Russellville students and teachers accomplish much
By Kim McDaniel, Penni Nugent and Donna Wilkerson

A collection of news reports from the Russellville city schools follows, including a few names from the Logan County system.

Archery

The Russellville Junior/Senior High School Archery Team Coach, Jeramy Rust, has reported that the team shot its best previously at the Lewisburg Tournament. Kaleb Coursey, an 8th grader, came in 10th overall in his category. 

Then, the Russellville Archery Team hosted an Archery Tournament the weekend of the March 5 with over 600+ archers competing. The team put up a combined score of 3.066 and came in 3^rd place overall. Coach Rust has expressed his appreciation to all the parents and individuals who helped make this another successful tournament at RJSHS.

DECA

RJSHS students competed in the State Career Development Conference at the State DECA Conference held in Louisville on Sunday, March 6, through Tuesday, March 8. There were four students qualifying for the International CDC to be held in Nashville April 29-May 3.  Those who placed are as follows:

1st Place - Nick Scarbrough - Electronic Advertising-Audio (NATIONAL Qualifier)

3rd Place - Tyler Johnson - Electronic Advertising-Video (NATIONAL Qualifier)

4th Place - DeShawn Mason - Electronic Advertising-Video

3rd Place - Kody Kirby & Elizabeth Fisher -Hospitality Business Operations Research (NATIONAL Qualifiers)

4th Place - Titiana Day & Johnny Drumgole - Learn & Earn Project

4th Place - Chandara Vanna & Mia Bethea - Fashion Merchandise Promotion Plan

4th Place - Mateah Black & Shailyn Milan - Community Service Project 

Cassie Reding, National Board-certified

On Tuesday, March 8, the newest National Board-certified teachers were celebrated at the Capitol in Frankfort. RIS Superintendent Leon Smith and her husband, Conrad Reding, were in attendance at the recognition of SES, 4^th grade teacher Cassie Reding, as she was recognized for National Board Certification.  

Created by teachers, for teachers, National Board Certification is the profession’s mark of accomplished teaching. It is:

Built upon National Board Standards and the Five Core Propositions 

Rigorous and performance-based

Based on multiple measures

Peer-reviewed

Voluntary 

Valid and reliable

Operator of the Year Award

On March 10, Matt Costello, a Representative with Brakebush Brothers Inc., awarded Russellville Independent Schools with an Operator of the Year Award for 2015, for their support and loyalty in promoting their chicken products. RISD was one of 52 companies nationwide who received the award. 

Food Service Director Elaine Dixon who received the award on behalf of the school district, has been working with Brakebush and purchasing their products for five years.  Brakebush chicken products called “Kids Klassics” are Whole Grain items that promote participation in the Child Nutrition Program. Their various products such as Hearts, Christmas Trees, Shamrocks, and Halloween shapes are served for special holiday meals. 

Superintendent Smith stated special thanks to Dixon and the cafeteria staff for working hard with the nutritional standards to provide good meals for our students and providing fresh hot meals for our students “daily”!  Eating nutritious meals plays a role in student achievement as well.

Academic Competition

The Russellville High School academic team was in action at the Kentucky Association for Academic Competition Region 2 competition in Madisonville. The quick recall team of Adam Williams (captain), Phillip Wilkerson, Will Mullen, Brennan Hughes, and Austin Coursey finished as regional runners-up, the highest finish of any RHS quick recall team in the 310-year history of the event, and qualified for the state finals in Louisville next month. Also qualifying for state in regional individual written assessments were Hughes (social studies regional champion) and Wilkerson (science regional champion). Hughes was among the top 10 regional assessment scores across the state in social studies.

The team finished the event as overall regional runners-up, the highest overall rank in RHS history for the regional contest. The future problem solving team of Ashlee Gilbert, Wilkerson, Sam Cosner, and C.J. Bordan finished 3^rd at regionals, but only the top two regional teams in that event qualify for state. Jennifer Rogers serves as the head coach for the RHS academic team.

Logan County High School’s quick recall team and several individual students also competed at the regional event. Austin Yewell qualified for state by tying for 4^th place in arts and humanities written assessment. LCHS’s academic team is coached by Harvey Harris and John Hughes.

On Feb. 13, middle school regionals were held in Scottsville. Area students advancing to state finals from that event include Benjamin Slack of Russellville Middle School (4^th in social studies written assessment), Matthew Wilkerson of Russellville Middle School (4^th in science written assessment), and  Sarah Cassady of Auburn School (5^th in mathematics written assessment). The Adairville School future problem solving team finished 3^rd but will not be advancing to state. Tina Shoemake is the head coach of the Russellville Middle School academic team.

Also qualifying for state from Logan County schools were as follows: Math Division II, Jaden Hayes of Olmstead placed 2^nd and Mollianne Crawford of Auburn placed 3^rd; Cross-Stich, Emma Allen of Adairville placed 2^nd.

KAAC is a non-profit, independent, educational service agency. Over 30,000 students representing over 1200 public and private schools participate in KAAC events. Governor’s Cup was founded in 1986 as a way to promote, reward and recognize outstanding academic achievement. Since then, over a quarter of a million students have taken part in the event.

Swimming

The Swimming Panthers closed out their season Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Region 2 Swim Meet in Owensboro, Kentucky.  What should have been a day of prelims on Friday with a follow-up day of finals on Saturday morphed into a “timed finals” situation because of Friday’s snow. 

The girls’ relay team comprised of Morgan Bryant, Katie Paul, Katie Ray Holloman, and Kate Bouldin swam in both the 200 Medley Relay and the 200 Freestyle Relay. The girls’ team placed 14th (2:27.29) in the medley and 13th (2:06.24) in the freestyle – both times were a season best for them.  Individual results are below.
Morgan Bryant – 50 Free 30th (31.17) and 100 Free 28th (1:11.93)
Katie Paul – 50 Free 38th (34.14) and 100 Free 35th (1:15.30)
Katie Ray Holloman – 50 Free 29th (31.01) and 100 Free 17th (1:07.62)
Cole Celsor – 50 Free 27th (27.62) and 100 Free 21st (1:01.67)
Dillon Porter – 50 Free 40th (30.89) and 100 Breast 16th (1:21.88)
Kate Bouldin -100 Fly 12th (1:10.19) and 500 Free 9th (6:04.89)

According to Coach Toni Hall, “Every swimmer had their personal best times yesterday, and I’m very proud of them. They have worked so hard all season long.” 

It should be noted that Ben Slack did not get to swim on Saturday as he had an obligation to serve the Academic Team at the Regional Governor’s Cup. Slack would have swum the prelims on Friday had the Regional Swim Meet not been cancelled that day.

RMS/RHS Band

Several of middle school and high school band members traveled recently to Bowling Green to perform in Solo and Ensembles events demonstrating their many talents and gifts in the musical arts. Overall, 62 medals were awarded to our students with 15 for Proficient Ensemble performances, 6 for Proficient Solo performances, 32 for Distinguished Ensemble performances and 9 for Distinguished Solo performances. 

Individual Results are as follows: