Lindsay Academy 3D Landscape Design Model
Written by: Cooper Herchenbach
Over the past couple of months, our Lindsay Academy Landscape Design class has been working really hard to complete a 3D model of Lindsay Academy and the Event Center. Back at the beginning of December, a group of us – Tyler, Braxton, Max, Logan, Kody, Kaden, Brody, Evan, and I – started by brainstorming ideas and making a plan for how we were going to build the model. We talked through what materials we would need and which stores would have them. Our teacher, Mrs. Trautman, picked up the supplies and brought them to class so we could get started.
From there, we spent time every day in class tracing, cutting, sawing, and gluing, all while trying to make the model look as close to the real buildings as possible. For the base of the model, we used 2-inch-thick insulation board. Some areas were doubled up to create hills, while other areas were carved out for ditches. To make the land look more realistic, we used a heated paper clip to cut out the topography of the foam.
We also used our school's 3D printers to create smaller and fine details like trees and AC units. This helped us save money and allowed us to build most of the pieces right here at school. The project really required everyone to work together. Many of us came in during free periods and even missed time in other classes to make sure the model was finished in time for the Event Center ribbon cutting in early January.
At the beginning of January, the Lindsay Event Center was officially completed, which meant it was time for the ribbon cutting celebration. Sponsors and community members came together to celebrate, and Grace’s Coffee was there serving drinks. The Event Center includes a gym with a stage that can be used for weddings, sporting events, holiday gatherings, and many other activities. Since opening, it has already been used for basketball tournaments and family events, and it has become a great space for the community.
Our 3D model was showcased at the ribbon cutting ceremony, where community members, sponsors, and guests were able to see the work we had put into it up close. If you look closely at the model, you can see how detailed it is. We painted parking lot lines, added telephone poles and wires, placed handicap signs, and even included the wording on the sides of the buildings. We spent time both inside and outside the building to make sure everything was accurate, and we also used Google Maps to get the scale just right. Once the buildings were finished, we added green felt for grass, glued siding onto the buildings, made concrete curbs using hot glue, and used sand to represent the rock on the west side of the building.
Overall, we are really proud of how this model turned out. A lot of time, effort, and teamwork went into making it look as realistic as possible. Lindsay Academy plans to use this model in the future to show landscapers or architects if they receive landscaping grant money. This project shows how much the students care about their school and want the best not only for Lindsay Academy, but for future students as well.
Catholic Schools Week Celebrated at Lindsay Academy
Written by: Max Stenger
Lindsay Academy recently celebrated Catholic Schools Week. As a school, we take Catholic Schools Week very seriously. National Catholic Schools Week is an annual celebration for Catholic schools all over the world, where Catholics participate in different faith-centered games and activities with family and friends. Lindsay Academy takes pride in keeping our faith at the center of our education. Every morning, we start the day off in prayer and say the Pledge of Allegiance, which is recited by one of the Lindsay Academy students. Students also have the opportunity to take a theology class to help us grow closer to God and make it easier for students to get involved and form a stronger relationship with God.
Students at Lindsay Academy take pride in being able to be a part of the different events that take place throughout the week. On Monday, the 7-12th graders had the opportunity to do a favor for the community by going to the local fire department, washing the trucks, and cleaning up around the shop. The students found free time during their school day to help with this service. This shows the dedication that our school has for giving back to our community that has done so much to make our school possible here in Lindsay, Nebraska. The students and I are very grateful that we continue to have a school in Lindsay where we can practice our faith every day.
On Tuesday, we continued celebrating Catholic Schools Week by going up to church before lunch as a school to take part in a scriptural rosary and Eucharistic adoration. We cherish every opportunity to be in and use the church, because of how deeply meaningful it is to us. Lindsay Academy also joins Lindsay Holy Family every Thursday for Mass, where we can express our faith together and celebrate Mass as a community.
On Wednesday, we welcomed a speaker to our school to talk about her manifesto and how we can create our very own. A manifesto is a collection of statements derived from our personal relationship with God and what we know from Jesus being by our side. It will serve as our guide in life and something that we can reflect back on when we are going through hard times. This encourages students to always reflect back on their Catholic faith and always turn back to God, while also helping them understand the importance of commitment and living according to their Catholic values.
