Latest news with #CentralHighSchool
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
18-year-old gets in fatal crash hours after high school graduation, VA school says
An 18-year-old walked across the stage at his high school graduation just hours before he was involved in a fatal crash in Virginia, officials said. Jemeire Hite was 'full of promise and pride' on May 24, the day he graduated high school, Lunenburg County Public Schools Superintendent Sharon Stanislas said in a statement. But shortly before 5 p.m. that same day, the newly-minted Central High School graduate was a passenger in a Chevrolet Malibu when the 23-year-old driver veered off the side of the road, went into an embankment and hit a tree, according to Virginia State Police. The driver and two other passengers were seriously injured, and Hite died of his injuries at a hospital on May 28, police said. No one in the car was wearing a seatbelt, and the driver was charged with reckless driving, according to police. Hite's mother took to social media to clarify that the crash was an accident, and she doesn't blame the driver, who she says was close with her son. She told WTVR her son lived 'an amazing life and left an amazing mark on everyone he came in contact (with).' The investigation into the Campbell County crash is ongoing, state police said. Lunenburg County is in southern Virginia, about an 80-mile drive southwest from Richmond.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grand Forks district to offer stoles to Native graduates next year; parent group still seeks beading on caps
May 27—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks Public Schools Native American Parent Committee voted Tuesday to formally ask district administration to consider allowing Indigenous students to wear traditional beadwork on their graduation caps. The meeting came after students were notified beadwork on their mortarboards would not be allowed at their graduation ceremonies this year. It's a longstanding district policy that no adornments are allowed on graduation caps, but parents say students have worn Indigenous beadwork without issue in years past. According to some in attendance at Tuesday's meeting, the notification came too late for some families who had already begun beading their students' caps — a prayerful cultural practice often done by older members of a family for their younger loved ones. Eagle feathers on graduation caps, allowed explicitly by state law, will still be permitted. Assistant superintendents Catherine Gillach and Matt Bakke and Central High School Principal Jon Strandell were on hand for the meeting. Gillach said the district intends to introduce stoles for American Indian students next year that families may bead however they want. The district had intended to provide the stoles to families this year, but ran out of time to have them delivered. Gillach emphasized that the district wants to find a way to celebrate and honor its Indigenous students' cultural heritage, but that by hypothetically allowing some groups to decorate their caps and not others, the district runs the risk of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. At minimum, she said, the district will have to proceed cautiously. "We don't want to be the judge and the jury at the end," she said. "Like this expression is OK, and this one is respectful, this is not." Chad Ward, Native American liaison for the district, said there's nothing wrong with the stoles proposal, but that the district's response to the issue has left many Native American families feeling like something important is being taken away from the ceremonies. He described the profound impacts of colonization and assimilation on Indigenous families, and that beadwork is an important way for many Indigenous people to practice their culture in their day-to-day lives. For many, it holds great significance to incorporate the beadwork into a day as important as a graduation. "At the end of the day," Ward added, "with all due respect, this is Indian Country." In an hourlong dialogue, Indigenous parents discussed the significance of beading the cap specifically. Jayme Davis, a state representative from Belcourt, noted that many Indigenous families choose to bead the graduation cap because it is the symbol of graduation and the completion of a major milestone in the students' lives, much more so than the stoles. "Stoles don't equate the visibility that the cap has. That for me, is the difference between the stole and the graduation cap, is that meaning," she said. "And to me — just for me — if this were coming down, it would say to me, 'Yeah, you can be Native, but not too Native. We don't want it too visible.'" "... It's not just a racial thing, it's a political and cultural thing, and it's specifically for us, because we are the first peoples of this land," Davis continued. "So we're exercising this right, this sovereignty. We're not necessarily asking for privilege to do this. It should be a right for us." Following the NAPC vote, conversations about beading on caps will continue at the district level, Gillach said. Immediately following the NAPC meeting, the full Grand Forks School Board heard an update on Native American student graduation rates in the district. The district is on track to meet and surpass a graduation rate goal set during the 2022-2023 school year, according to Superintendent Terry Brenner. That year, the four-year graduation rate for Native American students in the district was 46%. The district hoped to see that number rise to 80% by September 2028. Last school year, the four-year Native American graduation rate was 73%. Brenner credited the improvement in large part to programs and practices instituted by Ward as the new Native American liaison and funded by the NAPC, including celebration ceremonies for Indigenous students completing kindergarten, fifth grade, eighth grade and 12th grade. Other interventions, such as counselor tracking of earned credits, credit recovery options and a partnership with UND to match GFPS students with Native American student mentors, were also highlighted as successes. There are still questions in the data, Brenner noted. Across district campuses, while 73% of Indigenous seniors are on track to graduate based on credits earned, only 42% of freshmen, 54% of sophomores and 53% of juniors are on track. (For comparison, when looking at the total student body across campuses, 77% of freshmen, 81% of sophomores, 83% of juniors and 84% of seniors are on track to graduate.) Why do so many Indigenous students appear to spend most of their high school careers not on track to graduate, only to suddenly catch up as seniors? The answer is chronic absenteeism, said district Chief Academic Officer Amy Bartsch. Some 58% of Native American freshmen in the district are considered chronically absent, Bartsch said. Bartsch called chronic absenteeism a "community issue that we all have to rally behind to support our families to make school accessible to all," and Gillach noted that the School Board has discussed issues of transportation in the past. But she also said the district needs to consider how to ensure the school environment itself is conducive to the success of its Indigenous students. Those conversations are already happening at the campus level, she said. "Are we representing our students well enough in the curriculum?" she asked. "We work really hard on relationships, and yet we recognize there are some discrepancies between kids reporting that they feel safe and welcome, and feeling like they truly belong." In other news: * The district is poised to "open the virtual doors" to Grand Forks Virtual High School next school year, according to Gillach. Registration for the fully online program is now closed, and a pilot group of 26 high-schoolers are currently enrolled. They include 13 from Central High School, 11 from Red River High School, two homeschooled students and 10 students currently on Individualized Education Plans. The district has hopes to expand the program in future years. * Lizette Miller, secretary at Community High School, was recognized as the district's Classified Employee of the Year. Community Principal Terry Bohan presented her with the award. Two additional district employees were also recognized as the Certified Employees of the Fourth Quarter. Behavior analyst Brittney Hansen was presented with the award by Special Education Director Elisa Diederich, and Viking Elementary literacy specialist Lisa Spicer was presented with the award by Viking Principal Jolyn Bergstrom. * Discovery Elementary School was recognized as the school of the week during the meeting's "celebrating success" portion. The elementary school is celebrating 10 years since its opening. * District Business Manager Brandon Baumbach presented the general fund financial statement for July 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025. During that time, total general fund revenue was $113,584,932 and total general fund expenditures were $94,337,173, resulting in revenue over expenses of $19,247,760.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
West Texas kids to take on 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — The 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee marks the competition's centennial, and contestants from across the United States are vying for the champion title. Two attending wordsmiths hail from San Angelo and Abilene — here's who they are. According to the Scripps National Spelling Bee website, the 2025 contest will take place from May 27 to May 29 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. There, 243 spellers will compete in the preliminaries, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals rounds to determine who will become the champion of the spelling bee's 100th-anniversary contest. Jarah Abarquez is a 14-year-old attending Angelo Catholic School as an eighth grader. Danica Jimenez, marketing manager for the school, said Jarah has been spelling and competing in spelling contests from a young age. Jimenez said Jarah has been training since the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year for the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, participating in multiple spelling bees during that time. 'We are proud of all the accomplishments Jarah has made,' Jimenez said. Jimenez said Angelo Catholic School is praying for Jarah and her family as the spelling bee draws near. 