We are excited to announce that Victor Ornelas Elementary School has been selected as this week's Superintendent's School of the Week! Look for more posts about the exciting things happening at Victor Ornelas.
Each week Dr. Dominguez will select a school to feature and we'll share information about staff, upcoming events at the school, recognition they've received, and more.
GCHS Sports today:
🏌️♂️ Varsity Boys Golf at Great Bend
🏌️♂️ JV Boys Golf at Ulysses
🎾 Boys Tennis at Great Bend
Middle School sports today:
⚽ HGMS Soccer vs KHMS- 3:30pm at GCHS
🏃♂️ HGMS and KHMS Track at Ulysses
The Garden City Public Schools Board of Education will meet Monday, May 1 at 6:00pm in the ESC Board Room. Agenda information can be found at www.gckschools.com/page/agenda-minutes-22-23. The complete board meeting materials can be found on our website under the BOE menu.
Check out what’s on the menu this week!
*Menu subject to change. To view the full menu visit: gckschools.nutrislice.com
Buffalo Jones Elementary School staff wrapped up the week with a school spirit day today. Congratulations for being selected as the Superintendent's School of the Week!
Fifth-grader Hailey Unruh was recognized yesterday for designing the best poster in the school, city, and southwest district in the annual Kansas Arbor Day Poster Contest. She received a specially framed poster and a tree was planted at Jennie Barker Elementary School during the City of Garden City’s Arbor Day event. Read more about the event at www.gckschools.com/article/1092697.
🏃♂️ GCHS Track will compete at Hutchinson today
A number of receptions are planned for staff retiring across the district. A list of celebrations can be found at www.gckschools.com/article/1088355 and will be updated periodically. Retirees will also receive a Golden Apple and be recognized at the end of year staff dinner.
The graduation ceremony for GC Achieve and the Virtual Academy will be Saturday, May 6 at 10:30am in the HGMS Competition Gym. Go to www.gckschools.com/article/1091921 for more info. A link to the graduation livestream will be available prior to the ceremony.
Congratulations to GCHS junior Pierre Madlangbayan for taking 1st Place in the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 National Shakespeare Competition Finals held at Lincoln Center in New York City on April 25. Read more at www.gckschools.com/article/1092283.
Minute with Mike #47, featuring special guests from Buffalo Jones Elementary School, this week's Superintendent's School of the Week: youtu.be/O38z25Ikvtc
GCHS sports today:
🏌️♂️ Boys Golf at home- 1:00pm
🥎 Softball at home- 3:00pm
⚾ Baseball at Wichita Southeast
🏊♂️ Girls Swimming at Emporia
Middle School sports today:
⚽ KHMS Soccer at home- 3:30pm
🏃♂️ HGMS Track at Hays
The GCHS Debate team competed in the West Kansas District National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) national qualifying tournament on Saturday, April 22. The team qualified a number of students that will be competing at the national tournament this June in Phoenix.
The following students have earned qualifying spots and will be competing at the national tournament: Ale Facio/Kiley Kilgore - Policy Debate, Savei Nyamakope/Emma Banwell - Duo Interpretation, and Kira Roth, Shawn Dreiling, and Scarlett Storer - World Schools Debate.
The West Kansas NSDA also recognized the following people at the event: Kira Roth - Student of the Year, Alonso Peña - Assistant Coach of the Year, and Russ Tidwell - Head Coach of the Year.
The Superintendent's School of the Week is Buffalo Jones Elementary School. Check out what students and staff are up to at the school:
Buffalo Jones Elementary School is this week's Superintendent's School of the Week. Here are some things to know about Principal Ben Luna:
What led you to teaching and what prompted your decision to become a principal?
I've always had a strong sense of community and a desire to teach and coach. It is extremely rewarding to know that you have had a direct impact on families and the community. Throughout my teaching career I have served in several leadership positions and I really enjoyed supporting teachers and staff. Seeing what teachers are capable of with the correct support is powerful. We have a ton of talent in our teaching staff at USD 457. An opportunity to help lead that talent was what prompted me to become a principal.
What are your hobbies or how do you spend your days off?
I have too many hobbies! Spending time with family tops the list. I spend my spare time traveling, backpacking, camping, working out, and watching the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals when I get an opportunity to.
Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by?
"Do not live as if you have ten thousand years left. Your fate hangs over you. While you are still living, while you still exist on this Earth, strive to become a genuinely great person." -Marcus Aurelius
I know it's easy to become complacent in our daily routines and this quote reminds me that our opportunity to make an impact on our community and families is limited and that I need to make the most each day. Striving to be a genuinely great person will take you a long way in meeting that goal.
What inspires you?
Teachers, teachers, and teachers! I'm inspired by the determination and effort that I see in our teacher's daily. The best part of my day is when I get to observe in their classrooms. Their ability to teach and build positive relationships with students who have varying backgrounds and needs is remarkable! Everyday that I walk out to my vehicle to go home, I feel confident knowing that every student at Buffalo Jones has gone home stronger in every sense of the word because of our teachers!
The 2023 GCHS Hall of Fame ceremony will be Friday, May 12 at 7:30pm to honor this year's inductees Matt Allen and Major Jordan Nichols. Dinner will be served prior to the ceremony, by reservation only. For more information go to www.gckschools.com/article/1088156.
Registration for preschool programs will be held Thursday, May 4 at Garfield Early Childhood Center from 8:00am-6:00pm. Enrollment is for children who will be 3 and 4 years old by August, 31, 2022.
There will be no school at Garfield on May 4. Classes resume Friday, May 5.
For more information, go to www.gckschools.com/article/1088199. Questions? Please call the school at 620-805-7500.
GCHS Schedule Changes Due to Weather:
⚾ Baseball will play today at Dodge City - 4pm Varsity will play first
🥎 Softball will play today at Great Bend - 4pm Varsity will play first
All other high school athletic events have been postponed.
