IT WAS A BANNER DAY FOR WP STUDENTS AT THE LACROSSE MUSIC FESTIVAL! Western Plains students from grades 5th through 8th competed at the LaCrosse music festival. Students earned 9 ratings of I or I+ (highest) and 10 ratings of II or II+ (second highest) out of 19 entries. For many of them this was the first time that they had ever participated in a contest. This festival has a long tradition of excellence! The LaCrosse Music Festival celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. The kids were shocked to learn that Mrs. Flax competed at LaCrosse when she was in 5th grade! Mrs. Flax is incredibly proud of her students performances and how well they represented Western Plains! GO BOBCATS!!! ❤️🐾❤️ 🎼
On Saturday, March 5th, the five Junior High Robotics teams went to STATE in Garden City. With some students gone, there were some internal team switches. Placings were 19th, 17th, 15th, 14th, and 9th place. Great job, Bobcats!
Junior High STEM students visit the Rocketry Lab at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, yesterday. https://youtu.be/k4uomXiMASg
The Junior High STEM students visited the Cosmosphere yesterday in Hutchison. They explored the museum, visited the Planetarium, and learned about Rocketry in the Lab.
Now, the students will be transferring their STEM knowledge as Ms. Hughbanks takes her 5 Junior High teams to STATE Robotics at Garden City High School this weekend.
The month of March is "Music in Our Schools" month! I want to thank Mr. Jones and the Board of Education for allowing me to attend the Kansas Music Educators Association Conference in Wichita. I learned so much from so many excellent teachers!
One thing that was emphasized at the conference over and over is the importance of teaching music in our schools. Music education not only helps students learn one of the arts, it helps them learn all parts of the curriculum. One year in music improves grades in other subjects by 11%. When looking at what doctors studied in college, the largest group of them were music majors. To see how music affects the brain, click on the link below to watch a short video: https://www.ted.com/talks/anita_collins_how_playing_an_instrument_benefits_your_brain?language=en
The most important reason to have music in our schools is that EVERY child has the potential to make music! Music allows children to express themselves, create, expand their knowledge of cultures and history, and connects them with other human beings. Thank you for the privilege of being your child's music teacher! 🎼🥁🎷🎹🎻🎸🎺❤️
LACROSSE MUSIC FESTIVAL: FRIDAY, MARCH 4TH
North students must be at their school no later than 6:30 a.m. to load instruments onto the bus. Departure time is 6:45. We will return to the school at 3:25.
South students must be at their school no later than 7:15 a.m. to load instruments onto the bus. Departure time is 7:30. We will return to the school at 1:00.
Concessions will be sold at the festival. Students may bring their lunch if they wish. Please have your child observe the dress code that was sent home.
Our students have worked very hard on their music pieces, and they are ready to perform in front of a judge. I'm looking forward to watching their performances, for I know that they will be AMAZING!!! GO BOBCATS!!! ❤️🐾❤️🎼
South Elementary placed 39th at todays robotics meet in Garden City. Students were pleased to learn a lot about the game and driving their robot, as they just finished their robot yesterday.
To celebrate “2’s Day” Mrs. Flax’s JH Band in Bazine took a picture of what they were doing at 2:22 on 2/22/22. Needless to say, they were having fun during band practice! What were you doing at 2:22 on “2’s Day?”
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On Friday, February 25th, students will not have school. Teachers will have a teacher work day that day.
Enjoy your upcoming 3 day weekends!
Hello, my talented music students and proud parents! Please add this correction and addition to the music event schedule: March 8th is the HS League Music Festival at Colby Community College. March 23rd is the JH League Music Festival, also at Colby Community College. When I get more information, I will send home a note and post it here. 🎼 🎹 Mrs. Denice Flax
On Saturday, January 22nd, eight junior high students from Western Plains participated in the Southwest Kansas Music Educators Association District Middle School Honor Choir at Dodge City Middle School. Students had to audition to be accepted into the Honor Choir, and they competed for spots with students from the entire southwest district of Kansas. This choir was made up of 174 students, and it was the largest choir in which our students had ever participated. The choir rehearsed for over three hours on four songs with clinician, Matthew Nutter, vocal music teacher from Wichita, Kansas. The SWKMEA Middle School Honor Choir sang in a concert with the SWKMEA Elementary Honor Choir to a packed house at Dodge City Middle School. Afterwards, the Western Plains students ate a special meal at Applebee's in Dodge City.
When asked what advice they would give to students who were interested in participating in KMEA Honor Choir, these kids said, "Come to rehearsal ready to work. Wear comfortable shoes, because you stand A LOT! You should try it, because it was a lot of fun!" Mrs. Flax is incredibly proud of her students! Amazing job, Bobcats! 🐾❤️🎼
Due to expected severe weather, Western Plains will be closed on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. Stay warm and be safe.
Please add this event to your music event schedule for JH / HS Band Students: Monday, February 7th -- Pep Band at Ransom. Time -- 6:00 to Clean-up. Be at the north building by 5:30 to help set up. This is Senior and Parents Night. GO BOBCATS! 🐾❤️🎼🏀🐾
Due to continued severe weather, Western Plains will be closed on Wednesday, January 26, 2022. If you do have to travel please be safe.
Due to expected severe weather, Western Plains will be closed on Tuesday, January 25, 2022.
Thirteen Junior High and High School band and choir students attended the Christmas concert at the Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria, Kansas, on Sunday, December 12th. Five choirs, made up of students from Fort Hays State University, Hays High School, and Sterling College, as well as adults from the Hays area, delighted their audience with beautiful sacred Christmas music. A brass choir also performed, as well as numerous instrumental and vocal soloists and ensembles.
Mrs. Flax and her students arrived at the church 45 minutes early, and they nearly didn't get seats. The performers entertained us with music while we waited for the concert to start. The concert itself was two hours long, filled with Christmas songs, old and new. There were times when the singers surrounded the church, giving their singing a stereophonic quality. Their music filled the cathedral and our hearts with Christmas!
Mrs. Flax and her students would like to commend every performer for their amazing performance! We thank you for donating your time to provide a free, expert-quality concert to the public!
Mrs. Flax's 2nd - 5th Grade Music Class did a songwriting activity. They had to choose a Christmas carol and change the lyrics to make a new song.
The Christmas song they chose was "Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer," and the topic they chose was Woodstock, the little yellow bird from the Peanuts comic strip.
The kids had to listen to a music pattern from the song, then make up lyrics for that pattern, matching syllables to notes. They even had to rhyme words in the correct places.
Mrs. Flax's music class had a LOT of fun writing a new song of their own!
Check out their video at
https://youtu.be/Wt5Tvt-YS3k
Mrs. Flax's Kindergarten / 1st Grade music students at WP North did a songwriting activity. They had to take the tune of a Christmas carol and change the words to make a different song.
The kids chose the song "Frosty the Snowman," and the topic they chose was Mrs. Flax. They brainstormed ideas of what they know about their music teacher. It was surprising to Mrs. Flax just how much her students know about her!
Then they had to listen to the music patterns and write new lyrics for the patterns, matching syllables to notes. They even had to rhyme words in the correct places.
Mrs. Flax's K/1st music class had a fun time writing their own song, and it's very special to their teacher!
Check out their video at https://youtu.be/ODdHO5Dfa5Y
A letter from the Superintendent.
