Clay City High School: High School News

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CCHS Blood Drive Fails to Deliver Quota

The CCHS Student Council Blood Drive held on Nov. 4, only garnered 30 pints of blood. The goal was 35. Some of the drop in participation was due to new height/weight restrictions on donators under the age of 18. Mrs. Dunahee, Student Council Advisor, reported that the Seniors won the Challenge of the Classes for this event. Students were asked to donate or find a donor from the community to donate in their place.

FFA News

The Clay City FFA soil judging team competed at the section 23 Soil Judging contest held in Wayne County Nov. 5. The team judged the soil composition and fertility in four different soil pits. Team members include: Kaylee Gill, Baylee Gill, Eric Spitzner, Logan Thomas and Preston French. All the team members earned scores in the top 50 percent of the competitors.

Clay City Staff Gets Educated

On Nov. 5-6, Mrs. Gina Hutton from Clay City High School attended The Illinois Business Education Associate's 47 th Annual Fall Conference at the Thelma Keller Convention Center in Effingham. Mrs. Hutton attended many different workshops throughout the day ranging from, The Best Kept Teaching Resources from Econ Illinois, formerly known as the Illinois Council on Economic Education to The College Reception, Social Time, Crazy Bowling. All together Mrs. Hutton attended over ten sessions, and she also got to visit the Exhibit Hall. According to Mrs. Hutton, "The conference was great, and I got a lot of new ideas to bring back to the classroom." On Friday, October 30, 2009, the teachers at clay city high attended the Mount Vernon Conference: A Celebration of 30 Years of service to education. The day began at 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with the Keynote speaker, Perry Wilson. For Mrs. Phegley "Attending the workshop, A Walk with Robert Frost was the highlight of my day. The only thing I wish was to be able to share the experience with my dad who loves Robert Frost and James Whitcomb Riley. My dad was the first person I called after I left." The Mt. Vernon Conference offers a variety of workshop opportunities for teachers across southern Illinois.

H1N1

H1N1, also known as the swine flu, is a virus spreading throughout the country. On Friday, November 6 Clay City School had the Health Department came and gave Influenza Vaccines, H1N1 shots. The shot was free for any students or teacher that wanted it. Students had the option between the nasal spray, live vaccine, and the shot, inactivated virus. Students with medical conditions were recommended to take the shot. To learn more about the influenza vaccines, H1N1, go to www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu .

Don't Stop Believin' in FCCLA

Clay City FCCLA members Chelsie Lee, Kaleb McKnelly, Melinda Seman, and Sonya Larrimore went to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale for the FCCLA District 7 Fall Leadership Meeting. Members participated in workshops and learned interpersonal communication skills. Sonya Larrimore went to workshops on dating relationships and women's self-defense. "The workshops were a very educational experience. They taught girls to defend themselves in dangerous situations…..like walking the other way if you see someone ahead of you on a dark street." If you can't avoid a confrontation, and "they come toward you, take a small step back on your strongest leg and make sure your hands are up and ready to defend yourself. If someone attacks you, one of the easiest ways to defend yourself is to hit them in the nose with the heel of your hand and then run. The idea is not to beat someone up but to escape at the first chance."

19 Minutes

Brooke Anderson ,'13, plays volleyball and is a member of the FCCLA. She recommends the book 19 Minutes by Jodi Picoult. It's about, "There is a guy named Peter [who] was best friends with a girl [that suddenly became] popular. Once she stopped being his friend, he got made fun of, went crazy, and shot 10 people but made sure not to kill Josie." The story line is intense. Even when friends go separate ways, they should not be mean to each other. And losing a friend isn't the end; it's the beginning. There aren't more friends to make, and many people in the world. For another perspective on bullying and people's response to it, try reading Please Stop Laughing at Me by Jodee Blanco.

CCHS FFA Competes in Crop Judging

The Clay City High School Crops Judging Team competed in the Section 23 Crops Judging Contest held at Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel on Thurs. Oct. 26. The team placed 6 th overall and William Klingler placed 10 th individually. The CCHS FFA Chapter met on November 3 to discuss fundraisers for the year.

