Starkville student honored for volunteerism

From Nicole Thomas, public information officer for the Starkville School District:

Holly Travis, an eighth-grader at Armstrong Middle School, has been named one of Mississippi’s top two youth volunteers for 2009 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.  The awards program, now in its 14th year, is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Holly received a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and a trip to Washington, D.C. for several days of special recognition events in early May. Only 102 young people nationwide – one middle level and one high
school student in each state and the District of Columbia – receive this honor.

Caledonia students attend Japanese culture class

The University of Mississippi contributed this item about students from Caledonia:

Caledonia Second-graders Attend Japanese Culture Class at UM

OXFORD – More than 90 second-graders from Caledonia Elementary School crowded Butler Auditorium in the University of Mississippi’s Triplett Alumni Center last week to learn about Japanese culture.

After lunch at Kabuki, a Japanese steak house in Oxford, the students were treated to a 90-minute presentation by UM staff members Naomi Yamakawa and Yukoko Yamada and two volunteers. The team not only shared interesting facts about Japanese culture but also taught students basic greetings, a song incorporating the words of different body parts and even how to write their names in Kakizome, a Japanese form of calligraphy.

Second-grade teacher Janet McElrath said she saw student interest peak at CES when a Japanese-speaking student enrolled there last semester.

“Our kids became obsessed with Japanese culture, and we felt it would be good for them to learn about other cultures,” McElrath said.

The visit provided an opportunity for the students and parents to broaden their view of Japanese society, and the students were very eager to engage in the different activities, said Yamakawa, coordinator of Japanese outreach programs for the UM Division of Outreach.

“I would definitely like to do more presentations like this and interact with students around the area,” Yamakawa said. “Our Japanese outreach programs and the Supplementary School (program) are currently planning future events to introduce our culture to the community.”

Besides the five second-grade classes that made the two-hour drive to Oxford, more then 30 parents also attended the special presentation.

Parent Richard Thomas said the presentation was a great cultural learning experience for his son, Jed.

“It’s good for him to learn about (his classmate),” Thomas said. “Our nation has grown so diverse that they need to learn more about all cultures.”

For more information about Japanese outreach programs or about the Japanese Supplementary School held in coordination with Della Davidson Elementary School in Oxford, contact Yamakawa at (662) 915-5839 or go to www.outreach.olemiss.edu.

NMMC plans for annual Summer Health Academy

This came from Deborah Roberts Pugh at North Mississippi Medical Center:

NMMC SUMMER HEALTH ACADEMY TO INTRODUCE YOUTH TO HEALTH CAREERS

TUPELO – North Mississippi Medical Center will host its seventh annual Summer Health Academy from 8 a.m.-noon June 1-5.

Students who are interested in pursuing a health career and have completed the sixth, seventh or eighth grade are eligible. Participation is limited to 25 students who will be selected on the basis of academic achievement, community service and desire to enter a health profession. Students must also submit two letters of recommendation. Application deadline is Friday, April 17.

NMMC’s Summer Health Academy will introduce students to various careers in health care while reinforcing positive lifestyle choices. Participants will spend four hours each day with nurses and other health care professionals who are eager to share their expertise and enthusiasm.

Students will tour several nursing units at NMMC, as well as the Wellness Center. Because enrollment is limited, students will be able to interact one-on-one with nurses, physicians, radiologic technologists, pharmacists, physical therapists and other health care staff.

The fee for Summer Health Academy is $50, which includes educational materials, a T-shirt, snacks and Friday lunch. Applications are available at area schools and by calling the NMMC Employment Services Department at (662) 377-3245 or 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375). Applications can also be downloaded from http://www.nmhs.net/careers. Students who are selected to participate will be notified by May 1.

Starkville Schools helps visually impaired students

Here’s information I received from Nicole Thomas, public information officer for the Starkville School District:

The Starkville School District is working with Cary Supalo of Pennsylvania State University to increase learning opportunities for visually impaired students and offer them full access to the science curriculum.

