The first Early Act First Knight Ceremonies, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Flatonia, were held Thursday, 28 September, at Flatonia School Cafeteria.  The virtue for this 6 weeks was “Friendliness”.

 

Early Act First Knight is an evolution of a national award-winning character education program for K-8 school children at elementary and middle schools.  It was developed by Knights of the Guild, an educational subsidiary of The Randall Parr Organization, Inc., and partners with individual Clubs of Rotary International.  Teaching the Rotary tradition of “Service Above Self” through the visually captivating theme of knightly heroes, Early Act First Knight is a  comprehensive character education program featuring spectacular live-action components like real jousting tournaments and knighting ceremonies in which students are recognized for noble deeds.

 

EAFK is required for all students on campus, just like core subjects. EAFK is not merely a voluntary program for a few good kids to sign up for. Using Rotary's Four Way Test as a modern code of chivalry, participation in EAFK is mandatory for each student at every grade level, from Kindergarten through 5th grade at Flatonia Elementary School. EAFK is prioritized at every participating campus, which eventually influences the culture of the entire school.

 

At Flatonia Elementary School, all students in K-5 meet for ten minutes in the school day with their teacher to learn about one of twelve character traits for the 6 week period.  The students and their teacher explore the character trait through definitions, quotations, historical personalities, literature, and by learning about the Rotary organization.  The twelve character traits are Compassion, Citizenship, Confidence, Discipline, Honesty, Friendliness, Perseverance, Respect, Responsibility, Service, Tolerance, and Trustworthiness.

 

The culminating activity for each of the character traits is the Knighting Ceremony.  During this ceremony, a student from each EAFK class is recognized by his or her teacher during an assembly before their peers, parents, teachers and Rotarians.  Flatonia Rotary Interactors act as guides and help with the ceremony.  An accolade that extols the student’s character, and written by their teacher, is read before the assembly.   Sir Cass Garcia, a member of the Knights of the Guild, is always present to tell a virtuous “knightly” story, award all the winning students with certificates and medals.  In addition to these awards, Sir Cass presents the central act of dubbing the 5th grade winners in the rite of passage, conferring knighthood in The Early Act First Knight Program.  

 

After the Knighting Ceremony, all the students recite:
The Rotary 4-Way Test -  “Of the things we think, say or do:

 

1.  Is it the TRUTH?
2.  Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3.  Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4.  Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

 

The following students were knighted at the first 2017-18 EAFK Ceremony:

Ms Pilat, Pre-K class:  Delayza Torres
Ms Malina, K class:  Alexandria Holland
Ms Schacherl, K class:  Aubree Rodriguez
Ms Kelly, 1st grade:  Maverick Burnham
Ms Klozik, 1st grade:  Rosalie Quintero
Ms Zimmerman, 1st grade:  Sommer Gibson
Ms Croyle, 2nd grade:  Marilyn Brammall
Ms Dornak, 2nd grade:  Rey Manzano
Ms Dunk, 2nd grade:  Zane George
Ms Bruns, 3rd grade:  Lane Law
Ms Fike, 3rd grade:  Emma Kisler
Ms Jarmon, 3rd grade:  Jesus Vargas
Ms Lesikar, 4th grade:  Karely Freytag
Ms Migl, 4th grade:  Jennifer Arellano
Ms Becton, 5th grade:  Avalon Saavedra
Ms Harris, 5th grade:  Tital Targac
Ms Mica, 5th grade:  Haven Gonzales

 

 

 

 

On 11 May 2017, the Rotary Club of Flatonia sponsored the Flatonia High School Junior Class on a special tour of the USS Lexington Museum, located in Corpus Christi Texas.  During the tour they were privileged to meet and converse with three WWII Fighter Pilots.  Bob Batterson, 94, is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and was an F6F Hellcat Fighter Pilot.  Merton Bobo, 92, was a Gunner on then Avenger Fighter Bomber and flew multiple missions over Iwo Jima. Joe Sassman, 96, was an F4F Wildcat Fighter Pilot who shot down 3 enemy Zero’s.  He also survived a kamikaze attack on the Lexington in 1944.  The students listened to their stories of heroism and patriotism, and what it was like to serve during this most challenging time in United States history.
The students toured the entire ship from the engine room to the bridge.  They were instructed by veteran volunteer tour guides in the inner workings of a WWII Aircraft Carrier and the realities of life on board a war ship.
Robert Rannebarger, vice president of the Flatonia Rotary Club and Director of Service Projects, commented, “It was with great pride that I accompanied this stellar group of high school juniors and learn, along with them, about our country’s greatest generation and the sacrifices they made for us.”