Raymond Central Newsletter
April 2018
From the Desk of Dr. Joel...
Dear Raymond Central Family and Friends-
I hope that each of you had a fun, relaxing break at the end of March and that you are ready for the home stretch of the 2017-2018 school year. It is hard to believe that April has arrived and winter is finally over. If we do not have to delay or cancel school due to inclement weather, the last day of school is scheduled for Tuesday, May 22 (noon dismissal) with Monday, May 21 being a regular scheduled school day.
I want to take this opportunity to connect with you to provide an update on the important issue of school safety, a topic that is part of many conversations around the dinner table and across our district, state and nation. It is a complex issue and something that we must take seriously.
As a district, we have heard from many concerned stakeholders and others in the community. Throughout these conversations, a common message has emerged: we all care about our children and want the best for their future. We are committed to doing what it takes to ensure that the learning environment is safe and welcoming to all.
Raymond Central is in the process of updating and aligning our current safety and crisis protocols to the The Standard Response Protocol created by the I Love U Guys Foundation. This is a nationally recognized response protocol which has been adopted by a majority of schools across the state of Nebraska. Once the protocols have been updated, a meeting between school officials, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and other stakeholders will be scheduled. At this meeting, we will take time to discuss the protocols and the new consistent language provided by the I Love U Guys Foundation.
At the end of March, students participated in safety week which included the new consistent language provided by the Standard Response Protocol. Local law enforcement was also invited in to participate in the practice drills. This was the first opportunity for staff and students to see, hear, and practice using the new language and symbols.
The district will continue to attend trainings and work with local first responders to ensure everyone understands the schools updated protocols. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or any building administrator.
Have a fantastic April!
Dr. Joel
Teammates Gear...No Name Order
Mrs. White has an unclaimed order for Teammates gear that was placed earlier this year. Someone paid cash for the order-but did not include a name or building on the order form. If you think you might be missing your TeamMates gear/order, contact Mrs. White by email or at either elementary building.
Ceresco 402-665-3651
Valparaiso 402-784-3301State Testing Dates for Grades 6-8, ACT for Juniors
Grades 6-8 will take the English-Language Arts test April 10 and 11, Math test April 17 and 18, and the 8th grade will take the Science test April 25 and 26.
Juniors will be taking the ACT test April 3rd.
Parent meetings for the 2018-2019 6th and 7th graders on April 25th, 2018
Current 5th going to 6th grade at 6 pm
Current 6th going to 7th grade at 7 pm
Please Save Box Tops and Best Choice UPC Codes
Important Counselor Dates
April 2nd NO SCHOOL Easter break
April 3rd State ACT for juniors at RC (DO NOT MISS SCHOOL)
April 3rd Freshman College Visit NE Methodist and Kawaski Industry tour
April 3rd Sophomore College Visit NE Wesleyan and Concordia University
April 3rd Junior High Health Fair
April 3rd Senior Field Trip
April 19th Mini College Fair- JATC Electrical, CUNE, SCC, Nebraska Wesleyan
May 12th Graduation
Important Activity Dates
April 4-6 State FFA
April 5-7 State FBLA
April 7/14 State DI
April 12-14 State SkillsUSA
April 13-14 Conference Baseball
April 18 Conference Art Show
April 19-20 District Music
April 23 FFA Banquet
April 24 6th-8th spring concert
April 28 Conference track
April 29 FBLA Banquet
April 30 9th-12th spring concert
April 30 JH Home Track Invite
Graduation May 12th at @ 2 PM
Plant & Seed Sale
The easiest way to create a beautiful patio planter/pot is to begin with these categories of plants: thriller, filler and spiller. "You want to have a bold, upright, architectural plant; that's the thriller," says garden designer Steve Silk. "It really gets your attention." The filler is the plant with medium height in the pot, or the next step down from the thriller. The spiller tumbles out of the edge of the container and falls toward the ground.
When considering plants to use as your thrillers, fillers and spillers, think about their texture, fragrance and color combinations. Individually, each plant conveys color, texture, shape, and dazzle. Yet when combined in one container or a grouping of pots, examine how the plants interact with each other. Do certain colors in one plant bring out subtle complementary colors in another? How do the various leaf shapes, sizes and textures carry through the container plantings? Is there an underlying theme that connects all the plants together? Source www.hgtv.com
All RCPS plant and seed orders are due by Friday, April 6, 2018 to ensure the data is entered and plants are ordered. Unfortunately, no late sales will be accepted this year.
The RCPS Plant & Seed Sale will be held Saturday, April 28 from 9am-2pm at the Valparaiso site. Pre-ordered plants must be picked up by 12 noon the day of the sale. Plants leftover will be considered a donation to the open sale. Please check in with Mrs. Carlson prior to picking up your plants when you enter the building on Saturday morning. If you have several orders to pick up, ask your customers to pay a $5 pre-package fee when ordering. All prepackaged orders will be boxed and ready to go in the lunchroom for ease and convenience starting at 9am Saturday morning.
