Wabaunsee High School's Student Newspaper
After seeing a recent spike in Wabaunsee county’s COVID-19 cases, the USD 329 Board of Education decided to follow the Health Department’s recommendation to switch to remote learning until after Thanksgiving break.
Voters rejected the USD 329 bond by about 14 percent of the vote.
The bond, worth $24.65 million, sought to fund renovations and maintenance of district school buildings, and would have created a K-6 building in Paxico and a 7-12 building in Alma.
Kendyl Bolinder | @BolinderKendyl More than 30 WHS students and three staff members were sent home to quarantine on Tuesday after a student received a positive COVID-19 test. As of now, the people quarantined include the entirety of the cross country team, students who had prolonged or unmasked contact and anyone knowingly exposed to the... Continue Reading →
On November 3, Wabaunsee County voters will decide whether or not the county should pass a new bond to fund USD 329 schools.
The bond, worth $24.65 million, would fund renovations and maintenance of district school buildings.
“You are joining an organization tonight that is asking you to rise above any personal and societal challenges that will come and to be that support for others now," National Honor Society sponsor Miriam Barton said to new members during Monday evening’s induction ceremony.
The society inducted nine juniors.
School resource officer Taylor Schuldt said her main role is to form positive relationships with the students.
“I think what a school resource officer does is kind of misconstrued a little bit. Before anything else, when I'm here, cop is the last thing on my list. I'm a mentor first. I'm a counselor. I'm here for that kind of stuff way before I'm here for anything criminal,” Schuldt said.
Checkout day at school is an exciting day for all ages. Seniors are happy to be done, junior high and high school students are thankful for no more homework, the middle schoolers and elementary students are ready to have play dates everyday and the teachers are excited for a much needed break. This year, the checkout process is different due to the pandemic and Governor Kelly’s restrictions.
The 2020 Kansas Scholastic Press Association state competition looked a little different than usual, but WHS journalist still captured some awards.
Instead of traveling to the University of Kansas, the writing competitions took place online in mid-April. All students who placed at the regional competition in February were eligible to compete.
Three WHS students captured state championships. Eleanor Badeker in Copy Editing, Karlee Feyh in Advertising (her entry is pictured above) and Emma Frey in Editorial writing.
Although the buildings are empty, USD 329 is still educating students through a Continuous Learning Plan.
In mid-March, Governor Laura Kelly closed all Kansas school buildings for the remainder of the school year because of the coronavirus pandemic, forcing USD 329 and the other school districts to continue students’ education from outside the classroom.
At 4 p.m. yesterday, governor Laura Kelly announced that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.
Details about alternative learning via small groups, packets or online assignments will be figured out in the coming weeks, according to an email superintendent Brad Starnes sent to staff. “We're in uncharted waters. We want to be proactive and help our kids,” Starnes wrote.
Students, teachers and parents shared their initial response to the news.
