Onaga USD 322 - Onaga | Havensville | Wheaton

Congratulations to Onaga High School!!!! The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named 92 schools as recipients of the 2019 Challenge Awards. The awards recognize Kansas schools that are making a notable difference in student achievement despite facing significant challenges in their school population. Since its inception in 2002, more than 1,700 awards have been presented to schools across the state. Certificates of Merit were presented to schools by Kansas State Board of Education members. The Challenge Award recognizes schools for outstanding achievement and uncommon accomplishments based on Kansas assessment results in math and reading, graduation rates, chronic absenteeism rates and the socio-economic status of those taking the test. The Confidence in Public Education Task Force is a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to strengthen confidence in Kansas public education and to increase awareness of the positive aspects of public education in the state. The Task Force was created in 1981. Members of the Task Force include American Association of University Women; Kansas PTA; Kansas Association of School Boards; Kansas National Education Association; Kansas State Board of Education; Kansas State High School Activities Association; Kansas Partners in Education; League of Women Voters – Kansas; and United School Administrators of Kansas. Schools receiving a 2019 Challenge Award are: • Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary, Abilene Unified School District 435. • McKinley Elementary School, Abilene USD 435. • Arkansas City Middle School, Arkansas City USD 470. • Frances Willard Elementary School, Arkansas City USD 470. • Jefferson Elementary School, Arkansas City USD 470. • Roosevelt Elementary School, Arkansas City USD 470. • Atchison Middle School, Atchison USD 409. • Burlingame Elementary School, Burlingame USD 454. • Cedar Vale Elementary School, Cedar Vale USD 285. • Anthony Elementary School, Chaparral USD 361. • Harper Elementary School, Chaparral USD 361. • Enterprise Elementary School, Chapman USD 473. • Southeast Elementary School, Cherokee USD 247. • Highland Elementary School, Columbus USD 493. • South Central High School, Comanche County USD 300. • Deerfield Middle School, Deerfield USD 216. • Dodge City Middle School, Dodge City USD 443. • Miller Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443. • Northwest Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443. • Soule Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443. • Wilroads Gardens Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443. • Logan Avenue Elementary School, Emporia USD 253. • Riverside Elementary School, Emporia USD 253 • Flinthills Middle School, Flinthills USD 492. • Liberty Elementary School, Galena USD 499. • Edith Scheuerman Elementary School, Garden City USD 457. • Florence Wilson Elementary School, Garden City USD 457. • Georgia Matthews Elementary School, Garden City USD 457. • Gertrude Walker Elementary School, Garden City USD 457. • Westphalia Elementary School, Garnett USD 365. • Grandview Elementary School, Geary County USD 475. • Westwood Elementary School, Geary County USD 475. • Golden Plains Middle School, Golden Plains USD 316. • Greeley County Junior-Senior High School, Greeley County USD 200. • Yoder Charter Elementary School, Haven USD 312. • Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen, Hutchinson USD 308. • Independence Middle School, Independence USD 446. • Jefferson Elementary School, Independence USD 446. • Argentine Middle School, Kansas City USD 500. • Arrowhead Middle School, Kansas City USD 500. • Bethel Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500. • Emerson Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500. • Frank Rushton Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500. • Plains Elementary School, Kismet-Plains USD 483. • Bartlett Elementary School, Labette County USD 506. • Meadowview Elementary School, Labette County USD 506. • Gridley Elementary School, LeRoy-Gridley USD 245. • Lyons Central Elementary School, Lyons USD 405. • Lyons Middle School, Lyons USD 405. • Macksville Elementary School, Macksville USD 351. • Madison High School, Madison-Virgil USD 386. • Marion Middle School, Marion-Florence USD 408. • Sunset Elementary School, Newton USD 373. • Long Island Middle School, Northern Valley USD 212. • Ridgeview Elementary School, Olathe USD 233. • Washington Elementary School, Olathe USD 233. • Onaga Senior High School, Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton USD 322. • Osage City Middle School, Osage USD 420. • Oswego Neosho Heights Elementary, Oswego USD 504. • Parsons Middle School, Parsons USD 503. • Garfield Elementary School, Parsons USD 503. • Pike Valley Elementary School, Pike Valley USD 426. • Pittsburg Middle School, Pittsburg USD 250. • Westside Elementary School, Pittsburg USD 250. • Rawlins County Junior-Senior High School, Rawlins County USD 105. • Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School, Rock Hills USD 107. • Cottonwood Elementary School, Salina USD 305. • Oakdale Elementary School, Salina USD 305. • Sunset Elementary School, Salina USD 305. • Bluejacket-Flint Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512. • Comanche Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512. • Smith Center Junior-Senior High School, Smith Center USD 237. • South Barber PreK-6 Elementary, South Barber USD 255. • Neosho Rapids Elementary School, Southern Lyon County USD 252. • St. Francis Elementary School, St Francis USD 297. • Thunder Ridge Middle School, Thunder Ridge USD 110. • Lowman Hill Elementary School, Topeka USD 501. • Marjorie French Middle School, Topeka USD 501. • McCarter Elementary School, Topeka USD 501. • McEachron Elementary School, Topeka USD 501. • Quincy Elementary School, Topeka USD 501. • Junction Elementary School, Turner-Kansas City USD 202. • Turner Elementary School, Turner-Kansas City USD 202. • Lakeside Elementary School, Waconda USD 272. • Washington Elementary School, Wellington USD 353. • Wheatland Elementary School, Wheatland USD 292. • Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School, Wichita USD 259. • Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet School, Wichita USD 259. • Jardine Technology Middle Magnet School, Wichita USD 259. • McLean Science/Tech Magnet Elementary School, Wichita USD 259. • Robinson Middle School, Wichita USD 259. • Mayberry Cultural and Fine Arts Magnet School, Wichita USD 259.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of our USD 322 teachers! During these unprecedented times, our teachers have gone above and beyond to provide the support our students need. Please reach out to your teachers letting them know how much they are appreciated! #ThankATeacher #TeacherAppreciationWeek2020

