Latest news with #St.Mary'sSchool
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
History and heroes on display during Great Americans Day
CARTHAGE, Mo. — The 21st Great Americans Day, held Tuesday, gave fifth grade students from Joplin and Carthage a chance to hear stories of Americans who became great for what they did, the challenges they overcame and the contributions they made. Debbie Herbst, of Carthage, has been working since 2002 with friends Michelle Holiday and Bonnie Schaeffer to present Great Americans Day to fifth graders from Carthage, Joplin and other communities. They've only missed two years since then — because of COVID-19 — but every year is consistent. Volunteers from across the area portray people who have contributed to American history in ways that helped build the country. This year, volunteers portrayed more than half a dozen figures from American history in Carthage's Central Park, including Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Squanto. 'Kids are taught to idolize sports stars or famous people who make lots of money or maybe they're really good-looking,' Herbst said. 'And maybe they're good people, but that does not mean they did anything of virtue. Really, that's the purpose of Great Americans Day. It's to show that true heroes are people of courage and faith and perseverance and compassion. Abraham Lincoln, portrayed by my husband, Bob, does a wonderful job of talking about the virtue of perseverance. Lincoln endured a great deal of hardship in his life, and that's how he developed the perseverance to lead America through the Civil War.' Herbst said she and the other organizers got the idea from an event that was held in Webb City. 'We had seen and heard of a Great Americans Day in Webb City and one of my friends was an actress, so we said, 'I wonder if we could do that,'' Herbst said. 'Our first year, we only had two little schools of about 100 children. Then the second year, 2003, that was when we included all the Carthage fifth graders.' She said private and public schools from Joplin, Monett, Pierce City and other communities have brought their students to past Great Americans Day events. Madison Herr, a fifth grade student at St. Mary's Catholic School in Joplin, said she enjoyed the day in the park and the stories that were told. Among the stations she singled out was Carl Junction police Officer Doug Dickey portraying the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, being interviewed by Dickey's wife, Vicki Dickie. 'I liked his story because I liked the interview, how she actually interviewed him,' Madison said. 'The George Washington Carver story was fun because he actually used peanuts in ways we didn't know they could be used. Squanto was very cool because he was there and helped with the Pilgrims. My favorite was probably either eating popcorn and listening to the Squanto story or the George Washington Carver story.' Her friend, Emmy Jane Dinger, also with St. Mary's School, said she liked playing a game called graces, which involved two people using two rods to throw a ring to each other. Volunteer Karl Wendt, who portrayed William Bradford, the leader of the Pilgrims who came to Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower, said he loved working with the fifth graders. 'The kids are eager and excited, and it's that right age when they're still asking lots of questions,' Wendt said. 'This is a great opportunity to talk to them. You're cautious in schools to talk about faith, but we're here on a day like this to be historically accurate. And you get to share what was kind of the faith backbone of some of these great Americans.'
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NEET candidate asked to remove 'Janeu' in Karnataka's Kalaburagi, protests erupt
A NEET candidate in Karnataka's Kalaburagi was allegedly asked to remove his 'Janeu' (sacred thread), before entering the examination hall on Sunday, triggering widespread protests and accusations of religious insensitivity. The incident took place at the St. Mary's School examination centre, where the student was appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), a highly competitive exam for medical admissions, news agency PTI reported. According to the boy's father, the student was brought to tears after being asked to take off the Janeu by exam staff. 'My son had gone in for counselling when someone from the staff told him to remove the sacred thread. He came out crying and gave it to me. He said they wouldn't let him enter unless he removed it,' the father said according to PTI. 'I requested the staff to let me inside, but they refused.' The student was eventually allowed to sit for the exam, but only after removing the thread, the family said. (Also Read: Brahmin group protests outside NEET exam centre over removal of sacred thread in Karnataka's Kalaburagi) The matter quickly escalated into a protest outside the school, with members of the Brahmin community and local leaders gathering to condemn the incident. Protesters accused the exam authorities of violating religious freedom and demanded action against the staff involved. Advocate Raghvendra Kulkarni, who joined the demonstration, called the action 'an insult to Janeu-wearing Hindus.' He said, 'The student had travelled here at 1.30 in the morning to write a national-level exam. But the staff enforced a rule that barred entry to anyone wearing religious threads or symbols. This is not just unfair, it is humiliating.' Kulkarni squarely blamed the Karnataka government for the controversy, warning of continued protests and legal action. 'We hold the state government accountable. If swift action is not taken, we will file an FIR against the staff and the institution,' he said. He also claimed that the protest had widespread community support and that more demonstrations could follow. As of Sunday evening, there was no official statement from the exam centre or the NEET organising body regarding the incident. Recently, an FIR was registered against the CET exam conducting officer at Adichunchanagiri School in Sharavathinagara, Shivamogga district, after allegations surfaced that students were asked to remove their 'Janeu' before appearing for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (CET). The case was registered based on a complaint filed by one Nataraj Bhagavath, and includes charges under Sections 115(2), 299, 351(1), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, read with Section 3(5). (Also Read: 'Brain spilled out': Chilling details of Bengaluru lawyer death) (With PTI inputs)
