A Night to Remember

Recalling how the evening of April 23, 2010 all came about is reflecting on a journey I always wanted to happen. Since my age is way past 9 years old, it's time to pass it to another much younger generation.

I am glad to be a performer, able to sing and play for people who probably have better things to do but sit and listen just because they like music. However entering the role of mentor to a young lady, my niece, has lead me down a path of supporting youth and seeing them do what seems at times impossible.

Alycen, my niece, has a talent. She may not know how talented she is (and that's fine) because she is only 9 years old and in the 3rd grade. But last Saturday night Alycen became the pride of Nickerson, Kansas and also the pride of her Aunt Pam.

Alycen performed the National Anthem in Wichita's Koch Arena to a packed house of concert attendee's at the Annual KFDI Listener Appreciation Concert. She opened the show for Josh Turner.... that's right... the Long Black Train guy with the deep distinctive voice! Also appearing was female recording artist Emily West.

I am a big fan of the Brian and Kellie Morning Show on KFDI and listen each morning on the way to work. I heard the ad about entering a contest where the winner would perform the National Anthem at their annual concert. Knowing that Alycen had performed the Anthem at local basketball games, State baseball tournaments, and Rodeos and adding to that her unique flair for performing, my mind began to wonder while driving. I knew she could do it. BUT this was a big venue, much larger than she had tackled in the past.

After a quick e-mail to Alycen's mom, it wasn't long before I had a call asking me which video to send in for the contest! YES! Alycen was going to be in the running! I think the radio station fell for her right from the start because they called her to come to the station to meet the crew there. She was given a tour, an interview, and also got to record herself singing in the recording booth. She had a great time meeting everyone and went on and on about how nice everyone there was!

Her radio interview ran early on a Monday morning, I was barely awake but heard the steady young voice of 9 year old Alycen answer questions with ease and perfection. She talked about her dancing and singing and how she was pretty used to it and also how she enjoyed it. (Aunt Pam was proud already.) It was an easy choice for the radio station, Alycen was the "Tween" they had been searching for to sing the National Anthem at their concert.

The days leading up to the performance went fast. The sold out concert, had family members scrambling to get tickets to see Alycen perform. Her mom ordered her new sparkly red dress online and made a trip to Shelper's for her new "cowgirl" boots. Mom made great choices! ....Her dad paid the bill! The boots were dressed up with rhinestones and her red dress and long blonde hair looked pristine on stage.

When she was introduced the crowd went wild. Her mom and dad, brothers Ben and Sam, and other family members and friends sat proud in their seats! Alycen performed with grace and composure, she smiled and waved to the audience at the end with the style of a great and humble showman. The crowd, who obviously loved her, went wild again!

After performing she was able to visit with Josh Turner, get photos taken with him and capture an autograph for future memories. That's big for a 9 year old.

It was a great night, a night to remember for our family for a long, long, time. Today she is back in her desk in the 3rd grade at Nickerson Elementary. Her classmates and teachers will hear stories but have no idea what a fun weekend she had performing to a packed house of 10,000 country music fans. Thanks Alycen for making the weekend so much fun. Aunt Pam is so proud of you! Until the next time.........

Love that Wordle!

I think I love Wordle!

Hearing the world itself is interesting enough but to think it's a catch phrase to introduce new words in the classroom is amazing! Another step towards no more boring learning!

If you haven't used Wordle you really should check it out. They are "beautiful cloud words."

I have watched tech savvy educators use it for a while now. I am amazed at the ways they have found to use it in class!

I can see it used in the classroom for spelling word lists, class rosters, bus rosters, word definitions and so many other things. It seems like it would make learning new words much more fun for students that's why technology-minded educators use it on a daily basis.

I have found after surveying a few teachers they use it daily for student birthday cards, to summarize chapters, to introduce kids at the beginning of the year or their first day in a new classroom. One even mentioned character descriptions such as a good teammate, a good friend, all about me, words for fun, all about our classroom. Or to introduce a unit, what will they be studying? What will they learn? Introduce a new book? Predict what it's about? Not to mention using it to find themes, threads, in speeches, text, etc.

Imagine making a wordle and passing it out as the weekly spelling word list! It might take the "boring" word out of the weekly spelling test!

