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My mom and grandmother both sewed and luckily, somewhere along the line, my mom taught me some sewing basics. I have a serviceable sewing machine, tons of thread, some supplies passed down from her and some of my own.
Like many other frustrated designers, I threaten my family routinely not to use my sewing scissors to cut paper, even though I rarely use them at all. I have a special shelf and box for all my bobbins, my seam ripper, elastic, bias tape, ricrac, and extra needles. I am not designing haute couture fashion or something you will see on a runway, and my daughter won’t pass on any clothes I made for her to her own children. My expertise lies in small, one afternoon projects; I can make a straight stitch and can follow a pattern. So over the course of this quarantine time, I have been sewing face masks. Some of them are made from a very special fabric provided by St. Luke’s through a group One Mask at a Time, begun by a friend. My mom and even my husband helped cut them out, and I pray over each one I sew, that a professional healthcare worker will be safe and can continue to care for the infirm. Other masks are from cotton fabric that has just been waiting to be included in such a special project as this. Boy, if that fabric could talk. Anyone who has been to Joanne’s on a rainy Sunday afternoon may relate to my fabric stash. In fact, if someone says you have too much fabric, stop talking to them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life. Much of my fabric stash was purchased with good intentions. There is a cheery Hawaiian look cotton print that thought I would make fun, matching mother daughter skirts with. My charming then four year old would come out of her room, dressed in some wild looking outfit, and say, “Match me, Mom! Match me!” I tried. I really did. When I could not re-create her special brand of pattern mixing, I decided I would sew some things for us to match. She is 14. Trust me when I tell you, she no longer wants to match. There were various, beautiful deep purple fabrics that were meant to pay homage to my alma mater, Truman State University (just FYI, when I attended, it was Northeast Missouri State University, where my piddly ACT score was still perfectly acceptable). I visualized myself sitting in Stokes Stadium on a beautiful fall afternoon, under a handmade quilt of many purple shades and hues, taking compliments on my loyalty to my school as well as excellent sewing skills. “Bulldogs, Bulldogs, bow wow wow!” I yelled, as I stood up to cheer on the team, gathering my quilt to place it back across my lap, a potential future alumnus of the year, just waiting for the call. I haven’t been to Homecoming in about five years, due to the aforementioned 14 year old’s schedule, and the fact that I cannot hold my liquor like I used to, and reunions tempt me to try. Well, that and the fact that I never finished the quilt. There are whimsical fabrics in my stash as well, like a black and white cow print, cute little cowboys standing near a covered wagon, and a yard or so of red bandana like cotton. I feel like they were going to be a part of a Halloween costume that likely got purchased at the last minute and not handmade after all (think Toy Story’s Jessie). Or maybe I wanted cute scarves or headbands for a trip we had dreamed of taking out West. Turns out the farthest west I have been lately is Olathe, Kansas, and it seemed like such a long trip that I had to take snacks. I must have gone through a bird phase as well. My flock of fabric included owls, eagles, and the cutest fat breasted bird in a repeating pattern. I can’t remember any reason for having purchased these at all. I am guessing that I got to that section and glanced lovingly at the bolts, unable to leave any of them behind. Or maybe they were 50% off. Yep! That’s it. My plaid phase is a little easier to explain. You see, the plaids were going to serve two purposes. The first is, like many ill-informed middle class moms, I assumed I would own a cute little lake house or country retreat by my late 30’s, where my family would go each weekend every Friday, right when we got off the clock, and where we would stay and commune with nature until late Sunday afternoon, where we would grudgingly head back to our daily lives. And, like all good woodsy retreats, it would be decorated in homey, comforting plaids. I mean, that’s what’s in the movies, right? If not a house or cabin, at least a back yard She Shed, like Sheryl’s right? Silly little things like a mortgage on a real house, a car payment, and the need for groceries got in the way of that dream. But the plaid evidence still exists. The second way I wanted to use the plaid was for an ill-conceived conversion for my husband from regular ties to bow ties, ones that I would of course make. I have written about my husband The Coach before, so many of you are wondering if you missed the chapter where he trades in his baggy elastic waist shorts and screen printed t-shirts and becomes a dapper businessman, who eschews tradition of boring long ties, and shows up at his appointments in a neatly pressed oxford cloth button down with a bow tie