December 14, 2011 - Grenada School District

Communicator, December 14, 2011, Page 3GCTC Craft Committee Dinner a Success!Advisory Committee Meets at Career Center...The Student Services Commmittee, one of several advisory committees assisting the Career& Technical Center, recently met as part of the annual Craft Committee dinner. Members are(left to right) Laura Barfield, Grenada High School representative, Sally Smith, CommunityRepresentative, Bonnie Brunt, Student Services Coordinator, Ida Givens, WIN Job CenterRepresentative, and Kaye Dorroh, Student Services Coordinator.By Kaye Dorrohand Bonnie BruntThe Grenada Career andTechnical Center (GCTC)hosted its annual Craft Committeedinner on November15, 2011, at the GCTC. Eachprogram instructor invitedbusiness and communityleaders to serve on an advisorycommittee that metbefore dinner to discuss ideasand recommendations relatedto the skilled profession beingtaught. The purpose ofthis partnership between theCareer and Technical trainingprograms and the businessand community leaders is toprovide a means for ongoingcollaboration, to insurethe relevance of instructionto business and industryneeds, and to promote publicawareness of the Career andTechnical programs beingoffered.After the advisory committeemeetings, the thirtyparticipants enjoyed adelicious dinner catered byCatfish Corner with dessertsfollowing the meal. MegNewcomb, Business andMarketing FundamentalsInstructor and coordinator ofthis function, asked Dr. CliffCraven, GCTC Director, toassist her in conducting thedrawing for the door prizes.Among the door prizes werean Adirondack chair madeand donated by the Buildingand Construction studentsand a bottle tree made anddonated by the Welding students.Other prizes furnishedby GCTC programs includeda Cajun turkey, a full bodymassage gift certificate, ajump drive storage device,t-shirts, and baskets.Dr. Craven expressedgratitude to all those who attendedthe dinner by stating,“This was by far the best turnout in the six years I havebeen here. I am extremelypleased with the amount ofsupport that our communitydisplayed tonight. It is agreat example of how ourcommunity, administration,teachers, staff, and studentspulling together can makea difference. This can onlypositively affect our studentsand center. Thank you all forattending and I look forwardto working with the leadershipof our community.”

Communicator, December 14, 2011, Page 4GMS Unit of StudyAddressesCurriculum StandardsCommunity Round TableCommittee formed...Dalton Brown, Rylee Payne, and Zakiriah Sizemore show some ofthe letters that were written to Joan Bauer, Haley Barbour, andSteven Spieldberg about their experience with the book Hope WasHere.By Pam BriscoeGMS Language Arts TeacherCan teens make a difference in anelection even if they are not registeredvoters? This is a question thatmany students at GMS can answer.If approached in the hallway, youmight be surprised to hear theresounding replies of, “Students forStoop,” or “Millstone for Mayor!”As part of an interesting unit, sixthgrade students in Pam Briscoe’sand Karma Simmons’ language artsand math classes had the opportunityto explore several subject areasand Curriculum Standards as theycompleted a unit of study basedupon the novel, Hope Was Here, byJoan Bauer.The main character, HopeYancey, was a young, hard-workingwaitress who spent her lifemoving from place to place withher adopted aunt. After moving to asmall town in Wisconsin, not onlydoes she find herself knee-deep in amayoral election filled with corruption,but also on a soul-searchingmission to find the father that shenever knew.Language arts was incorporatedinto the unit as students learnedhow to summarize a chapter of anovel by using what Mrs. Briscoecalls the 3/20 Strategy. After readinga chapter, students learned torecognize the three main ideas thatwere present in the chapter. Studentsthen pulled these three ideastogether by creating a 20-wordsummary. Students then recordedthese summaries in a personal, illustratedsummary journal. Classesalso held summary challenges on achapter-by-chapter basis to practicerevising and editing skills, with amethod called “Who Says It Best?”Students absolutely loved this partof summarizing, since competitionalways breeds success.Students also learned about toolsof persuasion as they campaignedfor their favorite candidate. Politicalsigns were displayed in the hallwaysand campaign buttons wereproudly emblazoned on t-shirts.Throughout the novel,students