Red Devil Ready: Weekly Message

Week 29: The Last Leg

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Decatur County Community High School

605 E Commercial St, Oberlin, KS 67749

March 17, 2024 (Schedule at the bottom, Skip What You Want)

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Decatur community,

I am sure that everyone can relate to coming back from a break. Most likely, you were either resting or getting to experience something exciting like a vacation. Coming back can be difficult as you get back into the flow of working hard and returning to your routine.

For students and educators, the return from spring break is the final leg of the race, literally the 4th quarter, and I for one have always come back rejuvenated and ready to finish strong.

Though the activities slow down as far as Friday nights go, the consistency of the schedule is not nearly as simple as one would expect. Track meets and golf tournaments require very early release times. Testing is a factor starting in late March and going through April. Banquets, rewards' ceremonies, graduation parties, concerts , and ,of course, graduation dominate the landscape along that last leg of the race. There are fewer days when all kids and staff are in the building on a normal schedule than there are days that are just normal school.

It's a busy time of the year, chaotic, as any last leg should be.

SHOUTOUTS

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Shoutout to the DCHS maintenance staff. Yes, it was spring break, but they were hard at work making sure to take advantage of opportunities to get things done that aren't always easy with a building full of people. We are very lucky to have the people that we have in place.

Shoutout to AD and girls' basketball coach Brandon Gehring. Coach Gehring is the exact type of coach you want for a kid and has the passionate love for sports overall that you want in an AD. Less than a week after losing to Atwood at Sub-State, Coach Gehring and several of his players headed to Colby to watch Atwood play at State. Rather than hide from the result, he was taking his team to see the experience and continue to learn.

Shoutout to freshman Brycen Ketterl. The Monday before spring break was the first day of school after the Sub-State loss. I asked Brycen what he was going to do now. He said, "Shoot hoops at home and in the gym. The new season starts today." I can't wait for the day I get to brag to some scout about this kid.

Things You Should Know

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Updated Cell Phone Policy

Starting back in December, the DCHS staff began discussing our cell phone policy, particularly how much of an impact they were having on classroom instruction. I called around to every other league school and others to see what they had done, and most were discussing the same thing, the effect on class time.

The state of Florida passed a State law banning cell phone usage during class time back in October, making the decision for every school in the state, while leaving other usage up to the schools.

Before spring break, students were informed that we were updating the cell phone usage policy. The biggest change that we have put in place is the use of phones during class time. Parents, if you need to contact your student in the case of an emergency, please reach out to the office. Other than that, they will be able to check for messages between classes.

Below you will see an updated cell phone usage policy with consequences for misuse. We will continue to monitor the cell phone situation in our school, and we will reevaluate at the end of the year.

1. No Cell Phones/Smart Devices During Class Time: From the moment that the bell starts a class to the moment the bell rings to end the class, there should be no phones out, including the hallway during class time. Students can carry phones with them and are fully responsible for them. During class times, phones should be kept in pockets, backpacks, or lockers. Teachers can take additional steps like mandating they be put at the front of the room, in a calculator pouch, or visible on the desk if they choose.

2. Students Can Check Cell Phones During Passing Periods: Students are allowed to check their phones during passing periods. There should be no reason for earbuds or headphones to be out in the hallway.

3. Emergency: If a student says it is an emergency that they make a call, they can be sent to the office. Parents can also call the office when there is an emergency.

4. Those Who Earn Free Time Can Use Phones in Designated Free Time Zones: Homeroom is still class time, so there will be no phones in your classes. Students that choose to remain in classes must use the time to study, read, or use their Chromebooks. If they want to use phones, they will need to go to either the gym or library/cafeteria. This free time is strictly the designated 18 minutes during Homeroom on the three days a week we have free time. This is also only for students that earn free time.

5. Students will be allowed to use their phones and devices during lunch: Lunch is the student’s time. They are allowed to use their phones and devices during this time.

First Offense: Phone sent to the office for the remainder of the day, parent called and informed of the policy, 30 minute detention.

Second Offense: Phone sent to the office for the remainder of the day, parent picks up the phone, 60 minute detention served over 1 or 2 days. Phone stays in the office for a week.

Third Offense: Phone sent to the office, parent picks up phone. 1 day of ISS. Phone turned in to the office in the morning for the remainder of the semester.

As always, please reach out to me if you have any questions or would like clarification.

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Freshmen Orientation

On Tuesday, March 19, DCHS will host a Freshmen Orientation night at 6:00 in the cafeteria. I encourage any parent that has a student that is about to enter the 9th grade to attend this meeting. The more planned out a student is at the beginning of high school, the more likely they will achieve the goals they want, and for the first time, their classes are counting towards credits. Here are some possible examples of what you can expect to hear at the meeting:

- New State requirements for graduation that begin with the class of 2028

- Potential college credit courses during high school

- Scholarship opportunities

- Honors Curriculum

- Required classes

- Elective classes

- Athletic expectations and requirements

Of course there will also be an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have as well.

Please feel free to reach out to myself, Mr. Gehring, or Mrs. Springer if you are unable to attend and have any questions.

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Attendance

As we enter into the 4th quarter, it is that time when students start reaching their threshold on excused absences. The state of Kansas requires each school district to have an Attendance Policy. It is part of each school's rating and accreditation.

Below is a an email that you will receive if your student's attendance becomes a concern. For some, it is simply a notification, and you are very aware. For others, you may be unaware of the policy or your student has passed their limit. When the truancy limit has been exceeded as described below, a separate letter will be sent including your child's attendance.

Hello,

You are receiving this email due to the fact that your student has missed several days of school and has exceeded or is on pace to exceed their maximum allowable parent-excused absences this semester. If you have doctor’s notes that you can provide for prior absences, please have them sent over to the high school so that we can update your records.

Here is the current policy:

Doctor’s Excused Absences: These absences do not count against your attendance total. The school reserves the right to verify these absences if there become too many. These absences are strictly related to illness and or injury. For the most part, these do not factor into the equation.
Excused Absences: These are absences that a parent can call in. You may not need to see a doctor every time you don’t feel well. These can be used at any time. Students are allowed 6 absences per semester without a doctor’s note. When they hit the 7th call in, it is unexcused without a doctor’s note.
Unexcused absences: Absences that are unaccounted for or are over the 6 excused days and no doctor’s note is provided.

School policy states that unexcused absences result in the following:

1. Loss of free time for the remainder of the semester

2. Potential ISS for repeated offenses

3. Truancy letter turned into the Decatur County Attorney if meeting the criteria below:

State Law says that truancy kicks in when there are one of the following:

3 unexcused absences in a row
5 unexcused absences in a semester
7 unexcused absences in a school year

Your student's current attendance: ______

Excused Absences without a doctor’s note: _______ (6 max per semester)

Unexcused Absences: _____

If you have any questions or further information, please feel free to reach out to us at 785-475-2231.

Sincerely,

Jeremy Holloway

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions on how the attendance policy works.

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teen Mental Health First Aid (Repeat Info)

Our sophomore students will be trained in teen Mental Health First Aid or (tMHFA) starting tomorrow, 3-18. Students will participate in (4)90 minutes sessions over the next two weeks, and each will be awarded a certificate of completion. This is through a grant working with High Plains Mental Health Center. We chose sophomores as we hope to continue the program in the future if we like the results, and it is the earliest age they offer it. As part of the grant, the staff was trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) back in October.

Here is a brief description of tMHFA: teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) teaches teens in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18, how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers.