Lawrence Kids, Winter 2023

Lawrence Kids

at

Bishop Seabury Academy offers a college preparatory education in a diverse and enthusiastic learning community, promoting academic excellence and moral development while empowering students to explore their potential and to become engaged citizens of the world.

4120 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS 66047 seaburyacademy.org

Financial assistance available.

Season’s Readings

Julie Boyle - The Queen of Winter 8 12

DIY Heart Valentines

For the Kids - Foster Village Lawrence 14 18

These Lawrence Kids - Lawrence Youth Symphony Boys & Girls Club - Youth of the Year, 2023 22 26

The Best Sledding Spots in Lawrence 34

a project of Four Birds Media info@lawrencekidsmagazine.com (785) 766-5669

Thank you for reading.

All content property of Four Birds Media. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.

Season’s Readings

by Dan Coleman from the Lawrence Public Library

Snow Horses: A First Night Story, by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Micha Archer

Children’s literature lost a giant when Newbery Medalist Patricia MacLachlan died at age 84 in 2022. In two of her final picture books, 2020’s Prairie Days and this year’s Snow Horses, MacLachlan and illustrator Micha Archer conjure magic in the simple prairie life MacLachlan knew as a child in Wyoming and Minnesota. Snow Horses recounts a New Year’s Eve tradition in which of two horses pull a sleigh through a welcoming rural community on a snowy night.

Friends are Friends, Forever, by Dane Liu, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield

This poignant story revolves around the celebration of the Chinese New Year with traditional paper-cut ornaments. Based on author Liu’s own immigration story, a young Chinese girl greets the new year with her best friend before moving to America. The next year, lonely in her new home, she invites a new friend to share the holiday with her family, and they cut ornaments with the paper her old friend gave her in parting.

A Long Road on a Short Day, by Gary Schmidt and Elizabeth Stickney, illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

In this chapter book set in a bygone era, a father and young son set out on a wintry day to obtain a cow. Without enough cash, they visit neighbor after neighbor to trade one item for the next until they return home as night falls with the prized source of milk for their household.

The Snow Globe Family, by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by S. D. Schindler

Kids love miniature worlds, and this one is inside a snowglobe. Only the baby notices a tiny family just like hers on the other side of the glass, and when she gives it a shake, a blizzard envelops both families.

What Makes a Blizzard? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, illustrated by Maddie Frost

Winter weather in Kansas may feel like the whim of a cosmic baby, but the real why and how of it can be found in this volume of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science series of non-fiction picture books.

Squirrels on Skis, by J. Hamilton Ray, illustrated by Pascal Lamaitre

“Nobody knew how the mania grew. First there was one, and then there was two.” This easy reader, in which hundreds of skiing squirrels cavort to a rhyme scheme worthy of Shakespeare

or Seuss, begins with that ominous line and only gets weirder.

Mr. Coats, by Sieb Posthuma

Mr. Coats can’t get warm, so he puts on more coats. This original tall tale rings so true it feels like it’s been around for centuries, as do the surreal illustrations of Mr. Coats’ tiny head atop a colossus of parkas.

Sing a Season Song, by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Lisel Jane Ashlock

This 2015 homage to the seasons begins and ends with winter. Veteran author Yolen’s verse matches up with Ashlock’s elaborate nature paintings to create a book that feels as timeless as a fox curled up in a warm den.

Snow Play, by Birgitta Ralston

Who needs a book to play in the snow? Anyone who wants to take their winter game to the next level. Forget snowmen, this book will have kids building snow yetis, pixelmen, and Loch Ness Monsters. And if they’re not too cold, there are ice slides, snowball lanterns, and igloo hotels to make, too.

The Thing About Yetis, by Vin Vogel

Speaking of yetis, turns out they are way cuter than they are abominable. And of course they love winter, which is the thing about them referred to in the title of this highlight reel of winter fun shared by a yeti parent and child. (Is that what a young yeti is called?)

Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story, by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss, illustrated by Cinyee Chiu In this British import, a storyteller and naturalist join efforts to create a fictional walk through a winter glade in which a grandmother and grandchild discuss where animals go in winter. A perfect ending has one human tucking another into bed for a night of hibernation, too.

