Wednesday, December 7, 2016

December 8, 2016

Please click the link above for our 1st quarter lists. 
Congratulations students for your hard work!

You can click on pictures to enlarge.

Students Visit TC3 Campus

Students enjoying lunch in the
college’s dining area.
From: Mr. Matt Barkee and Mrs. Heather Mott

Students from Mr. Matt Barkee’s College Success Class and Ms. Heather Mott’s Transitions class traveled to TC3 in Dryden in conjunction with the school’s open house to meet with college professors and tour the facilities.
A group shot of the students in TC3’s gymnasium.

Students met with Mr. Rick Grossman, a Professor of Reading and Learning and a Learning Strategies Specialist, and talked about how success in high school and college are the same and how they are different. A number of topics were covered such as academic integrity, course loads, responsibilities, getting involved, and having fun.

A brief tour of the facilities was given and the students had lunch in the school’s dining facility.
Students then went on their own to meet with professors and staff members from academic areas of their choosing. Engineering, Early Childhood Development, Sports Management, TC3’s new Sustainable Farming and Food Systems program, Chemical Dependency, Computer Information Systems, and Graphic Design were some of the programs students met with.
Students participate in a classroom
session with Professor Grossman.
Some students met with members of TC3’s coaching and athletic staff. Students received information on financial aid, housing, and general life at TC3.

Mr. Barkee’s College Success Class is a part of the CollegeNow Program at TC3. It was created in conjunction with Professor Grossman 11 years ago to better assist high school students make a successful transition from high school to college if that is the path a student chooses. Ms. Mott’s Transitions Class is focused on students understanding and exploring the 21st century skills needed in our world today.
High School students at South Seneca are also able to earn college credits through TC3 in the following areas: American History, Accounting, Web Design, Digital Media Production, Math, English, Spanish Language, Microsoft Computer Programs, and Health and Wellness.

Spanish 4 News
The Spanish 4 class was studying an art unit. Since we were not able to visit the Prado or the Reina SofĂ­a Museums in Madrid, we brought it to us.


Students were given a list of things to look for, and had to find out information by viewing the works in our "gallery". There were works by the masters such as Picasso, Goya and Velazquez among others and they learned about the history and characteristics of realism, surrealism, impressionism and cubism.


Career and Tech Center 
Outstanding Students of the Month Award

The South Seneca Career and Tech Center Outstanding Students of the Month are:

  • Brett Robinson - Auto Body - South Seneca
  • Brittany Burgos-Post - Criminal Justice - South Seneca 
The Career and Tech Center staff and administration will recognize nominated first year and second year students each month, based on the criteria listed below.  The outstanding students of the month are chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership, citizenship, work ethic, and attendance. The student should be compassionate, honest, trustworthy, responsible and a positive role model.

Each teacher may nominate 1 student for their AM and PM class each month. The nominated outstanding students will be recognized for their nomination on the announcements, receive a certificate and a coupon for free pizza through our Food Services Class, plus a picture will be posted on our CTE Facebook Page and CTE website.

Listed below are examples of the criteria for the students who will receive this recognition:

    Exemplary behavior resulting in a flawless behavior record for the month
    Present and on time and prepared for class every day of the month
    Respectful, kind, generous, and cooperative with peers and adults
    Eager and motivated to learn
    Exhibits exceptional contribution to class or academic improvement in class
    Demonstrates a positive and helpful attitude towards fellow students
    All assigned work is complete for the month


Check out the latest TST Tribune
News from TST BOCES.  BOCES has great opportunities for kids of all abilities and interests.  







Thursday, December 1, 2016

Great Assembly with Matt Bellace - This coming Monday!

Matt Bellace - December 5th Assemblies for MS & HS


With the help of BOCES, we've been able to get Matt Bellace here on December 5th. Matt's presentation in Ithaca last spring was very well received by a few of our folks, so we decided to try and get him for our students.  We're excited about the opportunity.



