A big thanks to our middle school STUCO students who helped serve lunch during Teacher Appreciation Week! Hotdogs, chips, and cookies were on the menu—and our staff felt the love!
To test out chemical reactions, 4th graders made lava lamps!
4th grade had a friendly competition to see who could build and fly a paper airplane the furthest!
'Tis the season for end of year celebrations! Our underclassmen academic awards will be Thursday, May 15th @ 11 AM!
It’s the big one—League Meet day for our middle school track & field athletes! Pole Vault starts early off-site, and the field events kick off at noon in Uniontown. Good luck to our Viking athletes as they leave it all on the track and field today. Let’s go, Vikings!
Good luck to our baseball team playing at home tonight vs. Lyndon. Good luck, Vikings!
Parents and Guardians of our USD 288 Scholars: We are experiencing an Internet outage that also disables our phones for the foreseeable future. If you know that your child has an appointment, or needs to be checked out at a certain time, please email your building secretary, or better yet, send a note with your kiddo to turn into the office and we will have them ready to go at the planned time. Email could possibly be delayed, but we promise to respond just as soon as we can! We truly appreciate your understanding and encourage you to please reach out - via email or note 😊 - with any questions you might have! We'll send out another update as soon as we have more information. Have a great week, Vikings!
Here is a look at the week ahead!
Yesterday, our middle school leadership class, under Mrs. Horstick’s guidance, had the honor of hosting our 2nd annual Bump Up Day for our soon-to-be 6th graders! *Cue all the parents saying, “I can’t believe this is our last year of elementary!” (Trust me, I get it—I’ve been there, too!)
On the surface, this day is about getting our 5th graders familiar with the middle school layout and routine. But the true heart of this day goes so much deeper. For students who have spent their entire academic journey at Central Heights, the transition from elementary to middle school is one of the biggest shifts they’ll experience. Lockers? No more walking in lines? Switching classrooms? Playing team sports with ineligibility lists? The list of changes goes on!
We know this transition can feel daunting for many students, especially at first. But what we want this day to be about is so much more than just logistics. To name a few...
Connection: You are not alone in this journey! Middle school is a place where you’ll find a community. The 5th graders heard from current middle schoolers, asked questions, and learned that even though the transition may seem overwhelming (hello, lockers!), it’s totally normal—and totally conquerable.
Bravery: This is your time to be you, and to try new things without fear. Whether it’s exploring a new elective, joining a sport, or daring to try the Caesar salad at lunch (it's delish), we encourage you to take that leap. This is the perfect time to step outside your comfort zone and grow.
Kindness: Finally, remember to be kind—both to yourself and to others. This school is a place where we support and uplift each other, through every challenge, big and small. Sometimes being kind to ourselves is the biggest challenge of them all. Again, we get it, and we are here to help.
What a great day it was! Our school is truly so special. I don't want to wish the summer away, but I can't wait for these kids to be middle schoolers! #ClassOf2032 #BumpUpDay
Central Heights Vikings Shine at KSHSAA 3A State Solo & Small Ensemble Festival
This past Saturday, our talented Central Heights music students competed at the KSHSAA 3A State Solo & Small Ensemble Festival at Gypsum-Southeast Saline High School. We had 15 students qualify in 14 different solos & small ensembles this year. Congratulations to all of our Central Heights Musicians on their incredible success at State!
