Features,  Honors & Awards,  Announcements,  Menus

Features

Impromptu assembly gets students’ attention

[APRIL 8, 2002]  After years of skirting the issue, someone has finally decided that it’s time to talk about it. Kids have been ready for years. They know all about it, or at least they know what they can learn about it from television and movies. But they never get the truth, because parents are never ready to talk about it.

And yes, I am talking about the big "IT." I am talking about sex. And so was Scott Phelps when he spoke to Lincoln Junior High School students last Friday in an impromptu assembly.

Scott Phelps is one of the writers of the abstinence program for teens called "A.C. Green’s Game Plan." The program, administered by Project Reality, was written using NBA star A.C. Green’s testimony on his life of abstinence, in combination with a sports theme. It gives a "Game Plan" for students to use to remain abstinent.

[Photo provided by Project Reality]
[Scott Phelps]

Phelps was in Springfield last week trying to raise funding for the program and decided to stop by Lincoln on his way home. He spoke to a group of students on the importance of abstinence and the dangers of being sexually active.

His manner of speaking connected with the students. His style was in-your-face, no-nonsense and all those other hyphenated adjectives. Instead of skirting issues and talking in vague terms that only create curiosity in students that age, as many adults do, he said what he had to. "Sex sells." "Sex is good. It’s so good, you should save it up!"

He used many illustrations that were just graphic enough to communicate to the students. In talking about how media uses sex to sell products, he laid out the following situation for them:  What would you say if I told you I like to go into people’s houses and watch them having sex? Almost in unison, the students responded, "Pervert!" Then he made the connection between that and watching a sex scene in a movie. He pointed out the hypocrisy in this, asking them if it is perverted in real life, why is it not perverted on television.

He used students to perform three illustrations:

1. He had four students stand across the gym floor to represent a timeline. The first student represented birth. About three feet beyond her, another student represented 13-15 years old. About two feet farther on, the next student represented age 25, an approximate age for marriage. And lastly, about 15 feet beyond that, the last student represented death, about age 80-90. The students saw how a very short time in their lives (their teen years) can affect the rest of their lives, which is much longer. It helped to illustrate the "big picture" that the Game Plan program focuses on.

[Photos by Gina Sennett]

2. A boy and a girl were chosen to represent the fictitious couple "Jack" and "Jill." Jack and Jill are high school seniors who had remained abstinent until they graduated. One night Jack pressures Jill into having sex. Shortly after that, the relationship begins to change and Jack feels pressured. So he leaves Jill but gives her a gift before he goes. The boy had a box which he handed to the girl, and then he sat down. Jill opened the box, which contained a slip of paper that said "herpes."

[to top of second column in this article]

3. Nine individuals were chosen at random, both boys and girls. Each individual was given a Jolly Rancher candy and told to suck on it but not to chew or swallow it. While they did this, Phelps continued his talk. After a few minutes, each student was told to wrap his or her candy back in the wrapper and drop it in a plastic bag. Then a few uneaten candies were dropped in the bag as well. A 10th person was chosen and told to choose one candy from the bag without looking or feeling around and eat it. Completely disgusted, she chose one of the eaten and rewrapped candies. She vehemently refused to eat it. Phelps gave her a fresh candy, and she ate it. This illustrated the chance taken when choosing to have sex with an individual, the chance of getting an STD from that person.

Phelps provided the students with an even mixture of positive and negative images. Before he scared them with personal stories and disgusting illustrations, he reassured them: "Sex is good," but also, "Sex is private." He contrasted today’s movies and television with those of the 1950s. He explained that the separate twin beds shown in the bedrooms of married couples did not mean that sex was bad, just that it was a private affair not meant for the rest of the world to know about.

In one of the "scarier" portions of the assembly, Phelps gave the students a straightforward overview of sexually transmitted diseases. There are two types of STDs: viral and bacterial. Bacterial STDs can be cured. Viral STDs are permanent; they can be treated but not cured. Approximately one in four people has a viral STD. There are four viral STDs: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, herpes, and the human papillomavirus (HPV). HIV is the least common STD, even though it is the one most heard about. HPV is the most common and is the least heard about. This was possibly the most sobering part of his discussion.

