Better than the rest
Girls’ basketball improves to 11-1, regains #1 ranking in the state page 9
“It is a big deal to win a hometown tournament.” Geoff Andrews
Girls’ Basketball Coach
Vol. 88, Iss. 6 January 27, 2012
Inside
McDonalds undergoes major renovations Page 3
Salina Central High School
In the midst of
After failing to make AYP, positive changes are being made.
improvement
What is the biggest change you have seen over the last four years? “I have not seen as many people picking on each other in the hallway.”
Kayla Davis Senior
“I would say the biggest improvement is people actually showing up to Gilberto Martinez school.” Senior
Leggings become new fashion trend Page 4
Basketball continues success at SIT Page 9
Photo illustration by Trent Bigler / The Pylon
Jennifer Stoddard Senior
“The best improvement I have seen are the ones with the building construction.”
“The school improvement process plan focuses on increasing relationships between students and staff.” Shanna Rector Principal
ESSDACK steps in to assist teachers, administrators in meeting AYP ‘Oklahoma!’ hits the Central stage Page 10
39
days until
Spring Break
111
days until
Summer Break February Calendar
By Riley Miller Guest Reporter
A state appointed educational service center known as ESSDACK has been around our school and in the classrooms improving instruction. Their motives include helping schools with data and improving its staff. “Their role is not to judge. It’s to provide insight. They provide an outside eye in an organization,” principle Shanna
Weese joins staff By Tessa Yungeburg Guest Reporter
From P.E student teacher to full time science teacher, all
February 1 Boys’ swimming home meet at South February 18 Regional wrestling tournament
Rector said. While at the school, ESSDACK RɚFLDOV FRPH WR WKH FODVVHV to see exactly what goes on in the classroom and what could possibly be improved.” At the recent meeting to review the observations, teachers found out that there wasn’t much to improve. “The school improvement plan focuses on increasing relationships between students and staff. It also focuses on strategies to increase higher order thinking,” Rector said.
Some teachers have had to make adjustments while others keep the same. “After the meeting I personally didn’t need to change anything. I’ve always done the higher order thinking strategies,” French teacher Mrs. Denning said. ESSDACK also said that writing the objectives for the students to see could be a needed routine plan. Another struggle for the school is to meet AYP standards. AYP stands for Adequate Yearly
in one year. This is a situation that Damian Diaz’s replacement Andrew Weese is facing. Mr. Hoelting, a retired science teacher of 32 years, had been helping out Weese while he earned his substitute teaching
license. Now that Weese has his license, the classroom is all his. “I think Mr. Hoelting and I are very similiar in the way that we teach,” Weese said. “We are both very vocal and we both love to teach.”
February 4 National thank a mailman day February 20 Presidents Day
February 11 AVCTL boys’ swimming tournament February 29 5A Sub State for boys’ basketball
Progress and their purpose is to determine if schools, districts and the state have made any improvement in student testing. Each year the state sets a goal for math and reading that the school needs to meet. Last year the school fell short in math and reading, but met it in different standards. This year the goal for reading is 90.7 precent and in math it is 88.2 percent. “Every year the goal gets tougher and tougher to reach but we still need to try and reach them,” Rector explained.
Andrew Weese Science teacher
February 14 B-Ball vs South at Bi-Center Valentines Day February 29 Leap Day (It is a leap year)