Teacher’s accident was a blessing in disguise

Here’s a link to a story I wrote for the Daily Journal about Jeff Gray, a teacher at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton. Ten years ago, a sawmill accident nearly severed Jeff’s right arm, and during his recovery he decided to go back to school to become a teacher. I think Jeff’s story is an inspiring one and I hope you’ll think so, too. Thanks to Deste Lee for the wonderful photos of Jeff with his wife, Lori, and their granddaughter, 2-year-old Kylee Kent.

Climbing the walls at Rankin Elementary

From Tammi Coggins of Tupelo’s Rankin Elementary:

Glenda Clay is Rankin’s Physical Education Specialist. She says: “Got Walls….Climb!”

And that is just what we are doing at Rankin …Climbing the walls, literally. Through the generosity of AEE and our PTO, we now have our very own transverse climbing wall. This wall is 8 feet high and 40 feet long and runs horizontally instead of vertically. It is a safe and fun way to meet the inherent need of children to climb, to push the boundaries of their comfort zone, and meet a challenge head on. Climbing has been increasing in popularity as a fitness activity since the 80’s. Many article have been published noting the benefits gained by both novice and skilled climbers. The physical benefits of strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination are only the beginning. Research has also stated many cognitive benefits of climbing. This wall will offer our students the opportunity to explore their physical and inner strength as well as develop new skills. We are very excited about this addition to our physical education program!! Thank you AEE and PTO for giving us the opportunity to provide fun learning and growing!!

Lawndale’s Christmas spirit

Here’s some holiday news from Teresa Gregory at Lawndale Elementary in Tupelo:

Lawndale Elementary School took the Christmas Spirit to heart this year! Through special projects, students and teachers learned the true the meaning of Christmas.

Fourth-grade teacher Kathy Palmer started a Help the Troops drive along with her classroom and the rest of the school. More than 220 pounds of items were sent to the troops to help make their holidays special.

Our Crazy Readers Club also got in the spirit and provided Christmas for SPC Will Graves in Iraq and CPT Derrick Glenn in Kosovo.

Teresa Gregory’s Challenge classes sponsored a school wide toy drive. Through their efforts, enough toys and money was collected to provide Christmas for several families at our school. Diane Hink’s Challenge classes sponsored a mitten drive for Faith Haven and a Carnival for Christmas Caring that raised over $170 to help needy families at Christmas. Some of Mrs. Hink’s sixth-graders tutored fourth-grade students as their service project.

Here are captions for the photos Teresa submitted to Inside the Backpack:

Pic 0113 - Teresa Gregory’s Challenge students Kaitlin Flowers, Beth Beasley, Monica Acosta and Courtney Douglas hold up some of the toys collected in Lawndale Elementary School’s toy drive.

Pic 9880 - Reed Bigham gets the Go Fishing game ready in Diane Hink’s Challenge Classes Carnival for Christmas Caring.

Pic 9882 - Chelsie Gray, Claire Davis, Megan Riley and Lydia Smith get a laugh as Yarah Amador tries to catch the ball at the Carnival for Christmas Caring at Lawndale Elementary.

Pic 1176 - Kathy Palmer’s fourth-graders collected over 220 pounds of items for the troops.

Polar Express at Thomas Street Elementary

For more than 10 Decembers, Thomas Street Elementary has transformed its media center into a winter wonderland in celebration of “The Polar Express.” Chris Van Allsburg’s holiday classic is brought to life for the students, who wear pajamas and sip hot chocolate aboard a “train” in the library. Read all about their experience, which included a Reading Is Fundamental book giveaway, in this Sunday’s Daily Journal. A special thank you to teacher Sherry Rial for sending the great photos! (BTW, that’s media specialist Michelle Sykes in the conductor’s uniform!)

Lawndale Elementary spelling bee

Here’s the latest Lawndale news from Teresa Gregory, who also sent in these great pictures:

All Lawndale Elementary School students went to Tupelo High School’s Performing Arts Center on December 20 to the annual spelling bee. There were 24 students representing all homerooms participating in the spelling bee. Camille Simmons, a fifth-grader from Mrs. Jackie Lott’s homeroom, was the overall winner. Runners-up were fifth-graders Jacob Jones and Austin Ragsdale. These three students will represent Lawndale at the district spelling bee in January.