8th Graders During UNL Career Field Trip
8th Graders During UNL Career Field Trip
8th Graders During UNL Career Field Trip at the Dairy Store
Junior High Track Looks Forward to Success This Season
There are 45 kids participating in junior high track in 2018. Practice began on March 8th. Our first meet will be the Milford Relays hosted by Malcolm High School because Milford's track is under repair. The kids will participate in eight meets and Raymond Central will host two meets this season. On April 16th we will host the Raymond Central Triangular and on April 30th we will host the Raymond Central Invite. The coaches and kids are excited this year for another successful season.
Recent FBLA News
Picture Caption: Hailey Hula, Madison Stover, Tucker Randall, Trevor Oldfield, Megan Lange and Connor Nichols display their certificates and trophies from Midland.
FFA News
State Proficiency Results
Makenzi Isaac-State Finalists for Food Science & Technology
Kale Strizek-State Finalists for Sheep Production
State Degree Recipients-Miranda Hornung, Duke Nelson, Taylor Nelson, Kale Strizek, Makenzi Isaac, Tucker Randall, Hailey Hula, Emmett Hughes
Miranda Hornung-State Star Placement Finalist
Miranda Hornung-Finalist for State Officer Candidate
District CDE Results
Vet Science-Tucker Randall 1st Individual-2nd place team-Tucker Randall, Allissa Turnwall, Rachael Lange, Isaac White
Ag Sales-Miranda Horning 1st Individual-1st place team-Miranda Hornung, Isaac White, Clare Hornung, Hunter Kohl
Meats-Duke Nelson 3rd Individual-2nd place team-Duke Nelson, Makenzi Isaac, Taylor Nelson, Kody Swartz
FFA Week
Thank you to everyone that donated to the Kiss the Lamb! We raised $650 for Leland Novacek who is battling cancer. Also a special thank you to Tucker Randall and Mrs. Rasmussen for kissing the lamb.
Prom
National Honor Society
Transition Fair
Bryan Health Discovery Days
Bryan Health Discovery Days
Bryan Health Discovery Days
Attend Camp Invention This Summer!
For children entering grades K through 6
Where: Wahoo High School - Camp Invention - Fast Forward
Location: 2201 North Locust Street, Wahoo, NE 68066
Cost: $225
Program Dates: 7/16/2018 - 7/20/2018
Program Length: 5 Days
Program Times: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
What is Camp Invention?
Camp Invention is one week in the summer where your child’s creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills are challenged and developed in fun and exciting ways. Our top priority is to inspire future innovators and build their confidence in the natural ability to dream and create.
Children are presented with fun, hands-on challenges that encourage creative problem solving, teamwork, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Camp invention is led by experienced local educators and new curriculum is introduced each year, inspired by the Inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame!
Why should I consider Camp Invention?
Camp Invention is the only nationally recognized, non-profit elementary enrichment program inspired by the brightest thinkers around, the National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees. We know how to tap into your child’s natural need to discover and we do it with certified local instructors.
What happens during a typical day at Camp Invention?
A typical day at Camp Invention is packed with inspiration from Inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, fun, learning, and creativity from start to finish. It goes a little something like this:
9:00 a.m. – Signing in
Children are signed in by their parents, join up with their age group, then meet up with their Leadership Intern at Base Camp, who will be a mentor and lead their group from module to module. Base Camp is the room they’ll start and finish in each day. Here, they might build a newspaper tower or participate in another fun activity!
9:15 a.m. – Module #1
10:20 a.m. – Snack time
Becoming a DIY duct tape expert really works up an appetite.
10:30 a.m. – Module #2
11:40 a.m. – Activities/Lunch
Half of our campers gather for lunch, while the other half enjoy high-energy activities.
12:10 p.m. – Time to switch!
1:05 p.m. – Module #3
2:10 p.m. – Module #4
3:15 p.m. – Back to Base Camp
Children all regroup with their Leadership Interns and participate in activities designed to overcome challenges. This is an important part of the invention process that can be used every day.
3:30 p.m. – Checkout
Children are ready to be picked up, signed out, and asked about a day of learning like none other! Daily newsletters are provided to help parents talk to their children about their day.
For more information please visit the following link http://campinvention.org/.
8th Graders Attend Science Fair in Norfolk
On Monday, March 26th, Mrs. Trautman took some of her top 10 Science Fair finalists to compete at another Science Fair in Norfolk. Nelle Serrano, Rachel Potter, Ellianna LaMay, Jaci Bryce, Coleman Hofpar, Quentin Hayes, and Elijah Nacke attended, listened to a guest speaker, and presented their projects to a different panel of judges and received feedback. According to Elijah Nacke, it was an interesting day and everyone enjoyed their trip to Dairy Queen as a reward after! Below are a few pictures of students with their projects from the Science Fair hosted at Raymond Central on February 15th.
