for more than a decade. Together, we will continue the tradition of excellence of NKC Schools and remain on the course that has allowed our students to reach their goals. NORTH KANSAS CITY SCHOOLS (816) Board of Education Joe Jacobs, President Terry Stone, Vice President Dr. Chip Luerding, Treasurer Dr. Terry Ward, Member Jay Wilson, Member Dixie Youngers, Member Victor Hurlbert, Member Dr. Paul Kinder, Interim Superintendent Peggy Cole, Secretary/Clerk EDITOR of INSIDER Michelle Cronk Office of Communications michelle.cronk@nkcschools.org (816) Making Connections for Our Alumni Family North Kansas City Schools strives to help its former students and staff not only remain connected to the district, but also to each other. Earlier this year, with the help of the district s alumni relations efforts, two Oak Park alums were able to meet for one special occasion. After finding a 2008 Oak Park letter jacket in a thrift store in New York City s East Village, 1989 Oak Park graduate Aaron Smith contacted the district s alumni relations coordinator in hopes of finding the jacket s original owner. I started thinking about all the ways someone could be separated from something so personal, Smith said. Having never earned one myself, I began thinking of everything from financial hardship to theft. Regardless, I ended up buying the jacket with the intent to return it to its owner. With the help of the district and the name on the back of the jacket, Smith was able to narrow his search to 2008 graduate, Oak Park alums Sam Keil, 2008 (left) and Aaron Smith, 1989 (right) were connected after Smith found Keil s stolen letter jacket in New York City. Several local media outlets covered the story of the jacket s return to Keil at Oak Park High School earlier this year. Sam Keil. Smith soon contacted Keil who confirmed the jacket was his. The jacket, which Keil had earned by playing football, had been stolen from a friend s car while he was still an Oak Park student. He was excited for the opportunity to have it back. The two met at the school in May to exchange the jacket. While speaking with one another, Smith and Keil realized they were connected beyond the jacket. Smith graduated from Oak Park with Keil s stepfather. The two played football and had classes together during high school. Smith is also the son of retired Oak Park teacher Keith Smith, and stepson of Debbie Smith, former Antioch Middle School English teacher. Like Smith, if you are trying to find a former classmate, friend or teacher, contact Alumni Relations Coordinator Meagan O Donnell at alumni@nkcschools.org or (816) The district maintains a growing database of alumni and retirees and may be able to help you find that person. Thank you to the many advertisers whose generous support made it possible for NKC Schools to publish Insider. North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Insider 3

