Mrs. Kayla Mahrer
By Abigail Erickson
Q. What do you enjoy about our school environment?
A. "The laughter of the children, the fun I have with my kids, friendships with my co-workers, the craziness of the day, but we all are thankful for the kids and craziness! The noise and laughter is what keeps us going. Seeing the kids back in school after covid is an awesome feeling. We all needed to get back together. We're all family here, and we missed our family!"
Q. What made you want to start helping kids?
A. "My kids are at Sargent Central so it was nice to have the same schedule as them, but also to just be able to get to know all the kids again is such a reward. I wanted to be on a team when I decided to take this step. It was a great step to take. I've made such amazing friendships with the kids and staff!"
Q. What is your favorite part about helping them?
A. "The connection we have together is my favorite part. I know a lot of the kids' favorite colors, movies, and birthdays. When I come to help, they always have awesome stories for me. The trust they have is a very rewarding feeling. These kids are like our own and we want them to succeed just like our own. We help them in their sorrows and celebrate with them in their joy."
Q. What did it feel like to come back to the school you went to elementary and high school at?"
A. "If you would have told me as a senior that I would be working at Sargent Central, I would have laughed! Never say never. It was home and familiar. It was good to be back to see old faces and getting to watch my kids walking down the same halls as I did in my childhood. I'm making so many new memories here now as an adult.
Ms. Malheim
By Nate Lyon
Q. What is your favorite part about your job?
A. “Working with kids of all ages and building ‘teacher-student’ friendships.”
Q. What did you do after high school?
A. “I moved to Maryland to become a nanny after high school. I worked as a nanny for eight years.”
Q. How many years have you been at SC?
A. “17 years.”
Q. What is the toughest part about your job?
A. “Keeping students motivated to work.”
Q. Are there any fun facts about you?
A. “I started pistol shooting when I was 14. I shot in Havana and Oakes. When I started, I was one of maybe five women that shot and for sure I was the youngest. I was on many different teams over the span of ten years and ranked #2 out of 60 people.”
Mr. Isakson
By: Alana Anderson
A. I have always enjoyed working on math problems and early in my career, I wanted to coach!
Q. Where did you graduate college?
A. Valley City State University
Q. What is your favorite class to teach? Why?
A. Eighth grade students because I spent 33 years at Sargent Central High School teaching that class.
Q. Why did you want to come back to Sargent Central?
A. Because the students are very respectful and great to work with. We also have a great administration and staff.
Q. How long have you been teaching?
A. thirty-five years
Ms. Olson
By: Nevaeh Keller
Q: How long have you been working at Sargent Central?
A: I have been working at Sargent Central for 14 years.
Q: How long have you been the principal in the elementary?
A: I have been the principal for four years.
Q: What subject(s) did you teach before you came to Sargent Central?
A: I taught Family & Consumer Science and my favorite was Foods of course!
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: I have two favorites: the students and then how every day is different.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: I love to do anything outdoors, spend time with my family and kids, games, cooking and reading.
Q: Tell us a couple fun facts about yourself. What do people not know about you?
A: I’ve skydived and I’ve never eaten a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Mrs. Harrington
By: LeiLani Ringer
Q: Tell us a little about yourself, like which college did you go to?
A: I have a bachelor’s degree in FCS (Family & Consumer Science) from NDSU & an associate degree in Dental Hygiene from NDSCS.
Q: How long have you been teaching at Sargent Central?
A: This is my 7th year at Sargent Central. Prior to that, I was a dental Hygienist and worked in private practice and for the ND Department of Health.
Q: What did you do before teaching?
A: I was a dental hygienist in a private dental office in Lisbon. I also worked for the ND Department of Health. As a public health hygienist, I traveled around the state teaching kids about dental care, applying sealants to teeth, teaching dental health to medical professionals, and participating in oral health surveys in care facilities.
Q: What is your favorite part about teaching?
A: I love the variety of each day and what every class period brings. Students present with so many ideas and experiences that they want to achieve. It is fun to see them become successful! Truly, this is my dream job. Every day is a small part of paradise.
Mrs. Schmitt
Q: Did you enjoy teaching at Sargent Central? What did you like most about teaching?
A: Yes, I enjoyed working at Sargent Central. I like the relationships that I have made with the students.
Q: What do you expect for your next opportunity?
A: I expect my next opportunity to bring a lot of needed happiness into my life.
Q: What do you plan on doing after leaving Sargent Central?
A: I am moving to South Dakota, and I am going to see where my new journey takes me.
Q: Did you enjoy teaching/being a coach for the speech team?
A: Yes, I enjoyed both very much.