In the last few minutes, he gave two final illustrations that he wanted to leave the students with. The first was his own personal story, which in the program workbook is listed as the story of "Steve and Tina."

Steve and Tina had been dating for about six months and had just graduated from high school. As their relationship developed and they were preparing to go to college, Tina began to pressure Steve for sex. He had been abstinent and was planning to save sex for marriage. One night when they were alone, she told him that if he truly loved her he would prove his love to her by having sex with her. He refused and left the house. Their relationship ended shortly afterward.

Two months later Steve learned that Tina was already pregnant on that night when she was trying to get him to have sex with her. Tina became a single mother at age 18.

The last illustration was of three roses. The first represented a person who has sex with this person and that person, giving a part of himself to each person. Petals fell to the floor. Finally when that person met someone he wanted to marry, all that was left to give was a dead stem. The second rose was a person who saves himself. To his wife, he has a full, beautiful rose to give. The final rose was someone who gave himself to many people, but then decided to stop and become abstinent. He did not have a full rose, but most of the rose was left, and there was still a beautiful flower to give to his wife. Phelps wanted to make sure that the students understood that "abstinence is not just for kids who have not been sexually active. …Yesterday is gone, but you can choose it now."

[Gina Sennett]

[APRIL 5, 2002]  During three sessions at the Lincoln Public Library, Chief Richard Montcalm taught home-schooled children important lessons about how to avoid conflict and get along with others.

In their first session the students learned how to interact with people they don’t know. They practiced a "meet and greet" activity.

Their second lesson was about how fights start and stop. Both lessons involved videos and role-playing activities.

On graduation day, students got a review of their past lessons, and goodies were handed out, including T-shirts.

This was the first time the course has been taught to home-schooled children. Chief Montcalm has previously taught the course to public school students. He said it was a different experience with these students. Most noticeable was that there was a large age difference between the students in the class. They ranged from 6 to 10 years old. But as always, he said he really enjoys the kids.

[Jan Youngquist]

[APRIL 5, 2002]  Youth from Lincoln Junior High School joined kids from across the country who are fighting for their lives. Each day more than 2,000 kids become new regular, daily smokers; one-third of them will ultimately die prematurely from a tobacco-related illness. To combat this problem, youth from Lincoln Junior High School hosted a rally on April 2 against "Big Tobacco."

The Dump Big Tobacco’s Trash rally was used to "dump" tobacco merchandise to demonstrate that the youth of Lincoln Junior High School are tired of the trashy promotional techniques used by tobacco companies to hook teenagers on cigarettes.

[Kristi Lessen, prevention specialist
with Logan-Mason Mental Health]

[MARCH 26, 2002]   NORMAL — There wasn’t a milk break or a nap time, but nine Illinois State student-athletes wowed the first-, second- and third-grade classes of Prairieland Elementary School, Wednesday, with the reading of such stories as "The Babysitter Robot," "Stinky Cheese," "Rude Giants," ‘The Frog Prince" and "The Easter Surprise."

The Redbirds attended the grade school as part of the State Farm Insurance Company/Missouri Valley Conference "Just Read" program. In addition to reading books, the athletes explained how reading played a vital role in their personal development for athletic and academic success.

"The student-athletes had a great time and really enjoyed the experience," assistant athletics director Jane Fulton said. "Each one of our athletes did a great job of explaining to the elementary school students the importance of reading, and its importance in fulfilling the dreams that they have."

The Redbirds had representatives from football, gymnastics, softball, tennis, and track and field. Included in that group was Monique Haan, a women’s triple jumper, and Ricky Heath, a men’s tennis player. Haan read "The Easter Surprise" to a first-grade class, while Heath read "Stinky Cheese."

[to top of second column in this article]

"It’s always nice to give back to the community," Haan said. "The kids are in such awe with the athletes. It makes you feel all warm and tingly to be that admired. The kids picked out the book, but "The Easter Surprise" was a good book and it was fitting for the season. It was a Berenstein Bears book, so I knew it was going to be good."

