We would like to congratulate our Spearman Junior High May Students of the Month:
6th grade- Tanya Davila & Connor Lozano
7th grade- Adley Barclay & Isaias Avila
8th grade- Celeste Garcia & Adler Vasquez
These students have exemplified what we strive to be as students at Spearman Junior High. Each month teachers will choose one male and one female from each class to represent SJH.
Gordon’s and 216 Main are celebrating our students with a drink and cookie each month.
New board members, Dustin Mackie and Scott Sonnenberg, were sworn in at the SISD Board of Education meeting.
In the year 2010, the United States dedicated May 18th as National Speech Language Pathologist Day. Macy Beedy has been a speech-language pathologist for thirteen years. She has worked her entire career in the school setting.
Beedy wears many hats and juggles her responsibilities well. “My primary job as the school speech-language pathologist is to serve students with a speech impairment, or suspected speech impairment. That includes stuttering, articulation, language or voice impairment, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance. Most people picture me helping students who can’t say a certain sound, such as the “R” sound. Although that is a part of my job, it is only a part of my job. I wear lots of hats and get to work with a variety of students.” She added,” I perform evaluations, develop treatment plans, and then provide intervention/therapy. Intervention services may be provided to students individually, in small groups, or in the general education classroom. The type of intervention students receive is based on their needs.”
“One of my favorite parts of my job is providing support and tips to parents, so they can work on carrying over the skills their child is working on at school and in speech therapy to home. Some of our students have made incredible growth this year and the reason is because of this partnership. Seeing parents, teachers, and everyone working for and with a student TOGETHER and the growth that has come from that for the sake of a child, has been a beautiful experience,” smiled Beedy.
Any person that works in the school system has a funny story to share. Beedy shared, “Several years ago I had a student who wasn’t very verbal but always had a smile on his face. I was wearing some new eye makeup and as soon as he walked into my classroom he pointed to my eyes and then his own eyes and said “Ouch!” He kept repeating it “ouch, ouch, ouch” while pointing to my eyes. I finally understood he was referring to my new makeup, so I said, “Yes, it’s just new makeup! Do you like it?” He shook his head no and just continued to say “ouch” while pointing at my eyes for our entire session that day. Needless to say, the new eye makeup was tossed out as soon as I got home from school!”
Student success stories become favorite memories. “I was working with an upper elementary student who stuttered and was very self-conscious about it. We worked on strategies, but we also worked on confidence, acceptance, and being proud of who and how God made us, because He has never made a mistake. I showed him a video of President Joe Biden speaking about his own struggles with stuttering. It was very eye opening to this child and led to great conversation. No matter anyone’s political opinion of a person, to a child who struggles with confidence because of their speech, seeing a man be able to become President of the United States of America in spite of the same speech struggle, it showed that this child could do anything he set his mind to. It was as if a light bulb came on and almost immediately his confidence grew. He was dismissed from speech therapy shortly after because there was nothing more for us to discuss or for me to teach him. My heart still beams for this student, as it does all my students,” reminisced Beedy.
You may not know that during Beedy’s freshman year in high school pole vaulting was added as an event for girls track. Beedy and her friend were the first girl pole vaulters in Spearman High School history. Between the two of them, they took turns breaking the school record! Beedy is still athletic and flexible. A fun hidden talent she shares is her ability to close praying hands behind her back up between her shoulder blades!
SISD is proud of you and your many accomplishments.
Spearman Lynx Basketball Camp July 10-12!
Open to boys & girls!
Congratulations to the Class of 2023! We wish you all the best on your new journey! Remember, once a Lynx, always a Lynx!
The 2023 Arete Basketball Camp will be held Monday, June 26th-Thursday, June 29th.
Lil-Lynx Camp-Incoming 1st -3rd Grade Boys & Girls
8:30am-9:45am
$40 per camper
Arete Camp-Incoming 3rd-9th Grade Boys & Girls
10am-3pm (Thursday, the 29th-half day).
$50 per camper
Family Deal
1st Child: Regular Price
2nd Child: $30
Each Additional: $15
Registration is due by June 24th to insure a t-shirt.
Please make checks payable to Dustin Klafka or Venmo @Missy-Klafka. If venmoing, include child's name, t-shirt size, and grade.
*Registration will be accepted after the deadline, but a t-shirt will no longer be guaranteed.*
Registration forms are available in the elementary office.
Junior High Honor Roll
Congratulations to the Spearman High School Lion's Club Students of the Month, April: Jesus Marquez and May: Brianna Davila, Marcos Varela.
Congratulations to the 8th grade Students of the Month, Celeste Garcia and Adler Vasquez.
2023 Spearman Youth Football Camp will be held Tuesday, May 30th-Thursday, June 1st from 9am-12pm for incoming 2nd-9th graders (2023-24 school year). The cost is $50 per athlete. For parents that have multiple kids attending: $70 for 2 kids, $15 per kid after that. *Proceeds will go to the payment of coaches and shirts.*
Make checks payable to: Aaron Witten or Venmo @Aaron-Sarah. Please put child's shirt size on venmo message.
Sign up forms are available in the elementary office.