Q: Do you have any advice for the next teacher applying for your position in the future?
A: The advice I would give to the next teacher applying for my position would be to get to know your students' likes/ dislikes and be empathetic to them. It’s also important to be flexible and never be afraid to ask for help.
Q: Lastly, what is your proudest moment of teaching?
A: My proudest moment of teaching was when a student told me they loved me because I truly cared about them.
Mrs. Weber
Q: How many years did you teach at Sargent Central?
A: I have taught for 38 years.
Q: If applicable, what subject(s) did you teach?
A: I taught P.E JR High, 5th, and 9th Grade English and then 7th and 8th grade Reading.
Q: Did you coach any extracurricular activities?
A: I was the head coach for the Girls' Basketball team for 16 years, a track coach for two years, nine years for JR High girls and three years as an assistant for Girls' Basketball.
Q: What is your proudest moment of your career?
A: I was told once, this is the best job (to be in school) you get to watch your children grown up and if you are lucky, your own too. Now I was here for one year with my granddaughter. We also won a district Girls' Basketball tournament.
Q: How was your college experience? Where did you attend? Major? Minor?
A: I attended NDSCS from '79-81, then from '81-83 I went to Valley City State University. I also played Women's Basketball.
Q: If you could describe yourself in four words, what words would you use and why?
A: I would describe myself as energetic, flexible, helpful and demanding.
Q: How has Sargent Central changed throughout your career?
A: The thing that has changed the most is the internet. Before we had all of these computers, we had just one in the backroom that was hooked up with a home line. Then, when we started doing accelerated reader, we had to use floppy discs. After the floppy discs, came the hard discs but we didn’t get to choose what books were on those discs. You could choose the disc, but then the fifty books on those discs were random and if you didn’t have them then you had to buy those books.
Q: What will you miss the most about Sargent Central?
A Among all things, I will miss being able to know everything and the kids. The job really keeps you up with the current things happening with sports and the kids’ likes, dislikes and even their lives.
Q: What are your plans for your retirement years?
A: I would like to travel, that’s the only thing I could think of. Personally, I would like to travel to the northeast and then at some point to San Francisco.
Q: What advice can you offer to other teachers/librarians in the next coming year?
A: Enjoy- you get to see all students K-12. You can make it what you want, but you have to be willing to listen and help teachers and students.
Mr. Isakson
Q: How is teaching upper-level math?
A: It is a very challenging experience. The students are very patient. Lots of them help and I get lots of help from other people to make this work. It is very enjoyable though.
Q: Was it difficult to manage two jobs in the fall?
A: Yes, it was. I was teaching along with doing grain bins. It was many hours of hard work for an old guy.
Q: What was your experience driving the girls' basketball van?
A: I've got to hear many stories from the girls by driving them to and from basketball. I know who is dating who now and I've got to known them much better.
Q: How have the students changed?
A: They are so much busier now, so there is a lot less study time/homework at home and away from school.
Q: What are your retirement plans?
A: I will continue to do grain bins and we have some new employees coming in. It will be exciting.
Sargent Central's Upcoming Events
By Abigail Erickson
March 3- Lifetouch Spring Pictures
March 5- Speech Meet in Lisbon
March 8- State ACT Juniors
March 9- Donut Day
March 11- 3rd Quarter Ends
March 11 & 12- Chanhassen Dinner Theatre- Fine Arts Group
March 12- Speech Meet @ Milnor
March 16- Out @ 12:20
March 17 & 18- NO SCHOOL
March 19- Speech Meet @ Enderlin
March 25- Pre-K Screening @ Activity Center
March 26- Region 1 & 2 Speech Meet @ Kindred
March 31- Spring Concert (PK-8)
April 2- Prom @ Milnor
Josie Hamilton
The 100th Day of School
To celebrate the 100th day of school, which, if you didn’t know, was on February 9th, the elementary students did a variety of activities and we had the privilege to go down and take some pictures and ask some questions!
Collectively, the elementary students and teachers dressed like they were 100 years old, jumped for 100 seconds, brought 100 things to school, they made crowns, 100 steps, handed out Smarties for being 100 days smarter and other activities centered around the number 100. Their classrooms were also decorated with posters and streamers with the phrase “100 Days Smarter!”. The kids were hyped for the 100th day of school and even told us that they were ready for the next 100th day of school!
Maker Space
On February tenth, the National Honor Society Students that could make it, helped the elementary students build Cubelets and Squishy Circuits at the Forman Public Library. The kids got off the bus, had snacks, and got to work!
The next meeting for Maker Space is on March 15th at the Forman Public Library from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. and is available to sign up for ages 5-10 years old.
