Lawr en ce Free S ta te H i g h S c h oo l

Inside this issue:

Congratulations 2

Scholarship Info 3

ACT/SAT 4

From the Librarian 5

Drivers’ Education 6

Inclement Weather 7

Volume , Issue January 2015

Parent Newsletter

The end of the year is always a time of reflection on

what we have done and where we have been. Of

course, it is also a time to start thinking about what’s

next. What are our goals and aspirations for the

future? How can I plan and prepare for my future?

The Lawrence Public Schools are thinking ahead too. We are looking forward to opening

the Lawrence College and Career Center in August 2015. This brand new educational facil-

ity, open to Lawrence High School and Lawrence Free State High School juniors and seniors,

will provide flexible, innovative education options that will help students prepare for what-

ever is next.

Students who attend the Lawrence College and Career Center have an opportunity to

take free college courses, preparing them for the rigor and demand of post-secondary

education. They will work closely with business and industry mentors who can share the skill

sets that are needed in today’s workforce. Designed around six program areas, students

can explore and develop skills in hi-tech, high demand fields such as:

Health & Emergency Care Bio & Forensic Sciences

Computer & Network Technology Engineering & Innovation

Law & Government Design/Build

All courses at the Lawrence College and Career Center have a hands-on curriculum with

off-site learning opportunities. Students, teachers and business and industry mentors will

work collaboratively to design projects that are relevant to a student’s future goals and

authentically represent the skills needed for success within the chosen field. This project

based format allows students to differentiate themselves, providing tangible evidence not

only what they know, but what they can do with the knowledge they have.

The Lawrence College and Career Center will be located at 2920 Haskell and transporta-

tion is provided from both Lawrence High School and Lawrence Free State High School.

Courses are approximately two (2) hours in length, providing time for off-site experiences

and project work. For a sample student schedule you are encouraged to visit the Lawrence

College and Career Center website at: www.usd497.org/discoverwhatsnext.

Students will enroll in courses for the Lawrence College and Career Center through their

regular high school enrollment process in February. Information on the courses offered will

be shared to students and parent information sessions are being scheduled. Preparing for

the future and discovering what’s next can be both exciting and intimidating for parents

and students. The Lawrence College and Career Center provides an opportunity to em-

brace the exciting future and prepare for the challenges ahead. We encourage you to visit

the website and talk to your school counselor as we all Discover What’s Next.

For more information or questions , please contact:

Patrick Kelly, Director of Career and Technical Education

pkelly@usd497.org or (785)330-2405

CONGRATULATIONS!

Free State High art students participated in the City of

Merriam's 18th Annual High School Visual Arts

Competition. Of the 832 works submitted representing

22 high schools, 144 works were accepted for the exhib-

it. Free State had 34 artworks accepted, 12 finalists,

and completely swept the Photography and Computer

Generated categories. Their works can be seen on display

at the Tim Murphy Art Gallery in Merriam, Kan., through

January 10. The following list includes award winners,

finalists and artists accepted.

Photography Category:

First place—Kristina Foster

Second place—Christina Craig

Third place—Morgan Noll

Honorable Mention—Dalma Olvera

Photography Finalists:

Cierra Campbell

Kayla Clark

Finn Dobbs

Christina Heinicke

Nolan Stopel

Computer Generated Category:

First place—Alexa Malik

Second place—Clare Browning

Third place—Lindsey Wethington

Honorable Mention—Alexa Malik and Clare Browning

Computer Generated Finalists:

Mary Brady, Sophia Coen, Lisa Criswell and Lane Weis

2D Finalists:

Sarah Conley, Kate Odgers and Peyton Townsend

Accepted for the exhibit:

Andrew Chavez (Computer Generated/Photography), Samantha Diaz (Computer Generated/Photography),

Madison Fowler (Photography), Emily Hopkins (Computer Generated), Kat Lafever (Photography),

Chantell Rayton (Photography) and Klaire Sarver (Photography).

Kristina Foster

Alexa Malik

Lindsey Wethington

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Dear Parent/Guardians,

The Free Press student newspaper has done a wonderful job of covering news and

information of interest to the students of Free State and our extended Firebird family.

The publication has been recognized this year by the National Scholastic Press Association as a Pacemaker

Finalist. A distinction earned only by the top 50 student news publications in the country.

Please take a look at the work our staff of 28 has produced and consider keeping up with news and events at

Free State by . . .