Enjoy reading Issue 6 of the Purple Blood Bulletin by the Spearman High School journalism students.
GBE would like to congratulate our honor roll students for the 2023-2024 school year! As a reminder, we will be having an awards assembly on Tuesday, May 16th at 8:15am, with the elementary track meet to follow at approximately 9:30am.
One of the best parts about the yearbook experience is the notes and signatures from friends. Now, with Digital Yearbook Signing Pages, all students have the opportunity to take part in that tradition with a fun, free, interactive experience that results in a permanent keepsake.
It’s free to all students and is a great way to bring our school community together and remember this historic school year!
Get started today at yearbooksigning.jostens.com!
Teacher on the Rise is a student/parent nominated teacher recognition program sponsored by United Supermarkets, Mrs. Baird’s Bread, and Amarillo Custom Box Company. Every month three winners are selected (one elementary, one middle school, and one high school) from across the Texas panhandle. All winning teachers receive a great prize package worth more than $200.00. The student who nominates a winning teacher receives a $50.00 gift card.
The students and staff came together on Thursday, May 11th at a campus level assembly to learn that two teachers from Spearman were selected as the Teacher on the Rise winner. Michael Rountree, Spearman High School teacher and Christa Turner, Gus Birdwell Elementary fifth grade teacher were surprised to learn they were receiving the award.
Cady Barret, Spearman High School junior, nominated Michael Rountree.
“Mr. Rountree is the kind of teacher that lights up the room when he walks in. I have only had him in class one year, but I am always excited for his class. He has this passion for history and culture that I very seldom ever see, and the way he explains everything makes sense to me. History is one of those subjects that some people like and others do not, however, with Mr. Rountree, it is impossible to not love it. The class of his that I am in is a difficult college history class, and he teaches well enough to take so much weight off our shoulders. Mr. Rountree is a prime example of one of those teachers that not only comes every once in a while, and all of us are very thankful that he’s one of our teachers.” Cady Barrett
Greyson Thompson, Gus Birdwell Elementary fifth grade student, nominated Christa Turner.
“Mrs. Turner has gone beyond her teaching by teaching fifth grade students’ math. Mrs. Turner is a really good teacher. She will help students if they have a question, and she will find a way to retell it so the student will understand. Mrs. Tuner will give you the steps to help you figure it out. If you don’t figure it out then as long as you have tried, she will help you. She will not give you the answers, but she will try her best to explain it as good as she can. Mrs. Turner is a very nice teacher. If you forget your homework, she won’t get mad, but she will let you bring it the next day. If you forget it the next day, then there will be consequences. If you ever get to have Mrs. Turner as a math teacher, you will love her. “
Congratulations Mr. Rountree and Mrs. Turner for your many accomplishments!
The Spearman Community Fund (SCF) hosted a grant reception in honor of the non-profit organizations that received a local grant. Kristin Shieldknight and Alejandra Alvarez accepted a grant in the amount of $4,000.00 for the Adult ESL program. The Adult ESL program has served over 130 students since the program began in 2018. Thank you to the SCF for the generous donation.
The students in the Migrant Education Program (MEP) had a fun evening with families at Literacy Night. A special thank you to Jimmy Chavedo, Education Specialist at Region 16, for sponsoring the event.
Week of 5-15-23
ATTENTION GBE PARENTS!!
Due to predicted weather for Monday, May 15th, we have made the decision to RESCHEDULE THE ELEMENTARY TRACK MEET FOR TUESDAY, MAY 16TH, following the awards assembly. Please note the awards assembly will now begin at 8:15am, and the track meet will tentatively start at 9:30am. Attached is an updated *tentative* schedule.
Again, the awards assembly AND the track meet will both be on Tuesday, May 16th.
Estafany Tarango will compete in the state track meet in Austin, Texas today. She has dedicated herself to training and has worked hard to improve her technique, strength, and endurance. Her passion for the sport is evident in her outstanding performance throughout the season, and she has shown remarkable resilience and focus when under pressure. Estefany will be competing in the Wheelchair Shot and in the Wheelchair 100 meter dash. She has increased her personal best in both the Shot Put by several feet from last year and in the 100-meter dash she has dropped nearly seven seconds. We can expect her to represent our school and community with pride and determination. She's been resilient throughout the entirety of her track and field career and will continue to do so in Austin at the State Track Meet! Let's all come together to support Estefany and wish her the very best of luck!
#LYNXNATION #PURPLEPRIDE
Braylen Lusby has certainly worked hard to get to this point in her athletic journey, and we are excited to see her compete at the state track meet. It takes a lot of dedication, perseverance, and talent to excel in the 800-meter run, and we have no doubt that Braylen has what it takes to succeed.
Competing at the state level is a huge accomplishment, and we know that Braylen has the support of her family, friends, and community behind her. We can't wait to cheer her on from the sidelines as she gives it her all on the track.
Braylen's success is a testament to her hard work and determination, and she is a great role model for other aspiring athletes. We wish her all the best and know that she will make us proud no matter what happens at the state track meet.
#LYNXNATION #PURPLEPRIDE
