Winburn Middle School topped its regional field in the 16^th annual Kentucky Colonels Sixth-Grade Showcase, which wrapped up Dec. 5. Beaumont Middle was runner-up in the academic competition, followed by Tates Creek Middle. Morton Middle placed fourth, and Lexington Traditional Magnet School was sixth.

The showcase, which is sponsored by the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, is designed for students who are sometimes “lost” between elementary (4-5) and middle grades (6-8) in Governor’s Cup contests. Schools are grouped into competitive divisions of several teams each. 

In the quick-recall portion of Section 28, Beaumont placed first, Winburn was second, Tates Creek third, and Morton fourth. The contest also included written assessments in several areas. Here are the top individual results from Fayette County Public Schools:

• Mathematics: 1. Ayush Kumar, Winburn; 2. Chandler Zhu, Beaumont; 3. William He, Beaumont.
• Science: 1. Joanna Cholewo, Tates Creek; 2. Meena Ambati, Winburn; 3. Morgan Dawson, LTMS.
• Social studies: 1. Ridley Wills, Tates Creek; 2. Audrey Wirasakti, Tates Creek; 3. Declan Wittkamp, Morton.
• Language arts: 1. William He, Beaumont; 2. Angela Zhang, Winburn; 3. Preston Mullins, Winburn.
• Arts & humanities: T1. Angela Sun, Winburn, and Joanna Cholewo, Tates Creek; 3. Duncan Wingfield, Winburn.
• Composition:  1. Mallory Sparks, Morton; 2. Ella Williams, Beaumont.

For the Section 28 scores and the 2015 complete results, visit www.kaac.com.

More than two dozen students earned spirit awards in the annual Fayette County Middle School Cheer and Dance Showcase, held Dec. 5 at host Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.

• Beaumont: Spirit of Cheer – Savannah Scott; Spirit of Dance – Lily McSpadden; Spirit of Step – Jonea Hayden
• Bryan Station: Cheer – Kimora Chestnut; Dance – Khia Jackson
• Crawford: Cheer – Hosanna Hunt and Tiana Clark
• Edythe J. Hayes: Cheer – Cate Jylkka; Dance – Mimi Doan
• Jessie Clark: Cheer – Hallory Becknell (white squad) and Galen Fletcher (maroon squad); Dance – Maria Beltran
• Leestown: Cheer – Shikela Myers (A team) and Chloe Chula (B team)
• Lexington Traditional Magnet: Cheer – Natalina Hughbanks; Dance – Caitlin Shelton; Step – Iyania Lindsay; Hip Hop – Queenzlynn Boateng
• Morton: Cheer – Faith Altwies (A team) and Samantha Dukes (B team); Dance – Audrey Belle Childers
• Southern: Cheer – Daosharae Robinson; Dance – Mackenzie Reeder
• Tates Creek: Cheer – Alexis Pinkston; Dance – Sierra Simpson
• Winburn: Cheer – Adriona Williams and DeMaria Black

For questions, contact showcase coordinator Judy Lowry.

Channel 13's coverage

The Fayette County Education Association (FCEA) awarded this year’s $500 American Education Week scholarship to Carlos Bess, a behavioral curriculum specialist at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy for Excellence. This award goes to an FCEA member who is pursuing a Rank 2, Rank 1, doctorate, or national board certification.

The group, which is made up of local teachers, congratulated Bess at their Dec. 10 winter gathering along with these $250 classroom grant recipients: Kellie Derrickson of Lansdowne Elementary, Kirsten Fields of Picadome Elementary, Mary Henton of Henry Clay High School, Naema Shalash of Lansdowne, and Heidi Thompson-Abell of Squires Elementary.

The FCEA building representatives award the grants, and the board chooses the scholarship winner. For more information, contact the organization’s president, Jessica Hiler.

Fayette County Public Schools has saluted the district-level winners in the 2015-2016 Reflections competition, whose theme is “Let Your Imagination Fly.” These students – the overall winners in each age group and category – received kudos Dec. 6 from the 16^th District PTA and now advance to the statewide contest sponsored by Kentucky PTA. (See the list below.)

• Channel 13’s coverage

Thirty-five schools in FCPS participated in Reflections this fall, with Tates Creek Elementary and The Academy for Leadership at Millcreek turning out 100 percent through their art classes. Countywide, students submitted more than 4,000 entries at the school level, and the schools passed along some 300 pieces for district-level consideration. Those entries were judged by objective teachers, university professors, dance studio owners, LexArts members, Lexington Philharmonic members, and the head of the Kentucky Women Writers Conference.

The National PTA established the annual Reflections contest in 1968. Designed to enhance a quality arts education, it enables students to express themselves and receive positive recognition for their artistic efforts. The six areas are music composition, film production, dance choreography, literature, photography and visual art (drawing, painting, print-making and collage). For more information, contact 16th District PTA Reflections chair Julia Craven.

District-level honorees

The Overall Winners in each age group and category advance to the state competition. The Awards of Excellence represent second place at the district level, and the Awards of Merit are third place.

