Monticello Live

Hall of Fame inductees for 2013 include
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At their recent Drew Central school board meeting, the board heard a report from Katie Taylor about her recent trip to Washington DC, as well as her plans to expand her service project “Pack of Hope” to more DC students in need.

The Drew Central school board, along with selected staff members and students, held thorough interviews Wednesday and Thursday with the five potential superintendent candidates.

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The Drew Central safety and security task force met Monday night to receive updates on the suggestions that were made at their earlier meeting.

Topics covered included doors, locks, playgrounds, among several others areas.

Jessica Wishard, a senior at Drew Central High School, received recognition at their recent school board meeting for advancing to finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2013. She was awarded a certificate by Ms. Melissa Vincent, Principal of the high school.

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Left to Right Krista Donley, Keith Reynolds UAM Football player, Savannah Rainey

Drew Central 4th graders in Eva Arrington’s class had 3 furry guests on Friday- ferrets. Keith Reynolds, a UAM football player, spoke to the class about the responsibilities of owning a pet.

Drew Central 3rd & 4th graders’ presentation of the musical Aladdin under the direction of Ashley Gonzalez was a theatrical success!

Using the Common Core State Standards as her guide, Ms. Gonzalez, Drew Central Elementary music teacher, read the book to the students first and a character study followed. Every third and fourth grader had a part in the production from actors, dancers, stage managers, props managers, and audience greeters. A backdrop of Agrabah was designed and painted by students under the guidance of Lindsay Harper Groce, Drew Central Elementary art teacher.

The musical had two acts and an intermission. The play ended with a grand finale of all students on stage singing with baton twirlers, gymnasts, bread venders, flag bearers, belly dancers, Jr. Djinns, guards, and a beggar woman.

First picture: Jordan Watson as Jasmine singing her solo “One Jump Ahead”
Second picture: Arnold Diaz as Jafar, Pricila Tinajero as Lago, Lauren Tumey as Genie
Third picture: Pricila Tinajero as Lago, Arnold diaz as Jafar, Michael Herman as Aladdin, Jordan Watson as Jasmine, Adonis acre as Sultan, Lauren Tumey as Genie

Titus Burke with his parents Doyle and Kathy

With February being Heart Disease Awareness month, 37 Drew Central students in grades 1st-6th grade participated in the Physical Education Department’s Annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. The students collected donations for The American Heart Association. By collecting $5, students were able to participate in the Jump Rope for Heart event, with music, jumping rope, snacks and recognition of the students’ hard work. Many students raised money and jumped in memory or in honor of a loved one that has battled heart disease.

Titus Burke, a fifth grade student in Mrs. Wilmoth’s class, raised $141.00, which was our highest donation. The grand total raised was $1,226.04.

The Drew Central Elementary Safety Team met Monday evening, to discuss a wide range of security and safety issues.

An espicially interesting part of the meeting was when Laura Kaminicki, a Drew Central 3rd grade parent, also a former Jonesboro resident from the time of that city’s March 24, 1998 massacre at Westside Middle School, described some of that school’s physical charistics.

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Dr. Sue Martin of the Education Department at the University of Arkansas at Monticello came to talk to Orientation to Teaching students at Drew Central High School about the requirements and classes they would be taking at the University and actions to take in order to become licensed teacher in the state of Arkansas.

The Orientation to Teaching class is instructed by Cindy Sass and gives students a glimpse into the profession of teaching.

In the month of January, Drew Central Middle School students collected money to have their favorite teachers dress as one of the Duck Dynasty character.

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Drew Central Fourth Graders attended the Arkansas Civil War 150th Anniversary Event on January 18th at the Arkansas Post National Memorial Museum. The area outside the museum was set with thirteen stations. Each station had people dressed from the time period of The Civil War while telling stories.

A medicine woman, Dyan Bohnert, explained to the students how maggots had been used to clean wounds. A woman in Confederate uniform, Marde Clardy, showed photographs of women in soldier’s uniforms and told stories of women who fought as men because women were not allowed to fight. Students were given the opportunity to play townball, a game similar to baseball.

During the personnel segment of the Drew Central school board meeting, the Board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Mike Johnston.

Mr. Johnston, who has worked in education for 44 years, and served at Drew Central for 32 years, will leave effective July 1.

At Thursday’s Drew Central school board meeting, Mary Hobbs received special recognition for earning the National Board Certified Teacher certificate. She is one of only two Drew Central teachers to achieve this prestigious level of certification.

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In an effort to ensure the safety of its students while buses are loading or unloading, the Monticello School District would like to make sure laws regarding passing of school buses are available to area citizens.

We are working with the Monticello Police Department and Drew County Sherriff Department to curb violations. Both departments have assured us of their support. They will be making special efforts to observe violators of this law. Below you will see the School Bus Fleet Magazine report on deaths that occurred 2011 – 2012 due to illegal passing of school buses. Laws as they pertain to a violator or the school bus driver are also listed below.

One of our most troubled areas is Hwy. 425. Oncoming traffic is not required to stop on multilane highways that are divided by a parkway or dividing strip of 20 ft. or more. This does not pertain to any area in Drew County. All oncoming traffic should stop as well as traffic following the bus!

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The Drew Central School Board held a special meeting Friday, to hire an attorney to represent them in a complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by a former employee.

The employee, who was released last year as part of the district’s fiscal distress process, charges the district dismissed him because of his race, age and as a form of retaliation.

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Drew Central Fourth Graders in Eva Arrington’s class have read the children’s classic The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. It was the fantasy epic of our time. Students and their parents met at the theater and viewed the movie as a group.

Students learned research skills when their curiosity led them to discovering the meaning and origin of runes. The students completed an in depth literature study using the novel and viewed the movie as a celebration. Upon returning to school, students wrote an opinion piece on which they liked best, the novel or the movie.

Drew Central 4th Graders held an Estimation and Measurement Day Celebration.

The activities were planned to allow students to explore math concepts with hands-on. Students rotated throughout the classroom which gave each a chance to explore every concept. One activity was “Marble Soup”. Students at this station met the soup chef, teacher Eva Arrington, and made marble soup.

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Drew Central is in day 2 of our pilot program for Breakfast in the Classroom.

This exciting new program allows kids to eat breakfast in the classroom during the first 10 minutes of class. We believe this will drastically reduce childhood hunger and allow everyone to start their day off right. The students and teachers are loving it! Mrs. Meek’s class is shown eating their breakfast and reviewing what they learned in math the previous day. The students were noticing the unit of measurement for the milk and orange juice.

Some teachers are also using this time to teach students how to read nutrition labels. Others are using this time as their reading time. Students sit quietly and eat while the teacher takes roll, gathers homework, and gets prepared for the day.

Mr. McRae’s 2nd grade class at Drew Central are shown being involved in an estimation and measurement math activity.

The goal was to estimate in centimeters the projected length of the gummy worm completely stretched without breaking.

The students then assisted one another in stretching the gummy worm to its maximum length for accurate measurement.

Pictured are: Lana Boykin, Omarion Pace, and Colby Broyles.

The Drew Central school board had its scheduled monthly meeting Thursday, November 08, 2012. Topics on the agenda included recognition of Drew Central Teacher of the Year, the red brick building, and enrollment of students at Drew Central and other southeast Arkansas schools.

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