12 minute read
Social News
from Whiteside-05-03-2022
by Shaw Media
Greg and Kathy Raser will celebrate their 50th anniversary on May 14. Greg and K athy Raser to celebrate 50th anniversary
Greg and Kathy Raser will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Prophet Hills Country Club in Prophetstown.
Greg Raser and Kathy Dennis were married on May 13, 1972, at the United Methodist Church in Prophetstown.
They are the parents of three children, Mitch (Casey Lewis) Raser, Jeremy (Gayla) Raser and Kelly (Jeremy) Brooks, and nine grandchildren, A l e x , A d d i s o n , E r i k a a n d A a r o n Raser, Braiden, Koby, Jakob and Ellah Brooks and Gabe Bohms.
It is requested that gifts be omitted.
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Whiteside Count y Fair announces musical g uest is ‘Karen as Dolly’
MORRISON – The Whiteside County Fair announced the 2022 musical guest will be the Dolly Parton tribute artist “Karen as Dolly.”
Karen Hester will perform Thursday, Aug. 18.
From gospel to country, Hester has delighted audiences around the world. Her bright, angelic vocals, accompanied by her captivating stage presence, touches the lives of people internationally. With musical and theatrical chops beginning at a young age, she has enjoyed many roles in productions both on and off stage. She continues following her passion for entertaining through many ventures including her tribute show to Dolly Parton, “Karen as Dolly.”
Recent TV appearances by Hester include performing live on the AXS TV s h o w “ W o r l d ’s G re a t e s t T r i b u te Bands” in Hollywood, California. She a p p e a r e d o n “ C l a s h o f t h e C o v e r Bands,” a competition show on the E! Network and not only won her episode but was named the series’ Season 1 overall winner. Among the prizes was performing on “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.”
The Whiteside County Fair will open on Tuesday, Aug. 16. The five-day fair concludes Saturday, Aug. 20.
Check the Whiteside County Fair Facebook page and www.whitesidecountyfair.org for updates.
Photo provided Karen Hester, a Dolly Parton tribute artist, will perform Aug. 18 at the Whiteside County Fair.
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sauk Valley Saturday, June 4, 2022 at 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Westwood Sports Complex, Building 3, Sterling Open to the public to view Luminaria by recipients or purchasers.
The LUMINARIA CEREMONY will take place live at 8:00 p.m.in Building 3.
You may pay tribute to: Cancer Survivors, Loved Ones Battling Cancer, Loved Ones Lost
The names of all those honored will be read aloud, and will be scrolled on website of www.relayforlife.org/saukvalleyil after the event.
To honor your loved ones touched by cancer, please fill out this form. Please print clearly.
1) ________________________________________6) ________________________________________
2) ________________________________________7) ________________________________________
3) ________________________________________8) ________________________________________
4) ________________________________________9) ________________________________________
5) ________________________________________10) _______________________________________
Honored by (your name)_____________________________________________________
Address (street, city) _______________________________________________________ A $10 donation is requested for each luminaria ordered. Please make your check payable to the American Cancer Society RFL of Sauk Valley and mail it with this form postmarked no later then Tuesday, May 24, to:
American Cancer Society RFL of Sauk Valley Attn: Beth Wilson 4102 Hillcrest Lane Sterling, IL 61081
EDUCATION
A spir ing teachers par ticipate in inaugural symposium
By TROY E. TAYLOR ttaylor@shawmedia.com
DIXON – Brenda Tavares assisted in a bilingual kindergarten class, e a r n i n g t h e E d u c a t i on P a t h w a y s endorse ment for her high school diploma.
So it was a treat to have a one-onone conversation on Friday with state schools Superintendent Carmen I. Ayala, who specialized in bilingual education throughout her career.
“I definitely want to work in a bilingual setting,” said Tavares, a student at Sterling High School.
The inaugural Education Symposium was Friday morning at Sauk Valley Community College. Ayala was the keynote speaker, but she also was available for followup conversations with students such as Tavares who are exploring education as a career path.
Tavares said her goal to become a teacher with bilingual skills means more than helping students achieve. “There are parents who know English, but it’s easier for them to communicate in Spanish,” Tavares said. “Being in a school setting where there are more people who speak Spanish is beneficial for the parents.”
A key component to the Pathways endorsement is devoting 60 work hours in a chosen field. For education, t h a t u s u a l l y m e a n s s h a d o w i n g a t e a c h e r a n d p e r f o r m i n g t a s k s a s directed.
Tavares took part in multiple activities. Her main task was to help two specific students learn the alphabet in Spanish and English.
During the seminar’s introductory s e s s i o n , A y a l a g a v e h e r s t o r y t o attendees, including her distinction as the first woman and first Latina to sit as state superintendent at the Illinois State Board of Education. But she also shared her experiences as a teacher.
There was a give and take during that first session.
“They shared with me what levels they wanted to teach in: early elementary, middle school, high school,” said Ayala later as she strolled through Dillon Hall meeting the students. “And so I tried to engage with them. We laughed. Had a good time. I hope it was inspiring.”
About 80 students from 11 schools in the Regional Office of Education 47 participated in the symposium, part of an effort to promote teaching as a career path, said Chanda McDonnell, Pathway navigator for the office.
As the symposium continued, there were team-building exercises in the gym. The contingent from Rock Falls High School was there working on a positive-reinforcement bulletin board.
“I just like interacting with the students, creating new ideas, helping the kids,” said Hailey Vos, who was grateful for the head start on her teaching career. Time spent earning the Pathways endorsement meant she earned dual college credits through SVCC.
Vos plans to attend Illinois State and would like to teach fourth or fifth grade students.
She said four seniors from Rock Falls earned their endorsement – Ellie Wasson, Allie Royer and Breanna Morgan were the others. Morgan was chosen as a Golden Apple finalist, meaning she is in line for financial assistance.