Will Spring Be Early? Or Will Spring Be Late? by Crockett Johnson

We’re all sick of winter by the time Groundhog Day rolls around, just like the animals in this reissued classic by Harold and the Purple Crayon author, Crockett Johnson, whose warm but minimal style really works for winter in the woods. The groundhog gets it wrong when he sees no shadow but finds a plastic flower, and assumes spring has already sprung, even as fresh snow begins to fall.

BRACES LIFESTYLE to fit your

The of

Winter Queen

Boyle, as Olaf, during a COVID bus parade

During winter in Lawrence, kids wait for the phone to ring and the familiar greeting of “Hello families, this is Julie Boyle with Lawrence Public Schools.” The message from USD 497’s executive director of communications means one thing: SNOW DAY. The Queen of Winter explains that, though she’s happy to take credit from kids for a day off, the process of declaring a snow day is a team decision.

1. How early does the school district begin looking at the forecast to consider a weather-related school cancellation?

As soon as the area forecast includes the potential for inclement weather, the superintendent and our team begin to monitor predictions and conditions. And, students and staff begin lobbying for a “snow day.”

2. Are there specific requirements (i.e. - so many inches of snow forecasted or a certain temperature)?

Safety drives the decision. Dr. Anthony Lewis confers with other administrators and the district’s student transportation provider. They take into account the forecasted or current weather conditions and their potential effect on roads, sidewalks, and school parking lots.

The district does not have snowfall or temperature requirements. It’s a judgment call. Even a little snow can be dangerous with a layer of ice underneath it. While all of our schools have heat, when it’s bitterly cold, the superintendent has to think about students who walk to school or have to wait at bus stops. City staff do a great job of clearing streets, but some school families live off of rural roads. He has to consider if school buses can safely make their routes.

I don’t envy Dr. Lewis’s role as the decision maker. It’s a tough call. We know that last-minute changes to the school schedule are a hardship for some of our school families. We try to err on the side of safety.

Of course, if schools remain open, parents may choose to keep their children home for health and safety reasons. We just ask that they call their child’s school and excuse them for the day.

3. How soon after getting word of a cancellation or late start do you begin recording your announcement message?

When our team begins to discuss the potential for weather-related safety concerns, I review our inclement weather plan and update messages. As soon as Dr. Lewis contacts me with his decision to cancel or delay the start of school, I notify staff and school families. I send recorded calls, emails, and texts.

I also post the information as an alert on all of our school and district websites and the district’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. I change the recorded greeting for the district’s main telephone number (785-832-5000) and contact local and regional media.

District procedures are to notify staff and families by 10 p.m. the preceding night, whenever possible, or by 6 a.m. All of us prefer to give everyone as much notice as possible. Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always cooperate.

4. Does anyone else in the administration ever record the phone message sent to families? Does anyone else ever want to do it?

I’ve sent school closing messages for the district since 2008. Prior to that time, the district did not have a mass notification system, so I notified the media to spread the word.

Former Superintendent Randy Weseman created a security task force that recommended the school board purchase the technology. The task force began meeting shortly after the shooting at the Virginia Tech campus in April of 2007. A local anonymous caller to 9-1-1 threatened violence at a school and a city hall in Douglas County. Since the threat was not specific to a particular school, the superintendent directed that all buildings be locked, searched, and monitored as a safety precaution. Without mass notification capabilities, I worked with local media to get the word out to the community. Concerned parents removed about 3,000 students from our schools. That same afternoon, police located a suspect, who was later convicted of making a criminal threat.

I’m grateful that we can directly inform staff and school families of safety information, as well as general school outreach. Keeping everyone informed is a priority for us.

The technology enables me to record and send messages from any phone or computer. I’ve sent school closing messages while sitting in my car in a parking lot. Lied Center staff recently reminded me that I once stepped out of a meeting and into a hallway there to announce a school cancellation. When the governor closed schools due to COVID-19, I sent those messages from the business center of a hotel while on spring break in Lake Tahoe. Most of the time, I am either at work or at my dining room table.

5. How do you think kids in USD 497 view you and your voice messages? Have you ever been stopped by a kid who recognized your voice in person?

There are serious safety reasons involved with canceling or delaying the start of school. I also understand that our kids, and some of our staff members and parents too, love their “snow days.”

