Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
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Every month Clay Central/Everly teachers determine which of their students is best modeling the district's vision and mission statements. "CC/E creates a learning environment that challenges all students to be lifelong learners," state the guidelines. "Being READY: Creating personalized high levels of learning. RESPECTFUL: Cultivating a safe, supportive and collaborative environment. Finally, being RESPONSIBLE: Engaging and challenging all students." "They are students who have been good role...
Clay Central/Everly fifth grade teacher Joan Kimball brought to life the Nolen and Buehner story Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm for her class and Kindergarten students last week. Kimball read the story to the children about Harvey's unique farm where he planted balloons. Following the story, students ventured to the Nature Learning Center where they discovered balloons planted all around. Students were able to pick and take home a balloon....
Heidi Vasher's passion for teaching has always been steered by a love of one-on-one, in-class work with students. Vasher, Clay Central/Everly's new director of student services, enjoys watching students grow emotionally and academically. It's one of the main reasons she pursued a career in education, which has led her to work with several schools throughout the region. "For the past 12 years, I have been working as a Learning & Leadership Team Member, Special Education and Literacy Consultant...
Clay Central/Everly preschool students have been waiting as patiently as possible for their classroom chrysalis to turn into butterflies. Last week the students' anxiousness turned to joy as butterflies emerged from their temporary homes. Preschool parents and guardians were invited to join the class Friday as they released their new butterflies into the Nature Learning Center to be free and start their annual migration. Pictured here, preschoolers could barely contain their excitement as they...
Clay Central/Everly students were recently treated to an afternoon outing to the Maverick ball fields and track last week. K-6 grade students earned this outing by displaying positive behaviors during the month of September. The children enjoyed playing numerous games including bags, baseball, kickball, chalk art and more on their awarded adventure....
This week marks the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) 98th year of publicly observing Fire Prevention Week. President Calvin Coolidge declared Fire Prevention Week a national observance in 1925, which gives it the title of the longest-running public health observance in the United States. The week entails teachers, adults and children learning how to stay safe in situations involving a fire. The role of firefighters in communities is of obvious importance to all. This week the local...
Kevin Wood has held a plethora of positions, all working towards the one he has today. He previously taught at Rabiner Treatment Center for one year and then taught special education at Manson Northwest Webster for a decade before taking over as the 7-12 principal for seven years. Wood was steered in CC/E's direction via an operational sharing opportunity, as he also holds the title of superintendent at Sioux Central. "I am most excited to lead and network with great educators," he said. "I...
The Clay Central/Everly Music Boosters recently purchased a new instrument to adorn the Nature Learning Center lot. The Akambira is an instrument derived from the African xylophone that allows children to play the C major pentatonic scale. This weather-resistant device will add to the Nature Learning Center instrument line up, allowing elementary students the opportunity to make music in the great outdoors. CC/E encourages learning in many forms of creative play, including the use of musical...
Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Royal will once again be welcoming children in preschool through sixth grade for their Wednesday afterschool "King's Kamp" program starting Oct. 7. This fun program highlighting Christian education will run from 3:30-5 p.m., with the core curriculum and heart of the program engaging at 4 p.m., allowing out-of-town children plenty of time to arrive. All children of the Everly, Royal and surrounding area communities are welcome to participate. Registration paperwork is...
Clay Central/Everly may no longer celebrate Homecoming in the traditional sense, but luckily it has a former student who can share her crown. Emma Larson, of Royal, used to wear the Red and Gold cheering the Mavericks on to victory, but those colors have been replaced with the burgundy and gray at Okoboji High School. Replaced is a strong word – she may now proudly wear the Pioneer colors; however, Red and Gold are the colors that helped raise her. The second-year transfer said the switch to M...
The Clay County Fair may have been canceled, but that didn't stop the county's 4-H and FFA youth from showing up in full force to the barns. Participants, families, judges and volunteers alike came together to scoop pens, clean alleys and promote an event that may have been different from the fair, but still possessed many of the same qualities and stirred the same feelings that come with it. The show must go on and the Clay County Exclusive proved that when there is a will, there's a...
Thursday presented itself as a fun day for Clay Central/Everly Elementary students thanks to a visit from Clay County Conservation's Naturalist Brianne Blom. Classes went outside to be briefed on various topics. Second and third graders learned about three different types of rocks before venturing to the Nature Learning Center for a rock hunt. Preschool through first graders learned about many insects, with dragonflies and butterflies being especially highlighted. The students were also able to...
Last Sunday the Memorial Park "Lions Grove" horseshoe pits hosted players from across the state and as far as North Dakota. The Iowa Hawkeye Horseshoe Pitching Association (IHHPA) threw their annual Clay County Invitational to a small but mighty crowd of participants. Bringing home first place was Tom Stensland, of Forest City, winning five out of his five games played. Second place was Mark Gilbertson, of Fargo, N.D., who won four out of five, and third place went to Shawn Rettig, of Spencer,...