and matching pocket square. You did not miss that chapter. But I did miss the mark. As with many of my mistakes, I blame Pinterest. Darn that perky housewife who talked her husband into wearing bow ties and then posted her finished projects, complete with a PDF of the instructions. When I approached my husband with the idea, after he checked for all the signs of me having had a stroke, determined I had not, realized I was quite serious, and then took a deep breath, he explained what I had missed. He said it was not that he would not want to wear anything that I had hand-sewn, but more that he felt the longer ties really made him appear thinner—you know, vertical lines and all. The plaids took their place in the stash. And finally there were dog prints in my stash. I love dogs. In fact, after having been in the house for almost a month with my family, my dog is easily my favorite family member. In a well-trained stash of fabric were French bulldogs wearing jaunty scarves and long-legged greyhounds frolicking with Pekinese on turquoise backgrounds. There were dogs wearing glasses and ties, because who doesn’t like dogs who look like people? There were dogs with Christmas wreaths and dogs breaking out of Easter eggs. There were no dogs who had been COVID-19 quarantined and desperately in need of grooming. Since I had apparently been working on my PhD (projects half done), all these fabrics and a few more from my Oriental phase, made their way into cotton masks for family and friends. If you got a mailbox or driveway delivery, maybe you will read about your fabric here. I can promise you, each mask was made with only a little regret over the project it was originally meant for, but with much love and hope for the person it was made for. I will leave you with a poem that I wish was my own, but for whom I can find no attributed author: Soft Fabric, Warm Fabric, Buy it by the Yard Happy Fabric, Pretty Fabric Here’s my Credit Card! Please stay safe and at home! Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer. Spring is here! While your neighbors and friends are focused on spring cleaning their living space, have you thought about spring cleaning your diet? We’re not talking about starting the next trendy diet in the news, but rather using spring as a time to reflect on what “basic” healthful diet habits you forgot about over the long cold winter months.
Remember Hydration Arguably one of the most important aspects of your health is staying hydrated, but typically it gets lost in the shuffle when focusing on our diets. We have a tendency in winter months and colder weather to naturally decrease water intake to stay warm. Springtime is the perfect time to again focus on this. The average adequate fluid intake, according to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, should be between 92 and 124 ounces a day. Several factors would either increase or decrease that amount, but this gives you a rough starting point; it’s much more than the 64 ounces once recommended. Dietitian Tip: Start your day off with a water bottle before you drink your typical morning beverage! Eat the Rainbow This advice, used to encourage kids to get a variety of fruits and vegetables in their diet, is important for adults as well. According to the CDC, only 1 in 10 adults are meeting the recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake. Take a minute and think: How many servings do I typically consume? The reason to include all the colors of the rainbow: Each color carries different phytochemicals and antioxidants that may help you fight off cancer and reduce the risk of metabolic diseases. Dietitian Tip: Try to get 2 colors of fruits and vegetables on your plate at each meal. Skip the Added Sugar Added sugars can be found in just about everything, from peanut butter, bread and crackers to sauces. It’s important to differentiate between natural sugars and added sugars. Natural sugars are those that are “naturally” found in food. Foods including fruits, vegetables and many dairy products would fall into this category. Added sugars, just as it implies, are sugars that are added to a food to enhance flavor or texture. The newest Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest limiting our added sugar intake to less than 10% of our total daily calorie intake. Food labels show the total sugar in a serving and what portion of that is derived from added sugars. Dietitian Tip: Make it a habit as you purchase a food product to look for the added sugar amount in the nutrition label. Check similar products to compare and find the option with the lowest amount of added sugar. Consume Healthy Fats Not all fats are created equal. Saturated and trans fats may have negative effects on your cardiovascular health; monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and omega-3s are better for you. You can find these fats in foods like fatty fish, flax/chia seeds, avocadoes, olive oil, nuts and seeds. Per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, your fat intake should be around 20% to 35% of your total caloric intake. Dietitian Tip: Consume 2 servings of fatty fish a week. Examples of fatty fish include salmon, sardines, albacore tuna and trout. Be Mindful of Portions Looking for defense against weight gain? Being more aware of your fullness and portions can help. Most individuals eat out of habit and routine, so use strategies like the hunger scale, smaller plates and meal duration to find your appropriate meal or snack size. Dietitians will tell you: There are no food rules. Using mindfulness is a healthy key and looks different for each person. Dietitian Tip: Get evening cravings? Stop yourself and reflect on why you are going back to your pantry. Is it out of hunger? Is it out of emotion, like boredom? Or is it a habit? Instead of working on your obligatory spring cleaning list, follow these tips toward taking a fresh look at your diet - and feel the difference. