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Education

Local teacher attends 2008 Teachers Conservation Workshop

Teacher paddles up creek
Nell Owens enjoys her canoe trip on Bear Creek.

School is out, but Teachers Conservation Workshop (TCW) invited teachers to keep learning in the outdoor classroom this summer. Northeast Community College in Booneville hosted the second session of TCW June 15-20 and an identical session was offered at Jones Junior College in Ellisville, June 1-6.

Nell Owens, science teacher at Holy Family School from 2007-2008, attended session two in Booneville. She was sponsored by the Marshall County Forestry Association and attended the July Board meeting to report on her trip and experiences.

Owens thanked the board for sponsoring her trip. Included in the week’s activities was a trip to Ayres Tree Farm where participants learned about pine management, hardwood management, wildlife management, soils, and forest measurement and evaluation.

On another day there was a trip to Crows Neck Learning Resource Center where they saw a presentation on rocks and minerals. Other field trips included a trip to Hankins Sawmill, Kingsford Charcoal Plant in Corinth, and to the Kossuth Environmental Center.

Owens stated that she learned how to test water quality and identify different species in the water. She also learned paper making and how to press leaves, how to identify trees, how to cruise timber and make timber bids.

“My favorite experience was the scenic canoe ride on Bear Creek at Tishomingo State Park,” stated Owens. “That was my first time ever to canoe.”

Teachers Conservation Workshop is a week’s worth of activities designed to equip teachers with resources for any subject area using information from Mississippi’s natural resources, according to Butch Bailey, chair, Mississippi Forestry Association’s TCW Committee and an extension forester for MSU. “Our goal is to educate teachers on the importance of forestry in Mississippi and that we are the conservationists.

“While giving them tools for their classroom, we show them how Mississippi practices forestry in a sound way to make sure future generations have healthy forests.”

TCW is a practical, hands-on conservation workshop that emphasizes forests and other natural resources. The latest information on conservation is presented in the classroom and in numerous field trips, including industry visits, nature walks, harvesting operations, and management practices. Teachers learn through innovative activities how current conservation practices can be integrated into classroom work and student projects.

Teachers are also exposed to details about the care of Mississippi forests by private landowners, business and industry. TCW sponsors communicate about sustainable forestry practices which are methods by the forestry community that ensure healthy forests now and for the future. TCW qualifies for approximately four continuing education units and may also be used for graduate and undergraduate credit through Mississippi State University, University of Southern Mississippi and University of Mississippi. In addition, participants will be certified to use teaching materials of the nationally acclaimed, award-winning environmental education curriculum Project Learning Tree.

TCW is sponsored by Mississippi Forestry Association (MFA), a private, non-profit association that represents landowners, forest products manufacturers, professional foresters, and others. MFA partners with Mississippi State Extension Service and Mississippi Forestry Commission to successfully execute the Teachers Conservation Workshop. Corporate sponsors include Lumbermen’s Club, Lumbermen Educational Foundation, Packaging Corporation of America, Tishomingo County Forestry Association, Norbord, and Weyerhaeuser Company.

Marshall student participates in Harding Honors Symposium

Emma Burleson

Emma Burleson of Holly Springs is getting a head start on her first year of college. Burleson, who will be a high school senior this fall at Marshall Academy, earned three hours of university credit this summer by participating in Harding University’s Honors Symposium, a challenging two-week academic program.

While instructors, themes and activities have differed since the program began in 1992, the original aim remains rooted in a learning method made popular by the ancient Greek scholars. “We wanted to have a quality university course taught in the form of a symposium, which is lots of teachers gathered around the academic table offering their comments on a topic,” explains Dr. Jeffrey T. Hopper, dean of the Honors College and International Programs and director of the Honors Symposium.

Professors participate from disciplines such as communication, history, music, political science and Bible and religion. Topics of discussion have included the Dark Ages, the U.S. Constitution and stem cell research.

Students engage in community service projects, enjoy recreational activities, and invariably form lasting friendships with other junior scholars. Three hours of transferable university credit are awarded to all who successfully complete the symposium, the content of which is designed to appeal to students of both the humanities and the sciences.

Admission to the symposium is treated on an individual basis, with special consideration given to grade point average, a score from a nationally standardized test (ACT, SAT, PSAT, PACT, etc.) and a reference letter.

Since its inception, nearly 1,900 students have participated. In the previous five years, students from more than 40 states and six foreign countries have attended.

Emma is the daughter of Barry and Pam Burleson of Holly Springs.

Outstanding achievements for ’07-’08

Alasha Shead-Stewart was a student at Holly Springs Intermediate School and was on the Superintendent’s List during the last nine weeks. During the year she participated in several clubs. She was on the student council and also was inducted into the Beta Club in 2007.

Ms. Brentley, Alasha’s science teacher, honored her with a nomination to be featured in the Who’s Who All-American Scholars Yearbook for 2007-2008.

This year Alasha participated in the Best Men Best Friend Club. She and other students traveled to New York, NY. They visited the Apollo Theater, The Bronx Zoo, The Today Show, and many other exciting attractions.

