A trio of Morton Middle School eighth-graders swept the 2016 Unity Breakfast essay contest, whose theme was “Unity: from Rhetoric to Reality.” Richard Stinetorf, who received the $500 first prize, read his entry aloud during the Jan. 18 sold-out event honoring the life and work of the late Martin Luther King Jr. The runner-up was Caydon Voss with a $300 award, and Haleigh Kaelin got third place and $100. More than 100 students entered the essay contest, which correlates with language arts and social studies content. The competition, which is open to all Fayette County middle school students, is sponsored by the Alpha Beta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Education Foundation. For more information, contact Kenneth Jones, director of educational activities.

• In their own words: Richard | Caydon | Haleigh

Organizers of the Unity Breakfast, held in Heritage Hall West at the Lexington Center, also welcomed several students in the Reading, Writing, and Rewards Program at William Wells Brown Elementary. Third-graders Tam Davis and Mathean Cooper; fourth-graders Teayla Granville, Cierya Grey, and Nolynn Suter; and fifth-grader Mondeshia Williams assisted with this year’s candle-lighting ceremony. FCPS Superintendent Manny Caulk addressed education, while other speakers keyed on King’s themes of spiritualism (Rev. Connie Mitchell of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Paris), civil rights (Jay Box, president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System), and humanitarianism (Cathy Brandt White, product manager with the Kentucky Department of Education).

The event is sponsored by the Alpha Beta Lambda Chapter of King’s fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. Proceeds support the chapter’s community outreach programs and provide academic scholarships. For questions, email treasurer Lee Jackson.

Focusing on family engagement in 2016, the 16th District PTA will offer a comprehensive training series with a variety ways that parents/guardians can be more involved in their children’s education. All the events will be free and open to the families of Fayette County Public Schools. The series will include the Urban Family Engagement Network (UFEN) curriculum, along with shorter sessions on such topics as gifted and talented advocacy, special needs advocacy, parent/teacher conference preparation, and more.  

• Jan. 21: The first program features tips on improving communication/PTA 101, led by 1^st VP Kristin Heck Sajadi; and diversity and inclusion in PTA membership, led by 2^nd VP Rolanda Woolfork. Free lunch is provided at 11:30 a.m., and the program starts at noon in Conference Room C of the FCPS district office, 701 E. Main St.
• Feb. 6: UFEN training will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Room 210 at BCTC’s Newtown Pike campus. Meals and childcare will be provided for those who RSVP to Sajadi. This program gives attendees tools to help them become powerful advocates for their children’s educational success. It includes breakouts on knowing parents’ rights and responsibilities, navigating the school and district systems, understanding standardized tests and data, and developing effective leadership skills.
• Feb. 18: This session will cover the importance of SBDM councils, presented by Jessica Berry, and information on achievement gaps, presented by Claude Christian. Free lunch is provided at 11:30 a.m., and the program starts at noon in Conference Room C at the FCPS district office.

More sessions will be added to the FCPS online calendar as details are confirmed. If anyone needs child care in order to attend, please contact Sajadi at least 48 hours in advance.

After a fundraiser at Carter G. Woodson Academy, eighth-graders delivered a $210 check to the local Shriners Hospitals for Children to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on a day of service learning. Shriners representative Dale Wallenius thanked the young men for the school’s philanthropic efforts. They also learned about physical and occupational therapy, techniques in a motion analysis lab, and the facility’s history during a Jan. 18 tour. 

“The Shriners Hospital has been serving children for many years, and the donated money would go toward helping children in need as they make plans to move to a brand new facility near the University of Kentucky,” said social studies teacher Cynthia Shelby. 

Shelby’s and Storm Cherry’s classes had blended their love for basketball, taking informed action (TIA), and academics to host a charity event for Shriners in hopes of making a positive difference in their community. Seventh-graders spearheaded the student/faculty basketball game, which was open to those with a 3.0 GPA or better for the second quarter. As winter break approached, students were motivated to push themselves harder to achieve better grades, and the healthy competition between students and staff bolstered those relationships. 

“It is my desire that scholars view our service learning TIA projects as an enduring skill which will teach them to give back. We want them to connect with their communities and be engaged with active citizenry,” Shelby said.

