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By Terry Howell
McKenzie High School Principal |
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Students in Scott Jewell's marketing classes and Glynda
Corbin's art classes recently competed in the Jackson
Sun's "Design an Ad" contest. Over 1,500 students in
West Tennessee participated in this artistic/marketing
competition. McKenzie High School submitted two winning
entries by Renee Crawley from marketing and Brianna
Jones from art class. Brianna was also named an overall
winner receiving a $50.00 savings bond. Their winning
ads appeared in Tuesday's Jackson Sun. It is an
excellent activity for students to apply their classroom
skills to real life situations. Congratulations to Renee
and Brianna and to their teachers, Mr. Jewell and Ms
Corbin.
Bethel College has received a grant from the Tennessee
Arts Council to provide free mandolin lessons for
qualifying and selected students. Students may keep the
mandolin provided they complete the program with five or
fewer absences. The program began on Monday, November
1st and will be taught on Mondays and Tuesdays for the
next several months. Twenty-nine students were chosen to
participate in the program - nine of which are high
school students. The program is intended to foster
artistic, creative ability in a sound nurturing
environment. The lessons will take place at Bethel
College. The McKenzie Special School District is
indebted to Dwayne Ervin and Bethel College for
initiating this grant for our students. This program is
sponsored by Renaissance - the Bethel Musical
Experience, the Bethel College Public Policy Institute,
and in part by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Council.
Assistant Director of Music Danny Ray Martin, a McKenzie
High School alumnus, will teach the students chosen for
the project.
The Balfour representative came to our school to talk to
seniors about graduation supplies and materials last
Thursday. All seniors should have received a packet
detailing all the items that Balfour has for students to
order. As I mentioned in last week's article, the only
purchases expected by the school are cap and gown and
diploma and diploma cover. The total cost of these
purchases is $38.45. Everything else is the student's
choice, and the cost could be quite high. For that
reason, I encourage parents to look at the packet
closely and work with students to get what they want and
can afford. The representative will be here this
Thursday, November 4th, during lunch to take orders. A
deposit of $60.00, payable to Balfour, is necessary
unless the order is less than that. If it is, the
student will need to pay the balance on Thursday.
Basketball season officially began on Monday, November
1st. The girls and boys will both have a challenging
year ahead as they field many new, inexperienced
players. The girls' team is coached by first-year head
coach, Joan Albury. Coach Albury comes from Crockett
County as an assistant. The Lady Cavaliers had a state
tournament team last year and she hopes to duplicate
that success by building a program here. Coach Larry Joe
Smith returns as the skipper of the boys' team with four
starters departed from last year's team. He will try to
build on a sophomore and junior group that played a
great deal in freshmen and B-team competition last
season. Both squads will scrimmage a great deal prior to
the start of the season. They will again participate in
the Huntingdon Jamboree on November 20th. The opening
game of the season will be a home game against
Clarksburg on Tuesday, November 23.
The cross country teams ended their season this past
Thursday with the regional meet at Dyer County. Under
adverse conditions, we had individuals and our boys'
team do well. The boys' team finished 5th overall in the
A-AA Division. They were led by Caleb Owen who placed
13th with a time of 18:27. Matt Blaylock (19:20, 21st
place), Brice Priestly (20:41, 43rd place), Zach Drye
(21:13, 51st place), and Lee Barham (21:29, 56th place)
all ran well for the team under the unfavorable
circumstances of soggy terrain. Freshman Hannah Scruton
continued her strong first year of competition by
running a 23:54 for 20th place. Caitlin Blackwell with a
28:54 and Chloe Cunningham with a 33:20 also ran for our
girls' team and finished 55th and 64th respectively.
With all participants returning for both squads, Coach
Christina French can expect to have an even more
successful season.
An upcoming event that parents need to note is that of
progress reports. These reports will be issued on
Thursday, November 11th. The parents of each student in
school should receive updates on their child's progress.
Senior report cards were issued last month and teachers
have called the parents of students not performing well.
Everyone should be aware of his/her academic standing at
this time. The semester is looking toward its end.
Students need to make the effort to perform well in each
class.
We will begin Time for Time make-up for excessive
absenteeism on Saturday, November 13th. We have apprised
parents by letter if their child owes Time for Time.
Students will need to be at school on Saturday, November
13th, at 7:00 a.m. The session will last from 7:00 a.m.
until 1:00 p.m. I will meet with all students affected
by absenteeism beyond the six days permitted in the
Student Handbook a few days prior to that Saturday.
The football team faced its cross county foe last Friday
in our last regular season game of the season. The
Huntingdon Mustangs proved to be every bit as formidable
as their record and reputation stated in defeating the
Rebels 26-14. The Rebels, however, played with a heart
and determination that matched their athletic opponents.
The Mustangs received the opening kick off and marched
to the end zone to post an early first quarter lead.
They tacked on another score to make it 13-0. The Rebels
countered with their own firepower to trail 13-7. A late
second quarter score by halfback Philip Weathers put the
disadvantage at 19-7 at halftime. After a scoreless
third quarter, the Rebels scored early in the fourth
frame to reduce the deficit to 19-14. The Mustangs
showed their prowess by marching 65 yards to score and
put the put the game out of reach. I am very proud of
these young men and coaches. They represented our school
and community well. Even in a loss, I think that we have
picked up the necessary momentum for the second season -
the playoffs. As Coach Comer told his players after the
game, each school now has a record of 0-0. The past is
irrelevant. I recall a similar situation two years ago
when a Rebel team ended the regular season at 6-4only to
get the playoff spot and advance all the way to the
semifinals. This team may have that same scenario. The
second season begins at Cheatham County at Ashland City
at 7:00 P.M. Come out and support these young men as
they begin their second season.
The high school band saved its best performance for the
last in the Division I Band Competition in Murfreesboro
last Saturday. Twenty-three bands competed for a slot in
the finals of eight bands. Our band showed its stripes
by qualifying for the final eight. In the competition,
the overall guard made up of Rachel Cooper, Mary Beth
Johnson, Crystal Mann, Ashley Stewart, Alex Tabor, Emily
Watson, Sarah Watson, and Whittney Wilson finished 5th.
Sophomore field commander, Lauren Morris, proved herself
by also taking 5th place. The percussion section, a
perennial strength of the band, earned 3rd place
overall. Junior Joey Sam was selected as the outstanding
soloist by the judges. Our overall band completed the
competition with an admirable 6th place position.
Congratulations to the band and to its director Keith
Breeden. Also, many thanks go to all the parents and
members of our Band Booster Club that contribute to the
success of the band in so many ways. You are a true part
of this successful season.
As always, I hope everyone has a great week.
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