Learning briefs 1/16/07

Central students win poetry awards

Three Cape Girardeau Central High School students had award-winning poems in the Poets and Friends 2006 Poetry Contest sponsored by the Missouri State Poetry Society. Zach Bowles took first place for his sonnet, "Rooted," Matt Hileman took second for his poem, "The Dance," and Renee Moreland won honorable mention for her free verse poem, "Snow." The students' poems now will be entered in the national Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest.

Jackson students named to All-State band

Jackson High School students Amanda Craven, Jenney Watson, Emily Hoffman, Phillip DeCoursey, Josh Koehler, Chris Palisch, Scott Quade, Jimmy Starke and Eric Koenig have been named to the Missouri All-State Band for 2007. Seven of the students were selected as performers in the 103-member All-State Band, ranking Jackson High School second in the state behind Lindbergh High School. Five of the Jackson students -- Craven, bassoon; Watson, alto clarinet; DeCoursey, contra bass clarinet; Palisch, baritone saxophone; Quade, mallet percussion -- were chosen as first chair state champions on their instruments. Their achievements ranked Jackson High School as the best in the state in that category. Hoffman was recognized as fifth chair bass clarinet; Koehler as fourth chair alto saxophone, Starke as honorable mention on trumpet, and Koenig as honorable mention on bassoon.

Honors lists

• John Hager of Jackson made the honors list at Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania for the 2006 fall term.
• Christy Laxton of Scott City was named to the fall semester dean's list at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo.

School News

• St. Paul Lutheran School will hold its preschool/kindergarten registration for the 2007 to 2008 school year from 4 to 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in room 202 at the school, 216 S. Russell St. Class sizes are limited. Those unable to attend must contact the school office at 243-5360 by Jan. 30 in order to make other arrangements. Children must be 5 years old prior to Aug. 1 to be eligible for kindergarten. To register, parents must bring their children's birth certificates, Social Security cards, immunization records and pay a registration fee of $25 for preschool and $30 for kindergarten.
• The Kelso School District has earned the Distinction in Performance Award from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the seventh consecutive year. The award recognizes high achievement on the Missouri School Improvement Program performance standards.

-- From staff reports