College Goal Sunday 2012

The Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning and GEAR UP Mississippi are sponsoring College Goal Sunday 2012! College Goal Sunday is a free program that helps high school seniors and their families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), also known as the Pell Grant. College Goal Sunday provides on-site help from financial aid experts to assist students and families in completing the FAFSA. The FAFSA form is required to apply for financial assistance for higher education. Most colleges, universities and vocational/technical schools in the nation require students seeking federal financial aid, including scholarships, grants, and loans to complete the FAFSA. Students preparing to attend college next fall can find answers to critical questions regarding financial aid at the upcoming College Goal Sunday.  For more information, please contact the counselor at your child’s school or go to the website www.mscollegegoalsunday.org.  If available, students and their parents should bring:

• Copy of your and your parents’ 2011 federal tax returns 1040, 1040EZ, 1040A,
• Your and your parents’ driver’s license and Social Security numbers and birthdates,
• Your and your parents’ W-2 Forms and other records of money earned,
• Current bank statements or an amount of your and your parents’ cash, savings, and checking accounts,
• Current business information,
• Total amount of investments not in retirement accounts,
• Date of your parents’ marriage, divorce or separation.

Magee High School – Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Location: Career Center of Magee High
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
You may contact Mr. Chris Nash, school counselor, at 601-849-2263.

Mendenhall High School – Thursday, February 23, 2012
Location: Library of Mendenhall High
Time: 7:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
You may contact Mrs. Shondria Proctor, school counselor, at 601-847-2411.

Simpson County School District Spelling Bee goes a record 106 Rounds!

Simpson County School District hosted the annual Spelling Bee competition at the campus of Co-Lin in Simpson County on Friday, February 10, 2012. Twenty-five spellers from the Elementary and Middle Schools represented their schools in what some consider to be the longest competition in memory.

Superintendent Glenn Harris greeted the spellers and wished them well as the saga began. The first fifteen rounds eliminated all but the top five contestants. Round 16 claimed fifth place finisher Amber Lynchard of Simpson Central School and round 21 claimed Kameron Durr from Magee Middle School. The top three moved on until round 36 claimed Caleb Nelson of Simpson Central leaving the top two spellers, Rosella Stewart, a fourth grader from Mendenhall Elementary, and Carley May, an eighth grader from Magee Middle, to finish the competition. Each girl had opportunities to win as the rounds progressed but it was not until round 106 that Magee Middle School’s Carley May prevailed as the District Spelling Bee Champion.

Carley May will move on to state competition representing the Simpson County School District. Her mother is Dayna May, an elementary teacher at Magee Elementary School in the district.

Coordinating the event are the district teachers of the gifted students with Leslie May spearheading the event with help from Dene Miller, Denise Carter, Brenda Adcox, and Joe Hanna. Deidra Clarke-Allen served as Pronouncer of the words and the judges were Sharonda Jones, Dene Miller, and Denise Carter. Sandra Hyde served as the person who provided definitions of the words for spellers.

Students who qualified from their schools were:

Magee Elementary – Mary Katherine Martin, Janorris Newsome, Mary Alice Walker, Kelli Newsome, and Savannah White.

Magee Middle – Carley May, Jenny Deal, Annie Maddox, Deanna McNair, and Kameron Durr.

Mendenhall Elementary – Rosella Stewart, McKenna Westbrook, Jordan Taylor, Olivia Womack, and Jada Hooker.

 Mendenhall Junior High – Gavin Breaux, Mirdaryl Christian, Jerica Granderson, Skylar Bullock, and Jakobey Floyd.

Simpson Central – Jaylisa Quinn, Kayla Lidell, Amber Lynchard, Jared Longacre, and Caleb Nelson.

Pictured are Superintendent Glenn Harris with 1^st place winner Carley May, 2^nd place Rosella Stewart, 3^rd place Caleb Nelson, 4^th place Kameron Durr, and 5^th place Amber Lynchard.

Rhonda Berry named Administrator of the Year

Superintendent Glenn Harris announced that Rhonda Berry, Principal at Mendenhall Elementary School, was selected as the School District’s Administrator of the Year. In making the announcement, Mr. Harris asked staff to: “Please join me in congratulating Mrs. Rhonda Berry, Principal of Mendenhall Elementary, as our Simpson County School District Administrator of the Year for 2011-2012. I know Mrs. Berry will represent our district well in the next level of competition in the state wide administrator of the year competition.  Again, congratulations Mrs. Rhonda Berry. “

Ms. Berry began pursuing her degree in education after graduating from Houlka Attendance Center. She went on to attend Copiah Lincoln Community College as well as Mississippi College. Principal Berry obtained her administrative degree from William Cary College.