Hundreds of high school students in several counties auditioned for the Kentucky Music Educators Association’s District 7 honor bands, and dozens of the selected musicians are from Fayette County Public Schools. The concert and symphonic bands’ Jan. 23 concert has been postponed because of weather; the jazz groups are scheduled to perform at 11 a.m. Jan. 30 at Henry Clay High School.

Concert band

• Bryan Station: Monica Jensen, Bb clarinet; Ethan Rushing, trumpet; Brandon McGuire, tuba.
• Henry Clay: Andrew Collins, alto saxophone; Jacob O’Donnell, alto saxophone; Jacob Ferguson, bassoon; Julia Hickey, Bb clarinet; Lexi Bensberg, Bb clarinet; Maddie Wheeler, Bb clarinet; Jakob Lowe, keyboard (mallets); Viviana Ortiz, oboe; Erika Sirrine, oboe; David Carruthers, snare; Lucas  Sandford, timpani; Cole Privott, trombone; Jordan Bell, trombone; Elyiss Dozier, trombone; Jonathan Quevedo, trumpet; Tyler Gorman, trumpet.
• Lafayette: Isaac  Bane, alto saxophone; Emily Eckert, bass clarinet; Ava Tomb, bass clarinet; Matthew Mitchell, bassoon; Abby Nolan, Bb clarinet; Emily Rampulla, Bb clarinet; Ashley Cottongim, Bb clarinet; Kate Cox, euphonium; Tyler Conn, French horn; Rachel Booth, French horn; Kaylen McCullough, flute; Katherine Wild, flute; Bethany Bromagen, flute; Katherine Allan, flute; Meredith Hinkle, flute; Angelina Pius, oboe; Casey Trowel, trombone; Emilee Warner, trumpet; Niklas Johnson, trumpet; Evan King, tuba.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Juan Gonzalez, alto sax; Jamie Bradley, bassoon; Amy Zhang, Bb clarinet; Carlie Fugate, Bb clarinet; Viridiana Sibaja, Bb clarinet; Chase Faulkner, Bb clarinet; Brian Miller, French horn; Rohan Palla, French horn; Lorraine Fay, French horn; Jack Warren, snare; Zach Kilian, snare; Clinton White, trombone; Ellen Danford, trombone; Dustin Voss, trumpet; Derby Carter, trumpet; Maddie Baseheart, trumpet; Samuel Foley, trumpet; Jacob Rutledge, tuba.
• Tates Creek: Kathleen West, flute; Jacob Francis, keyboard (mallets); Stefan Vaught, snare.

Symphonic band

• Henry Clay: Noah Beckett, baritone sax; Darrien Smithpeter, bass trombone; Luke Cave, Bb clarinet; Allison Pin, Bb clarinet; Sarah Ritter, flute; Tristan Garner, keyboard (mallets); James Gooding, snare; Reagan Cox, trumpet; Tyler Rosenkrantz, trumpet.
• Lafayette: Magaret Scripps, alto sax; Ashley James, bass clarinet; Jordan Profitt, bass trombone; Ntinyari Miriti, bassoon; Zoe SirLouis, bassoon; Victoria Hall, bassoon; Ashley Williams, Bb clarinet; Bethany Boggs, Bb clarinet; Karlee Caswell, Bb clarinet; Josh Andreatta, euphonium; Herman Bratcher, French horn; Hope Bennett, French horn; Madeline Savage, French horn; Isaac Lane, French horn; John Clark Baker, French horn; Julia Crandall, flute; Anna Sommer, flute; Shelby Grow, flute; Catherine Donson, keyboard (mallets); Haley Potter, oboe; Ethan Ward, snare; Dee White, snare; James Kries, timpani; Britton Fugazzi, trombone; Austin Booth, trombone; Austin Lancaster, trombone; Caleb Matocha, trombone; Carson Crovo, trombone; David Vest, trumpet; Bailey Goff, trumpet; Ethan Ferguson, trumpet; Quinn Heltzel, trumpet; Michael Haymes, tuba; Wyatt Tharpe, tuba.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Olivia Zastro, Bb clarinet; Emily Cooper, Bb clarinet; Joanna Slusarewicz, Bb clarinet; Younjin Han, flute; Lucy Wang, oboe.
• Tates Creek: Audra Tomme, trumpet; Logan Newby, tuba.