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitians! She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). Formerly, Megan served as the President and Vice President of the Kansas City Dietetic Association. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our Hy-Vee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2). I can’t help it. I rip up boxes into little pieces before throwing them into the trash. It's in my blood, I guess. As a little boy, I watched my grandfather do this. He never told me why, but I think it was because he liked to get the biggest bang for his buck using a garbage bag. At least that’s why I do it.
My grandfather, who came to this country from Italy, lived through the Great Depression. An experience like that changes a person. I remember he would even save his leftover coffee so he could microwave it and enjoy it later. I’m not there yet. People who lived through that dark time in history were deeply affected. Recently, I was talking to a friend who said, “my grandma was such a packrat. She never threw anything away. She lived through the Great Depression, you know.” The Great Depression affected our nation for many years. Many people struggled as the unemployment rate in 1933 was twenty-three percent. You’ve probably had conversations with those who were affected by those times. For the most part, those who remember those times would say, “we didn’t know we were poor. We were just like everybody else.” And yet, the events of that time deeply changed the attitudes and behaviors of those involved. I can’t claim to be a Bob Dylan fan. I was born too late for that. But, I do remember hearing his mid-60s song, “The Times They are A-Changin.” The phrase would make a nice refrigerator magnet to describe where we are right now. We are living in an amazing time in history. In my opinion, what we’re experiencing now will leave an indelible mark upon our world, our nation, and our families. Some of the changes on the horizon will be good. Others, not so much. I believe it will go down in history as one of those “defining moments” of our culture. I’m not a prophet or philosopher, but as a pastor and professor, I have had the chance, like you, to evaluate human behavior and form an opinion. Throwing a wider net, I’ve also asked friends on social media sites to offer their opinion on how they believe these “times” will change us. Originally, I thought I would be able to squeeze the information into one article, but the box was too big and, taking a lesson from Papa, I’ll have to tear it into several parts. I believe one of the ways we will be affected is the resurgence of self-reliance and minimalism. This will be a good thing (at least for the family). Facing empty store shelves was a real eye-opener for many people. “I can’t believe there’s no toilet paper” we heard people complain. A relatively “minor issue” (relatively speaking) caused major panic at the time. The problem was, people who complained about the selfishness of others, rushed to the stores themselves and left with carts full of toilet paper uttering the manta, “the one with the most toilet paper wins.” This was nothing less than fear and panic. This panic unearthed a deeper issue. The issue at hand is that we are not products of the Great Depression. Just the opposite, we are products of times of plenty and abundance. Most of us have enjoyed wonderful prosperity in this country. It’s all we have known. We’ve always lived in a time when if you needed it you could get it. I’ve had the wonderful privilege of visiting some very poor places in the world. Probably the worst was Haiti. Most of the people in Haiti have no electricity, no running water, and no modern conveniences. They walk everywhere they go, often without shoes. They spend most of their day just trying to survive. As Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests, they can’t move up the ladder of success because they’re too busy just trying to stay alive. They don’t know any different. Most of us simply can’t process that. We’ve been blessed in this country—we just didn’t know it. Here in the States, what we have experienced is, if you had the money--you could get it. Hit the easy button. But, in the midst of this crisis, that has not been the case. Even Amazon was not delivering toilet paper. That concept is difficult for us to process. These experiences have taught us what it means to struggle—at least a little. This has caused us