Happenings At St. Martin’s Academy

Submitted by Daniel Kerr
All hands on deck!  As a busy and productive summer comes to a close, every staff member, friend with a hammer, and tradesman in Bourbon County has gathered for the final push to make our new campus ready for the start of school.  On September 2nd, we’ll welcome around 30 exemplary young men across 9th, 10th and 11th grades for our second year.  With a waiting list developing for each class, our challenge in the years to come will not be finding students, but rather building our campus at a rate commensurate with such strong demand.  Deo gratias!

It promises to be an exciting year and we’re delighted to introduce you below to some wonderful men and women who will be joining our faculty as well as a couple of programs that exemplify our commitment to an education for boys that roots bold innovation in time-tested tradition.

Saint Martin, pray for us!

Duc in Altum,
Daniel Kerr, President
Patrick Whalen, Headmaster

The Last Homely House

We’re almost there!  It has been an adventure since we first broke ground on Theotokos Hall and the hard work and persistence from our team and supporting community is about to pay off.  Theotokos Hall, home and hearth to future generations of St. Martin’s students, is a structure built to endure the test of time and we cut no corners in making her worthy of honoring Our Lady.

For the latest updates with more pictures, check out our blog.

The Hall of Fire in Rivendell represents the place where tradition is passed on through story, where meaning is revealed, where language expresses itself in the making and interpretation of worlds.  The ambience of fire, of a friendly hearth where all strangers are made welcome and find consolation, speaks of a place where humanity can take root and flourish, a true home – the “Last Homely House.”  Here prose is subordinate to poetry, and poetry to song.  – Stratford Caldecott, Beauty in the Word

New Faculty
We are very pleased to welcome some incredibly talented and good men and women to our humble assembly.  We are now a faculty of 15.  For pictures and full bios, please see our About Us section on our website.
Ginger McElwee, History Teacher and Librarian
Ryan Bauer, Math & Natural Sciences Teacher
Danielle Bauer, Secretary
Giorgio Navarini, House Father
Roger McCaffrey, House Father
Joshua Gieger, House Father
Jack Karleskint, Construction Trades Program Lead Instructor

Announcing our Construction Trades Program

Every Wednesday afternoon, our boys will join local legend and recently retired General Contractor Jack Karleskint for a 4-hour hands-on workshop in carpentry and construction.  This Construction Trades Program is a nationally recognized 2-year certification and is administered through the Fort Scott Community College.  The curriculum comes from Southeast Kansas commercial building stalwart, Crossland Construction.

We are grateful to Jack, FSCC and Crossland for making such a valuable program possible for our boys!

Read more about how this program integrates with our curriculum at St. Martin’s.

Bon Voyages Les Garcons!

On September 7th our Juniors will embark on an 9-week journey across France, Spain and Italy.  Curated and led by St. Martin’s Senior Faculty members and House Father Josh Mincio, our study abroad program will bring our students into direct contact with the physical reality that was Christendom and offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to experience the cultural roots of Western Civilization.

A rough sketch of our itinerary:
Weeks 1, 2 & 3 – Afoot in France: Paris, Chartres, Tours, Normandy Beach, Mont St. Michel, the Vendee and Chavagnes International School
Weeks 4 & 5 – Spiritual Retreat at the Benedictine Abbey of Fontgombault
Weeks 6 & 7 – Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage
Weeks 8 & 9 – The Eternal City

Down on the Farm

St. Martin’s Farms is readying for our second year as a diversified operation that includes pastured hogs, dairy cattle, katahdin sheep, meat chickens, egg-laying chickens, geese and rabbits.  This year in particular we will be ramping up our dairy and egg-laying operation.  We added three beautiful Jersey cows to our existing herd of three and all six are due to calve in September and October!  We expect an abundance of fresh milk out of the dairy barn and should collect between 70 and 80 eggs a day from the layers.  Bolstering these two areas will go a long way towards providing critical healthy fats and proteins to the boys’ diet.

Read more about why we farm at St. Martins.

Above: Rising Junior Israel Meyers refining his hand-milking technique on Molly the Jersey Cow

Join the Cause!

St. Martin’s is changing the landscape in secondary education and disrupting an ineffective and unimaginative status quo.  Please consider giving generously to our Raise the Rafters Campaign with a one-time gift or pledge.  No gift is too small (or too large!) and will be stewarded carefully as we build a campus for generations to come.

I teach in a charter school in Texas, and I see daily the effects on children of sitting in a desk for 8 hours and then playing video games after school.  This model produces passive, pusillanimous boys whose goals are avoiding work, gaming, and inventing cool-sounding excuses for their failures. Absorbed in the world of technology, they miss both the supernatural and the natural worlds which surround them.

I am deeply grateful to Dan Kerr and Patrick Whalen, along with all the teachers and staff of St. Martin’s, for creating an environment in which boys can truly thrive and grow to become the men that God wants them to be.  The trajectory of my son’s life, and those of countless other boys, has been changed permanently by your work.

