FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Health will be the theme of the 2016 Young Readers’ Conference, “A Recipe for Healthy Living,” at Fort Hays State University. Speakers teach kids all about staying healthy through fun learning activities.

Sessions will focus on physical fitness, music and mental wellness integrated into literacy.

Events will be held in Gross Memorial Coliseum and Cunningham Hall and will welcome 200 first- to second-grade students and their adults sponsors on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and 200 third- to fifth-grade students and their sponsors on Wednesday, Sept.28.

The day will start out with guest keynote speaker Monte Selby, an education songwriter.

Selby is a former principal of Felten Middle School in Hays and taught vocal music in Hays USD 489. He now lives in Colorado.

Following Selby’s presentation, students will separate into four sessions that will be on rotation throughout the day.

The event will also feature FHSU faculty member Seth Kastle, instructor of leadership studies/Virtual College International, who will present his new books “Why is Dad So Mad?” and “Why is Mom So Mad?” that help explain what post-traumatic stress disorder is to children.

“I will talk about the importance of mental health because of the context of my books,” said Kastle. “This is a huge part of the ‘Recipe for Healthy Living.’” Kastle will also donate a number of books to the Young Readers Conference.

Dr. Beth Walizer, professor of teacher education, has been in charge of the event for several years and shared the joys of being a part of it along with some struggles that are faced every time FHSU hosts the conference.

“The biggest challenges we face every year when we host the Young Readers Conference are costs, but we do our best to keep prices low so the students can afford to come,” said Walizer. The committee also writes out various grants to institutions that make it possible for more students to attend.

But the struggles that are faced during the planning are rewarded once the students arrive. “I love seeing all of the joy and excitement on the kids’ faces,” said Walizer. “The greatest joy of it all is when they tell me how much fun their having.” Some kids have even written Walizer letters to thank her and tell her how much they loved it.

By ANNISTON WEBER
HHS Guidon Co-Editor-in-Chief

The Future Farmers of America (FFA) Land and Homesite Career Development team will be one of four teams representing Kansas at Nationals in May.

This year will be the third year in a row that the FFA team has been headed to Nationals in Oklahoma City.

This year’s team consists of senior Brandi Zimmerman, and juniors Dustin Schneider, Jared Kisner and Elijah Joy.

Schneider has been involved with FFA for three years, and is serving as the chapter treasurer. “I am ecstatic that the team is going to Nationals,” Schneider said. “I made some pretty stupid mistakes during the tournament, but I really am proud of the teams achievements.” Schneider placed 12th at the event.

At the State FFA competition, the students take various measurements to determine soil class. Slope, soil texture, and depth of soil trees are a few of the things each student looks for during the event.

Kisner took first place in both of the area land competitions. “This is a new experience for me,” Kisner said. “I’ve competed at State before, but not Nationals.” Kisner said he has always loved all things agriculture related. “It comes natural,” Kisner said. “I really hope to take first at Nationals also.”

Hays Medical Center

Hospice at HaysMed is holding a free, community screening of the documentary “Being Mortal” on Sept. 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2350 E. Eighth. After the screening, audience members can participate in a guided conversation on how to take concrete steps to identify and communicate wishes about end-of-life goals and preferences.

“Being Mortal” delves into the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness. The film investigates the practice of caring for the dying and explores the relationships between patients and their doctors. It follows a surgeon, Dr. Atul Gawande, as he shares stories from the people and families he encounters. When Dr. Gawande’s own father gets cancer, his search for answers about how best to care for the dying becomes a personal quest. The film sheds light on how a medical system focused on a cure often leaves out the sensitive conversations that need to happen so a patient’s true wishes can be known and honored at the end.

“Being Mortal” underscores the importance of people planning ahead and talking with family members about end-of-life decisions.

Seventy percent of Americans say they would prefer to die at home, but nearly 70 percent die in hospitals and institutions. Ninety percent of Americans know they should have conversations about end-of-life care, yet only 30 percent have done so.

In February 2015, “Being Mortal” aired nationally on the PBS program “Frontline.” For more information about the film, visit https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/being-mortal/. The film is adapted from Dr. Gawande’s 2014 nationally best selling book of the same name. More information about the book is at https://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/.

The free screening is made possible by a grant from The John and Wauna Harman Foundation in partnership with the Hospice Foundation of America.

FHSU University Relations

Dr. Grady Dixon, chair and associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at Fort Hays State University, will be the principal investigator on a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

The project, “Hearts of GOLD (Geo Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity),” involves researchers from Florida International University, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Virginia Tech University.

“Geosciences is perhaps the least diverse STEM field when it comes to including underrepresented groups such as women, people of color and people with disabilities,” said Dixon.

