Thursday, October 11, 2012
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery
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Thursday, October 11, 2012 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery |
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OpinionFielder’s Choice Weekend trip to USM Pam, Erin and I took another of our whirlwind trips over the weekend. It was the weekend set aside to visit Emma and Andy in Hattiesburg at the University of Southern Mississippi. Close to Nowhere More chicken stuff OK, I might be obsessed about chickens. But I’ve always loved chickens since my Aunt Myrl’s rooster used to chase me and peck at my heels. Never did understand why he objected to me coming out the back door. He liked me just fine if I came out the front door of Aunt Myrl’s house. The Preacher’s Corner Americans struggle for balance between big and small I saw a TV commercial a night or two ago for the brand of paint my daddy sold in his hardware store. I think it was the very first time I had ever seen any TV advertising for this paint. Daddy always said it was one of the better paints, and perhaps they didn’t feel they needed to advertise. But he could have used the corporate support. Letters to The Editor Power of parents When we attend PTA/PTO meetings, sometimes we wonder if there are only nine parents at the school. We look around each meeting and see the same parents who usually include the officers and a few other parents of gifted students. I no longer teach, but I still have a vested interest in the school system and the education of each child. I know from past and present experience, students who have both Mom and Dad engaged in their education perform at a much higher rate than other students. The children of moms and dads who take an interest in homework and visit the school enjoy a greater success rate. The bigger question is why aren’t there more parents involved in the achievement of their children? Are schools encouraging parents to take a greater role in their child’s education? Why is it so difficult for parents to navigate through the school? I believe most, if not all, schools make a special effort to welcome moms and dads. They send notes home, plan events and activities that involve the child, call parents, and use the local media to encourage parental support. We’ve made strides in this area, but for some reason, we are not reaching the parents. Yes, we have many parent engagement plans on the books, but are they specific enough, clear and workable, and do they address the needs of the parents? As school districts look at their parent engagement plans for the 2012-2013 school year, I encourage each district to develop plans that will impact and reach parents who otherwise would not be engaged in their child’s education. We know that not every parent will respond; however, we must continue to reach out and believe that in the end, the child will benefit. After all, the student comes first. Fergenia H. Hood New chapter in life Holly Springs is a rich, authentic and eclectic town with so much to offer. Someone once referred to it as a beautiful woman who needed a little rouge, and they were right. It truly is a hidden treasure of not only Mississippi, but the South as well. Serving as the Holly Springs Tourism Director for the last five and a half years has been, beyond measure, one of the greatest experiences of my life. I am so proud of the work we have done here. It has been an amazing ride. We redesigned the Tourism website, not once but twice; we ran successful social media campaigns and used them to make this hidden gem not as hidden as it once was; we supported amazing events like the Pilgrimage, the Christmas Home Tour, the Wrecking Ball, and the Hummingbird Migration Celebration; we put up beautiful murals downtown (which will be put back up soon); and we even won “Small Tourism Bureau of the Year” three times. I received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a Promotion of the Arts recognition from the Main Street Association, and this year was named one of the “Top 40 Under 40” tourism professionals by the Southeast Tourism Society. None of these efforts, nor the recognitions that came with them, would have been possible without the help of a diligent board and the steadfast support of so many wonderful residents and champions of Holly Springs. It has been a journey where I have grown both personally and professionally, and I have no doubt that my experiences in Holly Springs will help me in my newest endeavor... mom. It is with a very heavy heart that I leave the Tourism Bureau to begin the next chapter in my life as full-time mom and CEO of a growing household. Although I will be farther away, part of me will stay with Holly Springs and I know I will always be a champion for this uniquely Southern place. Thank you everyone, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your help and support these last five and a half years. Sincerely, |
    
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