Hays USD 489

Seen Around USD #489: Today was the start of Superintendent Wilson's trek around to all the schools/buildings to spread the theme of the school year...the staff were treated to a "Ride on the PFG Express" (Patience, Flexibility & Grace)!! Check out the teachers/staff as they take a ride! https://youtu.be/IM71_uPPOcM #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Seen Around USD #489: Check out this great story.... HAYS TEACHER RECIPIENT OF COUNTRY MUSIC TEACHER CLASSROOM INITIATIVE NASHVILLE TN August 19, 2020 Carla Emerson of Hays, KS has been chosen to be a recipient of a new program called the COUNTRY MUSIC TEACHER CLASSROOM INITIATIVE. The COUNTRY MUSIC TEACHER CLASSROOM INITIATIVE (CMTCI) is designed to provide teachers with classroom supplies and project funds across the United States. Teachers create a wish list of desired items for their classroom and project materials needed throughout the year. This list is distributed weekly on social media as part of country musician Jake Gill’s ongoing initiative to serve children and now teachers throughout the US and the world. Items can be purchased by anyone in the world and delivered directly to the selected teacher. Mrs. Emerson is a Special Education teacher at Westside Alternative School in the USD 489 Hays School District where she teaches grades 4-7. “I teach Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading and Writing, and when I can, Art and P. E. My students come to our building because their emotional and behavioral needs have not allowed them to be successful in their regular home school settings. I couldn’t do my job without the help of my paraeducators and the High Plains Mental Health Staff that are also an integral part of my room and building. This will be my 13th year at Westside. I truly enjoy working with this group of students and staff. They all teach me new things every day. It is so rewarding when students make successful transitions back to their home schools. The most difficult part of my job, though, is not always having access to the materials I need, such as science materials, library books, art supplies and a variety of P.E. equipment. ” In addition to classroom supplies and project funding, Mrs Emerson’s class will also receive a song writing session with Jake Gill via personal visit or Zoom video. Students will be able to select a topic of interest and together as a class, write a song that will be shared with their school and community. Jake believes that song writing can help stimulate the creative dimensions of a child and provide a healthy emotional environment of expression. “Song writing combines the therapeutic benefits of music with the creative release of bringing our thoughts to words. Today’s child is experiencing more stress and trauma on a daily basis, than in times before. To be able to express their thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner, is crucial to a thriving development.” Jake Gill, a 7-year member of the Country Music Association founded the CMTCI after a series of life changing events in the early spring of 2020. It is his hope that teachers and classrooms all over the world can benefit from this program. To support Mrs. Emerson and her classroom please visit her wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3NSM48WMJV827?&sort=default purchased will ship directly to her. If you would like to nominate a teacher to be a recipient of the CMTCI, please visit the website: http://jakegill.net/ or the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/357773521872909 #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Sara Nansel-Lantz to USD #489! She will be working at Hays High as a GPS Para. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Lauren Craig to USD #489! She will be teaching 2nd grade at Lincoln Elementary School! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign.. Please welcome Casey Wendel to USD #489! She is a School Psychologist who will serve O'Loughlin Elementary and LaCrosse as part of our Special Education Cooperative. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign.. Please welcome Grace Splichal to USD #489! She will be teaching Fine Arts at Hays High School. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Nolta Swartzman to USD #489! She is going to be working in Nutrition Services at Hays High School!! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Olivia Herbel to USD #489! She will be a Classroom Aide at O'Loughlin Elementary. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Shelby Gottschalk Herl to USD #489!! She will be a Special Education Teacher at Hays Middle School. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign.. Please welcome Emily Buller to USD #489! She will be teaching Science at Hays Middle School! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Aimee Goetz to USD #489! She will be a Special Education Teacher at Hays Middle School! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Shannon Funk to USD #489! She will be teaching PE and Social Studies at Hays High!! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Morgan Leiker to USD #489! She will be at Roosevelt Elementary working as a Para in the Special Education Department!! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Seen Around USD #489: We are making movies!! Well...actually just compiling insight for our staff on safety and preparing to start a school year during a pandemic! Featuring: Jason Kennedy, Ellis Co Health Services Director and Dr. Heather Harris. Director: Dan Balman #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Welcome Jaicee Walker to USD #489! She will be a Para in the Special Education Dept of HMS!! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome David Buller to USD #489! He will be working in the IT Department. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Payton Scheer to USD #489! She will be teaching 4th grade at Lincoln Elementary!! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign.. Please welcome Donna Scott-Allenbaugh to USD #489! She will be working at Hays High in the Nutrition Department! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

New Staff Campaign... Please welcome Peyton Morlan to USD #489! She will be an ELA teacher at Hays Middle School! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Seen Around USD #489: Our district calendar was approved by the BOE! You can access it on the district website: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/848065/Calendar_08-26-20.pdf #EveryStudentEveryDay489