Bigham Awarded Mississippi Outstanding Biology

Teacher of the Year

Crystal Bigham, Biology I Teacher at Pontotoc High School, is the 2018 Outstanding Biology Teacher for Mississippi. The OTBA was created by the National Association of Biology Teachers in 1962 and has become one of the association’s most prestigious awards. The NABT attempts to identify the best biology and life science teacher in each of the 50 states. Mrs. Bigham was honored at the 2018 NABT Professional Development Conference in San Diego, California.

Mrs. Bigham has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Mississippi. She recently finished her Master’s degree in Public Health from Liberty University with an emphasis in Global Public Health. She was also the 2013 MSTA Middle School Teacher of the Year recipient. Mrs. Bigham is originally from Columbia, South Carolina but now calls her home Pontotoc. She moved to Pontotoc after her stint in the US NAVY as a cryptologist. She is married to Shawn and they have two children, Chase and Emmie Reese. Her career goals are to one day further her education and upon retirement from classroom teaching serve in the public health realm with the CDC.

District Events: Thanksgiving BreakDistrict Events: Thanksgiving Break    

November 26-30, 2018November 26-30, 2018  

  

PHS EventsPHS Events  

➢ Nov. 26 Bowling vs Alcorn Central at Rebel Lanes

➢ Nov. 27 Soccer vs Lake Cormorant, HOME (Varsity only)

➢ Nov. 28 Career Cafe U.S. Army and K.C.'s School of Hair Design

➢ Nov. 29 Soccer vs South Panola, Home (JV only)

➢ Nov. 30 Basketball at Tupelo ➢ Dec. 1 Basketball at Houston (Boys only) ➢ Dec. 1 Soccer vs Corinth/Kosciusko at

Corinth (Varsity only) PJHS EventsPJHS Events

➢ Nov. 26 Basketball vs Booneville 5:00 ➢ Nov. 29 Basketball at New Albany 5:00 ➢ Nov. 30 Beauty Review 6:00

DTC EventsDTC Events

➢ Nov. 1-30 Snuggles for Seniors

(Bring stuffed animals) ➢ Dec. 18 Fourth Grade Musical (6:00pm)

PES EventsPES Events  

➢ Nov. 29 1st Grade Toy Museum (3:30-5:00)

➢ Nov. 30 1st Grade Field Trip to Amish

Country

➢ Dec. 6 1st Grade Disney on Ice Field

Trip

Pontotoc High SchoolPontotoc High School

First Semester STATE TESTS

December 3 & 4: English II

December 5 & 6: Algebra I

December 11: Biology I

December 12: U.S. History

 

Buy your PHS Warrior 

Yearbook for the early-bird 

price of $55 and be entered 

in the drawing on  

December 14 for $100. 

 

Send check or cash to the 

school or buy online at 

www.yearbookforever.com 

 

Make checks payable to Pontotoc High School.  

Christmas Showcase Spectacular  December 4, 2018 - Pontotoc Junior High Auditorium

For Christmas this year, come join us for a night of singing, dancing, and exceptional instrumentals. Students from grades 5-12 will entertain you with their renditions of several Christmas tunes. Whether they are singing, dancing, or playing an instrument, you do not want to miss what is going to be a festive and fun night. Who knows, maybe Ole Saint Nicholas will make a surprise appearance! Join us at 7 PM on December 4th for a night of Christmas fun.

The November 14th Career Cafe was hosted by North Mississippi Medical Center and the Informing Future Doctors Organization. The event was bustling with activity as students showed great interest in the information both of these organizations had to share.

John Phillips, of the Informing Future Doctors Organization, shared information concerning being a pre-med major and steps needed in planning for medical school.

Anna Crudup, of NMMC, shared information concerning the top 20 healthcare careers, local job shadowing opportunities in healthcare fields, the NMMC Summer Health Academy, NMMC Mentorship Academy and the NMMC Health Career Scholarships Program. Students are looking forward to the November 28th Career Cafe, which will be hosted by the U.S. Army and K.C.'s School of Hair Design.

 

You Matter Challenge: 

GIVE THANKS  To kick off Thanksgiving break, PHS students colored and wrote what they are most thankful for on turkeys. Some turkeys were colored with a special note of thanks for other students, teachers, counselors, administrators, and other staff members. The turkeys were displayed on the Counselors’ window and in the Commons/Cafeteria.

Pontotoc Junior High Pontotoc Junior High    

PJHS Athletes Run All the Way to StatePJHS Athletes Run All the Way to State    

  

  

  

  

  

  

A number of students competed with the varsity cross country team at the state meet as the season came to a close. Boys ended the season coming in 2nd overall and girls came in 5th. Congratulations to all our PJHS runners on a wonderful season!

  

  

Want to help Want to help  

the PJHSthe PJHS  

library?library?  

Here’s how: http://a.co/dvOBLR6    

  

Creating CompoundsCreating Compounds    

Jack Sansing was able to construct a model organic compound in Mrs. Anderson’s 8th grade science class. When students finish their work early in class

they have the opportunity to work

with a molecular model kit. This kit enables students to replicate 3D models

of hundreds of different organic

compounds.

