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Cold dawn at a new Horizon
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Location: Blogs Now We're Talking |
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| Posted by: Joe Byrnes |
1/2/2008 7:21 AM |
Now We're Talking column for Jan. 2.
The National Weather Service Web page for Ocala has a chart showing an hour-by-hour forecast.
On Monday I studied the graph to see the effects of a cold front swinging down into Florida. The temperatures would rise and fall like a roller coaster down to 21 degrees by 7 a.m. Thursday.
That would be the lowest point.
Of course, it would be on the coldest day of the season that school children return for the second semester. Thousands will stand at the bus stops, clutching their books and breathing mist into the cold air.
And about 500 fourth-graders and fifth-graders and their teachers will make a procession - probably by bus because it's so cold - from Sunrise Elementary to the new $37 million Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks. The sixth- through eighth-grade classes will arrive in August.
On Horizon Academy's Web page - www.marion.k12.fl.us/schools/ham - you'll find 19 aerial photos showing its construction beginning in August 2006.
At 5:30 p.m. today, the new school will have an open house for students, parents and other members of the public. Principal Juan Cordova stresses the idea that Horizon Academy - like nearby Sunrise - is meant to be an integral part of the Marion Oaks community.
People are excited, he said, about the spacious, new, state-of-the-art campus.
"To me, it's the most beautiful school in Marion County," Cordova said. "In terms of curb appeal ... it's absolutely gorgeous."
On Thursday - after the procession and after the students have had breakfast and reported to class - Cordova plans to convene them for a flag raising and the ceremonial planting of trees, weather permitting. Then they'll gather in the new gym, where a boy and girl from each year will christen the basketball hoops by sinking the first baskets.
On the Web site, Cordova gives his vision for the school: "We will continue focusing on the complete child. ... Our driving vision will be to focus on the three "Rs," Rigor, Relevance and Relationships."
At one time, he wrote, a school was the center of the community "and everyone felt a sense of pride and connection to the school. I wish to return to those days. ... Please join the staff of Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks in making our school a place of learning, laughter and life."
But, first, turn up the thermostat.
A COLD COUNTING
The current freeze warning is a reminder to protect our pets, pipes and plants, and stay warm indoors. You wouldn't want to be out in the woods or in a small boat on a river.
But 14 teams totalling about 55 bird watchers do plan to be out there. They'll rendezvous at a Bob Evans at 6 a.m. Thursday for their part in the annual Christmas Bird Count.
Norm Lantz - the official compiler of the West Marion County bird census for the National Audubon Society - hopes to head out at 7:15 a.m.
It'll be a chilly experience "especially for those of us who are dumb enough to go out on the boats first thing in the morning," Lantz said. "It's going to be real cold out there." Three teams on the water - the Withlacoochee and Rainbow rivers - and 11 teams on land will cover a 15-mile-wide circle in southwest Marion.
The cold weather won't keep the birds down, Lantz said. Unless it's foggy, they'll be up bright and early looking for food.
Joe Byrnes can be reached at joe@ocala.com or 352-867-4112.
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