During Tuesday night’s MHS Basket Ball game against Little Rock Mills, MHS players returned to their locker room to discover many stolen items. According to Dr. Alyssa Hopper, mother of MHS basketball player Austin Hopper, the key that was given to lock the locker room would not lock the door. MHS’s team manager took key to the score table and was told, “Don’t worry; someone will watch the locker room.”

After the second half of the game, players went to gather their belongings from the locker room and came out to tell their parents of the missing items. Players’ phones, headphones, money, and other items were taken. Dr. Hopper told MLive that the suspects didn’t just take billfolds, but took time to go through them and put them back empty. “They even emptied a package of gum and put the empty package back.” – Hopper

Dr. Hopper stated that they had installed a free app called “Find my iPhone” onto their son Austin’s iPhone, and they immediately tried to use Mr. Terry Hopper’s iPhone to try to locate their son’s phone. “It kept saying “Cannot locate” and we weren’t sure what was wrong.” – Dr. Hopper

Dr. Hopper then contacted Lauren Donaldson, a college student at UAM that had helped install the app on Austin’s phone for help. She stated that from her home computer, Lauren was successfully able to track Austin’s phone and they were eventually able to track the phone from Mr. Hopper’s iPhone.

The Hoppers then contact the Pulaski County Sherriff’s Office for help retrieving the stolen phone after it was successfully tracked. Dr. Hopper stated that the Sherriff’s Office said they had not had any calls about the stolen items.

The PCSO was able to locate the stolen iPhone based on screen shots and the tracking from the Find Your iPhone app. Only two iPhones were recovered out of the multiple stolen items.

“I want people to put this on their phones and iPod Touch’s… we’ve had so many stolen over the past few years.” –Dr. Alyssa Hopper

Any brand of athletic shoes can be used. Please no shoes containing metal such as cleats or spikes. Donation boxes are set up at MIS if you have any shoes you are willing to donate. You can get additional information about this program by calling MIS

Monticello Schools already have high standards for blocking inappropriate material from reaching their children in schools, but the State asked for a written policy to be put into place. A safety plan was developed and the Board voted to approve it.

Discussions progressed to how the wave of the future is moving towards schools no longer using textbooks, and instead, allowing each student to have digital books via iPads, Kindles, Nooks, or Laptops. The Board members mentioned how heavy student’s backpacks are and Tony McKinstry stated, “You could probably get rid of 50 pounds [of weight from books] by just switching over to a Kindle or iPad.”

The District is already looking into a much broader Internet connection bandwidth to allow the possibility of these types of technological advances reach Monticello schools.

Superintendent Bobby Harper asked Mr. McKinstry, “Do you think this [textbook free school] is something that could possibly happen in the next five years?”

Mr. McKinstry told him that he did believe it was possible, with the changes already taking place within the district, to create a textbook free school in the upcoming years.

One plan, the Bronze Plan, would not cost the driver any monthly fees, and will cover them, but not their family.

Harper stated that there are nine bus drivers that could benefit from this plan right now. The Board unanimously agreed and voted to allow full time bus drivers to receive health insurance through the school district.

Board members also voted to approve the Six-Year Master Facilities Plan. The Board also voted to submit for bids to provide heating and air conditioning in the two multipurpose buildings at MES, along with bids to add two bathrooms to the P.E. building at MES. This will be done using a partnership with the State. The State of Arkansas will pay for 62% of the projects.

**

**Juniors – There is a fund raiser this Friday the 27th for Safe Prom. Mazzios will donate 10% of all sales that day to Safe Prom as long as the customers present a coupon with when paying. We need volunteers to be at Mazzios after school until closing to hand out coupons to customers.

** Homecoming DVDs are on sale now in the EAST lab. The DVD features video from each daily activity as well as the day and night homecoming ceremony. Gets your copy today for only $10!

**Congratulations to the Monticello Jr. Quiz Bowl Team on winning 1st place at the SEARK Cooperative Quiz Bowl Tournament yesterday!!! Thanks for all your hard work.

**Congratulations to Ms. Diane Lewis. She was the winner of FCCLA and FBLA’s canned food drive and will receive the $25.00 prize! Thanks to everyone to contributed to the drive!

** The Jr. High Basketball Pep Assembly is scheduled for February 2 from 9:30am – 10:30am. 9th grade students are invited to attend and will sit on the visitors side of the bleachers.