On Thursday, Lindsay Academy started off the day by going to Mass and continuing their focus on our Catholic faith and relationships with God. This was followed by a fun movie toward the end of the day to let the students take a break from their schoolwork and kick back and relax with drinks and popcorn. This was also a time for students to catch up on any missing work or assignments and get one-on-one time with teachers if they needed it, which is a great opportunity for students so they can stay caught up with their schoolwork. To wrap up the week, students were dismissed at 1 o’clock due to the cancellation of the family meal at Lindsay Holy Family.
Overall, Catholic Schools Week is a great experience that helps students celebrate their Catholic education through Mass, community service, and prayer. It brings back the main reason why we are all here and what we are here for. Lindsay Academy centers its school around faith and holiness with the hope of continuing to help others and bring our community closer together and closer to God. The school also does a great job allowing students to celebrate their faith through Catholic Schools Week, helping students grow closer in their Catholic faith and reach their goals of being strong Catholic individuals who value their faith.
Bulldogs Shine in Bowling and Speech
Written by: Melody Bixenmann
The bowling season has been a very successful one for our Bulldogs. This year, the bowling team consists of a total of 25 players, with the majority of the team made up of seniors. Throughout the season, both the boys’ and girls’ teams competed in 24 regular-season matches and participated in two tournaments. Bowling is divided into only two classes, Class A and Class B, which makes competition especially competitive across the state.
State bowling will take place on February 9th and 10th. On February 9th, individual qualifiers will compete beginning at 9:00 a.m., starting with the boys. Team qualifiers will bowl on February 10th, beginning at 8:00 a.m., again starting with the boys. The state championship will be aired live on PBS at 7:30 p.m., beginning with the boys’ competition, followed by the girls.
The boys’ district competition was held on Thursday, January 29th, in Lincoln. Although the boys did not win their district meet, they still had a chance to earn a wildcard spot for state. During districts, the boys competed against Boone Central, Lincoln Northwest, Mount Michael, Ogallala, and Seward. Two boys qualified individually for districts: Colter Schneider and Landon Taylor Parker. Overall, the boys finished the season with an impressive record of 20-5.
The girls’ bowling team traveled to Wayne on Monday, February 2nd, for their district competition. They bowled against Quest Forward Academy, Wayne, TC Thunder (Pender), Newman Grove/St. Edward, and Omaha Christian. After a strong performance, the girls successfully qualified as a team for the state tournament, marking an exciting achievement for the program. The girls have had an impressive season overall and currently hold a record of 18-7. Their hard work, determination, and teamwork throughout the season have paid off and earned them the opportunity to compete at the state level.
In addition to bowling, the speech season has officially begun for our Bulldogs. The speech team consists of 26 members, including 12 seniors. Each team member participates in a variety of events, allowing students to showcase different skills and talents. There are 10 different speech events available, ranging from public speaking events such as Informative Speaking to interpretation events like Humorous Interpretation, as well as group events including Duet Acting and Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID).
So far, the speech team has competed in four meets and has done an outstanding job, even while balancing other activities and commitments. These meets included Twin River, Pierce, Boone Central, and Howells-Dodge. While the team had a short break at the end of January, February will be a busy month with upcoming meets at Shelby-Rising City, Schuyler, Wisner-Pilger, and Lakeview. Our team will also host a home meet on February 14th, followed by conference competition on February 25th at Howells-Dodge. District speech will be held on March 16th at Twin River, and state speech will take place on March 27th in Kearney.
Our unified teams and individuals also performed well at their first unified meet at Howells-Dodge, with one more unified meet scheduled before state. At the first meet at Twin River, the team placed 6th overall with nearly all entries competing. At the Pierce meet, the team had only nine entries, which resulted in fewer overall points compared to other schools ending in a 6th place overall finish. At Boone Central, the team placed 7th, and at Howells-Dodge, they finished strong with a 6th-place team finish.
As a senior involved in both bowling and speech, I have learned many important lessons. I have learned that there will always be good days and bad days, but having a positive mindset makes a difference no matter the situation. I have also learned the importance of teamwork and that there truly is no “I” in TEAM. One of the hardest parts of being a senior is knowing that these activities and the friendships formed through them will soon come to an end. However, senior year is also filled with new beginnings and unforgettable moments. When you least expect it, senior year flies by in the blink of an eye.