A Big Thank You!

Yesterday I received a very big surprise.  Several members of the administrative team stopped by my home to present the school's Proba te Dignum award for my 46 years of service to the school.  In addition, they let me know that for my retirement, many members of the Wichita Collegiate School community, including students, parents, faculty, staff, grandparents, and alumni, donated money to send me and my husband to the 2021 Kentucky Derby next May.  I was absolutely stunned and overcome with emotion.  Thank you to everyone who was involved with this very generous gift.  Having missed the Kentucky Derby in Physical Education with my students this year, I was very sad.  This has always been one of my favorite events of the school year.  Now I will get to experience the real "Run for the Roses" at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.  As you may already know, I have collected a number of fancy hats over the years for our school event, but this may require the purchase of a new one.  I'll be heading down to Hatman Jacks!

With heartfelt gratitude,

Kathy Wagner

Last pictures and videos of the school year

This student is learning how to hula hoop.  Great job!

 One last pose before moving on to the next grade.

A big smile from both of us.  (Yes, I was smiling underneath my mask.)

This student shows off her dancing skills at the last day of school pickup.

A Retirement "Thank You"

I am so appreciative of the number of people who endured the warm weather to come out for the faculty and staff farewell drive through parade.  What a tremendous testament to the Collegiate community.  You are simply the best and I will miss you all.  

I know I missed a photo opportunity with many people, but please know that your presence did not go unnoticed. The line of cars was so long and I was trying hard to keep it moving along.

A lot of my former students and faculty came through the farewell parade.

There were also many current faculty, staff, and students.

Thank you for such a wonderful turnout for all of the faculty and staff 

who are leaving this year.  It was an incredible day.

My great-nieces left a retirement message on my driveway.  What a nice surprise.

The end of a great day.

What a fun time it was for me last week to have some faculty, former students, and a quartet of band members (and their instructor) stop by my home after the school farewell drive through to sing "Celebration" in honor of my retirement.  Evidently, I was the last leg of a surprise tour to the homes of school employees who had been there for a long time and were retiring.  It was a very special event and I thank everyone involved in the "celebration."  

A flat bed trailer provided the stage for students and teachers singing and playing "Celebration."

Surrounded by friends was a great way to end the day.

Thank you to Mrs. Brake for organizing this very special surprise event
and to Mrs. O'Hearn, Mrs. Rukes, and the band for keeping it a secret.

Monday's Beach Party Pictures and Video

Here are a few photos from Monday's Zoom beach party.  I hope everyone had as much fun as I did.

If you still have photos or short 30 second videos to send me, please do so as soon as possible and I will try to add them.  Thanks!

Ready for the party.

 Fun in the sun dancing on the deck.

 Monkey arms.

Brother and sister both get into the act.

"Twist"

Tuesday's Beach Party Photos and Videos

Here are a few pictures and videos from last Tuesday's Zoom beach party.  Everyone did such a good job and I thought it was so much fun.  I hope you enjoyed it, too.

If other families still want to send pictures or short 30 second videos, I'll add them on at a later time.

"Be True to Your School"

"Be True to Your School"

"Be True to Your School"

"Hukilau"

"Hukilau"

"Hukilau"

"Twist"

"Twist"

"Twist"

"Swim"

"Swim"

"Swim"

"Cannonball"

#8 - "Spartans in Action"

I've gotten some more pictures from the Cinco de Mayo activities and a few from students dancing.  Thank you for sending them in.  We are almost to the end of the school year so make an effort to stay active and try out some of the activities on previous posts from my blog.  You can scroll back at any time and repeat activities you have already done or try out new ones.  If you do, send me a picture or short video.

Don't forget to practice the dances for next week's Zoom beach party with some of your classmates and friends.  It will be fun dancing all together.  Be sure to dress up in your beach attire. 

Friends bounce on their trampoline to crack the confetti filled eggs on Cinco de Mayo.

Mother and daughter take turns cracking the cascarones over each other's heads.

Hair filled with confetti made the cascarone activity silly and fun.

The Mexican dress also made the event festive.  It's beautiful.

I love the anticipation on this child's face.

And here's the action!  What a great photo.

The mess is part of the fun!

Riding a bike is always a good physical activity.

This student gets a real workout while practicing the twist for the beach party.

These brothers practice the "Be True to Your School" dance 

in preparation for the end of year ZOOM beach party.

Here's the big "Yea" finish at the end of the "Twist."

Holding your nose and going underwater 

is one of the actions for the "Swim."  

 This student has worked on all the dances for the upcoming virtual beach party.  

Here he practices our final dance to "Be True to Your School"