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Multiple local schools show interest in voucher program so far
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Several local private schools have expressed early interest in participating in the new school voucher program. On Tuesday, the Tennessee Department of Education released a list of 162 schools that have signaled intent to participate in the school voucher program. This includes several schools in the East Tennessee area. Clothes closet at Powell church expands to help meet growing community need St. Mary's School Apostolic Christian Academy RIO Christian Academy Maryville Christian School Annoor Academy of Knoxville Concord Christian School Knoxville Catholic High School OneSchool Global Knoxville Sacred Heart Cathedral School St. John Neumann Catholic School St. Joseph School Stanford Eisenberg Knoxville Jewish Day School Temple Baptist Academy The Christian Academy of Knoxville River's Edge Christian Academy Grace Christian Academy First Lutheran School Seymour Community Christian School The King's Academy Trinity Academy All Saints' Episcopal School Lakeway Christian Schools: Cornerstone Christian Academy Campus Fairview Christian Academy Zion Christian Academy The full list is available on the state's website. The school choice program is planned to provide 20,000 Knoxville students with state-funded scholarships that they can use at private schools. Eviction court sees 361 cases in one day as Knox County urged to fund legal aid 'A quality education has the power to change the trajectory of a child's life, and I'm grateful that Tennessee parents will have the opportunity to choose the best school for their child through the Education Freedom Scholarship Program,' said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. 'I commend the participating schools for their partnership to deliver excellent educational choices for parents in the coming school year.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council denies annexation request
GREENSBURG – The voluntary annexation of the property at 1200 S. 60 E., adjacent to St. Mary's School on Millhousen Road and owned by Christian and Karen Rust, was again the topic of a public hearing and a vote at Tuesday's meeting of the Greensburg City Council. Before the public statement portion of the hearing began, city attorney Christopher Stephen explained the nature of voluntary annexation of a territory and the legal ramifications of such a move. Stephen clarified that the hearing was to receive input on whether or not the approximately 12 acres owned by the Rusts should be annexed, and not on the requested rezoning of the property. After a question from Councilor Darrell Poling, Stephen recommended a vote be taken on first reading with the understanding that the proposed ordinance might change, depending on the proposed zoning recommendation determined next month at the March meeting of the Greensburg Area Plan Commission. Stephen asked the audience to limit their comments to points that were relevant to annexation only. The Rusts were represented by attorney Matt Giffin from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Indianapolis and he spoke first. Giffin explained that under the law the only real issues were if the property was contiguous to Greensburg and if the requested R4 zoning classification for the property was appropriate. He explained that the Rusts wanted to develop the property to be of value to the city of Greensburg, but to do that the property would have to be zoned in a way that would benefit the Rusts ideas for development. Giffin assured the assemblage that the Rusts do not intend to use the property for multi-family housing nor for manufactured housing, but for a senior housing community much like Crowne Point Senior Living Community, which is also zoned R4. Giffin addressed a few of the public concerns that arose from last week's Area Plan meeting, saying that the construction of such a facility would only result in a minor increase of traffic. He also said providing police and fire service and capital services like street construction would only result in a 'marginal cost' to the city. Giffin cited studies that indicated the proposed senior living facility did not promote an increase in crime nor have a negative effect on adjacent property values. He also said the facility was consistent with the city's comprehensive plan. 'We urge the council on the first reading tonight and eventually on the second reading to approve this annexation and zone the property that makes future development possible,' Giffin said. Eleven members of the public spoke against the annexation and zoning change, citing issues like increased traffic on Millhousen Road, safety for the children at St. Mary's, the changing of the area's aesthetics with the addition of such a facility, and lowered property values. It should be noted that additional seating was necessary to accommodate attendance for the meeting, with several city officials standing along the walls during the proceedings. The public hearing was closed after approximately 35 minutes of testimony. During the meeting portion of the gathering, Greensburg Building Commissioner Sarah Hamer addressed the irregular order of the proceeding, acknowledging that the annexation should have been confirmed before the zoning ordinance was voted on. Lengthy discussion ensued between council members and Stephen, clarifying the irregular order of the proceedings. Stephen again clarified that any vote was strictly regarding the annexation of the property in question, and that the zoning classification would not be known until the second reading at next month's council meeting. A roll call vote was eventually taken, with councilors Jamie Cain and Darrell Poling voting to annex the property and councilors Mark Carmen, Kevin Fleetwood, Dr. Rodney King, Darrell Tressler and McKenzie voting not to annex. The ordinance failed on the first reading by the city council.
