Central Ridge Elementary school musical

Central Ridge fifth-graders take to the stage for ‘Viva la Ridgebacks’

From left: Hunter Goff, Cody Wayman, Jacob Eno and Brad Melanson prepare for their performance in “Viva La Ridgebacks,” the fifth-grade musical that starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Central Ridge Elementary School. (photo by Leslie Richardson)

The third annual Central Ridge Elementary School fifth-grade musical titled “Viva La Ridgebacks” will open at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the school’s cafetorium.

This year’s show pays tribute to Elvis Presley. The beginning of the school year marked the 50th anniversary of Presley’s film “Follow That Dream,” portions of which were filmed Citrus County.

“Viva La Ridgebacks” is the third original play written and directed by fifth-grade teacher Natalie Columbus. As is the tradition, the lyrics to several popular songs have been rewritten to accommodate the storyline.

The audience will recognize 21 Elvis hits, including “Jailhouse Rock,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Hound Dog,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” and of course, “Viva Las Vegas”! Students have been co-directed by Christina Touchton, a fourth-grade teacher at CRE. Touchton also choreographed the production along with Alicia Carson, an instructor at Reflections, a dance studio in Lecanto.

The story follows Eddie Preston, played by Bradley Melanson, as his family relocates and he reluctantly becomes the “new kid” at Central Ridge. Audiences will hear the voice of Tara Velez, who co-stars as Ann, a girl who has lost the will to sing since the loss of her mother.

Back by popular demand are the three custodians, played by Jacob Eno, Cody Wayman and Hunter Goff. Their “bluesy” break-time jam sessions are sure to provide an added homage to “The King.” The likenesses of Central Ridge principal Nancy Simon, assistant principal Vicki Lofton and former assistant principal Christopher Bosse will also return as portrayed by Mikaela Haskins, Brenna Towne and Shawn Host, respectively.

Additional cast members include: Hailie Aretz, Alejandro Arevalo, Malou Baas, Alexandrie Bavcevic, John Bavcevic, Paloma Bavcevic, Grace Blyth, Natalie Bologna, Makenna Campbell, Chandler Carney, Sean Carreras, Alyssa Chapman, Allison Cornelius, Vonny Correia, Ashley Ely, Colton Flynn, Rylen Garlitz, Sabrina Gatlin, Ashlee Graham, Laura Haynes, Sarah Heymann, Madison Juse, Abigail Linton, Samantha Marchant, Amber Moore, Kiersten Palmer, Alyssa Perez, Zachary Richardson, Alexis Sanchez, Haylee Snodgrass, Laurel Summa, Destiny Taylor, Lillian Torres, Megan Vann, Liam Wolfe, and Emily Wright.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Suggested donation is $3 per person. Refreshments will be available during intermission.

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“I am so proud of our students and pleased for our educators!” ~Thomas

School district does well with writing FCAT

Gains come despite tougher test

By Cheri Harris, Citrus Chronicle
Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Local public school officials see reason to celebrate in test scores released Wednesday.

2011 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test Writing results show that district-wide, more students are scoring higher on the standardized test given to fourth-, eighth- and 10th-graders.

According to information on the Florida Department of Education website, this year 81 percent of Citrus County fourth-graders scored a 4 or higher on the 6-point grading scale compared to 60 percent in 2010; 88 percent of eighth-graders scored a four or higher compared to 80 percent last year; and 77 percent of 10th-graders earned 4 or better compared to 73 percent the year before.

“Overall, I’m very proud and pleased with the gains,” said Sandra “Sam” Himmel, superintendent of schools.

One reason for pride is that more students overall are scoring higher, even though the standard for proficiency has been raised.
From 2005 through 2010, the score proficiency was 3.5; starting this year, the statewide FCAT Writing standard is 4 or higher.
“It is a leap,” said Patrick Simon, the district’s director of research and accountability, “and so schools knew that and put in place curriculum, instruction, programs and methods to reach that bar.”

Simon said that in 2001, the state standard of proficiency on the writing portion of the FCAT was 3 or higher.

He said all traditional schools in the district had more students scoring 4 or higher than they did last year.

