School

On Thursday, April 28, two teams from the Canadian FFA Chapter competed in career development events at the state level. The environmental and natural resources team of Saira Moreno, Karson Thompson, Teagan Ash, and Aubrie Poe placed fourth out of 26 schools. Individually, Moreno was the fourth high-point individual. The range evaluation team, consisting of Delaney Huntress, Kinley Long, Cescilly Beach, and Jackson Poe, finished 19th out of 58 qualifying schools and 221 contestants. Tarleton State University hosted these events. Tonny Hamby, CHS agriscience instructor, coaches both teams.

Emily Alexander, a senior marketing and management major, has made the most of her time at OSU. Born and raised in the small Panhandle town of Canadian, Alexander has been heavily involved in extra-curriculars at OSU. One particular involvement was serving as a President’s Partner to both Dr. Kayse Shrum and former President V. Burns Hargis.

On Saturday, April 23, Abi Black (CHS Class of ‘21) competed in the NASA Student Launch Competition in Huntsville, Alabama. Abi is an aerospace engineering student at Purdue University and an active member of the Purdue Space Program. Collaborating with her teammates over the last eight months, she constructed, test-launched, and analyzed flight data from the team’s newly constructed rocket. Her team built their rocket with a new tracking system that doesn’t rely on GPS satellites so that components would not be lost when in the far reaches of space. Among several entries from university students across the country, their rocket was selected for competition. The launch took place over the serene, green wheat fields of northern Alabama. The rocket soared to a height of 5,400 feet and landed safely, aided by a Wildcat black-and-gold parachute. Analytics of the flight will be judged by NASA scientists, and winners announced at the start of June. The launch took place on Abi’s birthday, and this Wildcat rocket scientist wouldn’t have wanted to spend it any other way!

Last Thursday, April 28, staff and volunteers at The Citadelle Art Museum hosted CES kindergarten classes for Kinder Bloom. The students experienced a nature walk, collecting leaves, seeds, flowers, and twigs. “Whenever possible, we try to coordinate our activities with what children are learning in the classroom,” said Citadelle Art Foundation Executive Director Wendie Cook, adding that the students had several hands-on experiences replanting marigolds and planting zinnia seeds around the museum grounds.

Eight Canadian High School students are set to compete at the UIL state academic meet in Austin, May 6-7, after advancing from last weekend’s Region 1-3A UIL academic meet in Abilene. Advancing to state Laney Hood: 2nd in Calculator Applications (Coach Steve Hutsell); 2nd overall in Science, 1st individual in Chemistry (Coach Wade Hood).

Canadian ISD officials capped the school year on Monday by presenting selected teachers and staff with Wildcat Excellence Awards, citing their contributions to public education. The awards were presented by Superintendent Lynn Pulliam, Instructional Technology Specialist Lawana Pulliam, and the principal from each campus.

EARTH DAY LAST FRIDAY, April 22, marked the 50th year of worldwide observances that call attention to the health of our planet’s environment. Here in West Texas, our environment is brown and dry with ever-present hot winds and low humidity. My community has had 0.98 inches of precipitation since Jan. 1. Most of that moisture was light snow.

CHS one-act play cast members chosen as Honor Crew for state contest Canadian ISD Theatre Arts Instructor Mistie Walser announced this week that two of her students—Ella Walser and Clara Pulliam (photo below)—have been chosen as members of the 24-member 2022 State One-Act Play Contest Honor Crew. Pulliam and Walker will participate as crew for the 1A-3A OAP meet, which will be held at the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center, May 5-7.

The Canadian High School Wildcat Band earned its 42nd Sweepstakes Award on Tuesday, March 19. The band competed in the Region 1 UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest held at Randall High School, receiving straight 1s in both concert and sight-reading. The band also earned top ratings in the Oct. 2 Region 1 UIL Marching Contest, completing the three requirements for receipt of the sweepstakes ranking. The band is led by Co-Directors James and Daisy Edwards.