South Gray Schools

I have been trying to gather my thoughts to find the fitting words to address the hurt, the heartbreak, the emptiness we are feeling at South Gray. Yet, I continue to be at a loss for words to describe the trauma our schools and communities are dealing with. Words fail to express my deep sorrow to the McMillan and Applegate families. Not only has South Gray lost two of its best educators so has the State of Kansas. In my 36 years as an educator I have never had a tougher last four days. Having to inform the student body two consecutive school days that we have lost two amazing teachers has been by far the most difficult action I have ever addressed. The hurt is even greater when the spouses of both teachers are employed at our school as well. Mr. Mac was a really good personal friend as well as a colleague. My hunting buddy! If you have never heard the South Gray Pep Band you are missing out. I can not recall how many letters, emails, personal communications I have received from strangers complementing him and his Rebel Band. They have always been, and will continue to be, one of the best bands in Kansas. His musicians and singers won many league and state awards Not only was he an amazing band / music instructor, he was also a great track and cross country coach. His track teams won some state championships and he consistently had state placers in Cross Country. His passion and love for South Gray was always evident. Mrs Applegate has been a staple at South Gray long before I arrived. Mindy was my go to when I needed information pertaining to curriculum, accreditation, interpreting student data, mentoring, etc…….She was the most intelligent school personnel I have ever had the privilege of working with. Sometimes way too smart for me to comprehend what she was trying to get me to learn!! Being married to a coach can be a tough gig but she cherished that role. She was the basketball boys team mom for over 30 years and they loved her for how she cared about them. I ask that you pray for Robin and Coach Mac’s family, for Coach Applegate, Gabe, Eli, Brooke, and the Applegate family, the students and staff of South Gray Schools, and the communities of Montezuma and Copeland. We need the support more than ever! Also please continue to pray for our student who lost both parents in the past few weeks. The words of encouragement and support from our fellow SPIAA leagues schools is very much appreciated. We are hurting yet we know our support system is strong and will comfort us during this time of sorrow.

Parents and Guardians: Please consider completing this broadband survey. Thank You, Mr. Zehr Survey responses should be submitted by December 15th. Help your community by telling us about your local internet service! Fellow Kansans at the University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research are seeking ways to improve internet access and quality in our state. We need your help finding areas in Kansas that experience internet service gaps. These gaps keep people in Kansas communities from being able to access online education, health care and other critical services. Take the survey and help Kansas get better connected: https://ipsr.ku.edu/broadband/kansas.shtml. This survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. You may take the survey only once. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Dr. Germaine Halegoua (grhalegoua@ku.edu), Donna Ginther, principal investigator (dginther@ku.edu), or ipsr@ku.edu. Thank you so much for your time, and we look forward to better understanding your broadband access.

JHBB: 11/22/21, vs Meade @ SGJH 4:00 C-boys (old gym) 5:00 JVG (new gym) 5:00 JVB (old gym) 6:00 VG (new) 7:15 VB (new) Note: There is no C-team girls game

We welcome continued prayers for our Rebel schools, students, and communities. We will post more soon. However, right now we are at a loss for words. 💔🙏

Student Leadership at SGJH led by Joe Coles.

Info from Mrs. Hedlund https://www.smore.com/c064m-hedlund-s-highlights?ref=email-content#w-4529673097

The Rebel podcast is up and going. If you haven’t had a chance to tune in this fall, please take some time over the holidays to see what is going on! Today, the kids interviewed Mrs. Deges, Ms. Stilwell, and Mrs. Wall about girls basketball! They also interviewed Aubyn Briscoe and discussed her journey to becoming a reader! It is a great episode! ❤️📚

Wanted: Donations of random give away items for Let’s Make A Deal! Can be a good item or something NOT so good!

JHBB: 11/18/21, UPDATE Spearville has had some issues with legibility, and injuries. They have had a couple girls get cleared to play, so they are now able to play a half of a JV girls. Here is the new schedule. 4:00 C-Boys 12 minute running clock 4:30 JVG 2 - 8 minute quarters running clock 5:00 JVB 4 - 5 minute quarters 6:00 VG 7:15 VB The Leave time is the same

These kids placed 3rd today at Scholar’s Bowl! Congratulations to them and to Mrs. Brown, their sponsor!

Had the pleasure to listen to Napolean Dynamite producer, Sean Covel, today at KPC#21. Was a great keynote with lots of inspirational takeaways!

Friday Fun! Dodgeball!

HSBB: PARENTS MEETING Friday 11/19/21, 6:30PM Boys will meet in the New gym Girls will meet in the commons area Coach Applegate and Coach Stilwell would encourage at least one parent come to the meeting. Thank you.

JH BB: 11/18/21, @ Spearville 4:15 1/2 C-team boys (running clock) 5:00 JVB (4-5min Qrt) 6:00. VG 7:15. VB Note: No JVG game Depart: 2:30, Bus: 476, Driver: RM Streaming: NFHS under Spearville school page

Mrs. Z and Mrs. Moyer’s classes got together today to make bread and butter. 4th graders are finishing up the book “Little House on the Prairie” what better way to celebrate. 🍞

Parents…we just had a conversation with the high school students about vaping. Please read this and share with your kids. So many heartbreaking stories and this is simply just one. 💔 Facebook family, can I ask your prayers for our Office Manager’s 18 year old son, Haven, who is a senior at Crest? He fell ill the week before last. He entered the hospital last Monday and was diagnosed with pneumonia, however he did not respond to any treatments. While his lung condition continued to deteriorate, he finally admitted he has been vaping. Wednesday he was moved to Charlotte and is in PICU at Levine’s. His lungs have crystallized and he only has between 1-10% lung function and his oxygen levels are around 30%, although they have reached 70% sporadically. He is on oxygen. His mom, Brittany, has asked for prayers. Here’s a picture of Haven walking his mom down the aisle just two months ago. She is staying so strong, but is desperate for prayer. The doctors in Charlotte have said this is just the tip of the iceberg with what has really become a vaping epidemic. They told her it’s happening all across the country and doctors really don’t know how to respond. Right now all they can do is wait and see. And we can pray. We can pray for restoration and healing for Haven and strength and comfort for his family. If you or a loved one vapes, please try to get them to stop as soon as possible. Haven wants his story to be shared, so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else.

The C-Team girls game this afternoon has been cancelled due to injuries and illness. All other games are still on. JV Girls will begging at 4:30 in the old gym. C Team boys start at 4:00 on the new gym. All games in the new gym will be live-streamed at southgrayrebels.tv

JHBB: UPDATE, The C-team girls game has been cancelled tonight due to illness and injuries. 4:00 - C-team Boys (NG) 4:30 JVG (OG) 5:00 - JVB (NG) 6:00 - VG 7:15 - VB

JHBB: 11/11/21, Minneola @ SGJH 4:00 - C-team Boys (NG) - 1/2 C-team Girls (OG) 5:00 - JV Boys (NG) - JV Girls (OG) 6:00 - Vars. Girls (NG) 7:15 - Vars Boys (NG)

Congratulations to the JV scholar’s bowl team. They placed 2nd today!