**UAM Weevil Welcome Days will be Friday February 3rd and Monday February 6th. Reserve a spot by calling UAM admissions office at 460-1026. This is considered a college visit day – request a preapproved absence.

**Muffins on sale in the library after 9:00 and between 1:00 – 3:00

**Congratulations to Hannah James. Hannah is currently listed as number 23 in the “Top 25 Leading Students” within the Arkansas NFL District. Hannah has earned the status of a Degree of Excellence in the National Forensic League.

**Congratulations to the MHS Forensic team’s 2nd place Sweepstakes Award earned at Cabot High School. The full list of results are found on the MHS Speech / Drama Club webpage.

**Congratulations to 4 new National Forensic League members: Erin Ashcraft, Jacob Chisom, Mary Kate Jones, and Dani West.

** Students are not to walk in the construction areas by the gym.

**Any current junior planning to take Composition I/II or college algebra through the CIV program next year should see Mrs. Curry by January 27 to be put on a class list.

Please remember that an ACT score of 19 ( on English, Math and Reading sections) is required for enrollment in these college courses.

SPORTS NEWS:

**Congratulations to the Lady Billies on their win over White Hall last night. The boys and girls will both play at home this Friday night against Helena at 6:00.

CLUB NEWS:

**The Forensic team members who are interested in attending a tournament in February must contact Mrs. Ashcraft or Ms. Armbrust by TODAY.

COUNSELOR CORNER:

**Drew County Extension Homemakers Council Academic Scholarships

Attend UAM

Applications available in the counseling center Deadline March 30th

**UAM EAST Scholarship

Two years of EAST participation

3.0+ gpa applications available in the counseling center

Deadline April 1st

**2012 ACXIOM/UCA IT Careers Camp

Grades 8-12 June 20-23

Contact information in the counseling center

**Arkansas Superior Federal Credit Union

You must be a member of ASFCU or have an immediate family member that belongs ASFCU

Applications available in the counseling center Deadline March 1st

**Junior girls : Arkansas Girls State will be held May 27-June 1. Junior girls interested in this week long summer program learning about government should see Mrs. Curry.

Deadline to sign up as a possible delegate is February 3rd

**Juniors interested in visiting Henderson State University, see Mrs. Curry about the Henderson 100 Program.

3.5+ cumulative grade point average required. Applications will be due to Mrs. Curry by February 10th

**2012 Engineering Scholars Program at ULAR.

Summer program to increase the number of students entering engineering programs in Arkansas.

Grades 9-12 Information is available on the counseling center board.

**Society of American Military Engineers engineering and construction camp

Information is available on the counseling center board. Deadline March 16th

**Society of American Military Engineers Scholarships

For architecture or construction-related engineering programs.

Deadline March 30th

Applications available in the counseling center

**Arkansas State University Sports Medicine Workshop

Friday March 9th and Saturday march 10th

Info posted on counseling center board

**Dr.Curtis Ridout Scholarship Fund

Arkansas Baptist College

Deadline March 1st

Contact info. Posted on the counseling center board

**University of Arkansas Diversity Impact 2012

Juniors – Minority students – opportunity to learn about the U of A and financial aid programs

Applications are available in the counseling center

Application deadline Jan. 25th

** Buick Achievers Scholarship Program

Details and application at www.buickachievers.com

Deadline February 29th

**Alpha Chi chapter Book Scholarship

Female students attending UAPB

Applications in the counseling center

Deadline March 11th

**Applications are available for Student Athletic Trainers at UofA

Deadline for application is February 11

**Four scholarship programs through the Arkansas Activities Association:

Mandy Coats Scholarship Fund

Silas Carneal Jones Memorial Scholarship

Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame

AAA/State Farm Scholar Athlete

Applications available in the Counseling Center or on the Arkansas Activities Association website

**US Department of Agriculture

USDA/1890 National Scholars Program

Attend one of the eighteen 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities (Alcorn, UAPB, Tuskegee etc..) major in an agriculture related area

3.0+ gpa and 21+ ACT

Applications available in the counseling center or at www.usda.gov/1890programs.xml deadline February 1st

**Abbott and Fenner Scholarship Program

Details and application at www.abbottandfenner.com/scholarships.htm

**US Bank Scholarship Program

Apply online at www.usbank.com/scholarship

**The American Legion Coudret Trust Scholarship

Deadline March 15 Must be children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of American Legionnaires in good standing. Applications available in the counseling center

** Big Sun Scholarship – academic athletes – http://www.bigsunathletics.com deadline June 22

**UAMS Pharmacy Camp will be June 10-15. It is an introduction to career opportunities in pharmacy.

Electronic applications will be posted by Oct. 31st Deadline to apply February 10

**Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation’s requirements and application is posted at www.coca-colascholars.org

**Information about Arkansas Governor’s School 2012 is available in the Counseling Center

Arkansas Governor’s School is a four week residential, educational summer program for upcoming seniors. Governor’s school is FREE!