Primary Music Composition

Overall Winner:

• Taylor McQuillen, Rosa Parks Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Noah Jackson, Maxwell Elementary
• Lucas LeSage, Glendover Elementary
• Philip Ritchie, Wellington Elementary
• Anvi Vaish, Rosa Parks Elementary

Award of Merit

• Daytavion Lewis, Breckinridge Elementary
• Brisia Muralles, Breckinridge Elementary
• Kylie Noah, Wellington Elementary
• Julianna Squire, Sandersville Elementary

Intermediate Music Composition

Overall Winners

• Kayla Chambers-Reed, Rosa Parks Elementary
• Katie Squire, Sandersville Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Emerson Farrar, Maxwell Elementary
• Jayalaxmi Murty, Rosa Parks Elementary
• Avery Padgett, Maxwell Elementary
• Evan Prinssen, Veterans Park Elementary

Award of Merit

• Natalie Hoten, Wellington Elementary
• Kyle Lewis, Liberty Elementary
• Eli Park, Ashland Elementary
• Jill Peterson, Sandersville Elementary
• Ella Grace Sewell, Athens-Chilesburg Elementary

Middle School Music Composition

Overall Winner

• Noah Katz, Tates Creek Middle

Award of Excellence

• Dylan Campbell, Lexington Traditional Magnet
• LaRae Jackson, Bryan Station Middle
• Parker Smith, Tates Creek Middle

Award of Merit

• Haowen Chih, Jessie Clark Middle
• Eryn Keenan, Edythe J. Hayes Middle

High School Music Composition

Overall Winners

• Hanna Lyons, STEAM Academy
• Brenden Talbert, STEAM Academy

Award of Excellence

• Katilin Meredith, Bryan Station High
• Wilkenslev Thervil, Bryan Station High

Award of Merit

• Kallan Adair, STEAM Academy
• Emma Reynolds, STEAM Academy

Primary Dance Choreography

Overall Winners

• Katie Beth Skaggs, Stonewall Elementary
• Elise Trimble, Rosa Parks Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Anne Margaret Beck, Stonewall Elementary
• Harper Gorham, Maxwell Elementary
• Benjamin Gus Moore, Wellington Elementary 

Intermediate Dance Choreography

Overall Winners

• Eliza Louise Mullins, Maxwell Elementary
• Jessica Mukhopadhyay, Picadome Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Malarie Kersey, Wellington Elementary
• Hadley Roberts, Ashland Elementary
• Ally Robertson, Wellington Elementary

Award of Merit

• Rachel Brown, Clara Margaret, and Katherine Landfield of Picadome Elementary
• Oliver Copeland, Ashland Elementary
• Campbell Jean Tippey, Stonewall Elementary

Middle School Dance Choreography

Overall Winner

• Trinity Hope Prather, Jessie Clark Middle

Award of Excellence

• Claire Davis Tippey, Jessie Clark Middle

High School Dance Choreography

Overall Winners

• Carson Hardee, Lafayette High School
• Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High School

Award of Excellence

• Elly Gardev, STEAM Academy

Primary Film Production

Overall Winner

• Benjamin Gus Moore, Wellington Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Mia DeFino, Wellington Elementary
• Matthew Perrine, Liberty Elementary
• Zach Perrine, Liberty Elementary

Intermediate Film Production

Overall Winners

• Kyle Lewis, Liberty Elementary
• Jessica Mukhopadhyay, Picadome Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Thomas Porter Cranney, Sandersville Elementary
• Andrew Hughes, Liberty Elementary
• Houston Mountjoy, Wellington Elementary
• Ava Roberts, Ashland Elementary

Award of Merit

• Ethan Yiannikauris, Rosa Parks Elementary

Middle School Film Production

Overall Winner

• Annika Karri, Beaumont Middle School

High School Film Production

Overall Winners

• Camille Harn, STEAM Academy
• Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High School

Award of Excellence

• Jackson Quinn, STEAM Academy
• Angel Varillas-Llewellyn, Henry Clay High School
• Eric Varillas-Llewellyn, Henry Clay High School

Award of Merit

• Xzavier Brown, STEAM Academy
• Paul Diaz, STEAM Academy
• Richard Grevious, STEAM Academy

Primary Literature

Overall Winner

• Luke Majors, Maxwell Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Eric Gordon, Sandersville Elementary
• Carter Lankford, Maxwell Elementary
• Lucy Elizabeth Miner, Athens-Chilesburg Elementary

Award of Merit

• Jana Rady, Picadome Elementary
• Lily Tay, Rosa Parks Elementary
• Nikhil Venkateswaran, Picadome Elementary

Intermediate Literature

Overall Winners

• Reese Lile, Glendover Elementary
• Miyun Santalucia, Wellington Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Savannah Belcher, Sandersville Elementary
• Emileigh Lewis, Ashland Elementary
• Ava Grace Melloan, Cassidy Elementary
• Andrew Peng, Liberty Elementary

Award of Merit

• Oliver Copeland, Ashland Elementary
• Walker Drotovick, Garden Springs Elementary
• Kharis Hanson, Wellington Elementary
• Madelyn Smith, Veterans Park Elementary

Middle School Literature

Overall Winners

• Jackson Gonzales, Lexington Traditional Magnet
• Laura Holsclaw, Beaumont Middle School

Award of Excellence

• Victoria Jackson, Bryan Station Middle School
• Caden Pearson, Tates Creek Middle School
• Trevor Prather, Jessie Clark Middle School

Award of Merit

• Connor Genton, Jessie Clark Middle School
• Anya Hartman, Tates Creek Middle School
• Erin Stratton, Beaumont Middle School

High School Literature

Overall Winners

• Grace Michels, Lafayette High School
• Christopher Revis, Bryan Station High School

Award of Excellence

• Bethany Boggs, Lafayette High School
• Robert Craig, STEAM Academy
• Kiara Pankins, Lafayette High School

