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Are you a Swiftie? If you are, you could meet Ms. Taylor Swift today at Farmington Elementary along with Amelia Earhart, Michael Jackson, and even Helen Keller.

Students in Ms. Lindsay Weaks and Ms. Jana McCord’s writing and social studies classes presented a living wax museum for each grade level from Farmington to tour. Students not only dressed the part, but as you made your rounds, you had the option to ‘Press to Play.’  Still as statues, at that moment, each person then stated a brief synopsis of facts about who they were impersonating before returning to their original statuesque position.

Ms. Lindsay Weaks reflected on the assignment. “This is something each 6th grade class looks forward to.  They really dive in and each one takes a life of its own. In my class, they conduct the research completely by themselves.  Then, they take that research and design their poster which really turns into kind of a detailed timeline of who they chose to research.  We really work hard on memorizing their speech so that the spectators walk away with a substantial knowledge about each person represented.  It’s one of our absolute most favorite projects each year, and it provides a learning experience they always remember. I’m so proud of this group and the hard work they put into making this very real.”

In collaboration, Ms. Jana McCord, the 6th grade writing teacher also lends a hand in the project.  “As they conclude the research portion of the project, they take that information and work on writing their speech.  We focus on telling that specific person’s story…the highs…the lows…what they are most known for… and just the facts that best represent who they are.  Students really spend their time perfecting those pieces and practicing on their delivery.  We really want them to use their story-telling skills to captivate their audience and really have them hanging on their every word.  They all have done such great work!”

As the day concludes and the final group finishes, it is safe to say that they will never forget the day they were Kate Winslett, Patrick Mahomes, or Marilyn Monroe.  

 

RYLA, sponsored by the Rotary Club, is a leadership camp for sophomores across Kentucky.  This year, 3 of our very own were in attendance …Ms. Evan Green, Ms. Brooklyn Williams, and Ms. Albany O’Neill. To show their appreciation for the experience, the trio was able to present at the Rotary meeting on Monday.

In order to be considered, students had to have a healthy resume with considerable amounts of community service activities as well as hold leadership positions. While in attendance, students focus in on team-building skills and how to gracefully lead and serve.  With numerous activities to participate in, the students took some time to reflect on what they consider to be their favorite activities.

“My favorite activity was the service project for ‘Love The Hungry.’ This is where we hand packaged food for children and teens that would be sent off to starving countries. My job was carrying all of the very heavy boxes, taping them up, and putting them on pallets.  We ended up creating 21,384 meals,” expressed Green.

Ms. O’Neill reflects on the feeling of unity. “I loved all the team activities. The bonding inside our own teams and with other teams as well as the memories we made really caused  the weekend to be one I’ll cherish.”

On the other hand, the physical aspect of an activity caught the attention of Brookly Williams.  “My favorite activity at RYLA was the team building obstacle course. In this course, you perform multiple tasks with your team that inevitably create a teamwork atmosphere and enhance creative skills.”

Clearly, each that attended had different perspectives about the experience…but they were all in agreement that they are walking away with the necessary skills and tools to lead within their student body.  They seem to have been left with a new found love to serve others.  A new confidence was instilled in their capability to step out of their comfort zone and try something new.

In the future, Green, Williams, and O’Neill plan to implement what they learned by applying the concepts in the clubs they currently serve in, as well as everyday life. 

The Heisman Trophy Trust announced the 2023 school winners for the Heisman High School Scholarship.  On that list are two of GC’s very own…Ms. Katie Bennett and Mr. Andre Cervantes.

The Heisman High School Scholarship was created in 1994 through a partnership between Wendy’s and The Heisman Trophy Trust. From its inception, the program has leveraged the reputation of the Heisman Memorial Trophy as a symbol of great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman High School Scholarship program honors the nation’s most accomplished, community-minded high school senior athletes. By inviting male and female students from schools across the country to share their stories of leadership and impact, the program aims to inspire all students to harness their potential, push their limits, and use their talents not only to advance their own futures, but to improve the communities and world around them.

To apply, students must be graduating with the class of 2024, have a cumulative weighted high school grade point average of a B (3.0) or better, participate in at least one of the sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Association and be a leader in his/her school and community.  No doubt that Cervantes and Bennett are both more than qualified and worthy of the accomplishment.