to do some deep, introspective thinking about what is really important and has caused us to appreciate the simple things maybe that we took for granted. “I’m looking forward to just going out to eat a meal,” my wife said the other day. I agreed. Generally, on Sunday afternoon, after a busy day at church, my wife and I would go out to eat. It was a wonderful, relaxing time. I think when things get back to “normal” we will appreciate these times so much more. Some of the items that have been missing from store shelves were basic foods and staples. I don’t think this was a result of panic, but a result of necessity. According to an article in Business Insider, before this challenging time, Americans ate out about six times a week. In Missouri, that adds up to about $2500 per year. I think one of the reasons the shelves were so empty is because people began eating at home—again. Some families are learning what it means to cook and eat at home. Not too long ago, we had some friends surprise us with some farm fresh eggs and home-canned veggies. It was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture! It also made me think “hmmm…maybe I should think about that a little more seriously.” But then again, I didn’t even know how to grow toilet paper. I’ll definitely pay more attention to my garden this year. In recent years, we just gardened for fun and complained about the squirrels taking one bite out of every tomato. I just loved seeing them grow, and honestly, squirrels have to eat too. But, in the future, we might take it a little more seriously. We might even have squirrel soup (with a tomato base, of course). I have sat back in amazement and watched friends and neighbors practice resiliency, self-reliance, and minimalism. I’ve been so encouraged by folks who have been innovative and discovered different ways to survive and thrive during this challenging time. Families are eating together, playing games together, and getting to know one another. Parents are taking responsibility for their child’s education. People are stepping out of their comfort zone and taking responsibility for things that, in times past, we paid others to do. We’re also becoming more frugal and saving for a rainy day. One friend said, “I’m evaluating everything that I have and determining what I really need. It’s been eye-opening.” Another friend said, “One thing I’ve learned is that I will always have a month of toilet paper on hand.” The times, they are a-changin’. They always have and they always will. There is no such thing as a “new normal”. Normal is simply a product of an ever-changing environment. The great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, had the uncanny ability, as he said, not to skate to where the puck was—but to where the puck is going. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. You may have heard of the “freshman 15”, describing the 15 pounds college freshman supposedly put on during their first year away at college, but there is a new term buzzing around, the “quarantine 15” which applies to all of us quarantined at home and in close proximity to our pantries.
The combination of the stress of the uncertainty of COVID-19 and being cooped up at home makes the munchies even worse. And starchy carbohydrates like crackers, cookies and other baked goods can be a source of comfort in a time of crisis. Here are some tips to avoid stress eating, improve your mood and make healthier choices without tipping the scale: Don’t stress about your diet or your weight. In these uncertain times the last thing you want to do is add extra stress to your life. There are already too many other things causing us stress right now. Now is the time to take care of yourself, not beat yourself up. Keep a regular schedule. Try to go to bed and get up in the morning at the same times every day. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at regular times and if you need a snack plan a time between meals when you will have it. Don’t graze all day on snacks without a routine. Buy better foods to have on hand. Keep your pantry stocked with fewer processed, high-salt or high-sugar snack foods and put more produce in your fridge. Some foods that have been shown to have some mood-boosting effects are avocados, nuts, salmon, sweet potatoes and chia seeds. Become more aware of your emotions. If you are bored find something to do that keeps you busy. If you feel stress or anxiety try meditation or go for a relaxing walk outdoors. Sometimes identifying your feelings is the hardest part. Try to be more aware. Stay in touch with family and friends. Touch base through phone calls, video chats and virtual happy hours. Keep your support system going. Move. Exercise is critical for both mental and physical health. Go for a brisk walk, hop on your bike or try a new online class. You might find something new that can be long-lasting. Try this Easy Chia Pudding for a mood-boosting snack or breakfast. Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian and owner of KC Nutrition Coach, online nutrition and fitness coaching. She can be reached at tracey@kcnutritioncoach.com The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of April 1-7, 2020.
