11 minute read
Youth Section
from Vestnik 2022.10.24
by SPJST
SPJST Youth Section
The deadline for all Věstník items is 5 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. Send your news and photos directly to: SPJST Věstník Editor Melanie Zavodny P.O. Box 100 Temple, Texas 76503 Fax: 254-773-8087 Email: vestnik@spjst.org Online: spjst.org/news/submitarticle-photo Questions? Call 800-727-7578
This section is dedicated to the youth of SPJST. As part of its membership benefits, SPJST offers a statewide youth program. If you or someone you know is interested in learning about opportunities offered to young members of SPJST, please contact your local lodge, District Youth Counselor (listed on page 2), State Fraternal Director at 800-727-7578, or visit www.spjst.org.
Lodge 30, Taiton youth assists with fall festival
Dear Vestnik Readers,
On Sunday October 2, 2022, I attended the Taiton Community Fall Festival. I helped with the plates to-go line, and I worked the kids’ ticket booth. Overall, it was a great and beautiful day at the festival! Sincerely, Bethany Baker, age 16 —SPJST—
Lodge 49, Rowena youth to build deer blind
Dear SPJST,
I’m going to build a deer blind for my ag mechanics project this year. I have to design, keep receipts, and keep a log of everything I do for the project. We have a new ag teacher who is helping us do more this year. Hunter Wood, age 16 —SPJST—
District Three Royalty enjoy Westfest
From left, 2022-2023 District Three Duchess June Holland, Queen Madison Holland, King Preston Sullivan, and Duke Luke Holland, all of Lodge 25, Ennis, enjoy riding the SPJST Float at Westfest on Saturday, September 3, 2022. RIGHT PHOTO: Madison and Grandma Rita have fun on the fair grounds.
Lodge 49, Rowena youth: football is awesome
Dear SPJST,
It’s been a good senior year for me so far. I don’t have first period so I get to sleep in each morning. School is okay, but football is awesome. We hope to really do good this year. Tanner Wood, age 18 —SPJST—
Dear SPJST,
We are undefeated in our 7-on-7 football this year. We have a tournament this weekend which we hope to do good at. I’m also the water boy for the high school football team. I get to go with my brothers to their practices and games. It’s a lot of fun. Cotton Wood, age 12 —SPJST—
Dear Readers,
If you weren’t at the Czech Heritage Day Celebration on Sunday, October 9, 2022, you really missed a good time. There were so many activities, and I had so much fun that I was really tired by the time it was over. My sister Kalyne and I participated in the Christmas ornament contest, and we both won first place in our age divisions!
The youth continue to meet monthly, and we are still completing our Vestnik projects and planning for the many activities we are contributing to, so we are busy - busy - busy.
Be on the lookout for the information and plans for the Christmas party to be held on Sunday, December 4 at Sokol Dallas. I hear there will be lots of things to do!
Fraternally, Josh Tucker, age 12 —SPJST—
Congratulations to the 2022 SPJST District Three Youth Christmas ornament contest winners! They are, left to right, kindergarten to 2nd grade Gentry Burcie of Lodge 154, Fort Worth; 3rd to 5th grade - Kalyne Tucker and 6th to 8th grade - Josh Tucker, both of Lodge 84, Dallas; and 9th to 12th grade - Holly Jones of Lodge 154, Fort Worth. The contest was held at Sokol Dallas on Sunday, October 9.
Lodge 25, Ennis Youth enjoy skating Social
Lodge 25, Ennis youth enjoyed skating the afternoon away on August 27 and afterwards enjoyed socializing and eating chili dogs at the Holland house.
LEFT PHOTO: Kalynn and Blake. PHOTO 2: King Preston, Duke Luke, and Duchess June. RIGHT PHOTO: Lodge 25 youth and guests.
LEFT PHOTO: Luke, Garrett, June, and Julia play pool. PHOTO 2: Oliver girls. PHOTO 3: Guests Brittany and Irina. RIGHT PHOTO: Paige and Jameson.
Ahoj! It was great seeing so many people at the 125th anniversary celebration this weekend! The Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center museum and library, Polka Museum, and the Velehrad Hall in the Czech village were open for everyone, and I went through all of them! There were games, and I really enjoyed cheering on the kolache eating contestants! Another fun event as SPJST State Duchess, and I can’t wait until the next one! —Vanessa Riha, age 9 2022-2023 SPJST State Duchess
District five announces youth christmas ornament contest winners Lodge 30, Taiton youth wins kolache eating contest
Congratulations to the 2022 SPJST District Five Youth Christmas ornament contest winners! They are, left to right, Kindergarten to 2nd grade - Ruby Jones of Lodge 81, Needville; 3rd to 5th grade - Evan Pflughaupt and 6th to 8th grade - Megan Pflughaupt, both of Lodge 88, Houston; and 9th to 12th grade - Elizabeth Dostal of Lodge 81, Needville. The contest was held at Lodge 88, Houston on Saturday, October 8.
Halloween craft ideas for kids
Halloween is an enjoyable holiday for all, but particularly for children. Kids enjoy the opportunity to channel their whimsy and imagination, whether that involves choosing a clever costume or helping design the theme and scope of home decorations.