Clay City Splits Season's Opening Matches

Monday, November 2, the Clay City Scholar Bowl team traveled to Cisne. Three teams met to compete: Clay City, Cisne, and North Clay. In JV, Clay City triumphed over North Clay 165-160, but they fell to Cisne 160-205. In total, Megan Kessler captured 7 toss-ups; Nathan Dulaney 3; Cole Hildebrand 2; Clinton Rauch 2; and Shelby May 0. Varsity also played Cisne and North Clay. Varsity defeated North Clay 163-155 and lost to Cisne 95-25. Toss-ups were captured by Gracie Hohlbauch (5), Kaleb McKnelly (4), and Melinda Seman (2). Gracie Hohlbauch '10, " had a wonderful time, and [is] glad that [they] did well for [their] first match."

Red Ribbon Week at CCHS

On Friday October 23, Clay City students wore red to kick off the first day of Red Ribbon Week. On Monday everyone wore blue for school spirit . Winners for the day were Brett Evans and Jessica Maxham. Tuesday was "Dress for Success Day," where Kaleb McKnelly and Magen Troyer dressed the best. Wednesday was camo day as we joined the "fight against drugs," with Jordan Noll and Logan Murray wearing the most camo. A new class competition was introduced for a door-decorating contest. Each class created posters large enough to decorate a doorway depicting an anti-drug theme. Fifth grade won in the elementary with Ms. Mink's class as the overall winner. Eighth grade won for the junior high. For the high school sophomores took 1st , juniors took 2nd, freshmen took 3rd , and seniors were 4th. The fifth grade will receive a popcorn and soda party. The eighth grade will receive a candy bar and soda party. The sophomores will receive a pizza party.

CCHS Volleyball Played for Regional Championship

On Oct. 31 st, the Clay City Lady Wolves traveled to Grayville to face Albion for the Regional Championship. They previously played and beat Red Hill and Cisne on Thursday Oct. 29. The Lady Wolves fell in 2 matches, but put up a good fight for the title. Clay City closes their season with a 17-8 record.

What's in a Name?

Hannah Hohlbauch ,12', is the CCHS sophomore class president. She is in Student Council, Pep Club, and is a member of the Homecoming Committee. She doesn't normally like to read but she does read when she must. Hannah recommends Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. "It's about a strange girl that comes to a normal high school in Arizona and catches the eye of a high school boy. She is an outcast and goes by the name of Stargirl." Read more to find out how the main character finds herself and someone to love her.

Hunting Trip to Colorado

Lauren Lybarger, a sophomore at Clay City High School, recently took the hunting trip of a lifetime. Lauren and her dad traveled 2600 miles to Craig, Colorado to hunt for a week with Jim Zumbo and the Elk Outfitters. They stayed in a cabin on the range with three other boys and their fathers. Lauren said they got up in the morning and went out to hunt in 30 degree weather. Half way into her trip Lauren shot an antelope with a .243 rifle. Lauren won this trip by writing essay with the title "What Hunting Means to My Family and I." This contest was open to all students who have one or two parents deployed in the military. Lauren says this was an amazing experience that neither her dad nor she will ever forget.

Where Learning Meets Earning

Every year in Ms. Phegley's College English Class, she has seniors fill out endless scholarships. Ms Phegley is "always looking for authentic opportunities for students to learn real-life skills and earn either cash or scholarships through their writing. It gives students a chance to feel successful and offers families much needed help in the effort to save money for college tuition." One of the very first scholarships Ms. Phegley assigns is the Financial Essay Scholarship. This scholarship requires one essay written about a financial lesson a student has learned in his or her past. This scholarship gives students a chance to be published in the C U Succeed newsletter which is distributed across the United States. Last year Blake Fehrenbacher, a 2009 Clay City High School graduate, wrote an essay and applied for this scholarship. His essay was written about a time he worked at a food drive and saw the hardships some people face. He sent in his essay hoping to be recognized. A year later, Blake got a check for a $100 in the mail and a copy of his essay printed in the C U Succeed Magazine. Blake's opinion on scholarships is "fill out as many as you can, regardless if you think you will win or not." He says, "shoot for the moon." Check out more information at www.cusucceed.net/faqs.php.

FCCLA Section 18 Fall Meeting

On Wednesday, October 21, six schools met at DiMaggio's in Fairfield to plan the fall semester activities within the section. President Kaleb McKnelly called the meeting to order to discuss the Fall Planning Meeting, Section Challenges and Competitions, a Section-wide community service project, and officer polos. Reporter Brynn Hickenbottom announced that a website had been created for our Section and the address "will be sent in an e-mail shortly." The next Section meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, in Geff.

