Chetopa Elementary School recently achieved the prestigious honor of being named a Great Expectations Model School. The school’s superintendent, principal, faculty, and staff worked diligently to accomplish this impressive goal.  This is the second year that Chetopa Elementary has been designated a Model School.  In addition, Chetopa Elementary has been named as an official Great Expectations visitation school.

Chetopa Elementary School is a showcase for the rewarding benefits that Great Expectations provides students, faculty, staff, parents, and the community, and it will be visited by other schools/districts that want to follow in their footsteps. “The school is truly a shining star in the community, state, and nation. They are to be highly commended for their efforts. We are overjoyed to add them to our list of ‘Showcase Schools’,” said Cheryl Price, Director of Great Expectations.

The Great Expectations Program, founded in 1991, is a scientifically research-based educational reform model that is bringing major change and innovation to PK-12 public and private school classrooms, especially in Oklahoma.  Chetopa Elementary School is the only Great Expectations Kansas model and visitation school.

The program represents an approach to learning that empowers teachers to expect and to get the best from students; it rekindles the excitement of discovery among both students and teachers; and, it pushes everyone involved to greater heights of achievement.

The basic principles of the program include high expectations for students, a learning climate based on mutual respect between student and teacher, student self-esteem, a belief that all students can learn, positive teacher attitude, and highly skilled and knowledgeable teachers who inspire and enable students to achieve success.

If you are interested in scheduling a Model School visitation or simply would like more information about Great Expectations, contact the superintendent’s office at 620-236-7959.

For more information, see the Oct. 15 issue of the Labette Avenue. To locate previously posted death notices, enter the decedent’s last name in the archive search box on Labette Avenue’s home page. Labette Avenue publishes death notices free of charge. Paid obituaries ($20) are printed in their entirety in the Labette Avenue and online at taylornews.org.

Goldie Maxine Blundell

CHETOPA—Goldie “Maxine” Blundell, 79, formerly of Chetopa, Kan., died Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, in Wichita at the home of her son, Christopher Blundell, where she had resided since 2004. She had been in failing health.

Graveside service will be held at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10 at Oakhill Cemetery in Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., Thursday, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Chetopa.

Memorials are suggested to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 346, Chetopa, KS 67336.

Polly Skahan

COLUMBUS—Polly Skahan, 74, of Columbus, Kan., died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008 in St. John’s Regional Medical Center Joplin, Mo., after a prolonged illness.

Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 10, in St. Rose Catholic Church by Father Chrysostom Ah Maung. Burial will be in St. Bridget’s Cemetery in Scammon. The Rosary will be said at 7 p.m., Thursday, at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home in Columbus. Callers at the funeral home are asked to use the Prestige Plant Entrance to get to the funeral home due to Highway construction.

Family members, relatives, and friends are invited to celebrate Polly’s life at the Rosary and Mass. Remembrances may be made to Father Chris of St. Rose. Condolences may be left at www.bathnaylor.com.

Funeral arrangements are by Bath-Naylor Funeral Home of Columbus.

W. Mark Garrett

PARSONS–W. Mark Garrett, 45, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, at Labette Health.

A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center in Parsons. Inurnment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Memorial may be given to Kansas Special Olympics c/o Poke Stover, 300 N. Carver Lane, Lawrence, KS 66049. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Stockham Family Funeral Home in McPherson and Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Peggy Chatman

PARSONS—Peggy Chatman, 68, of Parsons, Kan., died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. The family will received friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons, is in charge of arrangements.

Dakota Helm

COLUMBUS—Dakota Helm, 12, of Columbus, Kan., died Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., after an illness.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced at a later date by the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 611 South East Avenue, Columbus.