This past fall marked a Math-a-Thon fundraising event that brought in over $1500.00 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.  Our elementary and middle school students worked math problems and showed concern for their peers who were battling life-threatening diseases.  Older students, families and staff sponsored their efforts and made a significant difference for many.

The local ROHO group out of Middlesboro/Bell County gave ten of our elementary children the opportunity to shop this Christmas.  Ten Red Bird seniors volunteered to help them shop and to make their experiences special and meaningful.  Our little ones not only chose items for themselves, but also for their families.  Afterwards, both groups shared about how special it was to give.  Both received great blessings in the process.

Red Bird Mission School has sponsored three blood drives with the Kentucky Blood Center—with one more ready to go in May.  Many Red Bird students have participated by spreading the word throughout the community, helping to organize the events, and giving a total of 44 live-giving donations.  Students are developing a service-minded character that is demonstrated through their actions.  Their goal is to donate over 60 pints of blood this school year!  May 8th is our final drive.  Come out and join our students as they help to ‘save a life’.

Most recently, Red Bird Mission School sponsored a Pennies for Patients event that benefitted the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  The senior class helped Mrs. Wilder present the challenge to the students—three weeks of collecting “pennies” to help children who are going through blood cancer treatments.  During a time of great financial strain, our Red Bird families (lead by our students) collected over $1200.00 to, again, make a difference for those in need.  On students’ hearts and minds are two special local young women, Kasey and Sara, who are each in the midst of their own fights with such cancers.

The examples above demonstrate the committment of our students and staff to our motto: Enter to Learn.  Leave to Serve.  Praise the Lord.

This self-study will guide us through all aspects of our organization and encourage us to rethink and rededicate our policies, procedures, and practices for God’s glory.  The standards set before us represent characteristics of excellent Christian schools.  CSI and SACS have a strong partnership and we will have access to the resources of both groups.  The result will be a refined plan of action for improvement, a re-alignment of all areas to our mission and a clarified awareness of our needs–both organizational and monetary.

Parents, students, faculty, staff, administration, Board members and community members are invited to become part of this process.  School Improvement Meetings (6:00pm in the school library) are planned for the following dates:

• February 13
• March 5
• March 19
• April 23
• May 14

Help us celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday, March 2, by encouraging your children READ, READ, READ!  That day has been set aside to challenge students to take a record number of Accelerated Reading tests on books read.  Red Bird students will receive prizes and awards for the greatest numbers of tests taken with highest accuracy.

Red Bird Mission School will be hosting the Scholastic Book Fair on March 19-23.  Red Bird students who participate in the Reading Celebration will be eligible to win a free book for the greatest number of tests taken with highest accuracy on March 2nd.

The following items are in high demand:

• copy paper
• flash drives (1 GB is fine)
• ice packs
• chewable Jr. Tylenol
• markers
• magnets
• printer cartridges (#HP 920XL; HP 20/21; Lexmark 50; HP 56; HP Laser Jet P1005; HP Laser Jet Q2612A)
• toner cartridges (Lexmark E260A) ** for computer lab printers
• Clorox Wipes
• wet wipes
• hand sanitizer
• mechanical pencils
• Kleenex
• page protectors
• two-pocket folders
• manila file folders
• band aids
• staplers
• pencil sharpeners
• large pencils for Kindergarten class
• white out
• highlighters
• tabbed notebook dividers
• video projector (to project online media)
• Recordable Compact Disks and cases  (for music program)
• large paper clips
• rubber bands (to bundle Box Tops)
• 3-ring notebooks (1″)
• pencil bags or boxes
• non-perishable snacks for after school programs

SPIRIT WEEK

To lead into the special event, spirit week called on Red Bird students to show their school spirit. Students were challenged to display the following themes for the week:

• Tuesday-Pajama Day
• Wednesday-Hat and/or Camouflage Day
• Thursday-Mismatched/Silly Sock Day
• Friday-Crazy Red Day

All Red Bird is missing now are two or three eager volunteers who are willing to get trained and then lead students in learning archery skills with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP).

Clay County UNITE sponsored a $1500 grant for Red Bird to acquire needed equipment: six bows, three targets, and lots of arrows!  The UNITE program plans to help Red Bird earn another grant to expand the program when ready.

Local schools in nearby counties have started NASP and both parents and students are very enthusiastic.  Red Bird is excited to get started!  Please spread the word and help RB find adults willing to lead the effort.

Anyone interested is urged to call Mrs. Wilder at 598-2416.

Those wanting to donate blood can call 1-800-775-2522 or visit www.kybloodcenter.org for blood drive and donor center details.

Blood donors must be 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health and meet additional requirements.  Sixteen year old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which are available in the Red Bird Mission School office.

The Kentucky Blood Center, serving more than half of Kentucky’s counties, is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring a safe, adequate blood supply for patients at nearly 70 Kentucky hospitals and clinics.  KBC relies on volunteers to collect 400 units of blood per day to meet area patients’ needs.  Over the last year KBC distributed nearly 130,000 units of blood and blood products.

A Job Well Done by Everyone!

On the evening of October 7th, Red Bird students performed The Rocks Cry Out to celebrate 90 years of Red Bird Mission to a packed crowd of appreciative alumni, parents, and friends.  Music Director, Mark Smallwood, and English teacher, Sandra Melton, led students on a journey to research and celebrate Red Bird’s legacy.  The play, written by talented faculty member Rebecca Smallwood, told the story of how Red Bird Mission began.

Red Bird Senior CP English students added to the night by acting out the characters of Red Bird history and sharing their stories alongside a slideshow of the actual people created from collected archival photographs.  The “I Am” speeches shared were written by the senior students after careful research into each life history.

Long-term volunteers: John Cooper and Fred Moore added much to the project.  Mr. Cooper created the slideshow and helped with technical aspects of the program.  Mr. Moore offered his theater know-how to help our students shine!  A big thanks to Mike Wagers is also in order for helping deliver the giant ‘praying rock’ to the stage.