Category: Turner Area

Content about the Turner neighborhood

Saturday events

Breakfast with Santa planned Dec. 10
Breakfast with Santa is planned from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at Turner Recreation, 831 S. 55th, Kansas City, Kan. The charge for the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast is $5 for those 13 and older, and $4 for those 4 to 12. Children under 3 eat free with the purchase of an adult plate. Children may have their pictures taken with Santa for free.

Ag Hall plans visits with Santa
The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, 126th and State, Bonner Springs, is planning the Santa Express and visits with Santa Claus this weekend. There will be visits with Santa Claus at the railroad depot, pictures with Santa, games and train rides. Visits with Santa Claus are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11, at the Ag Hall. For more information, visit http://www.aghalloffame.com/.

Holiday book sale planned
A holiday book sale is planned during library hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Main Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Gently used books, including books for children and teens, will be for sale. Paperbacks will be 50 cents each and hardback books will be $1 each. From 4 to 5 p.m. only, fill up a bag with books for $5.

Health and wellness talk planned Saturday
A program on “Personal and Workplace Injury” will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Main Kansas City, Kan., Public Library auditorium, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Dr. Derrick T. Dube, a recent graduate of Cleveland Chiropractic College, will discuss how to prevent and treat injuries at home, work or in the car.

Pictures with Santa planned at Cabela’s
Cabela’s, 10300 Cabela Drive, Kansas City, Kan., is planning free Pictures with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11.

Marble-making demonstration scheduled
A marble-making demonstration will be held about 10:30 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Moon Marble Co., 600 E. Front St., Bonner Springs. The exact times of the demonstration may change. Bus tours and large groups are required to register ahead of time to schedule a demonstration. For more information, visit www.moonmarble.com or call 913-441-1432.

Stories with Santa planned Saturday
Stories and songs with Santa Claus are planned from 11 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Main Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, story time – craft room, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan. Children, tweens and teens may attend and hear Santa share favorite holiday stories. They also may get their photo taken with Santa. Hot chocolate, treat and a surprise gift also are planned. Also, those attending will be able to purchase used books as gifts for family and friends. For information, call 913-279-2128.

Pre-Christmas Party planned
A Pre-Christmas Party, or Pre-Posada Navideña, is planned from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the South Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, Meeting Room A and B, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan. The event is for all ages, including entire families.

Joint B.O.S.S. – KCKCC program offers students life-changing skills

A joint program coordinated by KCK Community Police officers Jesus Casas, left, and Kevin Terry, right, and KCKCC men’s soccer coach Ruben Rodriguez is being offered fifth grade students in four schools to promote improvement in the areas of academics, attendance and attitude. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)
A joint program coordinated by KCK Community Police officers Jesus Casas, left, and Kevin Terry, right, and KCKCC men’s soccer coach Ruben Rodriguez is being offered fifth grade students in four schools to promote improvement in the areas of academics, attendance and attitude. (KCKCC photo by Alan Hoskins)

by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Kansas City Kansas Community Police Unit and the men’s soccer program at Kansas City Kansas Community College, students that need that extra attention in four KCK schools are getting life-changing opportunities.

Titled B.O.S.S., an acronym for Being of Sound Standards, it’s a youth based program geared toward preparing youth to become future leaders and productive citizens through attitude enhancement and promoting academic standards.

“Our goal is to build a relationship with the youth that empowers young people from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to become successful in high school and beyond,” said Officer Kevin Terry, who is coordinating the program with two other KCK community police officers, Jesus Casas and Anthony Lee.

“It’s a mentoring program for fifth graders. We go to a school and have the principal and staff select 10 students who need encouragement in three areas – The AAA concept Academics, Attendance and Attitude. Once the students are selected we have shirts made that easily identify the students as B.O.S.S. students. These shirts include the school colors, logos, and the B.O.S.S. emblem.

“Then each week we visit the students at their schools to see how they are doing in the three targeted areas and evaluate what each student needs to improvement on, Those who fulfill the requirements are allowed to participate in that week’s special event. For those who fall short, they are encouraged to do better and returned to the classroom, that way the special events become motivation to do better. We look at the B.O.S.S. group as a family and we never kick anyone out.

“However, we do involve the parents in the program by requiring them to sign a contract supporting our efforts at school. If the areas of need are not implemented at home, they’re not going to work at school.”

At the same time Officer Terry was conducting the B.O.S.S. program, KCKCC men’s soccer coach Ruben Rodriguez had implemented an after school program in which members of the Blue Devil soccer team would go to schools and not only teach soccer but encourage development of various life skills.

“Neither of us knew about the other’s programs and once we found out, it was an instant partnership,” Rodriguez said. “We introduced our program under the B.O.S.S. program with a specific goal to keep these kids in school and encourage them to attend KCKCC or other area colleges.”