Soloists:
Benjamin Wuertz, Trumpet - I Outstanding Rating(77 out of 80/Near Perfect Score)
Jenna Jumet, Vocal – I Outstanding Rating (77 out of 80/Near Perfect Score)
Riley Sprinkle, Euphonium - I Outstanding Rating
Liley Elsasser, Vocal – II
Russell Reed, Trombone – II
Kinsley Shaffer, Tuba – II
Alayna Fallis, Horn – II
Charli Smith, Vocal – II
Brooks Hamilton, Alto Saxophone - II
Small Ensembles:
Central Heights Brass Quintet (Knox Cannady, Jenna Jumet, Russell Reed, Kinsley Shaffer, Benjamin Wuertz) – I Outstanding Rating
Treble Trio (Karley Davis, Liley Elsasser, Jenna Jumet) – I Outstanding Rating
Elding Quartet (Russell Reed, Alyson Roll, Charli Smith, Alyssa Welch) – I Outstanding Rating
Central Heights Woodwind Trio (Arabella Dunbar, Paige Powell, Alyssa Welch) – II
Swing Group (Karley Davis, Liley Elsasser, Jenna Jumet, Russell Reed, Alyson Roll, Charli Smith, Alyssa Welch) – III
A heartfelt thank you to Kristy Hamilton once again for serving as our third coach and driver for the weekend—your help & support were greatly appreciated! A special thanks to our incredible accompanist, Carol Cooper, who played beautifully for 12 of our events. We truly couldn’t have done it without her. Finally, thank you to all the friends & family who traveled to Gypsum/Salina to support our amazing musicians. Your encouragement and enthusiasm mean the world to all involved. It was truly a fantastic day to be a Viking!
What a great night of baseball and softball at Central Heights—and an even better night celebrating our seniors! Thank you for all the hard work, dedication, and memories over the years. Congratulations to each of you!
🎉 When the 7th & 8th graders are away... the 6th graders will float the lunch time away! 😎🍦
Today our amazing 6th graders celebrated surviving their first year of middle school with ice cream and soda floats — because nothing says “we made it!” like root beer, ice cream, and a whole lot of giggles. While the older kids were off adventuring on their field trip, our 6th graders and lunch time crew turned the school into Float Fest 2025! 🥳. And when they were talking about all of the new activities and sports that they've bravely tackled, the fear that they overcame coming into middle school, and the friendships that have been created, there were smiles all-around. So proud of this group, and I can't wait for the amazing things yet to come!
Here’s to growing up, glowing up, and getting that sugar rush before summer! 💥🎈 #SixthGradeSurvivors #SixthGradeTHRIVERS
It’s National Principals’ Day, and we want to take a moment to recognize and appreciate our amazing leaders at Central Heights!
We’re starting by recognizing our high school principal, Mr. Lucas Matile. He’s always ready to step in, lend a hand, and support our students and staff in any way he can. His dedication and leadership make a big difference every day, and we’re truly thankful for all he does for Central Heights!
Next up for Principal Appreciation Day is our middle school principal, Michelle Smith! Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious—whether she’s filling the halls with music from her bumpboxx or planning fun events that bring everyone together, she makes coming to school a blast. Behind the scenes, she keeps everything running smoothly, and we’re so grateful for all she does for our students and staff. We appreciate you, Mrs. Smith!
Wrapping up Principal Appreciation Day with a big shoutout to our elementary principal, Hope Lickteig! Her fun and peppy personality shines through in everything she does. She makes every student feel seen and valued and is a constant source of support for her staff. From creative ideas to the joyful energy she brings each day, she makes Central Heights Elementary an exciting place to learn and grow. We’re lucky to have her leading the way—thank you, Mrs. Lickteig!
We’ve got baseball and softball at home tonight as Central Heights takes on Northeast! What makes it even more special? We’re celebrating our seniors! Join us for senior recognition between games. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m. — come out and show your support!
It was a beautiful evening of music at the Spring Vocal Concert! 🎶 Congratulations to all of our talented singers—well done!
Today we got to meet 3 of Prairie Paws' shelter dogs! Our middle school leadership class and 4th grade friends worked together to create over 50 dog toys to donate to the dogs at the Prairie Paws Shelter. We are so lucky to have such amazing community members who are willing to share their passion and collaborate with our young students!
Central Heights was recently recognized as an Apply Kansas - All Star High School by the Kansas Board of Regents. Schools receiving this recognition enhance college access by guiding students through the application process. Students in these schools receive support in completing admissions applications, seeking financial aid, and celebrating all postsecondary paths. This ongoing series of events, sustained year after year, cultivates a college-going atmosphere throughout the entire school community. Go Vikings!
Join us at Central Heights tonight for a beautiful evening of music! The middle and high school choirs take the stage for their spring vocal concert at 6:30 p.m. Come support our talented students!
Baseball and softball will NOT be going to Oswego today. Waiting to see if a make up date can be found.
The middle school track meet for today 4/29 at Uniontown has been cancelled and will not be made up.
