Newspaper Page Text
September 17, 2008
PAGE 7C
"Reporter
Mary Persons High School
Tornado scare tests students
By Chelsea Wessells
“Students will remember,
‘the Day of the Tornado’ for
a long time,” says MP sen
ior, Chelsea Daniels. On
Aug. 26 a tornado was
sighted just miles from the
Mary Persons’ campus.
According to students, this
day was moving along as
always, when suddenly
they were told to get into
the hall immediately and
to “assume the position.”
This time, there was no
playing around. Students
instinctively knew by the
expressions on the teach
ers’ faces that this was not
a drill. This situation held
real potential for danger.
Usually students are a
little slow to react and can
be somewhat loud during
extreme weather drills.
Not this time. Teachers
reported that students
behaved like young adults
and acted according to
instructions. This type of
cooperation and coordina
tion between the adminis
tration, faculty, staff, and
students is essential to
maintaining safety.
Students are to be com
mended on their exemplary
behavior.
Teacher spotlight: Mr. Simmons
By Ashleigh Reynolds
and JacQuetta Stephens
What does it take to be a real
teacher? It takes commitment,
dedication, and hard work. MP
economics teacher Chuck Simmons
epitomizes these characteristics.
He begins his day meeting with
parents and students even before
the school bell rings. Most of his
planning period and much of his time
after school is spent working with stu
dents who need his attention.
“I enjoy the interaction with the stu
dents. I love the look in their eyes
when they get it,” says Simmons.
Students who have Mr. Simmons
really do understand the concepts
he teaches.Many say they under
stand because his outgoing per
sonality makes it easy for them to
seek his help.
While teaching takes much of
his time at Mary Persons, Mr.
Simmons also coaches the junior varsity
Volleydogs and is in charge of the student
support team for MPHS.
Simmons
Neal and Stevick to
lead freshman class
By Devon Bezold and
Chelsea Daniel
Kalo Neal was recently
elected to serve as fresh
man class president. Neal
plans to make a few social
changes throughout his
class. He wants people to
accept the differences of
their classmates and come
together to be the best
class at MP. Neal also
encourages teamwork and
unity within the classes in
order to see to it that
everyone graduates on
time.
Working with Neal is
freshman vice-president
Andrew Stevick. Both have
been receiving and consid
ering ideas suggested by
their classmates, such as a
freshman dance, drink
machines for the campus,
and special privileges
allowed on Fridays.
"A lot of football players
have been talking about
having to tuck their jerseys
in, I hope we can get an
‘untucked Friday’
approved,” said Neal. “Or
maybe for the students
with Bs and higher aver
ages. Perhaps, ‘untucked
Friday’ could be a reward
for good attendance."
Submit photos for
yearbook online
The MP yearbook staff
invites students and
parents to submit photos
for the 2008-09 yearbook
online at
images.jostens.com.
Login ID: 1177504
Password: mphs09
The yearbook will be in
full color for he first
time.
Baby ads on sale
Senior salutations,
commonly called “baby
ads” for the yearbook,
are now on sale. Full
page $250; half page
$135 and quarter-page
$75. Contact Ms. Hogan.
Real style comes from within
By Mishondred Oliver
and JacQuetta
Stephens
Tired of the same old,
same thing hanging in
your closet? Tired of look
ing just like you did last
year? Break out by wear
ing this year’s styles and
trends. It may be close to
fall but students at Mary
Persons are wearing
brighter colors. Name
brands such as
Aeropostale, Polo,
American Eagle, Baby
Phat, and Charlotte Russe
are "the thing" among
many students. Even
handbags and jewelry are
important. Coach, along
with Dooney & Burke, are
among the hottest trends.
However, you really don’t
have to have the most
expensive bag, just one
that stands out. Style is
not just about what is
hanging in your closet or
name brands. Style is
intrinsic. The person,
"makes the dress" not the
other way around. You
have heard your parents
say it a hundred times -
it’s what’s on the inside
that counts. Although we
hate to admit when our
parents are right, it’s
true. You don’t have to
have fancy clothes to
stand out or to be liked.