Ms. Tayla Coady readily joined the Clay Central/Everly family because it fulfilled her desire to teach somewhere small, local and family-oriented. "I am most excited for all the great progress our CC/E students will make this school year," she said. "We are all so excited to have the students back in the building." Coady said one of her favorite parts of the year is amphibious in nature. "My class studies frogs mid-year and we get to do some fun science activities to go along with our...
Mrs. Anna Broring is a recent Wartburg College graduate, receiving her degree in Music Education. She is certified to teach K-12 vocal, instrumental and orchestral music, which is a perfect fit for her dual-school positions at CC/E and Sioux Central schools. Broring appreciates working with children of all age groups daily. The charm of CC/E's tight-knit community of teachers, administration, parents and children is something that Broring gravitates to. "The small class sizes make it so easy to...
There are things in this beautiful world that flood us with joy and refresh our souls every year. For some, it's the lights and togetherness of Christmas, the blossoms of spring, or the warmth of a summer breeze. Here in Clay County, however, there is truly nothing comparable to the almost-autumn smells and sounds of fair time. COVID-19 has struck another blow to our calendars, making this the fifth cancelation of the World's Greatest County Fair in history. For those of us that live and breathe...
Dan Swanson and Seth Skalicky have shared the same dream of starting a disc golf league for years, hoping that one day it would come to fruition. Three years ago their dream became reality when the friends started the Northwest Disc Golf League, a traveling club that covers areas all over northwest Iowa ranging from Spencer, Royal, Emmetsburg and Lake Park all the way to Laurens, Sanborn, Okoboji and Cherokee. The group is the only traveling league in the area and meets every Thursday night to p...
Editor's note: With the new school year underway, The Sentinel-News will be introducing new and returning Clay Central/Everly staff. Today we meet Ms. Greer, a first-year sixth grade teacher. As a recent graduate from Iowa Wesleyan University in Mount Pleasant, Ms. Hannah Greer is happy to start her teaching career at CC/E. Joining the CC/E family was an easy choice for Greer. "I felt very welcomed and loved right off the bat," she said. "The teachers and supporting staff here are amazing and...
Royal Fun Days may have been postponed to 2021, but the 7th Annual Royal Lions Club Horseshoe Tournament lived on last Sunday at Memorial Park in Royal. Lions Grove's officially-sanctioned horseshoe pits were packed with nearly 30 tournament participants and many spectators for the six-hour tournament held by Royal Lions Club. Josh Toft, who organized the event, said the fundraising event proved successful for the Lions Club. More than 50 commemorative Corona Royale T-shirts were sold and...
Editor's note: As we enter a new school year, we will be introducing you to new and returning Clay Central/Everly staff, celebrating their passion for teaching and contribution to the CC/E school district. Today we meet Mrs. Joan Kimball, a second-year fifth grade teacher. Mrs. Kimball is in her 23rd year of teaching with 21 of those years being in the Spencer school district. "I am a perpetual fifth grader," said Kimball. "I always tell my students that some day I will know everything a fifth...
Last week I restarted my in-home daycare. I typically do not take any time off; however, I had a teacher's child that does not need summer care and COVID-19 pretty much threw a wrench in the rest of my lineup. After careful consideration, I changed my daycare hours from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. I have only endured this change and its benefits for one week, but Lord almighty what a difference! I am waking up at 5 a.m. to do my daily 10k so that I can be back and ready for the day before...
"Onward Mavericks, Onward Mavericks, our spirit is our fame!" These fight song lyrics could not be truer as the Clay Central/Everly school district welcomes back children amidst the current pandemic. CC/E's current class sizes make social distancing a breeze and benefit not only the students' safety, but also the teacher and faculty's safety as well. Two grades will be paired together to enter in and out of lunch areas, recesses and small groups to adhere to CDC recommendations and American...
Hello, friends. What beautiful weather we have been having lately! We had a storm roll through Sunday night that was a blessed relief to the gardens, fields and dusty ground. We long for more and pray that it will come. Our state is facing incredible devastation given the fate of the last large storm, derecho. We mourn the loss of lives, homes, businesses, crops and livelihoods of so many of our southern neighbors. May relief and comfort come to them quickly. There are numerous online routes to...
Next Monday will mark the start of a new school year at Clay Central/Everly. As children anxiously await their return to semi-normalcy, CC/E staff are preparing to welcome their children "home" with new guidelines and procedures in place to assure a safe and healthy school year. CC/E recognizes that the need for children to return to learning safely with structure and in-person socialization. After gathering information from parents and staff while following guidelines from CDC and the American...
Just when fall seems to be around the corner, summer turns up the heat and reminds us she's in charge. We will bask in the boating and swimming weather while it lasts, however, I look forward to the cool temps of last week to return. How many parents out there are ready to send their kids back to school? Pick me! Can I get an Amen? I love these little sweethearts more than anything, but I look forward to them getting into a routine, socializing with friends regularly and remembering that I'm not...
