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The ADVANCE, May 24, 2023/Page 14A
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Bullpups Learn About Forensics and Journalism
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MOCK PRESS CONFERENCE - Students participated in a
mock press conference, during which they interviewed
witnesses Thomas Mercer (not pictured) and Walter
Wright (right) and Captain Jordan Kight (left) about the
"new discovery" in the case. Teacher Kristi Cain com
mented that this activity was her personal favorite, as
the witnesses brought the discovery to life for the stu
dents.
their achievement in “sur
viving” a 7th grade class.
Recipients of these
awards were as follows:
“Sherlock Holmes Award”
- Kaleb Clements; “Stump
the Expert Award” - Geor
gia Lumley; “Journalism
Award” - Alona Wright,
Serenity Emerick, Lilli-
ana Thigpen, Eliza Flow
ers; “Leadership Award” -
Lane Morris; “Overthinker
Award” - Ian Barton, and
“Survivor Award” - Captain
Jordan Kight.
The teacher who over
saw the unit reflected on the
event. “This project showed
how much the Toombs
County community loves
their students,” teacher
Kristi Cain emphasized.
“Middle School is a chal
lenging time in a young per
son’s life, and writing is not
always their favorite activ
ity. I believe it is important
that students see how many
different roles there are in
a community and create an
experience where we can
join this with writing.”
She continued, “It was
amazing to see this journey
combine critical thinking
and real life experiences to
make education more en
joyable. The students went
beyond our expectations
with their finished newspa
pers. I could not be more
proud of them! I am also
humbled by all the adults
who went out of their way
to make sure they could be a
part of the journey through
journalism. The invaluable
experience each individual
brought to the students to
challenge and teach them
was incredible to witness.
There was a great deal hap
pening behind the scenes.
I hope this will be a great
memory for our students.”
Photo by Alysa Marsicano
HONORING VETERANS AT CITY HALL - Not only has the
City of Lyons honored local veterans in the community
through the display of a Veterans' Tree in the building,
but the City has also provided a special "Veterans Park
ing Space" in the facility's parking lot. Here, City of Lyons
Associate Ryan Brack - an Army veteran who fought in
combat in Iraq - stands next to the newly-installed sig
nage designating the space.
By Makaylee Randolph
Staff Writer
mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
Two classes of Toombs
County middle schoolers
(Bullpups per the school
mascot) gained hands-on
experience on forensics, the
process which crimes are
processed and solved, and
reporting the news during a
two-week project that unit
ed teachers and community
members.
Kristi Cain and
Marshia Pierce’s class of 7th
grades ended their school
year with an exciting unit,
which focused on how fo
rensic cases were studied,
investigated, and reported.
The idea for the unit first
arose after The Advance
Staff Writer Makaylee Ran
dolph visited the class to
speak on journalism earlier
in the semester.
“Ms. Randolph told
the students and me that
she enjoyed her job, and
that the forensics side of
reporting really interested
her,” Cain explained. “From
thereon, the idea grew to al
low students to explore this
aspect of journalism after
the annual milestone stan
dardized testing.”
To begin the unit, stu
dents read and studied an
article that reported a his
toric, unsolved murder of
a woman in the early 20th
Century. The article pro
vided by Lyons Main Street
Executive Director Daphne
PARKING
FORENSICS & JOURNALISM - Kristi Cain and Marshia Pierce's 7th grade classes gained
hands-on experience in the world of forensics and journalism, as they worked to craft
an article on a fictional new discovery in a historic local cold case. Students shown
here were presented awards by Captain Kight and Makaylee Randolph for their ex
cellence throughout the project, Front row, L to R: Kaleb Clements, Ian Bartow, Alona
Wright, Lilliana Thigpen, Captain Kight, Back Row, L to R: Randolph, Georgia Lumley,
Serenity Emerick. Not pictured: Lane Morris, Eliza Flowers,
Walker served as the basis
of the project, as the stu
dents reported on a fictional
discovery of new evidence
in the cold case as the con
clusion of the unit.
During the two weeks
of lessons, several commu
nity members visited the
class to speak on various
forensic, law, and writing-
related topics. First, Author
Larry Griggers came to
speak on his new book, The
Baby Overland, which de
tails another historic mur
der in the area. He spoke to
students about the research
and writing processes of fo
rensic cases. The next day,
Toombs County Sheriff’s
Office Investigations Cap
tain Jordan Kight visited
the class to give a presenta
tion about the investigation
process. Former Toombs
County Chief Magistrate
Judge Rizza O’Connor ad
dressed the class the fol
lowing day about witness
testimonies and how to de
termine the legitimacy of
each perspective.
The first week of the
unit closed out with excite
ment, as Captain Kight
and Randolph held a mock
press conference about the
simulated evidence dis
covery. During this time,
Toombs County Middle
School Principal Thomas
Mercer and teacher Walter
Wright acted as witnesses
to the discovery, providing
students with conflicting
accounts of the event. The
students were required to
process the conflicting ac
counts through methods
that O’Connor had taught
them. Students asked ques
tions regarding the discov
ery and gained information
to use as they crafted an arti
cle about the new evidence.
Throughout the second
week of the unit, students
worked individually and in
groups to form a newslet
ter featuring this key ar
ticle. Randolph returned
throughout the writing pro
cess to provide tips and help
students throughout the en
deavor.
As the unit concluded
on Thursday, May 11, Cap
tain Kight and Randolph
returned to the class to pres
ent awards to students who
excelled in various aspects
of the project, and to enjoy
a time of fun and games
with the class. Among these
awards was the “Sherlock
Holmes Award” for excel
lence in questions during
the press conference, the
“Stump the Expert Award”
for the best question during
the press conference, the
“Journalism Award” for the
most well-written article,
the “Leadership Award,”
and the “Overthinker
Award” for questioning
details to ensure accurate
information was reported
throughout the project. A
“Survivor Award” was even
given to a community vol
unteer in the project for
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Q.
Sweet Onion Autism Support Group
Invites you to the First Annual
Bingo For Autism
Thursday, Tune 8 @ 6:00 P.M.
912 Nutrition - 2339 E. First St., Vidalia, GA
We have the first annual Bingo for Autism
fundraiser to benefit the Sweet Onion
Autism Support Group
For more information and donation for the
event, please contact
Patrick Bowers at 912-328-9739
Join the group “Sweet Onion Autism
Support Group” on Facebook for updates to
meeting time and details.
