Bikers and blues event helps out Belton special-ed program

Sweet treats

Harrisonville Christian School has recently started a variety of after-school clubs for their students. Heather Schrock taught a “Sweet Treats Club” last week at the school, where she trained students how to decorate cupcakes with a variety of icing methods.

It was a huge hit with the students.

Bikers and blues event helps out Belton special-ed program

The Belton Fraternal Order of Eagles hold a Bikers, Blues and BBQ event each year, and the profit is donated to the Belton Special Education Department. Over the years, the Eagles have donated more than $40,000.

The funds are used to support Special Olympics and purchase items needed in special education classrooms.

Spelling bee winner

On Nov. 14, the Belton School District held its annual spelling bee. After several rounds, the field was narrowed down: Belton Middle School eighth-grader Esai Oquendo, emerged as the champion after correctly spelling “scandal.” Oquendo will face new challengers at the Cass County Spelling Bee.

Alma mater song for Ray-Pec High

After learning that Raymore-Peculiar High School did not have an official alma mater, Vocal Music Teacher Stephen Rew created one.

Over the summer, he wrote the music and lyrics for the song. The first public performance of the alma mater was during the Nov. 15 pep assembly at the high school. The composition was a labor of love for Rew, who grew up in the community and is a 1999 graduate of Ray-Pec High School. Rew is currently president of the Missouri Choral Directors Association.

“Our district’s mission to prepare students for a successful and meaningful life was at the front of my mind,” Rew said. “My goal for students is that they will achieve whatever future they find meaningful. It is captured in the line: ‘as the future calls us to chase our dreams.’”

The varsity football team from Summit Christian Academy recently took Sunday afternoon to honor their faithful end-zone team cameraman, SCA junior Ben Schwab.

Ben Schwab, a cellist and member of the Kansas City all-district orchestra, ran the SCA varsity football team-end zone camera every week to provide game footage for the football team. So on Nov. 24, the team decided to surprise Ben at his orchestra concert the day after the team fell in the Class 2 State Quarterfinals.

When Ben took the stage at the 30th annual Harmony Interfaith Concert at White Theatre in Leawood, Kansas, he looked out to see all of the members of the Varsity football team in the audience, dressed in their SCA Eagle football jerseys. After his cello solo of “Bashana Haba’ah” the SCA varsity football team gave him a standing ovation.

“Ben is a valuable member of our program,” said SCA Varsity Football Coach Todd Berck in a written statement. “His cold and lonely job on the end zone camera allows us to see and correct mistakes in real time on the sideline during the game.”