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A ‘Heartland Hoedown’
CAPTION: Central Elementary School fourth graders celebrated a “Heartland Hoedown” last evening (Monday) at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center. Famous Missourians such as Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark, and many more sang to persuade “Grandma” that Missouri is a great place to be. C-T Photo / Amanda McKay Back
to Top 4th
Grade Spring Concert
C-T Photo/Amanda McKay Back
to Top Playground
Improvements
C-T Photo by Laura Schuler Back
to Top Rotary Honors School Secretary at Teacher Appreciation Banquet Published: Friday, November 9, 2007, C-T A large crowd gathered Thursday night at Chillicothe Country Club for the Chillicothe Rotary Club's annual Teacher Appreciation Banquet and Rotary Night Out. The event featured remarks by keynote speaker Betty Preston and the presentation of pins to Paul Harris Award recipients and culminated with the announcement of the 2007 Unsung Hero Award which went to Central School secretary Kathy Rinehart. Guests of the Rotarians in attendance (other than their spouses), were comprised of Chillicothe R-2 District administrators, board members, new teachers and teachers from Field and Central schools. The evening began with a welcome by the Rev. David Molina, Rotary president, and an invocation by Father Bill Bellais. Following a catered meal by Hy-Vee, Rotarian and R-2 Superintendent Dale Wallace introduced board members, administrators and new teachers. Back
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Central's
Playground to Get Needed Renovation
C-T Photo/Laura Schuler Some needed improvements will be made to the ailing Central School playground after the Chillicothe R-2 School Board unanimously voted in favor of the work Tuesday night during the regular September board meeting held at district headquarters. The renovation project will include removing the deteriorating asphalt on the north portion of the playground, installing needed drainage pipes in the area, some dirt work (grading), sodding and the construction of a concrete sidewalk. The board approved the work, stipulating that the price tag of the renovation work would not exceed $12,000. Green Hills Lawn Care submitted the winning bid for the project in the way of $8,595. The bid includes the following aspects of the project: Subcontracting with Hinnen Hauling and Construction for the removal of asphalt and hauling dirt, and the preparation of the soil and sod with fescue. The bid includes water and labor to obtain a playable surface. The costs of the drainage system and concrete sidewalk have yet to be estimated. Specifically, around 13,700 square feet of asphalt will be removed from the north end of the playground to about 100 feet south, Central School Principal Gary Hawkins said. He explained that the asphalt on the playground's north side is full of depressions and has many “break-ups.” The area also has some drainage problems because four downspouts from the school building come out in the area. “We're going to try to find a way to get the water away from that area,” Hawkins said. Work will begin on the project as soon as a drainage system is designed. Hawkins said that the work is likely to begin quickly. “I would guess that within a month's time, we'll be pretty close to having a playable surface out there,” Hawkins said. Back
to Top Connie
Dow's WINGS Class C-T Photo/Megan Neis Back
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NASCAR
Obstacle Course 03 30 07
The event, held in the school's gymnasium, featured several stations for the students to go through. At each station, hints and concepts about test-taking were featured. MAP testing at Central School will begin on Tuesday, April 3. C-T Photo/Laura Schuler MAP
Testing Begins Fourth and fifth grade students prepared posters today to help students get “revved up for MAP testing” which will begin the first week in April. The posters, which feature test-taking strategies, will adorn the fourth and fifth grade halls at Central School. C-T Photo/Megan Neis
Back
to Top R-2 Hires New Central School
Principal The Chillicothe R-2 School board hired a new Central School principal last (Tuesday) night during executive session. Gary Hawkins, of Chillicothe, has been hired for one month while the district takes applications for the position as required by law. According to Superindendant Dale Wallace, the board voted unanimously to hire Hawkins who fills a vacancy left by former Principal Brent Skinner. Skinner, who had been with the district for two years, submitted his resignation to the board last week for personal reasons. “We are very pleased to have (Hawkins) as Central School principal,” Wallace said this (Tuesday) morning. He added, “He's a proven school administrator and we're very pleased to have someone with his qualifications on board.” Back
