June 2015
Mitchell County
School System
The Eagle’s Nest
Inside this issue:
MCMS Gradventure 2
SMCES Kindergarten 3
JROTC Awards 4
Medieval World 5
8th Tour MCHS 6
MCHS Graduation 7
22015-2016 Calendar 8
Have a enjoyable
summer.
First day of school is
August 3, 2015.
Vic Hill, MCSS Superintendent
Presenting
MCHS’s
Class of 2015
Seamless Summer Feeding Program The Mitchell County School Nutrition Program will provide breakfast and lunch
through Seamless Summer Feeding Program. Meals will be provided to all
children without charge. All sites are open and no registration is required for a
meal. All children up to age 18 will be served regardless of race, color, national
origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of
the meal service. Meals will be provided at the sites and times shown below:
Please call the Mitchell County School Nutrition office at 229-
336-2100, ext.1016, if you have a question about a site. We
welcome individual walk-ons at all sites. “USDA is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.”
Left: MCHS‘s Eagle News Reporter Emily Rossitter
broadcasts the announcement about the summer feeding
program on MCHS Eagle News Radio WMCZ-LP 94.5 FM.
Mitchell County High School
Class of 2015 Graduation Mitchell County High School held its commencement exercises on
May 29, at 8 p.m. in the MCHS gym.
Blanca Lopez (left with Neidi Diaz) was the Valedictorian. She plans
on attending the University of GA and major in Digital and Broadcast
Journalism and minor in a foreign language. Blanca would like to
become a news anchor and eventually host her on TV show. Blanca
said, “I know it is going to be a hard journey but with the support of
my family and God, I know I am going to get there.” She also would like to provide scholarships to those
students who want to further their studies. “I just want students to dare to dream,” said Blanca. Blanca
said she was honestly shock when she was announced as the 2015 MCHS valedictorian. She said that it
was not because she didn’t have faith in herself but because she had hard competitors. Blanca would like
to thank everyone who was always there for her and that never crushed her dreams.
In her Salutatorian speech, Neidi Diaz said, “We
are going to face bigger obstacles and our choices
will lead to consequences; it is our responsibility
as adults to make sure we stay on the path of our
dreams, not give up, or settle for the easy way
rather than face our challenges. I encourage all of
you to stay positive and always persevere. We all
may be going our separate ways—going to
college, work, or joining the military, but we will
never forget the moments we have shared together
as a class of MCHS.” Continued on page 7 ...
Page 2 June 2015
The Eagle’s Nest is the official newspaper for the Mitchell County School System (MCSS).
All articles for publication in this newsletter should be electronically submitted to the school’s media specialist by the 15th of each month.
Visit us on-line at http://www.mitchell.k12.ga.us
Special thanks to everyone who contributed and who helped proof this issue. It is the policy of the Mitchell County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex,
religion, national origin, age, or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any other program, activity or service.
Superintendent: Vic Hill MCSS Board Chair: Norma Gilpatrick MCSS Board Vice-Chair: Barbara Reddick
Schools:
South Mitchell Co. Elem. (SMCES) North Mitchell Co. Elem. (NMCES) Mitchell Middle (MCMS) Mitchell Co. High (MCHS)
Vicki Hicks, Principal Jacquelyn White, Principal Patricia English, Principal Robert Adams, Principal
Parents, if you do not wish for your child’s picture to be placed in the newsletter or on the MCSS web sites, please go to the Central Office to sign a waiver form.
MCMS 8th Graders
Gradventure On May 15, eligible 8th graders attended Universal’s
Middle School Gradventure at Islands of Adventure
and Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The
students shared a night of thrills, laughter and
adventure with 8th graders across the U.S. Some of
the amazing things the students experienced were
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ - Diagon
Alley™, Harry Potter and the Escape from
Gringotts™, TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D,
Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, The Wizarding
World of Harry Potter™ - Hogsmeade™, The
Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man®, The Incredible Hulk Coaster® plus many more exciting rides. This is the middle school’s 8th year to
Universal Studios Gradventure. The chaperones and students had an awesome night.
MCMS Media Center Awards Students received awards at the honor’s day ceremony for their reading
accomplishments. Students who read at least 1 million words include: Rodricus
Huckaby, Clora Kelson, Meagan Jackson, Marlen Mendez, Nohemi Perez, Edgerin
Williams. The top three readers include: 1st Place – Rodricus Huckaby (4,605,911
words); 2nd Place Clora Kelson (3,344,175 words); 3rd Place – Nohemi Perez (2, 327,
828 words). Edgerin Williams received an eagle award for his volunteer work he has
done with the media center this year. We are so proud of these students. Parents,
please make sure your children read this summer so that they do not suffer the
summer slide. Students who do not read during the summer months could lose three or more months off of their reading levels. Students are
assessed at the beginning of each year to determine their reading level using the STAR assessment. I hope your child will score above grade
level and earn their star that will be displayed outside the media center for everyone to see! Picture: Clora Kelson (left) and Nohemi Perez
(right) and Rodricus Huckaby.