Most people in high school
are not that shallow.
So stop hating your
wardrobe and enjoy your
own individual fashion.
Your personality creates
more style than any dress,
pair of shoes, or handbag
ever could.
Ooh-la-la! Students plan trip to Europe
By Chelsea Wessells
This year’s spring break educational
tour consists of a visit to Paris, Florence,
and Venice! Students, teachers, and par
ents will participate in an event of a life
time. The trip begins April 3, 2009.
Participants will land in Milan, the fash
ion capital of the world. During this ten
day excursion, each and every hour will
be filled with beautiful art, exciting jour
neys, and endless opportunities.
When asked what should be the most
interesting thing to see in Paris, sopho
more Kirsti Slaughter says she can’t
make a decision like that. There is no
one thing. She wants to see and experi
ence it all.
Some of the special attractions planned
during the visit include: Doge’s Palace,
Pisa Cathedral, the Perfume Factory,
Notre Dame Cathedral, Romeo and
Juliet’s Verona, the French Riviera, an
optional trip to Versailles, and of course,
the City of Lights. Everyone will enjoy a
stay in a hotel with a private bathroom
and a European breakfast.
Spanish teacher Kristy Slaughter is
charge of this completely incredible trip.
See Mrs. Slaughter if you too want to
experience this event of a lifetime.
Monroe County Achievement Center
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MCAC principal Rayceen King (center), with teachers Matt Weldon, Randall Bigham,
Joel Smith, Margie Campbell and James Waite.
MCAC spreads the news
Monroe County
Achievement Center
(MCAC) is fast-becoming
a model alternative school
around the state of
Georgia, and this can best
be exemplified by the
numbers of school sys
tems inquiring about
MCAC and its spate of
successes.
On Aug. 7 MCAC teach
ers visited Upson-Lee
Alternative Education
Program to impart some
knowledge of the
Odysseyware computer
program, a program used
by MCAC since the begin
ning of the 2007-2008
school term. Led by sci
ence teacher, Matt
Weldon, MCAC presented
the program to the
Thomaston faculty, and
gave a synopsis of the
inner workings of the pro
gram.
Weldon also made a
recent trip to the Pinevale
Learning Center (PLC) of
Valdosta, Georgia to make
another presentation on
the Odysseyware pro
gram. PLC is in its first
year with the
Odysseyware program
and wanted to learn from
the best, as it is, MCAC.
Weldon, a very capable
presenter, shared the
experiences of MCAC
teachers with the revolu
tionary software, “It is
apparent to me that the
faculty at Pinevale is
wholeheartedly committed
to the education of their
students and with
Odysseyware as an
instructional tool, they
have a worthy ally,” said
Weldon. Additionally, he
shared resources compiled
by MCAC teachers and
made himself available
for questions.
FM1 graduation tests started Monday
Students began their first round of
graduation testing on Sept. 15. Students
will take the Georgia High School
Graduation Test (GHSGT) from Sept. 15
to Sept. 21. All major subject areas will
be tested. With assistance from the
teachers, MCAC students are hard at
work to pass these very important
exams.
In the event a particular portion of the
test is not passed, students will be
allowed to retake that part of the test at
a later date. Students are required to
pass all portions of the test in order to
fulfill graduation requirements.
MCAC
welcomes
new teacher
Monroe County
Achievement Center wel
comes first-year teacher,
Randall Bigham, who
comes to the Achievement
Center after more than 18
years with Fort Valley
State University in various
administrative roles, as
well as self-employment as
a restauranteur. Bigham
will take over the duties of
math instructor from
Ronnie Shipman, who
departed the Achievement
Center after six years to
take a similar position at
Banks Stephens.
Bigham is excited about
the career change and this
opportunity to "touch
young people".'! have
always enjoyed working
with young people and did
so for 18 years at Fort
Valley. While my last
career was fulfilling, I do
believe this job will be
even more fulfilling than
the previous one, in that it
gives me the opportunity
to be more hands on with
the students and hopefully
influence them in a posi
tive way."
Randall Bigham
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