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Award-Winning Author to Visit Schools Kimberly Brubaker Bradley nominated for the 2005-06 Mark Twain Award By LAURA SCHULER, C-T City Editor, Tuesday, February 21, 2006 Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, 2005-2006 Mark Twain nominated author, will visit Chillicothe Middle School and Central School February 23 and 24. She will give presentations to five different grade levels during her visit. Bradley, who lives in Bristol, Tenn., and is a former research chemist, is the award-winning author of “The President's Daughter,” “One-of-a-Kind Mallie,” “Weaver's Daughter,” “Ruthie's Gift,” “Halfway to the Sky,” and the Mark Twain Award finalist, “For Freedom: The Story of a French Spy.” She has also written and had published several books for younger children. The various awards she has received for her writing include: Children's Book Award (West Virginia) in 2000, William Allen White Children's Book Award in 2001, Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award in 2002, Bluegrass Award in 2002, Volunteer State Book Award in 2002 and 2004, Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award in 2002 and 2005, Young Hoosier Book Award in 2003, Maud Hart Lovelace Award in 2003, Garden State Children's Book Award in 2003, Beehive Young Adults' Book Award in 2005. Back
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Famous Missourians
Presentation
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Students
Learn About Egypt Through World Traveler
If you've never heard the name Randy Nadler then, chances are, you weren't a student in Chillicothe, or Chula or Southwest for that matter, since the mid-1970s. Nadler is a fast-talking, fact-throwing world traveler who has combined an intense love for traveling with an equally-intense love of teaching and made a living out of it by hosting assemblies and enlightening students of all ages about the different cultures and customs of the places he has visited. Over the past 32 years Nadler says he has visited around 50 countries and after each trip, puts together a slide show and then travels to numerous schools in both Missouri and Kansas to make presentations. This week, the Wellington, Mo., native made his annual visit to the area's schools and his presentation this year centered on his most recent journey to Egypt. And while his program is indeed a slide show, there's no dozing off during because it's packed with interesting graphics and photographs of far-off places designed to grab the students' attention. Nadler also throws a little bit of humor into the mix as well and as students eyeball his photos, Nadler rattles off historic dates and the names of famous Egyptian kings smoother than most people can recite the ABCs. He also injects a little bit of advice into his program. “You're going to be out of school a whole lot longer than you're going to be in school,” Nadler told fourth-grade students yesterday. He went on to add, “You need a very good education so while you're in class, sit up straight and don't waste time - the better education you have now, the better you're life's going to be later.” Back
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Central
Sign
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Christmas
Program
C-T Photo/Laura Schuler
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Of Active Learning In Classroom Takes 'Central' Stage Does the size of a person's head have anything to do with how far they can jump? That's the question Melissa Anderson's fourth grade class was wrestling with at Central School. “I think there is (some relationship) because it doesn't just take your feet to jump - it takes your whole body,” said Audrie Manning as she pushed a few buttons on her computer. Manning and her classmates hadn't found out any answers yet - they were carefully punching in the data they had collected the day before including their head circumference and the distance of their jumps. Anderson explained that the students jumped three times during class on Monday, figured out their average respective jumps and then measured their head circumferences. Tuesday, they went to the computers in Anderson's eMINTS classroom and started inputting the data. “They're (the students are) learning Excel,” Anderson said, explaining that the computer software automatically creates graphs based on the data collected. When all of the information is submitted, the students will examine the graphs and make their final decision. “These guys (the students) are the investigators here - I merely present the ideas,” Anderson explained. According to Central School Principal Brent Skinner, the days of teachers standing in front of a classroom of students and lecturing are gone. “The sage on the stage is gone. Now (the idea of teaching) is geared toward teachers being the guide on the side,” Skinner explained. That theory is evident in Michelle Vinson's fifth-grade social studies class where students there were busy conducting a “Web quest” for information on the Iroquois Indian tribe. Each of the students had a list of questions, and after a little bit of direction from Vinson, they began surfing the Internet. Through this project, the students learn about the Indian tribe and if their quest is successful, the students are rewarded by playing a trivia game. Back
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 On
The Dotted Line
Several fourth and fifth graders, dressed in red, white and blue, at Central School lined up September 16, 2005, to re-enact the signing of the Constitution in honor of Constitution Week. A member from each classroom was allowed to sign the Constitution at the school. C-T Photo/Megan Neis, 09 16 05 Back
