On December 11, the Hickman Mills Freshman Center choir continued their annual tradition
of caroling. The choir visited schools throughout the district, spreading holiday cheer
and lots of smiles.

Issue 24; December 19, 2017
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
Supporting Others by "Giving the Basics"
Members of the Ruskin High School Student Council display a sampling of items donated for the Giving the Basics organization. From left to right: Craig Hughes (sophomore), Emely Lopez (junior), and Helen Cadena (junior).

Can you imagine not having the simplest of needs, such as toilet paper, shampoo, and soap to keep yourself clean? Think of having to go to school unclean, feeling like your peers are staring at you. For some families, this is reality. So when Ruskin High School Student Council members were at a conference and listened to a representative from Giving the Basics, the organization's purpose struck a chord.
 
Giving the Basics is a local organization that began in 2011 and provides basic necessities that are not covered by government assistance programs. They collect and distribute laundry soap, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, and other hygiene products.
 
With the Christmas spirit in mind, the Student Council decided to hold a school-wide donation drive.
 
Junior Emely Lopez said there are so many people in the HMC-1 community who need help, but oftentimes, they don't ask for it. While there is often help for food and clothes, more basic necessities can be hard to come by.
 
For junior Helen Cadena, the project is personal.
 
"I've lived in Section 8 housing and have gone through this struggle, so I know an organization like Giving the Basics helps a lot," Cadena confided. "Knowing you have the necessities to keep yourself clean is a big deal. If you are dirty, you feel like people are looking at you. Being clean makes you feel better and boosts your self-esteem."
 
Sophomore Craig Hughes explained that Giving the Basics saves HMC-1 families a trip across town for help, pointing out that assistance is oftentimes located in the inner city; suburban areas, such as south Kansas City, are left out.
 
"To have this project and help people makes you feel good," Hughes said. "You know you have done something. While it's not enough [to solve the problem], it is a start."
 
Putting it simply, Student Council Advisor Kim Sixta repeated the phrase, "Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."  

NEWS
Admin. Staff Moves to Baptiste January 3  
 
Beginning January 3, 2018, all staff currently 
at the Administration Center will be moved to Baptiste Educational Center.
The District will be closed December 21, 2017 - January 2, 2018. All administration staff currently at the Administration Center will be relocated to Baptiste Educational Center (5401 E. 103rd St, Kansas City, MO 64137).

This move includes staff from: 
  • Human Resources 
  • Business Office 
  • Curriculum and Instruction 
  • Public Information and Partnerships
  • Superintendent's Office
Showcase Brings Families Together

In front of their families and teachers, Truman Elementary students highlighted recent work during their December 12 student showcase. The showcase featured a third-grade concert followed by classroom presentations. 
 
 Cadrian Bell (second from left) helps Alex Kosgei (right) sound out a word while Kosgei reads his color poem for parents to hear. Joining them are Torion Davis (left) and Aaron Winn (second from left), who prepares to read his poem. All four students are in Kylie Warner's 2nd grade class.
Instructional Coach Kristi Howery said teachers planned varying presentations within their classrooms.  One of the more unique presentations was Kylie Warner's second grade color poems, which incorporate descriptions of people based on specific colors. Warner said her class had been working on descriptive writing for weeks, and the children wrote color poems to describe parents and other family members. Warner noted that the focus on writing has greatly benefited her students.
 
"I have some students who started out not being able to write anything," Warner said, "but now they are writing full pages. They have amazing ideas. When writing about colors, someone may describe mom as the greenest because of soft green grass on their feet."
 
Warner said she was very excited for the showcase.
 
"I love how the students get to show what they do. They really, truly work so hard every day," she said.
 
Also on display during Truman's  showcase were mouse-trap cars  created by 6th graders. Student Alexander Washington explained that all 6th graders broke up into small teams to create their own cars based on simple machines - wheels, axles, 
Alexander Washington (center), stands with his teammates Talya Thomas (left) and Angel Akinleye (right) as they proudly display their mouse trap car. All three are in Trissi Turner's 6th grade class.

and a pulley. The goal for his team was to make the car go straight for at least five feet.
 
"I learned you can get objects from around the house, put them together, and [have the machine] complete a task without electricity," Washington said.

The night was a great success, with 250 people attending the showcase. It was the perfect opportunity for parents and families to experience the successes their children have had half-way through the school year.

Holiday Dinner Teaches Valuable Skills   
  
Special education students at Ruskin High School have been getting into the spirit of giving. In November, Rachel Mayo's special education class teamed up with Janet Stapinski's family and consumer sciences' students to host a Thanksgiving dinner for Ruskin staff. Preparing and hosting the dinner provided Mayo's students a unique learning opportunity.

Special education students helped cook
and serve Ruskin staff at their 
Thanksgiving dinner.

"My students need to learn certain functional skills to help them be productive after high school. So the dinner provided them the opportunity to build skills through table service and waiting tables," Mayo said. "It also helped them build social skills by greeting guests, taking them to their tables, and asking for their orders. Some students also helped cook."
 
Sophomores Gabriel Cooper Jones and Deon Battles both said the Thanksgiving dinner made them happy. They enjoyed being with friends and the food. Now they are both cheerful it is the Christmas season. Jones said he likes Christmas dinner and candy in stockings, while Battles said celebrating Jesus' birthday made him happy.
 
For the Christmas season, Mayo teamed up with fellow teacher Melissa Ingle to provide holiday sugar cookies to Ruskin staff.
 
"My students are such loving people," Mayo said of her class. "They enjoy giving to others so much. For them to see the genuine responses from staff means a lot to them."

Coming Together Over Yummy Donuts   
  
Donuts with Dad is a popular event across HMC-1 elementary schools. Freda Markley Early Childhood Center held their event on December 12, giving dads, uncles, brother, and grandfathers extra time with their family.

Among the crowd was Bryan Nickens, who visited his four-year-old son Kar'melo Nickens (left). Bryan said he came to not only support his son but also other students whose dads were not able to attend.

Jerrold Pierce and his five-year-old daughter Ja'niah Pierce (below) had fun snapping photos.

"We used to do this when I went to school, so I'm glad the tradition is still around," Jerrold said.

QUICK LINKS

NEWS
Educational Foundation's Annual Gala Raises $25,000
Veterans Invited to Special Breakfast Honoring Their Service
Warford Elementary Principal Steps Down
Introducing Peachjar - A Digital Platform for School & Community Flyers
HMC-1 Participates in Community Eligibility Program & School Breakfast Program
Experienced Principal Chosen to Lead Ervin Early Learning Center
S. Fowler Appointed Smith-Hale Middle School Principal