Middle school Beta Club officers (from left) treasurer Rachel Price, president Mary Elledge, vice president Brook Chambers, chaplain Colton Yeager and secretary Larry Morris with food drive collections.

The middle school’s Beta Club was one of the many local organizations collecting and distributing food donations for local residents who might be feeling the economic squeeze this holiday season.

The Beta Club is an academic organization for students with excellent grades. Club members also involve themselves in humanitarian and school pride endeavors.

“It’s tough for many people right now,” Beta Club secretary Larry Morris said. “Maybe they had a job but have lost it. This helps ease the burden a little for families during Thanksgiving.”

Each year the club sponsors a holiday food drive that also functions as a competition. The class from each grade level collecting the most donations is rewarded with a pizza party.

On next Tuesday's school board meeting agenda are:

• The board will recognize the BCHS varsity and junior varsity Hi-Q teams and retiree Mary King, deliver a thank you to R.H. Davis Oil of Macclenny for donating $1000 (two $500 grants) to each of the district's six schools and hear a song from the Pre-K Kindergarten Center's Kinderchorus group.

• Under routine items, the board will appoint new representatives from the board to serve on the state-wide school board association and the Small School District Council Consortium. Also under routine items, which are voted upon together in a single vote, board members will consider agreements with its legal counsel, Foley & Lardner, and its architectural consultant, Akel, Logan & Shafer, both of Jacksonville; the board's 2012 calendar and who will serve as the board's new chairperson and vice chairperson.

Students at Macclenny Elementary.

Westside and Macclenny Elementary Schools and the PreK-Kindergarten Center sponsored programs last Thursday to celebrate and pay tribute to local veterans who have served or are actively serving in the military.

The programs included music and recognition of past and present veterans.

According to Pre-K Center principal Bonnie Jones, this year’s salute to Veterans Day was a bit more ceremonious than in past years.

It was part due to special guest Winton Stokley. The 89-year-old Navy veteran from Macclenny was part of the Normandy Invasion in France in 1944 during World War II.

“He was there,” said Ms. Jones. “He flew over Normandy on D-Day.”

The children got into the spirit by making patriotic banners to celebrate the occasion and to welcome and thank veterans for their service. Particularly striking was a special three-dimensional flag.

Children traced their hands on colored construction paper, then cut out the shapes with scissors. The cutouts were used to create the red and white stripes and the blue field with stars. The curled fingers of the cutouts gave the impression of movement, as if the flag were waving in the breeze.

DVDs of the homecoming video and all the photos we have are available upon request for $5. Call 259-2400 to place an order.

Homecoming king Kyle Ryan and queen Jenna Sands.