Color Me Fun 2

New students Keith and Angel are hard at work painting pottery.

Paint seems to be the theme this Spring Break as the boys took a field trip out to Glazed Pottery in Clemson yesterday. We hope we’re not giving away any upcoming gift secrets with this post, but the boys had a great time selecting and customizing green ceramic ware. The next step is firing at over 1000 degrees,  which makes the paint come to life and hardens the projects. We love the focus and concentration the boys put into their painted projects.

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Color Me Fun

Ever wonder what goes on back at campus when Spring Break is scheduled? In addition to a lot of meetings and a lot of cleaning, there are some pretty fun things going on for the boys and staff who remain on campus.

Coach Josh took his wife to a “Color Run” last Saturday. Spectators get to lob colored cornstarch balls at the participants as they go past. Needless to say, his tie-dyed sneakers will never be the same. Luckily, the rest came out of his hair!

Coach Josh and Mrs. Coach paint the town red.

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Bears Cross Country Back in Action

The Bears Cross Country team set out on a 5K Trail Run in Demorest, GA March 10th, and left the rest of the crowd wondering who they were and what the heck happened.

Jimmy took First Place in his age group and First overall with a 20:33 time, averaging a 6:38 minute mile. James took First Place in his age division and Third Place overall, finishing just 50 seconds behind Jimmy . Rick took Third in his age group, also right on Jimmy’s heels at 22:45, and Sixth overall. Nick took Third in his age group and 12th overall.

Loucas took 10th, Dain took 11th and Tommy took 15th  in their11-14-year-old age group.

Congratulations to all our boys, and Coach Josh as well, who finished a respectable sixth in his age group too!

Next up is the Chick-Fil-A 5K Road Run on April 21st. Go Bears!

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Oh yes, they did!

Laser focus from the boys during Regional Mission work.

Our Bears have a winning streak going on, and we’re proud to let you know it!

Not only did they place 11th in the Robot Performance category in last weekend’s State LEGO League competition — their highest finish ever — but our own Coach Nick Linscott brought home Coach of the Year AGAIN! The presentation of this particular award has not been made at the State level since 2005, when Mr. Linscott was also  its recipient. Does it sound like we have someone special leading our boys? We think so!  Tommy remarked, “I couldn’t do this without my coach. He helped the team through everything. To us, it’s obvious why he won Coach of the Year.”

The always humble Nick refocused the accolades back onto the boys during an assembly Monday morning, honoring the team’s accomplishments. “Rick was a rock while driving the robot,” Nick said. “He was focused and laser sharp on accumulating points during the mission. Tommy made an amazing recovery when he attempted to place a tool on the robot and it fell apart in his hands. He reassembled it and got it on the robot quick enough to make some more buzzer-beating points for us.”

“Everyone had a great part in this and I’m proud of their accomplishment,” he added. Michael said the best part of the weekend was really, “when Nick got his award.”

“I feel happy and excited that our teamwork didn’t fail,” Vincent commented.

“I would never done this at a regular public school,” Eddie said. “I would have felt like I would be judged (badly for joining LEGO League) there.”

“Going to Columbia was one of the best experiences that I’ve ever had,” Dain remarked. “I’ve learned so much about technology while working with the robot.” Rick added, “It was a pretty cool experience.”

Only six more months until the 2012 Missions are released. Here on campus, we  can’t wait!

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Bears Triumph in Walhalla!!!

The Cherokee Creek Bears upset Walhalla tonight in a 35-42 victory! Congratulations to the team and to Coaches Mike Shepherd and Chris Leamons for their leadership. The boys are completely psyched! Their coaches are very happy and the cheering section, which included a parent and Executive Director David LePere are all very proud. David says, “This was the best team play I’ve seen all season!”

Yeah, Bears!!!

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Go Wash Your Hands!

Vincent, Alexander and Dain help deliver the Team LEGO science presentation today before lunch

The LEGO League regional qualifier is tomorrow. This means that the Cherokee Creek LEGO Team has been working tirelessly to prepare for the different aspects of tomorrow’s competition: evaluation of programming, robot runs, expression of LEGO League values…and the science presentation.

The science presentation is a scripted skit the boys perform to illustrate their understanding of research they have conducted related to this year’s LEGO League theme, Food Factor. Our team has focused on hand washing as an aspect of food handling.