1. Following the digital version of the student newspaper via . . .

Issuu (follow http://issuu.com/fsfreepress on the web and on your IOS/Android device)

2. Following the online newspaper website . . .

The Free Press Online (fsfreepressonline.com)

3. Following our social media accounts (students report daily on news) . . .

Facebook (follow https://www.facebook.com/fsfreepressnewspaper?ref=hl)

Twitter (follow @fsfreepress)

Instagram (follow @fsfreepress)

4. Reading the digital versions of our print publication . . .

Issue 1: August 28

Issue 2: September 25

Issue 3: October 23

Issue 4: November 20

Lawrence Student Choice Issue—a collaboration with Lawrence High: December 15

Laurie L. Folsom, MJE

Free State HS Newspaper Adviser

LFSHS LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION 2014 -15 A V A I L A B L E J A N U A R Y 2 3 A F T E R 4 : 0 0 P . M . O N T H E F R E E S T A T E W E B S I T E U N D E R S T U D E N T S E R V I C E S

Every year, Douglas County businesses, organizations and individuals generously sponsor local scholarships for

seniors at both Lawrence Free State High School and Lawrence High School. For 2015, over 60 scholarships

have been established for Lawrence Free State Seniors. Students may be eligible to apply for multiple schol-

arships; all students are encouraged to apply for as many scholarships for which they qualify. Some scholar-

ships have additional requirements such as letters of recommendation, an essay, personal statement and let-

ters of recommendation. ALL scholarships require an unofficial copy of your transcript. Students are responsi-

ble for providing and attaching all items required by the scholarship committee. Incomplete and late appli-

cations will not be accepted. Please staple individual scholarships together (no paperclips or envelopes).

How to apply for local scholarships

Visit the Lawrence Free State High School webpage at www.usd497.org/fshs click on the Student Services tab

to locate the Local Scholarships link. You will find:

●Local Scholarship Quick Reference Sheet and Local Scholarship Packet which contains the list of scholarships and their

requirements.

●LFSHS Local Scholarship General Application which can be used to apply for most scholarships.

●Private Applications for those local scholarships which do not accept the LFSHS General Application.

●Request an unofficial copy of your transcript through Parchment.com and attach a copy to each application.

Important Dates

●All local scholarship applications must be submitted to the Student Services office by 4:00 p.m. on Monday February 23,

2014. Local scholarship recipients will be notified of their award the 3rd week of April. The Senior Recognition Ceremony is

scheduled for Monday, May 4 at 7:00 p.m. in the LFSHS Auditorium. Local Scholarship winners are required to attend or

send a representative.

Step by Step Instructions 1. Review and Get Organized - Review the quick Reference Sheet followed by the Local Scholarship Packet and learn

which scholarships you are eligible for. Take note of their requirements and get organized by creating a checklist for each

scholarship so you know which scholarships require extra materials. Take note of scholarships that use a Private Applica-

tion and those using the LFSHS General Application. Using the wrong application will disqualify you.

2. Complete Applications

Fill the forms out neatly and accurately and follow the instructions on the application. If you are applying for more than

one Local Scholarship that uses the LFSHS General Application, you may photocopy it and use it multiple times, but be

sure to change the scholarship name as needed. Do not use the LFSHS General Application for those scholarships requir-

ing the Private Application form.

3. Essays and Letters of Recommendation

Write any necessary essays or personal statements. Request and collect letters of recommendation from teachers or oth-

er external sources. If you are obtaining letters of recommendation from a teacher or external source, you must collect

these yourself by having the writer enclose their letter in an envelope and then staple the envelope to your application.

4. Final Check

Verify that all materials required are included in each application. Staple your applications individually and do not use

paper clips or envelopes.

5. Submission

As you produce completed applications, bring them to Student Services. The deadline is Monday, February 23 at 4:00

p.m. LATE AND INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Private Applications

Some private applications list a different due date and mailing address for applications. Please ignore this and follow the

submission instruction of our LFSHS Local Scholarship Program. Failure to use the appropriate application will result in your

application being disqualified.

Questions & Assistance For questions or assistance with the Local Scholarships program, please contact your counselor or Bryan Duncan at

bduncan@usd497.org

AP STUDIO ART COMMUNITY ART PROJECT:

FREE STATE SPEAKS

For a week AP Studio Art collected poems written by students and

faculty of Free State (in collection boxes and personal

delivery). After gathering all of the poems, they organized and

installed them in our school's display case. Next, yarn was used to

create visual connections between like themes. This project mirrors

a larger project in Lawrence called Common Threads. In Decem-

ber the Free State's installation, the Lawrence project, a middle

school project from Topeka and an elementary school project from

Kansas City, Kansas were on display in the main gallery of the

public library.