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Letter From Principal Skinner As We Head Back To School 2005... I know I can speak for the faculty and staff at Central in saying that we are looking forward with great anticipation to the start of a new school year. There will be some new faces at Central on the teaching and paraprofessional staff. We will also have some new faces in other positions at the school. We would like to welcome the following people to Central: Mrs. Allnutt, Ms. Baugher, Mrs. Burnside, Mrs. Deitz, Ms. Marriott, Ms. Shannon, Mrs. Shaw, Mrs. Souders and Mrs. Waters. Parents
are reminded to read and review the parent student handbook with your
children. There have been some changes made in it in order to accommodate
new district policies and to ensure the smooth operation of We are very optimistic about the eMINTS For All Grant and the opportunities that it will offer to our students at Central. We are trying to accomplish one of our goals from the Vision is Central Project. We are striving to help lead our students towards technological literacy and this grant will offer opportunities for our children to become more comfortable with emerging technology. I would like to thank John Knouse and Barb Maberry for their hard work in getting the building ready for the beginning of school. They have worked hard and the building looks very nice. Please
remember to join us for open house on Aug., 18th from 3:30 to
5:30 p.m. Remember that if you have any questions or concerns, please
don’t hesitate to call Back
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 C-T
Photo, Rod Dixon, 12 15 04Central School fifth-graders presented "Paint the Town December" at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center. The mini-choraliers also performed for the large crowd of parents and grandparents.
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| Clown
Prince of Basketball at Central
"Magic" Valentino Willis of the Harlem Globe Trotters spoke to Central School's fourth and fifth grade students about having fun, but staying away from drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Willis also advised the students to listen to their teachers, parents and counselors during the brief assembly held in the gym.
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 Write
OutdoorsC-T Photo by Laura Schuler, September 2, 2004 Fourth grade classmates write in their writer's notebooks while enjoying the natural settings of Central School's outdoor classroom one morning. The trip outdoors marked the first of many for this class.
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 Commissioner
King Visits Central SchoolC-T Photo and article by Laura Schuler, C-T City Editor, August 25, 2004 Caption: Dr. Kent King, Missouri Commissioner of Education, visited Central School this (Wednesday) morning and commended the faculty there for the school's improved MAP test scores in the areas of math and language arts. However, King also discussed the importance of caring for their students and not getting "hung up" on MAP test results. King's visit to Central School followed an afternoon spent at Hale R-1 Elementary School, which also experienced improved language arts and reading arts MAP scores. Over 35 teachers, board members and R-2 district administrators were on hand this (Wednesday) morning in the Central School library to hear brief remarks from the state's highest-ranking education official. Dr. Kent King, Missouri's Commissioner of Education, commended the teachers for the improvements shown on their students MAP scores. However, he reminded those gathered that test scores, while necessary, is not what education is about. "The real story in education isn't test scores -- it starts with the bus drivers who bring the kids to school and the kids that learn once they get here," King said. The commissioner visited Central School because students there improved their MAP math and communication arts scores from 2003 to 2004. He was accompanied by Larry Price, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education area supervisor. The school was one of two in the area receiving a visit from the education commissioner. King visited Hale R-1 Elementary School Tuesday afternoon and commended the staff there on the school's improved scores in elementary communication arts and reading arts. While speaking to the crowd at Central, King talked about the life-changing experience that his granddaughter, a second-grade student, had last September when she finally learned to read. King told the group that the child had been trying to read that entire summer, but finally grasped the concept that one week in September and was reading as much as she could. "The sad thing is, is that life doesn't change for everyone," King said, adding that the "sparkle," that students get in their eyes when they learn to read is what makes education worthwhile for those that teach, according to King. Back
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| Warm
Recess on Playground
The playground at Central School filled with elementary students who enjoyed the mild temperatures on their great equipment.