Jazz ensemble

• Henry Clay: Andrew Collins, alto sax; Jacob O’Donnell, tenor; Reagan Cox, trumpet; Tyler Rosenkrantz, trumpet; Jordan Bell, trombone; Lucas Sanford, vibes; Simon Long, bass; James Gooding, drums.
• Lafayette: Isaac Bane, alto; Ethan Ferguson, trumpet; Bailey Goff, trumpet; David Vest, trumpet; Carson Crovo, trombone; Britton Fugazzi, trombone; Jordan Profitt, bass trombone; Vanessa Meliksetyan, piano; Landon Feese, guitar; Tobias Holm-Hudson, drums.

Jazz band

• Bryan Station: Ethan Rushing, trumpet.
• Henry Clay: Noah Beckett, baritone sax; Elyiss Dozier, bass trombone.
• Lafayette: Seth Roney, tenor; Herman Bratcher, trumpet; Casey Trowell, trombone; Austin Lancaster, trombone; Seth Mullins, vibes; Daniel Pemberton, drums; Thomas Kikuchi, drums.
• Paul Laurence Dunbar: Juan Gonzalez, alto; Emily Cooper, piano.

KMEA’s District 7 includes 19 high schools from Fayette and nearby counties. For more information, contact Aaron Cunningham for bands and Chris Strange for instrumental jazz.

A Henry Clay High School team was the junior varsity overall runner-up Jan. 12 in the Thoroughbred Academic League’s season-ending tournament. Several students from Fayette County Public Schools ranked in the top 5, based on written assessments. (JV and varsity are ranked separately.) 

• Social Studies: 1. Karishma Srinivasan, Bryan Station JV.
• Arts & Humanities: 3. Augustine Carlson, Henry Clay JV; 3. Russell Scaife, Bryan Station varsity; 4. Elyse Blakeman, Bryan Station varsity; 5. Dara Golding, Henry Clay varsity.
• Math: 1. Joonyoung Park, Henry Clay JV; 2. Maia Taffe, Henry Clay JV; 4. Jawad Yousef, Tates Creek JV; 5. Kate Jones, Bryan Station JV.
• Language Arts: 1. Shelby Amato, Henry Clay JV; 2. Joshua Pe, Henry Clay JV; 2. Dara Golding, Henry Clay varsity; 3. Ella Helmuth, Bryan Station varsity; 5. Braeden Bowen, Henry Clay varsity.
• Science: 1. Joshua Pe, Henry Clay JV; 2. Joseph Dezarn, Henry Clay JV; 4. Stephen Johnson, Tates Creek JV; 4. Griffin Gensheimer, Tates Creek varsity.
• Composition: 3. Iveta Marinova, Tates Creek JV; 2. Braeden Bowen, Henry Clay varsity.

The FCPS teams in the nine-school league hail from Bryan Station (coached by Carlos Verdecchia), Henry Clay (James Bright), and Tates Creek (Greshen Willis) high schools. For more information, contact league commissioner Lisa Honaker.

Community feedback on the district’s annual Wellness Report Card will be received during a one-hour public forum Jan. 25 prior to the school board’s monthly action meeting. The forum starts at 4 p.m. in Conference Room C at FCPS main offices, 701 E. Main St. Guests must sign in to speak.

A draft of the report, which reviews nutrition and physical activity education across Fayette County Public Schools, was presented as information at the Nov. 23 school board meeting. Community input was received through Dec. 14, and the final report was shared at the school board’s Jan. 11 planning meeting.

• Wellness Report Card
• School activity summaries: elementary | middle | high

Fayette County Public Schools has produced 11 of Kentucky’s 90 seniors named as 2016 candidates in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing high school students’ accomplishments. Congratulations to these candidates:

• Henry Clay High School: Kayla Beebout, and Eliza Jane Schaeffer;
• Lafayette High School: Annaliese McFarlane;
• Paul Laurence Dunbar High: Jacob Cottrell, Thomas Huang, Dasha Kolyaskina, Jasmine Liu, Joanna Slusarewicz, Abigail Woolums, Kathleen Yang, and Runyang Zhang.