AP Art, Suburban meets Rural: Building Creative Communities

Project Artist Trading Cards 2014: Free State High School and Riley County High School

Free State High sixth-hour Drawing 2 and Drawing Studio

classes have been in contact with a class at Riley County

through an artist trading card project all semester. Every

week each student made a card based on a prompt and

traded it with their partner. Partners stayed intact the

entirety of the project. Together they built both a creative

relationship and artistic dialogue presented in the form of

evaluative writing.

Students constructed nine cards throughout the

process. To cap the project, Free State students

went to Riley County High School to meet, have

pizza, trade cards, make "exquisite corpses" and

design buttons. This is the second time Riley

County and Lawrence students have collaborat-

ed in this way.

Fun was had by all,

and it was certainly a beautiful bus ride!

ACT Test Dates—2014-15

Date Registration Deadline

Feb. 7, 2015 Jan. 9, 2015

April 18, 2015 Mar. 13, 2015

June 13, 2015 May 8, 2015

SAT Test Dates 2014-2015

Date Registration Deadline

Jan. 24, 2015 Dec. 29, 2014

Mar. 14, 2015 Feb. 13, 2015

May 2, 2015 April 6, 2015

June 6, 2015 May 8, 2015

During the state and local government unit,

Free State High freshmen in Laura Koenig and Cat Monroe's

Civics classes investigated the consequences of graffiti. Students

dove into the topic, including graffiti removal, state statues and

local instances of graffiti, through documents. Once students had

formed a base knowledge, they worked as a group estimating

the cost of removal of graffiti (pictured), and then discussed who

is responsible for preventing graffiti.

FINANCIAL AID

PRESENTATION

Date: January 20, 2015

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: LHS Auditorium

FROM THE LIBRARIAN

An e-mail goes out every Thursday letting students know

of overdue books and fines owed in the library. This e-mail

goes to both the parent and the student.

All students have a Microsoft Outlook

e-mail account which they can check at

school for library with questions about

overdue books and/or fines. Students may

check out books for three weeks and

renew them one time. Remember also the option for

e-books which are never overdue and have no fines.

Check in the library for information about how to access

e-books.

Diane Toplikar, LIBRARIAN

NO SCHOOL

Monday, JANUARY 5

Monday, JANUARY 19

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

FROM THE LIBRARIAN

Overdrive is here!

The Free State Library is happy to announce that more e-books are now available to students, and staff.

E-books allow users to access digital content on a variety of devices phones, tablets, laptops and desktops.

Instructions:

1. Go to the Overdrive website: https://www.overdrive.com/ and set up a free Overdrive account with an

mail address and password. Look at the top right side of the page to sign up for an account.

2. Go to the link for the page for the USD 497 Overdrive account: http://usd497.lib.overdrive.com/ and use

your network username and password to access the content.

3. From there you can check out books or put books on hold. You are in charge!

4. Need help? Go to help.overdrive.com to get help with installing the app for your device.

Free State High's first hour Interpersonal Skills class

volunteered in the early childhood, kindergarten and

second grade classrooms at Kennedy Elementary

throughout the semester. The students also helped to

provide childcare during parent and family events

throughout the semester.

In addition, the students held fundraisers

to collect money to purchase clothes

and coats for the clothing closet.

It was a wonderful semester for all students involved!

~Paula Pepin and Stacie Jackson, Kennedy Elementary

AVID NEWS As part of our AVID class requirements, the AVID

junior class raised money this past October to donate

to local non-profits. As a class, we chose four local

organizations to invite to our class to share in more

detail about their services and clientele. We also

wanted more information about how we can

become more actively involved within each

organization. Our class presented $100 checks to

Operation Wildlife (pictured), the Social Service

League and Just Food.

Free State High's first-hour Interpersonal

Skills class has been busy performing a

service for children at Lawrence Memorial

Hospital. Students conducted a fundraiser

at Freddy's Frozen Custard, and then used

their money to purchase stuffed animals to

help reduce stress and anxiety for the

children at LMH. This class has also visited

our LMH Project SEARCH students each

week this semester to discuss and partici-

pate in social awareness, social justice

and social skills training activities.

