Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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The Clay Raiders 4-H group gathered together last week to offer a hand in cleaning up Clay Central/Everly's Outdoor Learning Center. The club helped lay new mulch, weeded the gardens and picked up debris and litter. The work will spruce up the area for the summer months ahead. Raiders enjoyed beautiful weather and a reward of strawberry shortcake for their cleanup efforts....
Last week closed the book on the 2020-2021 school year at Clay Central/Everly. The year was marked with numerous hurdles, dominated primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic rules and regulations. The district faced each with thoughtfulness and awareness, knowing that the supreme goal was safety and trying to keep kids in classrooms throughout the entire year. The district achieved that goal and did so with few repercussions. The students and staff alike stayed as safe and healthy as one could during...
It was a bittersweet day at Clay Central/Everly Elementary last Friday, as the sixth grade class walked the halls for the final time. Pictured front row, from left to right: Andrew Schaffner, Kloe Wothuis, Kaci Campbell, Blake Essing and Keegan Kracht. Back row: Teacher Hannah Geer, Isabella Joenks, Kalee Raddatz, Regan Meyer, Dylan Johnson and William Holmberg....
The halls of Clay Central/Everly Elementary last Thursday weren't just echoing in celebration of sixth graders moving onward to future middle schools, they were also filled with excitement at the arrival of a few senior graduates that used to call CC/E their home. Former Mavericks Emma Larson, Chloe Kahl, Chance Noll, Jay Joenks and EmmaKay McClain gathered together for the annual graduation walk down the elementary hallways. With children lining the lockers, the graduates donned their caps and...
Clay Central/Everly Elementary was recently named a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Banner Plus Winner for the 2019-2020 school year. This honor was given by the Iowa Department of Education to mark the work CC/E has done in creating a safe and supportive environment that enables students to maximize their social, emotional and academic successes. Accepting this award was CC/E's counselor and internal PBIS coach Marlana Tewes. Tewes helped to start the PBIS program after...
The fifth and sixth grade students at Clay Central/Everly Elementary are learning new skills to prepare for business life in the real world with their recent "CCE Town" project. Students have been working hard for many weeks readying their buildings and preparing their stores. "Business owners" sold numerous items like rings, flowers, books, paper planes and baked goods. Children learned proper communication and customer service, offensive and defensive skills in the supply and demand...
If you live in the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school district, you've most likely heard of well-known local tumbling instructor Danette Block. Block has a vast background in the tumbling and dance scene. She started under Ocheyedan instructor Bernie Willadsen in the third grade and eventually became a classroom assistant and coach under Willadsen in high school. The longtime instructor was asked to teach in Hartley but wasn't interested in the position, so she asked Block if she'd like to do it....
Mother's Day at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Royal has a longstanding tradition that helps brighten the holiday by bringing a bit of spring into pews – hats. Every Mother's Day the congregation's women, children and some men, don festive hats to the Mother's Day service. Whether the pews are filled with hats or the year brings a sparse showing, these hats brighten the day by bringing a freshness of spirit and joy to the service. This year there were beach hats, work hats, traditional M...
Every year, second graders at Clay Central/Everly embark on a field trip to Omaha's famous Henry Doorly Zoo. Unfortunately in 2020, the class was caught in the undertow of COVID-19 closures and was unable to attend their annual zoo day. Luckily, last Friday the zoo was open this year and classes were able to proceed with field trip plans. CC/E took both the second graders and third graders (last year's second grade class that was unable to go) on the fun field trip adventure. Staff split the...
It has been more than a year since parents have been allowed within the school walls due to COVID-19 regulations and concerns. Last Thursday broke that invisible barrier, allowing families into the Royal gym for Clay Central/Everly's first in-person concert. CC/E Elementary's student body gathered center-gym to sing classic campfire favorites in their Spring Fling concert entitled "A-Camping We Will Go!" The program started with the sixth grade band performing a collection of familiar tunes....
Last Sunday was another step in the "normal" direction as Bethlehem Lutheran's King's Kamp children gathered for their first in-church program in more than a year. The morning may have been snow-covered and frigid, but the congregation was warm as the program, entitled "A Whale of a Tale," took the congregation to the depths of the sea. Children were clad in shorts, T-shirts and bare feet as they danced and sang about how God's love had them "diving deeper" into their faith. The King's Kamp...
Each year, National Public School Volunteer Week allows schools and families to honor the powerful and purposeful contributions that parents, staff and businesses provide to support student success. This year's observance runs April 19-23. Clay Central/Everly has numerous projects and programs that require volunteer assistance like clean up of the Nature Learning Center, pop can drive and annual Maverick Fish Fry. Volunteer teams come together for each of these projects to support one central ca...
Students in grades 4-6, along with Clay Central/Everly teachers and staff, were given the opportunity to participate in an NCAA bracket challenge during the month of March. Each participant completed an NCAA men's basketball tournament bracket and were given points based on their correct selections for every round. Each round of the tournament was worth more points, with the championship game offering the highest point total. "Staff and students enjoyed competing against one another, checking...
