Sweeter's Tiger Tracks

FYI

There are a few things I want to bring to your attention.

1) I have added a slideshow of Guys and Dolls pics to my wiki page.

2) The Veterans Day slideshow is now on Groton Area's homepage.

3) Have a great Thanksgiving!!! 

Things that make you go hmmmm

http://www.committedsardine.com/blogpost.cfm?blogID=485

http://www.committedsardine.com/blogpost.cfm?blogID=474

Wow!!!

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20091124/NEWS/911240334

The attached link describes one man's struggle with tobacco addiction.  I for one have never understood smoking or chewing.  I have my Grandpa Fred to thank for this.  Some of my earliest memories as a child are from times I spent on my grandparents farm near Canton, SD.  That being said one of my strongest memories are of me sitting next to him in the front seat of the car for the 9 miles it took to get from the farm to Canton.  The whole way I rode without a seat belt (a topic for another soap box) and gasped for air while he puffed away on his stogge.  Do you understand how hard it is to hold your breathe for 15 minutes?  Now I cannot confirm this, but I would bet that had Guinness ever timed me I would have beat a world record.  As a child I hated these moments, but in hindsight I guess you could say that I am a better man or at least healthier.

Besides this negative influence, logic has provided me with three reasons not to smoke.

1) I have never met a smoker that didn't want to quit.

2)  Have you ever heard that it is bad for you?  Not kind of bad like eating a happy meal but really bad like poisoning your body.

3) Does anyone honestly like the smell?  Hey honey what perfume are you wearing.  Aude nasty.

Debate Domination

The GHS debate class particpated in their first interschool debate contest on November 23rd at Aberdeen Central.  The team of Marah Smith, Cheyenne Leonhardt, Taylor Leonhardt, and Michaela Oleson placed first overall at this contest.  They won the contest with a 5-1 record and 345 speaker points.  Teams from Aberdeen Central placed 2nd and 3rd.  Earning a 3-0 record two person team award was the team of Cheyenne Leonhardt and Marah Smith.  Three teams from GHS earned 2-1 record awards.  These teams were Taylor Leonhardt and Michaela Oleson, Madison Cutler and Eric May, and Katelyn Hawkins and Ryland Strom.  Also competing at this contest from GHS were Eric Milbrandt, Seth Duncan, Austin Fordham, Darrick Lone, Emily Larson, Clay Wattier, Kendyl Hanson, Erin Sterhnagen, Josey Helmer, Brandon Stanley, Drew Dohman, and Maycee Albrecht.  The debate class will compete again on December 7th at the Lisa Sippel Novice at Groton. 

 

Way to go!!!

Guys and Dolls

I hope you didn't miss it, but the reviews for this year's all school play were excellent.  Students sang and danced to classic numbers such as "Luck Be a Lady" and "Sit Down You're Rockin' the Boat".  Seniors Allison McNamara and Courtland McCranie, Junior Spenser Kavanaugh, and Sophomore Erin Sternhagen led the cast of over 30 students and brought to life Damon Runyon's mythical 1940's New York City.

While the stars stole the show all of the students did a great job.  It was a large cast and they all shined. I for one have to say that I was truly impressed by the vocals.  I have to admit that I was a little surprised that Mrs. Mogen went with a musical this year.  After all we had some incredible singers graduate last year, and I though she might have been a year too late.  Man was I wrong!!  Once again this proves that our music department doesn't rebuild; they simply reload.  (Sorry for the sports cliche, but ...)

Bottom line is the play was great!!!

Inspirational Video

Below is a link to an extremely inspirational video.  Ok that might be an exaggeration, but it is cool.  If you ever have some free time it might be cool to list all of the movies included within this two minutes.

 

 

Cool School Technology

Sioux Falls teachers are implementing technology in a cool new way.  Imagine the possibilities of putting lessons on the Internet.  Students would be able to take advantage of the teacher's lessons when they are absent or when the teacher is gone. 

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20091116/VOICES01/911160302 

1st Quarter Honor Roll

GROTON AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL

 

SENIOR CLASS HONOR ROLL:  1^st 9 weeks, School Year 2009-10

 

4.0 GPA:     Garrett Harms, Brooke Lesher, Kayla Raap, Stephanie Vedvei, Gatlin Johnson, Leah Davis, Allison McNamara, Katharina Tinglund

 

3.99-3.50:    Gabriel Kjellsen, Brand Bahr, Autumn Sanderson, Tanner Johnson, Caitlin Siefkes, Ashleigh Koehler, Kristopher Oleson, Samuel Thorson, Sarah Geary, Kristin Hagen, Katelyn Harry, McKensey Sheridan, Bailey Ronning, Megan Cutler, Colton Kiefer

 

3.49-3.00:    Katie Spicer, Courtland McCranie, Justin Peterson, Alexa Nilsson, Charles Pray, Dexter Muldoon

 

 

JUNIOR CLASS HONOR ROLL:  1^st 9 weeks, School Year 2009-10

 

4.0 GPA: Kyla Larsen, Samuel Smith, Tyler Kolb, Gavin Voss, Spenser Kavanaugh, Jenna LaMee

 

