2017 Spring Semester H&R Block Budget Challenge (Agribusiness)

(L to R) Mikaela DeWolfe, Alexis Fritz, Bailey Real, Blue Breese, and Jessica Sears.

SCHS Students Participate in Budget Simulation

 

High school students are graduating without basic financial skills. As young adults, their first exposure to real-life situations can result in costly mistakes, overwhelming debt and an unstable financial future. Free to high school teachers and home school educators, the H&R Block Budget Challenge is a teacher-tested, online simulation tool that replicates real-world budgeting and personal finance decision-making. By simulating an adult’s financial life – paying bills, investing in retirement, managing loans and more – students take a personal finance “road test.” This learn-by-doing educational approach allows high school students to make real-world mistakes without facing real-world consequences. Through exposure to real-life personal finance situations, the H&R Block Budget Challenge equips teens with the skills, habits and confidence to manage their money wisely. The H&R Block Budget Challenge immerses students in the life of a recent college graduate who has been working for six months. Each participant receives a virtual salary and must make smart budgeting decisions regarding expenses, such as rent, utilities, car payments and more. Students are challenged to balance current and future financial needs and demonstrate resourcefulness, understanding and practical application of financial concepts. Students receive bills on a regular basis and must pay them on time, while maximizing savings via a virtual 401(k) and minimizing penalties such as late fees, overdraft fees or finance charges. The simulation includes realistic surprise scenarios and monetary challenges such as a car accident or lost cell phone. Participants earn bonus points for completing quizzes on personal finance topics such as interest or starting a 401(k). The Agribusiness/Consumer Education second semester class taught by Mr. Scott Fairfield participated in the simulation this spring semester and the top five scores in the classroom belonged to Blue Breese, Mikaela DeWolfe, Bailey Real, Jessica Sears, and Alexis Fritz.

2017 Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship

 

2017 Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship Recipients

When Stacey Fairfield lost his battle with leukemia in November of 2006, the family wished to honor his memory and his passion for agriculture by establishing a scholarship to fund the educational pursuits of high school seniors toward an agricultural career. Through the generosity of individuals and area businesses, the Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship was established in the spring of 2007 to assist the educational expenses of scholarship recipients at a postsecondary educational institution majoring in any area of the agriculture industry. Previous recipients of the Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship have included Addison Ryan, Jeremy Shaner, Nicholas George, Jon Heaton, Kevin Baumann, Elizabeth Heaton, Nolan Elsasser, Bruce Appenheimer, Blaze Porter, Cody Scott, Ethan Scholl, and Hudson Elsasser.

The 2017 recipients of the Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship are Jessica Purdy and Samantha Wall. Jessica is the daughter of Michael and Jennifer Purdy of Castleton. Jennifer’s educational plans include attending Midwest Technical Institute in East Peoria studying Welding. Jennifer’s career goal is to eventually get employment in the welding industry as well as a side career as a landscaper. Samantha is the daughter of Dave and Lana Wall of Bradford. Samantha’s educational plans include attending Black Hawk East in the Veterinary Assistant Program with the possibility of transferring into the Veterinary Technician Program also at BHE. Jessica and Samantha will each receive a $ 1,000 check payable to their educational institutions they will be attending this fall.

Congratulations to the 2017 Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship recipients and also a thank you to all the students who applied for the scholarship this year. Best of luck in your future educational and career plans. Thank you to all area individuals and businesses who have contributed to the scholarship fund. If interested, contributions to the Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship may be mailed to the following address:

Stacey Fairfield Memorial Scholarship Fund

c/o Anderson State Bank

111 Highway U.S. 34

Oneida, Illinois 61467

2017/2018 SCHS FFA Officer Team

Congratulations to the 2017/2018 Stark County FFA Officer Team: 

President – Drew Ford

Vice President – Katie McCauley

Reporter – Cammille Gaspard

Secretary – Adam Irving

Treasurer – Makenzie Snyder

Sentinel – Colby Wall

2017 Agriscience – Nutrition of Chicks Lab

Agriscience students conduct an experiment determining the effect of different protein levels of feed on the growth and development of baby chicks over a two week period. The chick groups are identified and separated into two brooders. One group receives 18% crude protein and the other group receives 16% crude protein. The chicks are weighed daily and the data is graphed and analyzed.

2017 FFA Elementary Petting Zoo

 

2017 Agriscience Wind Power Labs

Agriscience students conduct a Wind Power Lab using miniature wind turbines that will determine the effect of number of blades, length of blades, and pitch (angle) of the blades in measuring voltage and amperage and the calculation of power output.

Katie McCauley advances to State Agricultural Education CDE

The purpose of the Agricultural Education Career Development Event is to provide individuals with basic skills necessary for a career as an agricultural educator. Teaching agriculture involves teaching students about applications of science, management, leadership, and technology in the food, fiber, natural resource industry. Teaching methods emphasize hands on approaches where application of skills and knowledge is central to lesson presentations. Agricultural Education strives to make learning enjoyable, meaningful and lasting. Agriculture Education incorporates classroom and laboratory instruction, supervised agricultural experiences (SAE), and the FFA to allow for the personal development of students both inside and outside the classroom to better prepare them for success in life. Congratulations to the ten individuals who will be competing in the final round of competition for the 1st Illinois Agricultural Education CDE!  Students submitted lesson plans in April and the top ten competitors, based on lesson plan scores, will present 10 minutes of their lesson at Illinois State FFA Convention.  Information was emailed to all advisors who had students submit a lesson plan.

 

Top Ten Illinois Ag Ed CDE (in alphabetical order):

 

Melanie Blazek, Illini West FFA

Lilah Bobinski, Midland FFA

Breanna Bone, Mahomet-Seymour FFA

Mikayla Busby, Monticello FFA

Andria Denault, Herscher FFA

Nicole Laskowsk, Marissa FFA

Katie McCauley, Stark County FFA

Hannah Niehaus, Staunton FFA

Liberti Noble, Mt. Carmel FFA

Mallory Unverfehrt, Okawville FFA

 

2017 BSAA Plant Science – Photosynthesis

 

BSAA Plant Science DNA Extraction -Strawberry

BSAA Plant Science conduct the DNA extraction from strawberries during a recent class at SCHS.

State IAVAT Poultry Career Development Event