The Friday Finish - Competition Prepares Students - Visitors Turned Volunteers - Archery Charity - Scoreboard Dream - KY Gives Launce - CAP Rockets
- Tim Crawford
- May 2
- 8 min read
May 2, 2025
Communications Competition Prepares Students
If you ask the vast majority of adults if they would give a speech to a group, you’d likely get a resounding, “No!” Thirteen (13) elementary students at Red Bird Christian School now have experience at delivering speeches and making a presentation to their peers thanks to Mrs. Patty Vance’s leadership.
Monday, the Cardinal students stepped up in front of their peers to make a speech or perform a demonstration for Clay County 4-H Communications Day. Speech topics ranged from music to pets to chickens to a beach vacation experience. Demonstrations included a variety of areas – Family & Consumer Sciences, Technology & Engineering, Foods, Performing Arts and Visual Arts.
Grand Champions in the Speech Competition were Ella Jackson (9 year old), Jace Smith (10 year old), and Jace Peters (11 year old). Others taking home Blue Ribbons in Speech were Shaylee Goodin and Natalie Asher (9 year old); Cambree Holland (10 year old) and Marcus Adams (11 year old). Receiving Grand Champion status in Demonstrations were Ashlyn Adams, Lucas Howard, Emma Kulp, Bristol Smith and Jon Holden Smallwood while Ashlyn Collett took home a Blue Ribbon for her demonstration.
Demonstration Grand Champion Lucas Howard said,
“Doing the 4-H demonstration really helped my self-confidence. It helped me focus and work hard to prepare. It has prepared me for speaking in public. The competition was really fun. My whole class knows that we can do hard things!”
Visitors Turned Volunteers
Pastor Cheryl Garbe has a heart for mission that she puts into action in a way that gets others involved. After volunteering at Red Bird a few years ago, Cheryl started talking to folks at Trinity Church in New Albany, Indiana about her experience. She wasn’t getting many “takers” on jumping into a work of service, so last year she organized a group of people to come see Red Bird and do a couple hours of service.
On Sunday, she returned with a group of 14 to get more immersed into mission service at Red Bird volunteering for three days. They found rewarding volunteer time helping in Community Outreach where staff numbers have been reduced as a result of budget squeezes from rising expenses. They worked at the Queendale Campus with the commodities food distribution, the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) pantry, and Red Bird’s emergency food pantry as well as preparing materials for the Kentucky Double Dollar and Senior Bucks incentives for the Red Bird Farmers Market. Some of the group travelled to the Red Bird Mission DeWall Senior Center on the original Beverly Campus to help prepare for the upcoming Silver Games later in May, and jumped in to help deliver Meals on Wheels in the area. Part of the group put their electrical experience into service doing upgrades in one of the Queendale Campus buildings.
Archery Closes Season with Charity Tourney
On Monday, April 28th, the Red Bird Christian School (RBCS) Archery Team wrapped up their season with the St. Jude Classic Tournament. This wasn't just about competing; it was a great mix of skill and heart, all for a fantastic cause. The team proudly raised $381 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help kids dealing with tough health issues. Through this effort, the team showed their dedication to giving back to the community and supporting an amazing mission.
The St. Jude Classic Tournament was a highly anticipated event, bursting with incredible competition and featuring our talented archers of all ages from grades 4th through 12th! The RBCS gymnasium was packed with excitement as students aimed for the bullseye. Despite the competitive vibe, the incredible support from coaches and families made the evening truly unforgettable!
The tournament results received with excitement and anticipation were: High School Boys Champion - Christopher Aiden Smallwood; High School Girls Champion - Keira Walker; High School Girls 2nd Place - Sarah Adams; Middle School Boys Champion - Braxton Asher; Middle School Boys 2nd Place - Jase Smith; Middle School Boys 3rd Place - Benaiah Kulp; Elementary Girls Champion - Ashlyn Adams; Elementary Girls 2nd Place - Natalie Asher; Elementary Girls 3rd Place - Emma Kulp; Elementary Boys Champion - Lucas Howard; Elementary Boys 2nd Place - Marcus Adams; Elementary Boys 3rd Place - Ashtyn Collett; Elementary Boys 4th Place - Bristol Smith.
In addition to the traditional rankings, several special awards recognized the incredible performances of individual archers. The competition for the 10 Spot Champion title was fiercely intense! Special awards were as follows: 10 Spot Champion - Braxton "Bullseye" Asher (9 bullseyes); 10 Spot 2nd Place - Jace Smith (4 bullseyes); Overall Girls Champion - Ashlyn Adams (Score: 223); Overall Boys Champion - Braxton Asher (Score: 240)
Joining NASP (National Archery in Schools Program) has made a tremendous impact on the students! Archery helps build skills like focus and discipline, which boosts school performance and personal development. These young archers also learn how to handle both wins and losses gracefully, which are very important lessons for growing up.
The coaches played a huge role in the team's success. Their nonstop support and encouragement made it a place where students could truly shine. The lessons they taught weren't just about archery; they helped shape responsible young adults ready to tackle life's hurdles. These coaches are all about guiding young minds. They push students to pick up life skills that'll help them down the road. It's a great reminder of how important supportive mentors are in young people's lives.