WOW, there is so much to this word program I better keep looking I might find out more than I already have and I was pulled in by the catch phrase "Wordle" what a great non-boring word!

Things that mean a lot to me!

Some of the things that mean a lot to me are listed

to the right. Family members who always have something to say and keep me interested in their many activities daily.

Through their travels I feel like I see the world, pictures e-mailed make me feel like I am there seeing the adventures with them.

Today the spring snow storm is letting us see the NCAA tournament at our house. Normally we would be out at an event not able to be home.

We received an e-mailed picture this morning from the middle son who is in Las Vegas during the NCAA tournament, he said the weather was bad there too and attached a picture of his group at the pool enjoying themselves!

The oldest son in Texas was out on the lake early to do his bass fishing and sent pictures!

Technology keeps our family together even though we are states apart. We use it daily and thank friends who answer tough questions when I ask them about it. I T guys are the greatest! The next best thing to technology its self when it works!

Would YOU make a good Ambassador?

Have you ever thought of yourself as being a spokesperson for something you really believed in or felt passionate about? Something you knew from past history you could relay the message of the person or business and know you could depend on the credibility to always be there?

Those are traits of a true Ambassador!

ESSDACK is looking for a few good educators! Educators with an undying passion for education and student learning. These people would need to be employed by an ESSDACK member district, recognized as educational leaders, and be familiar with the ESSDACK organization and what makes it special.

An ESSDACK Ambassador would be the contact for their school building and educate fellow teachers about the opportunities offered to educators by ESSDACK. They would be the "eyes and ears" of ESSDACK during their daily travels. We can't be everywhere, even though we would like to be! That is where the ESSDACK ambassador will help out!

Participating in past events held by ESSDACK qualifies you to be a part of this new program. Volunteering alongside ESSDACK employees during special events would be common place, social networking, which engages ongoing conversations with community and consumers is a must!

The benefits? Mash-ups with ESSDACK groups during the school year, being a sounding board for new ideas, and the chance to shape the direction of ESSDACK to mention a few.

If this new program sounds intriguing to you and you would like to embrace a new chapter in your educational career, call the ESSDACK office at 620-663-9566, e-mail pamm@essdack.org or check soon for an online application on the ESSDACK website.

ESSDACK Ambassadors will give area educators and patrons a "human being" to connect with rather than the traditional newsletters, e-mails websites and brochures.

State Tournament Time!

It's State Tournament Time in Kansas!

For the 1st time in 16 years the home team Nickerson Panthers Basketball team and their head coach Ryan Duft will head to Salina to compete in the class 4A state tournament. They will be accompanied by a few hundred fans in blue and gold, accompanied by signs and streamers that will decorate their cars on the parking lot and the streets of little Nickerson, Kansas (Population 1256).

In a small town THIS IS A BIG THING! Parents grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, church members, the whole town is talking about the games everywhere you go. They have a right to be proud of their team. If your team has never been to the state tournament you don't know the feeling and you won't be having the time of your life this week. If you are a true basketball fan that loves to watch good basketball you will be joining in the fun at a state tournament location near you.

This is fun! This is exciting! When tournament week rolls around you can expect the unexpected. Like the pride of Burrton, Kansas....Alex Santiago..... who today is known as Amazin' Alex. He scored a record high 53 points in a boys state playoff game during the Burrton Chargers game last night against Hanover. After scoring 17 in the first half, he lit up the place with 36 points in the 2nd half to reach the record. Alex did his best but Hanover defeated Burrton 85-66 at the final buzzer. On a radio talk show this morning Alex said he would give up all the points and the record just to have won the game. According to his Superintendent "he is just that kind of kid." Here's to celebrating Alex, his accomplishment will remain in the record books even though his team's season has come to an end.

You meet a lot exceptional athletes, coaches and fans during tournament week. You find out all sorts of things you probably didn't need to know to be a better person, or employee, but you can find something that will make you a more interesting person.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year includes Madness

March Madness has begun. High school basketball is heating up in area schools. This is the time of year coaches and students have looked forward to since the first of November when they began the winter basketball season with high hopes.

If you are a high school basketball fan you know what I am talking about. Tuesday and Friday nights from November through February are spent on the road or at home with your team. The dates go on the calendar early so you are sure not to miss an inbound pass or a whistle of any game.