Some 4,000 candidates include students from each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, and from U.S. families living abroad. About 800 semifinalists will be announced in mid-April, and as many as 161 winners in early May. The majority of Presidential Scholars are selected on the basis of broad academic achievement. About 20 additional students are chosen for academic and artistic accomplishments in the visual arts, the performing arts, or creative writing. Another 20 are picked based on outstanding scholarship and achievement in career and technical education fields.

In June, the scholars will network with government leaders, educators, authors, musicians, scientists and others in Washington, D.C., as they discuss global issues, volunteer for service projects, attend recitals and receptions, and tour museums and monuments. Each student will also receive a Presidential Scholar Medallion.

The Fayette County Public Schools division called “It’s About Sustainability” will serve as a charter member of the nation’s first Green Schools Alliance District Collaborative, which will harness the collective power of schools to support greener, more efficient environmental solutions. 

The Green Schools Alliance (GSA), an international organization of sustainable schools, announced Jan. 25 that the collaborative is composed of 21 U.S. school districts – eight of which are among the 12 largest in the country. Collectively, these districts affect the lives of 3.6 million children in 5,726 schools with more than 550 million square feet of building area. These districts will build and share best practices, leverage their combined purchasing power to increase access to sustainable alternatives, promote market transformation, and influence policy decisions. They will also work together to accelerate hands-on sustainability action in local school communities and at the national level. The collaborative believes that every child has a right to learn, engage, and play in a healthy and sustainable environment where every person is aware of and accountable for their impact. 

“It’s About Sustainability’s vision is that FCPS will be a global leader in the three pillars of sustainability: environmental literacy, energy efficiency, and student wellness,” said Tresine Logsdon, energy and sustainability curriculum coordinator for FCPS. “Our team looks forward to reaching beyond our state lines to share best practices and innovative ideas. Our students are equipped, passionate, and well-positioned to model grassroots sustainability improvements on their campuses, and this collaborative will help leverage that capacity and benchmark our achievements against great work happening across the nation.” 

It’s About Sustainability is a two-pronged approach to improving energy and sustainability in Lexington through the student-driven, project-based program E=USE2 (Education leads to Understanding Sustainability, Energy and the Environment) and through practical, data-driven operational and maintenance strategies. In the Green Schools Alliance, It’s About Sustainability has committed to taking action on all three tracks: reducing climate and ecological impact, educating and engaging the community, and connecting students to nature. FCPS is especially excited to work within the GSA to develop programs that directly impact students, including project-based STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) initiatives and online youth leadership training programs for middle and high school students.

Later in 2016, FCPS looks forward to connecting the Green Schools Alliance’s new online community to its sustainability coordinators, empowering peer-to-peer networking and sharing best practices. The new community will enable students and school professionals to search for resources to make their school more sustainable and to better learn the leadership skills to affect that change. The second phase of the online platform will include a Web-based measurement and reporting platform/dashboard that will improve data collection and the reporting of energy and resource efficiencies and other sustainability programs. The platform’s quantitative approach will enable districts to share energy, water, and waste information with their schools to encourage conservation behavior.

For more information about these efforts in FCPS, visit http://www.sustainability.fcps.net/.

The first registration window for the 2016-2017 academic year in Fayette County Public Schools runs Feb. 2-25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays, plus 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 9. (If schools are closed because of bad weather, then registration is canceled as well.) Any child who turns 5 on or before Oct. 1 may start full-day kindergarten this fall. Kentucky law requires youth between 6 and 18 years old to attend school.

To enroll a kindergartner or other first-time student in FCPS, families should go to the school their neighborhood is assigned to and fill out a registration packet. To determine which school, use the online street directory or call (859) 381-4122 for assistance. For a list of the required paperwork and documentation and to download health forms, visit www.fcps.net/registration. 

