Sweeter's Tiger Tracks

Student Excellence

Spenser has been selected to attend the Congressional Academy for American History and Civics.  Two from each state and the District of Columbia plus 10 at large selectees have been chosen.  The information for the academy is at the following site:

http://www.congressionalacademy.org

Congratulations on a job well done to the following FCCLAers on their state competition ratings:

Andee Geist--Top Superior

Ashleigh Koehler & Bailey Ronning-Superior

Marah Smith-Superior

 

Principal's Honor Roll

The following students were on honor roll every quarter in their JH or HS careers respectively.

Principal’s 4 year honor roll – 12 students

Leah Davis

Kristin Hagen

Garrett Harms

Katelyn Harry

Tanner Johnson

Gabriel Kjellsen

Brooke Lesher

Allison McNamara

Kristopher Oleson

Caitlin Siefkes

Katharina Tinglund

Stephanie Vedvei

 

Principal’s 2 year Honor roll -  22 students

Jeric Albrecht

Halle Dohman

Reilly Ell

Caitlyn Fluke

Joellen Gonsoir

Sadie Hanna

Sydney Hanna

Darac Harry

Kylie Hawkins

Nicole Koehler

Regan Lewandowski

Mason Madsen

Kasey Kurtz

Braden Miller

Alec Oleson

Sadie Rogers

Schyler Sattler

Cheyenne Schaller

Camille Sippel

Wyatt Sombke

Gabriela Tinglund

Nathan Wright

Soccer #1????

One of my Tiger Track followers forwarded this link to me in an email.  While I've never really thought of it, after reading the points in the article I would definitely not be surprised if/when soccer becomes #1. 

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=125566

I think one of the things that makes soccer so appealing is that it is extremely cheap to get started,  and you can play it anywhere anytime.  In fact one of the more impressive stories I have ever heard related to soccer, and proves this point.  As always war is horrific, and WWI was no exception.  In fact, it could be argued that it was one of the worst modern wars.  For months British and German soldiers would stand in mud and blood filled trenches just waiting for an opportunity to shoot the enemy.  However, on Christmas in 1914, everyone forgot their anger, fear, and hatred.  Both sides, British and German soldiers, meet in No Mans Land to play a game of soccer.  Try and wrap your head around this.  Today you are playing soccer on a field where your friends have been killed, and playing it with the monsters that shot your friend and at you.

http://www.sawfnews.com/lifestyle/24303.aspx

Eye opening

Below is a link that I found to be truly eye opening, and with graduation just around the corner it seems like a fitting time.

http://www.safesouthdakota.com/

Have you talked with your child yet?

Alumni News

Murdock will graduate from MnWest on May 12, he already has a job with Dakota Fluid Power in Aberdeen.  Murdock received a plague and a check for his efforts. 

If you go to this site, you can see a picture of Murdock and a short news item:    www.mnwest.edu/in-the-news/mcnickle-places-3rd-in-state-skills-competition/

Hockey Excellence

Eric Milbrandt was selected as a U16 National Hockey Team member for the state of SD.  He had try-outs this weekend and was selected as one of the goalies.  This means ... more hockey for the summer for the Milbrandts - they are trying to get 20 games in over the summer and early fall.  The catch is they only roster 2 goalies and have 3 selected at this time we are not sure where he is falling in the ranks.  If he makes the final cut ... National Tournament is April 2011 in Washington, DC.  Should be fun!

My Prodigy

It will come as no surprise to anyone who reads this blog, but I am a self proclaimed techno-geek.  Since that is now once again in the open, I am proud to say it would appear that I am corrupting at least one of my children. 

Now there is no disputing that Ty is me through and through, just ask my parents. It is Dylan that is proving to be mytechnological offspring.  It started a couple of years ago with her obsession for the web-based game, Webkins.  Lately it has morphed into an almost unhealthy affair with You Tube (under close supervision of course).  Not only does she show her friends funny videos, but our friends, grandmas, aunts, etc. are all forced to watch a litany of videos.  Pretty much everyone who comes over for any amount of time will receive a barrage of videos showing babies: laughing, skating, crying, falling, or biting.  While this may not seem too unusual it was her more recent technology usage that made me so proud that a small tear appeared in my left eye.  On a whim she decided to Google her name.  As a result of this natural curiosity, Saturday night DeAnn and I received a report on the musical greatness of Bob Dylan. 

Now trust me when I say that I have not given up hope on Ty and Avery.  They are still young and I most definitely still have hope for their futures.  With a little luck someday I'll have an entire clan of techno nerds.  Then I won't be the only one that can fix things after DeAnn touches them.  Don't get me started about last seasons House or CSI.

All of this brings me back to the question that I have asked so many times before.  Are we preparing our students for the world that they are going to be living in?

FFA Success

The Groton FFA Chapter recently attended the State FFA Convention in Brookings on April 18-20.  The members participated in Career Development Events such as livestock and horse judging, natural resources, and ag mechanics.  Many leadership opportunities were also present at state convention, including attending a workshop from a National FFA Officer.  The Groton members seen great success in the areas they competed in.

 

Horse Judging - 5th Place Team - Gold Award

  Cheyenne Leonhardt - 8th Place Individual

  Heather Westby - Silver Award

  Taylor Leonhardt - Bronze Award

  Matt Murray - Bronze Award

 

Livestock Judging - 12th Place Team - Silver Award

  Jordan Miller - 8th Place Individual

  Baily Ringgenberg - Bronze Award

  Cody Wright

  Layne Howard

 

Katie Spicer - Silver Award, Natural Resources

 

 

A couple of the members were also up for some individual awards and recognitions.

 

Katie Spicer received her State Degree and placed 2nd with her Poultry Proficiency and 3rd with her Specialty Animal Production Proficiency.

 

Taylor Leonhardt was also a Star Greenhand finalist.  Her sheep project of 37 ewes and 6 rams was one of the top four projects in the state for first year members.

 

 

Math Excellence

Thirty-one eighth through twelfth graders from Groton Area Junior/Senior High School participated in the 57th Annual NSU Mathematics Contest held on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, on the campus of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.  They were among 748 students representing 39 schools in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, who participated in the event and tested in four divisions:  Elementary Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, and Senior Math.  Out of the 200 students taking the Algebra I test, Camille Sippel, Mikaela Kavanaugh, and Alec Oleson were awarded certificates of honorable mention. 

 

As a school, Groton received third place in the Class AA/A division.  To determine school rank, the highest score from each school in each of the four divisions was taken to compute the sum of each school's four results.  Great Plains Lutheran placed first, and Milbank placed second.

FFA Convention

Congratulations to the following FFA members for placing at the State FFA Convention.
Horse Team - 5th Place
Cheyenne Leonhardt - 8th Place, Gold Category
Heather Westby - Silver Category
Taylor Leonhardt - Bronze Category
Matt Murray - Bronze Category

Livestock Team - 12 Place
Jordan Miller - 8th Place, Gold Category
Baily Ringgenberg - Bronze Category

Katie Spicer - Silver Category, Natural Resources

Taylor Leonhardt - Star Greenhand Finalist

Katie Spicer - 2nd Place - Poultry Proficiency
Katie Spicer - 3rd Place - Specialty Animal Proficiency