“Among those who do enter STEM fields, previous research has shown that their success is often unrelated to aptitude, but instead depends on their ability to tolerate the biases and harassment from colleagues,” he said.

The Hearts of Gold project differs from previous diversity efforts because it focuses on the leaders of the discipline rather than younger or newer members.

“Many of the most successful geoscience researchers have histories of promoting and mentoring colleagues and students from underrepresented groups, but they are rarely outspoken about this practice because their expertise and experiences are not related to diversity,” said Dixon. “This project will bring together those giants in the field in an effort to teach them the tools and skills needed to become champions for diversity in the greater interest of the geosciences.”

The “top-down” approach of this project is designed to set examples for teachers, students, employers and the public.

“I am excited about the goals of this project as well as the visibility it will provide for FHSU,” said Dixon. “We will be working with dozens of leading scientists from the across the country, and they will all know that this opportunity is being facilitated by FHSU.”

For more information on the Hearts of Gold award, visit https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1645430.

The Hays Police Department responded to 11 traffic stops and 10 animal calls Monday, Sept. 26, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Animal Call–400 block W 19th St, Hays; 2:11 AM
Animal At Large–3200 block Vine, Hays; 7:21 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–400 block E 18th St, Hays; 9:58 AM
Domestic Disturbance–400 block W 15th St, Hays; 10:05 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–300 block W 6th St, Hays; 10:29 AM; 10:31 AM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–200 block W 8th St, Hays; 10:59 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–200 block E 4th St, Russell; 12:21 PM
Animal At Large–1200 block Motz Ave, Hays; 12:39 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–4100 block Vine St, Hays; 12:51 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–2100 block Walnut St, Hays; 12:53 PM
Animal At Large–1500 block Main St, Hays; 1:15 PM
Civil Dispute–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 1:33 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–3700 block Hall St, Hays; 1:51 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–22nd St and Canterbury Dr, Hays; 3:05 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–100 block E 28th St, Hays; 3:10 PM
Suspicious Activity–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 3:18 PM
Tobacco Violation–1200 block Main St, Hays; 3:40 PM
Theft (general)–2300 block Walnut St, Hays; 3:30 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–2000 block Wheatland Ave, Hays; 4:08 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–100 block E 28th St, Hays; 3:10 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1600 block Main St, Hays; 4:37 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–400 block W 18th St, Hays; 4:48 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–200 block Ash St, Hays; 5:09 PM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–1300 block Harvest Rd, Hays; 9:18 AM; 6:42 PM
Theft (general)–2200 block General Custer Rd, Hays; 1:40 PM; 1:50 PM
Shoplifting–3300 block Vine St, Hays; 6:15 PM; 6:29 PM
Criminal Threat–1500 block Haney Dr, Hays; 6:57 PM; 7:40 PM
Civil Dispute–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 7:07 PM; 8:29 PM
Theft (general)–500 block W 27th St, Hays; 4:30 PM; 4:45 PM
Civil Dispute–500 block Ash St, Hays; 11:46 PM

https://youtu.be/i-FJbIMVD2s

Video Courtesy of USD 489 News

By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

During Monday night’s Hays USD 489 Board of Education meeting, the board took a look at software designed to better record the life expectancy of the buildings’ systems throughout the district, as well and the architects and engineers that go with the project.

For several years, the district has used the same company to provide help with various district needs such as heating, air and plumbing, and Hays USD 489 Superintendent John Thissen noted the board and administration already have heard a presentation from them.

“I’m still in the same mode, whether its this particular system to use or a different one,” Thissen said.

Hays USD 489 has eight buildings within its district, and the panel of board members all agreed that finding a software to keep better records of the aging systems is the appropriate direction to go in order to keep the buildings in the best possible condition.

“This is much more sophisticated,” board member Sarah Rankin said.

Thissen said the district needs to be thinking long-term when it comes to facilities.

“When I say long-term I mean a decade, two decades or three decades,” he said.

The software is ideal according to Rankin, who said during Monday night’s meeting she was unaware of HVAC system issues at Hays High School.

“I did not realize how desperate the high school was,” she said.

HHS is said to need a “massive job,” according to Thissen, and is expected to be the next big project.

“It’s more than just replacing the outside units. It’s totally going in and redoing everything, ” Thissen said.

Hays High is the newest building in the district and last year was identified as its biggest issue.

“It would have to be started pretty soon here,” Thissen said, noting work could begin in the summer of 2017.

The software would be more cost-efficient for the district, as part of the data would show the district how to conserve energy and when to plan repair schedules. An exact cost of the software was is not available until additional presentations are made to the board.

“The pure savings per month from a different system was pretty substantial,” board President Lance Bickle said.