 

This is her 23^rd year in education. All of Ms. Berry’s years have been with the Simpson County School District with the exception of her first year. She has taught at Simpson Central, Mendenhall Jr. High and Mendenhall Elementary.  Eighteen of her years of service have been at Mendenhall Elementary where she taught Kindergarten and became the first assistant principal at Mendenhall Elementary. Ms. Berry served in this capacity for eight years before becoming principal.

 

Rhonda Berry is married to Mack Berry. They have four boys and two grandsons. They are Nick and his wife, Lesley Berry; Mason Thornton, Cody Berry and Seth Berry. The two grandsons are Ryder Berry and Preston Berry. Ms. Berry attends Shivers Baptist Church and lives in Shivers, Mississippi. She enjoys spending time with her family and reading.

 

 When advised of the recognition Ms. Berry stated: “I am deeply honored and humbled by this recognition. I could not be Simpson County School District Administrator without the guidance and direction of those before me as well as the wonderful faculty and students in front of me at Mendenhall Elementary.”

    

Flags Flown in Iraq Presented to Simpson County School District

Chief Warrant Officer Larry D. Banks, Jr., a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, presented flags to Superintendent of Education Glenn Harris and the Simpson County School Board at the Board January meeting. Two flags, one for the Magee Schools and one for the Mendenhall Schools, were provided by the US Army. These flags were flown in Iraq on the tenth anniversary of 9/11 aboard a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. Pictured below are Larry Banks, Superintendent Harris, School Board President Dale Shoots and School Board Member Doris Perkins.

Traci Brown named District Teacher of the Year

Traci Brown, First Grade Teacher at Mendenhall Elementary, has been selected to represent the District as the 2012 District Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Brown attended 1st through 12^th grades at Mendenhall schools, received her BS in Elementary Education from USM in 1986, and received her M. Ed. in Elementary Education from William Carey in 1990.

Committed to excellence in education, Traci Brown went through the rigorous process of achieving National Board Certification in 2000 and is currently renewing her certification. She is a member of Mississippi Professional Educators, a member of Sigma Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, and has been consistently recognized as a Renaissance Model and Master Teacher.

Mrs. Brown has served as grade-level chair, pilot teacher for new educational programs, served on district committees, coordinated professional development sessions, served on advisory teams to the State Department of Education, served on an advisory team to the governor, and served as teacher representative for the state of Mississippi at national teachers summit . She is currently in her 26^th year of teaching with 7 of those as a 2^nd grade teacher.

Mrs. Brown was informed of her selection with a song from School administrators and her students broke into applause. Mrs. Brown commented: “Being with my students and watching them grow and change brings me so much joy. I am so grateful to my students for inspiring me each day. I want them to experience joyful learning and I encourage them to be their personal best in all that they do. They are amazing. Being a classroom teacher is a very special blessing in my life. However, I would not be the teacher I am if it were not for the strength I draw from my Heavenly Father and those I work with each day. I have amazing administrators, colleagues, and support staff. I would not be the person I am if it were not for my best friend and husband of 29 years, Bobby Brown, and my amazing family. Thank all of you for helping to build my character.” She added: “Our world needs a deeper understanding of each other. We can help through building relationships of care and respect. I challenge each of you to help build relationships as you share kindness, compassion, and respect.”

Principal Rhonda Berry of Mendenhall Elementary wrote in a letter congratulating Mrs. Brown: “We are blessed that everyday your provide students with the tools to be successful in life. Through your dedication, compassion, and expert knowledge you lay the foundation for the love of learning while building the pillars of character.”

 

Representing each school site as Teacher of the Year for their schools are:

Magee Elementary School -Debra Craft, Magee Middle School-Rita Dorsett,
Magee High School-Jacquelyn Odom, Mendenhall Elementary School-Traci Brown,
Mendenhall Junior High School-LaShunda Overby, Mendenhall High School- Melissa Harrison,
Simpson Central School-Karen Rhodes, Achievement Center-Christi Wester,
Technical Center-Dr. Dave Nicholas

 

Superintendent Glenn Harris stated: “All the candidates this year were exceptional and the selection and recognition of Traci Brown as District Teacher of the Year is a great compliment considering the many worthy teachers placed in nomination by the schools.” Mrs. Brown will be one of hundreds of teachers from across the state recognized by the Mississippi Department of Education and considered as a candidate for Mississippi Teacher of the Year.