had the opportunityto have informal debates in theclassroom about which candidatedeserved to be elected and why.Debates are an important strategyto teach students to justify theirdecisions by providing text-basedevidence, a necessary skill tobe able to reach higher depth ofknowledge levels.As a culminating language artsactivity, Mrs. Briscoe utilized theRAFT Writing Strategy wherebystudents were given a choice towrite persuasive letters based uponrole, audience, format, and topic.Many students chose to write toJoan Bauer to persuade her to writea sequel or visit the classroom.Other students decided to writeto Steven Spielberg to persuadehim to make Hope Was Here intoa movie. Finally, many studentschose to write to Govenor HaleyBarbour to convince him to readand recommend Hope Was Here toother Mississippi politicians.Pam Briscoe states, “This isprobably the most exciting activityI have ever taught. I’ve triedto instill in the kids that in orderto be good at anything, writingincluded, you have to have passion.This activity has sparked interest,motivation, and finger-crossing.We hope to get a response from ouraudiences.”Math was injected into thestudy unit as students completeda chapter-by-chapter math journalthroughout the novel. Problemswere created that utilized objectivesfrom the pacing guides. Thestudents really enjoyed relatingeach problem to the characters andplot at that specific point in thestory.Students participated in a mockelection, whereby they had to electa candidate from the novel whomthey felt would best represent thepeople of the novel. After submittingvotes, students integrated mathinto the study unit by analyzingvoting percentages for eachcandidate.Exams Dec. 14, 15, & 16To increase communications between theGrenada School District and our community,GSD has established the Superintendent’sCommunity Round Table Committe. Thisgroup of area leaders will serve as liaisonsbetween the District and our county’s citizensto disseminate school information. Committeemembers include, (top photo, standing)Superintendent Dr. David Daigneault andREHABILITATION SERVICESOUTPATIENT GYM(seated left to right) Glenn DeHart, DebbieThomas, Sheila Ellis, and (bottom photo,standing left to right) Superintendent Dr.David Daigneault, Smiley Arrington, FrankBradford, and Kevin Horan, (seated left toright) Roger Givens, Laura Reid and Directorof School Management/Gifted Dr. BeckyTerry.Great rehabilitation ultimately results inpatient and physician satisfaction, bypromoting improved physical health andquality of life.As a facility that provides rehabilitation,GLMC strives to meet the needs of ourpatients and physicians on a daily basis.GLMC offers the following rehab services:OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OT) ...OT eases the transition from hospital to home by showing survivors new waysto perform activities of daily living, to make routine tasks simpler.PHYSICAL THERAPY (PT) ...PT provides examination and treatment of problems that affect peoples’ abilityto move and function.SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY (SLP) ...SLP professionals identify, evaluate and treat a wide range of speech,language and swallowing disorders.“Whatever the Rehabilitative Need ...GLMC has the right service for you!

Communicator, December 14, 2011, Page 6Grandparents Day At GESThe annual Christmasevent of GrandparentsDay at the GES Kidzeumwas held recently. GESstudents eagerly ledgrandparents through theKidzeum explaining thecustoms of Christmas inBrazil.Robert Stephenson and Robby StephensonCameron Six, Jenny Tretter,and Landon SixParticia Lott and Quanterio TaylorBrandy, Brandon, Hunter, and Nancy GossRuby Davis, Tamiyah Bailey, and Dye BaileyLanden Miller, Margaret Ward,and Bowyn MillerShernell Everett and Mersie WatkinsKaren Vance and Kayden AshmoreKumub Patel and Jay PatelCommunicator100%Funded byAdvertisersParent Meeting Involves Community....A Parent Summit Initiative was heldrecently at Taylor Hall to offer solutionsand suggestions to improveparental involvement with theirchildren. The Summitt, organizedby Director of School Improvement/Parent Coordinator Dr. Wanda Merritt,offered a variety of speakersdescribing different strategies andviewpoints of parental involvement.Speakers included (front left to right)LaTiffany Reed, Bishop Henry Crockett,Pastor Vera Goliday, Dr. WandaPittman Merritt, Dr. David Daigneault,(back left to right) Yolanda K.Jones, Taja Valentine and Dr. BettyeCalmese.