In a Perfect World

Cassie Lybarger, '11, plays volleyball for Clay City. When she isn't busy with volleyball, she likes to read. She recommends the book The Giver by Lois Lowry. Cassie outlined the novel for us: "Jonas, a young boy, lives in an ideal world in which there is no poverty, disaster, divorce, conflict, or inequality. In this book the society seems perfect. All adults have a job that they like or are interested in. Each family has a mother, father, and two children, one of each gender. There is no crime or disease, but there is a lot of laughter and joy. When the children become of age they are presented with a life job based on their talents. Jonas receives a special job in which he first becomes the Receiver of Memory and later the Giver."

CCHS FFA News

Members of the Clay City FFA chapter attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Indiana on last Friday, October 23. Mrs. Staley chaperoned the group of Kendra Courson, Taylor Hopson, Logan Thomas, Jordan Noll and Ian Kessler. The group attended workshops throughout the day and also toured the career show.

Red Ribbon Week at CCHS

Because students are only in attendance for three days during Red Ribbon Week, on Friday October 23, Clay City students wore red to kick start activities early. On the 26 th everyone wore blue for school spirit. Tuesday was "Dress for Success," and Wednesday was camo day as we join the "fight against drugs." A new class competition was introduced for a door-decorating contest. Each class is required to make posters large enough to decorate a doorway depicting an anti-drug theme. Check back next week for the winners of each day's events and the class competition.

Volley for Cancer

On October 26, the Clay City Lady Wolves and the North Clay Lady Cardinals volleyball teams along with 200 other fans gathered at Clay City High School to promote cancer awareness. Admission was by donation with all proceeds going to the Clay County Cancer Support Group. Throughout the game, baked goods made the Clay City volleyball team were sold. Between the JV and Varsity game baskets filled with novelty items made by the Clay City volleyball team were auctioned off along with other miscellaneous items. Other generous donations were given and everyone had an exciting night raising funds for the Clay County Cancer Support Group. The Clay County Cancer Support Group helps people who have been diagnosed with cancer by purchasing wigs and helping with transportation cost. At the end of the night, the Clay County Cancer Support Group took nearly $4500 with them. Next year the Clay City vs. Louisville Cancer Awareness game will be held at Louisville High School. Thank You to everyone who helped make this night possible!

CCHS Lady Wolves Triumph at Senior Night

The Clay City Lady Wolves played the Cisne Runnin' Lions Thursday night for Senior Night. The Lions were defeated in a two-game match. Shayna Bueker and Nichole Thomas were honored as seniors. Shayna has played volleyball all four years of high school and Nichole has played for two. Alex Bayler and Kaleb McKnelly were also recognized at Senior Night. Alex has played baseball all four years of high school. Kaleb has done stats for high school and junior high softball, high school basketball and baseball. The first homecoming committee meeting was held last Friday. A theme is being chosen, and decorations have yet to be ordered. Shayna Bueker and Gracie Hohlbauch are organizing the music playlist for the dance.

Day of the Dead

On Monday, October 26, Spanish I and II celebrate el día de los muertos, known as the Day of the Dead. The students ate pan de muerto, dead bread, and plan to decorate skeletons on October 27. Day of the Dead takes place on November 1 and 2 in Mexico. For this special holiday, Mexicans make las calaveras, sugar skulls, and las calacas, skeletons. The Mexicans also eat suckers like Piña loca, crazy pineapple. In each home they create an altar for their lost loved ones. The people take time to clean the tombs and dress up to celebrate in the cemetery. This activity brought Mexican culture into the study of the Spanish language.

Scienctific Inquiry in Action

The Clay City science teacher, Mr. Brummer had his Biology I and II students participated in a lab on Oct. 14 to learn about different plant and animal cells. For the plant cells, they used onion slices. For the animal cells, students swabbed their cheeks on the inside of their mouth and mixed it with a little dye. Then they put them on slides and examined them under the microscope. As the culmination of the project, they compared slides and drew pictures of what they found. CCHS sophomore, Will Klingler commented, "It's disgusting to see what is living in my mouth."