Alasha would like to thank all of the following sponsors who may have purchased products from fund-raisers or who made donations, lending their support in making her trip possible; the Shead family, the Stewart family, the Lay family, and the associates at Thomas and Betts (both the Byhalia and Memphis locations). Special thanks to her maternal grandparents, Thomas and Earline Shead and her paternal grandparents Don and Corria Stewart.

She is the daughter of Sylvia and Michael Lay, and Alejandro Stewart.

Children’s book published
Dawn Story of Byhalia recently won first place in a writing contest for her children’s story, “Prisoner of Filmore Street.” Her story was published into book form and can be purchased through Amazon.com or by emailing Dawn at prisoneroffilmorestreet@yahoo.com.

ICS Head Start sets registration for Aug. 11-13

Registration for ICS Head Start will be held on Monday, August 11, through Wednesday, August 13, at Head Start Centers from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, and until 2 p.m on Wednesday for returning and newly selected children.

Please arrive no later than 5 p.m. to allow time to complete required forms. Be prepared to stay. It takes at least 30 minutes or more to complete required registration forms. Your child should not be present for registration. Bring the following items to registration unless already submitted.

1. Copy of certified birth certificate for staff to review.

2. Original Immunization Form #121 from your local MS Health Dept.

3. Proof of yearly family income.

4. Head of household’s Social Security card - optional.

5. Child’s Social Security card - optional.

6. Proof of health and dental insurance, Medicaid or CHIP.

7. Child’s doctor and dentist - names, addresses and phone numbers.

8. Medical and dental exams and treatments completed during the summer.

9. Names, addresses, and phone numbers of two emergency contact persons.

10. Parents’ work place name and its physical address and phone number.

ICS Head Start classes will begin on Monday, August 18. Your child cannot attend classes until required paperwork is complete and necessary documents submitted. Do not try to send a child without registration paperwork on buses.

If you forgot to apply this spring for your pre-school age child, on-site application completion is available for children with birthdays typically from 09-02-03 through 09-01-04 having one year prior to kindergarten beginning the second day of registration, but parents with selected children will be seen first.

Children with diagnosed disabilities are encouraged to apply, and may even apply with three years prior to kindergarten on their third birthday. Children enrolled in the ICS Early Head Start Program may also apply for Head Start when the child reaches three years old.

Appointments may be made for children with birthdays 09-02-04 through 09-01-05 who have two years prior to kindergarten for the following work week.

At this time Tunica, Tallahatchie, Quitman and parts of Marshall and Panola counties do not have many children on their waiting lists.

Some blended partner programs with licensed daycare businesses still have openings in Lowndes County. If your child is participating in a blended partnership program with ICS, the local daycare or public Pre-K will announce registration dates and times. Above paperwork will be needed.

ICS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin or disability.

ICS is an equal opportunity employer.

Notice to the class of 1979

The Holly Springs High School Class of 1979 will be meeting on Sunday, August 31, at the Pizza Hut in Holly Springs to make plans for its 30th class reunion activities. All classmates are asked to attend to discuss business of importance. For all questions or concerns, you may call Mae R. Nunnally-Gill at 662-252-1247.

Police give back-to-school tips

Chief Robert Pearson with the Holly Springs Police Department issued some simple tips for parents on how to get your child ready for the first day of school.

If the first day has already passed, these tips will be useful for all time after the first day.

Children should know their contact information, Pearson said. A school child should be able to recite their home address, phone number including area code, and parent’s work numbers, he said. Go over this information out loud until the child can repeat it back to you without any mistakes. The student should know how to use 911 in any emergency.

Students should be taught to know the difference between strangers and trustworthy adults such as police officers and teachers, he said.

The child should memorize and recognize their school bus number so they can identify which bus to get on in the morning and at the end of the school day. Children should ride the bus the first day of school, Pearson said, so they learn the bus routine immediately.

A child’s sleep schedule should have been adjusted about a week before school begins. To adjust the sleep schedule gradually, put the child to bed 15 minutes earlier each night and wake them earlier in the morning so they will be able to get ready for school easily.

Preparing for school at night before the child goes to bed is another helpful way to assure the child is ready for the bus or their ride or walk to school, he said. Have the child lay out their clothes with you and all items they need to carry to school so the child will not be rushed in the morning or late for the trip to school.

After-school activities should be planned by the child and parent. Parents and children should agree on the after-school routine, whether the child will be coming home, going to a caregiver or participating in an after-school activity. If the child will be home alone after school, the child should be instructed to call the parent at work as soon as they arrive at the house.

“Make sure your child knows to ask permission before doing anything other than your agreed-upon after-school routine,” Pearson said. “If the child wants to go to visit at a friend’s house, for instance, the child should contact their parent after school by phone for permission so the parent knows where the student will be and can be reached.”

In police department activities last week, officers made the following arrests or citations – driving while license suspended (two); no driver’s license/expired license (one); no proof of insurance (three); simple assault-domestic violence (three); simple assault (one); disorderly conduct (one); resisting arrest (one); possession of a controlled substance (one); telephone harassment (one); and false pretense (2).

Pearson asks anyone who has information regarding any crime committed in the Holly Springs/Marshall County area to call police at 662-252-2122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-729-2169. Callers do not have to give their names. The caller who provides a tip may be entitled to a reward of up to $1,000.

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