Award of Merit

• Nell Adkins, STEAM Academy
• Renee Brown, Paul Laurence Dunbar High
• Julia Glenn, Lafayette High School

Primary Photography

Overall Winner

• Karver Caswell, Stonewall Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Patrick Rawlings Casey, Veterans Park Elementary
• Benjamin Gus Moore, Wellington Elementary
• Maggie Grace Young, Rosa Parks Elementary

Award of Merit

• Eva Calder, Maxwell Elementary
• Ada King, Rosa Parks Elementary
• Kale Masterson, Veterans Park Elementary
• Faith Sweazy, Ashland Elementary

Intermediate Photography

Overall Winners

• Megan Barrett, Rosa Parks Elementary
• Nina Tay, Rosa Parks Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Anjel Gabe Katz, Maxwell Elementary
• Lucille Grace Montague, Maxwell Elementary
• Jessica Mukhopadhyay, Picadome Elementary
• Isabella Sutton, Athens-Chilesburg Elementary

Award of Merit

• Savannah Hughes, Liberty Elementary
• Carlyn Sharp, Veterans Park Elementary
• Joseph Mills Wilson, Ashland Elementary

Middle School Photography

Overall Winner

• Griffin Shively, Beaumont Middle

Award of Excellence

• Andrew Lewis, Bryan Station Middle

Award of Merit

• Mason Duncan, Morton Middle
• Rowen Farmer, Leestown Middle
• Savannah Mundy, Tates Creek Middle

High School Photography

Overall Winners

• Christopher Revis, Bryan Station High School
• Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High School
• Jenna Strange, STEAM Academy

Award of Excellence

• Mia Albornoz, Lafayette High School
• Thomas Bradley, STEAM Academy
• William Chapman, STEAM Academy
• Jacob Compton, STEAM Academy
• Abby Lee Hughes, STEAM Academy

Award of Merit

• Joseph Craven, Henry Clay High School
• Malajah Hodgens, STEAM Academy
• Eric Varillas-Llewellyn, Henry Clay High School

Primary Visual Arts

Overall Winner

• Iris Zhou, Veterans Park Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Maebri Cole, Sandersville Elementary
• Benjamin Gus Moore, Wellington Elementary
• Katie Beth Skaggs, Stonewall Elementary
• Aren Vilsama, Breckinridge Elementary

Award of Merit

• Amelia King, Glendover Elementary
• Kyla Kruchinshi, Clays Mill Elementary
• Simon Lovely, Clays Mill Elementary
• Jackson Melloan, Cassidy Elementary

Intermediate Visual Arts

Overall Winners

• Ava Vono, Liberty Elementary

Award of Excellence

• Joseph Eskridge, Tates Creek Elementary
• Andrew Peng, Liberty Elementary
• Shannon Studts, Ashland Elementary
• Alex Stumbur, Ashland Elementary

Award of Merit

• Sepehr Dindoust, Stonewall Elementary
• Grace Hardin, Liberty Elementary
• Spencer Harston, Rosa Parks Elementary
• HianWon Seo, Stonewall Elementary
• Elise Skidmore, Picadome Elementary

Middle School Visual Arts

Overall Winners

• Joanna Cholewo, Tates Creek Middle
• Kevin Lin, Jessie Clark Middle

Award of Excellence

• Amelia Eddy, Leestown Middle
• Anya Hartman, Tates Creek Middle

Award of Merit

• Danielle Bellamy, Leestown Middle
• Katrina Hannah, Lexington Traditional Magnet

High School Visual Arts

Overall Winner

• Samichhya Aryal, Henry Clay High School
• Ethan Martion, STEAM Academy
• Elora Mukhopadhyay, Lafayette High School

Award of Excellence

• Mia Albornoz, Lafayette High School
• Hannah Kern, STEAM Academy
• Morgan Slone, Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

Award of Merit

• Dara Golding, Henry Clay High School
• Jaycee Taylor, STEAM Academy

Jessie Clark Middle School defeated Edythe J. Hayes Middle 55-31 for the “A” team county basketball championship Dec. 11. The Eagles, who completed a perfect 13-0 season, averaged 47 points per game and held opponents to 17. They were led by eighth-graders Shelbi Wilson with a season total 201 points and Carsyn Prigge with an average of 5.3 assists per game. Jessie Clark was also the regular-season “A” champion and posted the district’s highest GPA with a 3.71. The Eagles are coached by Michelle Simpson, Bob Kinley, and Herb McDowell.

In the day’s earlier game, the Hayes “B” team edged Jessie Clark 20-18 for county bragging rights. “The girls were determined and played with a since of pride and togetherness that pushed them to a championship title,” said Coach Dale Smith. The Panthers, led by seventh-grader Kasia Parks, finished third in the regular season with an 8-2 record. They are coached by Smith, Mike Graves, and Kesey Meece.

The swimmers from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School topped the combined team standings in the all-city meet Dec. 12 at Transylvania University. Dunbar captured the boys’ team title, while Tates Creek High came away with the girls’ title.

Combined team standings — 1. Dunbar; 3. Lafayette; 4. Henry Clay; 5. Tates Creek; 8. Bryan Station.

Boys’ standings — 1. Dunbar; 3. Lafayette; 4. Henry Clay; 6. Tates Creek; 8. Bryan Station.

Girls’ standings — 1. Tates Creek; 2. Dunbar; 4. Henry Clay; 5. Lafayette; 8. Bryan Station.