Parents and community members are welcome! 
The assemblies will be this coming Monday, December 5. 

Middle School Assembly:  7:50 to 8:35
High School Assembly:  8:50 to 10:00

Thursday, November 17, 2016

November 18, 2016

Dear South Seneca Community Members:

It's been an eventful fall with many great things going on for our students.  As always, our students are learning new content and skills such as collaboration, which will serve them well in the future.  We're proud of our students, as I'm sure you are.  Please see below for a sampling.  I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Mr. Tim Houseknecht, Principal


Click on any picture to enlarge. 

NASA Engineer to Visit Math Classes:
Mr. Nixon is bringing in an engineer from NASA (his brother) to talk with the PreCalc and Calculus students on "Why this math stuff is important."  His brother works in Huntsville, Alabama and is currently tasked with the development of the upper engine for next heavy-lift launch vehicle that will be replacing the space shuttle.

A few of our seniors are interested in engineering careers, and one is even thinking about aerospace, so Mr. Nixon figured it would be good to hear it right from the guy doing the rocket surgery.


Art Club Sprucing Up the Hallway

Our talented Art Club students, headed up by Mrs. Copp, are doing a great job with our tech wing mural. Thanks ladies!




We're Partnering With Our Local Lions Club

First row:  Brett Robinson and Scott Hawley
Second row:  Ray Fox, Lee Cool, Jeff Williams, John Hammond, and Howard Yontz

We're starting a "Leos" Club, which is a youth volunteer organization affiliated with the Lions Club. Two of our trailblazing seniors, Scott Hawley and Brett Robinson, attended a Lions meeting on November 16th to talk to club members about the idea.  The local club members are very excited about the collaboration.



We're currently working to get kids involved, and initial interest has been very high.  This club will be a great way for students to get involved and help the community!


Automotive Class Driving Along Smoothly


This year, Mr. Gilfus has a two period per day automotive class.  Students are learning many skills they would need if they choose to go into the trade, or simply for the joy of learning the skills.   Our ultimate goal is to have a half day program so we can keep some kids on our campus in a quality tech program like this.







Maker Space A Big Hit in the Library

Ms. Gale has been working with students in our new "maker space" area. In a maker space area, students work to create projects and learn by doing.  Ms. Gale does a great job in finding great opportunities for high school and middle students alike.




Learning Another Language Can Be Very Beneficial

What does research show about the benefits of language learning?
Please read the article linked above to learn more.  This article was supplied by Mrs. Sanchez and Ms. Nelsen, our foreign language teachers. 

Here is another good resource:


Real Life Training Happening in Our High School

Pictured here is Mrs. Brewer's Emergencies class.  The students learn the latest in CPR techniques as well as other important skills.  Students are engaged in learning by doing. Great job Mrs. Brewer.




Community Garden Coming to Ovid


We are collaborating with some community members to build a community garden on village property, which is adjacent to our school's property.  Click here for our garden presentation. We had a "building day" last Saturday the 19th, and the garden layout is taking shape. If anyone is interested in helping or reserving a plot, please email me or just show up. My email address is thouseknecht@southseneca.org.

Pictured is Mr. Barkee.  Along with the help of some students, Mr. Barkee is making some raised bed boxes for the garden. The garden will provide some great opportunities for collaboration with our community. Thanks.



Flu Guide for Parents
Please see the linked info guide from the NYS Health Department.  Click on the title above.


Please congratulate the following students on being selected for Jr. High Area All-State:

Abigail Alger (Treble Chorus, Alto)
Chamberlain Bauder (Mixed Chorus, Bass)
Corrina Broadwell (Treble Chorus, Soprano)
Samantha Marion (Mixed Chorus, Alto)
Violet Meagher (Treble Chorus, Soprano)
Olivia Morton (Treble Chorus, Soprano)
Amanda Richardson (Treble Chorus, Soprano)
Thomas Smalser (Mixed Chorus, Bass)

These students were selected out of all the 7th through 9th Grade applicants in NYSSMA's Zone 3.  Applicants use their NYSSMA Solo Festival score from the previous year to apply. They traveled to Cortland on November 4th and 5th to work with guest conductors and present a program of music in a concert on the Saturday of the weekend.
Thanks for reading!

