The Eagle's Nest
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Liberty
Common
Elementary
School
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Common Knowledge, Common Virtues, Common Sense
A National Charter School of the Year, A Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School, A Certified Official Core Knowledge Site School, A John Irwin School of Excellence , A Gilder Lehrman Affliate School
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Volume 18 Issue 21
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January 26, 2015
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Important Dates
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 Jan. 26-Jan.30|National School Choice Week, make sure to come to the Front Office any time this week to pick up your National School Choice Week Scarf and show support for our great school. Jan. 27|Citizenship Character Assembly, speaker is Carson Maczuzak from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to talk about the upcoming Penny Drive held in February.
Kinders-3rd grade attend assembly, 8:10-8:45
4th-6th grade attend assembly, 8:55-9:35
Jan. 30|Liberty T-Shirt DayJan. 30|6th Grade Movie Night, Muppets Most Wanted, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
No entrance fee. Please no outside food,
popcorn will be served and Snack Shack will be open.
Feb. 9-Feb. 13| Volunteer Appreciation WeekFeb. 13|NO SCHOOL, LCS Teacher Professional Dev. Feb. 16|President's Day, No SCHOOLFeb. 20|Winter CarnivalFeb. 24|New Kindergarten Parent Orientation, 6:30 March 6|Group PicturesMarch 6|End of 3rd QuarterMarch 13|6th graders to Liberty Common High School (All Day)March 16-20|Spring Break, NO SCHOOL  |
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Surveys Distributed Soon: Your Feedback is Vital
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It is the time of year when The Board of Directors seeks parental input on your child's educational experience at Liberty. The Board values your opinion and strives to do its very best to be one of the top schools in Colorado. A general survey focusing on our institution as a whole will be distributed to all families via email February 2, 2015. The following week, on February 9, 2015, families will receive an individual teacher/class survey. If you have more than one child attending Liberty, please complete a survey for each of your students. Please take a few minutes to fill out these surveys. If you have any questions regarding the surveys, please call the front office at (970)482-9800. We value your feedback.
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The Gala Committee is always welcoming new members.
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Here are a few ways to get involved:
- Donate an item, service, or become a sponsor. Donations may be left in the front office with a completed donation form. Contact us to learn about becoming an event sponsor.
- Join us Tuesdays at 8 a.m. on January 13th, 20th, and 27th in the teachers' lounge. We'll be preparing for the gala in a variety of ways. From data entry to decor, we'll have projects of all sorts!
- Pink Bag take-home projects- Thanks to all that have already helped with pink bag projects! A fresh new crop of pink bag projects have arrived in the front office! Sign out your bag today-many hands make light work!
- Collect fabulous items for the silent auction- Contact us to learn how to help. This opportunity is perfect for those looking to volunteer on their own schedule.
Jodi Fraser: 970-988-1570 or rfjyf@comcast.net
Qeryldine Hofinger: 970-219-4374 or qerylieq@gmail.com
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Yearbook Orders Now Available
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GUARANTEED MEMORIES The last day to guarantee a yearbook and to add personalization to your yearbook is February 6th. Click on this link for easy, convenient online ordering: www.jostensyearbooks.com Questions???? Contact: Mrs. Clouser (kclouser@libertycommon.org)
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Act Now: Tickets Available for Liberty's Spring Lecture
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Attention Parents:
Liberty Common School is excited to host a talk by Daniel T. Willingham. Please join us on March 27th at 6:30 PM to hear a talk by Daniel T. Willingham a professor and author from University of Virginia. He is an advocate of the Core Knowledge Curriculum and teaching our students content to comprehend the literature they read.
Dr. Willingham has worked closely with ED Hirsch to cognitively explain why and how what we do works. He will be discussing literacy and what we can do as parents and educators to make sure our students are reading. Dr. Willingham does an incredible job of making the cognitive sciences accessible to all participants.
Tickets are on sale now at
We will have Dr. Willingham's new book, Raising Kids Who Read What Parents and Teachers Can Do, for sale and book signing after the presentation. In Raising Kids, Willingham explains this phenomenon and provides practical solutions for engendering a love of reading that lasts into adulthood.
