Choctaw Chronicle Newsletter
June 2012
Volume 1, Issue 12
Proverbs 13:20 says spend time with the wise and you will become wise.
Ms. Dena Adams, Coordinator of Special Education and Mrs. Mattie
White, District Receptionist epitomizes wisdom and professionalism. West
Tallahatchie is pleased to honor the retirement of these two highly regarded
and professional employees.
Contents
Honoring Retirees
RHBES News
1
2-3
Retirees
4
Student/Staff Recognition
4
District Information
4
Ms. Adams has been employed with the
District for over 14 years, and is a fierce
protector of her students getting
appropriate instructional services and
accommodations.
She always assured
colleagues around her were adequately
trained and competent to work with all
students.
Mrs. White has been employed over 21
years at West Tallahatchie High School
and Central Office.
Colleagues
acknowledge that she is one of the best
office managers ever.
Everyone that
approached Mrs. White’s desk must have
things in order and remain professional at
all times.
After spending time with Ms. Adams and Mrs. White, we indeed have
become wiser. We will miss their presence in the district and schools. On
behalf of the West Tallahatchie School District Board of Trustees,
colleagues, students and parents, we wish Ms. Adams and Mrs. White
well and look to continue our relationships in the future.
Page 2 of 4
R H Bearden News
Choctaw Chronicle
R H Bearden News
Education makes
a people easy to
lead, but difficult
to drive: easy to
govern, but
impossible to
enslave.
Peter
Brougham
Tell me and I'll
forget. Show
me, and I may
not remember.
Involve me, and
I'll understand.
Native
American
Saying
What we learn
with pleasure we
never forget.
Alfred Mercier
The RHBES Staff and students were busy
during the month of April. They
participated in various activities
including the grade level family
reunion, word balloon burst, bow and
arrows presentation, asthma awareness
program, volunteer reading, MCT2
academic bowl, MCT2 activities for
grades K-6, teacher appreciation week,
6th grade senior luau, award’s day and
6th grade promotion ceremony.
The grade level parent meetings were
climaxed with this event in which
parents from all grades were invited to
reunite in the gymnasium. Teachers
from each grade set up an activity
station filled with activities that
students can be engaged in at home.
Also, teachers distributed a “Parent
Packet” that included information on
skills that students need to continue to
practice. Third-Sixth Grade Packets
included MCT2 Reinforcement.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the
fellowship as the song, “Family
Reunion” played in the background.
Refreshments were served as well.
RHBES continued to emphasize the
importance of vocabulary, K-3rd Grade
Students engaged in a word balloon
release activity in which students wrote
an overused word on a “blown up”
balloon. They wrote a synonym of the
word on the streamer that was attached
to the balloon. On the countdown of
three, students burst their word balloon
and kept the streamer that had the new
word. Officer Cary Hayes conducted an
informative presentation on the history
of bows and arrows. He communicated
about the importance of them to “our
history”, being that our mascot is the
Choctaw. He culminated the
presentation by shooting the arrows.
One arrow landed near the utility pole
and he conducted the strike near the
doors of the auditorium!! Amazing!!
Volunteerism continued with the
AmeriCorps VISTA Members providing
the entire school with a very
informative presentation on symptoms
of asthma and methods of coping with
students if they have an asthma attack
at school. The enjoyable moment came
when “Wheezi Bear” entertained the
students. AmeriCorps VISTA Members
read to the Kindergarten-First Grade
Students.
MCT2 Motivational Week was a weeklong event designed to encourage
students to perform well on the state
exams. The students in Grades 3-6
participated in the academic bowl
which included answering practice state
items in a “Jeopardy Style Format”. On
the first theme day, “2 Cool For the
MCT2” the faculty, staff and students
wore their favorite, funniest socks to
school. The students wore striped
socks, polka dot socks, happy face
socks, and even Dr. Seuss socks! The fun
continued on day two with faculty,
staff, and students wearing their shades
to school. The students wore colored
shades, decorative shades, and even
Dora’s Shades! Day 3 included “Hats off
to the MCT2”-faculty, staff, and
students wore their favorite hats to
school. Students wore sports caps,
church hats, straw hats, and even
Donald Duck caps! The RHBES students
read more than 15,000 books. As a
reward, the students participated in an
accelerated reader all-star basketball
game competing with the faculty and
parents. This was a very exciting game
for the students. Finally on day 7 the
students and staff participated in an
MCT2 “Soul Train Program”. What a day
and way to culminate our MCT2
Motivational Week! At this program,
Don Cornelius (Principal Hudson) hosted
a talent show in which participants
reflected on music from the 70’s and
80’s. Faculty and staff members
dressed up as “The Temptations”,
“Gladys Knight”, “Ray Charles and the
Rayettes” (Sixth Grade teachers Mr.