A sample of the team’s script has been included below. Check out the team’s instructions on proper hand washing technique (delivered in the style of rap, courtesy of Alexander’s musical writing skills):

Alright check this!
Wet you hands with clean running water
Use soap it don’t matter is it’s warma or colda
Scrub them well, backs too, under nails between your fingers
But be careful! The germs will keep clingin on!
So if you need a timer, twice you sing the Happy Birthday song!
Wash for twenty seconds, you got time to spare,
And after that you can dry your hands with towel or air! Word.

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Point of View Switch

In English class this week, students began reading our “Warrior Quarter” book, The War Horse. The tale is told completely from the point of view of Joey, the horse. After discussing how stories can vary depending on who’s telling it, the boys went to work writing a story from another point of view.

Enjoy “A Walk, To a Dog” by Loucas:

“Walk?”

I heard that great word. The world that inevitably left me jumping in circles with my tail wagging faster than a trucker down the interstate.

“Come on girl, we’re going for a walk, girl!”

When I heard that a second time, I went nuts like a herding dog in a field of disobedient sheep. I knew I was gonna have some crazy fun on this walk.

“Stay girl.”

I followed the command instantly, without hesitation. I felt like letting go of my obedience and acting a fool of myself, but I helped myself … although I did let a few twitches go. He buckled the leash to my choke chain and immediately I let my discipline go and started running circles.

I was finally ready to go. I walked a a slightly faster pace than him so I could assert my dominance over him. I constantly gaped at my surroundings. There were fascinating cars, houses, lawnmowers … It was all so overwhelming.

Without even know it, I ended up back at my home. The outside world slowly closed off to me. My leash was taken off. I laid down on a slightly damp towel that I’ve designated as my bed in a pool of contented exhaustion.

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Meet Team LEGO 2012

Introducing this year’s CCBS LEGO League team! Congratulations to (pictured above from left) Eddie, Rick, Alexander, Dain, Vincent, Tommy and Michael! Along with Coach (and Math Teacher) Nick Linscott, these gentlemen will represent CCBS at the regional qualifier this Saturday with “gracious professionalism,” a core value of F.I.R.S.T. LEGO League.

At Saturday’s event the team will demonstrate their knowledge of this year’s theme: Food Factor through a science presentation. They will also be interviewed by judges to gauge their professionalism and ability to work well together. And, of course, central to all of this will be the three robot runs, when the Bears will test their programming skills with a timed challenge course for their robot to perform.

We’ll keep you posted on the results.

GO BEARS!!!

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Two Very Special Programs

In the next few months we have two very special programs coming up for mothers and fathers of Cherokee Creek Boys School students. It is important to note that these programs are not restricted to moms and dads. Participants may include other significant adults invested in the success of CCBS students.

On deck first is the Women of Courage Retreat in February (February 12-14), just preceding the February Family Seminar facilitated by Founder, Beth Black and Manager of Clinical Services, Jane Barker. This event is for mothers of current CCBS students. For more information please read the Women of Courage Invitation.

In April, Fathers and Sons are invited to launch into a multi-day sea kayaking adventure to Cumberland Island. The Father & Son Sea Kayaking Adventure (April 18-22 – possible evening travel on April 17) will be facilitated by Cherokee Creek staff and Breakwater Expeditions and is designed to be the perfect combination of activity, rest, relationship development and fun! For trip details, download the Cumberland Island Trip Packet.

Both of these events have limited availability. Please RSVP to Beth Venable if you are interested in attending: (864) 647-1885 or via email at bvenable@cherokeecreek.net.

We look forward to seeing you!

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2012 Basketball Season

This just in! The 2012 basketball season has been announced. The dates, times and locations are listed below.

We love to see families cheering at the games. Please let us know if you can make it and we will be sure to get you directions and any additional details.

Games:
Thursday, January 5th at 8:00 pm, Walhalla City Gym
Friday, January 13th at 8:00 pm, Walhalla City Gym
Tuesday, January 17th at 6:00 pm, Seneca Gignilliat
Monday, January 23rd at 8:00 pm, Westminster
Saturday, January 28th at 12:00 pm, Fair Oak
Thursday, February 2nd at 8:00 pm, Westminster
Friday, February 3rd at 8:00 pm, Walhalla City Gym
Tuesday, February 7th at 6:00 pm, Seneca Gignilliat
Thursday, February 9th at 6:00 pm, Seneca Gignilliat

GO BEARS!!

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