LASC meets Sr. Beta
By Caely Hibbits
A Levy Advisory Student Council (LASC) meeting was held in Chiefland, Tuesday, April 22, 2008. A few school board members showed up as well as a few students from Cedar Key Student Government: President Jaclyn Stefani, Vice President Michelle DiMaggio, Jordan Watson, and Caely Hibbits. Williston, Bronson, and of course Chiefland also attended. This meeting is held four times a year. The schools get together and decide on things to improve the schools.
At the beginning of the April 22nd meeting each school presented the projects their Student Government Association (SGA) was active in during the 2007-2008 school year, also discussing their schools recommendations and commendations. After this the students ate lunch and participated in a service project. Which is held at all of these meetings. Cedar Key was not able to attend the service project due to the Cedar Key Sr. Beta Induction.
All members that attend the LASC meeting were either in Senior Beta or getting inducted into Sr. Beta and had to be back by 2:30. The Sr. Beta induction was a success. All three inductees and all but one inductor were able to attend and many parents showed up. They were told the qualities of a beta member and then the new and old members recited the Sr. Beta pledge. After the induction, everyone enjoyed cake and punch. The induction was held during Beta week and to celebrate Sr. Beta sold ice cream and organized hat day.
Yearbooks Arriving
By Caely Hibbits
The Cedar Key Yearbook is scheduled to arrive next week and will be delivered on Friday, May 9, after lunches. The school did not order many extra yearbooks so if you plan to buy one, it is recommended purchasing as soon as possible; they will go fast.
Also those that paid $20.00 at the beginning of the year will need to pay the remaining $20.00 in order to get their book.
Teacher Appreciation Week 2008
By Jessi Robinson
Cedar Key School`s teacher ap~reciation week will be starting next Monday, May 5th, and will go through Friday, May 91 . Be sure to thank your teacher for their hard work, time, and commitment, all throughout the school year.
Volleyball Bake Sale
By Claire Brown
The CKS volleyball team is raising money to go to a three day volleyball camp, in Bronson, this summer. So far they have sold clam fritters at the arts festival and they held a bake sale yesterday and today. The last day of the bake sale will be tomorrow. Don`t forget to bring your money to help your sharks go to camp. This is the first year the Cedar Key Volleyball team will go to camp!!!
CKS Students` Artwork in Silent Auction By Jessi Robinson
CKS middle school students will display their photography in the first ever Cedar Key Middle School Silent Auction, which will be held at the Cedar Key Community Center (Lion`s Club building) on May 15th, from 5-7 pm.
Each student will get the chance to pick the photos that they want shown and offered for sale in the auction. When one`s artwork is purchased, the artist will get a small percentage of the sale price, and the remainder of the proceeds will go to the Middle School Wheel class funds for more supplies.
Light refreshments will be served. Appropriate attire is requested at this semi-formal event. Shark Baseball Team Ends With a Close Game
By Josh Berger
The season ended with a heartbreaker against Hernando Christian Academy. The game went into an extra 8th inning and ended with the score at 7 to 8. Coach Joe said "it was the best game of the season ". The game went back and forth with us ahead, tied to them, ahead again, etc. until the 8th inning.
2nd and 3rd Graders Visited by Pen Pals
By Claire Brown
This past week 2nd and 3rd grade students at Cedar Key School were visited by their pen pals from Ocala and Cheifland.
Ms. DeAnne`s 3rd grade class has been pen pals with Dr. NH Jones Elementary school in Ocala for the past 6 yrs. The pen pal project that the third grade class participates in is called "communities in focus" and was a collaboration of ideas from 3rd grade teacher, DeAnne Watson, and one of her good friends, Polly Werner. During this project students are asked to take pictures related to four categories: community, school, family, & a self portrait. Then, they send a postcard that has their photo and a description of the photo on it to their pen pal. After receiving postcards from their pen pals, the students compare and contrast their community, school, family, and self. "The students love corresponding and seeing how even though Cedar Key and Ocala are a lot alike they are very different as well", says Ms. DeAnne about the pen pal project.
After a few months of conversing through the mail, the students finally get to meet each other! On Thursday, April 17th, the third grade Ocala students got to come and meet their island pen pals. The two classes met up with each other in the school`s auditorium. "This is the highlight of the project because most of the time you don`t get to meet your pen pal", comments Ms. DeAnne.
The student`s first stop of the day was the High School Marine Science Lab, where Mr.
Whitman and his students had different stations set up with all kinds of different sea creatures. Following, Ms. Pam Alexander, CKS Aide, gave the students a brief history of Cedar Key. After that, the students and teachers went to Sea Horse Key on the University of Florida Lab Boat with Mr. Henry Coulter and his crew.
After completing both activities, the groups joined for a walking field trip to Ann`s Other Place for lunch. After lunch, they played at "Shark Park" and made animal crayon rubbings until it was time to leave. "The pals from Cheifland really enjoyed the sights, taste, and sounds of Cedar Key. It was a beautiful and fun day on the island" comments Ms. Kamala.