Boys’ winners:

• 200 medley relay — Lafayette (Connor Hood, Kellen Casey, Christian Casey, Michael Lozovoy), 1:45.12
• 200 freestyle — Matthew Street, Henry Clay, 1:50.60
• 200 individual medley — Christian Casey, Lafayette, 2:04.18
• 50 freestyle — Andrew Freibert, Henry Clay, 22.15
• 1-meter diving — Jonah Dunn, Lafayette, 223.45
• 100 butterfly — Christian Casey, Lafayette, 54.66
• 100 freestyle — Brooks Marquette, Dunbar, 50.28
• 500 freestyle — Scott Street, Henry Clay, 4:53.24
• 200 freestyle relay — Henry Clay (Matthew Street, Stone Poole, Scott Street, Andrew Freibert), 1:32.92
• 100 breaststroke — Kellen Casey, Lafayette, 1:04.35
• 400 freestyle relay — Henry Clay (Matthew Street, Stone Poole, Scott Street, Andrew Freibert), 3:28.09

Girls’ winners:

• 200 medley relay — Dunbar (Lanier Whitton, Taylor Colony, Keriann Ferguson, Emily Bravard), 2:00.22
• 200 freestyle — Rachel Klinker, Tates Creek, 1:56.83
• 200 individual medley — Kailey Lewis, Tates Creek, 2:21.35
• 1-meter diving — Elana Ehl, Henry Clay, 270.30
• 100 butterfly — Lauren Denham, Dunbar, 1:00.29
• 100 freestyle — Abigail Wrightson, Lafayette, 59.40
• 500 freestyle — Rachel Klinker, Tates Creek, 5:08.92
• 200 freestyle relay — Tates Creek (Whitney Powell, Emma Ivey, Rachel Klinker, Kailey Lewis), 1:44.13
• 100 backstroke — Lanier Whitton, Dunbar, 1:03.51
• 100 breaststroke — Hannah Freibert, Henry Clay, 1:11.44
• 400 freestyle relay — Dunbar (Lanier Whitton, Emily Bravard, Cora Harter, Lauren Denham), 3:55.48

Did you know?

Dunbar’s Madison Winstead, who didn’t compete in the all-city meet, finished third in the 100 breaststroke at the Speedo Winter Junior Championships, a USA Swimming event.

Public and private school students in Lexington came through with a much-needed donation of more than 64,000 pounds of non-perishables in the 2015 Kids Can Fight Hunger food drive. The haul has an estimated retail value of $108,160, according to God’s Pantry Food Bank. 

Schools competed in three divisions based on enrollment. Rosa Parks Elementary in Division 2 and Jessie Clark Middle School in Division 3 each received a $500 prize after bringing in the most pounds of food combined with a conversion for cash donations at a rate of 100 pounds per $10. Schools could also participate in a food box decorating contest for a grand prize of $250. Photos of the entries were displayed on Facebook, and Sandersville Elementary received the most likes.

Twenty-nine schools participated in this year’s food drive, which is sponsored by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Inc. For questions, contact Misty Simms at God’s Pantry, (859) 288-5327.

William Wells Brown Elementary received a technology windfall when an interested bystander donated 18 iPads valued at about $5,000. The businessman, who prefers to remain anonymous, saw a group of students and mentors on a Dec. 8 field trip to the Apple Store in Fayette Mall and approached family/community liaison Butch Emerson about helping. “He took out his credit card and gave it to the store manager, and that was it,” Emerson recalled. 

The iPads, which Apple employees delivered this week, will be used primarily by the 18 participants in the School Plus Program run by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. Other first- and second-graders will also use the devices in class. The goal is to help students progress in reading and math skills, moving them beyond novice toward proficient on state assessments. 

“Technology is such an ample part of a child’s life, and now they get to take these devices into their mentor hour. It’s another tool in a mentor’s pocket,” said Phoebe Crum, who manages the School Plus Program at William Wells Brown. 

The mentors, or “Bigs” as the children call them, are community volunteers who set aside an hour each week to work one-on-one with their assigned students. Forty-five minutes is devoted to academics, and the rest to social interaction. “It’s all about meeting the child’s needs, and it’s about the relationships they develop,” Crum said. 

To find out more or to volunteer, call (859) 231-8181.

A robotics team from Mary Todd Elementary, Skull Crusher, took first place in the Dec. 12 area SumoBot tournament. Jose Astudillo and Jose Garcia worked together using math and engineering skills to build and program a LEGO Mindstorm robot to disable their opponent’s robot or push it off a 4-foot circular competition board. 

Students and families representing seven schools from Fayette and Franklin counties gathered in the Beaumont Middle School gym to watch 12 elementary and 11 middle school teams compete in a double-elimination tournament. The runner-up was team World War 2, Yumeto Shikano and Eric Moberley from Picadome Elementary; and third place went to Mustangs 2, Peter Parker and Zain McCoy of Morton Middle. 

• Photo gallery 

SumoBot competitions are also scheduled for April 9 during the district’s STEM Fair at Bryan Station High School and April 22 during the STLP State Championship at Rupp Arena. For more information about robotics programs in Fayette County Public Schools, contact technology resource teacher Leanna Prater.

