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Written by Jesse Trimble
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 08:00 |
Hillsdale Elementary students are breaking out their skates and skating skills. 
For the first time skating has been introduced to the physical education class, and kindergartners through fifth-graders are going in all circles, literally.
Even a few teachers are joining in on the fun. Science teacher Kim Weber and fourth grade teacher Alicia Cook joined several fourth-graders last week by making loops around the gym.
Although the students sport four-wheeled skates, Weber showed off her skills in roller blades.
“She’s got in-lines,” one fourth-grader pointed out.
Dallas Armbruster, physical education teacher, said he got the idea for the students at a P.E. convention.
With some help from the Parent Teacher Organization, the school was able to purchase skates in several sizes. All students need to do is remember their size number when they strap on their skates — and which foot to put them on.
Armbruster said the skates conveniently work for both wood and tile floors and that he has been getting several ideas from a program called “Skate4Life.”
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Written by Brian McCauley
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 08:00 |
A group of Paola Middle School students recently took advantage of a chance to hone their leadership skills during a Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) conference in Leavenworth.
Seven members of the school’s KAY club attended the event Feb. 17. The students were: Allie Ozier, Katelyn Bell, Kenzie Getz, Kelsey Slawson, Mitch O’berg, Lyndsee Johnson and Delaney Taylor.
KAY unit conferences bring neighboring KAY clubs together in a non-competitive environment, providing the opportunity to share service project and program ideas. The unit conference is designed to focus on club leadership at the local level in addition to developing teamwork as everyone participates in a conference service project, according to a news release.
KAY is a character-building, leadership training program directed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. |
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Written by Brian McCauley
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 08:00 |
A couple Paola High School students recently proved their newspaper talents are among the best of their age after winning honors in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association Regional Journalism Contest on Feb. 26 at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
Junior Sam Rourke earned honorable mention honors in feature writing and newspaper writing, and sophomore Rosalyn Lucas won a first-place award in the editorial cartoon category.
The students are just two of the young journalists who put out “The Reporter” each month at Paola High School under the direction of instructor BriAnne Chayer.
More than 405 students with 615 entries from 21 high schools competed in the contest, according to a news release.
All regional winners will advance to the state competition May 1 at the University of Kansas. Other regional contests were held at Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University, Wichita State University and Kansas State University, according to the release. |
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Written by Brian McCauley
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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 08:00 |
The economy may be struggling, but local law enforcement officers want to ensure students in Paola USD 368 continue to learn how to say “no” to drugs during the D.A.R.E. program.
The future of D.A.R.E., which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, has been up in the air ever since the Paola USD 368 school district and Paola Police Department began facing budget cuts. The classes typically are taught to students by Paola Police officers.
The Paola Police Department previously had helped share the cost with the school district of two resource officers to teach the classes, but budget reductions forced the funding of one resource officer to be eliminated. Thanks to some donated time and rearranging of schedules, officers Dana Abbot and Adam Hale were able to continue teaching the classes in the district.
Sgt. Mike Early of the Miami County Sheriff’s Office also stepped in to help teach classes at Hillsdale Elementary.
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Written by Brian McCauley
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 08:00 |
Pizza, friends, fun and more pizza — not a bad way to get welcomed back to school. 
Sadie Olson, a first-grader at Cottonwood Elementary, has spent her fair share of time in the hospital.
Shortly after her third birthday, she began having seizures and was later diagnosed with Rasmussen’s Disease, a rare degenerative brain disorder. She underwent a hemispherectomy procedure, in which parts of her right brain were removed and the remaining parts were disconnected from the left side.
She spent much of 2008 in and out of the hospital, which included a surgery that involved the replacement of two shunts and a cranioplasty to install a plate to help shape her head. And in 2009, she was back in the hospital battling bacterial meningitis.
Most recently, Sadie has been fighting complications from a ruptured ear drum following a tissue expander surgery. She was diagnosed with cholesteatoma, a condition in which an abnormal growth of skin pushes its way through the hole in the ruptured ear drum.
After a three-hour ear surgery on Feb. 17, the family was exhausted and ready to get back to familiar surroundings in Paola.
Sadie’s classmates at Cottonwood were more than happy to welcome her back last week, even though she could only stay for a few hours each day. And the happiness on Sadie’s face showed her appreciation for being back in school.
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