Ms. Kamala and the 2nd grade class would like to thank Mr. Whitman and his Marine Science Students, Mrs. Pam, and Ms. Tina for their help in making the day a success. The second graders will have a chance to see their pen pals again on May 2nd, when they travel to CES for the day.
School is Back in Session After Spring Break
By Jessi Robinson
You could just hear the excitement in the air as students caught up with one another on Monday, April 14th, after being out of school for a week, as they exchanged stories about their experiences. It seemed like St. Augustine, Florida, was the most visited destination spot for our local elementary students. But, three trips, chosen out of many other fascinating ones from our CKS students, stood out.
Cedar Key School fifth grader Jacquelyn Slaughter got the chance to practically travel the whole south. Inching up from Florida, she and her family`s starting point, to Georgia, where they drove through to Tennessee. There they "well, just had a lot of fun", next on to South Carolina, where they drove up to the home of the Tar Heels, North Carolina, and they got to visit family. Afterwards, when Jacquelyn and her family finally reached Virginia, their final destination point, "they had a ball". "We got to go to Jamestown and Williamsburg, and it was fun." When asked to sum it all up, Jacquelyn said that it was "one of the best spring breaks of my life`"
Sixth grader, Megan Stuber, along with her mom and sister, local CKS freshman, Zoe Stuber, went to the Dominican Republic. Megan says, "Even though we got to go horseback riding, and waterfall climbing, my favorite part of our trip was when we all went scuba diving."
In high school, senior Christina Collins went to Panama City Beach over spring break, and was happy to share her experience. She says, "I went shopping, canoeing, swimming, and we played around on go karts. But the best part of my whole trip was getting to see and visit with my cousins, and my aunt and uncle."
Senior Beta Week
By Lindsay Edmunds
Three new members were inducted into the Senior Beta Club at Cedar Key School.
In order to join the club, students must have a 3.5 overall grade point average (GPA), and exhibit good behavior. The students that met these qualifications are three CKS freshmen:
Caely Hibbits, Zoe Stuber, and Deanna Littlefield.
The whole week was lined up with Beta activities and fundraisers. On Monday, the new recruits cleaned up the amphitheater and refurbished the sitting area next to the amphitheater that is near the playground.
Tuesday afternoon, the new members were officially inducted into the club, and Wednesday was designated "Hat Day" at CKS. Students could pay one dollar for the privilege of wearing their hat all day, even during class.
Thursday, there was an Ice Cream Social, and on Friday, new Senior Beta members, in addition to the previously inducted members, plan to wear their new Beta Club shirts to show their Beta pride.
The money collected throughout the week will help pay for the plants used in the amphitheater, as well as provide money for Beta Club scholarships. If there is money left over, the club members plan to donate it to the elementary playground fundraiser.
Mike Allen - Featured Artist in the School
By Lindsday Edmunds
Thanks to the Arts in Education grant, the students at Cedar Key School have the opportunity for local artists to visit CKS. Local guitar player, Mike Allen, came to the school and performed three different programs: one performance for middle school and high school, and two different performances for the elementary school, which was divided into two different age groups.
Throughout his presentation, Mr. Mike talked to the students about how he had first started to play the guitar when he was twelve, but put the guitar aside for a few years, and has recently picked it back up. Since Mr. Mike is a self taught guitar player, he told the students about the importance of sticking with it, and trying to improve your skills everyday.
The Arts in Education grant gave $9,000 to Cedar Key School. The School Board of Levy County matched that grant, giving CKS a total of $18,000 for the Artists in the Schools program. The grant has to be rewritten and defended every year.
Nick Jans Featured Writer in Middle and High Young Author`s Conference
By Caely Hibbits
While elementary students have participated in the young authors` conference for 19 years, this is the the first time High School and Middle School had one. The visiting writer was Nick Jans, author and photographer. He gave a presentation to the entire middle and high school, showing pictures and describing the life in Alaska. Nick Jans began his career as a hunting guide but had a change of heart and decided to write about the animals he saw and later, take pictures. He has published many books including: The Last Light Breaking, A Place Beyond, and The Grizzly Maze.
Nick Jans grew up with a love for sports, he played basketball, ran the ~ mile, played football, and was recruited for the Olympic rowing team but didn`t make it. He later coached basketball and taught school. After his presentation, he went to the high-school and answered any questions that the students might have had and was very open about his life. The next day, Wednesday April 16th, 2008, he did the same with the middle school. To all the students present at the workshops he handed out cards with a picture he had taken. "Jans was a very carefree person and enjoyed every minute of life" said a ninth grader "he was the best speaker this school has had in awhile.
The young authors` conference for middle and high school students hopes to continue and be as much of a success as it was this year. |
