March 9: Bridget Raby; Linda Fielder; Jerome Preslar, Jr.; Michelle Overton

March 10: John Michael Clifton II; Brenda Smith; Poke Wilkinson

March 11: Lamar Wilkinson

March 12: Daisy Lee Arnold

March 13: Duyen T. Nguyen

March 14: Mark Pendergrass Jr.; Cameron Manuel; Zackary D. Wittnebert

March 15: Gayle Wilson

March 16: Samantha D. Daniel; Kelli Stryker; Cameron Wisenant

March 17: Kelly Ryan; Pat Garner

March 18: Randall McLemore; Thomas Skalak; Stefani Spears

March 19: Lisa Pizanie; Cheryl J. Finster; Heather Osborn; Wanda Redding; Darin Vasquez-Luna

March 20: Johnny Johnson; Marian Stoddard; Sherry Ureste

March 21: Ashley Johnson; Wesley Hempel; Kaleigh Diaz

March 22: Matthew McCauley; Peggy Guy; Skylar Fisher

Coast Guard Donates New Flag

The students and staff at POC Elementary thank the Coast Guard for donating a new flag for our campus.

Pictured above: Custodian, Adolfo Covarrubias, accepts the flag presented by Coast Guard Representative, Terry Reed, while Makayla and Tyler Reed proudly watch.

4th Six Weeks Awards

A Honor Roll

Front Row: Ashton Fowler-Albrecht, Keaton Cady, Leah Lucey

Middle Row: Shayla Teel, Tarah Munsch, Anthony Luna, Joey Helms, Jessie Lashley, Sarah Doggett, Maddie Hawes, Alexandria DiClemente, Shane Branch

Back Row: Madison Stringo, Amy Resendiz, Evan Clifton, Taylor Ragusin, Brooklyn Redmond, Carly Rosenboom, Drake Dyes

A & B Honor Roll

Pictured at left: Front Row: Makayla Reed, Harley Peeler, Damian Guzman, Chase Harding, Kalynn Harding, Arely Ixtepan

Second Row: Jocelynn Miller, Ally Luna, Esmeralda Garcia, McKaelyn Carriles, Dalton Alford, Eli Romo, Harley Fowler-Albrecht, Jordan Blevins, John Rosenboom

Third Row: Elizabeth Carey, Trey Hagler, Thomas Hawes, Riley Hughs, Clayton Maraggia, Tyler Reed, Shayleigh Sprague, Hannah Tucker, Colton Williams

Back Row: Zoila Garcia, Gavin Gosnell

Ethan Redding - AB Honor Roll

Perfect Attendance PreK – 2nd Grade

First Row:Melany Romo, Cody Branch, Kyle Doggett, Aislin Guzman, Alex Lopez, Matthew Stapp, Liz Ixtepan, Harley Maraggia

Second Row: Makayla Reed, Sergio Sanchez, Ethan Redding,
Dylan Ramirez, Harley Fowler-Albrecht, Jenna McManus, Kalynn Harding, Ashton Fowler-Albrecht, Damian Guzman, Elizabeth Carriles

Third Row: Madison Stringo, Keven Salinas, Tarah Munsch, Anthony Luna, Jessie Lashley, Joey Helms, Maddie Hawes, Harley Fowler-Albrecht, Sarah Doggett, Shane Branch, Jarius Munoz, Lacey Woest, Amy Resendiz, John Rosenboom

Perfect Attendance 3rd -5th Grades

First Row: Eli Romo, Brooklyn Redmond, Dalton Alford, Collin Branch, Ronnie Carriles, McKaelyn Carriles, Esmeralda Garcia, Ally Luna, Faith Peeler, Thomas Hawes, Chloe Ragusin, Hannah Tucker

Second Row: Sierra Posey, Tyler Reed, Carly Rosenboom, Elizabeth Carey, Dylon Schumann, Paige Satterfield, Shayleigh Sprague, Sam Thumann

Third Row: Craig Lopez, Javier Ayala, Carlos Sanchez, Noah Guzman, Riley Hughs, Trey Hagler, Colton Williams, Marshall Arlitt, Brianna Lashley, Clayton Maraggia

Back Row: Madison Posey, Cierra Harper, Gavin Gosnell, Zoila Garcia, Adriana Carriles, Mitchell Arlitt

Bringing Up Grades (BUG) Awards

Front Row: Arely Ixtepan

Second Row: Elizabeth Carriles, Jenna McManus, Dylan Ramirez, Sergio Sanchez, Keven Salinas

Back Row: Logan Hobbs, Canion Epley, Mitchell Arlitt, Ronnie Carriles, Chloe Ragusin, Lacey Woest, Lady Bug Debbie Critendon

Dates to Remember

March 12 – 16 Spring Break

March 27-30 STAAR Testing 4th and 5th grades

April 6-9 Easter Holiday

April 13 Class and Student Pictures

Citizens of the Week at Port O’Connor School

Week ending February 24: PreK- Aiden McClelland; Kindergarten- Cody Branch; First Grade- Dylan Ramirez; Second Grade- Maddie Hawes; Third Grade- Faith Peeler; Fourth Grade- Paige Satterfield; Fifth Grade- Cierra Harper