We hope you can all make it to this educational evening.
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Legion of Thirteen issues Challenge Keys to Kinders 2015
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Legion XIII. Recent inductees of the Liberty Legion of Thirteen traveled to the elementary school on Friday, January 16th, to issue "Challenge Keys" to the kindergarteners. The keys represent a challenge made to LCS kinders to remain at Liberty Common School for all thirteen years of primary and secondary school and to graduate as "Thirteeners" themselves in 2027. On Saturday, January 10th thirteen LCHS seniors were inducted into the Legion of Thirteen. The ceremony featured a Roman feast, remarks from Liberty teachers going all the way back to kindergarten, comments from parents, and receipt of the Red Legion XIII Keys which the Thirteeners will wear at their graduation ceremony.
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Click on this video to watch Liberty kindergarteners receive their "Challenge Keys" from members of the LCHS Legion of Thirteen. The keys challenge the kinders to graduate from LCHS and join the Legion of Thirteen in 2027.Note:This video is pretty darn adorable. You really want to watch it.
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Schools On the Move Challenge Returns to Liberty
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 The Schools on the Move 5210 Challenge is an annual program held in February where students and staff keep track of their activity minutes and other healthy habits. Prize money is awarded to the top schools in two different categories to use towards physical education equipment or school wellness initiatives.
Healthy kids are better learners. Be a part of this new tradition at Liberty. Activity Logs coming home soon in Monday Folders. All student and staff participants with a minimum of 60 checks on their logs will receive a Challenge t-shirt. Click Here to learn more about the health challenge. Now let's get moving. |
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Updated Curriculum: Parenting the Love and Logic Way
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Would you like to feel more confident as a parent? Are you tired of your kids fighting? Would you like to have more fun parenting? Would you like to feel more relaxed at the end of the day? Help make your family life more enjoyable! Learn the Love and Logic way by attending a Love and Logic training. Love and Logic is the behavior management that Liberty Common uses and believes in.
The next Love and Logic starts Friday February 27th at 6:00pm through Sat February 28th at 4:30 pm. Class will be held at Heart of the Rockies Christian Church, 6501 Brittany Street in Fort Collins and is facilitated by Shannon Yockey, a former Liberty Common parent. Cost per individual is $125.00 and $175.00 per couple (includes workbook and materials). This class is open to all parents with children of all ages. Details and registration can be found by Clicking Here. For more information about the class, contact
Shannon Yockey, at (970) 402-7030. Class size is limited and you must register by Friday, February 20th. Limited childcare will be available on site, but you must register in advance. Cost will depend on number of children registering.
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Contact Us
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Liberty Common School
1725 Sharp Point Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 970-482-9800
Fax: 970-482-8007
Office Hours: 7:50-4:00 p.m.
In an effort to keep students safe during drop-off and pick-up times, please refrain from using cell phones. The front, middle and back drop-off and pick-up areas are designated NO CELL PHONE AREAS.
Please call our attendance line by 8:30 a.m. if your child will not be attending school due to illness, appointment or is out of town. 482-9800, option 2, please call by 8:30 a.m.
If you need to take your child to an appointment during school hours, please come to the Front Office, sign them out and we will call them out of class.
All students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. must be signed in at the Front Office. It is important that a reason be included on the sign-in sheet. If your student is ill and you want any/all homework, please contact the teacher by email as early as possible and homework will be available after 3:00 p.m. in the office. If you have any questions about these policies please contact Mrs. Ronen at jronen@libertycommon.org
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Healthcare Reminder
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If your student is sick with a fever of 100 degrees or higher or is throwing up or has diarrhea, he or she is NOT ALLOWED to attend school. Your child may return to school if they are not throwing up or fever-free(WITHOUT FEVER REDUCING MEDICINE) for 24 hours.
