Garfield Re-2 principals go to great lengths to motivate your students to read and fulfill their goals. If you were in the Roy Moore Elementary School halls recently, you might have seen a giant black and yellow bee buzzing around. That was principal Mark MacHale, doing his best to create student interest to participate in a fund-raising spelling bee. Students worked as hard as bees to secure pledges for correctly spelled words, and will benefit from the $9,300 earned at the recent fund-raising event. The money goes for the school’s Arts, Assembly and Reading Incentive programs. “It allows grandparents and others to support the school in the only fund-raiser of the year that involves all the students,” said MacHale. “The kids don’t have to sell anything, and we don’t have to take anything away from local businesses.” Students are allowed to choose from an assortment of prizes for the money raised. Nancy Vidal, Karren Valenteen from RMEPA (the school’s parent/teacher organization) and teacher Erin Cochran were also involved in the spelling bee.Six out of the 10 award-winning participants at the Battle Mountain High School Speech Festival were from Rifle High School. Congratulations to Hailey McDonald, who won Best of Event in Creative Storytelling, and Brittany Zelaya, who took second place in Humorous Interpretation, and the rest of the hard-working RHS Speech team.-Five most interesting Argentinian Rotarians visited Rifle High School on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Gustavo Katavich, Lia Giardinieri, Raul Pitteri, Ricardo Freitag and Martin Arganaraz gave the students realistic insights into the rich customs and culture of Argentina.Several of the visiting Rotarians are employed in the information technology field, one is a forensic psychologist, and one is an accountant with a flair for dancing! Katavich danced a mean tango with assistant principal Jeanie Humble, Spanish teachers Maria Carrion-Kozak and Jennifer VanLandingham, and several students. The students enjoyed the dancing and learned that most young people go to alcohol-free nightclubs to dance on the weekends.Students learned Argentinian seasons are opposite of Colorado, and that the temperature during the Christmas season often approaches 100 degrees. During our summers, members of the U.S. ski teams train at the many ski areas in Argentina. Schools in Argentina are open from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sports are not part of the school day, but youth can join clubs to be involved in sports activities. There are both public and private schools and public and private colleges.The group has been visiting cities all across southern Colorado, staying with host families and forming lifelong friendships.If you still have questions concerning the proposed Re-2 2004-05 Student Achievement Calendar, a community input meeting at Rifle High School will begin in Room 101 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 29. This is the time to bring your questions and give your input. The Rifle High School Choir will be performing various acts in the annual Coffee House, beginning at 7 p.m. in the commons area on Tuesday, Oct. 29.The Re-2 Transportation Department announced the Exceptional Bus Students of the Month for September. Katelyn Menhel from Esma Lewis Elementary won in the elementary level. Katelyn was nominated by Gail Coombs of Route #15. Two of Wendy Ballard’s Route #8 passengers won the Exceptional Bus Student distinction in the middle school category and the high school category. Danielle Cahill from Rifle Middle School won the honor in the middle school category, and Scott Hoaglund from Rifle High School won the high school category.Rifle High School Spanish teacher Jennifer VanLandingham’s discussion with the Rifle Rotarians has been changed to Tuesday, Nov. 5, to accommodate the Garfield County commissioner candidates.