Parents, guardians, and educators can channel the creativity inspired by Halloween into various craft projects. Crafts can not only keep children busy when the “I’m bored” lamentations inevitably turn up, but crafts also are a way to keep children off of screens. Plus, the items that children create can be used to decorate rooms in the house — helping to curb added expenses on commercial decor.
The following are some Halloween crafts children can make alone or with the help of older siblings and parents.
Jack’s slime
The toothy grins of jack-o’-lanterns can be seen just about everywhere come Halloween, and the bright orange color of pumpkins heralds the start of fall. What better way to say “Halloween is here” than with a craft that can be displayed and also played with? Slime is something that’s always a big hit with kids. Here’s a recipe for slime, courtesy of The Best Ideas for Kids.
• 6 ounces of Elmer’s glue (substituting with another brand of glue may not produce the same results) • Orange food coloring to create desired hue • 1⁄2 teaspoon of baking soda • 1 1⁄2 tablespoons of contact lens solution (one that contains boric acid in the ingredient list, as that is what causes the chemical reaction to form slime) • Optional: 2 tablespoons of water added to the glue before the baking soda if you desire a stretchier slime • Black felt or black construction paper, cut into the eyes and mouth of a jack-o’lantern • Small mason jar with lid
Decorate the mason jar using a bit of glue to stick the black paper or felt face pieces to the outside of the jar. Mix all the ingredients of the slime in a small bowl and pour into the decorated jar. Paper roll treat holders
Rather than discarding the tubes inside of paper towel or toilet paper rolls, let kids transform them into monster craft treat holders. They’ll be perfect for party favors or even to give out to neighborhood trickor-treaters. Cover the bottoms of the rolls with masking tape so treats won’t fall out. Paint the outside of the cardboard rolls and let dry. An alternative is to cover the rolls in colored paper for less messy fun. Then use markers or paper cut-outs to form faces of the monsters. Fill the rolls with treats, then stuff a piece of tissue paper in each top to add even more personality to the creations and hide the treats inside.
I had a great time at the SPJST 125th Anniversary Celebration in La Grange. We also had the District Six fall fun day and ornament contest.
The Czech Village at Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center is so cool, and my favorites are the sawmill and the polka museum. But my favorite part was when I won the kolache eating contest!
Hudson Riha, age 9 —SPJST—
Lodge 17, New Tabor Youth CluB GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY; CELEBRATES CZECH HERITAGE MONTH
In October, Lodge 17, New Tabor Youth Club participated in two charities and celebrated Czech Heritage Month. More than 50 pairs of gently used shoes were donated to Soles4Souls shoe drive, and used eyeglasses were collected and donated to local Lions Clubs. For Czech Heritage Month, youth brought homemade cookies, and platters were made and taken to five local schools, Burleson County Sheriff’s Department, Caldwell Police Department, and the DPS Office. Way to go, New Tabor Youth Club! LEFT PHOTO: Youth Leader Holly Narro is pictured with donated shoes. CENTER PHOTO: Local Lions Club members display the donated eyeglasses. RIGHT PHOTO: Cookies in honor of Czech Heritage Month.
Lodge 30, Taiton youth participates in community, heritage events in October
So far in October during Czech Heritage Month, Lodge 30, Taiton has participated in a couple fun community events. First, we helped with the games and cake walk at the Taiton Community Center fall festival on Sunday, October 2, 2022. Then, this weekend, we had our District Six fall fun day along with the SPJST 125th Anniversary Celebration. I also really enjoyed the Czech Village and learning more about Texas Czech history.
Simone Riha, age 13 —SPJST—
Ghostly leaves
Make a truly eco-friendly craft on Halloween, with ghosts made out of leaves, eliminating the need to use extra paper. Paint large leaves with white paint. On the narrow-most point on top of the leaves, paint black eyes and mouths. When completely dry, scatter on a table or sideboard for some scary fun, or use double-sided tape to stick to windows and doors. (MS) —SPJST—
I went to the Slavic Heritage Festival in Houston. I dressed up in a Czech outfit, and it was really fun. We did the Pledge of Allegiance. I like how we went around the whole building as a parade.
The funniest thing I like was when we got a wooden egg wrapped with paper; on the paper, was a squirrel, which was so cute.
It was so fun dressing up, and I looked cute myself! Evan Pflughaupt, age 9 —SPJST—
On Sunday, September 25, 2022, I went to the Slavic Heritage Festival to represent Czech heritage as a Czech princess. There were so many cool, new foods and things to try and look at from all over Ukraine, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Slavic, and Poland. The dances were really cool to watch, and the music was great to listen to and experience. I dressed up in a handmade Czech outfit and got to parade around the whole building. Overall, I think this was really fun to attend. Megan Pflughaupt, age 12 —SPJST—
Lodge 160, San Angelo Youth Club met on Sunday, October 16, 2022. Youth discussed attending the annual Lodge 160 meeting in November and riding on the Christmas trolley in San Angelo in December. They painted pumpkins and created sand art for their activity. The youth really enjoyed being creative! The group picture is, front, left to right, Sterling Schwartz, Stella Craddock, Luke Jarisch, Sophia Jarisch, Caitlynn Jansa, and Nolan Jansa. BACK: Parker Schwartz, Brenson Craddock, Carson Craddock, and Bree Gallant.