Retiree gives $85K to ICC Foundation

Winford Rogers, 81, never went to college but he wants to make sure others can. The retired Mantachie businessman this week donated $85,000 to the Itawamba Community College Foundation, with the promise of more money for a total $150,000 commitment. The funds will be used for scholarships to ICC students who are members in good standing of Rogers’ church, Ozark Baptist.

Read my story about the gift in today’s Daily Journal.

Thanks to Adam Armour of the Itawamba County Times for the photo. That’s Mr. Rogers in the center.

Big band news from Tupelo

Congratulations to Vance Wigginton, director of bands for the Tupelo Public School District, and his wife, Dale, an assistant band director at Tupelo High, for jointly winning the state’s Outstanding Bandmaster Award. I’ll have the full story later this week in the Daily Journal, but you can read the Phi Beta Mu news release here:

Each year the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, in conjunction with the Mississippi Bandmasters Association Inc. recognizes an outstanding band director for the state of Mississippi. This award is chosen and announced at the Mississippi Bandmasters Association State Clinic/Convention held in December of each year. This year was the 70th State Band Clinic and the 40th year to present the Outstanding Bandmaster Award. Criteria for the award includes a minimum of 7 years teaching experience, has demonstrated the professional, personal, and leadership characteristics associated with an award of this nature, and must be a member in good standing of the MBA of which there are approximately 300.

This year’s recipient of the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Mississippi Band Director of the Year is the husband and wife team of Vance and Dale Wigginton of Tupelo. This is only the third time in the 40 year history of the award that a husband and wife team have received this award. Mr. and Mrs. Wigginton have taught together for 20 of their 23 years of teaching experience. They have taught together in Booneville, Vicksburg, and Tupelo.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wigginton have extensive experience as clinicians and adjudicators throughout the southeastern United States and Texas. They have also both held state offices with the Mississippi Bandmasters Association as well as numerous committee chair positions. Dale Wigginton is the colorguard representative for Mississippi in the Mississippi Indoor Colorguard and Percussion Association, and her Winterguard group, Tsunami, won the 2007 State Championship. Her concert bands and ensembles have consistently received superior ratings at all levels. She has also received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Vicksburg Middle School.

Vance Wigginton is a past recipient of the A. E. McClain Outstanding Young Band Director for the State of Mississippi, The George Henry Schultz Award for the Outstanding Band Director for north Mississippi, was inducted into the Delta State University’s Music Hall of Fame, and is this year’s award winner for the National Federation of High Schools Outstanding Music Educator Award for the southeastern United States. Along with Tim Matlock and Jason Beghtol, Mr. and Mrs. Wigginton were the directors of the 2006 State Champion Tupelo High School Marching Band. They have stated that they are most proud of the successes enjoyed by their present and former students.

Submitted – Phi Beta Mu of Mississippi, Jeff Young, President

Veteran’s Day celebration at Lawndale

Teresa Gregory of Tupelo’s Lawndale Elementary sent these photos of fifth-graders’ patriotic performance on Veteran’s Day. Veterans and active members of the Armed Forces were honored at the assembly.

Milam Elementary spelling bee

Kim Wyatt sent these photos from Milam Elementary’s annual spelling bee on Thursday, Dec. 13.

The top three, from left, are Kimya Jamasbi, winner; Reid Babrber, third; and Jade Wayne, second.

The caller was Terry Smith from WTVA.

Milam Elementary receives PREPS value added award

From Kim Wyatt of Tupelo’s Milam Elementary School:

Milam earned the PREPS Value Added Award for successful performance on the spring 2007 statewide tests. The PREPS Value Added Award is given to schools based on the students exceeding the expectations on the MCT. Each school, based on the previous years’ test scores, are given an expected growth. If a school exceeds the expected growth, they receive the Value Added Award.

The awards were presented at the 2007-2008 PREPS Winter Conference scheduled on December 6-7, 2007, at the Pearl River Resort in Choctaw, Mississippi. The awards ceremony was held on Friday, December 7, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

In the photo, from left to right are Milam teachers Nancy Barrett, Stephanie Wayne, Nikeshia Leatherwood, Travis Beard-principal, Amanda Mansell, Patty Gray, and Sherron Horton.