Kyla Perry
6-12 Choral Director
South Seneca Central Schools


Have a great Thanksgiving!




Monday, October 3, 2016

BOCES Students of the Month

Hello South Seneca,
This is my first installment of my High School News blog for the year.  I started this blog on a trial basis last spring, and stories will continue all this year. I will be posting good articles of student accomplishments and great happenings in and around school.  I hope you enjoy this first post covering our wonderful BOCES students.
Tim Houseknecht, Principal

BOCES Students of the Month

I just had to share this good news from BOCES.  5 of the 25 students of the month are Falcons.  If you see these kids, feel free to congratulate them. See pictures below.

Career and Tech Center Outstanding Students of the Month Award

The Career and Tech Center staff and administration will recognize nominated first year and second year students each month, based on the criteria listed below.  The outstanding students of the month are chosen based on qualities such as character, leadership, citizenship, work ethic, and attendance. The student should be compassionate, honest, trustworthy, responsible and a positive role model.
Each teacher may nominate 1 student for their AM and PM class each month. The nominated outstanding students will be recognized for their nomination on the announcements, receive a certificate and a coupon for free pizza through our Food Services Class, plus a picture will be posted on our CTE Facebook Page and CTE website.

Listed below are examples of the criteria for the students who will receive this recognition:
  • Exemplary behavior resulting in a flawless behavior record for the month
  • Present and on time and prepared for class every day of the month
  • Respectful, kind, generous, and cooperative with peers and adults
  • Eager and motivated to learn
  • Exhibits exceptional contribution to class or academic improvement in class
  • Demonstrates a positive and helpful attitude towards fellow students
  • All assigned work is complete for the month

The Career and Tech Center Outstanding Students of the Month are:

AM September 2016 Students of the Month

Mikaela Snyder - Early Childhood - Ithaca
Nate Combs - Outdoor Rec Services - South Seneca
Faith Layton - Cosmetology - Groton
Chris Camp - Auto Body - Dryden (GJR)
Aaron Jackson - Welding - Dryden
Victor Knell - Digital Media - South Seneca
Jacob Granger - Computer Technology - South Seneca
Wyatt Andrews - Culinary Arts - Dryden
Alexandra Van Horn - Nurse Assisting & Health Occupations - South Seneca
Kyle Ellis - Criminal Justice - Ithaca
Allison Morgan - Animal Science - Groton
Forrest Stinson - Auto Technology - Lansing
Tyler Crossett - Heavy Equipment - Dryden



PM September 2016 Students of the Month

Deven Butler - Outdoor Rec Services - Ithaca
Courtney Parr - Cosmetology - Groton
Bryce Eastman - Auto Body - Lansing
Paige Carson - Welding - Trumansburg
Coleman Free - Digital Media - Trumansburg
Justin Carmona - Computer Technology - South Seneca
Alicia Bailie - Culinary Arts - Dryden
Morgan Rosellen - Nurse Assisting & Health Occupations - Groton
Laurel Deacon - Criminal Justice - Dryden
Jaden Cruz - Animal Science - Ithaca
Carvin (Vinny) Johnson - Auto Technology - Newfield
Roger Craw - Heavy Equipment - Drden/Smith

Monday, April 25, 2016

April 25, 2016

Dear Parents, Students, and Community Members:

Thanks for taking a look at our latest High School Newsletter.  We're proud of our students for their hard work and their zest for fun.  We have quite a few things going on in the High School, and we're happy to share them here.  On a personal note, thanks for your communication with me this year.  If you haven't spoken with me personally, you're always welcome to call or stop by.

