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12-17-21 — December 2021 Awards
Dec. 17, 2021
Olathe Students Earn Seal of Biliteracy
Sixty-three Olathe students have earned the Kansas Seal of Biliteracy for the 2020-21 year. The Kansas Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to a student upon graduation by the Kansas State Department of Education and a local school district to recognize any student who has attained proficiency in English and one or more other world languages. These students join an elite group of 587 students who earned this distinction in 2020-21. Kansas recognizes students at two levels of proficiency. Students showing proficiency equivalent to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Intermediate Mid assessment in both languages earn a Silver, while students who show proficiency equivalent to ACTFL’s Advanced Low earn a Gold. Olathe students earned the Seal of Biliteracy in the following language categories:
- Silver: Chinese/Mandarin (2), French (8), Spanish (48)
- Gold: French (4), Spanish (2)
Rolling Ridge Music Teacher Wins Young Directors Award
Bethany Unruh, Rolling Ridge Elementary music teacher, won the East Central Kansas Music Educators Association Young Directors Award. This distinction is awarded to an outstanding young music teacher in any genre that is in their first nine years of teaching.
“We were thrilled with the opportunity we had to add Bethany to our very talented staff this school year,” Dr. John Ernst, principal, said. “In her short time here at Rolling Ridge, she has taken the music program to new heights. Students and staff alike are drawn to her as she has the natural ability to make music fun and interactive for everyone. Bethany is always looking for new ways to support students, staff and the school through her love of music and this music program. The future is bright here at Rolling Ridge and Bethany is a huge part of that.”
The award process involves a nomination from a fellow teacher and letters of recommendation in support of the nominee from parents, students, colleagues, and administrators. Unruh was surprised at an all-school assembly with this award.
Olathe North Seniors Named Top 20 Finalist in Battle of the Brains
Two Olathe North High School seniors in the Medical Professions Academy, Brianna Bernhardt and Alex Cummins, were selected as a Top 20 Finalist in the annual Burns & McDonnell Battle of the Brains competition, the largest STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) competition in the KC metro, for their exhibit, “Inside the Immune System!” This year, more than 6,400 students entered the competition for a chance to win grant money and bring their ideas to life in an exhibit at Science City. The Olathe North duo’s finalist exhibit was selected out of 750 applications and highlights how our bodies protect us through its various lines of defense.
As finalists, Bernhardt and Cummins are guaranteed to win a portion of $155,000 in grant money for the school to use toward STEM education and will also continue in the competition for the grand prize including a $50,000 grant and the opportunity to work alongside Burns & McDonnell to bring their exhibit to life at Science City. Winners will be announced at a special ceremony Jan. 19 at Union Station.
North Teacher Wins Janet Sims Memorial Teacher of the Year Award
Nicole Ioerger, facilitator and teacher in the Animal Health program at Olathe North High School, received the 2021 Janet Sims Memorial Teacher of the Year Award from the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom. This award recognizes teachers who instill a passion for learning about agriculture within their students and who have successfully integrated agricultural education into their pre-existing curriculum. Ioerger will be recognized during the 2022 KFAC Annual Meeting in January and will also represent Kansas as the entry for the 2022 National Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award, presented by National Agriculture in the Classroom.