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| Pearl
Harbor Memories
C-T Photo by Megan Neis, Wednesday, February 18, 2004 Back
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| 2003
Holiday Program
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| Missouri
Day Friday, October 17, 2003, C-T Photo and Caption Megan Neis
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| Hedrick
Foundation Foots $370,000 Bill for Central School AC System Friday, May 16, 2003, C-T News Article; C-T Photo Laura Schuler
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| Three
Retiring Central School Teachers Honored April 30, 2003 C-T News Article; Photo from C-T May 21, 2003
Retiring staff for 2003 include, from left: Janet Zion, Nylene Sage, Johnna Sue Zachary, Mary Jones, and Craig Erwin. Not pictured: Sandy Ross. Back
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| Leave It
Better Than We Found It! May 16, 2003, C-T
C-T Photo by Laura Schuler
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| KICK
BACK & READ NIGHT March 6, 2003 Photos By Connie Dow, Central School
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| NYLENE SAGE
TEACHER OF YEAR 2002-03 Chillicothe Constituion Tribune, January 23, 2003 On Wednesday, January 22, many Chillicothe community and business leaders toasted some of the best people of what some consider one of the best attributes of Chillicothe: the public school system. Members of the Chillicothe Education Foundation threw an evening dinner reception at the home of Edward Milbank to recognize the five 2002 Teacher of the Year runners-up (one for each building) and the Teacher of the Year, Jayme Caughron, of the Grand River Technical School. The annual formal dinner is also
used to promote the goals of the foundation and to raise awareness of their objectives to
support the Chillicothe education community. Ed Douglas, foundation board president,
offered the guests - who numbered In addition to 2002 Teacher of the Year, Caughron, the Teacher of the Year runners-up for 2002, honored last evening, include: Nancy Elliott (Chillicothe Middle School); Susan Keller (Dewey School); Nancy McGuire (Chillicothe High School); Jody Rodenberg (Field School); and Nylene Sage (Central Accelerated School). At the Chillicothe school district Christmas dinner last month, when the Teacher of the Year announcements were made, Caughron received $1,500 personal cash and $1,000 to spend on classroom supplies. The five runners-up received $500 personal cash and $1,000 to spend on classroom supplies. All financial gifts were provided by the Chillicothe Education Foundation. Back
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Central School 4th-grade classes of Melissa Anderson, Terria Cox, Bryan McKay, Emily O'Dell, Carol Radel and Savannah Wilkerson presented their Spring Concert Monday night at Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center. Shown above, Wagner Chapman, Bryan McKay's student,
aka. Sirius (center) sings “Sunny Side Up” with the other moons and the rest of the 4th-grade students. The evening's theme was “Star Search” as the burned out sun seeks a vacation from the Milky Way. Songs included: “We didn't ‘Planet' This Way,” “In My Own Little Space,” “Sunny Side Up,” and “Follow the Sun.” There were 21 soloists and speakers who educated the audience about the importance of the sun. Mr. Goodwin and Mrs. Brick directed the concert.
Fourth grade students at Central School walked outside for noon recess today (Tuesday) on a new sidewalk as part of the school's ongoing playground improvement project. This fall, the Chillicothe R-2 school board approved massive improvements to the playground, including the pouring of a new sidewalk, sod placement and new fencing and a north gate. Central School Principal Gary Hawkins says that the sod (on the playground's northwest side) will be put down when the weather permits.
CAPTION:
Central School students will soon benefit from a new surface on half of the school's playground area after Chillicothe R-2 board members voted
to replace the north portion of the playground's asphalt, install a drainage system and then sod the area. A new sidewalk will also be constructed from the school to the north portion of the playground. Central School Principal Gary Hawkins said the work could be completed in as little as four to six weeks.
Students in Connie Dow's Wings Class at Central School were busy this (Friday) morning using classroom science and chemistry to draw conclusions about the apparent murder and disappearance of the fictional character, “Mr. Felix Navadad.” The students had to check fingerprints, analyze threads and dismiss red herrings that pop up at the scene. At the conclusion the students were to write a story stating their solutions to the mystery.
