march 2015
EXPLORE KANSAS ON SPRING BREAK STUDENTS TO BE HONORED FOR EXCELLENCE IN ART Wichita Family • March 2015 - 1
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march 2015
Inside: 6
News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools
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Explore Kansas for your Spring Break 2015 trips
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Protecting your peepers from the sun’s harmful rays
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Wichita native serves aboard USS Fitzgerald
Wichita Family • March 2015 - 3
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Wichita Family Magazine is published 12 times a year by Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. Wichita Family Magazine is available free, at schools, stores, restaurants, libraries, retailers and local attractions, as well as other places families frequent. For a complete list of where to find Wichita Family, or for subscription rates, email us at publisher@wichitafamily.com or visit our website at www.wichitafamily.com. Copyright 2015 by Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Wichita Family Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or contest fulfillment from third parties. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Wichita Family is distributed free of charge. The magazine’s advertisers make this possible, so support them! We reserve the right to edit submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication, but we reserve the right to refuse material. Materials will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. 4 - www.wichitafamily.com
Message from the Publisher Kansas contains so many options for families, and spring break presents the perfect opportunity to explore all it has to offer. This month’s feature combines those two — exploring Kansas and spring break. The great folks at the Kansas Sampler Foundation, located in Inman, were gracious enough to take time to share with us all the cool sites and places that make up Kansas. The cover photo is of the tram rides at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge north of Canton at the southeastern tip of the Smoky Hills. There you can get up close and personal with bison and elk. It’s a pretty specTodd Vogts tacular place, publisher@wichitafamily.com
and it is sure to be a crowd pleaser for all the members of your family. After seeing those herds of animals, you can go further west into the park and hike around or fish at the McPherson State Fishing Lake. The best part? It is within a 90-minute drive of Wichita! If you are interested, call Cliff Peterson at 620-628-4592 to discuss tram ride opportunities. Of course, Kansas offers even more than Maxwell. Check out the feature. It is jampacked with great suggestions for a fun and adventurous spring break or just weekend roadtrip. No matter what you do, remember to enjoy the journey. It is what makes any exploration truly memorable. Speaking of a journey, Wichita Family Magazine went on a little journey of its own last month when we took a different approach to our coverage of Valentine’s Day. Our essays on love were a gamble,
but it seems to have paid off judging by the nice emails we received following the distribution of the February edition. It was also a special time for me personally because on Feb. 13 — yes, Friday the 13th — I proposed to my girlfriend, who happened to be one of the essayists. We are already deep into the process of planning our special day, and everything is going smoothly. We are anxiously anticipating our wedding this summer. This may seem like it is happening pretty quickly, but that is for good reason. Besides the labor of love that is Wichita Family Magazine, we are also both full-time teachers, so we wanted to have the wedding this summer before the next school year begins. This year our spring breaks don’t line up, but we are both hopeful they will fall on the same week next year so we can go do some Kansas exploring of our own. Wichita Family • March 2015 - 5
News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools From left, Dodger, school mascot; Susan Rosell, principal,; Amy Stanislowski, Milken Award recipient; Lowell Milken, Milken Family Foundation Co-Founder; Sheril Logan, BOE President; Dale Dennis, Deputy Kansas Education Commissioner; Kathy Busch, Kansas State BOE and John Allison, Superintendent.
Dodge third-grade teacher receives national Milken Award
Amy Stanislowski, third-grade teacher at Dodge Literacy Magnet, received the national Milken Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation for outstanding teaching. She was surprised with the honor during a special assembly. Referred to as “The Oscars of Teaching,” by Teacher Magazine, the purpose of the Milken Award is to recognize, celebrate and reward teachers, principals and other education professionals who make significant contributions to the education of children. Recipients are selected early to mid-
career for what they have achieved and for the promise of what they will accomplish. Stanislowski received an unrestricted cash award of $25,000 and now belongs to a network of more than 2,600 educators, allowing her to share ideas with outstanding teachers from across the country. Stanislowski said she’s will probably use some of her award to support her students and to take classes to further her education.