4 Extraordinary Achievements Schools Recognized for Successful Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Programs Five district schools received recognition from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for exemplary implementation of Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (SW-PBS). Pictured to the right are principals of the schools that received the award. The Missouri SW-PBS school recognition process identifies and recognizes those schools that are implementing the program at an exemplary level. The levels (gold, silver and bronze) indicate the extent to which they have implemented the SW-PBS strategies and the evidence they have compiled about the program s impact in their schools. Receiving Silver recognition were Gashland, Clardy and West Englewood elementary schools. Bronze-level recognition went to Fox Hill and Linden West elementary schools. USA Volleyball Selects Orie Agbaji for Women s Junior National Team Oak Park High School Senior Orie Agbaji was one of 12 young women from across the country chosen to play volleyball for the 2015 U.S. Women s Junior National Team. The team trained this summer as it prepared for the Global Challenge, which was held July in Pula, Croatia. Orie is one of three middle blockers for Team USA. The Women s Junior National Team prepares top players for the Women s National Team, as well as for Olympic competition. Principal Matt Lindsey Appointed to NASSP Winnetonka High School Principal Matthew Lindsey was appointed July 1 to leadership in an education group that influences what happens in classrooms across the nation. The National Association of Secondary School Principals announced that Lindsey accepted a four-year term as one of 24 members on the organization s board of directors. Lindsey represents a region that covers Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. As a member of the board, he will participate in shaping the organization s federal education policy agenda and will travel to Washington, D.C., at least four times a year for board meetings and to talk with federal policymakers. Lindsey started his eighth year as principal of Winnetonka this August and was named principal of the year in April by the Greater Kansas City Missouri Principals Association. 4 Insider North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Northland Career Center Students Receive Honors at National Competition Northland Career Center students traveled to Louisville, Kentucky in June to compete in the 50th Annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. Team members Liz Absher, Oak Park High School, and Cierra Hoskins from Staley High School, along with Hannah Raynor from Park Hill High School, took fourth place in Crime Scene Investigations. Jonathan Boydston, Staley High School, took 9th place in the Action Skills contest. Students were also able to do some sightseeing, which included a tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. NKCHS Student Qualifies in National Rocket Competition Congratulations to Emily Schmidtlein for being one of the three national winners in the Reach for the Stars ~ National Rocket Competition by having her rocket get closest to the target. Emily got the opportunity to celebrate her win at U.S. Space & Rocket Center where she will be awarded a Space Shuttle Challenger commemorative coin with certificate signed by Astronaut Jon McBride, who piloted the Challenger on earlier missions. Emily will attend Space Camp in October, where she will get to view amazing space artifacts, experience astronaut simulations and launch from Space Camp s - Homer Hickam Field under an October Sky in Rocket City Huntsville, Alabama. Emily was coached by teacher Dennis O Connell. Chouteau Teacher Invited to Attend Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Conference The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation invited Sarah Holt, a third-grade teacher at Chouteau Elementary, to attend its Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers (ECET2) conference that was held July in Seattle. The conference was by invitation only and identified Holt as an emerging teacher leader based on her leadership skills and the potential she has demonstrated. Holt has been with NKC Schools for five years.

5 New Administrators Welcome New Faces for North Kansas City Schools is proud to announce the following administrators who have either joined the district or moved to new assignments within the district for the school year. Enjoli Avila Bart Bates Fred Bouchard Branson Bradley Kristy Barnes Amy Casey Tanya Donnelly Jill Evert Doris Farage Jenni Gaddie David Garrison Melanie Hutchinson Tara Kalis Jeffrey Klein Kevin Kooi Grace Milano Sean Nash Samantha Poindexter Molly Smith Brian Van Batavia Chapel Hill/Fox Hill Elementaries Ravenwood Elementary Principal Winnetonka High School Asst. Principal/Activities Dir. NKC High School Golden Oaks/Pin Oaks Oakwood Manor Elementary Principal Antioch Middle School E-Campus Coordinator Executive Director HR Operations Northview Elementary Golden Oaks/Pin Oaks Special Education Coordinator Elementary Fox Hill Elementary Principal Assistant Director Custodial Services Antioch Middle School Oak Park High School Maple Park Middle School Executive Director Pupil Services Staley High School Asst. Principal/A+ Coord. Maple Park Middle School Principal North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Insider 5

6 Extraordinary Growth & Change Construction-Filled Summer at NKC Schools NKC Schools looked a little different when doors opened to students for the first day of school on Aug. 12. It was a busy summer filled with construction projects all over the district. Whether it was fresh paint, new carpet, field turf, lockers or a gymnasium floor, most schools received a bit of a facelift for the school year. Above, Northgate Middle School received some roof work. New Mark Middle School and Oak Park High School also received roof upgrades. The Oak Park and Winnetonka High School gym floors were stripped, sanded, repainted and refinished this summer. ATTENTION! All NKC Schools buildings and teachers have new phone numbers. Visit your school s webpage at to get the new numbers. 6 Insider North Kansas City Schools Newsletter

