Have a safe winter break! See you in 2024!!
Some of the 7th and 8th graders in choir caroled around the school today đź’ś
This week our Bengal Spotlight Featured PAWS is Mrs. Pfizenmaiers PAWS. Mrs. Pfizenmaier’s PAWS is a goofy bunch of kiddos that are almost half 7th graders! Like any family, they squabble and joke but come together when something needs to be done. They enjoy PAWS challenges- dodgeball and spoons especially- morning meetings, silent ball, and shenanigans!
Good Luck 7th Grade Lady Bengals today in the NCKL Tournament! If you don't have plans you should come out and watch some amazing basketball games! We will host Rock Creek, Wamego, and Concordia! #bengalstrong
Our 8th-grade students got the privilege to have a whole class field trip today at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. They have made it safely and are settling in to join Clara's adventures with the Nutcracker Prince to defeat the wicked Mouse King! This Christmas ballet performance is steeped in other-worldly fantasy, childlike imagination, and sugarplum dreams. We are excited our students are getting to experience this!
Our Science classes are loving the hands-on learning labs! Below are a few images of 6th-grade students modeling convection for plate tectonics in the science lab. And a few images of 7th-grade students making 3D Cell Projects.
Good Luck Lady Bengals in the first round of NCKL today!
Christmas dinner menu from Chartwells for Thursday, December 14th. #usd379
Today's Bengal Spotlight Featured PAWS class is Mr. Kalivodas. Mr. Kalivoda’s PAWS class enjoys the challenges against other classes, Dodgeball is a favorite and Silent Ball & “PIGBALL”! Going outside doing physical activities, KEVA Block Challenges and Free Day Wednesday’s. They participate in school-wide challenges, but are disappointed when they don’t win.
Good Luck to all of our Bengal Wrestlers today at NCKL! #bengalstrong
No plans tonight?!? Come check out the amazing talent of our Bengal Choir! Their voices are truly beautiful!
Today's Bengal Spotlight Featured Department is the Science Department. The Science team implemented a new curriculum last year, that specifically addresses the Next Generation Science Standards. Labs, hands-on discovery, and small group investigations are all part of the new curriculum. It has been great and has had many benefits for our students. These three teachers were so busy teaching their hands-on lessons they avoided a group photo but we still managed to get them on a poster together... Below is a peek into the world of our Science Crew:
Jason Walsh taught 6th grade SPED, Elementary Music, and 6th grade Science. He lives in Leonardville with his wife and three daughters. The oldest is going to college, the middle daughter is a senior and the youngest is a junior. Jason was in the Army and contracted with the Army before teaching.
Greg Kalivoda has been teaching for 32 years. Teaching Physical Education and Science, from Goddard, Paola, and Clay Center since 2000. His wife of 20 years is Shannon Kalivoda, sons William, Garett, and Hayden make their home in Miltonvale, KS. He enjoys hunting, shooting, and fishing year-round, as well as watching his boys in sports. Summers are spent construction/remodeling, gardening/canning, and traveling with his family. He bleeds Yankee Blue and K-State Purple!
Craig Rickley is in his 26th year teaching science at CCCMS. He enjoys traveling with his wife Dana, visiting his sons Brett and Thomas and their families, playing golf, and rooting on the K-State Wildcats and Las Vegas Raiders.
The 2023-2024 Boys' Basketball and Girls' Wrestling Team Stores are open! They are open early this year due to the deadline being soon... boys' deadline is 12/19 and 12/27 is the girls' deadline this is to ensure we get items back by the first games/matches. Order some amazing Bengal Gear and show your support!
Boys' Basketball Link: https://bengalboysbasketball23.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
Girls Wrestling Link: https://claygirlswrestling23.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
We are excited to Spotlight our Lady Basketball teams and our Bengal Wrestlers this week! All athletes have had a great season thus far as we start to wrap the seasons up. The 7th Grade B-team ended the season with a 7-6 record and outscored their opponents 188-115 on the season. The A-team finished with a regular season record of 8-5 and outscored their opponents 353-204. Both teams improved weekly throughout the season. The girls will play in the NCKL tournament next week on Monday and Thursday and are looking for a strong finish to the season. Our wrestling numbers were down this year but they will be competing in the NCKL Tournament Thursday in Concordia. Good Luck to them all! #bengalstrong
Good Luck today Lady Bengals! #bengalstrong
Happy Monday! Question of the day how many boys can fit on the Bengal Library couch?!?