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Board of Directors
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Sarvjit Gill 227-4202
Joel Goeltl 593-8556 Paulette Hansen 282-8455
Jeff Webb 545-9636
Bill Werst 631-8379Denise Benz 420-4184
John Rohrbaugh 225-2259
You may contact all members of our Board of Directors at
Teacher's Lounge
Liberty Common School
1725 Sharp Point Dr.
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Quiet Zone
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 Please remember that the front office is an office of business and the use of cell phones is prohibited. We also ask that conversations be kept to a minimum so that front office staff can provide quality customer service to students, staff members and other parents. Thank you. |
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Kindergarten Volunteers Needed
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Mrs. Horton, one of our kindergarten teachers, is needing volunteers on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays any time throughout the day. Volunteers do not need to be parents of kindergarteners to assist in the classrooms. Please email Angela Horton at ahorton@libertycommon.orgctrout@libertycommon.org
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Charter School Parents Invited
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The Poudre School District is looking for charter-school parents to serve on the district's accountability committee. The accountability committee consists of thoughtful parent and school representatives who provide guidance and recommendations regarding district spending priorities, the District Improvement Plan, and the districts charter schools to the PSD Board of Education. It also works to increase the level of parent engagement in the district. This important work is facilitated by a committee representative of the diversity of our district.
We are in need of a parent representing charter-school students. Parent candidates for the DAC must have a child currently enrolled in a PSD charter school, and may not be employed by either the district or the charter school.
If you know a parent who would enjoy contributing to the important advisory work of this group, please have them reach out to Robert Beauchamp, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. The contact information is listed below.
The committee meets once per month, typically on the third Wednesday of each month. Feb 18, Mar. 25 (may be moved to March 24th to accommodate the board adoption of the district UIP) ,Apr. 22, May 20, 6:30 pm - 8:30 p.m. Location: Board Room, 2407 LaPorte Avenue.
Contact Robert Beauchamp by email at rbeaucha@psdschools.org or call at 970-490-3667 if you have any questions about the commitment. |
 Aquatics Robotics.
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SunFish (grades K - 3) and SeaPerch (grades 4 - 8) are innovative underwater-robotics programs that equip coaches and students with the resources they need to build an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). Students build the ROV from a kit comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts, following a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine-engineering theme. Throughout the project, students learn engineering concepts, problem solving, teamwork, and technical applications. If a Liberty parent is interested in launching this program at LCS and/or LCHS, please send Mr. Lovely an e-mail, or visit the Northern Colorado SeaPerch website.
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Board of Directors Update
by: Paulette Hansen, Board of Directors Member
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At our January 15th meeting we were gratified to hear that the new addition to the High School has allowed an immense improvement in the type and quality of lab experiments the science department can conduct. They can now leave up experiments over multiple days allowing them to study the experiments over time. Other good news is that the engineering electives are growing in enrollment. All classes have 10 or more students. The Science and Engineering Departments continue to be highly effective in their goal to prepare students for college.
  The Board would like to acknowledge and thank our Grandparents Club members. Their recent installation of new storage shelves upstairs in the Elementary School is a much appreciated improvement! It's great to have them volunteering in the school setting such good  examples for the students. Also at the January 15th meeting, the Board approved a couple of changes to the by-laws pertaining to eligibility for Board membership. Candidates must be registered Colorado voters, not necessarily living in Poudre School District. Also, grandparents and legal guardians of Liberty Common students are eligible to serve on the Board. All other requirements for Board membership remain unchanged.
Two Board seats will be open beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. If you have never attended a Board meeting, I strongly encourage it. You can also contact any of us to learn more about Board membership.
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Board of Directors Upcoming Voting Issue and Vacancy Notice
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Candidate Eligibility Changes. The BOD approved two changes to the eligibility for candidates. First, the requirement is now to be a registered voter in Colorado. Previously it stated only voters within the Poudre School District were eligible. The second change was that grandparents and legal guardians of Liberty Common students are eligible to serve on the BOD. All other requirements for being a BOD candidate still apply. Liberty Common Needs You On the Board of Directors
Elections for 2 seats on the Board of Directors for Liberty Common School will be held during the week of April 20, 2015 through April 24th, 2015. Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4th, 2015. Board members are elected to three-year terms. Please Click Here for Board Application.
