My name is Jenny Joonas. I officially earned my degree after I turned 50 through the Wichita State TAP (Teacher Apprentice Program). I live in Linn and will drive to Washington to work with USD 108 preschool through 1st grade students. I am blessed to have been in a school system for over 26 years including being a para for 14 years, Parents as Teachers coordinator for 8 years, preschool special education teacher for 2 years, and finally the last two years as a special education teacher for K-6 students at Riley.
My husband and I will celebrate 32 years of marriage in August. I have 4 grown sons Bryce, 32; twins Bailey & Blaine who will turn 30 this year, and a bonus son who was our foreign exchange student when he was 18 and is now 31! We also have two wonderful daughters-in-law and an amazing 8-week-old grandson, Mason James Joonas, who we just got to meet for the first time two weeks ago.
I enjoy having dinner with friends, spending time with my family, and now being Grandma Jenny!
Students, Parents, & Community Members
I am so excited to be joining you in Washington County for the 2024-2025 school year. Here you will find a newsletter introducing myself and some new teachers you can expect to see this year. We are only 1 week away from our Back to School Night!
August can be both an exciting and scary time for some people with lots of activities and transitions. Take each day as it comes and reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns
Again, I can't wait to meet all of you and start the school year #TigerStrong.
Please feel free to email me: jcarlson@usd108.org or call the school at 785-325-2261.
See you all very soon,
Jordan Carlson
Jr. High and High School art students need to have a sketchbook for class. This is for those in 7th grade art, Intro to Drawing, and Comprehensive Art. It must be the size of a regular sheet of paper (8.5 x 11 or 9 x 12), have no lines on the pages, and have at least 35 sheets of paper in it. Smaller ones will not work - sorry. A used one is fine as long as it has enough sheets. I recommend a left side spiral bound as they seem to hold together better. Walmart carries them in stock or they are found online in most stores. Please come to class with your name on your sketchbook. If you have questions, email the art teacher at etoole@usd108.org. See you in the art room!
Hello! My name is Rayna Shaw and I am going to be the MTSS Aide this year. I graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in May. I spend most of my free time with my family, tending to my gardens, going to the lake, and playing with my cat Kona and dog Mac. I’m looking forward to starting the new school year and getting to meet everyone!
WCHS Volleyball Players
Here are some woods project photos from the end of last school year. These students all built nightstands and they turned out neat. Great job Owen, Konner, Kale, Garrison, and Mackensi !
The play books are here! If you want to get a head start for auditions in a couple weeks, contact Mrs. Toole - etoole@usd108.org
Get ready for the play. All 9th thru 12th graders can be performers!! Interest meeting on Friday, August 16 at 3:20 in the art room - plenty of parts available!!
Hello! I’m Jessica Applegarth, and I live in Barnes, Kansas with my husband Kyle, our two wonderful daughters Aubri and Maeva, and our dog, Xena. As I step into my role as a first-grade teacher with the Washington County Tiger Family, I'm eager to share my 15 years of educational experience, driven by a commitment to fostering engaging, inclusive, and nurturing learning environments. My teaching philosophy revolves around promoting growth, creativity, and curiosity among my students. My journey began as a para educator, where I developed invaluable skills in supporting students' diverse needs. Following three years as a substitute teacher, I honed my educational practices, earning a bachelors in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University. In my free time, I enjoy working on puzzles, reading, canning salsa and cinnamon pickles, working on crafts, and baking. My family and I are thrilled to return to the Washington County area and can’t wait to embark on a new school year adventure!
FCCLA officers attended the District D Summer Leadership Training on Friday. Our District Officers did an amazing g job planning and hosting the event.
New teacher orientation is off to a great start!
My name is Jordan Carlson and I live north of Clay Center with my husband, AJ, and our 3 children, Ellie (5), Thayer (3), & Ruby (6 months) along with our blue heeler Queen. I grew up in southeast Kansas and met my husband while attending K-State. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Agribusiness as well as Human Ecology with a certificate in Family & Consumer Sciences Education. I received my Master's Degree in Education Administration in December of 2022. I have taught many Family & Consumer Sciences courses in the Clay County School District for the past 7 years and have also served as the Work-Based Learning Coordinator and Student Council Sponsor. My husband is a 5th generation farmer and sells LG seed. We are excited to be joining the Washington County School family. Go Tigers!
Tiger Designs has been busy visiting with our fall teams and have a few order forms ready. We will have 2 order dates. The first deadline for order forms is Thursday, August 15th with disbursement by the Soap Scrimmage. Please drop off order forms in the high school office or bring to Back to School night, Wednesday, August 14th from 6-7pm.
The second order window will close the night of the soap scrimmage and items will be ready on or before September 10th.
If you have any questions, please email mbruna@usd108.org. If you prefer different clothing items, we can usually fulfill special requests.
We will post links to Band, JH volleyball and Cross Country team items as soon as designs are finalized.
Order form links:
WCHS Volleyball https://5il.co/2swe6
WCHS Football https://5il.co/2swe5
WC JH Football https://5il.co/2swe7
My name is Julisa Mader and I’m very excited to be returning to Washington County School not as a student but as staff! I’m looking forward to helping the students succeed and be the best they can be. I’m a graduate from Cloud County Community College with an AS degree and currently still in school. I myself am a proud graduate from Washington County and I’m very glad to be back.
Thank you for supporting our program.
Hi! My name is Abigail Sawin, and I am thrilled to begin as the new Director of Bands and Choirs at Washington County. I have been teaching music for the past six years and am excited to be able to focus on the 5th - 12th grades. Ever since I was young, music has been a big portion of my life. In college, I was blessed to be a member of the Singing Quakers at Friends University. This group still inspires me in shaping the programs I direct.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree from Friends University, and a Master’s Degree from Fort Hays State University.
My husband (Courtney) and I have 2 children, Maxwell (17), and Zoe (14). We live in Hanover, Kansas, and our favorite outdoor activities include fishing, boating, and traveling.
I look forward to getting to know each and every one of the students and their families at Washington County.
Just a reminder, Playbook distribution tonight, I will be available to talk to parents and student interested in joining the team.
WCHS Parents: Is your student interested in being a part of the drama department? Let's build up a parent booster program to support our young actors and actresses. Remind your student to attend the play interest meeting on Friday, August 20 at 3:20pm in the art room and watch for them to bring home more info. Contact etoole@usd108.org with questions.
I’ve taught several grade levels throughout my career. In my free time I enjoy being outside in the sun and going for walks. I also love to spend time with my husband and adult children. This year I’m looking forward to teaching 3rd grade and getting more involved in the Washington community!
Hello Tiger Community! My name is Keith Edmonds, and I will be your new high school social studies teacher for the 2024-2025 school year. My wife, Katherine Edmonds, and I currently live in Highland, Kansas. Katherine is going on her third year at Doniphan West as a 3rd /4th grade elementary teacher. I am entering my 8th year of teaching social studies. This past year I finished up my master’s in history at Emporia State University. Three years prior, I taught high school social studies at Doniphan West. I have a passion for history and want to share my knowledge with my students on a daily basis. I would like to incorporate fun projects. With Mr. Edmonds, there may be a fun history field trip or over the course of the year. My wife and I currently have two cats, seven-year-old Willow and a new kitten, Poppy. In my free time, I like spending time with my family, walking with my wife in the evening, and spending time in my garden. My favorite hobby is collecting sports football cards and watching sporting events. I look forward to meeting everyone this fall!