Mr. Tim Houseknecht, Principal

Check out our Facebook page.  
If you subscribe, you'll get all the latest updates!

South Seneca BOCES Students of the Month - Congrats!!
Felecia Kohut - Food Services
Tim Borden - Auto Tech

June 4th: Seneca Communities Family Fair: 
A Day of Safety, Health and Wellness
Please click here for the flyer

Student Government News:
Student Government Officers and Junior Class Officers attended the New York State Council of Leadership and Student Activities District XI 21st Annual Conference "Leadership Charms" at SUNY Geneseo on March 17th.  They were able to network with students from several different school districts, listen to a motivational speaker (Ms. Harriet Turk), and attend workshops.  These workshops assisted our student leaders with Homecoming ideas, fundraising ideas, ice breaker ideas, and learning to step out of their comfort zone.  The conversations after the Leadership Conference were full of enthusiasm about the event, ideas to implement in our own school district, and wanting to run their own workshop next year!


Here is a picture of the group at the end of the event: (Left to Right) Sarah Albro, Scott Hawley, Cameron Vanselow, Amber Relyea, Ryley Rasmussen, and Mackenzie Welch.   









Library Notes:

Together with the librarian and director at the Ovid Library, we are raising attention for the upcoming Teen Book Festival in Rochester, Saturday, May 16. (they say it's like a Rock Concert for READERS!). There are 2 design contests available. Check it out! The website link is www.teenbookfest.org.

Falcon Flyers Flyin' High!
On March 11th the Falcon Flyers Academic Recognition program celebrated 151 students who were passing all their classes during the second quarter and 60 students who improved their overall average from 1st to 2nd quarter.  The “Beat the Winter Blues” event featured a tropical atmosphere and served up banana split sundaes and treat bags filled with colored lens sunglasses, flip flop keychains, gummie sharks, and “catch a wave” bubble gum.  A fun time was had by all!

ART NEWS FOR APRIL
Please click here for a couple of great pieces from Mrs. Copp.

SCIENCE NEWS
Here is an article from Mrs. Smith about a project that helped students to remember concepts.


Mathematics Department Celebrates PI Day


On March 14, the Mathematics Department celebrated Pi Day (3/14/16 rounded up).  The students colored paper plates with a digit 0 through 9 on the. The students placed the plates in order that form PI, 3.1415926…………. .






The plates went down one side of the hallway and back up the other. During the class students also enjoyed pie, did Pi activities and watch a 3.14 second video on how Pi was interpret.  PI jokes also decorated the hallway.  Mr. Nixon and Mrs. Scoles showed off their PI Day shirts.












Mental Health Awareness Month
From Tina Hallock, our school based family navigator:
I wanted to extend an invitation to all of you to participate in Mental Health Awareness Month with our Kindness Connects project.  All documents explaining and advertising the event can be download from http://www.collaborativesolutionsnetwork.org/pages/kindness-connects/ .  If you have any trouble, please contact me.  I can easily forward them to you.  We are even being offered the opportunity to plant a Kindness Tree (donated by The Plantsman Nursery) at our school. 

www.collaborativesolutionsnetwork.org/
Since one of the missions of our Family Navigator partnership is to normalize emotional health, it seems like a wonderful opportunity to make the connection between kindness and emotional wellness in our students, families and even in ourselves.  As we all know, our modeling of kindness and our own emotional wellness only enhances the message for our youth and families.

Please let me know if any of you are interested in participating in this opportunity and how I can support you.  







Wednesday, February 24, 2016

February 24, 2016

A note from Mr. Houseknecht
Thanks for taking a look at our latest newsletter.  Our students are doing a great job, and I continue to be impressed with their manners and enthusiasm.

