Claw-some Chronicles
Volume 26 Issue 5
Exploring Futures: Chase Students Discover Career Paths at Barton Fair
by Leland Rice
The Barton Career Fair was held on February 6, 2026.
Chase High School students attended the career fair at Barton, where several schools were represented. Over one hundred students participated in the event. Students were divided into groups using colored wristbands and numbers (for example, Red 2) to help organize rotations through different career areas.
The wristbands also identified career pathways, including education, medical, STEM, criminal justice, plumbing, construction, child development, and agriculture. Each color represented a different field—for example, red for criminal justice, green for medical, blue for STEM, orange for construction, pink for child development, and another group for agriculture.
The event provided students with an opportunity to explore a variety of career options and learn more about potential future pathways.
SPIRIT of SPORTS - Grace Faltysek
by Kasen Wood
On February 16, one of our dedicated staff members, Mrs. Faltysek, was honored with the Spirit of Sport award through the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA). We are incredibly proud of this recognition, as she has contributed so much to Chase High School and its students. Mrs. Faltysek has served as both the volleyball coach and Scholars Bowl coach, demonstrating commitment, leadership, and care for our school community. We truly appreciate having her here and are grateful for the outstanding work she continues to do for our students and programs.
Staff Spotlight
Inspiring the Past: Mr. Tabor’s Journey to Teaching History
by Humberto Rincon
Mr. Tabor, the history teacher at Chase Rural High School, has spent nearly two decades helping students understand the past and connect it to the present. His path to teaching, however, was not originally planned.
Mr. Tabor shared that he has always enjoyed history as a subject. At first, he considered working in museums, but a teaching opportunity opened at a small school near his hometown. Wanting to support his family, he decided to give teaching a try. Through that experience, he discovered that he truly enjoyed working with young people and helping them learn.
One of his favorite memories comes from his very first year of teaching. He was excited about starting his career, and at the end of the year, the senior class selected him to give a graduation speech. For him, that moment confirmed that students appreciated his efforts and that he had chosen the right profession.
To become a history teacher, Mr. Tabor completed a bachelor’s degree in history, followed by additional schooling to earn his education credentials. He completed a two-year master’s program in teaching with a focus on curriculum. In total, his preparation included four years for his bachelor’s degree, two more years for his master’s degree, and many additional years of learning through on-the-job experience.
Mr. Tabor has taught for 19 years in social studies and also spent one year teaching elementary music. Throughout his career, he has taught a wide variety of subjects, including world history, U.S. history, economics, government, psychology, sociology, and elective courses such as World War II, the Vietnam War, Missouri history, and U.S. history through film, where students compare movies to real historical events.
When asked about his favorite historical topics, Mr. Tabor said he is most interested in moments when people who were treated unfairly ultimately achieved justice. He noted that there are many examples throughout history, with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s being one of the most recent significant examples in U.S. history.
Outside the classroom, Mr. Tabor enjoys listening to music with positive messages, although he encourages students to explore and appreciate all styles of music.
Through his dedication and passion, Mr. Tabor continues to inspire students to better understand history and the world around them.
Fiction
The Magical Trip to New York
by Jacob Vahsholtz
A man named Stiles travels to New York, arriving there for the first time. As he explores the unfamiliar city, he suddenly hears someone call out his name. Curious, he follows the mysterious voice, which leads him to an abandoned cave. After moving several rocks out of the way, he stumbles upon an old lamp covered in strange markings. He brushes the dirt off the surface, and suddenly a powerful gust of wind appears out of nowhere, creating a swirling dust storm around him.
When the dust finally settles, a tall genie stands before him. The genie explains that he can grant only two wishes to the person who finds the lamp. For his first wish, Stiles says, “I wish to be able to grant wishes without being a genie or having any rules.” The genie grants the wish, and Stiles instantly becomes powerful.
Stiles then turns to the genie and offers to grant him a wish in return. The genie asks for more genies so he can have friends. Stiles grants the wish, but immediately after, something unexpected happens—both Stiles and the genie are suddenly sucked into the lamp. Moments later, the ground begins to shake, and an earthquake collapses the cave, burying the lamp deep beneath the earth once again.
Chase Juniors Visit Barton Community College
Staff
The junior class from Chase High School recently traveled to Barton Community College to participate in the college’s Junior Day experience. The visit provided students with an individualized opportunity to explore potential college pathways and learn more about academic programs, campus life, and extracurricular options available after high school.
Throughout the day, students were able to meet with faculty, staff, and coaches to discuss various programs and athletic opportunities offered at Barton.Junior Carlos Rincon shared that one of the highlights of the trip was speaking with members of HALO, a campus organization that supports Hispanic students. Rincon explained that connecting with the group gave him valuable insight into the resources and community available to students at Barton.
“It was a good thing to go out on Junior Day,” Rincon said, reflecting on the experience.
The trip gave Chase juniors a meaningful look into college life and helped many students feel more confident about their plans after graduation. Experiences like Junior Day continue to play an important role in preparing students for the transition from high school to higher education while opening their eyes to new opportunities for the future.