Category: Education

WATCHDOGS program to begin Sept. 25 at Grant Elementary

The WATCHDOGS program will kick off the year from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Grant Elementary School, 1510 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The event includes a Dads and Kids’ Pizza Night to launch the WATCHDOGS (Dads of Great Students) program.

The program encourages fathers to be active in their students’ education.

Each year thousands of schools across the country offer WATCHDOGS programs to reach out to father and father-figures for their students, according to a spokesman for the program.

The men are invited to take at least one day off work during the school year and spend it volunteering in their child’s school. Some of the roles they fill are crossing guards, car or bus rider facilitators, hallway monitors, library assistants, lunchroom helpers, classroom and homework tutors and playground or gym coaches.

According to program information, studies have shown a positive adult male role model has a positive effect on the development and educational success of a child, increasing the child’s likelihood of graduating and getting good grades, while at the same time decreasing the likelihood of the child living in poverty, getting involved with drugs and alcohol and avoiding choices that result in a criminal record or teen pregnancy.

The benefits of the program include a positive male role model for students; extra security for the schools; more time spent with children in the school; and better information about how to help the schools meet the educational goals of students.

Moses Wyatt Jr. is working with the WATCHDOGS at Grant Elementary School. The program has a website at dadsofgreatstudents.com.

New requirements may make it easier for some to get into Kansas colleges, harder for others

by Nomin Ujiyediin, Kansas News Service

The Kansas Board of Regents voted Wednesday to change the benchmarks for in-state students to attend the state’s six public universities, and class-rank requirements are out.

The move is meant to increase the number of Kansas high schoolers who are eligible to attend Kansas State University, Emporia State University, Pittsburg State University, Fort Hays State University, Wichita State University and the University of Kansas.

It’s also expected to help more first-generation college students attend Kansas universities and simplify the required list of academic prerequisites. But critics say they’re concerned changing standards could reduce high schoolers’ readiness for college.

Currently, Kansas high school students who want to attend a public university must take a specific number of classes in English, math, science, social sciences and electives. To attend any university except KU, they must have at least a 2.0 GPA in those classes; KU requires applicants to have a GPA of 3.25 in all classes and an ACT score above 21, or a GPA of 3.0 and an ACT score above 24.

“This has resulted in a pretty complicated process that creates confusion among the applicants and the counselors and the parents,” said Daniel Archer, vice president of academic affairs for the Board of Regents, at the meeting in Topeka.

Archer said it was hard for universities to keep track of which high school classes met which admissions requirements.

“It’s a pretty onerous process to review individual courses,” he said, “because it’s not something you can automate.”

Under the new admissions criteria, the classes will be recommended, but not required.

Plus, students will be admitted if they meet the same ACT minimum or if they meet a new overall GPA requirement. Emporia State, Pittsburg State, Fort Hays State and Wichita State will require either an ACT score of 21 to get in or a GPA of 2.25. K-State will require either an ACT score of 21 or a GPA of 3.25.

Class rankings, which are currently taken into account, will go away. That’s because, Archer said, it’s easier to compare GPA across different high schools, while class rank is a less useful marker of academic ability.

This story has been corrected to show that the 2.0 GPA requirement at five schools only matters for the currently required set of classes, not a student’s overall GPA.
Nomin Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas News Service. Follow her on Twitter @NominUJ or email nomin (at) kcur (dot) org.
The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.
Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished by news media at no cost with proper attribution and a link to ksnewsservice.org.
See more https://www.kcur.org/post/new-requirements-may-make-it-easier-some-get-kansas-colleges-harder-others

Annual PiperFest to be Sept. 28

Editor’s note: Because of rain in the forecast, the schedule of PiperFest has changed. Some events now will be held on Sept. 29, while others will continue Sept. 28. To see the new schedule, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/piperfest-schedule-changes-because-of-weather/.

by Mary Rupert

Preparations are underway for the annual PiperFest, a community festival from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Piper High School, 4400 N. 107th St., Kansas City, Kansas.

The annual event will raise funds for the Piper Public School District 203, according to Sean Ziolo, who is volunteering with the festival’s car show.

Highlights of the event will include a pancake breakfast, run-walk, auction, car show, carnival, alumni softball game, bingo, concessions and food trucks.

The day begins with a Boy Scouts pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the Piper High School Commons, 4400 N. 107th St.

A 5K run-walk follows from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. starting at Piper Elementary School East. The event is coordinated by Anytime Fitness. The race begins at 8 a.m., with late registration accepted through 7:30 a.m. Online registration ends Sept. 23, and details are at https://www.piperfest.com/5k.

A silent auction opens at 7 a.m. and runs through 8 p.m. The event will be in the Piper High School Commons. All funds raised will go back to the Piper Public Schools. This year, persons also may participate in the auction through “ClickBid,” a mobile app. For more information, see https://www.piperfest.com/auction.

The PiperFest Car and Truck Show will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Piper High School south parking lot. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., then the car show will begin with the national anthem at 11:30 a.m. There are plans to have two tow trucks supporting an American flag in the air at the car show; entrants should be able to drive under the flag.

The entry fee for cars and trucks will be $10, Ziolo said. All models and makes of vehicles are eligible to enter the judged show, he said.

He said entries were down a little last year because of the weather, and he hopes the show draws 200 to 300 cars this year.

The show will hand out over 70 awards, along with cash prizes. The “best of show” award is $200; second runner-up is $100 and third runner-up is $50. The principal’s choice award winner will receive a trophy and the picture of the vehicle will go on next year’s T-shirt, fliers and banners.

A special class for anyone 25 and younger will include 15 “Rising Star” awards to recognize youth who enter the car show.

Besides the top awards, there will be giveaways to car show entrants including a TV set, neon signs, gift cards to restaurants and tools, with donations from a lot of sponsors, he said.

The rain date will be Sunday, Sept. 29.

For more information on the car show, visit https://www.piperfest.com/carandtruckshow.

PiperFest also includes an alumni softball game from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 28 at Piper High School baseball field.

In addition, there will be soccer and track skills stations from 10 a.m. to noon at the district stadium.

The carnival, community stage and vendors will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at Piper High School. A $20 carnival wristband will be available. Music performances also are part of the festival.

Bingo will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Piper High School Commons, with concessions available.

Ziolo said eight food trucks will be at the festival.

There is no admission charge to attend the festival.

“We look forward to having everyone out and we appreciate their support,” Ziolo said. “We look forward to seeing old friends and making new, and making the car show one of the best in KC.”

For more information, visit www.piperfest.com or https://www.facebook.com/pipercarshow/.