Congratulations Graduates!

This week, according to tradition, the School Board, Superintendent Sam Himmel, the Assistant Superintendents, Principals, Directors, school and district staff attended all of the high school graduations.  It is by far our very favorite activity of the year. Each of our high schools has their own special traditions that make each ceremony unique and personal for every school.  Each high school had several student speakers that did an outstanding job of entertaining, challenging and reflecting for their fellow graduates.

Citrus High School Class of 2012

This was the 100th graduation class for Citrus High School and what an impressive group of young people they were!  The evening began with the signing of our National Anthem by graduate Ashlyn Gibbs who did nothing less than a spectacular job.  The Reflection Speech was effectively given by Megan Gallery and a wonderful humorous, but meaningful, Vision Speech was given by Evan Kegler.

One of the significant things that made this evening so special was that it was the first Citrus High School to have its graduation ceremony broadcasted LIVE and worldwide.   Tim Stuart, Media Specialist at CHS and Jerry Swiatek, Instructional Technology Specialist, setup a live Internet feed for CHS graduation ceremony. The motivation for doing this was a father of one of the graduates who is serving in Afghanistan.  As a result of the use of additional technology, by evenings end, over 60 additional viewers from around the world were watching their own personal student participate in the 100th graduation Class of CHS and receive their diplomas, including that one father far away serving his country that inspired the class to do this.

Lecanto High School Class of 2012

This was a special year for Lecanto High School as it is the first graduating class for the Citrus International Baccalaureate (IB) and the last graduation for Principal Kelly Tyler who is retiring after serving for 11 years as principal of LHS.  Mr. Tyler gave a heartfelt good by speech to the students and staff of LHS and praised his wife and daughters for the family time that he had to give up in order to serve the many long hours as a principal.  The Reflection Speech was given by Alexis Strickland who got a loud laugh when she thanked, “Bing, Google and Wikipedia for helping her get through high school”.  The Vision Speech was given by Andrew Choung who was also the 2012 Golden Citrus Scholar Humanitarian Award winner.  Mr. Choung gave an impressive speech.

Crystal River High School Class of 2012

The Pirates know how to throw a party and always have an impressive ceremony that ends with a loud “bang”, cannon bang that is!  Walking onto the CRHS graduation stage is a bit like a Rocker must feel when walking on to the rock stage as the concert begins.  Lt. Commander Wayne Walker of the Naval Science JROTC program announces you as you walk on to the football field and up the center aisle to the stage which has a 20ft. video screen that reaches high into the sky.  This was an exciting night because it was the first class graduating that Principal Mark McCoy had when he was the principal of Crystal River Primary School. He then continued on with them to Crystal River Middle School and, lastly, as principal at Crystal River High School.  Mr. McCoy promised the class that they would do many great and wonderful things in the future, but, they would be doing it from now on without him, as he was NOT going to, “follow them all to college”!  The Reflections Speech was given by Kora-Ann Manz and the Vision Speech by Lacee Cowart.  Both young ladies did a wonderful job speaking to their fellow graduates about their days at CRHS and their future after graduation.

As the gradations finished and the planning for next year’s graduation begins it is a time for happiness, reflections and the beginning for next year’s planning.  As I watch these young people I worry for them for the many challenges they will faced but I am so proud of the work they have been and overcome to be high school graduates!  God Bless Them ALL!

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May Is Better Speech and Hearing Month

For over 75 years May has been selected as Better Hearing and Speech Month.  It is a time to increase public awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the various forms of communication impairments to include those of hearing, speech, language, and voice. Communication impairments affect the most defenseless in our communities, the young, the seniors, the physically challenged, and the financially challenged.

Helen Keller once noted that of all her impairments, she was perhaps troubled most by her lack of speech and hearing.  She explained that while blindness separated her from things, her lack of speech and hearing disconnected her from people the human connection of communication.  My wife Thomasine has for many years during the month of May taught her reading students about Louis Braille and his braille books which assisted in bridging the gap for Ms. Keller.  She shows them a traditional book and then shows them the same book in braille.

Our district Speech-Language Pathologist and Music teachers want encouraged me to share with you all to be aware of safe listening habits when using Personal Listening Devices (PLDs). In this age of MP3 players, iPods and earbuds, we need to keep safe listening in mind. Check out the website www.listentoyourbuds.org for more information! Listen to great music and audiobooks but do it safely!

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Recap of School Board Meeting for 5/8/2012

“Ya’ll welcome, Maddie Fisher…”

It was my turn for opening exercises so this time I asked Lecanto Middle School eighth grader, Maddie Fisher to perform two songs for us.  Ms. Fisher sang and played the guitar.  Her first rendition was “Fifteen” by Taylor Swift.  Ms. Fisher has amazing talent and the whole attendants were elated by her performance.

Our meeting was a long one and lasted almost five hours, plus we spent two hours prior to that in Administrative Hearings.  While those are long days my wife, and teacher, always reminds me that while it was a long day, with much important and critical work to do, we, the school board, still are able to take breaks when we need or want, and we do not have 50% of our salary based on the outcome of a high stakes test such as the FCAT.  Maybe she has a point…

During the 5:30pm Public Hearing section of the meeting, revisions to three policies were voted on, and all were passed.  The first was revisions to Policy 6.91, “Salary Schedules”, and then to Policy 6.40, “Assessment of Employees” requiring a minor change necessary due to statutorily changes.  The most major change was to Policy 5.621, “Student Medications”.  Due to revision in statute, the district is no longer allowed to keep Auto injectors, commonly referred to as “Epi pens”, without a prescription.  Previously the school health clinic was allowed to have Epi Pens available in case of an emergency. If you know of a student that may require the need of an Epi Pen please make them aware of this change. The clinic may still keep on campus personal Epi Pens, which have a prescription for a specific person. The district has made the Citrus County Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Office aware of the change so that they know that if a 911 call comes through from one of our schools for an allergy and/or a potential need of an Epi Pen, that they need to respond promptly.

Several Special recognitions were given to students during this meeting. First were Colton Trigin and Austin Boling for attaining their rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.  Next, six high school students who participated as a team in the 2012 Commissioner’s Academic Challenge and placed 2nd in the State in Division II.  The Challenge Team consisted of Alex Park, Hanain Fazal, Kaitlin Beranek, Zuhair Sami of LHS, as well as Robert Walters and Angela Ketchum of CRHS. Their coaches were: Scott Waters (Varsity) and Angela St. George (Junior Varsity) of CHS; Bill Hartley (Varsity) and Luke Witkowski, (Junior Varsity) of LHC; Al Balk (Varsity & JV) of CRHS.

Presentations and special recognition was given to the Citrus County’s 2012 National Merit Scholarship Participants. Among the awards given was a 2012 National Merit Hall of Fame Award given to Jacob Tamposi.  Being a National Merit Scholar is a distinction for life.

Approval was given for the renewal of Bid #2010-56 which was for the Purchase & Installation of School Bus Digital Camera System

Three new administrators were recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the board effective July 1, 2012.  Vicki Lofton as Principal of Lecanto Primary School, Deon Copeland as Assistant Principal of Citrus High School, and  Ernest Hopper  as Assistant Principal of the Renaissance Center.

Lastly at the meeting the board approved thirty-nine Teacher Aide TERM Units which are a continuation of par-professional teacher aides that are currently in our schools.  We also approved changes to the current job description for the Student Health Specialist’s Job Description.

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