The Versailles Republican Headline News

Pick up a copy of the newspaper at your local newsstand!

UPDATED BY MARIA SIEVERDING FEBRUARY 10, 2018.

Come help fight cancer!

Have you, or someone you know been affected by cancer? Do you want to be a part of a movement that is in over 25 countries and is in more than 5,200 communities? Are you someone who is looking to make a difference in the community? Then join Relay For Life! It used to be that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women would get cancer in their lifetime; now it is 1 in 3 for both. Relay For Life is making a difference!

Ripley County Relay For Life has been a Top 10 Relay in the state of Indiana for three consecutive years and the group needs your help! Last year, 28 teams rallied together to raise over $116,000 for the American Cancer Society. The goals are high and more teams are being recruited for the current Relay season.

What is Relay For Life? The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is a community celebration where individuals and teams camp out, picnic, dance, play games to celebrate, fight back and remember those who have, or had cancer.

The local event is evolving. This year it has moved to an 18-hour event, which will begin at 9 a.m. on June 9 and end at 3 a.m. on June 10 at the Jac-Cen-Del Elementary School track.

The event opens as cancer survivors take a victory lap during the Survivor Lap. Their caregivers are also honored in their own victory lap to signify that one’s cancer journey cannot be done alone. As the sun begins to set, the warm glow of hundreds of luminaria light the field in an emotional silent ceremony. Each bag lit is in honor of a loved one who is fighting or won the fight against cancer or in memory of a special someone who lost their battle.
The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life represents hope to find a cure for cancer.

Fun, enthusiastic individuals are being sought who are willing to gather a team of people, from a church, their office, school, local organization or family members, and raise money for cancer research and support programs offered by the American Cancer Society. The next team meeting will be held February 28 in the Batesville Public Library at 7 p.m.

To join Relay For Life in your community call 1-800-227-2345. For more information email ripleycorfl@gmail.com.

Milan teaching students to have good character

Sandy Day Howard
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Good character is a combination of many attributes: loyalty, responsibility, integrity, respect, humility, honesty, and compassion. These are learned behaviors and are the qualities that define us. But in today’s world these characteristics may not always be taught at home. Milan School Corporation is striving to help every child practice these qualities of good citizenship through several programs incorporated into every day activities. Schools are also holding periodic special events to promote those values.

Milan School Counselor Brenda Schwering introduced elementary school “Leader in Me” student presenters at the “CARES/STARS Family Night” held recently at MHS. Schwering, along with Stephanie Schwing-Stamper, organized the event with assistance from counselors Gayle Healy, Tina Mutz and Fran Moore. Miley Ellis spoke to the audience about her role in the program. “It is important to be a peacemaker. We help others, are nice, and are upstanding.” Wyatt Marsh had this to say, “I like being on the lighthouse team because we meet every Friday and think of ways to make our school a better place.” “We are responsible for teaching the habits to all of the students”, declared Macey Hanson. Emily Mutter, part of the ‘Move to Stand’ project addressed the audience: “It’s never too late to change!” she declared.

Keynote speaker for the evening was Logan Weber of Weber Associates who engaged the group with a high energy production full of fresh ideas and inspirational (and humorous) examples of who we really are to ourselves and others. The aptly titled program, ‘Sticks and Stones Exposed: The Power of Words in Relationships’ was upbeat and interactive with the focus on how words can build up or build barriers in all types of relationships.

Weber had the audience’s full attention during the inspiring presentation, showing how each of us influences others perceptions of us by what we say and do. For example, Weber noted descriptions the audience used to define him based on their first impression. Out of an audience of over 75 people, no two people used the same descriptors of Weber, proving that each of us see others differently. Further, Weber noted that there are times in life when we need to ‘modify our behavior to help another’. The concept was thought provoking and simple to grasp as Weber challenged the audience to consider that there are actually seven “me’s” in each of us: “The ‘me’ I think I am, the ‘me’ others see, the ‘me’ I used to be, the ‘me’ I want to be, the ‘me’ I really am, the ‘me’ others try to make me, and the ‘me’ I try to project.”

A federal grant provided through “One Community…One Family” helped make the evening possible. “ One Community…..One Family” strives to improve social and emotional outcomes for children and families and offers services through a variety of methods in southeastern Indiana. Much of this work is achieved through initiatives and projects with a variety of partners and families, according to the website, www.onecommunityonefamily.org.

Milan Schools offer a variety of leadership programs to students from K-12 with many being student driven. Milan Elementary and Intermediate Schools have introduced “Leader in Me” this school year. Students, teachers, and staff learn to focus on the ‘seven habits of highly successful people’ and are encouraged to develop their own personal mission statements highlighting their individual goals. These seven habits are: 1) Be proactive 2) Begin with the end in mind 3) Put first things first 4) Think ‘win/win’ 5) Seek first to understand, then to be understood 6) Synergize and 7) Sharpen the saw. Students then return to the classrooms and playgrounds where they practice and teach these habits to their peers.

The ‘CARES’ program is geared toward teaching students to lead their own lives with responsibility, honestly, respect, and understanding. not only for themselves but for others. MHS students are engaged in a program titled “STARS” (Students Take a Right to Stand) a project that encourages students to take a stand against bullying and degrading behaviors.

Each of these programs is designed to provide on-site counseling for students, teachers, and staff as well as to promote leadership opportunities to help students grow into caring, responsible adults. Parents are encouraged to engage with MHS counselors in the ‘CARES/STARS’ initiative.

Logan Weber travels throughout the US providing a variety of motivational topics based on the needs of the group(s) to which he is speaking. He was on hand during the school day, speaking to a variety of classrooms and age groups, with the evening presentation targeting parents, teachers, and other adults. ”This is by far the best student body I’ve worked with so far this year, I was blown away by your students and staff today,” he said of his day with Milan Elementary, Middle, and High School students and teachers.

For more information on Weber Associates, log onto www.weberassociates.com.