Week ending March 2:  PreK- Kayla Resendiz; Kindergarten- Matthew Stapp; First Grade- Elizabeth Carriles; Second Grade- Gilbert Saldivar; Third Grade- Eli Romo; Fourth Grade- Trey Hagler; Fifth Grade- Mitchell Arlitt

Students of the Week at Seadrift School

Week ending February 24: PreK, Mrs. Myers- Natalie Hunt; K, Mrs. Kern- Cody Frias; 1st, Mrs. Christy- Olivia Gillespie; 1st, Ms. Stringham- Joey Estes; 2nd, Miss Sistare- Chris Boyce; 2nd, Mrs. Flisowski- Jordi Vallejo; 3rd, Mrs. Hons- Joseph White; 3rd, Mrs. Petrisky- Cynthia Hons; 4th, Mrs. Gray- Joey Perez; 4th, Ms. Adams- Emily Cain; 5th, Mrs. Canales- Enrique Torres Junior High: Mrs. Henderson- Brandon Escobar; Mrs. Cady- Victoria Reyes; Ms. Parnell- Mycheala Bierschwale; Coach Anderson- Robert McWherter; Coach Sternadel- Hannah Bales; Mrs. Charnetski- Christina Nguyen; Mrs. Smith- Madison Carter; Coach Lillge- Ahniwake James; Mrs. Beaver- Shelby Pritchard

Week ending March 2: Pre-K, Mrs. Myers- Jasmin Banda; K, Mrs. Kern- Athyn Morales; 1st, Mrs. Christy- Jacob Nguyen; 1st, Ms. Stringham- Hector Perez; 2nd, Miss Sistare- Destiny Garza; 2nd, Mrs. Flisowski- Taysia Navarro; 3rd, Mrs. Hons- Mrs. Petrisky; 3rd, Mrs. Petrisky- Morgan Nitsche; 4th, Mrs. Gray- Jasmine Wooldridge; 4th, Ms. Adams- Abigail Vallejo; 5th, Mrs. Canales- Will Helms Junior High: Mrs. Henderson- Spencer Lowery; Mrs. Cady- Grant Gray; Ms. Parnell- Sean Estes; Coach Anderson- Hector Morales; Coach Sternadel- Noah Rodriguez; Mrs. Charnetski- Levi Marek; Mrs. Smith- Mrs. Bull; Coach Lillge- Jonathan Nguyen

Doyle Adams presents Shirley Gordon with the Citizen of the Year Award at the Sweetheart Banquet.

Shirley Gordon never expected to be introduced as “Citizen of the Year” when she graciously agreed to help out at the Sweetheart Banquet by taking tickets at the door. She was just doing her part to help the church (First Baptist of Port O’Connor) with their annual Valentine gift to the community. “I still can’t imagine why they would honor me,” she said when interviewed for this article.

But the Citizen of the Year Committee could see why, as stated on the plaque she received:

“For your dedication and love for the people of Port O’Connor through your service as our Librarian for the Port O’Connor Public Library for 23 years; for your work with Port O’Connor children in supporting the Summer Reading Program, developing children’s knowledge through promotion of book reading; supporting the Port O’Connor News by distribution of the Dolphin Talk; for many hours of volunteer work in Port O’Connor…”

A native of Houston, Shirley graduated from San Jacinto Junior College with an Associate of Arts Degree and Early Childhood Education. After graduating, she worked as a teacher at a private school and day care. When her father died in 1982, her mother and step-father (June and Virgil Green) asked her to relocate to Port O’Connor, where they had been living since 1979.

After arriving in Port O’Connor, Shirley worked at whatever jobs were available: babysitting, cleaning, and working the cash register at The Fishing Center, until securing a position at a Port Lavaca day care. She was later able to work in Port O’Connor at Belinda Tigrett’s day care facility.

Shirley’s mother was a member of the Port O’Connor Service Club, and was instrumental, along with Beth Coats and the rest of the Club, in establishing a library in Port O’Connor in 1986. After running the Library for three years, the Club turned it over to Calhoun County. In January of 1989, Shirley became the Librarian.

Being in charge of a library involves a lot of work and Shirley is quick to credit two volunteer helpers, Sue Kubecka and Deb Sosu, for their assistance. “I couldn’t do it without them,” she said. When asked what she enjoys most about being Librarian, she replied, “Helping people and meeting people. Besides our locals, people from all over the country and from Europe and Canada have visited our library.”

After Shirley’s parents passed away, she continued to live in their small home, which had been damaged by fire. Never having the funds to properly repair it, the house began to deteriorate. Certain members of the Port O’Connor community took notice of Shirley’s difficult circumstances, and before long, many local folks were at work tearing down the old house and rebuilding a small, modern, air-conditioned home for Shirley. “I cannot even express how much I appreciate what everyone has done for me,” Shirley said, humbly.

Shirley has been a member of the Port O’Connor Service Club since 1982 and currently serves as Membership Chairman. She enjoys participating in their community service projects. A favorite place for Shirley to socialize is the monthly “Bunco” game. A regular attendee at First Baptist Church, Shirley feels very honored for the recognition they have given her. “I really appreciate them thinking of me with this award. It was a shock!”