MCMS
8th Graders
Visit
Washington,
D.C.
Page 3 June 2015
SMCES Kindergarten Graduation SMCES Kindergarten Graduation was held on Wednesday, May 27, at MCHS. The theme was: Wild Wild Best…
Saddle up for Success!! The students amused the audience with their songs and dances. Diplomas were awarded by
Principal Vicki Hicks and Assistant Principal Donna Johnson. Special awards were presented by Superintendent Vic
Hill to students who had Perfect Attendance, Most Improved, Citizenship and Highest AR points.
SMCES 5th Grade Closing Ceremony SMCES 5th Grade Closing Ceremony was held on May 26, 2015, at the Flint
River Auditorium.
MCHS Holds Honors Banquet On May 28, 2015, the MCHS held its Honors Banquet to recognize the top students in each academic
and career education departments and to present scholarships to the students. The CTAE competers
from each department were recognized along with the students who received their CNA Certification.
Also recognized were the Honor Graduates (right): Neidi Diaz, Ashley Jenkins, Victor Johnson,
Blanca Lopez, Ke’Aira Riggins, and Justin Wynn. The Salutatorian Neid Diaz, and Valedictorian,
Blanca Lopez were announced.
Page 4 June 2015
GA-946 AIR FORCE JUNIOR ROTC
CONDUCTS ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY The cadets of GA-946 Air Force Junior ROTC were recognized for numerous yearly accomplishments during their 2015 Annual Awards Program conducted on
Tuesday evening, 19 May, at Mitchell County High School. The following is a list of cadets who earned local and national recognition:
Co-curricular Activities Leadership Ribbon - MALIK WATKINS, CADET ENRIQUE CARMONA, CAMRYN MCGREGOR, TEMYA HUNTLEY, Te’ERIKA
DEWBERRY, JAMIA SANDERS, JOHNTAVEN SIMMONS!
Top Performer Award - CAMRYN MCGREGOR, AUTUMN ROUPE, DAJAH SCOTT!
Superior Performance Ribbon - SHAHARRA COLEMAN, JAMIA SANDERS, JAAMEL DEWBERRY, TATYANA BROADWATER, YADAIRA
ALDAVERA!
Achievement Ribbon - RONNIE SAXON, CHARLIE BROWN, FREDRICK SHELTON, KENNEDI BUTTS, TATYONNA BROADWATER, CAMRYN
MCGREGOR, RONDARIUS H. WILLIAMS, RODNEY KEATON, PERRY MACON, CEDRIC KNIGHT, SHADERRICKA WILLIAMS, JOSHUA MOORE,
BRENDA LOPEZ, KABREIANA WOODS, TYEERA GARDNER, VERA JACKSON, ANTHONY MCINTYRE, EDUARDO FUENTES, SHANARIANA
HICKS, TERYETTA CHESTER, RODNEY KEATON, KNAULIJJE JACKSON!
Leadership Ribbon - TERYETTA CHESTER, JEWANA JACKSON, SHAR’TYONNA JOHNSON, AaLIYAH PARSON, FREDRICK SHELTON, JAKE
CAMP, TYRIQUE EMANUEL!
The Air Commando Association Award - JAKE CAMP, CAMRYN MCGREGOR!
The National Society of the United States Daughters of 1812 - VICTORIA HOLTON!
The Celebrate Freedom Foundation Award - JOSHUA MOORE!
The Retired Enlisted Association Award - JAMIA SANDERS!
The Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated Junior ROTC Cadet Award - DAJAH SCOTT, AUTUMN ROUPE!
The Air Force Sergeants Association Award - T’YUNNA SMITH!
The Military Order of the Purple Heart Award - TERYETTA CHESTER!
The Sons of the American Revolution Award - ANTYONNA JONES!
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Award - JAKE CAMP!
The Military Officers Association of America Award - DERYKAH YATES!
The Military Order of the World Wars Award – JAAMEL DEWBERRY!
The Reserve Officers Association Award - ANFERNEE KEATON!
The American Veterans (AMVETS) Award - EDUARDO FUENTES!
The Daughters of the American Revolution Award - MICHAEL OLVERA!
The American Legion General Military Excellence Award - SHELKERIA JOHNSON, NAVIESHA MATHIS, KIAMBRA COOPER, SHACRISTAL SHINE!
