Superintendent's Ramblings

About a dozen employees from Compass Minerals spent most of the day on Friday, April 21 at the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site (OWLS) at Lyons High School. The OWLS project is a grove of trees and shrubs with a small pond that sits on the west edge of the LHS/LMS campus. The crew removed a dead tree, lots of low-hanging limbs, and cleaned out multiple truck loads of branches and brush in conjunction with Earth Day (April 22). USD 405 staff and students as well as local and area disc golfers appreciate the work done by Compass Minerals!

Lyons Middle School 7th grader Avery Goforth is off to a tremendous start in her first year of track and field. She competes in the throwing events, shot put, discus, and javelin when it is offered. After three meets, she is undefeated in javelin, winning both meets that offered the event. She has two firsts, and a second in discus. She is undefeated in the shot put, winning all three meets, including twice beating the 7th grade girls shot put record. The previous record was listed as Micah Moore in 2002 at 30'-10". Avery's best throw so far and the new record is 36'-4.25", an improvement of 5'-6.25" over the previous record. Congratulations to Avery and the rest of the LMS track team.

The Lyons High School band has had a tremendous run of outstanding ratings over the past couple of years, but a highlight came this week as the band received an "Outstanding" rating at the State Large Group Festival in Lindsborg. The band has been extremely close to receiving that rating the past two years, and this year achieved their goal. The band had a little extra motivation this year, as they were told they would get to shear Scherer's beard if they received an Outstanding rating. That means that this week, Mr. Scherer has been walking around clean shaven. Congratulations to the LHS band and director Andrew Scherer!

Lyons High School FFA members participated in their own version of a dog show this week with cardboard versions of man's best friend. Congratulations to Makenna and Levi for their Best of Show!

Mrs. Konda's 4th grade class packaged several thousand family meals in a joint effort with the Lyons High School FFA chapter and the Lyons Rotary Club. Altogether, approximately 5000 meals were packaged in about two hours. The meals will be distributed to Rice County families!

Support the Lil Pride plant sale next week at Central Elementary School in the east foyer of the old middle school gym. The plant sale is a project of the Lil Pride room, a functional special education program that teaches students practical skills through hands-on learning activities. The proceeds of the sale are used to fund additional learning programs. The plants will be sold the week of April 24-28 until they are gone, starting at 9:30 each morning. There is a variety of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and indoor plants. Cash or check only.