Hometown Rankin - December 2015 & January 2016

een an intimidating presence at the games this year, and the
team is feeling the love, reeling with an exciting 9-1 record.
The city limits may advertise small-town soreheads, but
students and community partners are working together to change
the world from the inside out.
Park Place
Lori Clendinning, PPCA Librarian
PPCA announces first-ever National Merit semifinalist
Matthew Wise, a senior at Park Place Christian Academy (PPCA)
in Pearl, Miss., was among those announced as a semifinalist in
the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. Out of a pool of
about 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools, the
prestigious honor of being selected as a National Merit Semifinalist
is limited to approximately 16,000 students in the United States.
The selection proclaims Matthew to be an individual student
who shows exceptional academic ability and potential for success
in rigorous college studies. He will have the opportunity to
compete for one of the 7,400 National Merit Scholarship awards
worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.
Matthew is the son of Michael and Susan Wise. He is a member
of Park Place Baptist Church in Pearl, Miss., where he is active in
the youth group, helps with mission-focused activities, and assists
with media ministry and worship, handling camera and sound
equipment duties. An avid reader, Matthew is a member of PPCA’s
National Honor Society, Beta Club, and Book Club, as well as the
cross-country and tennis teams at PPCA, where he has attended
since three-year-old kindergarten. Matthew has served in student
government, helped begin the school’s Robotics Club, and
supervises the student team responsible for hoisting the PPCA
flag every morning. As a junior, Matthew placed first in the MAIS
District Science Fair and was awarded second place in the MAIS
State Science Fair. Always willing to help out faculty, staff, and
fellow students at PPCA, Matthew is currently considering
pursuing a degree in aeronautical engineering at Mississippi State
University.
“We are especially proud of Matthew,” said Ted Poore, PPCA
Head of School. “He is a fine young man who has worked diligently
and we are pleased that he is our school’s first-ever National Merit
Scholar semifinalist. We are praying for him as he continues to
pursue the very best that God has for him.”
Richland
Richland Upper Elementary, a third through sixth grade school,
is excited to have introduced a new program this year entitled,
“Parent Parties”. This initiative works to promote parent education
and parental involvement in our schools and community. The
faculty at RUES believes parents are one of the greatest resources
we have, and feel these parties are an excellent way to increase our
parent participation and celebrate the diversity of our community.
The faculty wants our school to be an inviting place for parents to
feel welcome and to participate in the educational journey of
their children.
Informational flyers were sent home with all students to
encourage parents to attend the initial organizational meeting.
Interested parents met with faculty members in September and
began planning the various events. RUES parents have been
instrumental in the planning and implementation of the monthly
parties that will alternate between day and evening events in
order to accommodate parent schedules.
October’s topic focused on our school’s literacy initiative with
“A Story and a Snack”. Each homeroom class invited parents to
read from various genres while enjoying delicious snacks sent by
other parents who could not attend, but wanted to participate.
November’s topic will emphasize family fitness by hosting a
two-day event at the Richland High School old gymnasium
entitled “Zumba Fitness Night”. Various activities are planned
Hometown Rankin • 105