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Catch up on the latest events in the Basehor-Linwood School District! 
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Magnitude.io Selects Kansas Teacher as the ExoLab-8 Astro_moji Mission Specialist
Linwood Elementary technology teacher, Lisa Turney, will have her Bitmoji avatar launch to the International Space Station with the ExoLab-8 mission!

Magnitude.io CEO Ted Tagami announced today, “Lisa Turney will serve as the ExoLab-8 Astro_moji Mission Specialist leading an extraordinary virtual field trip experience and connecting students in all settings to a plant experiment in microgravity.”

From November 12 through December 6, Magnitude.io invited educators to apply for the mission specialist position. When the pandemic changed normal school routines, Turney, along with thousands of other educators, developed virtual learning environments by creating Bitmoji classroom lessons. After submitting a Bitmoji classroom lesson and short essay, Turney’s likeness was chosen to be featured on a Bitmoji sticker that will be placed on the astrobotany experiment launching on the NG-15 cargo resupply mission in February 2021.
Upon receiving the news of her selection, Turney expressed, “In times like this, opportunity means everything. There are no field trips, assemblies, or working together in groups. It is a new world for students and teachers, but a space mission that connects students and scientists from far distances? That is truly an inspiring experience.”

Recognizing the value of scientific inquiry, Turney added, “Students will love the opportunity to do hands-on science using technology to monitor the experiment in space! Students will be part of something that has the potential to change humanity. The implications of growing food in space effectively is far reaching. They will see how true science is done and that it can be done anywhere.”

After a career as a local meteorologist, Turney decided to bring her passion for science to students. Turney is in her 13th year as a K-12 educator and 15th year as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Missouri ‒ Kansas City. She has a Bachelors of Science degree in Atmospheric Science and a Master’s degree in Teaching. A self-described science nerd, she recently joined the staff at Linwood Elementary in our district.

The ExoLab-8 mission will investigate how the stress of spaceflight affects the symbiotic relationship of red clover and nitrogen-fixing Rhizobia bacteria. ExoLab missions assist students with authentic research as they investigate agriculture on Earth and contemplate food crop production during long duration space missions. Educators can register for this virtual field trip and conduct ground trials with their students while the experiment is on the space station.

In collaboration with Space Tango, a company enabling R&D and manufacturing in space, and the ISS U.S.National Laboratory’s Space Station Explorers, Magnitude.io’s award-winning ExoLab connects students in classrooms and kitchens at a fraction of the cost of typical space-based missions. Space Tango has assisted Magnitude.io since the inaugural launch of ExoLab-1 in February 2017. Magnitude.io is a founding member of the Space Station Explorers consortium, which includes more than 1,000 U.S. teachers promoting fun, STEM experiences aboard the ISS.

Congratulations, Mrs. Turney!

BL Student Feature: Benjamin Higgins

Not only is Benjamin Higgins a 2nd grader attending Basehor Elementary School, he is currently sitting atop the NATIONAL Trackwrestling Elite Athlete Rankings in the #1 spot! 

Benjamin got into wrestling when he was four years old, and joined the Basehor Bobcats Youth Wrestling Club when he was five. 

"(It) was super awesome for the kid friendly beginner environment," Thomas Higgins, Benjamin's father said. "Benjamin won a state championship and just fell in love with wrestling thanks to head coaches Jason Christenson and James Gallet. In fact, head coach James Gallet actually gave us the phrase that we still use at home when Ben works out 'Who outworks Ben Higgins? Nobody!'"

Between the ages of 6 and 7, the realization of "how special Ben was to wrestling and how special wrestling was to Ben" helped the family make the move to Team Hammer Wrestling Academy, located in KCMO. Later that same year, Team Hammer Wrestling Academy started a secondary club in Kansas for kids like Ben that wanted to train and/or compete year round living in Kansas. Ben had goals and his parents thought Team Hammer would be able to help him achieve being "not only the best in Basehor or the best in the state, but the best ever."

Although Ben has a busy schedule with traveling for tournaments and training, he is motivated by "not falling short of being number one in sport or school or whatever you do, but having the opportunity to be number one and not taking advantage of it."

Whether his parents, coaches and friends call him The Lean Mean Tangerine, The Tangerine Dream, The Red Pill or BENFLO, Ben has several nicknames and they are all a play on how he is recognized when he walks into a room. His coaches and peers know how hard he works and his hard work has paid off as he has made his way to the top of the Trackwrestling ranking system. If you ask Ben what keeps him going in this sport, he says, "Everyone is 0-0 on Monday," meaning that no matter how you did over the weekend, whether it's Nationals or losses taken in a novice tournament, everyone starts over at scratch on Monday.

Benjamin has an Instagram handle @benjaminfloydhiggins for anyone interested in watching his journey!

While reading The Giver by Lois Lowry, Mrs. Hance's 8th grade Advanced Reading students at BLMS worked together to create a research project about their own utopia, or perfect society. Students presented and had ideas such as having a controlled climate or laws governing over the utopia restricting discrimination, etc.







BLHS Innovation Academy Student Feature: Savannah Ruth, Deer Ridge Estate

What motivated you to apply for the BLHS internship program?
I applied for the BLHS internship program because it allows students to gain real world experience while getting college credit. As an intern, you get the opportunity to learn firsthand about your future career interests.

What prompted you to enroll in the Innovation Academy?
Innovation Academy is yet another opportunity to work on real work projects. Some high school seniors could find themselves feeling burned out with school. In Innovation Academy, we do hands-on work that benefits others while we learn. We take on projects for those in need, like helping a growing business. It's an experience where everyone involved in can reap the benefits.

