EDITOR’S NOTE: The Tribune-Star’s Across the Valley submission process has changed.
We will no longer accept submissions by fax, postal service or hand delivery. Only e-mailed reports to community@tribstar.com will be published.
Submissions may be approximately 750 words. (Please use computer word count function to measure.) There is no required minimum length.
Editing and proofreading will be limited to typesetting and headlines. Correction of spelling and other errors are the responsibility of the person submitting the report. Please do not use all capital letters.
The alternating publication schedule has not changed. Submissions must be received 10 days before publication. Please include a contact name and phone number. If announcing an event, list time, date, address and cost; notices will be published the Wednesday prior to the event.
Honey Creek
Snakehead Ed (Ed Ferrer) made a visit to Honey Creek Middle School to kick off an 8th grade writing assignment. Ed brought a variety of snakes to entice the students’ curiosity. After the program, the students wrote expository essays explaining some type of “snake process” that Mr. Ferrer had demonstrated to them. They could write about things such as setting up a snake habitat, transporting a snake, or feeding a snake. This is just one way of “hooking” our students before the writing process begins. A special thanks to Rick Burger and Duke Energy for sponsoring this event.
— Sherri Armstrong
Honey Creek 8th grade teacher
Otter Creek
Otter Creek Middle School eighth graders visited ISU’s campus to encourage students to prepare for college early. ISU hosts local students to the campus in hopes that many will consider the widely varied programs that ISU has to offer. Students had to have a GPA of 2.5 to earn an invitation to attend.
The program opened with an introduction to the Upward Bounds Program, which is a federally-funded co-operative to encourage students whose parents have not completed a college education, to set a goal of graduating from college. Students are tutored while in secondary school, mentored by college students, and enrolled in a six-week summer program. While at ISU these Upward Bound students rotate through mathematics, laboratory science, foreign language, composition and literature courses. They are offered career counseling, academic advisement, and attend multiple field trips.
Otter Creek students were segmented into groups which explored various departments on ISU’s campus. Some student trekked to the Science Dept. where they witnessed experiments with liquid nitrogen, then made ice cream. Some students visited the Communication Technology area where they played with a “green screen”, Google Earth, and explored how to make a 3-D movie.
Several groups toured the new ISU Sports Center with its amazingly free-flowing pool design. Some students were hosted by the Business Dept. auto racing division. Here, students learned of a degree available in sport racing, earned prizes of autographed pictures, hats, and racing posters. Students also attended a lecture in the Psychology Dept. The Theater Dept. entertained students with improvisational games.
The culminating experience of the campus visit was lunch in the dorm. Students excitedly chose from the wide-ranging culinary options while they shared their varied activities. Pictures were taken with Sycamore Sam before students boarded buses for a return to Otter Creek.
— School staff
St. Patrick
During the holidays, we are given the opportunity to slow down and enjoy those closest to us and remember those who are far away. Saint Patrick students under the direction of art teacher, Maria Nickels, and Bonnie Latta made a Thanksgiving care package for the soldiers who are on active duty in Afghanistan and will not be with their families this holiday season. The students also are preparing decorations and notes of encouragement for those families who will be enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner with many other families at the annual Ruthmarie Bauer Newport Thanksgiving Dinner at held each year at Saint Patrick School. The annual dinner, hosted by St. Patrick Parish, is the longest running event of its kind in Vigo County. The St. Patrick School Family will gather around the table for a meal with our friends, classmates, teachers, aides, janitors, and parish staff. We intend to feast and enjoy one another’s company. St. Patrick School is truly blessed with a wonderful school family, and we will celebrate our family’s gifts this Thanksgiving Holiday on November 24th.
— Tammy Kikta
Woodrow Wilson
The Woodrow Wilson student body celebrated Red Ribbon week October 26th through October 30th. Red Ribbon week is the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program. This program reaches millions of students every year. Wearing red ribbons and participating in community anti-drug events, young people pledge to live a drug-free life. Red Ribbon week is sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson Leadership team and the No Fear Future Club. The Leadership officers, Jodie Bledsoe, Garrett Humphrey, Jack Thomas and Mallory Sanders created a game show where contestants had to answer questions correctly dealing use and misuse of drugs and alcohol. The game show was aired on the schools inner network and all students were able to view the game show. Also, the Leadership team sponsored several events during the week such as “crazy sock day” and “wear red day” in support of being drug and alcohol free. Participants were reward with bracelets and stickers.
The No Fear Future club was in charge of student’s signing a banner to pledge to be alcohol and drug free during their lunch period. Upon signing the banner the student’s received their choice of a drug free bookmark, button, ink pin or red twizler. No Fear Future club members in charge of the banner were 6th graders Sydney Gardner, Nathan Higbie, Gabby Gilbrech, Stephin McBride,Kayanna Greer and Majestic Miller; 7th graders Marvin Malone, Harley Kincaid, Kelsey Thompson, Madison King, Salena Thomas and Jalaya Towels and 8th graders Regan Boling, Whitney Padgett, Lexi Bell, Ashley Jeffers, Breann Wilson, Jasmine Lanning and Sierra Dunning. Thanks to all who planned and participated in this weeklong event and making it a fun and educational week. Raising awareness regarding drug and alcohol abuse is always important.
A special thanks to Mr. Jeremy Johnson. Mr. Johnson helped and guided the Leadership team in developing video for Red Ribbon week.
Congratulations to the Woodrow Wilson Spell Bowl team! Our competition was at Woodrow Wilson on October 27th where the team placed second. It was a very close competition, and the Warriors only lost by two words. Allie Morris was the top speller for the team, not missing any words, and Layke Fowler only missed one word. The team placed 17th overall in the entire state, which is up from 32nd place in 2008. GREAT JOB WARRIORS!
The eight students who competed were AJ Contramaestre, Layke Fowler, Katya Garcia-Isreal, Lacey Humphrey, Jacob Johnson, Harjot Kaur, Sam Morlan, and Allie Morris.
This years team members are:
6th graders: Katya Garcia-Isreal, Dayton Price, Chloe Reed
7th graders: Chris Anderson, Marisa Churchill, Layke Fowler
8th graders: AJ Contramaestre, Neha Dutta, Jacob Johnson, Sam Morlan, Allie Morris, Lacey Humphrey, Harjot Kaur, Lauren McGuire
— School staff