Heath also had a great experience.

"I read ‘Stinky Cheese’ when I was about the same age, so it was fun that they picked that book," Heath said. ‘I had a really good experience because I enjoy working with kids. They were very attentive and they were in awe with my accent, so they really had to listen. They asked me about my homeland (South Africa), and I was surprised with how much they knew about it."

Illinois State student-athletes will participate in another Just Read stop at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 18, at Towanda Elementary School.

[Todd Kober, Illinois State University
director of media relations]

Honors & Awards

[MARCH 25, 2002]   LCHS speech team members in group interpretation and contest play competed at the state level on March 22 and 23 at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg.

Carrie Schreiber and Ed Jodlowski were  co-directors of the contest play. Carolyn Schreiber was the group interpretation director.

LCHS placements:

Fourth place in group interpretation

Eighth place in contest play

Individual honors:

Kerry Dobihal and Doug Rohrer, all-state group interpretation members

Betty Buttell, Ty Sank and Tom Swan, honorable mention in group interpretation

Eric Agostino and Beau Hanger, all-state contest play members

Brandon Davis, honorable mention in contest play

According to the coaches, "This weekend was a wonderful experience for the members of both teams. They had an opportunity to see some very difficult competition and to show that they can compete at a very high level. We are very proud of the work they put in to be ready to compete with teams from all over the state of Illinois."

[LCHS news]

[MARCH 22, 2002]   A few students from the Lincoln Junior High band got a taste of the good life. The special incentive for the band’s fall fund-raiser was a free limousine ride to lunch from Jeff Waggener of Great American Opportunities.

"Mr. Minier and the L.J.H.S. band are an outstanding group and did a wonderful job," Waggener said.

The white limousine picked the students up from school during their lunch period. The chauffeur exited the car and opened the door for the lucky band members and their director. Envious students watched from classroom windows while the group boarded the limo. The band members enjoyed the fact that many people in the community were staring at the car and trying to figure out what rock star or movie star was inside.

The students ended up at Pizza Hut, where Mr. Minier treated them to a free meal for their hard work. Each student had sold over 30 items. Many cars were pulling into the restaurant’s parking lot to figure out who was in the car, and the band students received some funny looks when spectators figured out that they were the people in the limousine.

[to top of second column in this article]

Pictured above are the top sellers receiving their "Limo Lunch" from Jeff for a job well done. The students are, from right to left , Lori Knollenberg, Nathan Courson, Amber Phillips, Sonya Twist, Victoria Jones, Jared Andreason, Chad Minier and the limo driver.

[LJHS press release]

[MARCH 21, 2002]   

Fifth grade — Michelle Boyer, Kayla Jenkins, Kelsey Jurgens, Katie Mason, Jessica Mehan, Josh Mehan, Diane Monday

Sixth grade — Jacob Harnacke

Seventh grade — Katie Conklen, Jennifer Dammerman, Kimber Davison, Jason Dean, Justin Harnacke, Brandee Heidbreder, Jeremiah Kirby, Justin Mason, Lincoln Moore, Jill Patrick, Molly Tobias

Eighth grade — Michael Bates, Laura Moehring

Fifth grade — Nikki Becker, Zach Gasparini, Danielle Horn

Sixth grade — John Fink, Brandon Merriman

Seventh grade — Nick Apke, Jenna Hutchison, Jewel King, Staci Otto

Eighth grade — Serena Tripplett

[MARCH 20, 2002]  The Lincoln Junior High School band competed in the Illinois Grade School Music Association’s District I Solo and Ensemble Contest on March 9 at the Glenwood Middle School in Chatham. LJHS received two ratings of "First Superior" and 21 first-place ratings.