Liberty relies on our parents to help make this school a success. The Board of Directors' responsibilities include: maintaining a strategic vision of the School, creation and promotion of the school's curriculum and teaching philosophies, final responsibility for all School decisions, hiring and evaluation of the administration, and meeting contractual obligations with the Poudre School District.
The qualifications to be a BOD member include the following:
- Registered voter residing in Colorado
- Attendance to at least one of the BOD meetings during the school year of the election
- Read and support wholeheartedly the views presented in the following three books:
Cultural Literacy by E.D. Hirsch Jr.
Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong by William Kilpatrick
The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them by E.D. Hirsch Jr.
- Submission of Letter of Interest for BOD Membership
- Submission of Statement of Educational Philosophy
- Grandparent of legal guardian of a student enrolled at Liberty for a minimum of two years by the time the candidate's term on the BOD would commence
- Volunteer in the school
- Embrace the principles of Liberty's Charter and founding books (evaluated through an interview process)
- Receive a recommendation from principals at either the elementary or the high school
After election a BOD member will be expected to:
Complete and sign the following documents:
Volunteer Application for the current school year
Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement
Volunteer Oath
Volunteer Agreement
Board of Directors Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreement
Board of Directors Affidavit (subject to a criminal background check)
Please Click Here for complete information about running for a seat on the Board.
For more information about the election, contact Board Chairman Bill Werst at bill.werst@libertycommon.org, Casey Churchill at cchurchill@libertycommon.org, or Bob Schaffer at bschaffer@libertycommon.org .
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Shake, Rattle and Roll at Liberty's Sock Hop 2.20.15 Volunteers Needed for This Family Fun Night
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For this year's winter carnival, we're bringing back the popular Sock Hop! Friday, February 20th, 6:00- 8:00 p.m. in the gym. All attendees are welcome to dress up in your favorite "greaser" outfit or poodle skirt, eat, engage in many activities and dance to a live band! There are many ways parents can volunteer to make this a fun time for all. We are seeking volunteers to be lead coordinators of games, crafts, and decorations. Volunteers are needed to decorate, run stations, serve food and clean up. Donating items for various stations is also a way you can become involved. Thank you so much for your support. We look forward to having a great time! Please contact Hannah Knecht @ Hannah.knecht@gmail.com or 988.4809 if you are willing to volunteer at the carnival!
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Donor Drop Box
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 As a tuition-free, public-charter school, Liberty receives less funding from the Poudre School District than do regular public schools. To help Liberty remain the best school around, we rely upon free-will contributions from parents, grandparents, and alumni; and upon the generosity of community members who support Liberty's innovative brand of high-quality classical education. The Liberty Board of Directors, the school administration, faculty, and staff extend sincere thanks and humble gratitude for the following recent contributors:
Joe & Lisa Falsetto, Greg & Kim Farrand, Michael & Tarryn Farrell, David & Brenda Farstad, Dylan & Autumn Flaitz, John & Lisa Giles, Jeffrey & Janice Gillespie, Joel & Laura Goeltl, Rodney & Maria Good, John & Irina Goodrich, John & Micah Grimm, Robert & Leticia Gronlund, Ken & Lesley Halley, Michael & Paulette Hansen, Ben & Kim Haugestuen, Doug & Tracy Horst, Robert & Andrea Irish, Dean & Sondra Iverson, Kirk & Michelle Johanson, Stan & Keri Jurgens, Tom & Joyce Kelley.
Your generosity and thoughtful support of Liberty Common School give to our students academic advantages they would not otherwise enjoy. Thank you for your leadership in public-education reform, and specifically toward achieving Liberty Common School's ongoing mission of academic excellence and fairness.
All donations to Liberty Common School are tax deductible (Federal non-profit ID #  84-1404585). To volunteer on the Liberty Fundraising Committee CLICK HERE. To volunteer on the Liberty Grants Committee CLICK HERE. To volunteer for the annual Liberty Spring Gala fundraiser event (Friday, April 10th, 2015 at the Embassy Suites in Loveland) CLICK HERE. To make an online donation CLICK HERE. For more information about contributing to Liberty Common School, please CLICK HERE to visit the "Support Liberty" options at the school's website. |
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Science Fair and Geography Bee Winners Represent
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On January 17th, Liberty Common 5th and 6th graders participated in our Science Fair. The following students represented their peers. Congratulations to all.