Right now, four elementary schools are participating in the joint program –Kennedy, Emerson, Fiske and Junction Elementary in the Turner School District.

“We’ll evaluate the program at the end of the school year with the hope of possible expansion,” Officer Terry said.

B.O.S.S. students who meet the weekly requirements will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities ranging from teamwork with LEGO building activities, attending a Royals game, bowling parties, to being able to attend a Dave and Buster’s field trip. The students will also get to hear special guest speakers from the community and the Police Department. District Attorney Mark Dupree was one of the first guest speakers to donate his time to talk to the students. There is a growing list of other community and political leaders, athletes, and potential speakers who will participate.

“Every week they get excited about what we’re going to do with them next,” Officer Terry said.

Elementary school lunch menus

Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools
Monday, Dec. 5
Pork ribette sandwich, seasoned green beans, baby carrots, diced pears, fruit salad and milk. Alternate entrees: Uncrustable sandwich, fruit salad, yogurt muffin basket.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Chicken nuggets, roll, tater tots, cucumber slices, mandarin oranges, fruit salad and milk. Alternate entrees: Southwestern chef salad, hummus plate, yogurt parfait.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Chicken and waffles, broccoli, grape tomatoes, orange wedges, fruit salad and milk. Alternate entrees: Garden chef salad, fruit salad, yogurt muffin basket.
Thursday, Dec. 8
Homestyle chili, Fritos, garden salad, banana, fruit salad and milk. Alternate entrees: Southwestern chef salad, hummus plate and yogurt parfait.
Friday, Dec. 9
Chicken quesadilla, celery sticks, cauliflower, apple slices, fruit salad and milk. Alternate entrees: Garden chef salad, fresh fruit salad, yogurt muffin basket.

Turner Public Schools
Monday, Dec. 5
Chicken nuggets with Italian bread; hot dog mac and cheese with Italian bread, garden salad, corn, pineapple, fruit; Italian chef salad, corn, pineapple, fruit and Italian bread.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Cheeseburger; stuffed taco, tater tots, garden salad, applesauce, fruit; Cobb salad, applesauce, fruit, fruit streusel muffin.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Chicken patty; fish patty, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll; chicken Caesar salad, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll.
Thursday, Dec. 8
Chicken nachos with white queso; barbecued rib on bun, garden salad, pintos, banana orange mix, fruit; taco salad, pintos, banana orange mix, fruit and cornbread.
Friday, Dec. 9
Cheese pizza; corn dog, garden salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, cinnamon apple slices, snickerdoodles; popcorn chicken salad, broccoli with dip, fruit streusel muffin, fruit, cinnamon apple slices and snickerdoodles.

Piper Public Schools
Monday, Dec. 5
Chicken nuggets with Italian bread; hot dog mac and cheese with Italian bread, garden salad, corn, pineapple, fruit; Italian chef salad, corn, pineapple, fruit and Italian bread.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Cheeseburger; stuffed taco, tater tots, garden salad, applesauce, fruit; Cobb salad, applesauce, fruit, fruit streusel muffin.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Chicken patty; fish patty, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll; chicken Caesar salad, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll.
Thursday, Dec. 8
Chicken nachos with white queso; barbecued rib on bun, garden salad, pintos, banana orange mix, fruit; taco salad, pintos, banana orange mix, fruit and cornbread.
Friday, Dec. 9
Cheese pizza; corn dog, garden salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, cinnamon apple slices, snickerdoodles; popcorn chicken salad, broccoli with dip, fruit streusel muffin, fruit, cinnamon apple slices and snickerdoodles.

Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Public Schools
Monday, Dec. 5
Chicken nuggets with Italian bread; hot dog mac and cheese with Italian bread, garden salad, corn, pineapple, fruit; Italian chef salad, corn, pineapple, fruit and Italian bread.
Tuesday, Dec. 6
Cheeseburger; stuffed taco, tater tots, garden salad, applesauce, fruit; Cobb salad, applesauce, fruit, fruit streusel muffin.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
Chicken patty; fish patty, mashed potatoes with gravy, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll; chicken Caesar salad, glazed carrots, fruit, peaches and roll.
Thursday, Dec. 8
Chicken nachos with white queso; barbecued rib on bun, garden salad, pintos, banana orange mix, fruit; taco salad, pintos, banana orange mix, fruit and cornbread.
Friday, Dec. 9
Cheese pizza; corn dog, garden salad, broccoli with dip, fruit, cinnamon apple slices, snickerdoodles; popcorn chicken salad, broccoli with dip, fruit streusel muffin, fruit, cinnamon apple slices and snickerdoodles.

All menus from all districts subject to change.