A True Benefit!

I just wanted to personally thank everyone who had a hand in the Adam Padget Benefit on Sunday August 30, 2009. The day was a huge success. The event was a community affair that brought several groups together for a good cause. The silent auction, live auction, 50/50, meals and dunk tank proceeds were amazing. While the water was a LITTLE cold, we survived. Myself, Coaches Heriford, Wible, Hughes, and Knox, Former Coach Dion, Susie Hager, elementary principal – Mr. Szoke and Shay Laager all did our best to “talk” as many people as possible into taking a shot at dunking us. The outpouring of assistance was amazing. So again, “Thank you “to all of the community volunteers, community members who attended, my high school and our district staff that attended. A special “thanks” to Coach Oller and the Pleasant Plains football team. Coach Oller and a handful of players showed up in their Cardinal Red in support of the benefit. Coach Oller and his players also made a monetary donation as well. What great generosity from the Cardinal Football Program.

They're Back!!!

It is that time again. Teachers and students are returning to school. School is a rather boring place for me from about June 30th-August 15th. I got in this business for kids. As I moved from the classroom to the office - I realized that there were a lot of great teachers out there as well. Our students are well-behaved and great young citizens. Our staff is made up of hardworking and enjoyable people. As both groups return to AHS, the noise level increases, the amount of conversation increases and the battery is recharged for another year of work(if you can call it that). I hope you and your students are as ready for this time of year as I am. I will try my best to post "early and often." As always - if you have any concerns or question - please do not hesitate to call or stop-in.

And I thought I was busy in April?

It feels like forever since I have sat down to add a new post. May was a blur! Senior Night, a new final exam schedule, graduation, and the unfortunate events of the first week of June all ran together in one continous series of events. Schools are like small communities and everyday is filled with constant change and our little community had much going on during the last few weeks of May and early weeks of June. I hope all of you who attended Senior Awards Night were as proud of our senior class as I was. We had a great turn-out and hope to build on the event each year. Our new final exam policy appears to have a been a positive change. Many students have expressed satisfaction with being rewarded for semester-long efforts. Graduation was a difficult day for many. It should a be time of celebration for all of the students who have earned their diplomas. I believe we (staff, students, administration, and parents) did the best we could under the heavy emotional toll that many were faced with. With May behind us, June half over and a 39th birthday in the rear-view mirror - we are already planning for registration, making curricular changes and preparing the building for a return to what I consider normalcy. Only 1.5 months and we be right back at it again - HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!!!!

Busy Busy Busy.

This has been a pretty good couple of weeks for Athens High School. Tyler Holland wins the WYSE State Championship, the Bass Fishing team wins sectional, and the school had its yearly prom. This is just another typical busy and involved week for the students at AHS. Track, baseball, and softball all played several games or ran in several meets over the past two weeks. The girl’s softball team actually played a double-header on Friday night – one @ PORTA and then one @ HOME against a team traveling south to play in a tournament. The girls had to make a quick trip back from PORTA to play at home under the lights. Throw in the ACT and the PSAE, planning for Senior Week and preparing for Prom and the kids have been really busy. Of course, there were the pesky teachers assigning HW and tests as well. Our students have plenty of opportunities to get involved in the school community. The simple fact is that most kids are involved in some activity or group that is school-related. Our philosophy is that we would like as many students and staff involved in some sort of school activity as possible. I would like to think we are living up to that philosophy. So, if your child seems a bit run down the last few nights – there is probably a really good reason for it. The general feeling among educators is that students who are involved in school activities have less time to become involved in the numerous activities that have no positive benefit for anyone partaking in them.
Now that we have about a month of school left - things will continue to speed up. It is normal and we are here to help if you need us. Have a great week!

BASEBALL SEASON IS UPON US!

Tonight was a great night - It was a baseball fan's New Year! The season has started and all is right in the world again:) For anyone who knows me, this is my favorite time of year - and it wil last until late October!! Like all fans - I hope my team wins it all - but it is not necessary - for me to enjoy the season. I hope that your teams play well and keep you intersted in the game for as long as possible - if you are not a baseball fan - you have NO IDEA what you are missing. I hope for your sake - that some day you catch baseball fever and gain an appreciation for the greatest game ever invented! Have a Great Week!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!

This weekend I watched the AHS Drama Club’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz three times. I know that three times seems like a lot – but…….. I wanted to preview it on Friday afternoon when they performed a portion of it for K-6th grades. For a short time, I was able view it with my 1st grade daughter on my lap. Not a bad way to spend part of your Friday! We watched about 30 minutes and felt very good about what we witnessed. Friday night, I took the entire family. When we arrived, it was obvious that we would be having a large crowd. Originally, there were 170 seats set-out. With the help of the custodial staff, and willing parents – We were able to get another 3-4 rows of chairs out before the lights went completely out. The floor seating was nearly filled and there were several young kids in the 1st three rows of the bleachers. I heard an unofficial count of over 220 people who attended opening night. Saturday night, I again attended - this time with my mother. I had such a good time on Friday –and the kids did such a great job, that I drove to Jacksonville to get my mother so that she could see the play. She has seen the original and read the book too many times to count – she would be quite the critic. She loved it!
Mr. Tarrillion should be very proud of his efforts. The students should be very proud of their efforts. Both evenings were filled with great singing, acting and humor. The kids have been practicing for quite some time – it really showed! Tiffany, Nate, Brad and Abby were great as the main characters. Taylor and Lindi were excellent witches. Olivia and Emily were hilarious as the gatekeepers. The entire cast did a great job. Mrs. Nance offered her services on the piano – and they were very much appreciated.
I hope everyone was able to see one of the performances this weekend. I have the feeling – that this is only the beginning for the Drama Club.

A Few Deserving Award Winners

Several of the staff at Athens High School have recently been recognized for their daily efforts. Mrs. Joann Benz, Guidance Counselor, was recently awarded the Jackson Beebe Memorial Award for Outstanding Educator of the Year. The award is presented annually by the Menard County Jaycees. Mrs. Benz is an asset to our school and district. She is actively involved in school improvement, student assessment, student advising, counseling and many other duties on a daily basis. She is an excellent resource for teachers, students and parents. She was nominated by an AHS student because "she goes above and beyond for all students in the high school. She seems to do the work of three people." Mrs. Benz is very deserving of this recent recognition. The AHS Leadership Committee has started an AHS Employee of the Month Program. This program is designed to allow students the opportunity to nominate teachers that they feel have gone above and beyond throughout the year. The program was started this January. The January award went to Jerry Beierman Sr. Mr. Beierman is currently the CACC bus driver. He was nominated by the students who ride his bus to the Capital Area Career Center on a daily basis. The February award winner was Ms. Suzanne Gaedtka. Ms. Gaedtka is a Spanish teacher at AHS. The students who nominated Ms. Gaedtka described her as "caring, patient, willing to help, encouraging and big-hearted." Congratulations to all of these AHS employees for the accomplishments and recent recognition.