The following students received a First Superior rating:

Rachel Kasa, B-flat clarinet solo

Rachel Kasa, piano solo

The following students received a first-place rating:

Victoria Jones, flute solo

Mindy Malerich, oboe solo

Sarah Edwards, B-flat clarinet solo

Lori Knollenberg, B-flat clarinet solo

Nikki Shehorn, B-flat clarinet solo

John Cosby, E-flat alto sax solo

Rebecca Kasa, E-flat alto sax solo

Whitney Kincheloe, E-flat alto sax solo

Max Pozsgai, E-flat alto sax solo

Hannah Snyder, E-flat alto sax solo

[to top of second column in this report]

Tim Wiser, B-flat tenor sax solo

Nathan Courson, B-flat trumpet solo

Kelsey Dallas, B-flat trumpet solo

Jonathon Leisinger, B-flat trumpet solo

Daniel Parson, B-flat trumpet solo

Amber Phillips, B-flat trumpet solo

John Dallas, trombone solo

David Mauhar, trombone solo

Wes Shrader, snare drum solo

Hannah Michalsen, piano solo

Sonya Twist, piano solo

Kyle Edwards and Brad Whiteman, percussion duet

[LJHS press release]

Announcements

Menus

• Lincoln Elementary Schools

• New Holland-Middletown Elementary District 88

• West Lincoln-Broadwell Elementary School District 92

(Milk served with every meal)

Monday, April 8 — Cereal, cinnamon toast, juice

Tuesday, April 9 — Trix yogurt, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fruit

Wednesday, April 10 — Cereal, toast, juice

Thursday, April 11 — Cereal, biscuit with jelly, juice

Friday, April 12 — No school. Parent-teacher conferences.

(Milk served with every meal)

Monday, April 8 — Mini corn dogs, tortilla chips with cheese sauce, green beans, cinnamon applesauce

Tuesday, April 9 — Ravioli with meat sauce, mashed potatoes, bread and butter, fruit cocktail

Wednesday, April 10 — Chicken and biscuit, peas, carrot sticks, pears

Thursday, April 11 — Pancakes with syrup, hash brown, sausage patty, peaches

Friday, April 12 — No school. Parent-teacher conferences.

(Two percent white or chocolate milk, bread, butter and peanut butter served daily. Menu may be subject to change.)

Monday, April 8 — Hamburger, CB, bun, french fries, pineapple, ice cream treat

Tuesday, April 9 — Dismissal before lunch

Wednesday, April 10 — Hot dog, bun, corn, applesauce, chocolate chip cookie

Thursday, April 11 — Nachos, corn, strawberries, sugar cookie

Friday, April 12 — Ravioli, green beans, pears, no-bake cookie

Monday, April 15 — Macaroni and cheese, peas, applesauce, O’Henry bars

Tuesday, April 16 — Sloppy Joe, bun, green beans, mandarin oranges, oatmeal cookie

Wednesday, April 17 — Ham and cheese sandwich, corn, peaches, vanilla pudding

Thursday, April 18 — Beef "tator" bake, peas, apple slices, Texas cake

Friday, April 19 — Cheese pizza, lettuce salad, strawberries, peanut butter fingers

[to top of second column in this section]

Monday, April 22 — Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, pears, "go gurt"

Monday, April 8 — Hamburger horseshoe, french fries, peas, mixed fruit

Tuesday, April 9 — Dismissal at 11:15

Wednesday, April 10 — Chili, cheese, fries, green beans, apple slices, chocolate pudding

Thursday, April 11 — Sausage pizza, potato coins, raw veggies, jello

Friday, April 12 — Breadsticks with meat sauce, corn, lettuce salad, fruit ice

Monday, April 15 — Chicken fillet on bun, potato wedges, peas, peaches

Tuesday, April 16 — Ham, egg, cheese on muffin, potato rounds, corn, applesauce

Wednesday, April 17 — Spaghetti with meat sauce, tossed salad, green beans, garlic bread, cake and cherries

Thursday, April 18 — Creamed turkey on biscuit, potatoes, buttered broccoli, mixed fruit

Friday, April 19 — Sloppy Joe on bun, french fries, slaw, pear halves

[to top of second column in this section]

Monday, April 22 — Breaded beef patty, potatoes and gravy, corn, peaches

Back to top