The American Legion Scholastic Excellence Award - DERYKAH YATES, NAVIESHA MATHIS, T’YUNNA SMITH, DIANA REDDING!
The Daedalian Award - JAKE CAMP!
The Air Force Association Award - DERYKAH YATES!
The Woodmen of the World Lamp of Learning Award - RONNIE SAXON!
Graduating Seniors - CHARLIE BROWN, TERYETTA CHESTER, JENNIFER EASTERLING, RONNIE SAXON, JAWANA JACKSON, ASHLEY POTTS,
FREDERICK SHELTON, SHACRISTAL SHINE, ANFERNEE KEATON, NAVEISHA MATHIS!
The Outstanding Cadet of the Year - AUTUMN ROUPE & DAJAH SCOTT (first-year cadet), CAMRYN McGREGOR (second-year cadet), DERYKAH
YATES (third-year), RONNIE SAXON (fourth-year)!
Flight of the Year (highest award presented because it is a “team” award) - CHARLIE Flight
The evening concluded with the cadets of GA-946 being recognized nationally by Headquarters, Air Force Junior ROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery,
Alabama as a 2015 Distinguished Unit award winner! Less than twenty-five percent of the more than 850 units and 120,000 cadets nationwide receive this special
recognition. The unit was also recognized as a Distinguished Unit in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and Outstanding Organization in 2013! The cadets and instructors
would like to thank their Community Partners for their continued support: American Legion Post 141, Nu-Smile Family Dentistry (Valdosta), Barber Petroleum
& Equipment, Bank of Camilla, Bishop Cleaners (Valdosta), Hodges Jewelry Company, Planters & Citizens Bank, C. & E. Lawson, Dr. Constance Lee, Eli
Minix, Ivan Rosenfeld, Jacqueline T. Ross, Melissa & Mike Marshall, Mr. & Mrs. Eddie Little, Ms. D. Milledge, Ms. Samantha, Ronnie Massey, The ALIVE
Youth, The Commons Church and Trent Willis.
Ms. Latrelle Cranford, President,
Woodmen of the World, Chapter 183,
Mitchell County, Georgia presents Cadet
Colonel Ronnie Saxon with the Lamp of
Learning Award for 2015. Mr. Butler
McDonald, American Legion Post 141,
Camilla, presents the American Legion
General Military Excellence Award 2015
to Cadet Kiambra Cooper!
Congratulations
to these students who placed in the
GHSA State Championship Kayla Lawrence: 3rd in 100m, 3rd in 200m, 4th in 400m relay
Bristol Hicks: 4th in 400m relay, 7th in 100m, Adrianna Harvey: 3rd in
100m hurdles, Jo'Cilin Moore: 4th in 400m relay, Renukah Paul: 4th in
400m relay, Shanariana Hicks: 7th in 800m
MCHS Teachers Take Report
Cards to Students On June 1, the MCHS faculty and staff divided into three
groups and loaded up on school buses to begin to deliver
report cards to all the students. This was an opportunity
for teachers to learn more about their students and to
visit with parents. Below teachers leave to get on the
bus.
Page 5 June 2015
The Medieval
World Comes to our Elementary Schools Students in grades three, four and five at both the North and South Elementary Schools have enjoyed studying
about what life was life during the Medieval Era (500AD- 1500AD). Students have learned many aspects of the
Middle Ages. They have studied everything from the feudal system’s hierarchy to the stages of knighthood (page,
squire, and knight). The learners were encouraged to complete a Squire Challenge, an exercise where students had
to exemplify the qualities of knighthood. These qualities include honesty, integrity, courage, faith, protection of
the weak, and helping others in need. The overall goal of the year has been to learn how much the Medieval Era has influenced life as we
know it in the USA in 2015. One activity students participated in was to create a shield or coat-of-
arms to represent themselves. These shields reflected aspects of each student’s life, personality, or
hobbies. The SMCES students are pictured with their shields.
In order for the students to be culturally literate, we also focused on many of
the “Great Masters” of art and sculpture. One artist is Michelangelo, who
painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Italy. Students learned that it took
Michelangelo four years to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Michelangelo had to build and climb a scaffold just to get close enough to the 68 foot high
ceiling. The entire four years, he had to paint in the awkward position of being stretched out
on his back with his arms up in the air. To emulate Michelangelo’s process, students taped
paper on the underside of tables and then painted their own creations. Many of them had
paint running down their arms or spatting on them. It truly took a dedicated master to create the beautiful works
of art on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The NMCES students are pictured painting in the manner of
Michelangelo.