Pre-K and all K - 6th Elementary students...be sure to email or text Mrs. Kolterman a brief one or two sentence summary or picture of you doing an activity from your Leader in Me choice board, that was sent out this past Monday by me, if you'd like your family to be entered in the family fun pack drawing give-away! I've included the choice board with this post to help you. Go Buffs!

Over the break, it may not seem like there are many things to do. If you think a little more creatively, there are actually many activities to do. One activity is to sit around a campfire and enjoy some S’Mores with your family!

SCHOOL LUNCH HERO DAY The first Friday in May is School Lunch Hero Day, dedicated to those who make the cafeterias and the schools a better place to be! USD 322 would like to thank our food service staff who do a wonderful job during normal times, but they have definitely gone above and beyond getting meals to our families during this pandemic. Please send them a note letting them know how much you appreciate them. Please view this "Thank You" video from KSDE (Kansas Department of Education): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZnc0YOCE1A

There are still many other ways besides exercising or running to stay active. You need to stay mentally active as well by reading or doing puzzles so your mind is being challenged as well. Remember your body achieves what the mind believes.

One of my favorite quotes is “The more you feed your mind with positive thoughts, the more you can attract great things into your life.” This quote reminds me to stay positive in hard times like these, and that eventually things will get better.

The KRR After School Program will be offering a summer session through virtual learning, or paper packets if needed. The session dates are May 26-June 19 and will be for students who are currently in K-3. The students will be working on reading, math, & STEM activities. Please email Stacy Rempe at rempes@usd322.org to pre-enroll your student(s) by May 8.

With more time on my hands, I have decided to rekindle my relationship with a hobby I am incredibly passionate about, art! If you have a hobby you would like to try getting into I encourage going for it! Finding new hobbies can be an engaging and fun way to occupy empty time.

USD 322 Parents - we need your help! We are still making yearbooks for the Grade School and Jr High. We are asking that you send photos of your children doing school work from home. It can be working on assignments or just doing something fun or creative from home! Please submit your photo to the link that is attached to your child's grade level. Pricing info will be available at a later date. Preschool: plicbooks.com/go/jGek1 Kindergarten: plicbooks.com/go/DR2AY 1 st Grade: plicbooks.com/go/XmDyB 2 nd Grade: plicbooks.com/go/Ew91A 3 rd Grade: plicbooks.com/go/zengb 4 th Grade: plicbooks.com/go/EzXsc 5 th Grade: plicbooks.com/go/Xxe5E 6 th Grade: plicbooks.com/go/gFwHm 7 - 8th: plicbooks.com/go/cUiPp If you have any questions, please contact Karen Utley @ utleyk@usd322.org

The USD322 board of education of the Onaga public schools has hired an interim Superintendent for the 2020-2021 School year . He is a long time experienced administrator from the state of Nebraska. Hello USD322, My name is Dan Polk, and my wife Deb and I are very excited about moving to the district. I was born in the panhandle of Nebraska and graduated high school in the Nebraska Sand Hills in a class of 18. My wife graduated from Papillion, Nebraska in a class of 460. I entered my education career as a teacher and coach and quickly worked my way into my first principal position by the time I was 30 years old, and my first Superintendent position by 35. I have always stayed in smaller school districts as I prefer being able to communicate and connect with students as well as staff and parents. I have only been at three districts as an administrator with 21 years at just two of them. After 8 years at my current district, I am leaving a two-year contract offer and coming to USD322. Deb and I have been married for 33 years in June and have 4 grown children. Jessica is a mental health counselor in Yankton, SD; Jacob is a teacher and coach in Utica, NE at Centennial Public schools; Zachary is a 6'10" sports director and play-by-play announcer in Windom MN; and Kaitlyn just graduated a semester early from Morningside in Sioux City, IA with degrees in communication and Non-profit business management. They all played one form or another of college athletics. The older two are married and the youngest is supposed to marry in late July. We hope to get to know you all very soon. GO BUFFS!