This is a very important time for 9th through 11th graders concerning next year's classes.  If you're a parent, please encourage your students to take scheduling of classes very seriously. I recently told the students that now could very well be the last time in their lives they will get classes free of charge, courtesy of our tax dollars.  They should take challenging courses that not only fill their minds, but their schedules as well.  Performance in high school means a lot to their future, not only in how they view the world of work, but in how others (college admissions officers and employers) view their work habits.  It's obviously very important for seniors to finish up strong by fine tuning their work habits for the reality of college or the workplace.



Students of the Quarter-


These students have been recognized for their dedication and hard work. 

Back Row: Seth Denmark, Marris Eck, John Zajac, Anthony Reff, Cole Acker, Andre Elmore

Middle Row: Hunter Denmark, Avrielle Fletcher, Skylar Howard, Skylar Shaulis, Caleb Covert, Jade Parsons, Melissa Swinehart
Front Row: Madelyn Houck, Elysha Smith




Students not shown: Julia Hubbard, Tyler Huff, Nikole Herndon, Kiersten Weaver, Erick Webster, Michael Wilkins, Annabelle MacIntosh, Jeremy Faulkner, Albino Pascual-Pascual, Hannah Porter, Thomas Lapp, Cameron Cupp, Madison Welch, Ben Snyder, Kazandra Jones, Zeb Alvarado, Heidi Langley, John Moore, Jordan Albrecht, Julia Diamond 


From My Perspective--
By Braeden Bierwiler, 10th Grade English and Global student
Research Project 8.JPG
Research Project 7.JPG

The Global and English classes of tenth grade are currently spent in the library working very studiously on a research project. The students are quiet and determined to spend the time they have getting work done. The research project is when students get to select a topic in Global History to explore and analyze the foundations and actions of these people or events. The students are picking their topic, in an array of Global History subjects. Mrs. Dunlap and Mrs. Remick as well as the librarians do a productive job in keeping the students focused and on task. 

The library includes several quiet places to study and gather facts and ideas on the topics. This includes a litany of books on many of the topics. This research project includes citations, notecards, an outline, and an essay. The schedule is planned out and small achievements are quietly celebrated by lollipops or other treats. This project is the main focus for both classes and will help the students learn multiple things in both Global History and English as well as analyzing data and searching for appropriate tools to help them. These students will have the project completed in early April including complete work cited, graphic, and cover page, first draft with the editing sheet, and all research materials. I, as well as others have complete confidence that the hard-working students in 10th grade will succeed and exceed all expectations.




Wrestlers Luke Macintosh and Adam Wagner are going to states this week!! 


Great job guys!







Basking in the Glory-
    
Our girls Varsity Basketball Team and Coach Heather Mott were invited to a Sectional Seeding Luncheon.  The girls were invited because they were ranked #1 in Class C2, a recognition they
earned with talent and dedication. The team will advance to C2 Sectional Finals after an impressive win on Saturday.






Wood Production Class in Full Swing

Pictured here is Mr. Barkee with Ryan Sweeney.  Mr. Barkee does a lot of demonstration, which helps his students to understand how to accomplish tasks. 

We are lucky to have the our tech team of Mr. Barkee and Mr. Gilfus. 




Mrs. Copp's Art News 

Click here for two articles about our wonderful art program.   








Chorus Highlights:

All-County Chorus Students traveled to Newfield on January 15th and 16th to participate in this year's All-County Choral Festival.   Participating districts include, Dryden, Groton, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, South Seneca, and Trumansburg.  The students who were selected to attend this year's festival worked with guest conductor, Dr. Todd Ranney.  Dr. Ranney is currently on faculty at Mansfield University and has appeared in over 100 opera productions throughout the Midwest.  Students' experiences culminated in a concert on the afternoon of Saturday, January 16th.


All-County picture:

Back Row: Sarah Corning (9), Sarah Albro (11), Nathaniel Bauder (12), Krystofer Mosher (11), Julia Diamond (10), Kathryn Hubbard (12)
Front Row: Emma Seamon (9), Aden VanCleef (9), Marlea Jones (12), Gemini Zajac (12)




Singers selected to Sr. High Area All-State are chosen based on their NYSSMA scores from Solo Festival the previous year.  They are picked from all the applicants in NYSSMA's Zone 3, one of the largest in the state.  All of the South Seneca students who participated contribute much to the Choral Music Department and all participate in High School Chorus and the award-winning, select ensemble, Vocal Jazz.  