Tell us about the business where you are currently completing your Innovation Academy project & where you will intern in the spring semester:
I have always had an interest in business, photography, and a long-term dream of owning my own event venue. Because of the innovation academy and the internship program, I am experiencing so much that will help me in my future. Deer Ridge Estate hosts big and small events of all kinds, but they are known for their magical weddings. In just the short time I’ve been working on projects with the team at Deer Ridge Estate, I have witnessed the enormous amount of work that goes into owning a successful business.

Describe some of the experiences are you having so far:
I’m steadily learning about the functions for Deer Ridge Estates. There is more to it than the creative aspects of decorating. The scheduling, contracts, supplies, and accounting are all key to their success. I appreciate the opportunity to learn about and assist with these aspects of the business. Recently, I was given the opportunity to attend a beautiful wedding. From start to finish, Deer Ridge Estate made it perfect. I’ve also gotten to practice my interest in photography by taking pictures of all of the features Deer Ridge Estate has to offer.

What are a few takeaways you have already learned that you would like to share?
The hard work and dedication Deer Ridge Estate manager, Becky Sigurdson puts in to help a bride and grooms perfect day go smoothly amazes me. Her selfless manner creates the best environment for any event. She’s made interning an experience I’ll forever be grateful for. I’ve also learned a great business needs many hands. All of the people at Deer Ridge play an important role. There are so many different running parts to a business or operation that a good team is necessary. I’m thankful that owners Laura Snow and Mark Petersen welcomed me as an intern. Deer Ridge Estate has been a perfect match.

Congratulations to BLHS seniors Christopher Erdmann and Walker Huffman on their graduation last Thursday afternoon! Christopher, on the left, plans to finish his welding education, and Walker, on the right, plans to continue working in construction and will potentially seek a position in law enforcement or as a park ranger in the future!

AND, congratulations to Nick Molle, BLHS senior, who graduated on December 3rd! His future plans are to enter a Lineman or Pipe Welding program next semester!

Congratulations to our BLHS singers who made the 2021 All State Chorus:

Lillian Bogard
Colton Coy
Nathan Crews
Kniya Harris
Adriana Kiefer - alternate
Mena Reeves
Bailey Shaver
Maddy Shaver
Alyiah Shirley
Olivia Weber
Sonya Zamora

At the USD 458 Board of Education meeting Monday, the BOE approved a revision to the gating criteria for the Spring 2021 plan. The only change is that the gating criteria has been updated based on a recommendation from Kansas State Department of Education to allow K-5 students to stay On-Site even if the Leavenworth County Positivity Rate and New Cases per 100,000 are in the “Red” gating column. Please see the revision to the plan in the documents at the link below.

What parents need to know:

  • January 4th - 8th will be Remote Learning for all K-12 students.
  • Students who selected On-Site will go to school 4- and 5-days a week, depending on the week, with every other Wednesday remote. (See calendar in the documents linked below.)
  • The Gating Criteria document has been updated to keep K-5 students On-Site if we are in the "Red" column, per a recommendation from KSDE.
  • Remote Learning and Basehor-Linwood Virtual School are still offerings for those students who do not wish to attend On-Site.
  • There will still be a 2-week determination if/when the gating criteria is in the “Red” column to determine if/when BLMS and BLHS will be back in a remote learning environment.
  • Students are still required to wear a mask at all times on a bus and on district property. Students who cannot adhere to this procedure will not be allowed to ride the bus or attend the On-Site learning environment.
  • No outside visitors or parents will be permitted past the office/triage point during the pandemic for the health and safety of all students and staff. Only visitors with needed educational supports for students and staff will enter the building.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the District Office at 913.724.1396.

(Click on the documents below to view.)

    
Superintendent David Howard announced his retirement at Monday night's Board of Education meeting.

"It has been an honor to serve the students, teachers, staff, community and board of education the last 14 years," he said.

Read the Board Brief for December here to see what else was discussed at Monday evening's meeting!
Stay tuned into our District Facebook page next Friday and watch for The North Pole Chronicles: A Virtual Christmas Celebration from the BLHS Fine Arts Department! 

In a year where many things have been changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USD 458 has made the decision to maintain snow days as we have in the past, for the days we have built in, unless inclement weather falls on a Wednesday. We would ask that students still engage with their teachers remotely on Wednesdays, as they have already been doing this semester. We hope non-Wednesday snow days will give our families time to play in the snow and make memories of watching movies, baking cookies, reading books, etc. Once our built in snow days are used, all inclement weather days will become remote learning days.

In preparation for snow day calls, please remember that you are responsible for keeping your first and second notification phone numbers up-to-date in Skyward, so now would be a great time to double check your information! Please contact your building secretary if you need assistance making any changes.

Below is our Winter Weather Procedure for USD 458:

School will not be dismissed because of weather conditions that arise during the school day, if it is feasible for students and staff to remain safely at school. If a situation should arise and an early dismissal is needed, the Skylert phone notification system will be activated.

Living in Kansas, we know that we must deal with winter weather of all varieties. Please know that the District is always focused on the safety of our students and staff, and will make a judgment call based on the severity of the situation.  

If adverse weather conditions exist before school begins, and we decide to cancel school, Mr. Howard will first tweet the news, so if you have a Twitter account, follow him @dlhoward32. Notifications will be placed on our District home page and on the Basehor-Linwood USD 458 official Facebook page (@BasehorLinwoodUSD458).

You can also check the following TV stations for the school closing announcement:

KMBC (Channel 9)
KCTV (Channel 5)
WDAF (Channel 4)
KSHB (Channel 41)
KSNT (NBC), KTKA (ABC), KTMJ (FOX) and MTKA (CW) (Topeka)

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