The Grain Valley Assistance Council (GVAC) is the recipient of a $1,500 Community Grant from the Independence Sam’s Club to help fund their emergency assistance efforts in Grain Valley.
GVAC Site Director Donna Compton states many individuals and businesses have also stepped forward to assist the organization as they meet the needs of those in our community who need a hand up. Grain Valley Chiropractic has raised more than $1,200 in a recent fundraising drive for the organization, and many individuals have delivered food, clothing, and monetary donations. For more information on GVAC, visit www.grainvalleyassistancecouncil.org. Photo credit: Valley News staff by John Unrein Numerous professional athletes have paid credit to soccer for success they’ve had in other sports. Christian Okoye and Odell Beckham Jr. are both former and current National Football League players who started out kicking a checkered ball.
Hakeem Olajuwon and Dikembe Mutumbo were African born soccer goalies who claim they wouldn’t have had the footwork they possessed in the low post in basketball if it wasn’t for soccer agility drills. Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant can also be added to the list of basketball players who were soccer disciples growing up. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport. Its diverse appeal is that it can be played in some manner by almost anyone of any age. The sport combines a blend of sprinting as well as endurance running. Your vision is used for space and timing. Using a ball with your foot increases agility and foot quickness. Many are coping with the loss of their favorite activity that allowed them to socialize with others due to coronavirus concerns. Grain Valley Eagles Boys and Girls Head Soccer Coach Tyler Nichol is among those lamenting time away from the game. “It’s been really hard. I miss seeing all my students and players daily. The fellowship shared with the coaching staff as well. We get into this profession because we care about people,” Nichol said. “Growing up I loved sports and played everything under the sun. My dad was a baseball player as a kid. I fell in love with soccer.” Nichol continued, “There’s a free flowing and creative nature to soccer. You have to be a problem solver and critical thinker in the moment. You don’t get timeouts, and there are no setting plays. You are never bored in soccer. I was a mover as a kid.” Nichol has spent seven of his eight years in public education in the Grain Valley School District. The Grain Valley resident is appreciative of the opportunity the district gave him to become a head coach when he was very young in the profession. Being an Eagle is a family affair for Nichol, as his wife works for the district as well. Nichol was set to coach seven senior girls this spring who are all scheduled to go on and play college soccer. Finding a way to communicate with his players during this strange time and being supportive of them is a thought that’s never too far away. “Group Me (text messaging), email, and Google Classroom are all things we use to stay in touch. Google Meet conference call also allows us to talk with the kids virtually and hang out with them to know what’s going on in their world,” Nichol said. “We have provided suggestions of drills that players can do at home by themselves. Juggling soccer and tennis balls, receiving passes from a family member or off of a wall to execute a proper turn in being ready for play in a fast manner, dribbling through slalom cones with the inside and outside of the foot, and stepovers are just a few.” Nichol was honest with Grain Valley News when asked what differences exist between coaching boys and girls. “I’m right in the middle of the fence on this one. There are differences, but perhaps not as many as people think. Boys tend to be more competitive and inherently confident in themselves. Girls tend to have less ego and are a little bit more coachable,” Nichol said. Nichol wrapped up his thoughts, “Regardless of male or female, every player is different, and you have to find a way to communicate with them based on who they are and the relationship you build. Each season is different in what the entire group dynamic brings, and you have to be aware of that and adapt to it