Bailey Henry and her fourth grade classmates participated in a NASCAR-themed obstacle course at Central School
Friday morning held to help prepare the students for next week's MAP test.
Caption:
Cheryl Shaw's fourth-grade class dressed in costumes and performed for
parents and grandparents Friday, February 3, afternoon in the music room at Central
School during a Famous Missourians presentation. Pictured above is Adam
Dennis, who dressed as John J. Pershing and spoke about the famous
general's life and history. C-T Photo / Rod Dixon
Caption:
Randy Nadler shows Central School fourth-grade students a photograph he took of the camel he rode to see the pyramids just outside of Cairo, Egypt. Nadler spoke to Central School students
on January 26, 2006, which marked just one of several visits the world traveler had planned this week at area schools.
Caption:
Quentin Lewis worked on the Central School sign
on the morning of January 25, 2006, welcoming world traveler Randy Nadler, who is scheduled to speak to fourth and fifth grade students
on January 26, 2006, about his trip to Egypt. The Central School students posed a question to Nadler on the sign, asking him what metal has been mined in Egypt since 3100 B.C. The answer is copper. Helping Lewis with putting the letters on the sign was Jared Swagel. Nadler is also scheduled to give a presentation to Field School students on Friday. 
Caption: The fifth grade classes performed “A New World Christmas” at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center. Starting off the program was the Mini Choraliers (pictured above), under the direction of Debra Brick. 
C-T
Photo by Laura Schuler, 10 18 04
C-T
Photo by Laura Schuler, Thursday, February 19, 2004
Dorinda
Nicholson, a Mark Twain nominated author, gave a presentation to the 4th
graders at Central School on Wednesday, February 18, describing her
experiences as a 6-year-old child living on the Pearl City Peninsula at
the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. her latest
book, "Pearl Harbor Warriors," is one of only 20 books nominated
for the Mark Twain Award this year. Nicholson gave presentations to the
4th and 5th grade classes at Central School and the 6th, 7th, and 8th
grade classes at the Chillicothe Middle School.
Fifth-grade students of Central School sing out as they present their holiday program "A New World Christmas" Monday evening,
12/15/03, at Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center. The Mini-Choraliers, a vocal group comprised of fourth- and fifth-grade students, opened the program with holiday selections.
C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley
The fourth grade classes at Central School
celebrated Missouri Day October 15. The classes met together (at left) and challenged each
other in a Missouri Trivia Relay race. Each student attempted to answer a trivia question
about Missouri and then handed the trivia sheet to the student in line behind them. The
first class to get all the questions answered won the race. In honor of Missouri Day, Rep.
John Quinn's daughter, Marcy, came and spoke to the students and distributed study guides
about Missouri. The day ended with the students enjoying an ice cream cone, courtesy of
Hy-Vee Food Store. The first ice cream cone was enjoyed at the World's Fair hosted by St.
Louis, Mo., in 1904.
The students at Central School will have
cooler days in the classroom during the school year after officials announced that the
installation of the school's air conditioning system is now complete. The Hedrick
Foundation was responsible for funding the approximately $370,000 project. "It's
obviously a wonderful gift that they've given us," Dale Wallace, R-2 School
Superintendent, said. He added that the generous gift will most definitely make the
classrooms more conducive to learning.
Three
fifth-grade teachers with a total of 111 years of teaching experience and a long history
at Central School will be walking out of their respective classrooms this May and will not
return in the fall. Sandy Ross, Nylene Sage and Janet Zion have announced their retirement
which will begin at the end of the school year. All three teachers were honored Friday
evening at the Grand River Inn during an R-2-sponsored retirement dinner.
Rosaline Epps'
fifth grade class at Central School participated in a "Leave It Better Than We Found
It!" project in May, which is designed to clean up portions of the Central School
grounds. The students did a variety of work to improve the look of the school including:
planting flowers, sweeping sidewalks, picking-up the playground area, and clipping hedges.
Caption: On March 6, 2003,
Central School hosted a "Kick Back and Read Night."
Students and parents were treated to dinner, which was cooked and served by
the teachers and staff. The Book Fair was open, and a drawing was held throughout the
night for free books.