Arkansas Superior Federal Credit Union will sponsor a “Superior Student Spotlight” They will highlight one student from MHS in November, February and May that stands out in his or her community. They are looking for someone of high moral character who sets an example by volunteering and giving back to the school and community. Eligible students will not have attendance or discipline issues. Open to all MHS students of all grade levels. Arkansas Superior will run a newspaper ad featuring the chosen student each month and the student will receive a $50 VISA gift card and certificate of recognition. Applications are available in the counseling center.

The MHS Forensic Team earned a 2nd place sweepstakes award at the Cabot Classic this past weekend. All members contributed to this team award, and students in 5 events advanced to semi-finals.

Semi-finalists earning superior ratings were Becca Stephenson (poetry), Dani West (humorous interpretation), Shelby White (original oratory), Hannah James (original oratory), and the duo team of Maggie Barnett and Celeste Richard (duet acting). These semi-finalists are now qualified to compete in the Tournament of Champions in April.

Students earning either 3rd place, superior or excellent ratings in the preliminary rounds were Shelby White (poetry), Mary Kate Jones (prose), Jessica Craven (solo acting), Savannah Reynolds (solo acting) Erin Ashcraft and Mary Kate Jones (duet acting), John Bonfanti and Hannah James (duet acting), L. J. Leslie and Jessica Craven (duet acting), Krystle Conyers (dramatic interpretation), Erin Ashcraft (storytelling), Melodie Sandlin (storytelling), Jacob Chisom and Daniel Wigley (debate) and the members of the Readers Theatre performance of Charlotte’s Web. Michelle Montgomery continued to compete in the tournament after losing her partner and still earned 4th place in two events (humorous interp and Improvised Duet Acting) during the preliminary rounds.

As a result of the tournament, MHS has 4 more students who have earned membership into the National Forensic League: Erin Ashcraft, Jacob Chisom, Mary Kate Jones, and Dani West. Hannah James increased her status in NFL to a Degree of Excellence.

Debbie Ashcraft and Christy Armbrust coach the team

Skye Austin, 1st band 1st chair flute

Mallory Jones, 1st band 4th chair flute

Elizabeth Wilson, 1st band 10th chair flute

Sarah Albritton, 2nd band 12th chair flute

Norma Rivera, 1st alternate flute

Sarah Tappe, 2nd alternate flute

Becca Spurlock, 4th alternate flute

Beth Fleming, 1st band 2nd chair clarinet

Hannah Wilkerson, 2nd band 10th chair clarinet

Olivia Wooten, 2nd band 25th chair clarinet

Autumn Webb, 1st band 1st chair alto clarinet

Joshua Williams, 1st band 1st chair bass clarinet

Tysheona Ferrell, 1st band 1st chair contrabass clarinet

Cameron Sadler, 1st band 4th chair alto saxophone

John Bonfanti, 1st band 6th chair trumpet

Matthew Montgomery, 1st band 9th chair trumpet

Josie Kelley, 2nd band 10th chair trumpet

Matt Cater, 2nd band 1st chair french horn

Jeremy Weih, 2nd band 1st chair trombone

Corey Pemberton, 2nd band 2nd chair baritone

Marlon Druilhet, 1st band 7th chair tuba

Amy James, 1st band 4th chair percussion

Rian Meeks, 2nd band 5th chair percussion

Erin Ashcraft, 2nd band 1st chair string bass

On December 2, Governor Beebe came to Monticello to present Kimberly Wilson, visual art teacher at MHS the award for being Arkansas’Teacher of the Year.

“You aren’t much of a person if you can’t understand the finer things in life… you’ve done that with our kids… you deserve Teacher of the Year,” Governor Beebe told Mrs. Wilson.