Cloud hosts gardening class for parents
Parents of Cloud Elementary students learned some new skills while their children were in school. Rebecca McMahon from K-State Research and Extension Center hosted a gardening class for parents. Parents learned the basics of plant care, vegetable gardening, starting seeds, growing flowers and houseplants along with other skills to give them a green thumb. The class was offered once a week for four weeks.
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Parents of Cloud Elementary students learn the basics of gardening.
Students in Shane Koranda’s Technology Student Association was named Best in Region for their “Homework in ANY Language” app concept.
McAuliffe named Best in the Region with mobile app idea Middle school students in Christa McAuliffe Academy’s technology class are happy to be named Best in the Region in the Verizon Innovative App Challenge. The students’ concept for an app, “Homework in ANY Language,” was named Best in the State and Best in the Region. Although the students didn’t win the national title, they are happy with making it as far as they did in the competition. Students Katelyn Jamoul, Autumn Travis, Angela Vu, Bilal
Shahzad, Kade Chhang, Tabor Morris and Aleesha Powell submitted the “Homework in ANY Language” app concept to the competition. The proposed app translates homework instructions orally into different languages by hovering over the written text using the smart device’s camera. The goal is to assist nonEnglish speaking parents with their child’s homework. For winning Best in Region, the school received $5,000 to support STEM programs.
Lawrence and Benton students get bookshelves from Rotary
First-grade students at Lawrence and Benton Elementary Schools received gifts to encourage their love of reading. Members of the West Side Rotary made the wooden bookshelves for every first-grade student to take home, plus two books to add to the shelf. “This is a great program for our students,” said Benton principal Christy O’Toole. “Many of our students have older siblings who got the bookshelves when they were in first grade, so they are excited to get them too.” This is the 26th year the organization has given book shelves and books to students.
Lawrence Elementary students show off their books and bookshelves they received from West Side Rotary.
Wichita Family • March 2015 - 7
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This is one of M.T. Liggett’s whirligigs, which can be seen along U.S. 400 west of Mullinville. Liggett is a Kanas artist who uses metals and other mediums to create interesting works, some of which are whimsical and some that are more satirical or political in nature. (Photo courtesy of the Kansas Sampler Foundation) 8 - www.wichitafamily.com
Spring Break 2015 Explorations of Kansas offer numerous getaway options By Todd Vogts Warmer weather is around the corner, and schools are quickly approaching the magical time of spring break. For many families, this means trying to find something for their children to do for a week without homework and classes. Often the children’s break turns into family vacation time, with destinations as sandy beaches or snowy ski resorts in mind. However, staying in state is a viable option. Marci Penner, Executive Director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, said Kansas offers many options for family fun and exploration on a spring break adventure. “If you’re interested in getting to know your own state, spring break offers a great opportunity of time to see the state. All choices are available, from free to some cost,” she said. “Most of the larger communities have tourism brochures that you can call for and have sent to you, but they also have the information online. Just Google a town and tourism attractions.” The Kansas Sampler Foundation is a nonprofit located near Inman, Kan., whose mission is to preserve and sustain rural culture by educating Kansas about Kansas and supporting and networking rural communities. Penner started the foundation with her deceased father, Mil Penner, in 1992, so she has decades of experience and knowledge to back up her claims of Kansas being a destination. “It’s fun to just get out and explore,” she said. “Get a Kansas map and have your kids pick some towns they want to visit. Maybe they can help find information online or just go and see what you find. If everyone is willing to adopt an explorer spirit, you can have a great time.”
