Raymond Central Public Schools
April 2020
About us
Email: rcentraljournalism@gmail.com
Website: www.rcentral.org
Location: 1800 West Agnew Road, Raymond, NE, USA
Phone: 4027852685
From the Desk of the Superintendent....
Thank you Raymond Central for your flexibility and willingness to adapt to the changes we have had to implement over the past four weeks. We know that remote learning will be our new normal between now and the last day of school scheduled for May 15th. We had held out hope that we would be reunited with our students this school year, however, had been preparing for the worst case scenario knowing the seriousness of the COVID-19 threat. I believe we have taken the necessary equations as a district and followed guidelines by the health departments to minimize risk for staff and students. We will continue to work through these new changes and plan for additional developments as our communities, state, country and world continue to respond to this pandemic. As a reminder, Raymond Central school sites are closed for everyone except our essential employees until further notice.
Our intention has never been to overwhelm you with communication - our goal is to share as much as possible with you to keep everyone on the same page. We encourage you to continue checking the Nebraska Department of Education COVID-19 updates for topics that may specifically affect you and your family - https://www.education.ne.gov/publichealth/resources/.
I am sorry to the Class of 2020 that your high school experience is going to end like this, away from your school, teachers, friends, and a normal graduation ceremony. It has been an honor to get to know you over the past three years that my family and I have been part of Raymond Central. You are a very impressive group and your best is still yet to come. That said, we continue to work on possible graduation plans (including a virtual graduation ceremony) for the class of 2020. We have not made a decision if the event will be held on the scheduled May 15 or an alternate date. We hope to know by the end of April if we can hold a ceremony and will share the pertinent information at that time.
During our remote learning from home, we have a heavy emphasis on learning, staying academically and socially engaged, and mastering grade level essential learning outcomes. We want to continue our focus on learning as the data collected on each student will be important to ensure a successful transition next fall. While the BOE will approve a grading protocol for remote learning on April 15, we ask students to simply do the best they can on every assignment, activity, and assessment.
Thank you for your support, engagement and patience - we are in this together. Just keep doing your best as we appreciate what you are doing. I will end the newsletter with a phrase coined by Governor Ricketts - stay home, stay healthy, stay connected.
If there is anything the school district can do to support you or your family during this unprecedented time, please do not hesitate to contact the District Office.
Do Not Forget!
Raymond Central is excited to announce a new partnership with Civic Nebraska and the RC Foundation. Over the course of two years, RC and the RC Foundation researched how to create and implement a before and after school program for our district. At first the idea was to try and create a program on our own, until we met Civic Nebraska. Civic Nebraska has a large footprint in providing before and after school programs in Lincoln and Omaha. Raymond Central will be the first rural model for the organization with the hope to expand into more communities. The program will be an extension of the school day with a focus on academic support, student enrichment, physical activity, and more! To learn more about our awesome partnership, checkout the website - https://www.civicnebraska.org/raymond/.
Go Mustangs!
Dr. Joel
What do Parents need to know about Social Media? Click on the link below!
Meet the Physical Education and Sciences Departments & our Second and Third Grade Teachers!
The Raymond Central Physical Education Department consists of Mr. Spale, Mr. Pester, and Ms. Brannagan. The Science Department consists of Mrs. Rasmussen, Mrs. Hummel, and Ms. Paige. Second grade consists of Mrs. Enevoldsen in Valparaiso and Mrs. Hudson in Ceresco. Third Grade consists of Ms. Kelly in Valparaiso and Mrs. Ahlstrand in Ceresco. You can learn a little more about them here:
What do you teach?
Spale--Physical Education 7-12
Pester--PE/Health
Rasmussen--Physics, Chemistry, Physical Science, and Earth and Space Science
Hummel--High School Science
Kelly--Third Grade
What is your teaching experience? Years? Schools? Subjects?
Spale--I have been teaching for forty-three years. The last fourteen have been at Raymond Central. Previous schools include: Schuyler, Omaha Roncalli, Fremont Bergan, and West Point Central Catholic. Subjects taught include Speech, Debate, English, American Literature, and Physical Education.
Pester--1 year at Concordia HS, Ft. Wayne, IN-Health,Wt. Lifting. RC for 21 yrs-PE/Health
Rasmussen--35 years, 2 schools, and the subjects above plus 7th grade life science
Hummel--This is my 14th Year at Raymond Central. I teach all natural science classes (Biology, Life Science, Advanced Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology)
Kelly--Taught for 44 years! Came to RC in 1989
What are your hobbies?
Spale--Playing Percussion Instruments, Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Canoeing, and Hunting
Pester--Sports, movies, yardwork, time with family/friends
Rasmussen--Reading, running, and cooking
Hummel--SPORTS!! I love love watching Badger Football and Volleyball. I also enjoy using my spare time to hang out with family and friends.
Kelly--Reading, golfing, exercising!
Who or what influenced you to become a teacher?
Spale--My biggest influence was my mother who taught in a Kansas one room schoolhouse. Other influence was one of my high school teachers and coach---Coach Roger Barry
Pester--Some of my teachers/coaches, I was blessed to have several good ones who let me know that I mattered.
Rasmussen--Mr. Mundel, my high school Biology teacher
Hummel--My high school biology teacher inspired me to teach high school science.
Kelly--Wanting to make a difference in the lives of kids!
How do you spend your summer vacation?
Spale--Canoeing, Fishing, Hiking, and Traveling
Pester--Coaching at wrestling camps and catching up with immediate & extended family and friends. And sweating a lot!
Rasmussen--Traveling to places to run and eat fabulous food.
Hummel--I usually go to Wisconsin and Illinois to visit my parents and my mother-in-law
Kelly--Traveling and spending time with family!
What's the most rewarding part of being an educator?
Spale--Teachers and coaches have a chance to be a positive influence on students. It is rewarding when a student, often years after graduation, thanks you for being that positive influence.
Pester--Seeing students grow/succeed and the awesome people they become in the process.
Rasmussen--When you reach a student that no one else has been able to reach.
Hummel--Forming relationships with students.
Kelly--Helping students become successful and life long learners!
Finish this statement: If I weren't a teacher, I'd be......
Spale--a traveling percussion player.
Pester--A farmer? Or maybe the All-State mayhem guy, he looks like he enjoys his job.
Rasmussen--not nearly the person I am today. Oh wait, you want an answer like "florist".
Hummel--Pathologist
Kelly--A supervisor of Student Teachers!
CALLING ALL ALUMNI!!
We would love to spotlight our almuni! We want to know what you are up to and how Raymond Central has impacted your life. Please take a moment and fill out the Google form on the following link:
https://forms.gle/FgJEffKNgKTACakaA
AND...If you have a photo you can send to us, please email it to: rcentraljournalism@gmail.com