Newspaper Page Text
Page B4
March 16, 2022
^Reporter
SPOTLIGHT ON
Monroe County Middle School
Thank you to Randi Martel, language arts teacher and journalism club advisor, for providing news from Monroe County Middle School. Email school-relat
ed news, including items for “Monroe in College,” to Diane Glidewell at news@mymcr.net.
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February Students of the Month
Monroe County Middle School’s February Students of the Month are: 6th grade, Sarny
Salas, Joriya Knight, Kinsley Foster, Janautica Shannon; 7th grade, Kennedy Mantle,
Elbe Taylor, Tyler Johnson, Olivia Fleckenstein; 8th grade, Marissa Clements, Cameron
Childs, Abigail Beasley, Elizabeth Bentzel, Kolisa Proctor, Payton Jackson.
Black History Museum makes history real
By Abigail Beasley
F or the month of
February, Monroe
County Middle
School went to
celebrate Black History
Month!
Only 40 Monroe County
Middle school students
were able to attend this
event. We chose who got
to attend by entering the
names and drawing ran
domly through a comput
er-generated system. Those
who were selected got the
honor of representing our
school at this event.
When we got there, we
were shocked at how much
information and history
there was and is. We saw
doctors, police officers,
military, plane captains,
and so much more. We
also saw those who had
fought for equality just in
Monroe County. It was so
overwhelming how much
was there in such little
time. We saw all of this
history and it was all just in
Monroe County!
Some of the visitors
who were also interested
in history walked around
and talked to some of us.
I had the honor to meet
this wonderful lady. She
was so kind and sweet and
told me about what life was
like for African Americans
before they had all their
rights. She talked to me
about her personal experi
ences and about some of
the things that were more
common to experience. It
truly was inspiring seeing
how much African Ameri
cans have been through
just to see them triumph in
the end.
We also learned about
how some schools in town
were founded and people
on the inside who made
a big difference. There
were a lot of news articles
about African Americans
who have gone above and
beyond. We saw the first
prom held in Monroe
County that was integrated
(Both African Americans
and Whites). Some of these
people are still with us to
day, those who work at the
museum have their own
histories and stories to tell.
I can say without a doubt
that visiting this museum
was definitely something
amazing to see. It was like
just being in their pres
ence made it so real and
so historic to see all the
hardships and troubles
African Americans went
through. I think my class
mates (myself included)
were definitely in awe of
everything that has been
accomplished. That mu
seum is definitely the place
to go. Thank you to those
who made that trip pos
sible. This really was truly
inspiring.
Music, food & photos make fun Valentine's Dance
By Ella Martin
Monroe County
Middle School
had two Valen
tines dances. The
6th grade dance
was Feb. 10 and
the 7th and 8th
grade dance
was Feb. 11. The
Valentines Dance
was so much fun.
There was a dance
floor, food, and a
photo area.
My friends
and I showed
up and got out
of the car, and I
was surprised to
see a red carpet.
There was a long
red carpet rolled
out leading up
to the entrance
and there was
a photographer
there who was
taking pictures of
the people at the
entrance.
We walked in and
immediately heard the
music. I thought the music
wouldn’t be that good, but
it was surprisingly very
good, and I knew most
of the songs. My friends
and I went into the dance
area and started goofing
around and dancing, and
then we went out to see
what food they were offer
ing. They had many good
options so we sat down
and ate for a while.
We went back to the
dance area and started
dancing again. Then, the
photo area was open so
we took a couple pictures.
They had some stands
with suckers so we each
took one and went to
get a drink. When it was
time to leave we all went
to the gym and sat on the
bleachers and waited to be
called. I had so much fun
at the Valentine’s dance, it
wasdeftnitely worth going.
Friends get together at Dance
By Hunter Dorn
The Valentine’s dance was our second
dance for 8th graders and the first for
7th graders. It was extremely fun and a
very good opportunity for me to meet
my friends. A lot of my friends don't have
any classes with me and the dance was a
chance to meet them. The dance had very
good chicken strips and cupcakes.
We had a lot of fun talking to each other
and the dance lasted very long. After it
ended, we sat on the bleachers in the gym
and were called to go to our cars. Overall,
the night was a very fun experience and
was our last Valentine's dance in middle
school.
If you like the shoes, wear them!