Penner said it can easily become an educational spring break. “Make charts for architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history and people, and fill them in with what you find in each town,” she said. “Choose a quest for your stay-cation. Count how many water towers have a green top and how many have a red. Maybe they have a school logo. There are so many things you can notice and chart.” The options for a quality exploration of the state are endless. “Maybe you want to stick your feet in every state lake, or go to every town under 400 people in a 10-county region. Maybe you want to go to each of the 30 operating soda fountains in the state. Maybe you want to find the playgrounds in each town and slide down every slipper slide. Maybe you want to find all the old-fashioned
teeter totters.” To make this happen, Penner said you just need to decide where you want to go, choose a quest, and hit the road. “Choose something you’re interested in and make it fun,” she said. “Cemeteries can be a great deal of fun! Some gravestones are artistic, others say funny things, and some are full of symbols. It’s interesting to see how one cemetery varies from another.” As Penner said, Kansas does offer experiences at little to no cost, which is especially important for a family on a budget. “When I was young, my dad piled all of us in the car on a Sunday morning and said, ‘We’re going east today until we can’t go any further.’ We took a picnic lunch, bird books, bird charts and binoculars and had the best time,” she said. “Just choose a direction and
Explorers try out the new steps down at the Big Well, which is located in Greensburg. The Big Well is the world’s largest hand-dug well and was completed in 1888 as the town’s original water supply. It is 109 feet deep and 32 feet in diameter. (Photo courtesy of the Kansas Sampler Foundation) Wichita Family • March 2015 - 9
go. Eat at locally owned cafes, talk to the locals and take the backroads.” Penner said driving the backroads, especially the dirt roads, is one of her favorite activities to take part in. “You’ll find them in every county, and they usually lead to some kind of adventure,” she said. ““In March, many small town museums are not open and many locally owned restaurants are closed on Monday and Sundays. Call ahead if you’re counting on a particular restaurant being open.” Not only are many activities free, they are also family friendly. “Natural playgrounds include Rock City near Minneapolis, Mushroom Rock State Park in Ellsworth County and the Castle Rock Badlands in Gove County,” Penner said. “You can get rides into buffalo herds at Indian Creek Bison near Haven, LCL Buffalo Ranch near Clifton and Maxwell Wildlife Game Refuge at Canton. Almost every state or federal lake has great hiking trails.” To turn trips to such locales into a game, Penner said the Kansas Explorers Club, which is an organization under the Kansas Sampler Foundation, offers and Explorer Auto Bingo sheet to members. Membership costs only $18.61 for individuals or $30 for
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These are the Badlands behind Castle Rock, located in Gove County. They are a series of large, heavily sculpted chalk monoliths that are sometimes referred to as the Chalk Pyramids. The chalk was deposited during the Cretaceous Period of geologic history, about 80 million years ago, when the central interior of the U.S. was covered by a seaway. (Photo courtesy of the Kansas Sampler Foundation) a family. “I’ll send the Auto Bingo form and last several issues of the print newsletter to find more places to go,” she said. Penner said there is a lot most people don’t know about the state, such as the various physical landscape
features of different areas. “I’m not sure people realize that we have 11 different physiographic regions ranging from the Flint Hills and Red Hills to the High Plains and Arkansas River Lowlands,” she said. “Each one has a different physical geology, differ-
Destinations within 90 minutes of Wichita Strataca, the Kansas Underground Salt Museum: Hutchinson Kansas Cosmosphere: Hutchinson Maxwell Wildlife Refuge: Canton Beaumont Cafe and wooden water tower: Beaumont Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: Chase County Luciano’s: Mulvane Indian Creek Bison: Haven Coronado Heights: Lindsborg Quadracycles: Lindsborg Redz Soda Fountain: Norwich 10 - www.wichitafamily.com