Second-graders at Russell Cave Elementary invited a group of first responders to lunch and shared letters describing what makes them heroes – whether it’s pulling people from burning buildings, performing CPR after an accident, or enforcing the rules of the road. The firefighter, paramedic, and police officers were impressed with the youngsters, according to teacher Melissa Collins. “They read their letters, carried on conversations, and asked them questions about their jobs and what they do,” she said of the students. 

In a literacy unit, Collins and colleague Brittany Miracle have covered heroes in history such as Martin Luther King Jr., whose actions led to equal rights for all. “We talked about connections we could make between what they did and events that have an impact on our lives today,” Collins said. “We also talked about heroes within our community such as firefighters, teachers, police officers, and soldiers. We wanted to give back to these heroes, so we decided to invite them to eat lunch with the students.” 

The two classes also planned to send holiday cards to veterans at the Lexington VA Medical Center.

Sarah Fields, a freshman at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, was runner-up in the poetry division of the 2015 Write Stuff Teen Contest sponsored by Gilda’s Club Louisville. Through essays, poems, videos, and artwork, students in grades 6-12 from Kentucky and Southern Indiana reflect on what it’s like to live with cancer – dealing either with their own condition or someone close to them. When Sarah was in third grade, her grandfather died of lung cancer and her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer but survived. 

The nonprofit Gilda’s Club Louisville provides a place where children and adults affected by cancer can build social and emotional support as a supplement to medical care. The organization is named for comedian Gilda Radner, who died from ovarian cancer in 1989. For questions, call (502) 583-0075.

Making Sense

By Sarah Fields

You can always personify the forces that grip humanity.

It’s what we do, to make sense of the trauma,

Of the fear and helplessness.

We wonder if fate looks down with pity,

If death has empathy,

Or if cancer would just have enough of what it came for.

It’s easy to step back from reality.

Knowing they could slip into the darkness,

Thinking it’s all too real to even be true.

But that,

Is where we must breathe,

Where we must be strong.

Time moves on,

It always has

Except now every moment is precious.

You know they can beat it.

But at the same time you’re not sure.

Have confidence in your hope.

You may blink and realize all is lost.

Or you may blink and it might be all over,

It all happens fast.

But to be blunt,

Love, hope and time are all forces

That can never be broken,

That will always stay with you,

That will heal and lift you up,

That will keep you from the extreme.

So have faith,

And have strength.

Only you can decide how you will face it. 

Seven groups from Fayette County Public Schools were among the more than 250 middle and high schools participating in the Kentucky Youth Assembly (KYA) conferences in November and December. KYA is a three-day experiential learning program in which students serve as part of a model state government. It offers them the opportunity to learn about a wide variety of issues, develop critical-thinking skills, and articulate their beliefs while engaging constructively with peers from around the state. Students also serve as officers, run as candidates, and earn various merit-based awards.

Middle school honors

• Delegations of excellence: Beaumont and Edythe J. Hayes
• Outstanding delegates: Holly Kate of Beaumont; Kori Silence of Winburn; and Rileigh Smith of E.J. Hayes
• Outstanding statesmanship: Winburn
• Outstanding speakers: Brice Craig and Olivia Purcell of Edythe J. Hayes; and Sadie Bograd, Lily Gardner, and Elizabeth Moore of Winburn
• Presiding officers: Kevin Jing of Winburn, 2015 governor; Olivia Feck of E.J. Hayes, 2015 speaker of the House
• Elected officers: Aneesh Kadambi of Winburn, 2016 president of the Senate

High school honors

• Delegations of excellence: Henry Clay, Lafayette, and Paul Laurence Dunbar
• Outstanding delegates: Allison Grzywacz of Lafayette, Sarah Hoffman of Dunbar, Nicole Loy of Henry Clay, and Drake Whitt of Bryan Station
• Outstanding statesmanship: Henry Clay
• Outstanding speakers: Spencer Parsons of Henry Clay and Louis Schatzki of Dunbar
• Outstanding bill packet: Dunbar
• Outstanding parliamentarian: Ryan Kennedy of Dunbar
• Outstanding lobbyists: Patrick Rodrigue of Lafayette and Anya Slepyan of Henry Clay
• Outstanding media corps delegate: Emily Bragg of Henry Clay
• Presiding officers: Eliza Jane Schaeffer of Henry Clay, 2015 governor; Jamie Smith of Henry Clay, 2015 chief justice; and Colton Warner of Henry Clay, 2015 premiere president of the Senate
• Elected officers: Evan Hays of Henry Clay, 2016 governor; and Olivia Feck of Henry Clay, 2016 premiere president of the Senate
• 2015 Adviser Hall of Fame inductee: Matt Helton of Henry Clay

For more information, visit the Kentucky YMCA Youth Association website, email East Region director Emily Donlon, or call (502) 227-7028.

At the Aug. 24 school board meeting, Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk shared early reflections after his first three weeks on the job and praised staff for a great start to the school year in Fayette County Public Schools. “What is immeasurable is the feeling of family and pride,” he said. 

Caulk presented an overview of his Listening, Learning and Leading plan, which he deemed “a living document.” The entry-plan phase continues through Jan. 5, followed by development of an action plan that he intends to roll out in March. The main steps during this transition period are to listen, learn, share, plan, and act. Caulk also reiterated his core values:

• Students first;
• Victory is in the classroom;
• Leadership, capacity building, shared accountability, and collaboration for results are keys to success;
• Families are our partners; and
• It takes an entire community to ensure the success of our public schools.

He hopes the results of his groundwork include a renewed sense of energy, optimism and engagement among students, families, employees and the community.  