English II Writing Scores are in!

Superintendent Glenn Harris announced the District had received the results of the Fall administration of the Mississippi English II Writing Test for high school students. Magee High School tested 41 students and had a 100% passage rate! Mendenhall High School tested 103 students and had 97 passing for a 94% passage rate. Superintendent Harris commented that we are proud of the work the high schools are doing as students work to reach their goal of DESTINATION GRADUATION and teachers and administrators are doing what is best for kids.

Boone Selected as Magee Elementary Principal

Superintendent Joe Welch announced the appointment of Dr. Donna Boone as Principal of Magee Elementary School. The Simpson County School Board voted 5-0 in a November 17 special called meeting to approve the selection of Dr. Boone. Her first day on the job will be December 5. Dr. Boone has an extensive background in education including experience as a teacher assistant, a teacher, and as an elementary and secondary administrator. She has also served as Director of Accreditation for the Mississippi Department of Education and as an Assistant Superintendent for School Improvement in Pauling County, Georgia. Dr. Boone has managed multi-million dollar grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation serving schools after Hurricane Katrina and most recently worked with a consulting firm where she coached teachers and administrators in improving student achievement and the implementation of Common Core Standards.

In making the announcement, Superintendent Welch expressed optimism with the energy and enthusiasm that Dr. Boone will bring to Magee Elementary. He said “She has the experience and credentials to lead Magee Elementary and continue the progress made to make that school an exceptional place to learn, to work, and for students to begin their path to DESTINATION GRADUATION.” Dr. Boone was contacted about the results of the Board’s decision and stated: “I am honored to be chosen as a part of the Simpson County team and am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve the children at Magee Elementary”.  Superintendent-elect Glenn Harris said “I feel Dr. Boone is the right person to lead Magee Elementary. She possesses the necessary skills and enthusiasm to bring about positive changes in the school culture and to guide the faculty and staff.”

Dr. Boone attended the University of Central Florida, receiving a B.S. in Liberal Studies; received a M.Ed. from Mississippi College in Elementary Education; and received her Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi in Educational Administration. She was Teacher of the Year at Ridgeland Elementary School in Madison County and has served on various statewide committees including the interview and application review committee for the Mississippi School for Math and Science and Mississippi’s Secondary and Middle School Committee for the Southern Association of College and Schools (SACS).

Married to Coach Joel Boone, she has one daughter and two grandchildren. Dr. Boone will be in attendance on Monday evening, December 5for the parent presentation of the DORE program at 6 PM in the Magee High School Auditorium.

Magee Middle School Incentive Program Recognized

A student incentive program at Magee Middle School has received attention from the Clarion Ledger. Please see the link below to read the article.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20111107/NEWS/111070309/Stranger-s-pizza-parties-motivate-students

Mendenhall High’s Pickell Participates in National FFA Event

Submitted. . .

INDIANAPOLIS – Keith Pickell of the Mendenhall FFA Chapter in Mississippi was one of 43 participants in the National FFA Job Interview Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The participant, led by advisor Bryan Collins, was awarded a Bronze emblem.

The top four individuals will receive scholarships to further their education at a post-secondary institution of their choice. The scholarships and the job interview event are sponsored by CSX  Transportation of Jacksonville, Florida.

The job interview CDE is a competitive activity that tests student’s ability to perform effectively throughout the entire job application process. The participants prepare a resume, cover letter and complete a written application. They also participate in phone, one-on-one and panel job interviews as part of the competition.

The event, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indianapolis, Ind., is one of many educational activities at the national FFA convention in which FFA members practice the lessons learned in agricultural education classes.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members – all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture – as part of 7,487 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education. The 84th National FFA Convention is held Oct. 19-22, 2011 in Indianapolis, Ind., and draws 50,000-plus FFA members, advisors and guests from across the country. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information and follow us on Facebook, and Twitter and FFA Nation.

NCLB Report Card Available Online

At this time, the Mississippi Department of Education has posted NCLB report cards to http://orsap.mde.k12.ms.us/MAARS/index.jsp. Once on this page, parents should select the desired district and then click on “NCLB RC”. Please understand that before the Report Card becomes visible, the “Print Selected Tab” button in the top right corner must be selected. After clicking on the “Print Selected Tab” option, the Report Card will be displayed and can be printed (if desired).