Some schools had sharp gains. Simon said the most dramatic district-wide is Inverness Primary School, which went from 51 percent scoring 4 and higher in 2010 compared to 88 percent this year — a 37 percent increase.

Among middle schools, Crystal River Middle School had the sharpest increase, with 95 percent of eighth-graders scoring 4 and higher compared to 83 percent last year.

At the high school level, Crystal River High School and Citrus High School both increased by 4 percent, with 73 percent of CHS 10th-graders scoring 4 and higher and 71 percent at CRHS. Lecanto increased 3 percent, with 85 percent scoring 4 or higher compared to 82 percent last year.

Among elementary schools, at 93 percent, Citrus Springs Elementary School had the highest percentage of students scoring 4 and higher; among middle schools, CRMS had the highest percentage.

Cheri Harris can be reached at (352) 564-2926 or charris@chronicleonline.com.

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Learning from AES Students about our Springs

A few weeks back I got an email from Chuck Mulligan, science instructor, at our Academy of Environmental Science (AES).  Mr. Mulligan invited me to come out to observe the AES’s “E.S.T.U.A.R.I.E.S.” Program (Educating Students to Understand AnthRopogenic Influences on Estuarine Systems). This is wonderful program that  has AES students act as  instructors (teachers) to middle and high school students from Citrus and surrounding counties to examine the human impacts on the springs of Crystal River (Click here to read a Chronicle Story on this program).  The boat captains for each learning vessel were Mr. Mulligan from AES and our instructors from Citrus County Marine Science Station (MSS), Mr. Hugh Adkins, Mr. Earnie Olsen and Ms. Cathy Proveaux.  This day’s guests were from Liberty Middle School (LMS) in Marion County.  Some of these middle school students had never been to Crystal River, let alone participated in marine science experiments and studies.  As we left the docks of the MMS, AES student-teachers began sharing about the seven rivers in Citrus County.  They shared about estuaries and how human daily activities play a critical role in their protection.  It was a beautiful day on the Crystal River.  One of our stops was in front of “Three Sisters” Springs where AES student-teachers with the help of LMS students took samples of the water and collected data.  Samples were taken  and tests were performed at three sites around the Crystal River and Crystal Bay areas before heading back to the MSS.  Throughout the trip AES student-teachers asked LMS students questions and taught them about our waterways, environment, and what each of them can do to make a positive impact in the future.  LMS students left with a better appreciation of marine science, biology and our Citrus County.

Before leaving I stopped by the AES campus and visited several of the classes going on.  In the Creative Writing, taught by Ms. Sandy Balfour I had the opportunity of listen to students that had an assignment of taking their last name and making it the name of a new product that they created.  The students had to provide a drawing or model of the product, write about how it would be used, and then produce a 30-second radio commercial.  These students came up with some very creative products that were both interesting and useful.  I stopped by the Marine Science class which had the students I  had just spent the morning with. I can not express enough how impressed I was with these students.

I have to share with you a story about three young ladies, Lindsay R., Darah N., Tess R., that I am referring to as the “Bio-Diesel Girls” who politely asked if they might have a minute of my time to ask a school board question.  Needless to say, I was all ears.  They each went on to ask about  my position and the Board’s position about the use of bio-diesel in our school buses.  I got the biggest smile on my face.  You see, the AES students have been in class manufacturing bio-diesel from used cooking oils.  The girls went on to explain to me the best formula for making the bio-diesel, the best mixture of standard diesel to bio-diesel mixture for maximum efficiency, and how much raw material would be needed to manufacture enough fuel for a single bus’s tank.  Now how can one not be impressed by all of this!  I said I could not speak for the Board but that I was impressed and felt they made a good case.  I am not sure we are ready as a district to switch over to bio-diesel, but I am interested in hearing more from these students on the subject.

These students are just another example of why I am excited for our future with students like this in our world.

Related Links

• Academy of Environmental Science
• E.S.T.U.A.R.I.E.S. Program
• Citrus County Marine Science Station
• Crystal River
• What is an Estuaries
• “Three Sisters” springs
• Bio-Diesel

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