5th Grade: Taylor Friesen- 1st place winner (Mrs. Galeener), 2nd place winner, Zach Bayens(Mrs. Galeener) and Jacob Coester-3rd place winner (Mrs. Schupp).
6th Grade: Charlie Wang- 1st place winner ( Mr. Huey), 2nd place winner, Alex Diehl
(Mrs. Duroux) and Allison Tidwell-3rd place winner (Mr. Huey).
 | Mr. Churchill recognizes winners: Allison Tidwell, Alex Diel and Charlie Wang.
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Jacob Coester in front of his science fair display board.
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Taylor Friesen and Zach Bayens with Mr. Churchill.
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Liberty Common School Geography Bee, Grades 4th-8th grade students, was held on January 21st, after school, in the LCS Library. Congratulations to the following students for winning their class competition and earning the right to to represent their grade:
4th grade: Jay LaMastra(Hersh) and James Amundgaard(Siener). 5th grade: Ryan Green(Galeener) and Hudson Voggesser(Cardenas). 6th Grade: Sunny Taylor (Canfield) and Kellen Hansen (Duroux)
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Winner Madison Kubala (8th grade), Robert Robinson (LCHS History Teacher), and 2nd place winner, John Bradley (7th grade). Madison won on the fifth tie-breaker question, which was: "Bicycles are a common form of transportation in the most populous city along the east coast of China. Name this city." She correctly identified Shanghai to seal the win.
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Robotics Champions
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On Saturday, January 17th, two Liberty robotics teams competed in the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Colorado Championship in Westminster against 69 other teams comprising the top 25% of teams throughout the state. Liberty's Enginysics team, comprised of Liberty 6th graders and coached by CJ Smith, was the second-place overall champion. Team members are Ian Smith, Kellen Hansen, Ryan Saldanha, Charlie Wang, Liam O'Malley and David Gao.This team will advance to the International Open Festival held in San Diego in May.
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Liberty robotics teams took first-place, and second-place in a recent Colorado statewide championship. Now it's onward to the international and world contests! Pictured are (Row 1, L to R) Mentor David Rohrbaugh, Mikey Werst, Joshua Rohrbaugh, Sydney Reinke, Michael Hofinger, and Taylor Reinke.
(Row 2, L to R) Liam O'Malley, Charlie Wang, Ryan Saldanha, David Gao, Ian Smith, Kellen Hansen and Coach CJ Smith. (Row 3, L to R)Coaches Dale Reinke, Melissa Reinke, Janelle Rohrbaugh, and John Rohrbaugh
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Liberty's 5th Gear team was the robot-performance champion and first-place overall champion. Team members are Liberty 5th grader Sydney Reinke and Liberty 8th gradersMichael Hofinger, Taylor Reinke, Joshua Rohrbaugh, and Mikey Werst; mentor is David Rohrbaugh; coaches are Dale and Melissa Reinke, and
John and Janelle Rohrbaugh. This team will advance to the World Festival held in Saint Louis in April.
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Sports News
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Attention all female 6th graders wanting to play soccer this spring:
Coach Hubbeling, and a couple of last year soccer team members, want to meet you. Come have a meet and greet for 15 minutes after school.
When? Monday, Jan. 26th at 3pm
Where? On the blue court
Why? Because they are bringing treats
So, if you are interested in playing spring soccer for Liberty, come say 'Hi'. "
This Week in Girls Jr.-High Basketball: 
1/26 4pm Home vs. Dayspring
1/29 4pm Home vs. New Vision
Last Week in Sports: It was rival week last week as the jr.-high and high-school basketball teams swept Heritage Christian. The jr.-high girls basketball A and B teams also beat Loveland Classical. Coach Wilcox and B team coach, Emily Ronen have the girls off to a 2-0 start.
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