After hugging her children and her husband, accepting her roses and her large check to represent her financial award of $15,000 (from the Walton Family Foundation) Mrs. Wilson said, “I want to thank you… thank you. It humbles me.” “First, I’m privileged to be part of a fantastic school district.” “The other half… here’s what makes the difference… it’s your [students'] effort that makes it all work.”

Mrs. Wilson then said to the 4th and 5th grade students present, “You made me a great teacher; you made this possible.”

In closing Mrs. Wilson said, “Thank you to my family, my 2 children are here. They spend a lot of hours in the classroom.” “I could not do it if I did not have a fantastic, loving, supporting husband.” “I would like to thank my Principals..” She went on to describe how they never tell her no when she comes to them with her “crazy” ideas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kimberly Kaye Wilson – One Monticello Life

by Mandy Moss

1.Where are you from? (born, raised, mom, dad, siblings?)
I was born in South Carolina and consider Rock Hill, S.C. my “hometown”; graduated high school there and attended Winthrop University (in RH). Both siblings, Melissa Hammett and Jay Wilson, as well as my mother, Cindy Wilson, still live in S.C. My father died this summer, but I know he would have been extremely proud of this accomplishment.

2. How would you describe your life growing up?
Humble and non-descript. I never considered there was anything special about my family until I left it. As a young adult I began to realize how surrounded by love I was with my immediate and extended families. Both my mother and father worked very hard and neither had a college education. But, they never questioned my ability to succeed and were realistic with me about what it would take to achieve any idea or dream I had.

3. Did you have a teacher as a child that made you want to teach?
I have “favorites” from my childhood. But I have a distinct memory of when I realized I wanted to teach. In fifth grade, students were paired up and told to sit back to back. One had a card with a simple image, the other pencil and paper. The student with the card was to describe what they saw and instruct their teammate to draw it. After being paired with several different students, I realized that I had an ability to articulate what I saw into simple steps and help people be successful in creating an image.

4. When did you realize you had a passion for art?
My mother is an artist. From my earliest memories, I can see her decorating household items, painting, drawing at the kitchen table. She never pursued her talents as a career, but to me, she was pure inspiration. In my opinion, I still cannot render an image as beautifully as her, but she instilled in me that joy of creating and valuing the process of creating for enjoyment….regardless if there is a paycheck involved.

5. Did you have other jobs before becoming a teacher? (first job? work through college, etc?) If so, what was your favorite and least favorite.. and why?
I began working at age 16. My family did not have much money and each child was told that if we wanted more than what my parents could provide, we would have to earn it. My first job was at a fast food restaurant, but I consider myself a jack-of-all-trades. I cleaned houses and pet sat, babysat countless children, I have been a waitress (at 3 different restaurants), a file clerk, an office manager, an activities director at a foster home, a deposit clerk for a vending company, and a bank teller.

After college I lived in Vermont, where I began to teach and use my administrative skills towards non-profit community centers. My first “real” job was in Detroit, Michigan where I served as Director of Education at the historic Pewabic Pottery. I was surrounded by my two passions, ceramic arts and a teaching studio. It was a fantastic time, but with the birth of my first child I wanted to be closer to home. That’s when I accepted the Executive Director position for Sawtooth School for the Visual Arts in Winston-Salem, N.C. That was not the best fit for me; I was taken out of the classroom and became a fundraiser and politician. So when my husband approached me about a possibility of accepting a teaching position in a small school in southeast Arkansas, I agreed to move our family once again. That is how I happened to make Monticello, AR my home. And since there was not a community arts center here, I went back to school in order to be certified to teach in the public schools.

6. How long have you been teaching, and did you start your teaching career as an art teacher?
I began teaching as a profession in 1995 as an art instructor in a variety of non-profit, community centers in Vermont. My students ranged from three years old to ninety-three at Shelburne Craft School and college students to adults at the University of Vermont’s Living/ Learning Center Studio. I was always teaching art, but what materials and type of artwork changed constantly as the course schedule was on a six to twelve week rotation. It kept me on my toes!

7. What is the most challenging thing about your job?
Addressing all of the needs of each individual student is the most difficult component. I refuse to standardize art into a systematic exercise. Each student has a unique story and a unique set of skills, and that is was I am here to grow. But when there are twenty five students in one room and a range a needs as wide as a rushing river, it can feel like I’m on a rapids river ride.