It has been a fun year, full of service and

learning.

Lodge of AF & AM of Kansas

presented scholarships to Free State

High students for their participation

in the 2014 essay contest.

Students were asked

to consider the topic:

"At least 13 signers of the

U.S. Constitution were Free

Masons. Discuss how the Masonic

Values shaped the formation

of our nation's republic."

AJ Zarnowiec placed first, Linda Liu

second and Samantha Grinage

third in the essay contest. The first-

place winner continues in the

contest for a chance of winning an

additional $1,500.

Congratulations, Firebirds! ~Janice Fullerton,

gifted education resource teacher

Pictured here is Kathy Clausing-Willis with the LMH Endowment,

and students presenting the stuffed animal donations.

~Llara Baska, Project Search

Pictured l to r: Mr. Case, students Madison Harrell, Samantha Grinage,

Stewart Merz, Bailey Wilson, Adam Strathman, AJ Zarnowiec,

Steven Ozaki and Linda Liu, and Mr. Johns.

Free State High student Christina Craig earned second place

in the Photography category of the City of Merriam's 18th

Annual High School Visual Arts Competition. Her work can

be seen on display at the Tim Murphy Art Gallery

in Merriam through January 10.

DRIVER EDUCATION SUMMER 2015

Information regarding Driver’s Education and the enrollment form

can be found on the District Website under Parent & Students.

Enrollment date is Saturday, April 11, 8:30 am—11:00 a.m.

at Free State High School

Classes will be June 1 through June 30 at Free State High School.

Enrollment fee is $150 per student

Students must be 14 at the time of enrollment.

Private Driving Instruction

Midwest Driving School (785) 841-7749 www.midwestdrivingschool.com Cost: $290

GO Driving School, LLC (785) 764-2214 www.GoDrivingLawrence.com Cost: $285

FSHS, LHS JOURNALISM COLLABORATION

The Free Press staff yesterday handed out a special edition created as a collabo-

ration between the Lawrence High Budget and Free State Free Press newspaper

staffs. The staffs surveyed, reported, photographed, designed and sold ads for this

combined issue. For this issue, 2,000 FS and LHS students were surveyed about

their favorite Lawrence establishments. The result is our "Student Choice" issue. In-

cluded on the ads pages are many offers from local businesses that may interest

you AND your students: $.75 off Pizza Shuttle (with coupon); 10% off for students at

J&S coffee (w/ a student ID); $5 off at Mad Greek one meal (w/ a student ID); and

10% off order at Yello Sub (w/ a faculty or student ID).

If you see a Free Press staffer, tell them what you think of this one of a kind issue. I don't know of any student

newspapers in Kansas and few outside of the state who have attempted this kind of collaboration. It speaks to

the quality of students we have at BOTH high schools in Lawrence that they joined forces to create the

"Lawrence Student Choice" issue.

~Laurie L. Folsom, Free State High journalism/graphic design teacher

WHEN WILL SCHOOL SCHEDULE

CHANGES BE ANNOUNCED?

The district’s goal is to make

announcements by 10 p.m. the

preceding night whenever possible, or

by 6 a.m. No announcement is made

if schools are in session as scheduled.

WHO MAKES THE DECISION?

You! Parents may choose to keep their

children home for health and safety

reasons. Please notify your child’s

school of this decision.

The superintendent confers with other

administrators and the district’s student

transportation provider and makes

school schedule decisions based

upon safety, current weather condi-

tions, forecasts and the condition of

roads, sidewalks and school parking

lots.

HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT SCHEDULE

CHANGES?

The district sends automated phone

and email messages to staff and

parents. Call 785-832-5000 or visit

www.usd497.org Local media also

make frequent announcements. If

there is no announcement, it is likely

classes are in session as scheduled.

HOW IS A TWO-HOUR

DELAYED START

MANAGED?

When unsafe weather

conditions require the district to delay

the start of school by two hours, buses

will pick up students at their regular bus

stop two hours after the regularly

scheduled time.

For example, if a child normally catch-

es the bus at 6:45 a.m., the pick-up

time on a two-hour delayed schedule

is 8:45 a.m. Likewise, schools open two

hours after their regularly scheduled

start time.

Any before-school care, practices,

activities or zero-hour classes will be

canceled. A cold breakfast will be

served two hours later than your

school’s regularly scheduled serving

time. School lunch will be available as

usual and school dismissal times

remain the same.

