District, Community ConneCt SOUTHWEST ELEM. MUSIC GROUPS PERFORM

Lots of wonderful things have been happening in the music room at Southwest Elementary. There were 111 third and fourth graders who auditioned for the elementary choir, Southwest Singers. Fifty students were selected and have been meeting each Wednesday after school to rehearse and prepare the music performed at the Thanksgiving Feast that was held on Thursday, Nov. 17. Students did an outstanding job and even enjoyed a few minutes of visiting with the guests. The choir led an old-fashioned sing-along at Pancakes with Santa and even performed a few Christmas songs at the lighting ceremony in the city park. Southwest Singers will resume on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The choir will perform a spring concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Sellers Performing Arts Center and it is open to the public.

The third graders had a wonderful Thanksgiving concert back on Thursday, Nov. 10. They performed Thanksgiving songs as well a patriotic piece entitled, “Thankful for the U.S.A.,” which was a huge crowd-pleaser.

The fourth grade students held their Christmas concert on Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Sellers Performing Arts Center. They had guest guitarist Stephen Jaremko and their own dancing Santa, Preslee Sullard! Future performance dates and times are included in the “Upcoming Events at Southwest” coverage on pg. 3. More information will be sent home to parents as the dates approach.

“My freshman year, I remember walking the hallway to my next class period and seeing all of the smiling faces from the senior citizens who attended this meal. I wondered what this wonderful get together was all about, and I also wondered how I could get myself a plate of this delicious food. Unfortunately, after that day we were unable to have this special meal for a couple of years. The senior citizens counted on it and looked forward to it for so long. I remember my sophomore and junior year, when a couple of guests came to the door of the high school expecting this wonderful meal, not knowing that unfortunate events kept it from occurring. Luckily, now that I am a senior, we were able to put on this spectacular occasion. I, a National Honors Society member myself, had all of my peers special to our group help in celebration to set up the tables, serve our senior citizens, and clean up all with care. I can speak for our group when saying that it was a very special experience, and although it was tedious, hard work, we had a blast. Although the pumpkin pie looked amazing, the decorations were very festive, and our meal attendees were so kind, I would have to say that my favorite part of the entire event was the Southwest Singers. Hearing their lovely voices would have brought someone to tears. I was in Southwest Singers myself when I was in elementary school, and one of my fondest memories is when we would all show up to the first day of rehearsal. I didn’t know what to expect, but when our choir director at the time had us all sing a note, I was amazed that we were making such a glorious sound. It was goosebump worthy. I am always so amazed by what our school district is able to put on, and it couldn’t be done without every single one of us.”

“I have seen all of the amazing efforts that Cardinals in Action has been able to put on over the years. I have had the lucky opportunity to play this very important role in this group for all four years of high school. What we value most, is making a better atmosphere for our school and community by creating a drug- and alcohol-free environment, combined with an emphasis on the importance of mental health to the best of our ability. We have large group meetings once a month, and this is when we decide what we believe the most important problem is to begin tackling. There are certain addictions that occur that are hard to stop, but we do our best.

When it comes to fentanyl, we have to take a different approach. This is an addiction that we need to work very hard so that it doesn’t ever occur in the first place. Our group met with the Clay County Sheriff’s Department, and our Tri-County Mental Health representatives to get more information on this topic. This was enlightening for most of us, seeing how we didn’t know very much about this topic at all beforehand. We learned how a very, very small dosage can kill fast and easily, and how most of the people who take fentanyl have absolutely no idea they’re even taking it. Fentanyl can be in a pill, inside a vape, laced in gummies, and so much more. This is terrifying. That is why we feel it is so important to educate our peers on this drug so that they can understand what they’re up against. Our group is coming up with some amazing, fun, and interactive campaign ideas to get our school involved so that this can be used for the best. We are so excited to go about this campaign, with the knowledge that this could be one of the most important things we’ve ever done.

We are also proud that our school district invited the Clay County Sheriff’s Department to hold a forum that provided information to all community members who wanted to attend. We had close to 100 in attendance and really showed how much our community cares about these important topics!” Photo by

Daniel Petet

Honoring Veterans With Breakfast And Assembly

The 2022 Veteran’s Day breakfast and assembly was a combined effort with organization from the middle school and high school administration and staff. The high school student council members greeted the veterans and ushered them, along with their spouses, to the high school commons for breakfast. Near the completion of breakfast Amanda Covey, 5-12 vocal music teacher, led her middle school and high school choir with patriotic songs honoring the veterans. At the completion of breakfast, the honored guests made their way to the high school gymnasium for an assembly where the middle and high school students joined them. Veterans, students, and other guests were welcomed with opening remarks by Michael Stephenson, the district superintendent, along with the introduction of the senior class president, Mason Wibbenmeyer, to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. The commander of the local VFW, Jeff Bye, then read the description for the POW/MIA presentation table followed by a moving speech from school board vice president Jason Thummel, reminding all in attendance of the sacrifices and freedoms that our country’s veterans have given to us. The assembly continued with the presentation of the middle school Patriot Pen winner, Destiny Dreesen, seventh grader, and the high school Voice of Democracy winner, sophomore Joelle Barker. Both students read their award-winning speeches followed by the high school band performing the “United States Medley.” In closing, Joe Koeberl, eighth social studies teacher, and middle school student council sponsor, called roll for presentation of individual certificates. Dezarae Conkin, junior, played the bugle call, “Taps,” while a moment of silence was observed. The retiring of the colors command was given, bringing the assembly to a conclusion.

FCCLA MEMBERS COMPETE, EDUCATE AND SERVE AT THE SAME TIME

MIDDLE SCHOOL — Students Taking Action with Recognition (STAR) Events are competitive events in which FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) members compete at the regional and state levels and are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter projects, leadership skills, and career preparation. There are more than 30 STAR Events students can choose to compete in, all of which recognize participants who demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and abilities to actively identify an issue concerning families, careers, or communities, research the topic, and develop and implement a project to advocate for positive change.

Destiny Dreesen, Alison Koeberl, and Grayson Crawford, all seventh graders from LMS, are competing in the Chapter Service Project Portfolio. For their project, they collected donations for a pet shelter. The winning class, Chrissy Nutter’s fifth grade science class, received a breakfast. Next, they arranged a Pet Adoption at the Lawson Community Center on Saturday, Nov. 5. Seventh graders Ella Ripley, Josie Holman, and Mariah Jones are competing in Focus on Children. For their project, they arranged to talk to each of the third grade classes at SW Elementary about the types of bullying and how to stand up to bullies. Each student was given a key chain with their slogan: Stand Up Speak Out. Finally, they made a bulletin board to reinforce their presentation.

Caitlyn Cline and Kaydence Hyatt, seventh graders, are competing in National Programs in Action FACTS (Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety). For their project, they prepared a presentation and talked to each of the fifth grade classes about road safety. They also arranged for their dads, Excelsior Springs police officers, to bring a police car and talk about traffic safety. Finally, they made a bulletin board to reinforce each of the points from their presentation.

HIGH SCHOOL — Sophomores Kadance James, and Allison Hochwender are competing in Chapter Service Project Display. For their project, they raised money for New Hope Missions in Haiti. The girls did a week and a half long coin drive at all three Lawson Schools, as well as a Lawson basketball game, Lawson Baptist Church, and Vibbard Christian Union. Between all of the generous donations, the girls raised a total of $2,084.51. Photos by Sharon Embrey & Katie Martin