if you want to be productive.” Time will tell if spring sports and activities resume at the high school level in Missouri. Everyone’s well-being and health is the first priority in that consideration. Soccer is on the mind of many who are used to having grass under their feet while next to friends during this time of year. by John Unrein Involvement in athletics and officiating is a family affair for Grain Valley resident Kevin Driskell. His brother Darrell pushed him to become an official and his second cousin, Brian Driskell is the head varsity baseball coach at Grain Valley High School. The youngest of four siblings who were born and raised in Independence, MO, (Kevin) Driskell was a three sport high school student athlete. Being an official for 37 years (33 years certified in Missouri) has permitted Driskell to stay close to the sport of basketball. Driskell enjoys watching up close the development of student athletes in the game he loves. “I get to be physically active. Being a basketball official is part of being an adrenaline junkie. You get to run up and down the floor, sweat, and players and coaches are in your ear,” Driskell said. “Even in the locker room before tipoff, you still feel the excitement. You know you’re going to be in the middle of the action. The camaraderie of being around other officials and coaches who have a passion for the game is special.” Driskell is thankful that along the way he’s had family and mentors to lean on for advice in a demanding job. Driskell’s brother Darrell scheduled his first ever officiating gig with a private school. Driskell also worked youth games as a novice to gain experience. Driskell credits retired former Independence School District elementary teacher Don Robinson as being a positive advisor. Robinson was a sought after high school official for many years who was generous with his knowledge and time in supporting Driskell. The weight of that gesture is something that Driskell still feels to this day. “Having a mentor saved me some heartache. Working in management and raising three kids through adolescence has pushed me to give people the benefit of the doubt as an official. You never know what’s going on in someone’s life outside of sports,” Driskell said. “Being challenged in a manner that’s inappropriate may have caused people to see me in a light they’ve never seen before. There’s a consequence to every choice made in life. You always try to be as positive as possible. If you are in your chosen profession and enjoy what you’re doing, you’re right where you’re supposed to be.” Driskell has been honored to work the Show-Me Games in 2006, 2011, and 2015 in Columbia, MO. Getting to referee the first basketball game between the Truman and Chrisman girls’ teams at the Independence Events Center is also a fond memory. Driskell still believes that the value of competition and providing fair play outweighs changes he’s seen in sports recently. “Society has changed drastically in the last five to six years. Minimizing the adversarial nature of how people view officials would be beneficial for the sport and all involved,” Driskell said. Driskell believes joining the Greater Kansas City Officials Association is the best way for someone to become an official. Contacting a high school athletic director or head coach you know is a good avenue as well due to their connections. Seeking them out for advice is something they would be more receptive to then you think according to Driskell, even if you are worried they won’t have the time. Admitting that everyone, including officials, make mistakes comes with the territory as a human being. Driskell shared that as part of one of the funniest things that’s happened to him in his tenure as an official. “I was selected by the state to work a quarterfinal playoff basketball game at the Independence Events Center. The two other veteran officials who were working with me combined to make up 85 years of experience on the floor,” Driskell said. “Sometimes the home team doesn’t always know they are the home team when you play at a neutral site. We had the teams going the wrong way at tipoff. It was a situation we got corrected shortly after the start of the game.” Grain Valley resident Kevin Driskell serves as a MSHSAA official.