Sr. High Area All-State Photo:
Nathaniel Bauder (12th Grade), Kathryn Hubbard (12th Grade), Krystofer Mosher (11th Grade), Gemini Zajac (12th Grade), Marlea Jones (12th Grade), Sarah Albro (11th Grade)

These students were presented a concert with guest conductors at Ithaca College  Saturday, February 6th.




It's No Gamble - Plays at SS are a Safe Bet Every Time-





Smile for No-cost Community Dental Clinic
March 4 and 5 sponsored by Finger Lakes Community Health and New York State Dental Association at the Ovid (Seneca County) Community Health Center. No-cost dental, please call to make an appointment.
It's That Time of Year...-
   
Often this time of year brings changes in weather that are an issue for our students. Because we all want what's best for our students please be mindful of the weather for the day and encourage your SS student to dress appropriately. We know how important it is for students to express themselves through their style and appreciate how important it is to be comfortable. With that said, there are some guidelines to help you navigate the conversation.  
  
According to Jennifer Powell-Lunder, Psy.D., there are some basic rules to live by when preparing your teens to dress for the weather and be true to their sense of style.  Help them plan in advance. Avoiding the conversation in the morning will allay several contentious points. If they can plan ahead, they can choose to dress appropriately for themselves. Understand what objections kids have to wearing certain clothes. Often it is more than superficial. Kids choose clothes based on convenience and comfort. Children may be convinced to wear layers over the "real" outfit if it works. Will the extra clothes fit in their locker or backpack? Will they have time to change at school? etc. are genuine concerns for kids.  Think about their comfort. Beyond the concern of being self-conscious is the comfort of changing class environments and tasks  that require clothes that are versatile, comfortable and appropriate. Each class is different in terms of activity required, proximity of a student's seat to the heat or windows, group or independent work etc. All of these factors may play into the reasons teens choose an outfit. Helping your teen plan ahead can prevent unnecessary exposure to extreme weather.  (How to Handle Cold-Weather Battles with Teens.)

Signing Out Sick Students-
Every minute a student spends learning is an investment in his or her future. Unnecessary absences are a real detriment to the growth of our students.  Inevitably sickness happens. When kids are sick, our school nurse, Emilee Broadwell, is available to help them. If a child is sent home sick from school, the nurse-not the student, will contact the parent or guardian to come pick them up.  Should you need to sign out a student for an appointment please send in  a note in advance so we can ensure his or her safety. 



Thanks for taking a look!  Go Falcons!!



















Monday, February 1, 2016

February 1

Hello Parents and Community Members:

Welcome to our initial Falcon High School Newsletter.  We will share a new edition every month with you.  We are using a blog format, which will help you to access it easily and clearly on a computer or a smart phone. If you ever have an idea for an article, please email your teacher, me, or Mrs. Butler, our assistant principal.  I hope you enjoy this new method of communicating with you concerning some of the great things happening here.

We want to make this very accessible.  If you'd like to receive updates on your cell phone, please complete the survey linked here.  Thanks for taking a look.

Mr. Tim Houseknecht,  thouseknecht@southseneca.org
Mrs. Melissa Butler, mbutler@southseneca.org



Say Hola to Technology in Our Classes
Spanish 3 kids have been using their Chromebooks to access a video Ms. Sanchez posted to Google Classroom. The video was edited using a program called Zaption where she can insert questions into various parts of the video, keeping students engaged. 