How to Raise a Kid with a Conscience
Via Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.com)
Nudge kids to be their best selves with character-rich media and quality choices and by role-modeling positive online behavior. By Caroline Knorr 1/16/2018
Every parent wants to raise a kid with a conscience -- someone who'll do the right thing even when no one is watching. But when the road to online integrity is riddled with cyberbullying, cell phone cheating, sexting, and other risks, trusting your kid to be conscientious feels like a leap of faith. Here's the good news: Studies show that kids actually have a strong grasp of right and wrong as early as the toddler years, and parents have a huge influence on what kids learn about how to behave. The parenting you've been doing -- role-modeling, keeping the lines of communication open, and finding ways to instill the kinds of character traits you value -- is an excellent foundation for raising a kid with a conscience, both online and off. You can make even more of an impact using the media and technology that your kid loves, such as YouTube, Netflix, Snapchat, and Instagram, to model positive behavior and good judgment.
It's safe to say that there's nowhere more challenging for our kids to make good choices than in their online lives. The thing is, many kids get their first phones and other devices at a point in their lives when common adolescent stressors such as peer approval and separation from parents play a huge role in their decision-making process. Their ability to feel empathy, have integrity, and use their best judgment -- especially in anonymous digital environments that feel consequence-free -- is still a little wobbly. That's actually OK. To have a conscience, kids need to experience -- and learn from -- the natural dips and valleys that happen along the way to becoming the person they (and you) ultimately want them to be. Yes, online mishaps are real and can be risky, but showing forgiveness, helping kids bounce back, and working through ways to do better next time is the best way to ensure your voice will be in their heads to guide them even when you're not there.
Once kids enter the tween and teen years, outside influences including their peers and their media begin to shape their sense of right and wrong. Movies, TV shows, and social media can all be super effective in guiding kids toward making more choices that are positive and productive than ones that reflect poorly on them, make them feel not-great about themselves, or actually get them into trouble. Tweens and teens enjoy wrestling with complex ideas and discussing ethical behavior. Here are some ideas to help them develop these abilities:
Showcase character-rich movies and TV shows. On your next family movie night, choose a film or TV series that promotes the "soft skills" such as empathy, gratitude, and integrity. After the show, talk about what traits you value and how your family can focus on and strengthen them in your daily lives. Consider having a "character day" where everyone practices a skill such as gratitude. This helps kids see how they make right-vs.-wrong decisions even in their everyday interactions.
Share uplifting, inspirational viral videos, memes, and quotes. Yucky stuff tends to crowd out the good stuff in our social media. But there are a lot of soul-nourishing images and ideas out there if you look for them and reflect on them as a family. Follow feeds from Upworthy, Mental Floss, and even the kid-authored Scholastic Kids Press Corps to see stories that are hopeful and age-appropriate and that restore faith in the world. When kids see positivity in action, they're more likely to pay it forward.
Ask about their online experiences. Tweens and teens see the good, bad, and ugly when they text, use social media, or visit comment-rich sites such as YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit. Ask your kids about the online behavior they witness, how they feel about it, and whether negative comments influence them to behave a certain way -- good or bad. Talk about choices they make in both their "real" lives and online. Ask questions such as, "What would you do if a friend were being cyberbullied?," "If you felt someone dissed you online, would you respond?," and "What was the nicest text you ever got?" to get kids to think about the responsibility we have to others in digital environments.
Emphasize good sportsmanship. Many kids really look up to athletes and want to act like them. If your family enjoys watching sports, the Olympics, or other athletic competitions, call it out when players, opponents, and teams treat each other with respect on -- and off -- the field. Though games feature plenty of aggressive behavior, there are always those sports stars whose fellowship shines through. Ask your kids about players they admire for their sportsmanship and why.
Seek out positive media role models. While you might be familiar with popular stars such as Taylor Swift and Chris Pratt, kids avidly follow "internet famous" folks on YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Musical.ly. Web celebs are hugely influential, so ask your kids whom they follow (and on which social media platforms), and talk about the stuff they post. Set up Google Alerts or follow some of their favorites so you can pepper your conversations with questions or observations from their world. Steer your kids toward positive role models on YouTube and compare feeds from various stars. Ask, "Have you ever seen anything inappropriate from an Instagrammer?," "What do you think is OK to post and what should remain private?," and "Who has the best Snapchat feed, and why?"
About Us
Email: rcentraljournalism@rcentral.org
Website: www.rcentral.org
Phone: 402-785-2685
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaymondCentralHS/
Twitter: @RC_Mustangs