The seniors in Food and Nutrition this year are taking on new challenges by attempting new dishes and tough techniques! As inspiration from Alessandro, the foreign exchange student who joined the class in January, two of the kitchens are being challenged with new dishes they haven’t made before: spaghetti carbonara and tiramisu. Some of these dishes have been attempted but their success with it is left up for them to decide.
Sophomores
By Alana Anderson and Mya Swanson
In Biology, we are learning about Inheritance through chromosomes. We have learned that males determine the gender of the baby. We have also learned that males are the only ones with a “y” chromosome. We do lots of work to prepare for the big test. We have two study days, and on the last study day we do a fun review game to finally get us ready.
In History we are working on a map of Africa, we have to say the country that it originally was overcome by and the country that it became after independence.
Freshmen
By Nate Lyon
In English class, the freshmen have been working on pre-reading about World War II to prepare for their novel "Night". The point of pre-reading is to gain background information about a topic, so they can better understand the actual novel.
In Physical Science, they have started working on their Rube Goldberg machines. Rube Goldberg machines (as pictured) are machines that require many steps to accomplish a simple task such as popping a balloon or filling a cup. The machines show students real examples of work, transfers of energy, and power.
8th Grade
8th graders in Mr. Wasvick’s class have been working on US History and the United States before the American Revolution. They learned about the Salem Witch Trials and just created a travel brochure that was designed to get people to move to one of the Colonies. In Mrs. Christianson’s class they are learning more about the Olympics and doing projects on them. In Mrs. Harrington’s class the 8th graders are learning how to sew and how to iron fusible material on their pillowcases
7th Grade
The 7th graders are learning songs for concert and some are even doing contest songs. They are quote "learning to play slow and pretty"- Mr. McAmis.
They are also making Olympic projects, like booklets about the Olympics and creating their own logos and charts about them. They are also recording medals.
Second Grade
By LeiLani Ringer
They also have some special visitors come and teach them about healthy eating habits and dental hygiene. The second-graders love learning about cursive and enjoy a variety of reading, writing, and spelling activities. They love the review games such as Trashketball or Kahoot. The type of art projects they are working on this month are inspired by Eric Carle Valentine’s Day artwork, as well as drawing a picture for the ND Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
Third Grade
Recently in the 3rd grade classroom students have been working on vocabulary squares. Vocab squares (as pictured) are four boxes where students have to do the things listed based around a certain vocab word. This helps students truly gauge what the word means, similar words, and how it would look. Along with the vocab squares, everyday students do a writing prompt in the morning, usually about something that happened.
Together Time
On Friday, February 4th, the school gathered around for together time and had a rock paper scissors contest. Everyone in the school was included, teachers and staff members could also join if they wanted. There was a total of two rounds played, and both winners won a t-shirt.
March Birthdays
Athan Zirnhelt, Wyatt Degenstein, Carter Hosford, Brayden Siemieniewski, Payton Bergh, Christopher Kochevar, Baylie Zirnhelt, Nathaniel Lyon
Elementary
Maddox Anderson, Lane Eklund, Brody Mahrer, Jackson Colbert, Kinsey Bopp, Weston Dockter, Charli Anderson, Avery Woytassek, William Hansana, Lucas Butler, Karsyn Brezicka, Maris Mastenbrook
Staff
Brian Banderet, Scott Buckhouse, Jerry Fawcett, Russel Hosford, Eric Wasvick, Leea Malheim
Book Review
The Book The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma is a winding story. It has two points of view that show throughout each chapter. The first character is Amber who is a juvenile girl. When the book starts, it is talking about how all of the cells had been opened and all of the other juveniles started running amuck in the detention center. Amber gets nervous and isn’t sure what to do about the whole situation. The book then goes to Violet’s point-of-view where she talks about missing her best friend and wishing “that” night wouldn’t have happened. The story is a twist and turn with each page. It is a book you will not be able to put down.
Speech
The Sargent Central Speech season is off to a roll with Mrs. Schmitt as their coach for the second year. For speech, students go to meets on Saturday and spend almost all day there. During this time, they compete in the categories they signed up for. Some of which include impromptu, humorous, dramatic, storytelling, and radio. Going to speech lets students practice speaking skills and meet new people. The team hopes to find success and continue competing.
eSports
This is the third year of eSports at Sargent Central and this time they’re cooperating with North Sargent. The two games being played are Rocket League and Madden. Rocket League is a three vs. three game where the player controls a car, and they must score more goals than the opponent team to win. Madden is an American Football Game featuring NFL players that can be controlled. All of the players hope to make it to the playoffs this season.
