Louisa Middle School A Team advances to State Governor's Cup in Quick Recall for the first time.

Since my wife and I assumed the coaching duties for the Louisa Middle School Academic Team we have have been building a program to be competitive in our Region. We have won District 16 years in a row, finished 4th in the Region 2 years in a row and now, after years of hard work, we are competitive at State. Last year, Carrie Jo Cecil, Kate Cecil and Ashley Hayes advanced to state competition with Carrie Jo finishing as the State Champion in Language Arts. This year, it only gets better.

Kate Cecil advances in Language Arts and Arts and Humanities, Abby Fletcher and Shaylon Moore advance in Mathematics and Lincoln Rose advances in Social Studies. With all of this wonderful news, perhaps the biggest news is that our Quick Recall team advances to State Governor's Cup for the first time ever. We finished 2nd in Region 18 behind always dominating Russell Middle School and we go to Louisville March 14, 15 & 16.

Our Quick Recall team includes: Kate Cecil, Shaylon Moore, Abby Fletcher, Lincoln Rose, Willard Ferguson, Alexis Erwin, Ashley Hayes, Jacob Fletcher, Jacob Kessinger, Brock Kessinger, Mark Webb and William Lampert.

We pray, as always, that our students perform to the best of their abilities and represent our school with honor and good sportsmanship.

Go Dawgs!

LMS Academic Team has continued Success at Regional Governor's Cup

Louisa Middle School Finds Success in Region 18 Governor’s Cup Competition

Raceland, KY – February 1, 2014 – After winning its 15^th consecutive District 71 title, the Louisa Middle School Academic Team advanced to compete in Region 18 play. For the second year in a row, Louisa Middle School placed Fourth in Regional Governor’s Cup. In addition to the overall team fourth place finish, the Louisa Middle School Academic Team finished fourth in Quick Recall.

Individual honorees included sixth grader Ashley Hayes who placed #2 in Written Composition and seventh grader Kate Cecil who placed #4 in Language Arts. Carrie Jo Cecil continued her success with a #5 finish in Science and a #1 position in Language Arts. Carrie Jo, who had the only 50 in the state of Kentucky on any test at the District level continued to shine at the Regional level with a 45, the highest score in the state of Kentucky in Language Arts. No other Language Arts student in the state scored higher than 44.

Ashley, Kate and Carrie Jo will advance to compete in State Governor’s Cup at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, March 15, 16 and 17. Congratulate them and all the LMS Academic Team members for another banner season and wish them the best of luck as they represent your school, your county and the quality education they have received in the Lawrence County School System.

Region 18 includes: Blaine Elementary School (MG), Boyd County Middle School, East Carter Middle School, Fairview High School (MG), Fallsburg Elementary School (MG), George M. Verity Middle School, Louisa Middle School, McKell Middle School, Raceland Worthington Middle School, Rowan County Middle School, Russell Middle School, Sandy Hook/Elliott County Middle School, West Carter Middle School, Wurtland Middle School

Bill and Deana Hammond

LMS Academic Team

October 13, 2013: Day 365

365

Today is day 365. One year ago I started this blog of 365 Disney excuses and, as you know if you are a regular reader, we have had over 1500 excuses and 17,000 hits. More than I would have ever thought possible. I want to thank all the readers as we wind up this year and ask this question: Do you want more? Drop me a line at bxhamm01@bellsouth.net or leave a comment in the comment section.

Also, I would like to mention, where I get my information. First, my head, in 52 years I have accumulated a lot of knowledge, some of which I am sure of and some of which I have convinced myself of. Second, www.brownielocks.com, these folks have a huge archive of daily celebrations. Third, http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com, this site is an exhaustive source of daily events in Disney history. Fourth, www.todayinhistory.com, events, births and deaths, assembled in numbers beyond your belief. Finally, my original tool that I have used for years in my classroom, The Teacher’s Calendar by the Editors of Chase’s Calendar of Events has been a go to resource that I share with my eighth-grade students as well as readers of this blog.