Burt, Ms. Mayfield, and Ms. Outlaw).
Even Custodians, Ella Richardson and
Charles Johnson, dressed up as Ike and
Tina Turner to entertain the audience.
Several grade level teachers, along with
students, sang motivational chants.
Gospel singer Yolanda Adams, Asst.
Principal Miss Pitts, along with her choir
sang a MCT2 ‘Victory’ Song. Special
Guests Dianna Ross and the Supremes
(Dr. Cole, Mrs. Small, Ms. Jones, and
Ms. Kemp) made a special appearance
as well.
Choctaw Chronicle
R H Bearden News
R H Bearden News
Mr. Hudson left the students with a
profound message on why it is
important to perform well on the MCT2.
The month of May kicked off at RHBES
like a rocket! The staff was recognized
during the week of May 7th-11th (Teacher
Appreciation Week). Each day, teachers
received trinkets as a way of
administrators expressing how much the
faculty and staff is appreciated at R.H.
Bearden Elementary School. On Friday,
May 11, 2012, the week was culminated
with a professional development session
and luncheon for the teachers. The
celebration continued with the Sixth
Grade Senior Luau. The 6th grade
(seniors) went on a luau after working
so hard on their state exams. They
dressed in their Hawaiian gear and had
a tropical retreat with dancing. The
students enjoyed the fellowship among
themselves and their sixth grade
teachers before they said, ‘Aloha’ to
this school. At RHBES learning
continued to excel with Mr. Scott
Shupe’s reptile show. He intrigued the
audience by displaying his “reptile
friends”. His “friends” included corn
snakes, lizards, and turtles. At the end
of the show, he challenged Assistant
Principal Pitts, Ms. Mayfield, Ms.
Gipson, and Mr. Samuel Hudson to hold
a corn snake for 10 seconds with the
audience counting! What a long time!
Everyone successfully did it without an
incident occurring. Ms. Teresa Ford was
very courageous and bold by holding a
gigantic snake around her neck!
After working hard the entire month of
May, the students had a day of fun and
laughter during the May Day Play Day
activities. The day began with amazing
grade level performances, which
included dancing and a parachute
dance. Our “seniors” danced to the
tune of ‘Happy People’, and some third
grade students wrapped the May Pole.
After lunch, everyone congregated to
the front campus to enjoy games and
snacks.
The finale included the fourth nine
weeks award’s day program and the 6th
grade promotion ceremony. Students
received awards in the areas of
Superintendent’s List, Principal’s List,
Honor Roll, Most Improved, and
Citizenship. Extra-curricular activity
teachers distributed awards as well.
Some students were recognized for
receiving the highest average in the
various subjects. Students received
trophies as their prize. Bearden’s
promotional exercise occurred on the
evening of this day. The speaker was
Rev. Keith Powell, a former student of
this district. Rev. Powell conveyed the
profound message that there’s a
difference between a baggage and a
luggage. The baggage holds your past
and should be left behind, but a luggage
holds your future to take with you. He
stated that in the luggage, students
need to pack their paper, pencil, and
eraser.
We are on the road to becoming a
SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL!!!!
Page 3 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Choctaw Chronicle
School Newsletter
West Tallahatchie School District
1096 Friendship W Road
Sumner, MS 38957
HAPPY RETIREMENT!!!!!!!
Phone:
(662) 375-9291
Mrs. Roberta Jackson, RHBES
Fax:
(662) 375-9294
Mrs. Janet Sue Harris-Hinton, RHBES
E-mail:
[email protected]
Mrs. Laverne Leigh, WTHS
“Our Children are Eager to Learn”
Mrs. Mary Hawkins, WTHS
We’re on the Web!
Mr. Dudley Rocky Fredric, WTHS
www.westtallahatchie.net
District E-Policies
http://wtallahatchie.msbapolicy.org
May your retirement be like the experience of a kid being out of school
for the summer — but the summer never ends. At the same time, may
your retirement allow you to do what you don’t like as little as possible
and what you like as much as possible.
Employment Opportunities
https://wtallahatchie.schoolrecruiter.net
WTSD is an EOE
STAFF & STUDENT RECOGNITION
R H Bearden
Mrs. Latrina Jenkins, EOM
Terrance Tanna, SOM
Food Service
Ms. Mary Carter,EOM
NDAS
Mr. Tony Young, EOM
Deunta Fisher, SOM
CCJHS—8th Grade
Greatness is achieved only
when you rise above the
ordinary.
Hard
work,
sincerity, and passion can
make your dream to achieve
greatness come true.
~UNKNOWN~
West Tallahatchie
Mr. Freddie Walker, EOM
Tyler Berryhill, SOM
Transportation
Ms. Nichole Harris