The second registration window is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays April 5-28, plus 5 to 7 p.m. on April 12. Registration for grades K-5 continues June 6-7 and for grades K-12 from July 26 through Aug. 10 (first day of school).

For registration questions, please call the Pupil Personnel office at (859) 381-4130. For resources to help young children transition to school, call the kindergarten office at (859) 381-4307.

Also, enrollment for next year’s Fayette County Preschool Program opens in late April. Families may apply if their child turns 4 on or before Aug. 1 and is income-eligible. Three- and 4-year-olds who have a diagnosed special need may also qualify; call (859) 381-4105 for details.  

En Espanol:

• Información de matrícula para kindergarten

Resources

• www.fcps.net/enrollment   
• www.fcps.net/schools

Beaumont, Hayes, and Winburn middle schools led their respective fields in the 2016 Governor’s Cup district-level contests in late January. The Governor’s Cup, which was founded in 1986 to promote classroom achievement, is Kentucky’s premier academic competition. A contest consists of five written assessment exams, composition (on-demand writing), future problem-solving, and quick recall (quiz bowl). 

FCPS team results in District 59

• Overall: 1^st Beaumont; 2^nd Morton; 4^th Jessie Clark.
• Future problem-solving: 1^st Beaumont; 2^nd Morton.
• Quick recall: 1^st Beaumont; 2^nd Morton; 3^rd Jessie Clark.

District 58

• Overall: 1^st Edythe J. Hayes; 4^th Southern.
• Quick recall: 2^nd Southern; 4^th Hayes.

District 57

• Overall: 1^st Winburn; 2^nd Tates Creek; 4^th Bryan Station.
• Future problem-solving: 1^st Winburn.
• Quick recall: 1^st Winburn; 2^nd Tates Creek; 4^th Bryan Station.

Complete details and students’ scores: www.kaac.com/results

The middle grades and high school divisions of Governor’s Cup include district, regional, and state competition. Elementary students participate only in district and regional contests. This year’s middle school regional concludes Feb. 13, and the state finals are March 19-21 in Louisville.

Two teams from SCAPA at Bluegrass have 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 air/climate division, the “Mighty Meat Minimizers” and the “No Drive-Thru Crew” each secured a $10,000 prize for their team and their school. Both groups are guided by science teacher Ashlie Beals Arkwright.

The Mighty Meat Minimizers include Aedon Gunn, Shannon James, Angie Xiao, Nolan Gunn, Katherine Cherry, Jacqueline Mullins, and Abigail Fister. Concerned about the environmental impacts associated with meat consumption, they found that 51 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to animal agriculture, according to PETA. To target this issue, the team used social media to encourage SCAPA families and community residents to eat two or more meatless meals per week. They also presented their project at Julius Marks Elementary’s Science Night, hosted a SCAPA Night at Alfalfa’s Restaurant, and published an online meatless cookbook.

The No Drive-Thru Crew includes Helena Schatzki, Morgan Buckner, Vicky Chen, Abigail Ratliff, Niki Maleki, Samantha Briggs, and Mary Beth Matocha. They learned that, according to CNN, people waste enough gasoline to drive half a mile every minute that their cars are idling. This team’s mission was to urge people to forgo a restaurant’s drive-thru and instead park their cars and order inside, resulting in reduced carbon emissions and improved air quality. The students spread the word about their initiative through social media, presented their project at Julius Marks Elementary’s Science Night, and partnered with Kentucky’s Division for Air Quality.

Earlier, a team from Tates Creek High School, “Let’s Go Batty,” advanced out of the land/water division to the Final Challenge, which 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.  

Five talented FCPS students received top honors in violin and piano competitions sponsored by the Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA) and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Earning kudos during the Oct. 24-25 state conference at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green were: 

• William Auer, a sixth-grader from SCAPA at Bluegrass, first place in junior high violin;
• Alexander Auer, a sixth-grader from SCAPA at Bluegrass, second place in junior high violin;
• Amy Wang, a junior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, first place in high school piano; 
• Andy Du, a freshman at Dunbar, second place in high school piano; and  
• Erik Han, a freshman at Dunbar, second place in junior high piano. 