Clay City FFA News

The Clay City FFA chapter competed in the Section 23 computers contest last week. Clay City FFA's Kendra Courson and Shelby May competed in the on-line contest, which was held over the internet while the competitors remained at their home schools. As a team we leave placed 8th of 12. The Section 23 Land Use Contest has been delayed by rain twice and has been rescheduled for Nov. 5. Our chapter reporter, Taylor Hopson will be sending a quarterly newsletter out to members and their families. Look for yours soon!

The Landscaping at Clay City High School is Still in Progress

The Agricultural Mechanics class began landscaping around the school on Sept. 21. The teacher Mrs. Staley commented, "The Ag Mechanics class is working hard, and we hope the new landscaping will improve the aesthetic value of our school." The class replaced about a dozen hostas, which were in direct sunlight and only needed partial sunlight. Blue fescue and pansies now alternate down the sidewalk ending with almond bushes near the unit office. Students also planted blue and white tulips in the shape of interlocking C's, replaced the old mulch with CA-5 River Rock, because rock lasts longer than mulch and will not wash away. In front of the high school, the class is hoping to replace the white rock with the CA-5 river rock as well. The lava rock in the shape of CC will remain.

CCHS Keeps Spirits High with Pep Rally

The Pep Rally on Friday, October 16, was successful in keeping students excited. The Pep Rally was a combination of a party for October birthdays and an assembly for reviving enthusiasm in the school, as well as a celebration to wish the volleyball girls good luck at the MTC tournament. The Lady Wolves came in a close 2 nd in the tournament after a nail-biting match at Cisne against South Central. In the Pep Rally, there was a long limbo line involving half of the high school. Alex Bayler was the last student limbo-ing. Students were pumped up for the volleyball game, and are ready for the basketball season. Senior Night will be Tuesday, October 20, 2009. Pep Club will be working concessions to help pay for Homecoming, Soldier Signs on Main Street, pep rally supplies, and decorations for around the school. Battle of The Classes continues to rage on, and students are encouraged to attend to earn points for their class. Coca Cola lids are being collected, as well as Box Tops for Education. Seniors remain in the lead with 795 points, Freshmen in 2 nd with 680 points, Juniors in 3 rd with 605 points, and Sophomores in last place with 450 points. A lip sync contest will be held 8 th hour on Tuesday.

Best Friend's Til' the End

Sydney Lynn is a freshman at CCHS. She enjoys reading in her individualized reading class and plays volleyball. She recommends the book Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen. It's about, "a girl who's boyfriend died in a motorcycle accident and then she finds out she is pregnant with his baby. The book tells how her best friend was there for her during this hard time." When life gets tough it helps to have a best friend by your side to help you. Keep your friends close and offer them help them when they need it. It can be a gift or a hug, a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on, a kind word or constructive criticism. True friendship expects nothing in return, forgives and forgets, and lasts for a lifetime.

Clay City Lady Wolves Volleyball Take 2 nd Place in MTC Tournament

The Midland Trail Conference Tournament was played last Thursday and Friday. The schools that competed in the tournament and their seatings in the tournament were South Central (1), Grayville (2), Clay City (3), Louisville (4), Cisne (5), West Richland (6), Wayne City (7), Woodlawn (8), Odin (9), Sandoval (10), and Webber (11). On Thursday, the first night of the tournament, Clay City played at home against Sandoval, Odin, and Louisville. The Lady Wolves finished these three games in just two matches each. On Friday, Clay City traveled to the Cisne Middle School to play South Central and Grayville for the Championship. They started the night off against Grayville who was previously beaten by South Central. The game was played intensely but the Lady Wolves took the victory in just two games. With Grayville out of the pool, Clay City went on to face South Central. The game was played in two matches with the scores 25-22 and 25-21. Tiffany Kuenstler, Coach of the Lady said, ""

