Vocal and instrumental students at Great Bend High School are allowed to take trips every other year, and now the GBHS theater department has been added to the mix.
Theater and drama instructor Holly Johnson received the school board’s permission Monday to plan for a trip to Branson, Missouri, during spring break of the 2023-2024 school year for students in her advanced class. After that, she expects the trips will take place every other year, alternating with the years when vocal music students travel.
It was noted that the vocal music trips may be changing to once every three years, but the board’s approval for the first trip was unanimous. Johnson said the proposed four-day trip would be educational, students would have a chance to perform in front of an audience, and it can be done for less than $400 per student.
Johnson wants students to realize that there are careers in theater, if that's what they want to do.
“When I was growing up, my parents told me I needed a backup plan,” she said. “I want the students to be able to see there are multitudes of jobs in theater.”
Students would visit the Dixie Stampede, Branson Belle Showboat, Sight and Sound Theatre and Silver Dollar City. They will be able to go behind the scenes and talk to actors, backstage crew and others. At Silver Dollar City, the Great Bend students will be able to showcase their talents on one of the stages, she said.
Johnson estimates about a dozen students will go on the first trip.
Eagle Radio’s former “Voice of the Panthers,” Patrick Burnett, received a ROSE Award from the school board on Monday.
The award in Recognition of Outstanding Service to Education was presented at the start of the school board meeting by Superintendent Khris Thexton.
“Patrick Burnett was the ‘Voice of the Panthers’ for the past 11 years and has traveled throughout Kansas to cover GBHS sports,” Thexton said. “Patrick’s enthusiastic commentary and vast knowledge of sports and GBHS athletes have greatly added to Panther Athletics. Best of luck in your future endeavors, and thank you for your dedication to this profession. You will always be a GBHS Panther!”
Gym floors
The school board approved bid specifications for sanding and refinishing approximately 22,000 square feet of gym floors at the Panther Activities Center. The entire gym floor must be sanded to a smooth level surface and re-done. Superintendent Khris Thexton said the floor was installed in 2008.
The work must be done between July 1 and Aug. 1, 2023. Bids must be submitted by Jan. 4.
Grants and contributions
The board accepted a $100 donation from Patty Wagner to the GBHS Food Pantry. Non-monetary gifts were also mentioned. Superintendent Thexton said the Great Bend Noon Lions recently donated items to the GBHS Food Pantry and Buzz Birney from Live Like Jesus Today Ministries recently donated some cereal that can go in backpacks that contain food sent home with some children.
Mission and vision statements
The board worked on updating the Mission Statement adopted in 1996 and writing a Vision Statement.
The current mission statement is:
Our mission is to educate and prepare all students to become responsible citizens and lifelong learners.
Based on ideas from a recent work session, Thexton presented five possibilities for each statement. There were elements of each version of the mission statement they liked so he will try to combine them. The vision statement preferred by the board read:
USD 428 is committed to creating a welcoming environment to all students and staff. We will strive to provide a high quality educational experience that meets the individualized needs of each student and promote academic excellence.
Once the statements are done, the board will use them for setting long-term goals.
