Flagship Programs

Good question! 4-H is a national youth development organization founded more than 100 years ago, based on the four aspects of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. Originally it was targeted at teenagers in farming communities to teach new techniques to improve agricultural production. Today it encompasses clubs and projects in a wide array of topics that range from sewing and quilting to raising animals, archery, baking, nature and ecosystems, and fashion design. It’s built on the model of project-based learning, leadership development, and community service, while being mentored by caring adults, all designed with the ultimate goal of helping “our club, our community, our country and our world.” Pioneer 4-H students run for office, practice parliamentary procedure, and participate in the 4-H Demonstration Competition. Each year, the club’s focus can be a bit different, but most recently has centered around wilderness skills, nature studies, service learning, and camping. We love being part of 4-H, and our students have benefitted greatly from membership.

At the beginning of the year, club members learn about the different offices in the club: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Reporter, Historian, Photographer, and Snack officer. Every student must write a campaign speech to run for an officer position.  After elections, the President and Vice President run the meetings, and each officer will have certain responsibilities within the club. Select officers have a mandatory monthly County 4-H meeting outside of school hours.

Student club members participate in 4-H during weekly school Flagship time on Thursdays and Fridays. There are occasional after school meetings, especially leading up to the camping trip and Demonstration Competition. Unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond your control, members and their parent(s) are expected to attend the club camping trip. 

Depending on what the students choose for a fundraiser, there may be an after school or weekend commitment to conduct it.

IMPORTANT: Our club is required to send two elected executive committee members to the monthly 4-H County Council meetings at the 4-H Ag Center (Agricultural Drive, in St Augustine). Usually, the President or Vice President goes with the Secretary or Treasurer, and reports to the County on what our club has been doing. After the meeting, officers report back about what other clubs are up to, and what the County Council is doing. Students who wish to run for office must have a parent approve and confirm compliance with this commitment.

Membership in 4-H is free but our club will conduct a fundraiser to help pay for special events.

The camping trip incurs additional costs for food and transportation, usually around $30 per person. 

The Demonstration Competition does not have an entry fee. However, you are responsible for providing all of the supplies or equipment you need to do your demonstration. Participants are provided with a demo table and easel, as well as an optional projector and screen for powerpoint presentations. Your chosen demonstration topic will determine what supplies are needed.

How would you get across a lake without getting wet? This was the first big “problem” posed to college students in the 70s by Dr Samuel Micklus. His students designed and built elaborate and original solutions to this simple question. One of the solutions looked like a water bug trying to “walk” on water. It didn’t work in the end, but the idea was so creative, so out of the box, it has been the inspiration for the highest award a team or person can get in Odyssey- the Renatra Fusca Award, given for over-the-top creativity.  

Had Dr. Micklus just told his class to build a boat, that would have resulted in a bunch of kids re-working a preconceived design. But he, and now the entire Odyssey of the Mind program, pushed students much further, ultimately resulting in a world-wide program that gives kids the opportunity to solve their own problems in creative ways. Odyssey of the Mind firmly believes anyone can learn to think and problem-solve creatively. The program serves students as young as kindergarten all the way to college.  

Odyssey of the Mind is a STEAM project-based organization. A team of 7 students chooses from one of 5 “problems” (Vehicle, Technical, Classical, Structure or Dramatic) and spends months working on a creative solution which culminates in presenting it via an 8-minute skit at a competition in the spring, typically mid-February. This includes costumes, props, sets, technical elements, and anything else the team is required to build, such as a vehicle that can be dismantled and put into luggage, then moved and reassembled. 

Have a problem:

• Brainstorm potential solutions
• Choose the best solution
• Create a prototype
• Test the prototype
• Rework and rebuild
• Share

Attend Thursday and Friday team meeting/build days.  Have a positive and encouraging attitude throughout the problem-solving process.  Each team member will need to be willing to give 110% sometimes.  

Team members each work on the solution of the problem.  No one gets to stand to the side while others do the work (and why would you want to miss out on the fun anyway?☺).  Each team member is expected to attend all planning days, all build days and all rehearsals.  Every team member is crucial to the success of the team.  

1. Odyssey team members are expected to attend 3 skill-building events during the school year. These are on Saturdays and are announced in August. 
2. Each Odyssey team attends 1 “intensive” week leading up to Regional competition. An entire team will stay after school each day for one week to give a final push in building and rehearsal. These weeks are announced at the beginning of the season.
3. Every team member is required to attend Regional competition. This is always held on a Saturday in the spring and is announced at the beginning of the season. If the team qualifies, it is expected that the team will attend the State competition, held in Orlando in late spring. If a team qualifies for the World competition, the team will need to decide who will attend, but it won’t be required. (It is an absolutely incredible experience however and strongly encouraged. Fundraising will help defray costs) 

All fees for the program and competitions are covered by tuition. Sometimes team members purchase items for solving the problem.  They bring in the receipt and get reimbursed, which comes from the yearly fees paid.  

Should the team go to STATE and/or WORLD competition there will be costs for travel and lodging.  The teams are welcome and encouraged to do fund-raising for these competitions.  

This year (2024), anyone interested in the Odyssey of the Mind team spent the first 6 Flagship lessons learning more about the program and some basic tool use and safety. Potential team members worked to create activities and games for the Back-to-School carnival. They also learned about Spontaneous (on-the-spot) problems. Students are assessed on their baseline creativity, general attitude, and ability to work with a team, complete assignments, and follow safety rules. 

In Drama 2 students learn how to perform, act, do some singing and dancing, and about stagecraft in general. In the fall, students prepare to compete in the Florida Jr. Thespians District Festival. Pieces that do well at the District level go on to compete at the State level in Orlando in February. After State, Drama 2 students put on a school play that is performed in April or May. 

• You audition and have to be accepted into the program by choosing, rehearsing, and performing a monologue for the director, Ms. Cristina.
• Auditions are typically held the first week of school.
• Students in 4-H may have the opportunity to participate in the Spring play, either as an actor, or on the tech crew

New Drama 2 students- TBD

Returning Drama 2 students- TBD

Drama 2 takes up a considerable amount of time outside regular school, when we are in rehearsals. In the run up to our in-house, Thespians Districts, State, and our spring play you should expect to rehearse after school (usually on Mondays and Tuesdays- from 3:30 until 4:30, or 5.00, depending), in addition to learning and rehearsing your lines and scenes at home. Sometimes rehearsals run longer, and you should be prepared for that. We can’t function as a troupe and put on a play successfully without everyone being at rehearsals. Often students also like to rehearse during lunchtime and break at school- which isn’t required, but is the mark of dedicated and motivated actors. Our troupe members often just like to do it.

Tuition will cover your basic registration for Districts (@ $35) and State (@ $85) – assuming you qualify. You may need to pay the $5 event fee for each event you qualify to take to competition (maximum of 3 events for any participant). If you qualify for State, you will be expected to pay for your food for two or three days, and to pay for a hotel or Airbnb with your parent. If your parent can’t accompany you, they will need to find another Drama 2 parent who can take you along with them and their troupe member/ child. If you want to buy goodies from the stalls selling Broadway bling, you should bring extra money for that, too. 

The cost of your Flagship t-shirt will also be covered. Your parents are also welcome to buy a matching flagship shirt for $15. (Money from the t-shirt sales go directly to the Flagship.) We will collect shirt sizes in the first few weeks of school.  

You’ll need to buy or acquire some drama basics (your performance clothes): black t shirt (you will use your Flagship shirt), black or blue pants (no tears, no sweatpants), black socks, (ideally dark) lace up shoes/ sneakers you can dance and act in that won’t go ‘clunk’ on a wooden stage.