Theresa Farris, kindergarten teacher at Service Valley Charter Academy (SVCA), has been named the 2010-2011 KFAC Teacher of the Year (Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom).
She will be awarded this distinction in March at the State Ag Day in Topeka. Because of this, she is also being nominated for the 2011 Excellence in Teaching about Agriculture Awards Program. Also, she will attend the National Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Conference held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in June. Read more

Tristan Johnston, son of Nick and Stacey Johnston of Parsons, holds
one of the gourds raised at Service Valley Charter Academy for the fall
season. The students sold the gourds as a fundraiser.
Photo by Rena Russell

A 65-foot wind turbine was installed at the Service Valley Charter Academy Monday morning.
This wind turbine is a rotary device that extracts energy from the wind. Read more

Passing by Service Valley Charter Academy (SVCA), you will see a sign that has pepper plants, tomato plants and eggs for sale. A stroll through the greenhouse will show you that some major gardening has been done. Read more

USD 504 superintendent submitted a letter of resignation at Monday’s board of education meeting held in Oswego.
After 40 years in the field of education, 19 of those years with USD 504, Supt. Terry Karlin plans to retire at the end of fiscal year, July 1, 2010. Read more

The highlight of the USD 504 Board of Education meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, was the presentation of the Governor’s Award for the Standard of Excellence achievement by Lewis Riley, Board President, to Rod Wittmer, Principal of Oswego High School. Fifteen teachers and former teachers were present to observe the award presentation. Principal Rod Wittmer thanked the Board and Mr. Karlin and administrative staff for giving the Oswego High School administrative staff and faculty the support, resources and freedom to accomplish this achievement.
Those present were Cathy Campbell, Jennifer Schenker, Susan Johnson, Angie Mendoza, Lynette Goddard, Kris Redburn, Roberta Brightman, Brenda Charles, Beverly Elliott, Jeff Schreppel, Kenny Gott, Diane Thompson, Andy Fewin, Russell Swisher and Janna Nesbitt.

A major honor was recently announced for all four attendance centers in the USD 504-Oswego school district.
Terry Karlin, superintendent, said results on the 2009 Kansas State Assessments showed unparalleled academic excellence honors for the district. Read more

USD 504 Neosho Heights Principal Cindy Sanders shows a recent mural by Joan Allen of Chetopa. Setting the Stage for Success is this year’s theme, Sanders said.  The theme is based on Hollywood and movies and the theme is tied in with lessons with that theme. A first grade class has already read a short story and watched a short movie and compared them. There are decorations and movie posters in each room and in the front foyer of the attendance center. Joan Allen also paints seasonal murals on The Hairloom and Oswego HealthMart windows and also in Riggs Drug at Chetopa.

Maya Espeseth is shown in the garden at the Service Valley Charter Academy during an open house recently held. The garden is a focal point of the charter school which also includes a full academic curriculum for students in grades K-8.