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ent soils, different landscapes. It’s so interesting to note when you leave one area and drive into another.” Again, Penner said visiting these different types of land could prove educational. “The Kansas state map is a great tool,” she said. “Help your kids learn how to read a map. At the top is shows the population of every town. There is a chart at one side of the map that shows those different physiographic regions. Mark up the map. Highlight towns when you’ve been there. There are so many things to learn from a map.” For Penner, her ideal spring break stay-cation in Kansas involves trips not too far from Wichita. “One good day trip from Wichita is to travel to Kiowa County,” she said. “In Greensburg some mustdo’s are the Big Well and the Kiowa County Museum and soda fountain. Continue beyond Mullinville to the Birney-Fromme round barn south of town, and the M.T. Liggett whirligigs on U.S. 400 west of town. The Country Cafe on U.S. 54 south of town is a good place to eat. “In Haviland, shop at the Hardware and Convenience Store. Then head south to the Kansas Meteorite Museum and enjoy learning about meteorites before heading to Belvidere to 73rd Road to enjoy some beautiful backroad scenery.” Attractions such as artist M.T. Liggett’s work are the types of items highlighted in the Kansas Guidebook for Explorers, which came out in 2005. It is a resource for all Kansas has to offer, and Penner and Kansas Sampler Foundation Assistant Director WenDee LaPlant are in the process of updating the book. “WenDee and I are currently going to every town in the state to research for the updated version,” Penner said. “It will come out in 2016. The book features explorer-attractions that might not be listed in a traditional tourism brochure. We look at the architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history and people in each of the 626 incorporated cities to see what will be of interest to those who buy the book.” The Kansas Sampler Foundation — as a nonprofit funded by memberships, donations and earned income, especially book income — does what it does to help educate citizens about the state. “Each town I visit, each person I visit with is just one more reason to do what I do,” Penner said. “I fall more in love with Kansas with each adventure.” For more information concerning the Kansas Sampler Foundation and to see all the organization does and offers, please visit www.kansassampler.org. And for more options on in-Kansas spring break options, Penner suggests using information already compiled. “I’d highly recommend getting a copy of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Guidebook, which has directions, hours and descriptions for 216 of the best places in Kansas for everything from food and art to history and geography. Or you can go online to www.8wonders.org,” she said. “The state tourism office also has information at www. travelks.com.”
Visit Spring Break!
National Traveling Exhibit Now Open! Take a walk on the wild side as you encounter endangered species and the people who have dedicated their lives to help them survive.
NEW DOME FILM Now Open! Graze nose to nose with hippos, dance with bears and flip with sea otters. Enjoy this lighthearted and imaginary look at animals large and small.
www.exploration.org 300 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita, KS 67203
Wildlife Rescue is a production of Science North, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
Wichita Family • March 2015 - 11
UV and You Protecting your peepers from the sun’s harmful rays
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ost people aren’t aware that the sun can do damage to their eyes when they are unprotected from ultraviolet (UV) rays. Ultraviolet radiation is invisible to the human eye and damage is cumulative over time, so it’s imperative for everyone - from young kids to grandparents - to take the necessary steps to protect their eyes. Wearing sunglasses is an easy way to shield the eyes while outdoors, but it’s important to look beyond the choices in frames and find sunglasses with lenses that offer the best UV protection. E-SPF(r), or Eye Sun Protection Factor, is a global index created by Essilor International that rates the overall UV protection clear and sunglass lenses provide for the eyes versus going without eyewear.
Varied degrees of protection Lenses with an E-SPF index of 50+ means your eyes are 50 times more protected than they are without wearing lenses at all. The index ranges from zero to 25 for clear corrective lenses and from zero to 50+ for polarized sunglass lenses.
Finding the right shades To better protect your eyes from harmful UV rays outdoors look for sunglasses that offer the following: • Lenses with an E-SPF index of 50+ • Large, close-fitting wrap-around frames to reduce exposure to rays coming from around the lenses • Polarized lenses - adds 12 - www.wichitafamily.com
Photo courtesy of Getty Images protection by reducing glare reflecting off of water, asphalt, windows and snow Many people are not aware they can also get their eyewear prescription in sun lenses, and a majority of people don’t know there are options for lenses beyond the ones already in the frame. Xperio UV(tm) superior polarized lenses provide users with comprehensive UV protection on both the front and backside of the lenses and reduce the amount of glare from reflective surfaces.