By Addison Devers
U sually, when I write articles I
write about important mo
ments or something that is
not necessarily silly. When I
thought about writing, I could not think
about anything other than my shoes.
My everyday outfit is blue jeans and
some type of band t-shirt paired with
Vans. I have a whole bunch of clothes I
have never worn, because they are not
necessarily in style. When it was time for
the dance, I was the only girl in my friend
group to wear a long dress.
My ELA teacher said to me, “Dare to
be different” so every day after that I have
followed that. Today, I wore one of my
favorite pairs of shoes. They are black
chunky heels with rhinestones on the
straps. I know they sound a little weird,
but they are the very best throwback to
the 90s shoes. When I got these shoes, I
saw them and thought they were so dif
ferent and unique. I wanted to wear them
instantly, but I was skeptical about what
people would think.
I don’t know why I chose to write about
my shoes, but I do know why I wore
them. I wore them because I like them,
and it does not matter what anybody else
thinks about them. I used to care about
what everyone else thought, and to some
extent I still do, but now I wear what I
want, and I feel so much better. If you let
loose and dare to be different, you will be
so much happier.
So I guess this article is not really about
shoes, but more about why I wore them.
If there is something you are holding
back from because of other peoples opin
ions, then you need to stop caring about
what they think. The happiness you will
gain will be worth it. What are you hold
ing back from?
Pictured are
MCMS Jr. Beta
Club Quiz Bowl
Team members
Grayson Bell-
win, Ben Morris,
Brayden McCroba
and Shriyan Patel
with Mary Persons
Academic Team
coaches Trey
Bernard and Jason
Williams. (Cour
tesy of Stephanie
Stephens, MCMS
teacher sponsor)
Jr. Beta Club Quiz Bowl Team qualifies
By Ben Morris
Monroe County Middle
School Jr. Beta Club went to
the GATA Middle School
Quiz Bowl Competition at
Chattahoochee High School.
Quiz Bowl is a trivia compe
tition, kind of like Jeopardy,
for teams of 4 or 5 students.
Our team competed for the
first time a few months ago
at the Jr. Beta State Conven
tion in Savannah. We got first
place, so we will be moving
on to nationals in the sum
mer.
Over the last month or so,
we have practiced with the
high school Quiz Bowl team
to help us prepare for nation
als. At our very first GATA
Quiz Bowl Competition, we
placed 5th out of 18 teams,
and got 5 wins and 2 losses in
our seven matches. We had a
blast, and we all can’t wait for
nationals this summer.
is worth the effort
FFA competition
By Autumn Smith
Monroe County Middle School
went to Pike County High School for
FFA Competition. I was participat
ing in a creed speaking event and had
worked very hard all week to prepare
for it. After school we all hopped on a
bus and headed over to the school.
We were one of the last teams there
so we had to wait a while till we could
compete. It was finally my turn so I
went into the room with the judges
and recited the creed and answered
some questions they asked me. I
was very nervous and anxious but I
managed to control myself and things
went fairly well.
After my turn was over we had
to wait for other students to finish
competing for our school in other
competitions and then they let out the
scores for creed speaking. I got 2nd
place and am moving on to area com
petition. It was a very exciting and
fun experience and I would gladly do
it again.
St. Patrick's Day began with the patron saint of Ireland
By Lydia Geer
Have you ever wondered how
St. Patrick’s Day started and
why? St. Patrick was an actual
person who was born in Ro
man, Britain. St. Patrick lived
in the fifth century. When
he was 16, he was kidnapped
and brought to Ireland to
work as a slave. Luckily, he
managed to escape but later
returned to Ireland to spread
the word of God.
St. Patrick was a person
who guided Ireland and is
considered a patron saint.
He spread Christianity and
taught others about God.
Many legends have been
created about him. This is ac
tually one way the shamrock
became an important part
of his day. The legend says
he used a three leaf clover to
describe the Father, Son, and
The Holy Spirit.
St. Patrick’s Day started in
the year 1631 on March 17.
A church was the first to cel
ebrate this day by holding a
feast in honor of the saint. As
time went by, the day became
more modern and started
making more traditions
Some of these traditions are
to wear green or look for four
leaf clovers. The green color
comes from the color the
Irish wore during the Irish
Rebellion. All of these events
led to the day we celebrate
now.