The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The La Harpe School Board held a regular meeting Monday night, May 10th, in the School District Library.
The board approved the assignment of half time assistant high school principal to Lila McKeown and of half time athletic director to Todd Porter.
They also approved the employment of Charles Apt as 3/8 time building trades teacher to be funded by the LaMoine Valley Educational System, and approved the employment of Kelly Lafferty as full time high school secretary.
The following teacher aides and helpers will be re-employed for the 2004-05 school year:
Carolyn Moore, Jodelle Eddington, Cindy Irish, Joyce Gerst, Joanna Wright, Sally Boyle, Jill Dunham, Christa Jack, Peggy Bundy, Linda Hughes, Sarah Geissler, Teresa Brown, Bonnie Yocum, Denise Brown, Krista Little, Kathy Russell, Donna Thompson, Monalisa Graves, Dixie Bollin, Laurie Magee, Mindi Bartlett, Kathi Rogers, Denise Kost, Jenny Reische, and Sandy Little.
The board accepted with regret the resignations of Claudia Apt as high school secretary due to retirement, of Jason Kilburn as assistant high school girl's basketball coach, and Glenn Gleason as transportation director due to retirement.
In other business, the board
A special meeting of the board was called for May 26th at the Nauvoo-Colusa High School at 7:00 p.m. to discuss reorganization issues.
Elementary/Junior High Principal Charlotte Davis reported that she and Brenda Sparrow had attended the Title Grants Workshop. Mrs. Davis also reported that she will be serving her superintendent internship with Mr. Campbell during next school year.
Many of the field trips are in the process of being completed. The second Recognition Program for Junior High will be held May 17th at 7:00 p.m.
There will be 25 junior high students competing at the state track meet level again this year.
The Student Council sponsored the Spring Dance on April 30th. They are also sponsoring a 5-8 picnic on May 26th to welcome the new junior high students and congratulate the graduates. That is also the date for the Kindergarten Track Meet.
Family Day was held on May 7th. The K-4th grade students performed several musical pieces. K-4 held a Literacy Fair.
Fifth grade had their rock show and the Junior High Science Fair was ready for viewing.
Mr. McKinnon graded all of these projects for assessment of the Illinois Learning Standards goals. The 5-8 Spring Music concert was performed on May 6th.
The teachers are planning a Move-Up day for all students on May 14th. Students in PK-4th grade will move up to the next grade level for part of that day to meet the teachers and experience what life will be like next year.
Kindergarten teachers have invited all students and their parents who will be attending kindergarten next year for an orientation from 9:30-10:30 a.m. that day.
Students in 5th-7th grades will be following the junior high schedule for their next year's grade level. The 8th graders will be at the high school for orientation activities.
We are hoping this will help to get students excited about their upcoming year and alleviate some worries and concerns.
The Student Council will be doing community service in La Harpe on the morning of May 25th and ten traveling to Burlington, IA, for a fun afternoon activity.
The Honors Group will attend Six Flags as culmination of two years of participation in this group on May 18th.
The 8th Grade Promotion will be Friday, May 28th at 7:00 p.m.
High School Principal Charles Apt reported that the Prairie State Exam was administered on April 28th and 29th at the Christian Church. The high school awards night will be Thursday, May 20th, starting at 7:00 p.m. Announcements of scholarship winners as well as music and other academic awards will be made at this time.
Semester tests will start on May 24th and will continue on May 25th and 26th. Our baseball and softball teams will start regionals the week of May 17th. We are the host for both the softball and baseball regionals. The semi-finals and finals will be played here on Saturday and Monday respectfully.
Both teams are doing well with the baseball team having a record of 18-3 and softball 14-8.
Practice for Baccalaureate will be on May 19th, with graduation practice being at 11:00 a.m. on May 21st.
Seniors will be dismissed at the conclusion of graduation practice on that day. Baccalaureate will be held at the Christian Church on Sunday, May 23rd.
Rudy Lewis from the state treasurer's office will speak to the seniors after baccalaureate practice on May 19th. The topic will be credit cards and check books. He is the regional coordinator for financial education.
The Prom and Post-Prom were held last weekend. Everything went very smoothly. Post Prom was in the gym for the fourth year.
Ricky Johnson read the Ag Report prepared by Paul Meliff. The Agriculture Machinery and Electricity class went to the Kerry Poulter's home on April 15th and helped pour a 14 foot step for the front of his house and a wall near the back patio doors.
This was a way to gain practical experience while studying about concrete. New La Harpe FFA officers were elected at the April 16th meeting.
Those serving for next year are: President- Ben Cox; Vice President- Kevin Penrod; Secretary- Kelli Burr; Treasurer- Joni Dowell; Reporter- Lacey Pence; and Sentinel- Jason Poulter. On April 23rd, Michael and Greg Blythe, Matt Swanson, Ben Cox, Cody McKeown, Brittain Daudelin, Brian Covert, and Ryan Yelton planted 34 corn varieties along with nine replications of the check variety.
Randy Bray, Ted Geissler, and Jesse Palmer competed in the Section XI FFA Trap Shoot at Smokin Gun Hunting Club near Hamilton on April 24th.
Seven students competed in the State Livestock and Dairy Judging CDE on April 27th at the U of I.
The Livestock team received a silver rating with Jacob Markey receiving Gold, Gretchen Blythe, Kelli Burr, and Mitch Worley receiving Silver, and Kirsten Johnson receiving Bronze.
In the Dairy Judging, Megan Poulter earned a Silver and John Dowell earned a Bronze. Students in the Horticulture Class and the FFA appreciate everyone who helped with another successful spring plant and flower sale.
This sale, with over 1500 plants, was the largest since we started three years ago.
On May 3rd, as a community service project, students in the Agriculture Machinery and Electricity class went to Andy Johnson's farm, near his new confinement buildings, and planted 50 trees to help serve as a windbreak and reduce soil erosion.
Greg Siegworth along with Greg Blythe, Isaac Rogers, Brian Covert, Cody McKeown, Matt Swanson, Ryan Yelton, Brittain Daudelin, and Ben Cox, planted 28 Soybean varieties along with four replicas of the check variety on May 5th.
All varieties are Round-Up Ready this year for better weed control.
Anna Ziegler was elected as the new Section XI President for 2004-05 and Lacey Pence was elected as the new Section Reporter. Kevin Penrod served as Vice President Pro-Term for the Opening Ceremonies and our voting delegates were Genessa Cox, Claire McKee, and Megan Poulter.
School board members in attendance were Lawrence Johnson, Dan Horton, Cindy Wear, Barbara Cox, Ricky Johnson, and Ed Pence.
Also present were Jo Campbell, Charles Apt, Charlotte Davis, Pat Deitrich, Lila McKeown, Natalie Dutton, David Grimes, and Elaine Long from Carl Sandburg College.
Ms. Long introduced herself as the new Carl Sandburg College representative who will be attending board meetings to let our school know about the latest programs and information concerning the college.