Iola High School students were greeted with the word “welcome” last week when they started the new school year. The word flashed across the school’s brand new LED sign.
The sign, which is eight feet wide and six feet tall, was purchased with a portion of an S3 grant that the school was awarded. The sign is to better communicate with parents and students. It falls under the “commitment to school” category which is a qualification under the Kansas Safe and Supportive schools grant.
Melissa Stiffler, the freshman and sophomore counselor at the high school, said the school plans to also have monthly newsletters to let parents know of ongoing events and activities.
The sign will also display the events and it will have full color pictures.
The school previously used 10 percent of the grant to update security in the building with cameras.
The grant also helped guest speaker Kyle Baker attend teacher inservices last week.
The school not only wants to increase student moral this year but also that of teachers, Stiffler said.
During inservice there were drawings and every teacher got a prize. One prize was a $200 classroom incentive. Tony Tabres, a Spanish teacher, won the money and offered to buy a tape recorder for the French class.
The grant is intended to help improve safety and healthy behaviors, academics, social engagements and the environment within the school.
A sign of the times