It's Ba aack : RADA Sales Begin

CCHS Rosey Center Chapter is selling RADA Cutlery. Because of the failing economy, CCHS clubs have been limited on fundraising this year. FCCLA must fund nearly all the club's activities through this single, but fabulous sale. Many people wonder why we need funds for a high school club? FCCLA membership is extremely high. Nearly 30% of high school students are members of FCCLA. Additionally, members of our chapter hold section and state offices. We travel extensively giving young people opportunities to experience different parts of our state and country. We learn social skills by meeting new people, and we learn to accept all types of people for who they are on the inside. We listen to motivational speakers, like Michael Wade Smith, who encourage us to take leaderships roles in the community and to keep trying even though we may not succeed at first. At our own school, we help decorate and fund Homecoming. Many people think dances are silly. Some even say they detract from the educational process because students may be focused for a week or two on dresses, and music, and dates. However, what we learn far outweighs this distraction. We learn teamwork. We learn creativity. We learn problem-solving skills. We learn financial management and budgeting. Can these things be learned from books, or must we experience them first-hand for the cycle to be complete? Also, FCCLA teaches leadership and attends many conferences including "The Fall Leadership Conference" held at SIU on Nov. 4. FCCLA Peer Education is also an important activity that teaches students to be role models. High school students mentor elementary students and this year's theme is "A good is a green neighbor." We compete in events that allow us to explore new talents and opportunities. STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) competitions include Promote and Publicize, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Ambassador, Job Interview, Fashion Design, and Fashion Construction. Alumni from our school have pursued careers in fashion design, culinary arts, and many have begun their own businesses. FCCLA (formerly FHA) prepares us for life in our homes, in our communities, and in our careers. Additionally, FCCLA is extremely active in community service in Clay and Richland Counties. They donate coats and gloves to needy families within the district and take items to the SWAN shelter in Richland County. Also, they collect pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. We NEED YOUR HELP to continue keeping our club solvent. Many community members have been asking when RADA sales will begin. The time is NOW. Items will be delivered before Christmas so do your shopping with us. Save time, get quality products, and support a great cause: OUR FUTURE, OUR SKILLS, OUR OPPORTUNITIES for continued success. New items this year include: a black-handled collection, four new candle scents, five new cookbooks, four gift-in-a-jar books, and pound cake mixes. RADA is now available for order from one of the FCCLA members: Officers: Chelsie Lee- president Leesa Anderson- Vice President Melinda Seman- Secretary Kaleb Mcknelly- Public Relations Clinton Rauch- Competition Cassie Lybarger- Historian Seniors: Shayna Bueker Sonya Larrimore Sarah Utley Nichole Thomas Juniors: Leila Herdes Katelyn Hosselton Shelby May Kayla Cooper Sophomores: Lexi Duncan Baylee Gill Kaylee Gill Kenzea Klingler Lauren Lybarger Freshmen: Sierra Frank Magen Troyer Mason Spitzner Haley Sharp Walker Workman Ashten Harrison Kaylee Kuenstler Brooke Andesron Nathan Dulaney Morgan Harris Quentin Young Ann Edwards Hunter Gray See an FCCLA member today to make your order. You can also email sponsor at jkerr@claycityschools.org , Vice-President, Leesa Anderson, at anderson.leesa@gaggle.net , or Public Relations, Kaleb McKnelly, at mcknelly.kaleb@gaggle.net .

A Trip Through Time

David Earl Herdes, Jr., CCHS '10 spends almost all his spare time read. He recommends the book Timeline by Michael Crichton. "It's about people discovering how to go back in time to study earth's geography. If you like science fiction then this is a good book for you," David says. Crichton writes many popular books like Jurassic Park that have been made into movies. Sadly, Michael Crichton died last November after battling cancer. For more information visit http://www.michaelcrichton.net .

Update on Challenge of the Classes

At CCHS the school spirit is bristling as the volleyball season is winding down and everyone is getting pumped up for the start of the basketball season in November. Battle of the Classes, a cooperative effort of Pep Club Sponsor, Shelly Phegley, and Scholar Bowl Sponsor, Mrs. Gina Hutton, is keeping the excitement high by initiating a competitions like attendance at volleyball games. Currently the Senior class is leading with 635 points followed by the Freshmen, Juniors and Sophomores respectively. Students are reminded to collect Box Tops for Education, Campbell's Soup labels (including the bar code and the little man), and coke product caps. Seniors won the last challenge of the classes, which was attendance at Pack the Place. For winning that challenge all seniors will get into the Senior Night game free. Double points are coming up for the class with the highest percentage of students on honor roll, the class with the highest average AR points per student, and the highest rate of attendance for Quarter 1.