Kids (and adults!) have asked to take selfies with me. That causes some quizzical looks in public places. I have some cherished snow day thank-you notes and artwork in my office from students. Kids have asked for autographs. One of our school board member’s sons framed and displayed my autograph on a table among their family photos. True story!

A Lawrence High student, now an alumna, started an Instagram Julie Boyle fan page with some creative memes. When I went to LHS to meet her and bring her some treats, she said that she thought she was going to get in trouble. I took a photo with her and told her that I got a kick out of seeing my family react to the memes.

Of course, I see a lot of comments about my calls, both good and bad, on social media. A mom once posted a poll asking whether her son should ask me to the prom. (He didn’t.) A musically gifted social studies teacher wrote a song parody about my calls to the tune of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” Accompanied by a band, he sang it to me during the Lawrence Schools Foundation Follies at Liberty Hall. That was pretty surreal and fantastic!

HOW TO /

1. Cut out heart template and trace its shape onto your recycled paper or paper bag. 2. Following along on your pencil tracing, cut out your heart envelope. Once you’ve finished cutting, now it’s time to fold. 3. Start by folding the left and right sides of your heart in first. Then fold in the curved top part of the heart down. 4. Turn your heart around and fold the bottom point into the center. Follow the dotted lines on your template as your guide. 5. Once you’ve finished folding, write a message inside, and seal with a sticker and a kiss.

Story and photos by Rebecca Zarazan Dunn

Foster Village Lawrence For the Kids

Lori Lee knows a thing or two about the challenges facing foster parents. Lee and her husband fostered two children prior to adopting them.

“We were pretty lucky to have a large support group around us, but not everyone has that available,” Lee explains. “That helped a lot with the challenges and stress of being a foster parent. When we got out of the trenches [the Lee’s youngest foster was a new born] I started to think about ways we could help other foster families and maybe lower the weight of their responsibility. We loved being foster parents, but with five kids, our house was full.”

In August, Lee, with friends Jenny Lichte and Meredith Marshall, launched the Lawrence chapter of Foster Village, an organization that works to bridge the gap between foster families and caregivers and those who want to help, meeting practical needs and providing holistic support beyond the system.

“We wanted to create a village of people working together to support these families and the kids,” explains Jenny Lichte, Foster Village Lawrence’s vice president. “Our goal is to equip, connect, and advocate for foster families so they can provide the most support for their foster children. It all comes down to doing what is best for the kids.”

Lee, the chapter’s president, explains that when a child is placed with a family, they often arrive with just the clothes on their back. Through Foster Village resources, families and children can get clothing, toiletries, and other basic necessities. In addition to helping with basic needs, the group also has events to provide short breaks for caregivers, provide meals, and connect fostering families with resources to meet other needs.

“Sometimes just knowing that other people are going through

the same experience can make a world of difference,” Lee says. “Providing an opportunity for foster parents to connect with each other can go a long way. Being a foster parent is a unique experience and knowing you’re not alone is a big help. Also, like most parents, sometimes parents just need a night out.”

The group is staffed by volunteers who collect and organize “welcome packets” for foster families to help ease the transition of accepting a new foster child. Those packets might range from clothes and toiletries to car seats and cribs.

“We have a storage unit that is organized with any and all sorts of things a child might need to help the transition,” Lichte says. “Our volunteers have collected and organized a good amount of things that any child — and family — might need at a moment’s notice. We deliver the supplies if requested and work to restock what is used.”

Though a new organization, Lee says Lawrence, and all of northeast Kansas, has been open to helping.

“All of the local child advocacy groups have been incredibly supportive,” she says. “Of course that’s not surprising. We’re all working toward the same goal: help these kids and those who are working to help the kids. We’re here to serve the people who are dedicated to serving foster children. It’s that simple.”

Foster Village Lawrence is open to donations (be on the lookout for fundraisers) and volunteers to support their mission. Those interested in learning more about the group, or foster parents looking for a little help, are encouraged to visit the group’s website: fostervillagelawrence.org. LK

Lichte, Lee, and Marshall

Lawrence Youth Symphony These Lawrence Kids

These Lawrence kids are taking their love of music beyond the classroom.

Varsity

“These kids are really, really amazing,” says Russell Clark, codirector of the Lawrence Youth Symphony. “The way they pick up new material, with limited direction, is really impressive. Each of these young musicians is a dedicated artist and it’s so much fun to be around them and watch them grow.”