William and Amy represented Kentucky in the MTNA’s nine-state Southern Division contests Jan. 15-18 in Tampa, Fla., where Amy received honorable mention in the senior high piano division. The national finalists compete in San Antonio, Texas, in April.

Founded in 1876, MTNA is the oldest professional music association in the United States. The nonprofit organization is composed of some 24,000 independent and collegiate music instructors. Its statewide competitions are considered primarily educational, while the regional and national levels showcase outstanding performance and honor significant pedagogical achievement.

For questions, contact May L. Man of the Bluegrass Area Music Teachers Association at (859) 312-9366.

Amir Abou-Jaoude, a senior at Henry Clay High School, repeated as winner of the Lexington League of Women Voters’ essay contest and received $250 for his efforts. Second place and $150 went to Samuel Clark, a Henry Clay freshman. Waleed Ibrahim, a senior at Lafayette High School, received the special recognition for English Language Learners and a $100 award designated for students facing the dual challenge of content and writing in a second language. Honorariums also went to their mentor teachers: Scott Brown at Henry Clay and Tim Mitsumori at Lafayette. 

This year’s contest encouraged students to research an issue of public policy they were concerned about and present their position as a persuasive essay, organizing facts and data to support their stand. Amir tackled racism on college campuses, addressing the subject as “An American Problem,” and Samuel focused on forced labor in the production of goods sold by large corporations with “Slavery in America Today.” Meanwhile, Waleed explained the dangers of an illegal synthetic drug in “Let’s Make a Stop to Flakka.” 

“We were extremely pleased with the student participation and the quality of work,” said contest committee member Judy Johnson.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School topped its field in the 2016 Governor’s Cup district-level contests, which wrapped up Jan. 30. The Governor’s Cup, which was founded in 1986 to promote classroom achievement, is Kentucky’s premier academic competition. A contest consists of five written assessment exams, composition (on-demand writing), future problem-solving and quick recall (quiz bowl). 

FCPS team results in District 44

• Overall: 1^st Paul Laurence Dunbar; 4^th Tates Creek
• Future problem-solving: 1^st Paul Laurence Dunbar; 2^nd Tates Creek
• Quick recall: 1^st Paul Laurence Dunbar; 4^th Tates Creek

District 43

• Overall: 2^nd Henry Clay, 3^rd Bryan Station, 4^th Lafayette
• Quick recall: 2^nd Henry Clay, 3^rd Bryan Station, 4^th Lafayette

Complete details and students’ scores: www.kaac.com/results

The middle grades and high school divisions of Governor’s Cup include district, regional, and state competition. Elementary students participate only in district and regional contests. This year’s high school regional concludes Feb. 20, and the state finals are March 19-21 in Louisville.

Students in the Class of 2016 in Fayette County Public Schools are invited to apply for the 16^th District PTA scholarships, which help deserving young people continue their education. The awards are based on financial need, academic achievement, and contributions to the community through extracurricular activities. Recent years’ awards have been $1,000; the minimum amount is $500.

A scholarship goes to one senior at each of the five high schools. (Students in other academic programs may apply through their home school.) An additional scholarship is earmarked for a senior with special needs. The winners will be notified this spring and congratulated at May’s districtwide PTA luncheon.

• Instructions
• Apply online (Deadline: March 15)

For technical questions, email Kristen Tidwell with the Blue Grass Community Foundation or call (859) 721-2347.

This is the 23^rd consecutive year that the 16^th District PTA has provided college scholarships. To contribute, contact past president Kathy Smiley.

Several students from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School brought home first-place honors from the 75^th annual Kentucky Beta Club Convention, which ran Jan. 24-26 in Louisville. Kudos go out to Cici Mao in Math Division I, Jennifer Lee in Onsite Pencil Drawing, Thirushan Wignakumar in Science Division II, and David Ma in Spanish Division I. Also, the Dunbar team was runner-up in Quiz Bowl with Thirushan, Zsombor Gal, Erin Markel, and Zainab Kahloon; and placed third in Sweepstakes.

In other results from FCPS, Ashton Brown of Lafayette High School placed third in French. 