3.99-3.50 Emily Kern, Jackson Waage, Allerie Loeschke, Greyson Cutler, Annie Hockhalter, Heidi Westby, Shawn Locke

 

3.49-3.00:    Stephanie Fey, Cody Wright, Kelsie Lemmon, Narissa Weifenbach, Jordan Miller, Alex Hughes, Derek Taylor, Jenaye Brenner, Tom Sternhagen, Dylan Hanson

 

 

SOPHOMORE HONOR ROLL: 1^st 9 weeks, School Year 2009-10

 

4.0 GPA: Madison Cutler, Eric Milbrandt, Marah Smith, Erin Sternhagen   

 

3.99-3.50:     Andrew Dohman, Hannah Luecke, Ryland Strom, Michaela Oleson, Brandon Stanley, Katelyn Hawkins, Josey Helmer, Madelyn Anderson, Maycee Albrecht, Eric May, Matthew Thorson, Emily Larson, Alexandra Schuring, Austin Fordham, Taylor Leonhardt, Clay Wattier, Baily Ringgenberg, Nora Bunn, Kendyl Hanson, Cheyenne Leonhardt, Ashley Stene

 

3.49-3.00:    Mitchell Madsen, Jamie Jorgensen, Douglas Heinrich, Bryce Raap, Jacob Harms, Sophie Cutler, Meghan Dohman, Ryan Delzer, Lexy Premus, Sydney Erickson

 

 

 

 

 

FRESHMEN GRADE HONOR ROLL: 1^st 9 weeks, School Year 2009-10

 

4.0 GPA:     None

 

3.99-3.50:    Erica Schuster, Tobias Carda, Savanna Larson, Kelsey Wieseler, Tyler Holm, Andee Geist

 

3.49-3.00:    Dalton Locke, Jordyn Opsahl, Kaitlyn Sattler, Stephen Simon, Ellen Harms, Jacob Donley, Ashley Taylor

 

 

EIGHTH GRADE HONOR ROLL:  1^st 9 weeks, School Year 2009-10

 

4.0 GPA:     Camille Sippel

 

3.99-3.50:    Alec Oleson, Reilly Ell, Gabriela Tinglund, Caitlyn Fluke, Halle Dohman, Joellen Gonsoir, Darac Harry, Wyatt Sombke, Nicole Koehler, Sadie Rogers

 

3.49-3.00:     Sadie Hanna, Braden Miller, Regan Lewandowski, Skyler Bonn, Nathan Wright, Sydney Hanna, Kasey Kurtz, Schyler Sattler, Jeric Albrecht, Cheyenne Schaller, Mason Madsen, Austin Bieber, Riley Helmer, Kylie Hawkins

 

SEVENTH GRADE HONOR ROLL:  1^st 9 weeks, School Year 2009-10

 

4.0 GPA:     Maryn Howard

 

3.99-3.50:     Taylor Gustafson, Jacob Milbrandt, Haley Unzen, Kathleen Groeblinghoff, Luke Smith, Lucas Sternhagen, Gabriel Dohman, Jackson Doeden, Kaitlin O’Neill, Matthew Knecht, Sydney Thorson, Kasey Waage, Natalia Dohman

 

3.49-3.00:    Kennedy Clark, Kyler Ell, Courtney Kurtz, Alyssa Sippel, Logan Lane, Breanna Marzahn, Jocelyn Peterson, Nicole Lewandowski, Tori Bjerke, Rachel Blackmun, Ashley Gibbs, Ethan Braun, Alec Voss

 

 

Walktober

During the month of October, staff members of the Groton Area school were invited to participate in a wellness activity - walking.  Teams were constructed and the walking began.  There were four participants per team.  The high school had a total of 4 teams and the elementary had 6 teams.  The group photo that I've attached was taken of the Groton team that had the most points: Mary Johnson, Kara Paulson, Sherry Raap, and Nancy Cutler.  This team was given aluminum water bottles.  All participants received a keychain.  There is some talk of another kind of exercise/fitness challenge to be held later in the year. 

 

Soccer Excellence

After a great soccer season like our Tigers had this year it is no surprise that several of our athletes were recognized for their abilities.  Nine Groton Area students were selected for the State A All State Soccer Boys and Girls Teams.    Those selected were Tom Sternhagen (1st team), Tony Waage (2nd team), Preston Brewer (2nd team), Allerie Loeschke (1st team), Cheyenne Schaller (2nd team), Shawn Locke (2nd team), Camille Sippel (2nd team), Courtney Kurtz (Honorable Mention), and Stephanie Vedvei (Honorable Mention).

 

Criteria for All State Soccer include talent and skill in practice and games, work ethic in practice and games, commitment to the team and the game of soccer, team leadership, and coachability.  All State Soccer selections are determined by vote of coaches during the state tournament.  Teams may not vote for their own players.

 

First Team All-State Award winners were invited to attend a banquet in Deadwood on November 14th where they were recognized by the SD Soccer Association.  16 boys and 16 girls were selected from the State A soccer division for 1st team all-state.  Tom Sternhagen and Allerie Loeschke attended the banquet along with their parents and Groton coaches.

 

Way to go guys and gals.