The Lawrence Youth Symphony (LYS) was founded in 1967 to provide a unique extension to the instrumental music classrooms of the Lawrence Public Schools. The program is open to all instrumental music students in grades 7 through 10 interested in a fun yet challenging orchestral experience. Students seeking to participate in LYS must be active members of their school band or string orchestra program. String musicians must have at least one full year of experience on their instrument. Winds, brass, and percussion must have at least two full years of experience on their instrument.

“I think there might be a misconception about LYS being an exclusive group,” Clark says. “While we do have an audition process, we are very open to accepting any musician willing to practice and learn. This group is built on the motivation to get better, appreciate music, and have fun.”

LYS offers a full orchestra experience for students in grades 7 through 10. Those students who have graduated from the LYS program or are juniors or seniors have the opportunity to apply for an internship with the orchestra. Interns participate in all rehearsals and performances for the season, help with administrative duties, and perform with the ensemble as well as offer coaching to students in small groups throughout the rehearsal process.

Sarah Bills, a senior flautist at Lawrence High School, has been playing the instrument since eighth grade, but just joined LYS this

academic year as an intern.

“I’m so happy I joined and wished I would have joined earlier,” Bills explains. “Just this year I’ve learned a lot about music and performance, but also made a lot of good friends who share the same passion for music. Since I’m an older performer I spend a lot of time teaching younger musicians, which has been a great learning experience. It’s helped me appreciate the music teachers I’ve had, that’s for sure.”

The group, which has about 60 members, practices once a week at Lawrence High School, performs once a semester, and is supported by the Lawrence school district.

“We have all city schools represented in the symphony,” Clark explains. “LYS offers a different learning opportunity by allowing kids to rehearse and perform in a new setting with new people while in the setting of a full orchestra. We challenge kids by expecting them to know their parts when they come to rehearsal. There’s a lot of positive peer pressure involved. Each student is expected to practice on their own time and if they come to rehearsal unprepared, the rest of the symphony will hold them accountable.”

Bills says that the benefits of her time with LYS go beyond the sheet music and into the world of culinary arts.

“I’ve really loved my experience with LYS, but the donuts are the best,” she exclaims with a laugh. “Every rehearsal a parent brings boxes of donuts and, well, that’s a great reward. Music is wonderful and we all love the challenge of playing with an orchestra, but donuts with your friends is hard to beat. Come for the music, stay for the donuts.”

Year Youth of the Boys

Each year the Boys & Girls Club nominates kids who embody the values of leadership, service, academic excellence, and healthy lifestyles as their Youth of the Year.

& Girls Club photos by

The winner will be announced January 26th at Liberty Hall.

And the nominees are...

Jason Daily

Arabella Gipp is a sophomore at Lawrence High School. The daughter of Jessica Gipp, Arabella holds the 2022 Kansas Youth of the Year title. She is involved in no shortage of activities at the Club and at school, including school and Club volleyball, Keystone Club, LHS Debate, NAACP youth council, and the Student Mental Health Advocacy Group for Lawrence Public Schools. You can also say “hi” to her at the front desk of the Center for Great Futures, where she works part time. She plans on being an activist or politician after attending Standford University and majoring in political science.

La’Ron Williams is a junior at Free State High School. He is the son of Contressa and Jermell Williams and a regular attendee at the Center for Great Futures (CGF). You can find him participating in any number of activities at CGF, from playing volleyball and basketball in the gym to volunteering his time in Keystone Club. At school, he is involved in creative writing and basketball. These skills will serve him well in his collegiate career as he intends to major in creative writing at the University of Kansas. The only thing La’Ron doesn’t do is dream small—he aspires to become the president of the United States!

Ohene Danso is a sophomore at Free State High School. The son of Naomi and Alfred Danso, you may remember him from the 2022 Youth of the Year ceremony. Ohene is the definition of a well-rounded individual; spending his time at the Club playing volleyball, video games, or participating in Keystone Club. He plans on majoring in Information Technology at the Massachusetts institute of technology and hopes to become a professional volleyball player.

Chloe Clossen is a sophomore at Free State High School. The daughter of Jessica Clossen and granddaughter of Barb Clossen and Jan and Rex Tedrow, she has made a welcomed return to BGC to participate in Youth of the Year. Chloe is a basketball and softball superstar at school and an advocate for the mental health of athletes everywhere. She is still working on narrowing down her choice of college from the University of Kansas, the University of North Carolina, the University of Notre Dame, and the University of Cincinnati. She plans to become either a scrub nurse or an operating room nurse.

