April 2025 Wakefield Board Report

Attendance at Wakefield has demonstrated a steady upward trend throughout the school year. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade have shown consistent weekly improvements, with a current attendance rate of 95.3%. In contrast, attendance rates for grades nine through twelve have experienced minor fluctuations, ranging from 2 to 3 percent, with a current daily attendance rate of 94.5%. When compared to the previous school year, returning students have exhibited an overall improvement in attendance. However, the current 12th-grade class has struggled with the highest absentee rates, both historically and in comparison, their attendance rates from the previous year. Despite this, 12th-grade students are showing signs of improvement, and efforts are underway to further boost attendance rates during the final six weeks of the school year.

The current cell phone policy is straightforward and concise, yet it has proven challenging to completely eliminate non-compliance among students. Despite the staff and administration's diligent efforts to enforce the policy consistently, it's difficult to effectively teach and monitor students who find ways to secretly use their phones.

Drawing from my experience working in two school districts with cell phone policies, I've seen firsthand the inconsistencies and limitations of these policies in completely curbing student cell phone use during school hours. However, through research, discussions with fellow principals, and observing the effectiveness of Yondr Pouches, I'm intrigued by their potential. Although the Yondr Pouches require a financial investment of around $30 per student, they have shown a high success rate in minimizing unauthorized cell phone use.

Rather than solely focusing on banning cell phones from schools, I propose an alternative approach. As educators, we could leverage this challenge as an opportunity to teach students about responsible cell phone use, preparing them for the workforce and beyond. By shifting our perspective and incorporating digital citizenship into our curriculum, we can empower students with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of technology in a rapidly changing world. This approach not only addresses the immediate issue but also equips students with essential life skills for the future.

Girls Basketball

Paige Smith (Senior)

• 1st Team All Wheat State League
• KSHSAA Covered Girls All-Class Team 1A Division 1 Honorable Mention
• Signed Letter of Intent to Play Basketball at Kansas Wesleyan

Allison Adams (Senior)

• 2nd Team All Wheat State League
• KSHSAA Covered Girls All-Class Team 1A Division 1 Honorable Mention
• Signed Letter of Intent to Play Softball at Cloud County in Concordia

Boys Basketball

Kingsly Smith (Junior)

• Wheat State League Honorable Mention

Check out our culinary class and their beautiful Cream Puffs! The recipe is posted below, so you can make some too. If you do, be sure to tag us in a photo of your culinary creation!!!!

A foot injury isn't stopping Mrs. Bybee from teaching and energizing her students! Today, they were learning about finding the area of regions within another object.

Mr. Steppe runs an archery unit for all middle and high school students in his P.E. classes. They learn about safety, technique, and skills needed to be successful.

Please join us in congratulating our JH and Hs squads for the 2025-2026 season.

JH: Macie Nix, Aubree Gibson, Bailee Avery, Harper Bartlett, Allysen Thomas, Katie Crerend, and Lorelei Uken

HS: Cheyeanne Balderson, Brooke Draper, Jaralyn Rush, Nevaeh Gibson, Hayden Kirchner, Hannah Kirchner, and Lyla Liebau.

Junior High students attended the WSL Music Competition. Eight soloists received a one rating, the choir received a two, and our instrumental duet received a two.

Seventh graders in Mrs. Crabtree's ELA class are in the middle of writing opinion pieces. After writing rough drafts and going over a revision checklist, students are also using a program called Writable, which is a part of the new HMH English curriculum.

Mr. Freeman's Algebra I students were in the middle of a review over the past few weeks to prepare for a test. Specifically, they were working on exponents and slope intercept

Mr. Seuser's World History classes are diving into Nationalism and the empires of Europe. Today, they were focusing on the Ottoman Empire. Mr. Seuser brings it with his own sword (pointer)!

7th graders were architects in Mrs. Bybee's math class!

Students found measurements (area and perimeter) of floorplans, designed their own apartment, and calculated the cost of flooring and baseboards

Mrs. Ehlers' third graders kicked off their measurement unit incorporating fractions by measuring to the nearest 1/4 inch. Students measured their own height and discussed how to create a line plot using our data

Mrs. Hughes teaches a Culinary Essentials class at WHS. It is a pilot program this year, with the goal being for it to be added under the Restaurant and Event Management Career Technical Education pathway. Today, her students were learning how to make frosting, fill a piping bag, and decorate cupcakes. Even if students are not planning to go into a culinary arts field, it is a life skill they are learning!

To celebrate the 120th day of school, Mrs. Judy's first graders wrote a sentence saying what they would do with $120. Just some of the great answers they wrote:

"I would buy a Lamborghini"

"I would give it to the poor people"

"I would sell it for more money"