Coach Cody Asher shares his reflections on the season as a first-time archery coach at RBCS,
"This was my first year coaching archery at Red Bird Christian School. Every kid has improved tremendously since day one. What I love most about coaching is that each one is different and unique. Some picked up the skills quickly while others took a bit more time, but by the end of the year, everyone had made progress. This archery team was a great learning experience for me. I picked up a lot from the kids, and they learned a lot from me, too. The other coaches were very supportive, and we all worked really well together."
As the Red Bird Christian School archery team concludes their season, they leave a lasting impact through their impressive achievements and generous spirit. This experience proves that true success is defined not only by personal accomplishments but also by the community's support for those in need.
Scoreboard Dream Becomes Reality
The numbers on the old baseball scoreboard that were hung by someone climbing a ladder had been lost so fans and baseball teams playing at Red Bird had to keep track of pitch counts, outs and runs scored for the past several years. The Red Bird School Alumni Association got the new electronic scoreboard project going four years ago when Red Bird Mission recognized Daugh Sizemore for his contribution and dedication for 32 years to Red Bird baseball and athletics by naming the baseball field in his honor.
Obtaining the construction materials, equipment and expertise to wire and hoist the new scoreboard delayed its installation literally for years, but the alumni association proudly announced on Tuesday that the scoreboard project is completed! Many individuals made contributions of money, time and materials, and the 2025 Red Bird Baseball players and coaches contributed sweat equity mixing and pouring the concrete.
“This exciting upgrade was made possible thanks to the generous support we’ve received through various fundraisers and auctions organized by the RBSAA. Your contributions—both big and small—help turn dreams into reality for our students and community.
Parents and friends of Red Bird, we encourage you to continue supporting our mission. Your involvement is vital to sustaining projects that enhance our school and provide meaningful opportunities for our students. Together, we can continue to make a lasting impact!”
Patty Vance, RBSAA President
Tonya Dickerson Asher, Secretary/Treasurer
KY Gives Day Site Launches
The Kentucky Nonprofit Network has opened the giving for the 2025 KY Gives Day set for May 13th. While prizes and the statewide recognition is focused for giving in 10 days from now, the site started receiving donations yesterday for those that won’t be able to give online on the 13th, or for those that want to give early.
Red Bird’s page for 2025 focuses on the hope that people find at Red Bird Mission and Red Bird Clinic through the programs built at creating opportunities. The new video, “Red Bird Mission – A place of hope. A place to call ‘home.’” is also linked.
While there is an emphasis on giving online on May 13th, those unable to give online can also join in supporting hope at Red Bird by mailing a check to Red Bird Mission, 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913 marked “KY Gives Day” in the memo line. Those gifts will be added to the totals.
Rockets and Aerospace Dreams Launched
At Red Bird Christian School (RBCS), a group of passionate cadets from the Civil Air Patrol 801st Cadet Squadron embarked on an unforgettable adventure: building and launching a large rocket. This rocket was not just any ordinary project; it was crafted to carry a delicate egg into the sky, with the critical mission of keeping that egg safe and sound. This journey was more than a science experiment; it was a test of creativity, teamwork, and scientific knowledge.
The big day arrived for the rocket launch, set against a beautiful backdrop of a bright blue sky on a warm, sunny day. The only challenge? The unpredictable winds. After a week of rainy weather, the cadets could only launch their creation once before the weather shifted. With the sun shining down and excitement in the air, they prepared for the countdown, driven by the dream of seeing their hard work take flight.
As the countdown began, elementary students gathered on the grass, their voices ringing out in unison, "10… 9… 8…" The excitement couldn't be contained, and with each number, the tension built. When they reached zero, the rocket ignited and soared into the air, reaching heights of over 1,000 feet! It was a breathtaking sight, as everyone watched in awe, their eyes glued to the streaking rocket.
The rocket's design played a crucial role in its journey. The cadets thought through every detail to make sure the egg was safely tucked away in a compartment that could handle the launch and landing. As the rocket hit its peak, the parachute deployed flawlessly, but then a sudden gust of wind blew the rocket off course, ending up in the branches of a tree. Even though the landing didn't go as planned, everyone cheered when the egg came out perfectly fine, showing off their awesome effort and creativity.
Aside from the primary rocket, the cadets got to launch a bunch of smaller personal rockets as well. Some of these rockets flew beautifully and landed softly, while others weren't as fortunate, getting swept up by the wind and ending up in the trees. No matter the landing, each launch was a great learning moment, made even better by the laughter and cheers from friends and onlookers.
The cadets dove into the basics of wind speeds and all the details of aerospace science. They chatted about how various wind conditions might mess with their rockets and brainstormed ways to tweak their designs for upcoming launches. This hands-on experience wasn't just about engineering; it was an exciting chance to put their theoretical knowledge to the test in the real world.
The rocket adventure at RBCS was more than just a launch; it was about curiosity, teamwork, and determination. Keeping the egg intact was just the cherry on top of an awesome day packed with laughter, learning, and the thrill of dreaming big. Who knows what incredible heights these cadets will reach next? The sky is indeed the limit!
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