While school administrators report to

school at the regularly scheduled time,

teachers and staff will not be on duty

until 15 minutes before school begins.

As a result, schools cannot provide

supervision for students prior to the

start of school. Custodians report to

work at the direction of the Facilities

and Maintenance Department. The

District Office will open at its regularly

scheduled time, unless an alternative

announcement is made.

Safety is the primary focus when a

determination is made to close schools

or to delay the start of school by two

hours. A delayed start may allow

temperatures to warm, storms to pass,

morning fog to lift and/or roads,

sidewalks and parking lots to be

cleared.

WHO’S ON DUTY WHEN SCHOOLS ARE

CLOSED?

The District Office is open and staffed.

School employees with 12-monthy

contracts report to their buildings for

duty. Schools cannot provide child

care when buildings are closed.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WEATHER

WORSENS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY?

The district tries to avoid

unexpected early dismissals.

However, on occasion, early

dismissal is unavoidable. Parents

should make prior arrangements for

supervision of their children.

It is important for schools to be able to

reach parents and designated child

care providers during daytime hours.

Please make sure to give your child’s

school current phone numbers and

emergency contact information.

When it is necessary to dismiss

children early during a regular school

day, the district will contact parents

and area media outlets. If weather

condition worsen and schools remain

open, parents may choose to pick up

their children early after informing

school staff.

WHAT COLD WEATHER PROVISIONS ARE

MADE FOR ELEMENTARY RECESS?

Elementary recess is held indoors if the

temperature or wind chill falls below 15

degrees. Children should always wear

appropriate clothing, including winter

coats, hats, gloves or mittens and

boots during cold-weather months.

PLEASE NOTE

School schedule change

announcements apply to Adult

Education Services, but do not affect

Lawrence Virtual Schools.

USD 497 INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

L a w r e n c e F r e e

S t a t e H ig h S c h o o l

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of

Lawrence Free State

is to create a safe,

positive learning

environment so

students can

become lifelong

learners and

productive citizens in

a global society.

VISION STATEMENT

Student Growth & Development

Students will be committed to high levels of academic achievement in order to develop skills

necessary to become independent, life-long learners.

Students will grow in their awareness and preparation for careers.

Students will participate in community service and increase their awareness of and participation

in the democratic process.

Students will give their best efforts to achieve high, yet attainable, goals.

Students will accept personal responsibility for their actions.

Students will be involved in academic pursuits that will contribute to personal growth.

Effort and achievement will be encouraged, recognized and celebrated.

Curriculum

Students will engage in comprehensive studies of college preparatory and vocational courses.

Through active, relevant instruction, teachers will challenge and hold students to attain high

standards of achievement.

Students will attain mastery of essential knowledge and skills. Staff will collaborate to develop

integrated curriculum that raise expectations and hold students accountable for achievement.

Learning Community

Staff will model life-long learning by participation in effective staff development aimed at

student and school improvement.

There will be open and ongoing communication among all members of the Free State communi-

ty. Free State staff and students will create and sustain effective partnerships with the Lawrence

business and civic community.

Parents will play an active role in the education of their children, monitor their children’s perfor-

mance, and understand the importance of their children’s attainment of proficiency on all

standards.

Co– and Extra-Curricular Activities

Students will be involved in at least one co– or extra-curricular activity.

Staff members will be expected to moderate, coach, assist, or direct at least one co– or extra-

curricular activity.

Students parents, and staff will demonstrate school spirit by attendance of co– or extra-curricular

activities.

Climate and Culture

All members of the learning community will be responsible for promoting a positive atmosphere

through collaboration and communication.

Staff, students, and parents will celebrate student and staff achievements.

Staff and students will seek wellness physically, emotionally, and intellectually.

All members of the learning community will treat each other with mutual respect, consideration

and acceptance.

Principal: Ed West

4700 Overland Drive

Lawrence, KS 66049-4130

(785) 832-6050

Fax: (785) 832-6099

Mascot: Firebird

School colors:

Hunter Green & Silver

Students are assigned

to the following

Assistant Principals:

Keith Jones A—E

Steve Heffernan F—K

Mike Hill L—Q

Lisa Boyd R—Z

Students are assigned to

the following counselors:

Bryan Duncan A—E

Joel Frederick F—K

Tina Mitchell L—Q

Ken Hile R—Z