Dr. Supalo’s project is called “Independent Laboratory Access for Blind and Low Vision Students in Mainstream High School Science Classrooms.”  He will be installing equipment in Brenda Jackson’s chemistry class at Starkville High School on Monday, Feb. 16.

A press conference which will include a demo of the equipment will be held at 10:30 am in the SHS Library on Monday, Feb. 16, prior to the start of the chemistry class.

Dr. Supalo will be available for interviews during the press conference.

Others participating in the press conference will be Judy Couey, superintendent, and David Bouchard, student.

Below is a link to a story that provides more details about Dr. Supalo’s work.

http://live.psu.edu/story/26382?nw=1

Miss. Arts Commission hosts Whole Schools Retreat

From a Mississippi Arts Commission news release:

JACKSON – Teachers from across the state will gather in Meridian on February 18-19 to build on their arts in education foundation through the Mississippi Arts Commission’s 2009 Whole Schools Initiative Spring Retreat.  The event will be held at the MSU Riley Center.

The classes offered at the spring retreat will help teachers learn how to integrate the arts into everyday curriculum.  It also provides an opportunity for teachers to network and learn from each other about successful methods of arts integration.

This year’s spring retreat, themed “Thinkin’ Thru Jazz! The Art of Improvisation,” offers an abundance of outstanding classes including a lecture and demonstration by the Dance Theatre of Harlem.  Also, Sarah Cunningham, Director of Arts Education at the National Endowment for the Arts, will present a class on grant writing and an overview of the NEA’s grant programs.  In addition to teaching a class entitled “Jazz, An American Story,” Eli Yamin, Artistic Director of The Jazz Drama Program and Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Middle School Jazz Academy, will entertain attendees on Wednesday evening.

The Mississippi Arts Commission’s Whole Schools Initiative is Mississippi’s first comprehensive statewide arts education program.  The program uses the arts as a vehicle for promoting high-quality instruction and learning for students in all disciplines.  In addition to the two retreats, the week-long Whole Schools Institute, held each summer, provides an in-depth, premier training opportunity for schools involved in education reform through the arts.

For more information on the Whole Schools Initiative Spring Retreat, contact Judi Holifield at (601) 359-6030 or jholifield@arts.state.ms.us.

The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency, funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Wallace Foundation, Donna & Jim Barksdale, The Phil Hardin Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson and other private sources.  MAC is the official grants-making and service agency for the arts in Mississippi. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.

Japanese storyteller returns to Tupelo

Motoko, an award-winning Japanese storyteller, will return to Tupelo this month for her second weeklong residency program at Thomas Street Elementary. Motoko, who visited the K-3 school last February, teaches Japanese culture through folktales. She will be at Thomas Street every day next week, this time with her partner, Eshu. The duo will teach about Japanese and African-American cultures, and their visit will begin with student assemblies on Monday. Motoko and Eshu will work in individual classrooms throughout the week. The public also is invited to the school’s “Folktales and Fun” program on Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. For more information, call the school at 841-8960.

Ingomar Attendance Center science fair

Junior high and high school students at Ingomar Attendance Center competed in a science fair earlier this week. Winners will go on to the regional fair at Northeast Mississippi Community College. Here are some pics during the judging on Tuesday. Read more in Monday’s Daily Journal.

TPSD to pull from fund balance to cover cuts

Despite efforts to squeeze state budget cuts out of its existing budget, Tupelo Public Schools will have to use $250,000 from its fund balance. The Daily Journal’s Michaela Gibson Morris reports from yesterday’s TPSD Board of Trustees meeting here.

Pontotoc City supe Conwell Duke to retire

Conwell Duke has announced his retirement as superintendent of the Pontotoc City School District. His retirement is effective June 30. Read more at pontotoc360.com.

Prentiss schools told to keep Web sites current

Earlier this week, Lena Mitchell reported that principals in the Prentiss County School District were asked by the school board to make sure their school Web sites are current. You can read more here.