November 30, 2009

Students help pack hope in a can

Several students from Axtell Educational Center volunteered recently to help can meat for distribution by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Two groups of students went to the MCC campus in North Newton and helped with the daylong meat canning process.

The MCC meat canning project has a long history dating back to World War II. As the war progressed, the number of hungry, displaced people grew. Their plight was noticed by a group of Mennonites in the United States who wanted to provide relief for the war-sufferers. A relief committee was formed in Hesston, Kansas to respond to the needs and the result was a meat canning unit fashioned after one developed by a businessman in Virginia for the same charitable purpose.

Today the MCC canning unit is mounted on a flat-bed trailer, enclosed with fold-up sides. Four MCC volunteers operate the canning project, traveling to 33 locations in eleven states as well as Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, from October to May.

At each location, a local meat canning committee has purchased meat and arranged for facilities and volunteers. The work of the local committees is the heart of the program.

Volunteers, such as the students who helped this year, are recruited to debone the meat, stir it as it is cooking, pack it in cans, wash and label the cans, box and load them on shipping pallets, and provide general processing and clean up help. In addition to the meat canning, the students also filled school supply kits for children in poor countries and those displaced due to natural disasters and wars. The school kits are the most often requested items that are distributed by the MCC. Children who receive the supplies beam as if theyve been given a priceless treasure. MCC sends school kits to countries including Iraq, Nicaragua, North Korea, and to poorly funded schools in Canada and the United States. Funds are welcome to cover the costs of school kits and meat canning operations and may be sent or delivered to the MCC office at 121 E. 30th Street, PO Box 235, North Newton, KS 67117. Donations may also be made online on the MCC website at www.mcc.org .

According to the MCC website:

• $3.00 covers the expense to can one can of meat.
• $72.00 will cover the cost for one complete carton of meat.
• $0.25 is the average cost of shipping a can of meat to a hungry family.
• $6.00 is the cost to ship one carton of meat.

The Axtell students participation in the Newton MCC Canning Day was facilitated by Communities in Schools and Prairie View. According to CIS Director, Susan Lamb, Communities In Schools of Harvey County works in partnership with students, parents and the school district to assist students in many ways. One of our basics is 'a chance to give back to peers and community', and the work students completed at MCC was an important part of our mission as it aligned very well with this value."

Top Photo: Tesla Miller (left) and Micheala Jaso make school kits to be sent to children in war torn and impoverished countries.

Bottom Photo: Student Rachel Claypole (right) helps affix labels to cans of meat, alongside another volunteer.

November 24, 2009

WE-CAN Club Helps Conserve Energy at Newton High School

Students in the WE-CAN club at Newton High School recently donated ten “draft dodgers” to the NHS maintenance department. Students were working on making the door draft stoppers to sell, when a high school maintenance worker saw them and asked if the students might consider making some for the high school.

The students were happy to oblige and the ten new draft dodgers are now installed and helping to conserve energy at the high school. The students spent time cutting, sewing and filling the energy saving devices and are selling them for $10 each.

Start up costs for materials to make the draft dodgers was covered with funds earned from activities like break sales. The students used 72 pounds of rice and 12.5 yards of fabric. They are currently taking orders for those who are interested in purchasing the draft dodgers.

In addition, WE-CAN students are selling peppernuts for the holidays, for $5.00 per quart sized bag. Anyone who is interested in purchasing a draft dodger or peppernuts may contact WE-CAN club sponsor Sharon Landrum at the high school, 284-6280, ext 2105.

Photo: Sam Felkins (left) and Konner Garnett (right) present draft dodgers to Newton High School maintenance staff member Jose Hernandez. The WE-CAN Club made and donated ten draft dodgers to the high school.

November 19, 2009

Newton Rotary provides grant for Wiis in schools

The Rotary Club of Newton provided a grant in the amount of $2,250 to purchase six Wii Fit Plus, 6 Wiis with extra controllers, nunchucks, and battery chargers for Balance Boards (WiiFit) and related physical education equipment for Newton elementary schools.

[see full story in the Newton Kansan]

November 17, 2009

Newton middle school students participate in honor choirs

On November 7, 2009, eight students from Santa Fe Middle School attended the Kansas Music Educators Association South Central district honor choir in Andover. Students who participated were, (front row, left to right): Kate Jolliff, Maddy Akers, Katie Brenneman, Chloe Denno. Back row: Joseph McConnell, Jared Langley, Craig Dansby. Not pictured: Johhn Jurado.

