Middle School

Value Ranking - Wichita Middle Schools Site-councils at Wichita middle schools will select 17 items on this list to determine which are most "most valuable. " 5-day school week After-school programs Alternative education (ex: Blackbear Bosin Academy, Gateway) Art Assistant principals Athletics AVID Class size Clerical Counselor Custodial Data coaches Electives (ex: FACS, health, drama) Extra-curricular activities (ex: robotics, NAL)

Wichita's Hadley Middle School received national praise this week. It's the only middle school in Kansas to earn certification for its Project Lead the Way-Gateway to Technology program. The award will give Hadley the opportunity to test its pre-engineering and technology curriculum. "In 7th we have a design and modeling which is using 3D software and they also do a bit of science and technology, explore nanotechnology," said Sherri Molde, PLTW teacher. "Then in 8th grade, we get into electricity and learning about automation and robotics.

Officials with the Republic County School District plan to close the middle school at the end of the school year. It is a move they believe will save $150,000 dollars a year. The school is more than 80 years old, that means some parents of the students currently enrolled will be saying good-bye to their middle school, as well. "It's emotional because my wife and I both attended this school and one of our daughters went through school here," Daryl Rieke, a father of current student who is in fifth grade.

The Garden City Police department is working with the school district after a report of threats found on social media. School resource officers at Horace J. Good Middle School notified authorities after noticing the post Wednesday. Police said the post contained vague threats towards the school. Certain students were also allegedly bully the poster. Classes remain in session while police and officials from U.S.D. 457 investigate. No arrests have been made.

The Maize school district prepares to ask the community about the needs of its schools, and a possible bond issue. Over the past year-and-a-half the Maize district had planning groups look at possible improvements. The final results include $74.9 million worth of improvements and expansions in five areas. Some of the biggest possible improvements come at the middle school level. The planning committee proposed building a new middle school and renovating the current Maize Middle School at 45th and Maize.

An 18 year-old High School Senior is in jail, accused of emailing a bomb threat to his principal. Authorities evacuated Maize South High School Wednesday - no bomb was found.  Investigators won't say what led them to the student, but we do know technology like this is traceable. "I was in my class, study hall, studying, and then all of a sudden everyone had to start walking down to the middle school," recounted Maize South Senior Jason Alvarez.  "And I was like, what's going on?"

Benton resident Doug Mould died over the weekend.  His family says he died of a coronary embolism which is an obstruction in a blood vessel.  His death came as a shock to his family and three teenage children.  They already lost their mother.  Carol Mould was murdered at their Benton home in 2004.  For years, the case was unsolved and at one point Doug was considered a person of interest by authorities. In February of 2010, a neighbor and former boy scout volunteer pleaded guilty to killing Carol.  At the time, Doug stated it was a relief to finally have closure.

The Butler County Sheriff's Department arrested an 11-year-old for aggravated criminal threat.  The child is believed to have made a threat at Remington Middle School Thursday.  The middle school was evacuated Thursday morning to a nearby church after a threat was faxed to the school. Authorities searched the school with the help of a police dog.  Teachers also went through to make sure nothing was out of place.  The building was deemed secure and students eventually went back to class.

Many schools are being forced to make cuts and scale back because of the state's money troubles.  But in Goddard, expansions are being made. "We're a growing district," says Doug Maxwell of Goddard Schools.  "we are in an area where our assessed values are increasing.  Other areas haven't been so lucky. " The Goddard School District says it's weathering a financial storm.  The district needs to cut $3 million from its operating budget while at the same time add 3 schools to meet the increasing student population.  That means making difficult decisions, including cutting 34 non-teaching jobs.

By Michael Schwanke (WICHITA, Kan.) Monday night the Wichita School Board shared results from its "Board Night Out" event last week.  About 1,000 community members participated in the event. Board members wanted feedback from the community before any cuts are made.  Community members used the districts "value list" to tell the board what they value most. Overall, the most popular was music.  It ranked at the top of the middle school list, and was among the most popular for elementary and high schools.

The Garden City Police department is working with the school district after a report of threats found on social media. School resource officers at Horace J. Good Middle School notified authorities after noticing the post Wednesday. Police said the post contained vague threats towards the school. Certain students were also allegedly bully the poster. Classes remain in session while police and officials from U.S.D. 457 investigate. No arrests have been made.

A middle school counselor in Saline County has been charged with rape in connection to having a relationship with a student. Prosecutors charged 31-year-old Brooke Dinkel, of Salina, with 10 counts of rape for having sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 14. She also charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy with a child under the age of 14. Dinkel was arrested Friday after administrators with the Smoky Valley Middle School...

The Maize school district prepares to ask the community about the needs of its schools, and a possible bond issue. Over the past year-and-a-half the Maize district had planning groups look at possible improvements. The final results include $74.9 million worth of improvements and expansions in five areas. Some of the biggest possible improvements come at the middle school level. The planning committee proposed building a new middle school and renovating the current Maize Middle School at 45th and Maize.

Officials with the Republic County School District plan to close the middle school at the end of the school year. It is a move they believe will save $150,000 dollars a year. The school is more than 80 years old, that means some parents of the students currently enrolled will be saying good-bye to their middle school, as well. "It's emotional because my wife and I both attended this school and one of our daughters went through school here," Daryl Rieke, a father of current student who is in fifth grade.

Wichita's Hadley Middle School received national praise this week. It's the only middle school in Kansas to earn certification for its Project Lead the Way-Gateway to Technology program. The award will give Hadley the opportunity to test its pre-engineering and technology curriculum. "In 7th we have a design and modeling which is using 3D software and they also do a bit of science and technology, explore nanotechnology," said Sherri Molde, PLTW teacher. "Then in 8th grade, we get into electricity and learning about automation and robotics.

Concerns over a possible lightning strike prompted officials to evacuate Derby Middle School for a short time Friday morning. Students were taken to another building until the situation was deemed safe. 911 dispatchers tell us students were allowed back to class a short time later.  

The numbers are in. Wichita Public Schools have 536 more students enrolled this school year than last year. The district's enrollment as of September 20 was 50,639 students. Enrollment is the highest enrollment since 1975. “As we added new schools to the district and studied student population projections as we changed the school boundaries last spring, we were prepared for an increase of students. We saw population shifts at every grade level,” Superintendent John Allison said in a statement.

Valley Center Public Schools have cancelled school Friday at Valley Center Middle School. The district decided to cancel school because of a water main break. The break happened Thursday afternoon. The extent of any damage is not known. Superintendent Cory Gibson is meeting with administrators to decide how to handle school activities scheduled for Thursday night and Friday. Expect updates on Eyewitness Newscasts and online at KWCH.com.

1,600 new iPads. Derby Middle School is gearing up to have those in the hands of their students by December. Teachers say it will revolutionize the way they teach and students learn. “Kids are coming into the digital age where all of the information is at their fingertips,” said Derby Middle School teacher Cory McCracken. McCracken teaches his Derby Middle School students on desktops, but soon his computer lab will get an upgrade. “I am really excited about getting the iPads in the classroom.  It's really going to open up a new media for teachers to use, and students will be able to access information at a much quicker rate,” said McCracken.

A new study finds 20% of 3rd graders have a cell phone.  The number goes up to more than 80% by Middle School. 90% of 3rd graders also go online. The study was done in an effort to find out if the availability of technology plays a role in cyberbullying.  Check out the research here , and let me know what you think.