  

Archery tryouts postponed untilArchery tryouts postponed until  JanuaryJanuary - date TBA- date TBA

  

  

Beauty Pageant is Back Nov.Beauty Pageant is Back Nov.  

3030  

It is time for the PCSD K-8 Beauty Review, sponsored by the PJHS

PTO. This year's pageant will be held Friday, November 30th starting at 6. Admission is $5.

Please join the remind (info pictured right) to receive important updates!

Thank you to our Veterans! Fifth grade UFO students sponsored a Bring a Vet to 

Lunch event. Twenty two veterans came to eat with 

students and share stories of their time in the 

military. In preparation for the event, students 

learned how to fold an American flag, investigated 

the history behind the poppy and other 

American symbols, and studied the symbolism 

of America's White Table for MIA/POW 

service members. Students also practiced 

shaking hands and 

other interpersonal skills and then used those skills as they enjoyed 

meal-time conversation in small groups. Thank you, Veterans! 

Blues along the River Mrs. Koon’s Local Culture class learned about the Blues and history of the Mississippi River this past week. They even practiced singing their own blues songs using the diddley bow.

Students wore BLUE to support their classmates who have diabetes.

Blanket Drive Share the Wealth

November and December are known as months of kindness and giving. To show our acts of kindness, PMS is having a blanket drive. All students are encouraged to bring new blankets or throws. These blankets will be donated to the local nursing homes in Pontotoc.

We would love for all our students to participate and learn the importance of giving to others. The blanket drive will end of December 14. Thanks in advance for your help.

Warriors for our community 

DTC would like to extend a very special Thank You to all who sent canned foods for our annual canned food drive! We were able to collect a ton of cans!! The winners of the Pizza Party are Mrs. Bishop’s 3rd grade class and Mrs. Spicer’s 4th grade class. Congratulations!!  

Family Day at DTC 

On Saturday, November 10th, the beautification crew braved freezing temps to plant 100 daffodils at DTC! We can’t wait to see them bloom in the Spring!

Special thanks to Mrs. Brown, our music teacher for heading up this project and the

parents and kiddos who came out to help!

FUN WITH QUADRILATERALS!  

Mrs. Collums’ fourth graders built quadrilaterals out of toothpicks, then had 30 minutes to build the tallest, free standing tower. They also constructed Quadrilateral Robots by cutting out different quadrilaterals and using them to design their robot.

Symmetry Smarties Fourth Grade math students have been been studying Geometry. Students in Mrs. Whiteside's class explored identifying and creating lines of symmetry with shape patterns. An online symmetry painter was also used to create art pieces using horizontal and vertical lines of symmetry.

On Friday, November 16th, 3rd graders enjoyed a field trip to the University of Mississippi field study site as well as the Center for Mathematics and Science. While there they participated in a wide variety of learning activities ranging from Lego Robotics to Electrofishing! The kids had an awesome time and learned a lot!

D.T. Cox Elementary Student Council Officers and Representatives met for donuts and discussion November 15th before school. The meeting was called to order by Presidents Simon Butler and Katelyn Mayes. Students suggested ideas for community service projects, school-wide celebrations, and what it means to be a Warrior of Distinction. This group has many good leaders to set a positive example in our school.

DTC Junior Beta ClubDTC Junior Beta Club

On Thursday, November 15th, DT Cox held their first ever Junior Beta Club Induction Ceremony. Congratulations to all fourth graders who received this special honor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4th grade students worked a “crime scene” to figure out what happened to Dr. Peel. Our students struggle with finding and using evidence in writing, so fourth grade language teachers thought outside

of the box and made the students become investigators. Students went in groups and had to examine evidence that was left at the scene. When returning back to class, the students got in groups and read through the witness statements. Students were able to use the evidence they found and compare it with the written statements from the reading. On Friday, November 16th students traveled to the Pontotoc Courthouse for a mock trial! All in all, this project allowed students to identify and examine evidence, close read, and be able to write with certainty while having fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a study of Geometry, the students also went to Howard Stafford Park for a geometric shape scavenger hunt. They had tons of fun!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Pontotoc Elementary Scho ol 

 

The Little Hen 

One of the many standards taught in kindergarten is “students will actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding. “Kindergarteners, as many of you know, do not have a problem with the word

ACTIVELY but at times it can be challenging to make sure they are engaged. We read the story, The Little Hen and discussed many key details including how none of her friends wanted to help her until it was time to eat the bread she baked. Discussions of what they would do in this situation were all different. We worked in groups and constructed our own little red hens and wrote sentences about how they could help their parents. As you can see by their smiles,

they were actively engaged.

Helen Keller 

This week second grade read about Helen Keller and discussed how it would feel to face the obstacles she

experienced. We did activities with a blindfold to show the class how hard it would be to be blind. We did another activity with ear plugs to show them how it would feel if they were deaf. We finished up this week by writing our

names in Braille.