Hello Buffaloes! Hope your are all staying healthy and enjoying the beautiful weather we had today! ***Pre-K and Elementary students - check your email from Mrs. Kolterman for more details!

Morgan Mayginnes is being interviewed by Ralph Hipp of WIBW Channel 13 at 4pm today. Make sure to tune in if you can!

Hey Buffalo Fun Club people. Please remember to pre-enroll for June summer camp (summer school). We have loads of crazy new ideas and activities coming that we'd love to have you join us! Don't forget to email linct@usd322.org for pre-enrollment and/or questions.

Good morning! During this pandemic, we want to again emphasize the need to practice social distancing. Those delivering food will set meals in a good location - your porch, deck, sidewalk, etc. Please emphasize to your children to stay at least 6 feet back from delivery people. Do not approach delivery people to pick up your meals. Please also keep animals away from the meals being dropped off. Thank you, and stay safe.

The 36th annual Havensville Living History Day this year will be moving into a new frontier as it will be hosted on the Facebook event page starting April 3rd, lasting indefinitely. Search “Havensville Living History Day” to watch virtual presentations and pictures from past events.

Look at this sky! One day it’s rainy and stormy then the next it’s almost a clear sky with some clouds. That’s when you know you live in Kansas!

Friday, April 24th, was National Arbor Day. When people plant new trees for Arbor Day, they are focusing on the future. You can still plant a tree while social distancing, even if it isn’t Arbor Day!

Dear Parents and Students- I wanted to share information about our Continuous Learning Plan and how it works regarding grades in grades 2-12. Our number one priority is the social-emotional health of our students during these unprecedented times. At the recommendation of KSDE, our Continuous Learning Plan states that student’s grades can only remain the same and/or move upward from their 3rd quarter grades. Our expectation is our students will do their best to continue with their academic studies and keep learning through May 15. If students do not engage in their learning, teachers, counselors, and administration will be in contact with the student(s) and their families to help collaborate with them in getting the students to engage in their learning. This is a tremendous opportunity for students to be proactive with their education and to continue building their knowledge and skills for future preparedness and success. It’s also a great opportunity for students to raise their grades significantly. Finally, it shows character in the form of self discipline, perseverance, and personal responsibility by taking ownership and continuing to complete their classes through the end of the school year. As always, if a student is dealing with difficult circumstances or Internet issues that are making remote learning difficult, our teaching staff is eager to assist them and will be flexible in working with the student so that we can best meet their learning needs and help them be able to finish their coursework. Just reach out to us and we will work with you and your child. Thank you for partnering with us in the education of your child. We are all doing the best that we can and we know you are too. Hang in there- we will get through this together. Take care! Mr. Poell

The USD 322 board of education of the Onaga public schools has hired an interim Superintendent for the 2020-2021 School year. He is a long time experienced administrator from the state of Nebraska. -- Hello USD 322, My name is Dan Polk, and my wife Deb and I are very excited about moving to the district. I was born in the panhandle of Nebraska and graduated high school in the Nebraska Sand Hills in a class of 18. My wife graduated from Papillion, Nebraska in a class of 460. I entered my education career as a teacher and coach and quickly worked my way into my first principal position by the time I was 30 years old, and my first Superintendent position by 35. I have always stayed in smaller school districts as I prefer being able to communicate and connect with students as well as staff and parents. I have only been at three districts as an administrator with 21 years at just two of them. After 8 years in my current district, I am leaving a two-year contract offer and coming to USD 322. Deb and I have been married for 33 years in June and have 4 grown children. Jessica is a mental health counselor in Yankton, SD; Jacob is a teacher and coach in Utica, NE at Centennial Public schools; Zachary is a 6'10" sports director and play-by-play announcer in Windom MN; and Kaitlyn just graduated a semester early from Morningside in Sioux City, IA with degrees in communication and Non-profit business management. They all played one form or another of college athletics. The older two are married and the youngest is supposed to Marry in late July. We hope to get to know you all very soon. GO BUFFS!