In the main hall, students had the opportunity to meet with educators from various disciplines in the field.
“Some of us are high school teachers, some elementary, some are counseling, some are athletic directors, all d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f t h e e d u c a t i on world,” said Morrison High School teacher Connie Royer, one of the professionals who volunteered.
Some of the participants were Narcisco Puentes, a retired elementary teacher who serves on the Sterling Public Schools board of education; Dave Baisden, a Fulton High School guidance counselor; and Amy Sigel, a Rock Falls special education teacher.
Also on hand: Jackie Wiersema, a middle school counselor at River Bend Middle School and therapy dog Kaiser.
Royer said her hope is that students will gain “a positive view on education and a possible interest in going into it.”
On the second floor, students got to participate in mock job interviews with nine administrators from across the region, including Mike Berentes, Rock Falls principal, and Jessica Muesel, Dixon High School assistant principal.
In the concourse, representatives from five colleges and universities, in addition to SVCC, had recruitment materials ready to hand out.
“For me, it’s really the bigger picture: building the teacher workforce,” said Christine Schweitzer, assistant director in the office of student success at Northern Illinois University. “Illinois still has 1,700 unfilled teaching positions, which is insane, and it’s been that way since February.”
She sees her role as a way to simplify the admissions process for teaching candidates bound for NIU. “Get those students in, work with community colleges, build those relationships and make it easier for students to pursue that (teaching career) and obtain their license.”
Schweitzer said not only are job prospects good, NIU is able to offer a range of financial assistance to students in the education program. One avenue, which is for people working in child care to earn an early childhood teaching degree, covers all the costs of attendance.
On Thursday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a package of bills designed to address the teaching shortage, most of which was focused on easing licensing restrictions.
The other component, though, is directing high school graduates into college programs. Education Pathw a y s a n d t h e s y mp os i u m i t s e lf streamline that process and provide financial assistance for students willing to get started while still in high school.
For example, SVCC offers $100 to students with the Pathway endorsement.
“So impressed with Sauk Valley Community College and what ROE 47 is doing to promote and inspire the students,” Ayala said.
The goal, after all, is “so we can grow our own,” she said.
Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@shawmedia.com Morrison High School senior Faith VanderVinne (left), teacher Jennifer Stevenson, freshman Annett Morris and senior Tanna Frederick work on a task at SVCC’s Education Symposium.
Erie-Prophetstown students Ryan Roman (left), Ben Lantz and Connor Sibley race through paperwork during an activity at SVCC’s Education Symposium on Friday, April 29. The symposium was aimed at high school students looking to go into the field of teaching.
Pictured from left are Carol Hill, RAD director; Mick Welding, marketing director; Heather Cook, RAD tech; Cassi Schultz, MACF chairwoman; Sarah Bull, MACF board member; and Tonya Edfors, RAD tech.
Photos provided Pictured are Danielle Mills, MACF board member; Tara Dykhuizen, K/5 art teacher; Katie Rider, MACF board member; Sarah Bull, MACF board member; Susie Holbrook, second grade teacher; Karen Mayberry, second grade teacher; Wendy Connelly, kindergarten teacher; Jenny Greer, special education teacher ; Ann Brackemyer, kindergarten teacher; and five children from Morrison Community Unit District 6. M ACF awards g rants to hospital, school distr ict
The Morrison Area Community Foundation awarded Morrison Community Hospital the funds to purchase items for its new Hologic Selenia Dimension 3-D Mammography project, which includes Medline gown/capes, protective pads and vouchers to offset out-ofpocket expenses for women who may not be able to afford a mammogram.
The Morrison Area Community Foundation also awarded Morrison Community Unit District 6 the funds to purchase new educational items from teachers’ “wish lists.” Those items include, but are not limited to, art supplies, math tools, colorful classroom rugs, a document camera, laminating materials, garbage cans and a chair.
Many MCUD 6 teachers have “wish lists.” Check with your favorite teacher and help them obtain much needed items for their classrooms.
MACF funds projects directly benefiting the Morrison community. The fall grant application deadline is Sept. 30.
For information, visit the website www.MorrisonAreaCF.org. You also may contact chairwoman Cassi Schultz at 815-590-6616 with questions. If you have questions about the grant application process, award or reporting, call 8 4 4 - 5 5 0 - 4 1 0 0 o r e m a i l M o r r i s onAreaCF@QCCommunityFoundation.org.
The Morrison Area Community Foundation was founded in 2007.
All cancer survivors are invited to the activities on Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Westwood Sports Complex Building 3 by the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sauk Valley. Who is a cancer survivor? Anyone who has heard the three little words, “You have cancer”. Register at relayforlife.org/saukvalleyil to receive a free survivor T shirt in the mail or call 1 – 800 – ACS 2345 to request a T shirt. • Register below no later than May 20 to participate in the first lap for survivors on June 4th and to reserve a box lunch for self and one guest from Arthur’s Garden Deli after the first lap. (Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. to record number of years of survivorship.) • Experience the Luminaria Ceremony at 8:00 p.m. in which names of all persons for whom luminaria have been purchased are read aloud to honor those who have fought the battle with cancer and survived or lost.
American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Sauk Valley Survivor Reservation Survivor name
Survivor name ____________________________Phone ( _________ ) __________________
Mailing address _______________________________________________________________ (street, city, state, zip)
_______ I plan to participate in the first lap of Relay For Life on June 4th at 6 p.m. _________ 1 Box Lunch or_________2 Box Lunches on Saturday, June 4th (check either 1 or 2 please)
Mail this bottom portion to: Survivorship Committee of RFL Attn: Betty Clementz 1001 West23rd Street Sterling, IL 61081
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