At Auburn Elementary School, the spring semester is back in full swing, after an enjoyable winter break for students and staff.  We would like to recognize the following individual students for their accomplishments, both in and out of school, as our second quarter was full of many successes!

Sixth graders Calloway Bills, Jesse Buchanan, Taylor Gwynette, Laren Hines, Jacob Jackson, and Evan Monte De Oca competed in Sixth Grade Showcase, a Governor’s Cup competition, on Dec. 5 at Olmstead Elementary School against seven other schools. Auburn took overall 1^st place in the entire competition, and 1^st place in the Quick Recall tournament. 

Individual awards were won by Calloway Bills, 5^th place social studies and 5^th place composition; Jesse Buchanon, 5^th place mathematics; Taylor Gwynette, 3^rd place social studies and 6^th place language arts; Laren Hines, 1^st place arts and humanities and 1^st place composition; and  Jacob Jackson, 1^st place science and 5^th place arts and humanities.  Congratulations to these scholars!

Middle school students Serenity and Selynna Metcalfe have qualified to represent LCHS at the regional swimming meet in Owensboro on Feb. 12. We wish them luck as they compete! 

Three first graders in Ms. Molly Clark’s class—Lauren Coursey, Lilly Dayton, and Gus Hatton, and four first graders in Mrs. Stephanie Wheeldon’s class—Lucas Cross, Collin Jackson, Micah Mooney and Hunter Stigall--have each mastered 1000 Fry Sight Words! Three kindergarten students in Mrs. Staci Hughes’s class—Autumn Anderson, Aubrey Hendricks, and Ava Young--have mastered all 100 kindergarten sight words. Fourth grader Cooper Gregory in Mrs. Elizabeth Dye’s class has completed all levels on the LexiaCore5 reading program. 

Two Auburn students recently appeared on WBKO’s Channel 13 Midday Live. On Dec. 22, seventh grader Crandal Barrow demonstrated how to cook his locally grown popcorn. Crandal started his own popcorn business last year, from popcorn he grows on his family farm in Auburn. You can find his business on Facebook at Crandal’s Popcorn. Fifth grader Jenna Coles demonstrated her cooking talents on Dec. 23, by making a variety of snacks for Santa.

Several Auburn fourth grade students were excited to be selected as winners in the Logan County Extension Office’s Farm Safety Day Calendar contest for this region of Kentucky. The Farm Safety Day program is offered annually to all Logan County fourth-grade students. A poster contest, depicting scenes from material learned at various "safety" stations, is then held among Logan County students and other neighboring school students.  

Sydni Blick will represent the month of May. She is the daughter of Selina and Brian Blick of Auburn. Sydni enjoys drawing, acting, playing sports, and writing.  Sydni's poster demonstrated canoe safety tips that she learned on the day of the Farm Safety Day program.  

Danny Dotson will represent the month of July. He is the son of Darlene and Jeremy Dotson of Auburn. Danny enjoys basketball, baseball, and his favorite subject is math. Danny’s poster demonstrated farm safety tips that he learned on the day of the Farm Safety Day program.  

Kailee Christmas will represent the month of August. She is the niece of Steven and Juanita Collins of Auburn. Kailee enjoys drawing, basketball, and swimming. Her poster demonstrates bicycle safety. 

Emerson McKinnis will represent the month of September. She is the daughter of Mike and Kristi McKinnis of Woodburn. Emerson enjoys traveling, playing sports, and being outdoors. Her poster demonstrates safety around farm equipment. 

Each student’s winning artwork will be featured in the 2016 calendar and they will receive a $25 cash prize. They will be recognized and presented with their cash prize at the KY Partnership for Farm Family Health and Safety annual meeting on Jan. 30.

Each homeroom teacher has recognized a classroom leader for the month of January that best exemplifies Habit Three:  Put First Things First. Each of these students shine as leaders in their classrooms. 

Kindergarten: Grayson Crocker, Autumn Viers, Aynsley Decker

1^st Grade: Prince Helms, Christian Helle, Adelaide Wetton

2^nd Grade: James Key, Caroline Ham, Anslee Sams, Zachary Michalski, Marin Carter

3^rd Grade: Noah Mosley, Savannah Runyon, Maria Rogers, Alyssa Hardison

4^th Grade: Alisa Knight, Jason Mautz, Braiden Martin, Aidan Hughes

5^th Grade: Sarah Howard, Landyn Gorrell, Mariah Perdue

6^th Grade: Gwen Newell, Haley Parnell, Aidan Simpson, Will Ogles

7^th Grade: Aidan Cousineau, Brianna Brooks, Macy Parker, Devin Center

8^th Grade: Lyndsey Gregory, Hunter Lance, Brook Powell, Aaliyah Townsend

Auburn Staff Spotlight:  In addition to recognizing our wonderful students, Auburn School would also like to recognize the hard work and effort put in by our staff members, both in and out of school. 

Kudos to Josh Owens, a middle school special education teacher, who also officiates high school football games. Mr. Owens was the only official from this region selected to officiate the State football game! 

Kindergarten teacher Staci Hughes was excited to have her DonorsChoose project fully funded! Mrs. Hughes’ students will benefit from the donated 12 Boogie Boards. These electronic writing tablets will allow her kindergarten students to practice their beginning writing skills. 

The long hours put in by our teachers often go without recognition, but an Auburn teacher has noticed second grade teacher Karen Hughes, who is “always here at school working after hours. She puts in many, many, many extra hours to ensure the success of her students; and always with a smile”.

Auburn’s art teacher, Vivian Johnson, contributes so much to our school. An Auburn teacher states, “I would love to do a shoutout about Mrs. Johnson. My children LOVE art! I know it comes from how much effort and enthusiasm she puts into her 40 minutes a week with them. My students make beautiful paintings, and enjoy sharing how they were crafted. She is such an asset to Auburn School. We had a fire drill and a lockdown drill during specials yesterday and my 21 students all still managed to create a painted snowflake. They look forward to Wednesdays so much. Vivian Johnson is amazing.” 

Is your Auburn student doing something noteworthy or would you like to recognize a staff member at Auburn School?  Please send information (photos are also welcome!) to Sarah Hatton at Auburn Elementary School at sarah.hatton@logan.kyschools.us.  We would love to recognize as many students and staff as possible in future articles.