To comment on Caulk’s plans or offer feedback, visit www.fcps.net/letstalk.

KET’s “College Financial Aid Call-In 2016,” a one-hour special edition of Education Matters, will help families navigate the aid application process. The program, hosted by Bill Goodman and Renee Shaw, will air at 9 p.m. Jan. 11 and will stream online at KET.org/live. 

A panel will provide information on the availability of scholarships, grants and other financial aid, and will offer tips on applying for student loans. Topics will include documents necessary to apply for aid, common application mistakes, deadlines, and financial aid packages. Viewers can also submit questions in advance via Twitter @EducationKET and at www.facebook.com/KET. 

The scheduled panelists are:

• Michael Birchett, director of financial aid at Bluegrass Community and Technical College;
• Bob Fultz, director of financial aid at Georgetown College;
• Sandy Neel, executive director of financial aid at the University of Louisville; and
• Becky Gilpatrick, director of Student Aid Services with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. 

KET’s education coverage is part of American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen, a public media initiative made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

A group from Tates Creek High School has advanced to the 32-team final round of the 2016 Lexus Eco Challenge, a national STEM contest for grades 6-12 built on environmental issues and practical solutions. With their first-round success in the land/water division, “Let’s Go Batty” secured a $10,000 prize for their team and their school. 

Led by adviser Catherina Sammons, students Joyia Burrus, Isabella Morales, Katie Sandford, Morgan Boaz, and Abby Watkins researched the effects of bats on Lexington’s ecosystem and developed a plan to help increase their population and thereby combat mosquitoes. To protect their nocturnal neighbors and prevent the use of more chemical pesticides, the team partnered with LFUCG's Division of Parks and Recreation and built bat houses to put up in Veterans Park. “The naturalists have been seeking ways to raise community awareness regarding bats and were quite excited by our outreach presentations,” Sammons said. “They also helped us select trees where the bats could utilize our houses, including a tree on the main trail where visitors are able to see the bat house, too.” 

The Tates Creek team presented their findings to about 300 middle schoolers in the community and to some 100 youth at the county’s 4-H environmental camp. 

Results of the Eco Challenge’s air/climate contest will be announced soon, and the Final Challenge ends Feb. 19. Eight first-place teams will receive $15,000 apiece, while two grand prize winners (middle and high school) will net $30,000 each.  

Students across the Commonwealth auditioned for the Kentucky Music Educators Association’s 2016 All-State High School Chorus. Vocalists in grades 10-12 tried out in quartets – all performing the same piece, sung a cappella; they also had to sight-sing. KMEA chose the top students and assigned them to one of three ensembles: a women’s chorus, a men’s group, and a mixed choir of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. 

The 2016 Kentucky Junior High Chorus includes seventh, eighth- and ninth-graders selected via recorded audition, and the children’s group is made up of fifth- and sixth-graders who prepared solo and rhythmic/melodic patterns for their recorded audition.

The younger ensembles will perform at 5:15 p.m. Feb. 4 during KMEA’s statewide conference in Louisville. The high school students will follow at 8 p.m. Feb. 5. For ticket information, visit www.kentuckycenter.org/all-shows/kmea-2016. 

All-State Women’s Chorus

• Henry Clay: Olivia Owens and Anne Russell.
• Lafayette: Laura Asher, Ashton Brown, Diane Clements, Bonnie Kuntz, Hannah Neff, Quentin Prewitt, Ellie Reece, Erica Scott, Jasmine Webb, and Lexi Zapata.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Emily Prater.
• Tates Creek: Amelia Hurt.

All-State Men’s Chorus

• Lafayette: Daniel Balko, Kaan Celik, Cooper Fitch, David Forish, Andrew Herrmann, Sam Ifeacho, Jared Sayers, and Troy Walton.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Stephen Perry.
• Tates Creek: Renner Clements, Colin Fleming, Ivan Vela, and Hayden Wise. 

All-State Mixed Chorus

• Lafayette: Kurtis Brown, Sarah Byrd, Katie Damron, Scott DiMeo, Catarine Hancock, Hannah Hetzel-Ebben, Jason Jackson, Maya Jundi, Allie Langdorf, Grace Money, Hannah Shannon, Kason Speir, Gareth Walker, and Slade Warnken.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Erin Connors.
• Tates Creek: Kashaun Argrett, Spencer Horman, Ethan Mooney, Caleb Nelson, and Brianna Stanley.

Junior High Mixed Chorus (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) 

• Jessie Clark Middle: Alyssa Mercurio.
• Leestown Middle: Elly Chula, Arielle Senior, DaMontaveious Smith, and Ja’Kyla Traynham.
• SCAPA at Bluegrass: Luke Dailey, Virgil Lewis, Kendall McCormick, and Jeffrey Thomas Snow.
• Southern Middle: Benjamin Brewer.
• Winburn Middle: Kori Silence.
• Henry Clay High: Elizabeth Bowling.
• Lafayette High: Williams Arkinson, Justin Bentley, Kiara Butts, and Daryn Polzin.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar High: Dylan Beers, Jack Burton, Damon Deaton, Andy Du, and Max Taylor. 

