JCCC’s Calaway asks college to ‘dare to dream’

In his third annual state of the college address at Johnson County Community College on March 5, President Terry Calaway spoke of “Daring to Dream in Challenging Times.”

The current economic situation places the college in “a time different than anywhere throughout its history,” Calaway said. To date, JCCC, College Boulevard and Quivira Road, has reduced about $11 million from the $140 million general fund budget, he said.

Educators work to curb state assessment test stress

Sometimes you see the stress in student faces as state assessment tests begin, Blue River Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Erin Pike said.

“But we don’t want them to be stressed,” she said.

With testing season in full swing, teachers at Blue River, 5101 W. 163rd Terrace, Overland Park, and a number of schools in the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission school districts are making an effort to take the weight off student shoulders.

College board names Billington trustee emeritus

Some call him “the father of the community college in Kansas.” Now, Wilbur Billington, Mission, has a new title to add to his name. The Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees has named him a trustee emeritus.

The new designation is given by the trustees to recognize former trustees who demonstrated significant contributions to the community.

JCCC President Terry Calaway said it was Billington’s “vision as a trustee (that) gave the college a secure foundation on which to build.”

“Naming him as a trustee emeritus is a fitting way to remember and honor his educational leadership,” Calaway said in a statement.

Students help environment through ‘HiP’ program

At Tomahawk Elementary School, it’s hip to be green.

A program called “HiP,” new this year to the Overland Park school, is giving students a variety of hands-on experiences to help the environment.

Central to the program is the chance for students to help compost breakfast and lunch waste.

Every day, HiP students help sort the waste. Biodegradable material such as leftover mashed potatoes and milk cartons is saved for composting, said third-grader Hope Napier. Plastic forks, spoons and baggies go in the trash.

“It is disgusting,” Hope said. “It smells disgusting, really disgusting, just like it looks.”

Arts Council announces Shooting Star nominees

The Arts Council of Johnson County has announced the 110 young visual, performing and literary artists from more than 25 local high schools who have been nominated for a Shooting Stars Scholarship.

The Shooting Stars Recognition, Scholarship & Awards Program celebrates Johnson County high school seniors who have excelled in the arts. Students were nominated by an arts teacher in one of nine categories.

They audition or submit their portfolio before a panel of judges for scholarship consideration.

Nominees for the Shooting Stars scholarship are: Melanie Arroyo, Shawnee Mission North High School; Melissa Arroyo, Shawnee Mission North High School; Laura Ballard, Blue Valley West High School; Justin Barron, Olathe North High School; Alec Barth, Rockhurst High School; David Beeder, Shawnee Mission East High School; Scott Bolton, Blue Valley High School; Zachary Boswell, Olathe North High School;

Blue Valley workshop to promote healthy teen relationships

For the first time, the Blue Valley School District will hold a district-wide workshop for middle school students and their parents regarding healthy peer relationships.

The workshop is offered in collaboration with the Metropolitan Organization to Counteract Sexual Assault and Safehome, an organization for abused women and children. The workshop is designed to help parents and students learn strategies to maintain positive social interactions.

The coordinators, who are district personnel in a group called the “Diversity Team,” determined this type of workshop would be helpful based on in-house bullying surveys offered to students in third through 12th grade, said Bev Craven, district coordinating teacher of social studies and diversity.