Ms. Bennett, a member of HOSA and Foreign Language Club, also spends her free time participating on the golf, cross country and track teams.  After graduation, she plans to begin her Pre-Medicine program at Murray State.  As she progresses, Vanderbilt is her school of choice to complete her residency.  She shares with us what it would mean to her to receive the scholarship. “It would be a very big deal for me because this is my first time really being recognized, and this is a scholarship that focuses on your involvement with school sports while maintaining good grades.  It just is really special to me and I am grateful that I was selected as the school's Heisman winner.”

Andre Cervantes spends his free time participating in Youth Leadership, Student Council and DECA He also enjoys running on the cross country and track teams.  Civil Engineering will be his chosen major while attending the University of Kentucky.  Cervantes stated, “Winning the Heisman scholarship would help me financially to further my education, and I am honored to have been chosen to represent GC.”

The National Winner for the Heisman High School Scholarship will be announced on November 30th.  Good Luck, Katie and Andre! We are proud of you!

 

Spiders…they are creepy, crawly, hairy creatures.  You either love them or hate them.  Friends at Early Eagle Academy…they love them! One might think that at the tender age of three, a child cannot commit to memory why we need spiders in our world…but when you spend just a little bit of time at EEA, you quickly realize that the little sponges will be able to fully recite their knowledge about spiders when they return home for the evening. 

It’s never too early to introduce a child to learning.  Even younger children have the capability to learn, and those of us who have had experience with even infants notice their ability to mimic behavior such as responding with a smile when interacting.  According to raisingchildren.net, children’s brains develop connections faster in the first 5 years than at any other time in their lives. 

Early Eagle Academy began in 2017 due to the need for high quality early education in our community.  Now, the program receives funding from the Preschool Partnership Grant as a way to develop a full day program for Graves county’s youngest students.  Often considered a “hybrid” program, EEA is a part of the GC school district, but also is considered a private child care center.  Serving children from ages 3-5, the program is licensed to enroll 20 students and offers part-time and full-time care plans.  The idea is to be available to accommodate the needs of families by offering different enrollment options.

The academy opens daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 p.m.  Their typical day looks very similar to what you might expect to see in preschool classrooms.  Students typically begin their day with a Morning Meeting. At this time, the focus is on building classroom community and making a positive start to our day. After breakfast, students rotate through Reading Circle, Center Time, Science and Social Emotional Learning.  Included in instruction time is also Math, using fine motor skills, journals, and literacy. Outdoor activities are perfect for gross motor time, and Phonics usually ends the day…after lunch and a nap of course.

On any given day, students may build a ramp to introduce speed and inclines.  Home-made playdough is a crowd pleaser and opens the conversation for counting, measuring and following a recipe.  Or how about using puppets for problem solving, conducting experiments, or critical thinking questions.  No two days are alike! While the goal is to be Kindergarten ready by the conclusion of their time with the program, Melina Hargrove, Early Eagle Academy Program Director, explains that isn’t all that they focus on.  

“I hope that all my students are “ready” for Kindergarten by way of standards, it is most important to me that they know how to exist in the world. Social-Emotional learning is a big focus in our classroom because in all honesty, what good does having the knowledge to be a doctor if you don’t know how to effectively communicate with your patients? What good does having the knowledge to be an architect if you don’t know how to collaborate with other professionals working on the same project?  Or how to work under an authority figure? All of these things go back to Social-Emotional Learning.  If we can teach them in preschool how to be kind, how to follow directions, how to take turns, how to work together to solve a problem…that sets the foundation for social skills they can build on year after year,” expressed Hargrove.

Hargrove, a certified teacher with a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood education and a Master’s degree in IECE Teacher Leadership, has three assistants that rotate throughout the day.  With a background in preschool and previously working at Sedalia Elementary, Ms. Melina considers it a benefit to be able to connect with other teachers across the district.

Early Eagle Academy is currently near enrollment capacity, but could possibly have openings depending on days and times childcare is needed. They often have a waitlist so it is never too early to get your child’s name on the waitlist!

“These kids are going to change the world one day, and I’ll be here cheering them on as they do!”