Junior High Treble Chorus (soprano, alto) 

• Beaumont Middle: Julia Todd, and Allison Jones.
• Jessie Clark Middle: Molly Katherine Cornett, and Abby Mires.
• SCAPA at Bluegrass: Katelyn Cooper, Abby Cunningham, Alison Ritcher, and Alex Thibault.
• Henry Clay High: Colby Jackson.
• Lafayette High: Lauren Adams, Grace Brown, Aubrey Dawson, Lilith Embury, Courtney Evans, Abigail Garner, Valerie Langdorf, Emma Owens, Olivia Peppiatt, Ashley Prigge, Eliza Sayers, and Brinna Voss.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar High: Savanna Arnold, Hannah Broomhall, Divya Sunderam, and Olivia Tussey.

 Kentucky Children’s Choir 

• SCAPA at Bluegrass: Chloe Beers, Kara Bracken, Joshua Bylund, Jamie Cook, Ally Curry, Emma English, Marianne Gebb, Priscilla Higashi, Anastasia Hinton, Jocelyn Langdorf, Bella Luciano, Julie Sharpe, Halley Spradlin, and Mary Grace Williams.
• Southern Elementary: Katelyn Thatcher.

Nine more local teachers recently earned National Board Certification, which is a demonstration of their practice as measured against high and rigorous standards. That brings the total to 202 throughout Fayette County Public Schools, including six already-certified teachers who joined the district in the 2015-2016 school year.  

National Board Certification generally takes one to three years to complete. The advanced system, which is offered on a voluntary basis and is valid for 10 years, complements but does not replace state licensing. To be considered, educators are assessed on portfolios containing classroom videos that reflect their teaching style, student work samples, and documentation of their impact as a teaching professional. Candidates are also tested on knowledge specific to their field. 

Congratulations to these latest board-certified teachers: 

• Paula Aseltyne, Paul Laurence Dunbar High
• Sarah Blair, Picadome Elementary
• Lindsey Depenbrock, Northern Elementary
• Gretchen Donovan, Meadowthorpe Elementary
• Manon Korse, James Lane Allen Elementary
• Amanda Penrod, Maxwell Spanish Immersion Magnet
• Eric Preece, Garden Springs Elementary
• Mercedita Price, Picadome Elementary
• Allison Roberts, Paul Laurence Dunbar High

Already certified but new to FCPS this year:

• Frederick Cox, Paul Laurence Dunbar High
• Christina Emerson, Leestown Middle
• Kimberly Greathouse, James Lane Allen Elementary
• Dara Hanrahan, James Lane Allen Elementary
• Jason Meenach, Tates Creek High
• Margaret Revelette, Cardinal Valley Elementary

For questions, contact Laura Art in Human Resources.

An essay on why a hotdog is not a sandwich, written by a junior at Lexington Day Treatment Center, was recently featured in a celebrity’s podcast. Student Carl Garner Jr. and others in Eric Little’s English class were excited to listen in on the weekly comedy “Judge John Hodgman,” in which the television and radio personality hears disputes and declares who is right and who is wrong. 

After the hotdog case aired, Little introduced the topic to his class as part of a persuasive writing unit, thinking it would be a fun, light way to start. “Carl, who is typically pretty quiet, suddenly became wonderfully engaged, fiercely debating with a peer. I have never seen him more present and involved,” Little recalled. For his final project, Carl wrote an essay in the form of a letter – using pathos (an appeal to emotion), ethos (ethics), and logos (logic) to persuade his classmate that a hotdog is not a sandwich. The teacher emailed Hodgman to thank him for the idea, and that’s how Carl’s work landed in a follow-up segment of “The Nog Tank” episode. “You never know what is going to spark interest in kids,” Little said. “It turns out he feels passionately about sandwiches and hotdogs.” 

• Carl’s essay
• Podcast (Jump to the 43:16 mark for the five-minute segment.)

After competitive auditions, the Kentucky Music Educators Association selected dozens of outstanding high school musicians for 2016 all-state honors. These students will rehearse with guest conductors and perform during next month’s KMEA statewide conference in Louisville. The following participants are from Fayette County Public Schools.

All-State Jazz Ensembles

Performing at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Galt House ballroom

Ensemble 1

• Henry Clay: Jacob O’Donnell, tenor; Noah Beckett, bari sax; Tyler Rosenkrantz, trumpet, and Simon Long, bass.
• Lafayette: Ethan Ferguson, trumpet; Vanessa Meliksetyan, piano, and Landon Feese, guitar.

Ensemble 2

• Bryan Station: Brandon Brown, drum.
• Henry Clay: Reagan Cox, trumpet; and Elyiss Dozier, trombone.
• Lafayette: Isaac Bane, alto; and Davie Vest, trumpet.

All-State Commonwealth Strings

1 p.m. Feb. 6 in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts

• Bryan Station: Sidney Bibbs, viola; Brittnany Graham, viola; and Elizabeth Stevens, cello.
• Henry Clay: Tobias Cox, violin; Zaynab Khan, cello; Joon Young Park, violin; and Alexandra Welch, viola.
• Lafayette: Ethan Peck, bass; Olivia Peppiatt, violin; Emily Putman, violin; Miranda Rojas, violin; Alexa Smith, viola; Anna Watrous, cello; and Ella Webster, violin.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Joseph Brandewie, cello; Janet Guo, violin; Erik Han, violin; Ronit Kar, violin; Akhil Kesaraju, violin; Rohith Kesaraju, violin; Celina Liu, violin; Helen Pang, cello; Elizabeth Robbins, cello; Camden Ross, viola; Stephanie Stumbar, violin; Calvin Wu, violin; and Stephanie Yang, viola.