'We pray for her family to have safe travels, and we are praying that God stays on her mind and in her hands as she goes to compete in the spelling bee,' Jimenez said. The Scripps National Spelling Bee website's entry for Jarah says that 'she likes making new friends and planning hangouts' and 'has a deep love for fashion, aesthetics and poetry.' Her favorite athlete is Isabeau Levito, her favorite historical figure is Anastasia Nikolaevna and her favorite food is lumpia. San Angelo isn't a stranger to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Akash Vukoti, a 15-year-old Central High School student, has competed in the spelling bee six times. He has garnered national attention from his exploits in the contest, featuring in multiple documentaries and authoring his own book, 'Spelling Anything (Even Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis).' Sariah Titus, a 12-year-old and seventh grade student of Wylie West Junior High School, is once again competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The contest's online entry for Sariah states that she has previously competed in the 2023 spelling bee, where she tied for 122nd place, and the 2024 spelling bee, where she tied for 192nd place. 'It's not a competition for her, it's just something she loves to do,' Crystal Titus, Sariah's mother, said. Crystal Titus said her daughter, who learned to read when she was 2.5 years old, has been training for this year's national bee ever since she participated in a local spelling bee in December 2024. She said Sariah has been training by reading a dictionary, using a specialized phone application and practicing spelling interesting words — including Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, the name of a hill in New Zealand known globally for its 85-character title. 'She loves learning, and she loves teaching herself all kinds of things,' Crystal Titus said. The Scripps National Spelling Bee website's entry for Sariah says her hobbies include 'singing, reading and learning in general.' Also stated is that she 'loves to listen to music, try new foods, hang out with friends whenever possible, play video games and watch true crime content.' The website says she is currently learning German. Her favorite animal is the panda, her favorite food is sushi and her favorite song is Modern Talking's 'Atlantis is Calling (S.O.S. For Love).' For more information on the Scripps National Spelling Bee, including how to watch the competition as it unfolds, visit the contest's website. To see a complete list of all spellers attending this year's event, visit the website's Meet the Spellers webpage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
North Fourth Street in front of Grand Forks Central High School to close beginning May 27
May 21—GRAND FORKS — North Fourth Street in front of Grand Forks Central High School will be closed beginning May 27. The closure will be in place until mid-October between First Avenue North and Second Avenue North, according to a city release. The city is working to improve the stretch of road in a $2.8 million project. Around $2 million of the project is being federally funded through the urban grants programs and approximately $774,000 million being funded locally. During the project, pedestrian access will be retained in front of City Hall and the high school, but there will be no access to the parking lot between the two buildings. Additionally, the intersection of North Fourth Street and Second Avenue North will be closed. On-street parking will remain in unaffected areas and public parking will remain available after 5 p.m. at the Central Ramp, City Hall parking lot and parking lot on the north corner of University Avenue and North Fourth Street. In addition to street improvements, there will also be improvements to ADA access and streetscapes, matching those along DeMers Avenue and other parts of downtown. A previously proposed mid-block crossing in front of Central High School is not included in the design as the space between intersections would be too small.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CHS senior wins 2025 Congressional Art Competition
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — A senior of San Angelo's Central High School was announced as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition in Texas' 11th Congressional District by United States Rep. August Pfluger. According to the Office of August Pfluger, senior Korbin Jastrow was selected as the competition's winner for her art, titled 'The Exception.' Her artwork is now set to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building for the next year. Pfluger commented on the results of this year's competition, stating that Jastrow's work showcased the 'spirit of West Texas' and the colors of the Hill Country. 'For yet another year, I was completely blown away by the talent and creativity of so many art submissions from students across TX-11,' Pfluger said. 'While it was hard to select a winner from all the incredible entries, in a blind selection process, the committee picked Ms. Jastrow's piece 'The Exception' because of its unique take on Texas agriculture, as well as its incorporation of our beloved Texas wildflowers. It's a great combination of multiple parts of the district – embodying the rugged, agriculture-centric spirit of West Texas and the lush, colorful brightness of the Texas Hill Country, both of which I am honored to represent.' Jastrow explained the creation process for her art in her submission. 'The cow was drawn with pencil, then stamped with handmade stamps representing the Indian paintbrush and bluebonnets,' Jastrow said in the submission. 'The background was done with acrylic paint, and the shadows behind the cow were done with tissue paper.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