Today is English Language Day. No matter what language you speak you can get assistance at Walt Disney World. There are people employed from all over the planet and they can speak your language and help you out.

On this day in 1962, Kelly Preston was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jerry Maguire, Cat in the Hat and in our little corner of the world, Sky High as Josie Stronghold. Sky High is one of my favorite Disney movies (along with Meet the Robinsons). I know that Disney owns Marvel now, and that Marvel heroes cannot be in Walt Disney World due to contracts with Universal, but there is an entire stable of heroes in Sky High that could be in the parks. I’m just sayin’. Hopefully we will have a hero park or heroes in the park some day, in the meantime search for Avatar, coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Finally on this date in 1947 Sammy Hagar was born in Monterey, California. Sammy was the lead singer of Montrose, his own band, Van Halen and now the Waboritas. Let’s ride one of our favorites, The Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios or go to the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT and enjoy a sample of the agave inside the stepped pyramid.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.

October 12, 2013: Christopher Columbus, bowling and raincoats.

October 12, 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Even though Columbus was not the first to find the Americas it was his voyage that led to the European migration to the new world. Columbus had some bad information, he thought the Earth was considerably smaller than it actually was but he knew it was round. When he reached the West Indies, he thought he had travelled far enough to reach the Indies. Okay, whatever worked. Columbus was Italian so lets visit the Italy Pavilion at EPCOT and celebrate.

Today is National Family Bowling Day and there is now bowling at Walt Disney World. Splitsville at Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs) is a luxury, modern bowling and dining destination. Strike out for Downtown Disney and use up some of your spare time.

On this date in 1823, Charles Macintosh of Scotland begins selling his raincoats. Macintosh started out as a clerk but he left his position to devote himself full time to science. He was very successful and it was his work with chemicals, in particular naphtha that led to him producing raincoats by cementing layers of rubber. School children all over the planet wear their macs to school on rainy days and we were ponchos and other rain gear often when we are at Walt Disney World. Everyone knows you don’t leave WDW when it rains, that’s often the best time to be there.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.

October 11, 2013: Bob Hammond and Joan Cusack.

It is now 2:00 AM. I have been extremely exhausted and fell asleep at about 8:30 PM. In order to go back to sleep, this is a short and sweet blog.

Today is my brother’s birthday. Bob Hammond was born on this day in 1967 in Louisa, Kentucky. Bob works at the Ashland Alliance in Ashland, Kentucky where he has been involved in community development for the last 14 years. Yes, he’s been to Walt Disney World and, to give you some idea when his visit was, I had a Pal Mickey waiting for him at the Wilderness Lodge. You’ll love the Wilderness Lodge. Even if you don’t stay there, go visit.

My Dad, my Mom, my brother Bob in front, my cousin Mark Hardin, me and my cousin Mike Hardin. (Mark and Mike went to WDW early on.)

Joan Cusack was born on this date in 1962. Cusack starred in School of Rock with Jack Black, she was the voice of Abby Mallard in Chicken Little and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. The song that accompanies Jessie’s story, “When She Loved Me,” is one of the saddest songs that I have ever heard. If you need a good cry just listen to it a couple of times. Cusack won an Annie Award for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production for her turn as Jessie. Visit Woody, Jessie and all the gang. You can usually find them at the exit from Splash Mountain.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.

October 10, 2013: Jodi Benson and Ed Wood.

On this day in 1961 Jodi Benson was born in Rockford, Illinois. Jodi is the voice of Ariel and Barbie. She has also worked in Hercules: Zero to Hero, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure. Benson is also a Disney Legend, being dubbed in 2011. Let’s go to the Magic Kingdom and ride Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid.

Johnny Depp fans, listen up. My absolute favorite movie featuring Depp is Ed Wood. If you think Jack Sparrow is eccentric, you’ve not seen anything yet. Ed wood is credited as the worst movie director of all time and his movie, Plan 9 from Outer Space, is one of, if not the worst, movie of all time. Enjoy Johnny Depp unleashed and enjoy Ed Wood. Today is Ed Woods’ birthday; he was born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1924. Let’s go see The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.