Claw-some Chronicles
Volume 26 Issue 6
Churning Up History: Ms. Cook’s Class Celebrates Kansas Day the Pioneer Way
Staff
Ms. Cook’s class celebrated Kansas Day by bringing back some old-school pioneer techniques and stepping back in time for a hands-on learning experience. Students had the opportunity to churn butter and make bread alongside Deputy Sheriff Max, gaining a deeper appreciation for the hard work and determination of early settlers.
There were plenty of smiles (and a few tired arms from all that churning!) as students discovered just how much effort went into everyday tasks long ago. Fun was had by all as they experienced a small taste of life as it was lived by those who came before us, making history come alive in a memorable and meaningful way.
From Classroom to Campus: Juniors Experience Dodge City
Staff
Chase High School juniors recently had the opportunity to visit the Dodge City campus for Junior Day, where they were able to learn more about college life, career opportunities, and programs available after high school. The trip gave students a chance to explore the campus, meet with representatives, and hear about different career paths.
Junior Alyssa Beavers shared her thoughts about the experience. She said, “Being able to go somewhere new and talk to all the people about what they do and try new things was fun.” One highlight for her was trying a Strawberry Horizon Red Bull mix from Scooters while on the trip. She described the day overall as “fun but mediocre.”
Beavers also noted that while the experience was enjoyable, she wished there had been more opportunities to dive deeper into specific careers. “It was an enjoyable experience, but you don't get to explore specific careers; you just get to hear little bits about them,” she explained.
Even with that limitation, Junior Day gave students a chance to see what a college campus is like and begin thinking about their plans after graduation. Experiences like this help students start considering their interests and future career paths while learning more about the opportunities available to them after high school.
Staff Spotlight
Small School, Big Impact: A Superintendent’s Mission for Student Success
by Jacob Vahsholtz
Dr. McDonald’s long-term goal for the school district is for the school to remain open and become a vibrant example of the power of small schools to improve outcomes for all students. She wants the district and community to be known for a tremendous turnaround and to serve as a model for how public education should be done—rather than simply continuing how things have always been done.
Before working at Chase, she served as a Special Education Coordinator for Behavior, Social Emotional Learning, and wraparound services. She has also been a special education teacher for students from PreK–12.
Her education began at Kansas State University before transferring to Kansas Wesleyan University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with double minors in Special Education (PreK–6 and 6–12). She then earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Emporia State University, which allowed her the opportunity to become a building-level leader. Because she loves learning and wanted to lead at a higher level, she began a doctoral program at Baker University. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and completed her dissertation research using mixed methods on instructional strategies in the rural Central Kansas region.
She has been at Chase Raymond for seven years. During that time, she has served as Superintendent for five years and Curriculum Director for six years.
Her days vary significantly. She typically arrives at the office while it is still dark outside, checks emails, and creates a to-do list. She then tries to spend time in one of the buildings in the morning and makes plans to support principals, teachers, and students. She prefers being hands-on—working in classrooms, meetings, or directly with students—rather than spending time in her office, although certain times of the year require more office work.
She would say her biggest challenge is that there is often not enough time in the day to accomplish everything she hopes to achieve. Additionally, she believes that if everyone fully understood how remarkable and impactful the district could be when focused on doing what is right, even greater progress could be made.
She loves teaching. When it became important last semester for students to have consistency and high-quality instruction in History, she was happy to take on that role because it benefited students. She was grateful the district later found a quality teacher to assume that responsibility so she could return to her primary role of supporting all students and classrooms. She also enjoys teaching teachers—sometimes by sharing knowledge and sometimes by learning from their experiences. She says she would always be willing to return to the classroom if it were best for students or the school. Personally, she would like to learn to scuba dive or spend time visiting historical sites.
She decided she wanted to become a superintendent after Mr. Johnson, the previous superintendent, spoke with her about her leadership potential in the district. Prior to that conversation, she had envisioned becoming a Director of Special Education and later leading teacher preparation programs at the college level.
She wants to improve student outcomes and use the school as a model across the state of Kansas to demonstrate that all students can and deserve to be successful. She hopes to integrate local business and industry partnerships to provide authentic learning opportunities, such as the school farm and mercantile. She wants every student prepared to lead with civic responsibility while also having the skills to lead in business and industry. Ultimately, she wants the school to be known for great things and great people.
She encourages students to do their best every time, view mistakes as opportunities to grow, and never give up. She also encourages everyone to rise above life’s challenges and do the right thing—even when no one is watching.
For teachers, she emphasizes striving for continuous improvement. Each teacher has unique areas for growth, just as she does. She learns something new every day and hopes teachers maintain genuine curiosity about how things can improve. She deeply appreciates the remarkable staff and believes they have a true heart for students. The next steps are to continue pushing forward with rigor, engagement, and relevance to ensure students are prepared leaders.
She works hard to provide classes that students want to learn about—courses that connect to the real workforce. She would also like to see the district strengthen its computer courses to better align with the demands of the future workforce.
We Are Chase Kats
Amelia and the Journey to Candy Mountain
by Mischa Koppa
There was a girl named Amelia. She wanted to go on an adventure, so she went. She decided to head toward Candy Mountain. She was halfway there when all of a sudden she saw a Neopluerodon.
She wanted to pet the Neopluerodon, so she approached the strange creature and reached her arm out to pet it. The Neopluerodon took a step back and glared at her until Amelia put her hand down. All of a sudden, the Neopluerodon moved forward and picked Amelia up. The Neopluerodon took Amelia and headed for Candy Mountain.
Amelia soon realized they were lost and didn’t know how to get back. So she looked and looked, getting no rest.
Many years later, they still hadn’t reached Candy Mountain.
It was a dark and starry night. The Neopluerodon and Amelia were lying down to rest before they headed out once more. Amelia’s blinking slowed, and when she had finally fallen asleep, she woke up in a bed with her parents and family members surrounding her.
She was curious about what had happened, so she asked her parents. They mentioned that her robotic unicorn stuffed animal had exploded while Amelia was sleeping. Amelia looked out the window and saw her new friend from her dream looking back at her. Suddenly, it turned into her robotic unicorn. ✨🦄
A Season of Growth for Chase Basketball
by Leland Rice
Both the boys’ and girls' seasons this year. The boys' basketball season has ended. They faced Blue Valley in the Substate first round. Meanwhile, the girls have one more game left, which they will be playing today on Febuary,24,2026 against Pike Valley.
This season has been a roller coaster for both teams, dealing with losing players to injuries. Each player worked their tails off, and it showed. The amount of improvement this year is unbelievable. They have shown dedication and hard work through this season. The chase boys' team got a win that wasn't burton, but a team that was a little tougher to beat. Wakefield was the name of the team they beat, while the girls didn't win a game but made every team work for the win. The stats show the improvement such as the amount of points made this year from last year. The team's overall score this year was 605 points, while last year's was 475 points.
There is a special announcement that Bauman wants to share about one of their seniors. The senior's name is Riley Bowen, she broke the all-time scoring record of threes with 52 made.
The girls' season ended with a loss to Pike Valley.