Wildcat Growl

Late Start Wednesdays:

• Bus Transportation runs as normal, and bussed students will wait in the commons during breakfast from 7:30 - 8:15 (Collaborative Time is for Staff).
• North Attendance, and Front Doors are open at 7:30, and students will wait in the commons until 8:15
  
• Media Center and Activities Entrance Doors will open at 8:10

Photos will be taken during Lunch Periods, in the Black Box!

Greetings, Wildcats!

We had a great first week, and students have navigated the technology changes exceptionally well to this point! Please keep it up! There is a lot of important information in this week's GROWL

Please be familiar with the [Table of Contents] button in the upper left to navigate the table of contents!

New in Table of Contents

• [Athletics/Activities]: FIRST WEEK OF COMPETITION!

• + Insurance
• + Senior Ads
• + Art NHS
• + Frozen Auditions
• + DHS BSN Store Last Day!

• [Counseling Corner]:

• UMKC Healthcare Careers Opportunity
• + Schedule Change Info

• [Fundraise & Volunteer]:

• De Soto Days Volunteer Opp.
• + Patriot Run Volunteer Opp.
• + GameDay Shirts
• + Agenda Fundraiser

Proud to be a Wildcat!
-Principal Thomas

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Because medical costs can be expensive, De Soto USD 232 does provide families the opportunity to purchase student accident insurance on their student through Student Assurance Services, Inc.

This supplemental policy would assist with your out-of-pocket medical expenses (i.e. deductible) should your student sustain an accidental injury while coverage is in effect. Also, if you do not have any insurance on your student, this would be primary for accidental injuries. There is a variety of coverage options and premiums are a one-time payment for the school year.

Please review the attached forms regarding student accident insurance.

If you have any questions about this coverage, please contact Student Assurance Services directly at (800) 328-2739 or please feel free to contact me at (800) 328-2739 or sonnyh@sas-mn.com

Sincerely,
Sonny Heinrich

The National Art Honors Society information meeting is this Thursday, August 27th from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors who have taken two art classes, or are currently enrolled in a second art class this semester, are welcome to attend. The meeting is in room 309.

If you're interested in auditioning for the Fall Musical, Frozen, make sure to attend the informational meeting on Thursday, August 27th during Seminar in the PAC. Audition materials and other important production info will be discussed and distributed. Sign out to Mrs. Fry or Ms. Bryant in Minga, and we hope to see you there!

Check it out, using the button below!

Important Information About Student Schedules and Schedule Change Requests

• Student schedules will be available for online viewing in Skyward starting August 13th.

• Please note that these schedules are tentative and may change before the first day of school.

• If your student does not have a full Semester 1 schedule, their counselor has already reached out via email to set up a meeting before school begins.

• If your student has a complete schedule but would like to request a change, they must complete a Schedule Change Request Form.

• Forms will be available for students to pick up in Student Services after school on August 20th.

• The deadline to return the completed form is 3:00 PM on August 25th.

• No schedule change forms will be accepted after August 25th.

We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure students are placed in appropriate courses to support their academic success.

DHS Counselors and Social Workers

Mrs. Crissy Johns (cjohns@usd232.org): Last name A – E

Mrs. McKenzi Mispagel (mmispagel@usd232.org): Last name F – La

Mrs. Lainee Graham (lgraham@usd232.org): Last name Le – Re

Mrs. Kaitlin Morrell (kaitlin.morrell@usd232.org): Last name Rh - Z

Mr. Joe Kordalski, Social Worker (Rkordalski@usd232.org)

Mrs. Debra Landis, Social Worker (dlandis@usd232.org)

UMKC Saturday Academy: Healthcare Career Opportunity

Are you a 9th to 12th grade student interested in healthcare? UMKC’s Saturday Academy is a free, 8-week program designed to help high school students explore healthcare careers while preparing for college and future health education programs.

Program highlights:

• Hands-on healthcare activities and simulations
• Explore careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and more
• Meet admissions representatives and learn about pathways into healthcare
• Build stronger study and test-taking strategies
• Get help preparing for college and future applications
• Develop practical career and workplace skills

Program Dates: September 12 through December 12, 2026

Application Deadline: Monday, August 31 at 11:59 p.m. CST

Apply here: Saturday Academy Application 2026

Learn more about Saturday Academy

Questions? Contact stahr@umkc.edu.

We are excited to invite your students to volunteer at the Patriots Run on Saturday, September 12. One Mission: The Patriots Run is more than a race, it's a day to honor those who run into the face of danger and pay tribute to the lives lost protecting our freedoms. Volunteer shifts vary in length depending on the assignment, allowing students to choose an opportunity that best fits their schedule. This is a wonderful chance for students to earn volunteer service hours while giving back to the community and supporting an event that honors our first responders, military members, and fallen heroes. If your students, clubs, athletic teams, or service organizations are interested in volunteering, please go to ThePatriotsRunKC.org this to sign up or contact us for additional information. Volunteers Click Here

USD 232 is looking to connect with guest speakers, businesses, organizations, and community groups interested in supporting our students. If you or someone you know would like to partner with our schools through career exploration, classroom presentations, mentorship, internships, or other opportunities, we'd love to hear from you! Visit our Community Partner Hub to learn more and submit your interest: https://www.usd232.org/departments/academics/career-focused-learning/community-partner-hub.

We want to share a quick reminder to support families with the online registration process.

Families should continue using SkywardQ for online registration and student information access. You can find the updated login link, along with details about the Skyward mobile app, here:

🔗 Skyward Family Access

Parents can have peace of mind by viewing your student’s search history and time on their device. See your student’s online activity in real-time and catch up with weekly email snapshots by signing up with the Securly app. Follow the link for more information and directions.