Technology for our Tech Students
     Some new equipment has been acquired by the Tech Department. One being a new large format printer, which will be primarily utilized by the CAD (computer aided drafting) class, and a new “Saw Stop” table saw in the woodshop.
     Another exciting acquisition is a piece of surveying equipment called a “Total Station”, which was donated by the SUNY Alfred surveying/civil engineering dept. This is easily an $8000 piece of equipment, and will be used by the surveying/land measurement students this coming spring.
     Students also made a trip to the Rodman Lott farm earlier in the year for the “Careers in Construction Day”. At this event students were able to operate heavy equipment, try their hand at welding, cut sheet metal with a plasma cutter and solder copper pipe to name a few. Local skilled trade organizations, SUNY and local community college programs represented included electrical, advanced manufacturing and grape/ wine production programs. It was a very informative and fun day for the kids. 

Leaving Their Mark   
This year starts a new tradition for the Earth Science classroom.  The students who earn the two highest grades on the Earth Science Regents Exam in June will be able to sign the wall of the Classroom in the Fall.  For 2015, the highest grade was earned by Charlie VanNess and the second highest grade was earned by Justin Carmona.  Please congratulate these two boys for an excellent job on a difficult exam.




Art Club is Back
After a three year absence, due to necessary budget cuts, South Seneca’s High School Art Club is back! The club’s first project is a colorful wall mural, which will feature the saying, “Earth without art is just ‘eh’.” Club members are looking forward to working on various art projects for the school and the community, as well as the upcoming holiday party gift exchange, and other fun events! Art Club President Gemini Zajac says, “I’m proud to be the official leader of the club and look forward to getting to know other artists. It will be fun bringing our student artists together and watching everyone’s creativity meld together.”







From Our Perspective- By Briana McCoy & Julia Hubbard

This year we all had the opportunity to take Beyond Our Borders (or BOB). BOB helps us to learn more about the world around us so that we will be better prepared for Global next year. It also helps us to be able to write essays on history. Before BOB I didn’t know that their was a difference between history and English essays and thanks to Mr. Brewer, I know that their is a distinct difference between the two. BOB is an important class to helping prepare us for Global.

This year, the freshman class is learning about maps, globes, and all things geography. We have independently made presentations, each about a different country in Asia. In our presentations we had to talk about absolute location, relative location, and political & physical maps. We also had to mention the culture and history in the specific country, as well as tourist attractions and natural resources. After we worked on our Asia presentations, Mr.Brewer taught us about the Arab Spring, the civil war in Syria and how it evolved into the current crisis with ISIS (Daesh) and how it is related to today's news. We found out how important it was to know this topic, so we used our knowledge on it to write an essay about it. The essay was about the four countries that it had first affected; Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Syria. We had fun with these projects and we are so glad we had the chance to learn everything thing that we have so far.

As noted, BOB is an important class to making sure that we are prepared for Global. Thanks to BOB, our class has learned more about current events. In BOB, we are able to learn new things about different countries through essays, PowerPoints, and fun videos. We wish that we had been given the chance to take this class more than a half year because we feel that it has helped tremendously and will help us out even more in the future. We are happy we were able to take BOB and am thankful for the opportunity to learn more.

MasterMinds and Academic Challenge Bowl 
Competitors in competition in Clyde-Savannah last month...winning  3 out of  4 competitions against Varsity level Masterminds. These competitions are essentially the modern-day versions of the School Quiz Bowl competitions form the 70’s and 80’s. MM are geared toward high school students and ACB are middle level grades 7-8. The competitions are played like rounds of jeopardy with buzzers and bonuses and the like. It is very exciting and the students do extremely well with the procedures for answering the questions when properly addressed by the spokesperson. They are having a great time and the student interest is rising as we get the word out!

Striking Up Some Fun for Our Honor Roll Students
Students on the honor roll had the opportunity to celebrate their successes by  bowling at Sunset Bowl. In all, 126 students enjoyed a day filled with bowling and camaraderie.  Our students and staff are dedicated to achievement and honoring the work it takes to become the best we can. 

Thanks for taking a look!  We will make this newsletter a regular part of our high school.