Communicator, December 14, 2011, Page 8GES Celebrates Christmas in BrazilBy Beth MuselwhiteKidzeum Director“Ola!” The Kidzeum’s “Christmas inBrazil” exhibit is underway! As studentsin grades K-3 board the USS Kidzeumto sail to South America, they receivea class passport to enter the country ofBrazil. As students gather in front of alarge world map with globes hangingabove their heads, they learn about directionsthat are used every day for travel.Students simulate how we experienceseasons of the year on our Earth, andlocate the continents and oceans of theworld. After the children sing a popularsong that reminds them about the fourmain directions, they enter the simulatedAmazon Rainforest.Binoculars and compasses are necessaryinstruments the children use as theywalk through the rainforest to locate variousanimals and plants. Creatures liketoucans, red-eyed tree frogs, monkeys, andeven jaguars can be spotted in the trees ofthe canopy layer and the vines that hang tothe forest floor. As students gather besidethe stucco and tile roofed Brazilian hut,they count to twelve in Portuguese. Thechildren play native Brazilian games, suchas Ball in the Cup and Ring on a Stick, anddiscover that items such as sugar, spices,medicine, rubber, and coffee are productsfrom the rainforest.For the second visit during this exhibit,students hear a Christmas story and enjoy aBrazilian slush made from fruits like pineappleand limes. The children learn thatsome of the fruits that we choose from thegrocery store are produced in the Brazilianrainforest. At the end of the visit, the childrenplay instruments such as castanets,rainsticks, and maracas to form a Brazilianband and perform a popular song to wisheveryone, “Feliz Natal”!Angel Tree Project(left to right) Students from Ceceila Granholm’s multi age K-1 classroom,Quinn Miller, Ethan West, Keirin Alberg, and Layla Spires, stand next to theBrazilian hut inside the Kidzeum’s Amazon Rainforest. Students are displayingseveral of the items they have enjoyed learning about in the Kidzeum’sChristmas in Brazil exhibit.1/2 PriceAppetizers, Milkshakes & Ice Cream*Select Appetizers from 2-4 Mon.- Fri.(Excludes BBQ Nachos)Family Night Every Tues.10% Off Ticket5pm-9pm(3 or more members)Packaging the angel tree gifts for delivery were several Continued Carerepresentatives and students, (left to right) Lacey Walker, Karen Blount,Miya Harris, Cayden Hall, Jazmen Everett, Linda Townes, Anna Hayward,and Meg Lorenson.By Sixth Grader Estella Johnson were sold for Halloween at the same priceas the turkeys. The pumpkins had almostPumpkins and turkeys have invaded the same amount of success as the turkeys.Grenada Middle School! The week before Mrs. Briscoe’s homeroom, Coach Robertson’sThanksgiving break all the classroomhomeroom, and Mrs. S. King’sdoors were plastered with paper turkeys! homeroom were all awarded a donut partyGMS is supporting the Angel Tree project, for their success during the pumpkina program that collects money to purchasecompetition.Christmas gifts for children in need. The project has been very successfulThis project’s goal is for every child, or this year with bunches of turkeys and“angel,”in Grenada School District to have pumpkins sold and many adopted angels.a Merry Christmas. The money for the None of this could have been possibleproject comes from paper pumpkin sales, without the help of so many individuals.paper turkey sales, donations, and individualWe would like to thank Mrs. Tawater, theangel adoptions. Each angel receives chairperson of the middle school divi-a gift of a thirty dollar value. Teachers, sion of the project for the past six years,classes, or individual students could Mrs. Fleetwood, the handler of paperworkNeed a Fun-Raiser?purchase the gifts themselves or turn in the and contact information, the students offunds to Mrs. Tawater to buy the children Grenada Middle School for their generousdonations, the teachers of GMS forEarn 15% of that night’s salestheir desired gifts. Paper turkeys weresold at a rate of twenty-five cents each instilling the importance of helping othersfor your group at Tacky Shack!and the homeroom with the most turkeys to their students, the women of ContinuedCall for details!purchased was awarded a pizza party. Care for their unbelievable donations forFor most of the week it appeared that the twenty children, the administrators andprize was already won, as Mrs. Tramel’s office staff at GMS for helping with theclass was ahead for several days with organization, the National Honor Society,hundreds of turkeys. In a surprise twist, Cindy Willis and the dedicated band directorsof Grenada School District, the Excelhowever, Coach Griffin’s class pulledahead on the last day of the competition to Group, and many others who helped maketie for the prize. All of the students in both this project such a success. Because of theMrs. Tramel’s class and Coach Griffin’s hard work of so many, 204 children willclass were thrilled to, not only win the receive Christmas gifts.party, but also to aid in such a wonderful We look forward to another great resultcause. Mrs. Tramel’s and Coach Griffin’s next year. It is important that we eachNext to the movie theater in Grenada!classes combined purchased over two remember that the true spirit of Christmasthousand turkeys.is not about receiving gifts, but the joy ofMon.-Thurs. 11-9 • Fri. & Sat. 11-10 • Call Ahead © 2011 Grenada Orders 294-1300 School District • Superintendent - Dr. David DaigneaultThis is not the first fundraiser for the helping others!Elementary Communications Coordinator - Robbie Buchanan • Secondary Communications Coordinator - Gail Daigneault • Reporter - Stephanie Raperwww.thetackyshack.com • fb Tacky Shack GrenadaAngel Tree this year. Earlier, pumpkins