– Meg Jones, mother of Nate (’22)

K-State Beef Stocker field day set for Sept. 19 

 

 

Event highlights latest information to help producers make key decisions, say organizers

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Health management of high-risk calves, humane euthanasia practices, beef cattle market outlook and a panel discussion on beef parasite control are among the topics planned for the Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 19.

 

“We are excited to host the 20th annual edition of the KSU Beef Stocker Field Day,” said Dale Blasi, a professor of animal sciences and beef cattle extension specialist. “Like all the other events in the past, we bring the latest information on marketing, nutrition, health and technology for attendees to apply to their operation.”

 

Hosted at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit (4330 Marlatt Ave. in Manhattan), the event starts with registration and coffee at 9:30 a.m. and the program at 10:15 a.m. Niman Ranch will provide a prime ribeye lunch, and the day ends with an evening social featuring prairie oysters and Call Hall ice cream.

 

Attendees will have a chance to win door prizes, including a fishing trip, ATV sprayers and more. Attendees can also tour the new student housing at the Beef Stocker Unit.

 

Topics for this year’s agenda include

  • Beef Cattle Market Outlook
  • Changing Industry Structure is Forging a Closer Relationship Between Grow Yards and Feeders 
  • Internal Parasite Management
  • Quality Stocker Production Considerations
  • Humane Euthanasia Practices
  • BeefBasis: Better Information for Better Marketing Decisions
  • Health Management of High-Risk Calves
  • Panel Discussion: Beef Parasite Control

This year’s event is sponsored by Bayer Animal Health. The pre-registration fee is $25 if paid by Sept. 10. More information and online registration is available at KSUBeef.org. After Sept. 10, attendees must pay $35 on site.

 

For more information, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or [email protected].

Public Comments For Prisoner Review Board

Prisoner Review Board changes Topeka location for public comments in September

 

The Kansas Prisoner Review Board (PRB) will hold the Topeka public comment session on September 20, at 8:30 a.m., in the Florentine Room of the Jayhawk Tower, 700 SW Jackson St.

 

Previously, the session was scheduled to be held at the Topeka Municipal Court House, which will be closed September 20.

 

Members of the public who would like to comment on any of the offenders eligible for parole in November 2019 may attend.

 

To view the list of offenders, visit the Kansas Department of Corrections’ website at: https://www.doc.ks.gov/prb/public-comment-sessions/listed.

 

The two other public comment sessions held in September will be:

  • September 16: Kansas City City Hall, One McDowell Plaza, 701 N. 7thSt., from 10 a.m. to noon; and
  • September 18: Derby Police and Courts, first floor, 229 N. Baltimore, from 10 a.m. to noon.

 

Obituary of Larry Joe Beck

Larry Joe Beck, age 65, a resident of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, August 21, 2019, at his home.

He was born April 11, 1954, in Ft. Scott, Kansas.  He graduated from the Ft. Scott High School and Fort Scott Community College.

  He went on to receive his BS Degree in Nursing from Pittsburg State University.  Larry Joe married Mary E.Evans on September 19, 1975, at Devon, Kansas.  He worked as a nurse at Mercy Hospital in Ft. Scott.

He later served with the United States Air Force during Operation Desert Storm where he served as a clinical nurse.  Following his military service, he worked as a surgical nurse for Doctor’s Hospital in Springfield, Missouri and Cox Hospital in Monet, Missouri.

Larry Joe enjoyed reading, welding and playing golf.  He also was a licensed pilot.  He was a past member of the Devon United Masonic Lodge.

Survivors include his wife, Mary, of the home in Mt. Vernon; his daughter, Samantha Beck-Paciorek (Andrew), of Baxter Springs, Kansas and his son, Jordan Beck (Angela) of Willard, Missouri and six grandchildren, Gaige, Danielle, Jaden, Maycie, Jackson and Adalyn.  Also surviving is his mother, Yvonne Beck; a sister, Susie Arvidson (Chris) of Ft. Scott and three half-brothers, Charles Jajdelski, of San Diego, California, Ron Jajdelski, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Bob Jajdelski of Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Beck; a granddaughter, Charlotte and a half-brother, Mike Jajdelski.

Graveside services with military honors will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 26th at the U. S. National Cemetery in Ft. Scott, Kansas.

Family and friends may meet at the Cheney Witt Chapel prior to leaving for the cemetery at 10:45 A.M.

  Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.

Want To Play Some Co-Ed Slow Pitch?

Shawn and Savannah Pritchett are seeking teams for an inaugural slow pitch ball tournament next Saturday as part of the Old Settler’s Picnic festivities in Uniontown.

The game is scheduled for 9 a.m. on August 31 at the Don Dennis Ball Park at West Bourbon Elementary School.

The cost per team is $100, with a deadline of 6 p.m. tomorrow, August 23.

Contact Savannah at 620-224-6025.