National Beta Club promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, service and leadership. The 2016 national senior convention is slated for June 27-30 in New Orleans.

Musicians from Beaumont Middle School and SCAPA at Bluegrass performed in the KMEA District 7 Middle School Honor Band concert last month at Kentucky State University in Frankfort. More than 500 students had auditioned, and some 200 were accepted.

The Beaumont performers included eighth-graders Olivia Doyle, flute; Matthew Goodrich, clarinet; and Lynne Grace Wooden, flute; and seventh-graders Joey Hollenack, clarinet; Anna Keplinger, French horn; Isabella Lin, clarinet; Walker Prather, percussion; Logan Shelton, trombone; Brandon Wang, clarinet; and Chris Wang, French horn.

The SCAPA group included eighth-graders Abby Denison, baritone; Shannon James, flute; Eli Lane, trombone; Taylor Moorehead, clarinet; Sarah Perry, oboe; Toby Rasmussen, percussion; Delaney Rayens, bassoon; and Eleanor Scripps, clarinet; and seventh-graders Ellie Adams, flute; Jake Alford, tuba; Alden Beers, trumpet; Karson Caswell, percussion; Rebecca Daniel, trombone; Meaghan Haddix, flute; Evie Pfeil, French horn; Jinju Santalucia, trumpet; Wilson Spangler, saxophone; Ryanne Svec, flute; and Alex Thibault, clarinet. 

For more about the Kentucky Music Educators Association, visit www.kmea.org.

Maggie Cook-Allen, an MSTC junior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, is Kentucky’s winner in the eighth annual Doodle 4 Google art contest and advances to the national competition. The eventual winner will receive a $30,000 academic scholarship, a $50,000 technology grant to their current school, a trip to Google headquarters in California with a teacher of their choice, a Chromebook, and an Android tablet. 

In redesigning Google’s homepage logo, K-12 students worked off the 2016 theme “What makes me ... me?” – illustrating what they are passionate about, what gets them excited, or what they dream about. “This year I really enjoyed calculus and also enjoy art a lot, so I decided to portray math as an amusement park,” said Maggie, who takes Advanced Honors Art and participates in Dunbar’s Math, Science and Technology Center, a gifted-and-talented program. “It took me a couple of weeks, and I did three or four drafts before the final piece. It turned out really great,” she said of her logo. “This fits the theme because I see math as a very fun thing. I am also an avid artist. This design shows both sides of me. It’s cool to show the world that math and art can work together.” 

The Dunbar announcement coincided with the kickoff of nationwide online voting, which runs through Feb. 22. Google, which initially received more than 100,000 entries, will name the winner on March 21 as their artwork goes live on google.com for a day. 

Vote now

Henry Clay High School’s wrestling team won eight of 14 final matches to earn team honors in the 2016 Fayette County championships on Feb. 6. Tates Creek High was runner-up in the city meet, followed by Lafayette, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Bryan Station High.

Weight class winners:

• 106 — Bradley Miller, Henry Clay
• 113 — Brandon Miller, Henry Clay
• 120 — Tyler Storck, Henry Clay
• 126 — Derek Soper, Bryan Station
• 132 — Justin Torgerson, Lafayette
• 138 — Brady Gibson, Tates Creek
• 145 — Odeh Eqal, Tates Creek
• 152 — Jacob Dawson, Lafayette
• 160 — Evan Cannon, Henry Clay
• 170 — Lucas Soard, Henry Clay
• 182 — Blake Denny, Henry Clay
• 195 — Ray Karl-Irving, Henry Clay
• 220 — Will Preston, Henry Clay
• 285 — Landon Young, Lafayette

Brennan Eddy, a fifth-grader at Meadowthorpe Elementary, was runner-up in the Fayette County Spelling Bee on Feb. 4 at the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Office. Brennan, who received a medallion and a cash prize, competed against 65 other youths from public, private, parochial, and home schools. 

Fayette County Farm Bureau sponsors the countywide spelling bee for students in grades 4-8. The winner advances to the state contest sponsored by Ford Motor Co. and the Kentucky Derby Festival. For questions about the county bee, call Carrie McIntosh at (859) 253-0023.