It was with a heavy heart that I submitted my resignation to the Saint Joseph-Ogden High School Board of Education as head coach of the SJO soccer team. It was not an easy decision but at the end of the day it was best for the student athletes, the school, myself and my family.
I am very thankful to the school administration for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a great school. I truly enjoyed all of my years on the coaching staff. We can be proud of the many great accomplishments, including:
• Four players have been given the opportunity to play in college
• One player received National Player of the Week
• Two players made All Sectional Honorable Mention
• Seven players made All Conference First Team
• Seven players made All Conference Second Team
• Five players made All Conference Honorable Mention
• One player made All Area Second Team
• Ten players made All Area Honorable Mention
• Improved discipline greatly reducing our dissent yellow cards nearly 100%
I was honored in 2018 with the Sectional Coach of the Year award in which I was nominated and voted on by local coaches for the positive impact and development of our players we were making with SJO soccer. Sadly, there are still culture changes that need to take place with the soccer program. Regardless, I leave this position with tremendous appreciation for both the opportunity and for the experience, but more than anything I value the relationships I have developed with past & current athletes and the many friendships made along the way.
• One player received National Player of the Week
• Two players made All Sectional Honorable Mention
• Seven players made All Conference First Team
• Seven players made All Conference Second Team
• Five players made All Conference Honorable Mention
• One player made All Area Second Team
• Ten players made All Area Honorable Mention
• Improved discipline greatly reducing our dissent yellow cards nearly 100%
I was honored in 2018 with the Sectional Coach of the Year award in which I was nominated and voted on by local coaches for the positive impact and development of our players we were making with SJO soccer. Sadly, there are still culture changes that need to take place with the soccer program. Regardless, I leave this position with tremendous appreciation for both the opportunity and for the experience, but more than anything I value the relationships I have developed with past & current athletes and the many friendships made along the way.
Dan Vogelsang
St. Joseph
Those twenty-minute calls once or twice a month made everything seem a okay with the parents or grandparents. But now, you have noticed the signs and symptoms of dementia are starting to show.
Beginning signs often overlooked by many families are now more noticeable. Their loved one may not be eating well - losing weight can often be one of the first signs - along with falls, forgetfulness and/or a noticeable change in their personal hygiene. That parent, grandparent or close friend feels like they are older, forgetting things here and there, but it doesn’t seem alarming.
In couples where the spouse is suffering from dementia, they may become more argumentative and suspicious. Due to their forgetfulness, they assume the other is being untruthful.
Spouses often try to hide the signs and symptoms of dementia from their partner. Truly needing help, but not wanting to feel vulnerable, they are afraid of not being in control of their life they have built together.
A few things to keep in mind when celebrating and wanting to include family or friends suffering
from dementia during the holiday season:
Your loved on may not realize that it a holiday and may ask often "Where should I be?". By responding with a reassuring answer such: "We are right where we should be, Ted invited us for
dinner." This can give comfort to someone with dementia.
When around friends and family that they no longer recognize, avoid asking, “don’t you remember
So-and-So?” It can be very frustrating and make them feel very inadequate or add to their confusion. While they may respond with a yes, they may still not have any idea who the person is or their relationship to them.
Please remember that sometimes over stimulation, like continuous loud environments or sudden noises, can sometimes bring about agitation or confusion.
Everyone loves seeing the excitement of young children especially at the holidays. But a busy, fast-paced environment is sometimes too much for someone with this disease. They no longer can process these situations as they once did and an innocuous experience may cause a sudden negative mood swing.
Consumption of alcohol has a much different effect on someone with dementia, especially if
they are taking prescription medication and should be avoided.
Overall, just be mindful that your loved one may not enjoy these experiences as they did prior to
onset of dementia. In advanced stages, it is often better to just spend quiet moments together separate from large family groups.
Remember that people with dementia continue to need loving, safe relationships and a caring touch not only during the holiday season, but everyday.
Izard, who had a season high 24 points in his team's final tournament game against Watseka, was also responsible for five of the team's 11 steals in that game. Over the first five games this season, the senior has tallied 93 points for an average of 18.6 per game. He put up a career-high 25 points in SJO's 74-39 win over Schlarman Academy.
From the free throw line Izard drained 10 of 16 attempts. After a lukewarm 4-and-9 start over the first three games this season, he has not missed a free throw in his last two outings, making all six attempts.
