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JANUARY 2005
Welcome to KAIRS Today!
This is the monthly electronic newsletter of the Kansas Association of
Religious and Independent Schools (KAIRS). KAIRS TODAY is sent as a
service to KAIRS members across Kansas.
Our goal is to keep you informed about legislative, regulatory and
national news and educational issues. Please look for this on the 20th
of each month. Contact Corey Reese, editor, with questions or concerns
–crkairs@yahoo.com.
JANUARY ISSUE:
1. ANNUAL MEETING TWO WEEKS AWAY
2. ANNUAL MEETING NOTES
3. FIRST HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
4. KAIRS DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS 2005
5. PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE: FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAM
6. 2005 ANNUAL REPORT
7. KAIRS 2004-05 OFFICERS
8. IMPORTANT DATES
ANNUAL MEETING TWO WEEKS AWAY
The KAIRS Annual Meeting is slightly more than two weeks away. This is
one of the most valuable opportunities each year for non-public school
administrators and board members to meet and discuss important
concerns. Have you completed your registration yet and mailed it in?
Registration is 9 - 10 a.m. on Monday, February 7, with the opening
session beginning at 10 a.m. You are encouraged to bring members of
your board. Each year issues of prime importance to local boards are
raised. Board members frequently comment, "I didn't even know an
organization like this existed.”
You can still register by contacting Judy Pitts, Annual Meeting
Secretary at
judypitts@earthlink.net or 316-522-7148. You'll need to call the
Holiday Inn in Topeka (1-800-822-0216) to make your hotel reservation
AND then return the meeting form to Judy as quickly as possible.
ANNUAL MEETING NOTES
The KAIRS Executive Committee has prepared another excellent Annual
Meeting. Our meeting is the highlight of our year and you won’t want
to miss it. The meeting will follow much of its traditional format
with check-in beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 7. The morning
will include a brief welcome and two educational sessions. Dr. Nick
Compagnone, KAIRS Vice President, will discuss some innovative ideas
he and his administrators have developed for Professional Development.
Pat Breckunitch, Principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral Grade School in
Salina, will kick-off our technology theme with his presentation,
entitled, “Tools to Enhance Learning: Integrating Technology into the
Classroom Curriculum.”
At 1 p.m., Rae Niles, Director of curriculum and technology for
Sedgwick Public Schools, will deliver the keynote address entitled,
"Understanding the Digital Student." An outstanding educator who
specializes in technology integration throughout her school district,
she will share how students daily integrate technology in grades K
through 12 and how this is being used to further challenge and
stimulate students.
Directly following her address, Ms. Niles’ students will present,
"Wireless Laptop Learning from Students' Perspectives”, beginning at 2
p.m. They will present technology integration from their unique
vantage points.
The remainder of the afternoon will include two sessions. Dr. Alexa
Posny, Assistant Commissioner of Education with the Kansas State
Department of Education, will discuss ramifications of the No Child
Left Behind Act, reporting requirements, and how private schools are
affected by this important education legislation. Additionally, Pat
Breckunitch will repeat his morning presentation.
The Hall of Fame dinner on Monday evening will feature the
presentation of the 2005 KAIRS Distinguished Teachers and our first
class of Hall of Fame awardees. It will be an inspiring evening for
all who attend.
Tuesday, February 8 will begin with breakfast and discussions between
member school groups. At 8:30, Carol Rupe, Kansas State Board of
Education representative from District 8, will join us for what is
always a spirited discussion.
The meeting will conclude with the annual KAIRS Business Meeting, the
election of officers, and an important dialogue about how KAIRS can
best meet the needs of its membership.
FIRST HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
KAIRS is proud to announce its first class of inductees to the newly
formed KAIRS Hall of Fame. The three founders of KAIRS, Robert Eggold,
James Thiessen and Vince DeCoursey, will become the Hall of Fame
charter members. Outstanding educator, Bunny Hill, Head of School,
Wichita Collegiate will also be inducted.
The Hall of Fame will reside at the KAIRS website: kairs.org. The new
members will be honored at the KAIRS Hall of Fame Banquet at the 2005
Annual Meeting, Monday February 7, 6:30 p.m.
KAIRS DISTINGUISHED TEACHERS 2005
Congratulations to our KAIRS Distinguished Teachers 2005! The six
outstanding educators are a blessing to their students, their schools
and to our organization. We are pleased to have the opportunity to
honor them. They will be recognized at Annual Meeting's Hall of Fame
Dinner on Monday evening, February 7. Please plan to attend.
The winners will also be featured in the KAIRS 2005 Annual Report and
on our website, www.kairs.org.
Christian Schools: Linda Smith, Maranatha Academy, Shawnee;
Diocese of Dodge City: Rhonda Wurst, St. Mary’s Catholic
School, Garden City;
Independent Schools: Dr. Don Schawang, Bishop Seabury Academy,
Lawrence;
Lutheran Schools: Mrs. Terri Vanwey, Holy Cross Lutheran
School, Wichita;
Diocese of Salina: Sister Marie Kelley, Sacred Heart High
School, Salina;
Diocese of Wichita: Marcia Dillon, Trinity Catholic High
School, Hutchinson.
PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE: FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAM
For those schools that participate in federally funded programs, it is
important to remember that your school's allocation is based on a
combination of K-8 enrollment and your percentage of low-income
students. If your school participates in the federal nutrition
program, then it is incumbent upon the administrator to record and
report the percentage of students who qualify for free or
reduced-price meals. (In the Wichita Catholic schools, our
administrators remind parents that the hot lunch program is one of the
few ways for Catholic school families to receive back some of their
tax dollars; so parents should not be shy in claiming reduced-price
meals if they qualify for them.)
If, however, your school does not participate in the federal nutrition
program, federal law provides alternative methods for schools to
determine the percentage of low-income children in the school. The
independent or religious school administrator should work with the
local public school system to determine the best means for determining
the number of low-income students in their schools.
-Bob Voboril, KAIRS Public Policy Coordinator
2005 ANNUAL REPORT
The 2005 Annual Report will be available to all members at the
February Annual Meeting. We will also be mailing a copy to members who
cannot attend the meeting.
IMPORTANT 2004-05 KAIRS DATES
Feb 7-8: Annual Meeting, Topeka
April 5: KAIRS Executive Committee Meeting, The Independent School, 9
a.m.
April 12: General Membership Meeting, Topeka, 10 a.m.
KAIRS 2004-05 OFFICERSPresident: Karen Norton, The Independent
School, Wichita
karen_norton7531@hotmail.com
Vice President: Nick Compagnone, Salina
Catholic Diocese
nickcom@aol.com
Secretary: Bill Dieckhoff, Holy Cross
Lutheran School, Wichita
billdieckhoff@holycrosslutheran.net
Treasurer: David Swank, Trinity Academy,
Wichita
swankd@trinityacademy.or
Annual Meeting Secretary: Judy Pitts,
Bethel Life School, Wichita
judypitts@earthlink.net
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