Photo courtesy: Kevin Driskell Jessica Dierking has spent all six years of her career as a public educator at Grain Valley South Middle School. Meeting the daily challenge of building positive relationships with pubescent adolescents along with making sure they understand ratios and proportional relationships is something Dierking excels at as a seventh grade math teacher. Her talent as an instructor and caring adult in the lives of young people has not gone unnoticed. Dierking has been awarded the Jedel Family Foundation for Math Excellence Exponential Educator Award. The ceremony took place virtually, via Google Meet on Friday, April 3rd during a Grain Valley South faculty meeting led by Principal Jim Myers. Congratulatory comment boxes filled computer screens as faculty learned of Dierking winning the award. The Jedel Excellence in Mathematics Education Awards are bestowed to recognize exemplary K-12 math teaching. Established by the Jedel Family Foundation in 2018, the awards recognize outstanding mathematics teachers in the Greater Kansas City area. The awards recognize those that implement innovative instructional practices and strategies to strengthen student understanding in mathematics. Award recipients serve as leaders for their schools and ambassadors of mathematics for their community, per the University of Kansas website. Awards are given to classroom mathematics teachers who teach in charter, private, and public schools within eight counties: Platte, Clay, Jackson, and Cass counties in Missouri and Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson and Douglas counites in Kansas. Jedel Family Foundation board member Don Hobbs was present on the call along with his peers to congratulate Dierking and share excerpts from their classroom observation visit along with the nomination submission. Dierking was all smiles during the presentation as her husband Tyler, and other family members (parents and in-laws) were present for the ceremony by getting to be part of the call. Myers was as proud as anyone in sharing his thoughts of Dierking as an educator in his building. “Jessica Dierking makes South Middle School a better place for everyone. John F. Kennedy once said, ‘…a rising tide lifts all boats,’ and Jessica is the living embodiment of that idea at South Middle School,” Myers said. “Her presence benefits not only her students, but teachers and administrators as well. In addition to being an exceptionally talented math teacher, Jessica is passionate about serving other people and helping them reach their full potential.” Myers concluded, “This begins with her students and extends to her colleagues as well at South Middle School. The example she provides gives us all something to aspire to.” Thought Coordination Company released a story written by Melissa Kelly in October of 2018 about the Ten Things That Worry Math Teachers the Most. Top items on the list included students arriving in their current grade with the needed prerequisite math knowledge to be successful, demonstrating to students connections of math to real life that they will need as consumers, varying math instruction in a way that meets the diverse needs of students, dealing with student absences, and finding time to provide timely feedback in grading. All these challenges make teaching today extremely tricky as well as potentially very rewarding. 21st century learners need a mentor, role model, instructor, and someone who’s technologically competent. The ingredients of this recipe help to foster successful learning. Dierking will receive $5,000 as part of the Jedel Excellence in Mathematics Education Award and will become part of a fellowship of mathematics educators from Kindergarten through 12th grade next year. This will afford Dierking the opportunity to spend time and collaborate with other exceptional math educators in the Kansas City area. Furthermore, Grain Valley South Middle School will also receive a banner to be placed outside the building. Grain Valley South Middle School has received a string of good news recently. Counselor Cara Long was also recently honored as the Greater Kansas City School Counselor Association Middle School Counselor of the Year. Grain Valley South Middle School Math Teacher Jessica Dierking was awarded the Jedel Family Foundation for Math Excellence Exponential Educator Award during a virtual staff meeting on Friday, April 3rd.
Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society At some point, John T. O’Connell put away his barber sheers and started a business on US Highway 40. Also known as “the Main Street of America,” it was the first highway to stretch coast to coast across United States. Often referred to by locals as “Old 40” (Eagles’ Parkway), it was completed in 1926. The route was built on top of several older highways, most notably the National Road and the Victory Highway. The Victory Highway was an auto trail across the United States between New York City and San Francisco, roughly equivalent to the present U.S. Route 40. It was created by the Victory Highway Association, which was organized in 1921 to locate and mark a transcontinental highway to be dedicated to American forces who died in World War I. When Patricia (Davis) Parr gave this photo to the Historical Society, she related to me the success of her grandfather’s business. Built about a half mile west of Buckner Tarsney Road (Main Street), it was the equivalent of our modern-day Casey’s convenience stores. The prominence of Sni-A-Bar Farms, located just across the road, and the newly completed highway afforded the O’Connell family a good living and a big new house on Walnut Street. O’Connell’s Place, circa 1928. Pictured left to right: John T. O’Connell, Patricia Davis, Danese O’Connell, Creola Warren O’Connell, Nadine O’Connell Davis, unknown man and woman. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society Pictured: Nadine O’Connell was 23 years old when this photo was taken beside a gas pump at the family business. The year was 1930. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
For more information on the Grain Valley Historical Society, visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com. |
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