DKHS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

What a stretch of winter weather we've been stuck in for the past couple of weeks. I’m not a very big fan of winter, so this weather and a week of not seeing our students here were both rough for me. Because we have had so many days, we have prepared for Distance Learning if we move past the number of snow days allotted by the State. If we need to move to Distance Learning, our format would be similar to that of the COVID months when we stayed home for instruction. One of the key elements we need to meet in Distance Learning is the attendance and engagement of our students. If we don’t get a high enough percentage of students in attendance, we can’t count the days, and that pushes our school year deeper into June. Watch for information on our district-wide plan that Dr. Wright will be putting out to guide those days.

As we get back into the school routine, I want to remind you of some important scheduling information. We are starting the process much earlier this year. We are growing more CTE programming for our kids, and creating 3 different tracks that students will declare by their sophomore year. Those tracks will help guide course requests and build the best schedule for kids over time, designed to help them best prepare for their career plans after high school. Obviously, there will be lots of flexibility if kids change their minds, and we are driven by much of what the State requires for graduation, but students will be choosing between college prep/undecided, Honors/AP/ University bound, or a trades focus that may still include college options. We are excited about the growth of our Allied Health program, the new Ag Science Barn that will begin construction in the spring, the continued growth of our IGNITE classes, and our continued history of a small school with a large selection of AP courses. We have so many cool opportunities to offer our students.To start the scheduling season, we are hosting an orientation for our current 8th-graders and their families on Tuesday, February 3, at 6:30 PM in the high school, LGI. See the information flyer below.

All of our athletic teams had multiple cancellations, and the makeup schedule is going to pack many athletic events into the upcoming weeks. Looking forward, we will be hosting boys' basketball districts during the last week of February. We could use extra help, so please reach out to the athletic department if you can volunteer during those games.

This week’s Hogie Heroes are Lindie Wiessner and Riley Perley who both were seen picking up trash in the bleachers where the students sit after the Winterfest game. They picked up the entire area and did so without being asked. They just saw a need and DID A JOB!!! Same for Alec Sinkler who has been seen by staff on multiple occasions shoveling the sidewalk to the aux gym after school or his wrestling practice. I appreciate our students who are willing to help and often take on service to others without being asked. That is living out DO A JOB!!!

Coffee with the Superintendent is Monday, February 2nd at 8:00 a.m., in the admin office. Hope to see you there!

DK Alumni News-Congrats Rhys Bedford DKHS Class of 2024

Rhys earned some extra recognition from Calvin for an historic performance in Chicago last week.

2nd on the Calvin 60mH All Time list with an 8.43s, and he won the event overall.

He also hit PR's in all of his event assignments.

Evelynn Courneya Extemporaneous Public Speaking, 2nd place Gold - Advancing to Regionals Isaiah Kellogg Extemporaneous Public Speaking, 5th place Gold Makayla Lutz Prepared Public Speaking, 3rd place Silver - Alternate to Regionals Alyce Donley Greenhand Public Speaking, 2nd place Gold - Advancing to Regionals

Ag Issues: Nick Muday, Roxy Perrin, Skylin Wasserman, Allison Wooden, and Tori Vandenberg, 5th place Silver Samuel Champion-Paling Job Interview, 12th place Silver Emma Gay Job Interview, 15th place Silver