Audrey Rice is a senior at Free State High School. The daughter of Kimberly Abbey, she is a Club kid through and through. When she’s not playing basketball with her fellow members at the Center for Great Futures, she works as a group leader at our Sunset Hill Elementary site. She is a great role model for our elementary school members! She graduates this December and aspires to be a professional athlete or a travel nurse. She plans to attend the University of Kansas and major in nursing.

It has to snow sometime, right? Get your sleds, toboggans, and snowboards ready....

1. Centennial Park - Between 6th and 9th Streets, Iowa St and Rockledge

The thirty-five-acre park is one of the most centrally located parks in Lawrence. Oregon Trail settlers once used the land now known as Centennial Park as an area to graze livestock as they traveled west. The most popular sledding spot is the big hill just west of the 9th street parking lot. On a snowy day, cars fill the lot and families take to the hill en masse. The wide sledding area has a steep downhill which levels on a large field. Get moving too fast, and you might need the foot brakes before landing in the creek. North of the parking lot and playground is another popular hill. Though not as steep, when ridden correctly, the hill offers a longer ride. Centennial Park is filled with hills and trees, so ditch the crowds, take a walk, and find your own sledding slope.

2. “Dad” Perry Park (two parks) 1200 Monterey Way & Harvard and Parkside Road

The park is named in honor of the “Father of Gymnastics in the State of Kansas,” L. R. “Dad” Perry. The forty-five-acre park is filled with naturally wooded areas, native grasses, and includes nature trails that wind throughout the park. In addition, two large park shelters with restrooms and parking are available for families and groups to reserve. Both west and north parks feature solid sledding slopes. The hills near the west playground are steeper and more popular. The playground is on a small plateau with short, steep hills bordering the east and north sides. Tall natural grass puts the brakes on any runaway sleds. The north park has smaller hills, perfect for younger children (and lazy parents). Also, the vast open field is perfect for snow angels, snowmen, and snowball fights. The more adventurous sledders can take to the woods. The central portion of “Dad” Perry Park is dense woods dissected by trails. Many steep, tree-lined routes are available, but sled at your own risk!

3. Campanile Hill - North Side of Memorial Drive

Is there a more iconic sledding destination in Lawrence than in the shadow of the symbolic bell tower? Even after recent construction on “The Hill,” the long slope directly north of KU’s Campanile remains a “must-do” for Lawrence sledders. The hill is wide enough to comfortably accommodate the crowds and it’s almost a guarantee that someone will build a snow

Sledding Spots in The Best Lawrence

jump. Without question, Campanile Hill features the most varied selection of rides. Everything from sleds and skis to trash sacks and cardboard boxes will likely be spotted. Speed junkies have been known to forgo the grassy hill and opt for the ice-covered sidewalk. (Bring a helmet!) If classes are in session, parking can be an issue so plan on walking from your car. Be aware that students like to hit the hill after hitting the bar, so you might have to cover Jimmy’s ears a few times. Don’t forget to bring a camera and capture the views of Lawrence and Douglas County.

4. Carruth O’Leary Hall - 1246 West Campus Road

The hills just beyond the parking lot behind Carruth O’Leary Hall on KU’s campus are often overlooked by Campanile Hill sledders. The hills are steep and fast, so they may not be the best fit for younger kids. The parking lots west of Memorial Stadium have cut the length of a few routes, but many options remain for the more daring. If you can dodge sidewalks, a great run could land you on the banks of Potter Lake. Beware of rocks and branches covered by the snow. Like Campanile Hill, parking can be an issue when classes are in session. The buildings on campus may be open, so you might be able to sneak in for a quick restroom break or to warm your hands and toes.

5. That Hill at the Dam East of Clinton Lake - E. 900th Road / Near Outlet Park

For the older kids and parents that are a bit more adventurous, head out west to Clinton Lake. Park on E. 902nd Road and hike up the hill to E. 900th Road. BE VERY CAREFUL AND WATCH FOR TRAFFIC. Be sure to watch for rocks and hold on tight—the ride down is fast and not for the meek. We warned you! LK