Fifth Graders Visit Middle School
Parent and Community Input Needed Mitchell County Schools are reviewing and revising our System Level Title I Parent Involvement Plan, Equity Plan, and CLIP (Consolidated
Local Implementation Plan - NCLB Descriptors and Implementation Plans) and our school level plans will also be available for review and
input: School/Parent Compacts, Schoolwide Plans and School Improvement Plans. For the dates and times for the review, please contact
Federal Programs Coordinator, Vickie Smith, at 229-336-2156 ext. 1003 or [email protected].
Page 6 June 2015
MITCHELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Air Force Junior ROTC Wins
Distinguished Unit Award for 2015 Unit GA-946 at Mitchell County High School has been selected as one of 278 units to receive the
2014-2015 Air Force JROTC Distinguished Unit Award. This award recognizes Air Force
JROTC units that have performed above and beyond normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to
their school and community while meeting the Air Force JROTC mission of producing better citizens for America. The objectives of the JROTC
program are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills; promote community service; instill responsibility, character, and
self-discipline through character education, and to provide instruction in air and space fundamentals. Enrollment is open to all young people
who are in the 9th grade or higher and are citizens of the United States. Air Force JROTC is located in 889 high schools across the United States
and at selected schools in Europe, in the Pacific, and in Puerto Rico. JROTC enrollment includes more than 120,000 cadets. Unit GA-946 is
comprised of more than 150 cadets led by Cadet Colonel Ronnie Saxon, Cadet Commander, senior and fourth-year cadet. Flight Commanders
are Teryetta Chester, Aaliyah Parson, Jewana Jackson, Charlie Brown, Ashley Potts and Tyrique Emanuel. GA-946 has previously received
Distinguished Unit honors in 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 in addition to Outstanding Organization accolades in 2012.
MCSS Retiree and
Teacher of the
Year Banquet The banquet was held on May 21,
2015, in the MCHS cafeteria. The
music for the meal was provided by
the SMCES Choir (below). The
retirees were recognized by their principals and given a plaque. Also, the
Teachers of the Year from each
school were recognized and
presented with a gift. The
MCSS Teacher of the Year, Ms.
Veronica Reddick, spoke to the
audience. Ms. Christy Wray
recognized the sponsors for the
event and thanked the
Reception Committee for doing
an outstanding job. Mr. Vic
Hill, MCSS Superintendent,
gave the closing remarks.
Special Thank You
to the JROTC Cadets for
providing the ushers at the
MCHS Graduation. The
cadets did an outstanding
job.
MCMS 8th Graders Tour MCHS On May 18, the Mitchell County Middle School 8th graders took a tour of Mitchell County
High School. They were met in the theater where Counselor Lori Brinkley, CTAE Supervisor
Roney Conine, Coach L. Cornelius, and Freshman Academy leader Ossie Canidate talked with
them about what to expect when they enter 9th grade and what would be required of them.
After the meeting, the students toured the Career, Technical and Agriculture Education
classrooms to see the various programs offered at Mitchell County High School.
Page 7 June 2015
Page 8 June 2015
Family Math Night” By: J. Mullins
Family Math Night was filled with fun, engaging activities that the students
and parents had to think about and make sense of numbers. These activities
gave different ways to show how something fun can be concept building and
educational. On January 15, 2015, the faculty, staff, and students at North
Mitchell County Elementary School celebrated our annual Family Math
Night. The parents were greeted as they made their way through the doors.
The night included a variety of stations: estimating jars full of goodies, large
“Scrabble Boards” used to sign-in parents and students, hands-on math
activities at each grade level, computer station that used various websites
which incorporated CCGPS standards, a scavenger hunt, and much more.
The parents and children had and enjoyable night of knowledge,
nourishment, and lots of excitement.
Last Event of the Year for the
MCHS Eagle News Production Team The Eagle News crew were very busy filming the MCHS Honors Banquet on
May 28 and then MCHS Graduation on May 29. Media Specialist Jennifer
Tucker and Business teachers Ruth Lee and Leigh Twitty, along with Mr.
Beau Sherman, CNS Educational Coordinator, worked with the students to broadcast the
events live on the local CNS TV station and also to stream it live at mycns.tv. Also shown at both events
were videos (Senior Video, Memory Video, and Senior Superlatives) created by advanced Business
students Raymond Singleton, Leonor Davalos, Dianna Redding, Sean Clark, Blanca Lopez and Victor
Johnson. The camera operators for both nights were Camryn McGregor, Aaliyah Parson, and Michael
Williams and Emily Rossitter was the photographer. The advisors would like to thank senior graduate
Victor Johnson (right) for his dedication and leadership during the last three years Starting in the 10th
grade operating the camcorder, Victor worked his way up to where he was the producer for events. Victor, you will truly be
missed. Victor
Michael
Camryn
Emily
Aaliyah
Congratulations to MCHS Students who
received their CNA certification.