On November 14, 2009 students from Santa Fe and Chisholm middle schools performed in the Pioneer League Honor Choir at Maize High School. Newton pariticpants were (front row, left to right): Stephanie Brown, Sarah Bartel, Elyse Bergquist, Rachel Fitzjarrald, Matthew Garber, Justin Terrel. Back row: Maura Thieszen, Josey Trimble, Lynden Voth, Abby Fryhover, Ashlynn Hamm. Not pictured: Brooke Machmer.

Photos provided by Kristin Anschutz

November 12, 2009

NHS gymnastics team ties for first

The Newton High School Gymnastics team tied for first place at the state competition held Saturday at NHS. The full story and photos are available on The Kansan website.

November 9, 2009

NHS to present Camelot November 19-21

The Newton High School drama and music departments will be presenting the classic musical "Camelot" on November 19, 20, and 21 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $5 for adults and $4 for students and may be reserved by emailing Cassandra Conley (cconley@newton.k12.ks.us) with the date of the performance and number of tickets needed.

November 5, 2009

Newton students selected for Pioneer League Honor Band

Fourteen eighth grade band students have been selected to participate in the 2009 Pioneer League Honor Band. The students from Santa Fe and Chisholm Middle Schools will join band students from Derby, Hutchinson, and Maize for a performance directed by Mr. Scott Freeby of Manhattan. The Pioneer League Honor Band will rehearse and present a concert at Maize South Middle School on Saturday, November 14.

Top photo: Chisholm students selected to perform in the Pioneer League Honor Band are (left to right): Sara Russell, trumpet; Megan Regeir, clarinet; Logan Porter, clarinet; Caitlyn Conner, flute; Tyler Shelly, French horn, Kyle Houseman, Percussion; and Heydon Mock, baritone. Greg Bergman is the band director for Chisholm Middle School.

Bottom photo: Santa Fe students selected to participate the Pioneer League Honor Band are (left to right): Ashlyn Glann, trumpet; Ketelin Zehr, trumpet; : Hannah Carlgren, trombone; Josey Trimble, saxophone; Rebecca Schrag, French horn; Joshua Carlgren, clarinet; and Bryan Brison (not pictured), percussion. Keith Woolery is the Santa Fe band director.

November 5, 2009

Author Roland Smith to Visit Newton Middle Schools

Author Roland Smith will visit Newton middle schools in just a few days. He will talk to Santa Fe students at the Fox Theatre on November 9. Assembly times are as follows: 7th grade at 10:00 a.m.; 8th grade at 1:00 p. m. He will also autograph books at the Santa Fe Media Center at 2:45 p.m.

Smith will be at Chisholm on Tuesday, November 10, in the library, at the following times: 6th grade at 8:15 a.m.; 7th grade at 10 a.m.; 8th grade at 1:30 p.m.

Read more on his website: www.rolandsmith.com or view the news release for additional info.

This visit is paid for by funds raised from holding Scholastic Book Fairs in our libraries. In addition, Chisholm is receiving some financial help from their PTO and Sunset is paying for part of the Santa Fe visit so they can send their fifth graders.

Author visits to Newton schools create an increased interest in reading and writing, both before and after the visits. As school resources shrink, due to state budget cuts, these types of enrichment activities are even more valuable to our students.

November 5, 2009

Red Sox pitcher revisits his roots

Dustin Richardson, a Newton native and Boston Red Sox baseball player, recently paid a visit to Chisholm Middle School to touch base with some of his former teachers and sign autographs for students.

Richardson attended Chisholm Middle School and graduated from Newton High School. He played college baseball at Texas Tech and was picked up by the Red Sox organization in the fifth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He then played for several of the Red Sox’s minor league teams, most recently Pawtucket, before being called up to pitch for the Boston Red Sox at the end of September, 2009.

Photo: (by Beverly Buller) Dustin Richardson signs autographs for Chisholm seventh-grader Dustin Trower as Jesus Mata watches.

November 5, 2009

Newton Schools Celebrate Fall

Several Newton schools celebrated fall last week with field trips to pumpkin patches, costume parades, pumpkin decorating contests, games and food making activities.

Sunset Circle of Friends group visited Papa's Pumpkin Patch where they selected pumpkins, sent small pumpkins into orbit with Papa's gourd sling shots, played in the corn bin and navigated the corn maze.

Students at Chisholm Middle School had a fall Circle of Friends party. The students enjoyed refreshments, a Mad Science Lab, and slime making, which is shown here.

Students at Northridge Elementary had fun learning about measurements through several fun fall activities. The games and food making exercises helped students practice their measuring skills, which are required for state math assessments.

Students at Walton Rural Life Center visited the Smoky Hill Bison Farm and Pumpkin Patch. Students learned about bison, selected pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, played in the corn bin and wandered through a corn maze.

Click on a thumbnail photo below to view all the fall fun!