7 Construction projects completed in NKC Schools facilities this summer included carpeting and paint at Winnwood Elementary (top left), new lockers at New Mark Middle School (top right), new turf installation on the Oak Park High School football field (left) and ceiling tile installation at Winnetonka (above) and Oak Park High Schools. Construction Continues on Northland Innovation Campus Groundbreaking for the Northland Innovation Campus in Gladstone took place in May. Since then, construction has been steady and the building can be seen growing into the Gladstone skyline. This building will provide modern instructional space and offices for North Kansas City Schools and Northwest Missouri State University. The campus will be home to NKC Schools gifted student program beginning with the school year. A partnership among the City of Gladstone, NKC Schools and Northwest Missouri State University, the Northland Innovation Campus is a development of CBC Real Estate Group. North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Insider 7

8 Community Programs Fall Senior Seminars Announced Want to learn more about genealogy or mood management? Join other area senior adult residents and attend one of North Kansas City Schools Senior Seminars this fall. Senior Seminars are held the first Wednesday of the month at Antioch Community Church, 4805 N.E. Antioch Road, Kansas City, Mo. Refreshments are served at 9:30 a.m., followed by the program at 10 a.m. Presentations typically last for one hour. Reservations are not necessary. For more information, call (816) September 2, 2015 Genealogy Tammy Doughty Getting started is the hardest part as you try to trace family history. Where do I begin? Should I seek help? How should I track it? Come join us in an introductory presentation. October 7, 2015 Mood Management with Essential Oils Karen Carmack Take control of your mood and life with the use of essential oils. Learn multiple ways to incorporate mood management into your life with these natural oils. November 4, 2015 Holiday Postcards from the 1900 s Frank McMillian Get ready for the holidays with a tour of postcards from the early 1900s. Enjoy postcard art from New Year s Day celebrations to Presidents birthdays, brilliant Fourths of July and tempting Thanksgiving dinners, plus a lot of festivals in between. December 2, 2015 Senior Barn Players Enjoy a morning of holiday music entertainment and laughter with this talented group of performers aged 55 and better. Reach New Heights This Fall NKC Schools is committed to improving the quality of life for all by offering affordable, high-quality educational programs. Since 1960, NKC Schools has provided lifelong learning and community programs that connect schools and communities. View the complete list of classes in the downloadable fall brochure at You may register online or by calling (816) Meet New Partners in Education Coordinator Athena Graham Please join NKC Schools in welcoming Athena Graham to the Community Services Department. As the Partners in Education coordinator, Athena will be coordinating collaboration between the district s schools and the community as it relates to volunteers, YouthFriends mentors, business partnerships and the Senior Tax Exchange Program (STEP). If Athena is a familiar face, it is because she is not new to NKC Schools. She was previously a teacher at Clardy Elementary. Athena Graham Partners in Education Coordinator athena.graham@nkcschools.org (816) Insider North Kansas City Schools Newsletter

9 Grant Funds Hands-On Learning In June, students at Winnwood Elementary School had the opportunity to play in the dirt while learning about planting vegetables and herbs. A grant from the Education Foundation provided funds for district nutritionist Tiffany Svorinic to buy seeds, fertilizer and raised gardening beds. Throughout the summer, the students helped care for the plants and watched them grow. After the harvest, Svorinic will provide a nutrition and cooking lesson. Winnwood students spent the summer tending to vegetable gardens that were purchased with a grant from the Education Foundation. Since 1997, 204 grants worth nearly $258,000 have been provided throughout the district. Annual Fall Breakfast Features Super Spellers Outstanding staff members and students, including top district spellers, will be recognized at this year s Fall Breakfast hosted by the North Kansas City Schools Education Foundation. The event will be held Thursday, September 24, 2015, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at Harrah s Hotel Ballroom in North Kansas City. Individual tickets cost $35 each, and sponsorships range from $100 to $10,000. In keeping with the theme for the Fall Breakfast How Do You Spell Success? musical numbers from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will be performed by students from Winnetonka High School. In addition, elementary and middle school students who participated in the Jackson-Clay County Spelling Bee earlier this year will demonstrate their spelling skills. The Education Foundation paid for all district fourth through eighth-graders to participate in the competition that leads up to the nationally televised Scripps Spelling Bee. Funding will continue this school year. For more information, visit or contact Foundation Director Jan Lewis at (816) or jan.lewis@nkcschools.org. North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Insider 9