Special Education Day is celebrated on December 2 to commemorate the signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act into law on this day in 1975 (IDEA). IDEA granted access to children with special needs to free and quality public education. The act has been revised several times but the crux of it remains the same, and is the foundation for special education in the U.S. In support of this act, many organizations pledge to provide good education to students with special needs.
We truly appreciate the work that all of our Special Education staff do with every student at CCCMS. Each of them helps make CCCMS a positive place for kids!We may be one day early but we wanted to Spotlight our amazing staff for all they do! Below is a glimpse into their worlds...
Dee Brown is in her third year at USD379. Her first year was at the high school. Prior to this, she was in Belleville for 8 years as a 6th-8th grade Special Education teacher. She started her teaching career in Concordia in 2007 at The Learning Center. She has 5 sons, four wonderful daughters-in-laws, and 7 grandchildren. She lives in Concordia with her two dogs and one cat.
Brandon Pigorsch started with USD 379 in 2009. He has been working in Special education since 2012. Spent 4 years in the Army on active duty before attending college on a wrestling scholarship. He has an amazing family (wife and 3 children) that he loves spending time with. He enjoys the outdoors-camping, golfing, disc golfing, and hiking. He also loves attending concerts and sporting events. His favorite sport is wrestling and his favorite NFL team is the Las Vegas Raiders. He coaches Middle school football and wrestling and is also the head wrestling coach at CCCHS.
Alisha Brownell has been a special education teacher at CCCMS for five years. She and her husband have two boys and three dogs. Alisha and her husband, Josh, own and operate Simply Scoops in Clay Center. She enjoys drinking coffee, reading books, and running. She is also the middle school boys and girls assistant wrestling coach.
Mary Mellon has been teaching in the USD 379 district ever since she graduated from college. She started as a 6th-grade teacher at McKinley and transitioned to Special Education with a Masters in Gifted Education. She is a died-in-the-wool KU Jayhawk fan (Rock Chalk) and Chiefs (She lived through all the “Chefs” and “Chumps” years) Kingdom supporter. She has had the privilege of teaching or providing services in all the 379 and TLEC schools at one time or the other. Currently, she serves Lincoln, Garfield, CCCMS, Riley County, and Blue Valley-Randolph schools. It is one of my most rewarding experiences when she has the opportunity to watch the students she serves grow and mature over multiple years. Some even from Kindergarten through High School.
Shanna Freeman is in her 22nd year working as a speech-language pathologist. She has worked in every school in USD 379 over the years. She is currently providing speech services at CCCMS, Garfield, and Wakefield. She's been married to her husband, Chris, for 25 years. They live in Wakefield with their two boys. Noah is a Senior & Nick is a 7th grader. She loves to kayak, lift weights, read books, and create healthy recipes that taste delicious! She spends a lot of time watching football, as her husband is a football coach, both of her boys play football, they attend KSU football games, and she's a huge KC Chiefs fan! Her favorite place to be is the beach and her favorite way to spend time is hanging out with her family.
This is Amy Pladsons 12th year working as a PTA for USD 379. I provide PT services to all of the TLEC schools which includes 5 different school districts. Her husband is Cory and they have 2 children, Cole a junior, and Addyson a freshman both at CCCHS.
Shannon Kalivoda has been working in special education for 28.5 years and 24 of them have been with USD 379. Although she has worn many hats over the years, she is currently one of the Behavior Specialists for TLEC. She is married to Greg Kalivoda and they have three amazing young men to call their own, William, Garett, and Hayden. She loves going on long walks with her dog, working her small business, and spending time with her family.
Thank you all for all your hard work! You are appreciated!
Good Luck to all of our Bengal Athletes today!
Good Luck at HOME today Lady Bengals!!!
No School on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, November 22-24th. We will see everyone after break, on Monday, November 27th. Have a great Thanksgiving!
