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APOLLO STUDENTS HOST BE THE MATCH CAMPAIGN

Students in Apollo High School’s (AHS) Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program were inspired to create a school and districtwide Be the Match bone marrow registry campaign to demonstrate their support for a teacher who received a life-saving stem cell transplant. AHS junior Jack Ellis spearheaded the program after a class discussion about Apollo engineering teacher Jonathan Leohr who battled cancer for nearly 13 years before discovering that a stem cell transplant would be the only option to save his life. Students attended online training, created classroom posters and banners, and worked the registry table for two days in November to encourage students and staff ages 18 to 40 to join the registry through a simple cheek swab procedure. The final blood donation and Be the Match event took place on Friday, Nov. 25 with all proceeds from blood donation going directly to the Leohr family.

“It's amazingly easy and makes all the difference to one person and everyone in that person's life,” Leohr said. “What you've done is save a life where they had no other options left to live.”

NEWTON PARRISH ELEMENTARY TEACHER WINS $25K MILKEN EDUCATOR AWARD

Charlotte Buskill, a 3rd-grade teacher at Newton Parrish Elementary, was surprised Thursday morning with the Milken Educator Award, a prestigious recognition which includes an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize to be used however she likes. “I’m just so shocked,” said Buskill, who comes from a family of educators. She said Newton Parrish leaders “took a chance on a girl from Pennsylvania who came for an interview” and she was “captivated by the love that every single teacher puts in every single day” there. Buskill was presented with the award, which includes a $25,000 unrestricted cash prize, in a surprise ceremony at her school that included students, faculty, and district and community leaders. The award was presented by Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason E. Glass, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Milken Educator Awards Senior Vice President Jane Foley. “I am so happy to be in Owensboro today with the Milken Foundation to celebrate Charlotte Buskill, one of Kentucky’s outstanding educators,” said Glass. “Mrs. Buskill goes above and beyond what is expected of her as a teacher and a colleague and inspires her students to do the same. Students leave her classroom well prepared for the next step in their educational journey.” Buskill has taught at Newton Parrish Elementary School since 2016. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in literacy education from Western University Kentucky. She is currently pursing her National Board certification.

IMIDDLE STUDENT'S ART WINS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CONTEST

River Valley Behavioral Health presented an Art Cart to the student body at Owensboro Innovation Middle School on Monday during the Leader of the Month Assembly.

In May, RVBH had a community art contest for Mental Health Awareness Month. The theme was “Be Kind to Your Mind.”

OIMS student Mercy Tanner won the contest in her division, and the school received a $500 check for having a student winner. The school used the $500 to purchase a cart and art supplies to create an Art Cart for students to utilize as self-regulation and to de-stress in a safe environment.

Student Spotlight:

Kaitlyn is an 8th grade student at Daviess County Middle School. Her positive attitude is a staple in the classroom. Kaitlyn is kind, respectful, responsible, and a very hard worker. In homeroom, Kaitlyn is always the first to ask if there is anything she can do to help out, she is always willing to go the extra mile!

Ash is a 7th grade student at Daviess County Middle School. Her teachers applaud her maturity and responsibility combined with her chill personality. Ash is a pleasure to have in class!