The district is still paying on loans from the new HVAC system that went into the Hays Middle School, so the data provided by the software would give the district a better idea of the numbers and how much they would actually spend from a year-to-year basis — creating a better budgeting situation.

Question were raised about the plan that was presented last June in regard to the bond election and if this would be a part of the new bond. Thissen made it clear to the board that this is not a part of another potential bond election and that it needs to be its own “path.”

“This plan has nothing to do with the bond elections,” Thissen said. “This is dealing with a capital outlay plan and making sure the systems around the district are kept in the absolute best possible condition they can be.”

In other business, the board took a look at a Thomas More Prep-Marian/O’Loughlin traffic study.

Last week, Thissen received a invitation for the study to be revisited to see what progress can be made. USD 489 parents now use a portion of Victory Drive for pickup and drop-off purposes.

“The invitation was really very pleasant,” Thissen said.

Board member Josh Waddell joined Thissen at the meeting as representatives of USD 489.

Joining Thissen and Waddell were two representatives from the Hays Police Department, two TMP representatives, two engineers and a representative of the city of Hays.

No actual report was actually given at the meeting last week, according Thissen.  That report is expected to be ready in six to eight weeks, and it will be the first of multiple reports the board will see.

“The first report will just be the preliminary report,” Thissen said. “The finalized report will come after.”

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations

Devon Slack says he knows where he is going to college when he graduates from high school.

It took just one visit to Fort Hays State University’s campus to impress the youngster from Burlington, Colo.

While Devon’s arrival on campus as a student would be a few years — he is a third-grader on schedule to enter college in fall 2026 — the students’ enthusiasm for learning during the field trip to Hays was exactly what John Fitchen was looking for when he scheduled a visit to FHSU for his school’s third-graders last week.

“I believe education is good for many students who don’t know it yet,” said Fitchen, one of three third-grade teachers at Burlington Elementary School.

Fitchen, who has arranged several unique field trips in his five-plus years in Burlington, wanted to expose his students to a university campus at a young age.

FHSU was his destination of choice for several reasons.

“Hays is a safe space to take third-graders,” Fitchen said. “Fort Hays State is very affordable, it’s a great school, and it’s small enough and safe enough space where kids from rural areas can feel comfortable.

“It’s relatively close to us,” he continued, “and it’s a school that Burlington has many good connections to.”

One of those connections works closely with Fitchen every day.

Rachael Brachtenbach, one of the third-grade teachers at Burlington who is in her second year of teaching, is a 2015 graduate of FHSU.

“I came here on a visit and fell in love with it,” said Brachtenbach, a native of Stratton, Colo., who graduated with an elementary education degree. “I graduated (from high school) in a class of 16, and this was the small-town atmosphere I was looking for.”

Now, Brachtenbach is more than happy to “show them my alma mater.”

Another 2015 alum agreed that Fort Hays State was the right destination of choice for her.

“It’s affordable, comfortable and close to home,” said Amber Ruggels, who grew up in Russell and transferred to FHSU from Hutchinson Community College because she liked the tourism and hospitality program.

“This is a great school,” said Ruggels, now an admissions counselor at FHSU who helped show the students around campus.

The group of 40-some students, teachers and several parents split up into small groups and visited Forsyth Library, a science lab and the observatory in Albertson Hall, sat in on choir practice and checked out residential hall living.

When asked what his favorite part of the day was, Devon replied emphatically, “Everything!”

“I’m coming here when I graduate,” added Devon, a student in Brachtenbach’s class.

Classmate Jovany Lopez echoed that sentiment.

“This is where I’m going to college,” Jovany said.

Jessi Fisher, mother of Hayden Fisher — one of Fitchen’s students — said Burlington is lucky to have forward-thinking staff such as her son’s teacher.

“He is so awesome,” Fisher said of Fitchen, in his fifth year at Burlington. “He gets them out in the community and does a lot of field trips. He is such an out-of-the-box thinker.”

Fitchen said the visit to Fort Hays State was a way of bottling the enthusiasm the youngsters have for learning now, something that can tend to wane in high school.

“Sometimes by the time students reach high school, they have made up their mind they aren’t going to college,” Fitchen said. “To them, college might be four years of math. So we want to open their eyes to the university and that science and math, and college in general, can be fun.”

“They see me having fun, they see me still interested in learning,” added Fitchen, who has a Ph.D. in genetics but decided to go back to school and get credentials to teach. “It rubs off.”

“This trip has had a big impact on them. I’ve heard so many of them say they’re going to school here,” Brachtenbach said. “I am so proud.”

While those thoughts can change over the years, Fitchen believes in impacting students with learning opportunities at a young age, and he thinks “there’s a really good chance you’ll get one or two of these kids here in school in nine years.”

If Devon Slack has his way, he will be one of them.