All-State Symphony Orchestra

2 p.m. Feb. 6 in Whitney Hall

• Bryan Station: Simone Bibbs, cello; Natalie Buede, viola; Christopher Copley, violin; Griffin Farrar, bass; Logan Florence, cello; Isabella Hunter, viola; Rachel Mooney, viola; Russell Scaife, cello; and Anna Claire Wright, violin.
• Henry Clay: Noah Cline, viola; Jasmine Gude, double bass; Harrison Inocencio, violin; and Hye Jee Kim, viola.
• Lafayette: Leila Abou-Jaoude, violin; Amber Adkins, violin; William Arnold, violin; Samantha Beach, violin; Herman Bratcher, French horn; Blakeley Burger, violin; Ruth Choate, viola; Evan Johnson, violin; Madison Jones, violin; Olivia Kramer, violin; Julian Little, viola; Matthew Mitchell, bassoon; Robby Neff, viola; Nathan Tantasook, cello; Andrew Wachal, viola; Bailey Yates, violin; and William Yi, violin.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Jin Cho, cello; Megan Guan, violin; Linda Kim, cello; Jennifer Lee, violin; Jasmine Liu, viola; David Ma, violin; Saiprasad Naidu, viola; Maxwell Qiu, violin; Hannah Wang, cello; and Linda Zhang, violin.
• Tates Creek: Eliana Shapere, viola; Kelly Sieberts, violin; Julia Taylor, bass; Stefan Vaught, snare; and Kathleen West, flute.  

All-State Concert Band

3 p.m. Feb. 6 in Whitney Hall

• Henry Clay: Andrew Collins, alto saxophone; Katie Demos, flute; and Jacob Ferguson, bassoon.
• Lafayette: Bethany Boggs, clarinet; Karlee Caswell, clarinet; Tyler Conn, French horn; Julia Crandall, flute; Clay Eggers, trumpet; Quinn Heltzel, trumpet; Evan King, tuba; Austin Lancaster, trombone; Haley Potter, oboe; Jordan Profitt, bass trombone; Zoe Sirlouis, bassoon; and Dee White, snare.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Ellen Danford, trombone; Joanna Slusarewicz, clarinet; and Olivia Zastro, clarinet.

All-State Symphonic Band

4 p.m. Feb. 6 in Whitney Hall

• Henry Clay: Luke Cave, clarinet.
• Lafayette: Hope Bennett, French horn; Carson Crovo, trombone; Britton Fugazzi, trombone;  Bailey Goff, trumpet; Victoria Hall, bassoon; Michael Haymes, tuba; Ben Henault, timpani; and Ntinyari Miriti, bassoon.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Emily Cooper, clarinet; Younjin Han, flute; Travis Sanders, tuba; David Seder, trombone; and Lucy Yang, oboe.

Jazz concert tickets may be purchased during January at (859) 626-5635 or Feb. 5 at the ballroom door. For other KMEA concert tickets, visit www.kentuckycenter.org/all-shows/kmea-2016. 

In addition, several groups from Fayette County Public Schools are among those invited to perform briefly during the professional development conference: the Henry Clay High School jazz ensemble, the Lafayette High School wind symphony, the Bryan Station High School advanced orchestra, the Edythe J. Hayes Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra, and the Jessie Clark Middle School eagle orchestra. 

For questions about FCPS bands and winds, contact Lois Wiggins; for orchestras and strings, email Nancy Campbell. 

Two of the district’s top elementary school principals have agreed to join the Fayette County Public Schools’ executive leadership team to help support other principals: Edwina Smith of Clays Mill and Heather Bell of Maxwell. “Our team keeps getting stronger,” Superintendent Manny Caulk said. “Edwina and Heather have proven that they are committed to creating learning environments where every student is valued and challenged. They built successful teams at their schools, and I know they have what it takes to support other principals working to do the same in their buildings.”

Bell has been with FCPS since 1993, having taught at Meadowthorpe, Harrison and Northern elementary schools before serving as an elementary language arts specialist. She was selected as principal at Maxwell in 2005. “I believe in Superintendent Caulk’s vision for ensuring that the students of Fayette County have the global competencies they will need in the 21^st century,” Bell said. “His vision parallels the work we’ve been doing at Maxwell Elementary, and I’m honored to offer my services and experiences from a school with a great collaborative community and strong home-school partnerships in support of our district.”

Smith has more than 26 years of experience in education. She taught at Meadow View Elementary in Hardin County, where she also served as assistant principal before joining FCPS in 1996. She has taught at Glendover Elementary, and held the professional staff assistant positions at Glendover and Russell elementaries. She was named principal at Russell in 1998 and principal at Clays Mill in 2001. “I’m very excited to be a part of the momentum that Superintendent Caulk is leading for the students in our school district,” Smith said. “The students in Fayette County deserve the absolute best educational experience we can provide, and I am humbled for the opportunity to offer my time and talents to help make that happen.”

As elementary school directors, Smith and Bell will each oversee a team of roughly a dozen principals and will be responsible for supporting their schools. They will be members of Caulk’s cabinet.

Bell and Smith will assume their duties on Jan. 25. The Professional Growth and Effectiveness System coaches at both schools will serve as acting principals for the rest of the school year. Grant Davis will be the acting principal at Clays Mill, and Michelle Grant will be the acting principal at Maxwell. The School-Based Decision Making councils at both schools will be responsible for selecting permanent replacements to start on July 1.