10 Homecoming 2015 School is back in full swing, which means football season has begun and homecomings are right around the corner. This year marks a special homecoming for North Kansas City High School as the school celebrates its 90-year anniversary. Staley High School also hits a landmark year as 2015 marks five years since the first class of seniors graduated. All graduates are invited to return for the game. The Winnetonka Griffins will stand strong as always on their home turf at the District Football Stadium in North Kansas City, while the Oak Park Northmen will play their homecoming game on the Oak Park football field for the second year. Oak Park alumni games will be played in the morning before the game and the school will be open for tours at noon. An Oak Park alumni gathering will be held at The Brass Rail at 7 p.m. that evening. Visit to view each school s full 2015 varsity football schedule along with all other sports and activities calendars. HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAMES Saturday, September 12 Oak Park Homecoming Oak Park Football Field 3 p.m. vs. William Chrisman Bears Friday, October 2 Winnetonka Homecoming District Football Stadium 7 p.m. vs. Grandview Bulldogs 10 Insider North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Friday, October 9 Staley Homecoming District Activities Complex 7 p.m. vs. Raytown Blue Jays Photos from 2014 homecomings. Friday, October 9 North Kansas City Homecoming District Football Stadium 7 p.m. vs. Oak Park Northmen

11 Summer Learning Crestview and Winnwood Get a Jump on a New School Year Extending their summer attendance by 31 days, Crestview and Winnwood elementary schools opened their doors to students on June 10 for a full-day summer schedule that gives students a jump on learning. Students attended Monday through Friday as they do during the traditional school year. The additional summer hours allow for 208 attendance days in the school year compared to 177 attendance days for students in other schools within the district. Only the summer schedule is different for the two elementaries. They picked up the regular school year calendar once school resumed for the rest of the district on August 12. North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Insider 11

12 12 Insider North Kansas City Schools Newsletter

13 DINE IN CARRY OUT DELIVERY GOURMET PIZZAS PLUS... 4 GREAT LOCATIONS! PASTAS SALADS CALZONES SANDWICHES & MUCH MORE! SERVING PIZZA SINCE 1976 METRO NORTH: 221 NE Barry Rd DOWNTOWN: 427 Main KCI: 7007 NW Barry Rd LIBERTY: 205 N. 291 Hwy PIZZA BY THE SLICE: Monday - Friday 11 am to 2 pm Local Roots. Lasting Strength. Proud supporter of the North Kansas City Schools! BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPECIAL! Back-to-School Furnace Safety Check 69 $ 50 Includes FREE Carbon Monoxide Check HURRY! Offer ends 12/31/15 $69.50 Special Pricing applies to Pre-Season Safety Check appointment scheduled Mon-Fri. 9am-4pm only. Special Price applies to Up-flow Units located in basements only. Parts, if needed are an extra charge. Not good with any other offers. Limited Area. Limit one coupon per household. Additional charges may apply. Coupon may not be used toward any prior service / Free Estimates on Equipment Replacement FINANCING AVAILABLE Licensed & Insured CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR CURRENT PROMOTIONS Personalized Care for Smiles of All Ages North of Your Expectations! 9 time recipient of the Best of the Northland award! Homes from the upper $200s Community Pool Walking Trails Natural Areas Two Water Features Located adjacent to Staley High School Specializing in Orthodontics for Adults & Children Complimentary Exam Invisalign Preferred Provider Saturday and Evening Appointments Available Just East of Metro North Mall 8407 N. Main St. Kansas City, MO HuntMidwestKC.com North Kansas City Schools Newsletter Insider 13

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