8. What has been the most rewarding project you’ve done with your students?
Without hesitation, I can say I am most proud of working with my Monticello Intermediate students on the Empty Bowl fundraiser. For two years, every child at MIS made a hand-made ceramic bowl with me during their art classes. The clay was donated by the UAM’s art department; all I had to do was donate the time to mix it. The colored slips and glazes were donated by my private studio the first year and then reimbursed by an Americorp grant the next. I worked in collaboration with EAST students and their facilitator (Lisa Brown) to organize and host a sale of the bowls during spring parent/teacher conference. All of the money raised was donated to “Feed the Kids” a program sponsored by the Women of First Presbyterian Church. The program provides food to needy children over weekends and holidays. Nearly $5,000 was raised over two years.

9. What do you hope your students will take with them from your class as they go forward in their lives?
I hope they understand that they have a voice and a choice. Every moment of every day in my studio, students are provided a choice. What they do with that opportunity is up to them. They can simply copy my example, give up or they can use the opportunity to express something truly personal and meaningful. They have to make the choice. It is not always easy and may not work out the way they wanted it to, but effort is everything, and the only way a person grows and becomes better is by sincere effort.

10. Teacher of the Year – did it shock you to find out you were nominated? How did you become nominated?
I was nominated last spring at Monticello Intermediate School, where I was working at the time. A pervious Arkansas Teacher of the Year, Karen Norton, approached me and asked my permission if she could nominate me. She warned me at the time that there was some work involved, applications, interviews, etc. I humbly accepted and agreed to do any work that might result from the nomination, being honored that a “support staff” teacher had been asked. I NEVER imagined it would go beyond the district interview.

So yes, being selected as the Arkansas Teacher of the Year has been a complete shock.

11. What has winning the award meant to you and your family?
First, its validation. I ask a lot from my family, time to spend over the weekends working on lessons, asking my husband to help with a project, having my kids “hang-out” with me after school to finish something. My family is asked to “share” me constantly with my students and their needs. It can take its toll on anyone. So for me to win the award, communicates to them that what I am doing is really important and that someone has acknowledged the hard work.

Second, it means more of the same; that there is not a specific schedule and that mommy has to go do something with someone else and might have to be away from home.

12. Do your children understand the significance of you winning? Do your students?
My oldest certainly understands. McClain is a fourth grader and has already processed my odds of winning National Teacher of the Year. He has warned me that I have some tough competition.? My youngest, Skylen is in Kindergarten and was a little overwhelmed by the ceremony at MHS. She just knows that I have been wearing fancy clothes and brought home a lot of beautiful flowers.

Beginning this academic year, I began working at Monticello High School, so my current students have a solid understanding of what this all means. Some of my students were not pleased that it would mean a year sabbatical, but I tried to reassure them that it was an opportunity to learn from another artist. They could potentially learn from three different art teachers, much like the larger schools with art departments or college.

13. If you had unlimited access to funds, opportunities, and supplies, what are a few mega projects you would love to do with your students that you may not be able to do currently?
I would love to provide them with a real studio experience. In one room, you have to juggle materials, it is impossible to teach clay and paint in the same room at the same time. To have an art building that had several studios; specific to the materials taught would be a dream. If that were reality, I would love to be able to expand the projects to fine crafts such as, pottery, weaving, metalsmithing, while honoring more traditional arts like drawing, painting, and photography, and expanding into the new media such as computer labs with graphic art programs, and video labs.

But to be practical, I know that there was a history of collaboration between MHS and the OEC when Ms. Ross was teaching art. I would love to reignite that collaboration. As the teacher of the Year SMART technologies will be providing me with up-to-date classroom technology that I eagerly await to use with my students.

Ultimately, it’s the enthusiasm and ideas of my students that I look forward to. Art can be made of meager, modest or marvelous materials and art can be made in a fancy studio or at the kitchen table; what makes it worthwhile and interesting is the process.

14. What has the community’s reaction been to your new title of Teacher of the Year?
Unbelievably supportive and congratulatory. In my acceptance speech in Little Rock I mentioned the fact that I was not a native Arkansan but my family and I have been adopted by our little town and this state. We are so fortunate to be in Monticello. The friends we have made here are a second family to us, and this community has celebrated everything that my family has been able to contribute to it.

15. After such a major event – what’s next for Mrs. Wilson?
The journey is just beginning. I hope to take it one day at a time and soak in every wonderful opportunity it provides. Beyond my tenure as 2012 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, I hope that I can translate the opportunity back into our classrooms in a way that benefits my students. Just as I try to do every