 

Kansas HPV Vaccine Rates Improve Significantly

 

TOPEKA – Today, the National Immunization Survey regarding Teens released its annual report for 2018 which shows Kansas is improving in vaccine rates for HPV and MenACWY and remaining consistent with Tdap. This report is available in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The survey, which is conducted among teens ages 13 to 17, monitors the vaccines received by adolescents, specifically HPV, MenACWY and Tdap.*

“In 2014, Kansas had the lowest coverage in the nation for the HPV vaccine with only 34.4 percent of respondents reporting one or more doses received,” said KDHE Secretary Lee Norman, MD. “I’m very pleased to report that Kansas is now at 62.3 percent coverage in 2018, up significantly from 52.4 percent in 2017.”

Activities that have contributed to the increase in HPV Vaccination coverage, include:

  • Education for vaccine providers throughout the state during Vaccines For Children program site visits
  • Education provided at Kansas Immunization Conferences
  • Development of HPV Toolkit by the Immunize Kansas Coalition funded by the KDHE
  • Multiple partner organizations conducting efforts to increase awareness and importance of the HPV vaccine
  • Focus on the importance of provider recommendation to patients to receive the vaccine

Kansas has seen an average increase in HPV coverage of 6.3 percentage points annually since 2014 while the national average increase has been 4.4.

“One of the most significant factors to successful vaccination against HPV cancer appears to be a recommendation from a medical provider,” Secretary Norman said.

The survey demonstrates that, in Kansas for 2018, of those who received the recommendation from a medical provider, 69.5 percent received the vaccination while only 35.8 percent received the vaccination without a provider recommendation.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) routinely recommends HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12. In addition, ACIP has recently updated their recommendation to include some adults up to age 45 based on the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine against some HPV cancers.[1]

The MenACWY vaccine coverage increased from 72.1 percent in 2017 to 75.3 percent in 2018. This school year, MenACWY has just become a required vaccination for school entry.

*Vaccine Description:

 

  • Tdap – protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Recommended for ages 11-13. Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent coverage. Kansas 2018 rate is 89.4 percent.
  • MenACWY – protects against certain strains of meningococcal disease. Recommended for ages 11-13 with a booster dose at age 16. Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent. Kansas 2018 rate is 75.3 percent.
  • HPV – protects against HPV related cancers. Two dose series recommended for ages 11-13. Doses administered six months apart. If first dose is not given before 15th birthday, a three-dose series is needed. Healthy People 2020 target is 80 percent. The Kansas 2018 rate is 62.3 for one or more doses, 40.7 percent.

 

Work Ready Students Is Goal of New Program: Employers Cooperation Needed

Fort Scott High School.

Workers are needed across the state to fill workforce needs.

The Kansas State Board of Education, working with Kansas legislators, are providing the opportunity for juniors in high school, including Fort Scott, to take assessments to help fill those workforce needs.

The title of the program is ACT Work Ready Community and is paid for by Kansas legislators in collaboration with the state board of education.

Students are offered two assessments for the program and can either take the ACT, or ACT WorkKeys, or both.

The program facilitators are hoping to fill job vacancies in Bourbon County.

“An opportunity was seen to provide a connection for local Bourbon County employers to gain understanding of the ACT and the ACT WorkKeys assessment to help fill and build their workforce,” USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong said.  “The opportunity for juniors to take the ACT assessments will continue this school year and for years to come.”

A career readiness certificate can be earned, after taking an assessment, which will help to evaluate future employees for the workforce skills needed.

The program allows employers to use it as a tool to see if the skills set will work for their need.

“ACT Work Ready Community is a program to provide Bourbon County the distinction of a county where the employers recognize the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate earned upon completion of taking the ACT WorkKeys assessment, as a tool to evaluate future employees,” Hessong said.

The basis of the certification: current and future workers earn the certificate and the employers recognize the credential.

“Employers can be the fuel to drive successful state and county Work Ready Communities initiatives simply by recognizing the ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate®. And in doing so, they will have a more qualified workforce ready to fill their jobs,” according to the ACT Work Ready Communities website.

“The foundation of a community’s certification is based on individuals at the county level across the current, transitioning and emerging workforce, earning an ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate®…and employers recognizing the ACT® WorkKeys® NCRC®,” Hessong said. “(It) is a portable, industry-recognized credential that clearly identifies an individual’s WorkKeys® skills in workplace documents, applied math, and graphic literacy.”
A collaboration of local entities and employers will have two years to start reaching goals for the program.
“The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Bourbon County Economic Development, USD 234, Fort Scott Community College, and Bourbon County employers will have two years to attain goals set by ACT Work Ready in order to be recognized as an ACT Work Ready Community,” Hessong said.
For more information: workreadycommunities.org

New FSHS Math Teacher: Bill Hall

Bill Hall. Submitted photo.

William Hall is a new math teacher at Fort Scott High School, whose hometown is Manhattan, KS.

Hall earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary math education from Kansas State University and has previously taught math at Hugoton High School.

His family consists of his father, brother, and sister, who still live in Manhattan, another brother in Las Vegas, and another brother in Sydney, Australia.

” I’ve always been interested in working with students,” he said. And his students inspire him, he said.

Hall is looking forward to getting to know the students at Fort Scott High School, he said.

His greatest challenge in teaching math is working with technology.

“I am what you would call ‘technology challenged,” he said.

 

Bourbon County Local News