Xperio UV lenses have an E-SPF index rating of 50+ and deliver maximum scratch resistance and cleanability. From everyday activities to outdoor sports and recreation, your eyes deserve protection from harmful sun exposure. To learn more about protective eyewear for any season, including Xperio UV polarized sunglasses, visit www. xperiouv.com. — Family Features
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Wichita native serves aboard USS Fitzgerald
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YOKOSUKA, Japan – A 2012 Northwest High School graduate and Wichita native is serving aboard the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), living and working at the Navy’s forward-deployed base south of Tokyo. Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Belcher is an damage controlman aboard the destroyer operating out of Yokosuka, which is located approximately 35 miles south of Tokyo and accommodates the United States’ furthest forward-deployed naval forces. An Arleigh Burke-class guidedmissile destroyer, Fitzgerald is 505 feet long or more than 1 1/2 football fields. The ship is 66 feet wide, weighs more than 9,200 tons, and its four gas turbine engines can push the ship through the ocean at nearly 35 miles per hour. The ship is named in honor of Lt. William Charles Fitzgerald, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism on August 7, 1967 in Vietnam. As a Sailor with numerous responsibilities, Belcher said he is proud to serve his country aboard a destroyer in Japan. “I am responsible for all shipboard firefighting equipment and any kind of firefighting training,” said Belcher. Belcher also said he is proud of the work he is doing as part of the Fitzgerald’s 300-member crew, living thousands of miles from home, and protecting America on the world’s oceans. “I like being on a smaller ship because it makes it like a close knit community,” said Belcher. “Fitzgerald sailors represent every state in the union as well as a diversity of ethnicities. It is an honor to lead and serve with the finest sailors the nation has to offer,” said Cmdr. Chris England, the ship’s Commanding Officer. “These sailors should be justifiably proud of their accomplishments – a direct reflection of their dedication to mission accomplishment, motivation, and commitment to the Navy.” Approximately 40 officers and
260 enlisted men make up the ship’s company. Their jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the 2 billion dollar destroyer running smoothly — this includes everything from washing dishes and preparing meals to maintaining engines and handling weaponry. Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, destroyers provide the required war fighting expertise and operational flexibility to execute any tasking overseas. With multi-mission capabilities in surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare, anti-air warfare, ballistic missile defense, and humanitarian assistance, Arleigh Burke destroyers excel as the Navy’s premier fighting warship. Assigned to U.S. Seventh Fleet, Fitzgerald sailors are continuously on watch throughout the Indo-AsiaPacific region, acting as America’s first responders in that part of the world. As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most versatile combat ships, Belcher and other Fitzgerald sailors understand they are part of a forwarddeployed team that is heavily relied upon to help protect and defend America across the world’s oceans. “The Navy has given me a great chance to see the world through all the ports we go to,” said Belcher.
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Wichita Center for the Arts to recognize award-winning students at 2015 Scholastic Art Awards at two ceremonies
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W. Ellington, director emeritus at The Wichita Center for the Arts. Because of limited space, each recipient may invite two guests to the Gold Key Ceremony. The Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition will be open to the public during that time. All works in the Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition will be on view at The Wichita Center for the Arts through March 8. The Scholastic Art Awards offer early recognition of creative teenagers and scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors. The awards are national in scope and administered by the Alliance for Youth Artists and Writers. The process begins as students from across the country in grades 7 through 12, supported by their visual arts teachers and other community mentors, create and submit their best works of art. Each work is reviewed by a panel of art professionals for originality, technical skill, and emergence of personal voice or vision. For more information about The Scholastic Art Awards visit wcfta.com.
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The Wichita Center for the Arts will recognize the award- winning students of the 2015 Scholastic Art Awards in two events March 7 and 8. Both events will be hosted by Elizabeth B. Koch and the K.T. Wiedemann Foundation, Inc. Silver Key and Honorable Mention award winners will be recognized at an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. The event will be held at The Wichita Center for the Arts, Rounds Gallery. S tudents who were awarded Silver Key Awards and Honorable Mention will collect their certificates at this open house while attendees view the award-winning work. The 2015 Scholastic Art Award Gold Key ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 8, and will be held at The Wichita Center for the Arts, Irene Vickers Baker Theatre. At this ceremony, winning students will receive their Gold Key Award. Additionally, generous individuals, businesses and educational institutions in Kansas who recognize the importance of art in schools will present cash awards and scholarships to several participating students. Last year sponsors gave more than $2,000,000 in scholarships and cash prizes. This year’s master of ceremonies is Ashley Arnold, news reporter at KSN Channel 3, with introductions by Howard
Wichita Family • March 2015 - 15
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