I have often wondered what makes a good basketball fan. Is it watching your son or daughter; grandson or granddaughter; nieces or nephews; reliving your own high school sports career; support of high school athletes in your community or just a love for the game.

Our community is blessed with long-time sports fans who have attended sporting events for years. I enjoy seeing them at every game and even look to their area of the gym to see if they are there for the evening.

Where would our schools be without fan support for our students? What fun would it be for our kids to play in an empty gym with no cheering fans to back them? I look forward to the fan "Madness" even if it's not March. But there is nothing quite like sub-state playoff time. The fans, the players, the coaches, the cheerleaders all seem to be at seasons peak and ready to knock off their competitors showing their style and passion for the game.

The young coaches we have today work to put the best team on the court. I love to see their competitive nature, something that must go along with coaching for a person to be any good at it. Along with great coaches come great games and I have been able to see many of them while at my public address announcing job at the local high school. I have met some of the greatest fans, coaches and players in the area and the state while they show an example of what their years of practicing basketball has prepared them for.... and that is March Madness.

There is no bigger way to get attention paid to your school than through sports. A good team gets your school noticed, more than noticed, it get's you on the 10 o'clock news, Catch it Kansas, Internet, Newspapers, Twitter, Facebook and more.

This year as in the past I will faithfully cheer for my Panther girls and boys and coaches Lynn Vick and Ryan Duft to compete with the heart of a champion as they begin their sub-state play. The hours of entertainment they have given me over they years has often been a conversation starter as we go over play after play on the way home from the game and on the phone with long distance fans who want to be filled in about the panthers and how their performance was that night.

The coaches and players are ready for March. Parents, grandparents, fans, cheerleaders, athletic directors, principals, concession stand workers, ticket takers and custodians are ready too. Get to the games when you can, you never know what you might miss! If you can't make it in person listen on the radio. Cheer for your team, support your students, teachers, administrators and show school pride. It will be fun being part of MARCH MADNESS! You might have something to talk about until the season starts again in November!

A Passionate Fan

My husband has been a sportswriter for 35 years. Our three boys were raised traveling to games that dad was assigned on weekends for years.

They grew up missing Saturday birthday parties and school events to attend Big 8 and then Big 12 football and basketball games. Their friends thought they were lucky, sometimes the boys weren't so sure. While dad was working on his stories long after the game was over. Mom was on the parking lot teaching them how to throw a spiral. At midnight we would start the 3-5 hour drive home talking sports the whole way.

The history of being a sports fan has been instilled in all three of the boys. Now grandpa is working on his grandson also! You see, being passionate about your team is a good thing. It builds character, it's a great hobby, it's great conversation with friends, when they loose it's seeing how they might do things differently the next time, keeping the faith.

Our youngest was among the faithful at the recent KSU/KU game to cheer for his Wildcats. Preparing for the game started early in the week hoping to be randomly picked with a low number for his wait in line. Learning on Thursday before the game that he would get the ultimate number, a number that might land him a spot on the front row, he headed to Kinkos with his jump drive in hand. There he had them print the poster sized picture of ESPN's Dick Vitale that would surely get him on TV and maybe even ESPN sportscenter (his favorite show).

He was up early and took part in ESPN's College Gameday that was held on campus. Total attendance was 8,159 the largest crowd ever for gameday. Did you know, K-State became one of only 15 schools that has hosted gameday for both football and basketball that morning?

Leaving the stadium he made calls to his brothers in Texas and Wichita to report in, and stood in line with a few of his newest and closest friends for 5 hours before game time.

The time came to enter Bramlage and he was on his way to the front row to take his spot, an outing that sports historians in our family will relive for years. Dick Vitale entered courtside and came up to him to see the poster picture of himself. He gladly signed and dated the picture and chatted about the beard that was placed on his face to promote the play of Wildcat Jacob Pullen. You see a real sports fan who has attended hundreds of games in his short 19 years knows how to get on national television, his plan worked well.

I have cheered for many ball games in my lifetime and each day there is one more to cheer for. I enjoy the passion of a true sports fan, the thrill of being at the big game, the excitement of being live for a college gameday show, and watching the family enjoy their own version of sportscenter after the game.

Thanks Jordan, you were trained well, your gameday events were thrilling, fun, exciting and memorable for mom and dad too! We enjoyed every minute of it!