Children throughout the area gathered last Saturday for their annual meet-and-greet with the famous Royal Easter Bunny. There were fewer tears than past years when kids gazed upon the life-sized rabbit's giant wave and big-eyed smile. Saturday's event saw a greater attendance than previous years – nearly 35 children showed up. Participants received a goody bag filled with candy, snacks and toys along with juice boxes to-go. Rain put a damper on the original outdoor plans, so the party was m...
Clay Central/Everly fifth grade teacher Joan Kimball was recently honored as February's McTeacher of the Month. McDonald's has been promoting positive, nurturing teachers for nearly a decade now, in hopes to give teachers credit where it is due. Kimball was nominated by a parent for going above and beyond in her educational practices at CC/E. Beyond being awarded a distinguished plaque, she will also receive one free McCafe drink per week for an entire year and was given $100 to utilize for her...
Clay Central/Everly Elementary partnered with the American Heart Association to throw a fundraiser to help children with heart issues as well as CC/E's new elementary school playground. In just a few short weeks the students surpassed their goal, generating $1,500 for the fundraiser. Students were given an individual target of $200. Those that hit this mark received the supreme prize of pieing their P.E. teacher, Ben Edmundson, in the face. Four students met their individual objectives and gave...
When taking a stroll down Spencer's Grand Avenue, pedestrians will find it better than ever with new businesses moving into vacant buildings, sidewalks dressed in beautiful displays and most noticeable at night, the rooftop lights. Atop every building on Spencer's Grand Avenue there are newly adorned color-changing lights. The huge project was taken on by Spencer Main Street with support from the City of Spencer and numerous Spencer businesses. Spencer Main Street's Annual Meeting was held...
Clay Central/Everly knows a thing or two about adapting to the times and rolling with the punches, be it due to class sizes, administrative changes or a pandemic. The closing of the 7-12 grade building caused the former Coaches Fish Fry to take on a new name, switching to the Clay Central/Everly School Fish Fry. Due to lingering COVID-19 concerns this year, the school yet again shape-shifted the annual fundraiser into a drive-thru event. Typically, the fish fry is a large affair with games,...
Last week, Clay Central/Everly Elementary participated in Read Across America Day 2021. Students discovered truth in Dr. Seuss' literature such as, "You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book." During the month of February, CC/E PK-6 grade students logged all books read at home and at school. For every book completed the students put a heart on the reading wall next to their name and the name of the book read. CC/E librarian Pati Lindsey placed 40 Seuss...
Clay Central/Everly Elementary students celebrated Random Act of Kindness Week with a guidance class project. After reading the book The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth, the classes discussed how they can each help others in their communities and every day lives. "We brainstormed things we have done and things we could do in the future," said guidance counselor Marlana Tewes. "Each student then received a quilt square to use their artistic talents in showing themselves doing a random act of...
Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Royal hosted its annual third grade Bible dedication service last Sunday. The church's Milestone Ministry team, whose desire is to highlight church members Christian milestones, gave each third grader a Bible of their very own. Third graders who were celebrated in the dedication were Kate Holtz and Hallie Fletcher. Milestone Ministry spoke on the importance of having the word of God at their fingertips to learn and grow from, knowing that He is always there. Family...
Valentine's Day is typically a reason for celebration, whether that means hitting the town with your special someone or highlighting love in all its beautiful meaning. However, subzero temps and sparse area attractions this year made it hard to choose anything other than a delicious meal out to commemorate another Valentine's Day in the books. The Great Hall of Royal saw the need for something new and fun, so they hit the ground running with their first ever Valentine's Date Night: Wine & Dine...
Clay Central/Everly Elementary recently named Star Students for the month of January. They included William Holmberg, sixth grade; Kaeley Benson, fifth grade; Khloe Combes, fourth grade; Hallie Fletcher, third grade; Emily Trierweiler, second grade; Ariana Dow, first grade; and Emerix Johnson, kindergarten. At the end of each month a student from each class is chosen to be highlighted for their exemplary behavior, caring nature and overall positive attitude in and out of the classroom. Students...
The pandemic has everyone reassessing what is truly important. The same goes for teachers and faculty faced with instructing students dealing with social and emotional imbalances that can't be ignored. Clay Central/Everly saw the writing on the wall when schools were promptly shuttered last spring. Due to this change in learning and learning environments coupled with the palpable discord within our nation and everyday lives, it has become more important than ever for faculty to understand what...
Editor's note: This piece originally ran in the November 14, 2019 edition of the Sentinel-News. Marilyn Meyer died on Jan. 31, 2021, at the age of 89. Have you ever spoken with someone and a cascade of beautiful memories fills your mind as they speak? I was given strict orders to not fluff up this article, but I find that hard to do when it is in regard to someone I, and so many of us, cherish so much: My first-grade teacher, Mrs. Meyer. **** Born in 1931 at Lord Lister Hospital in Omaha,...
