Th e Pony Ex press The student newspaper of Center Hill High School
Aug. 7, 2017
Center Hill High School
Volume 1, Issue 1
BACKTOSCHOOL First day full of excitement, nerves, humor By Emily Merz Staff Writer
The first day of school was one of mixed emotions for Center Hill students, who returned to the classroom Aug. 3. ?I?m nervous,? junior Mary Lindsey said. Sophomore Serenity Scott wasn't too sure about returning to school after summer break. ?I?m excited, I guess,? she said. Logan Daves, a junior, said he was looking forward to what the new year will bring. ?I?m excited and anxious to create new friendships,? Daves said. Photos by Randi Terry ?I?m surprised I?m here,? junior Omar Gonzalez joked about being back. Likewise, ?I?m really excited,? freshman Sarah Claire Miller said. Eleventh-grader Venquez Smith said his first day back was just part of his normal routine. ?I was here all summer for football,? he said. From a teacher?s perspective, Brian Parker had a humorous take on his first day of morning duty in the cafeteria. ?It?s a bit chaotic and sort of Venquez Smith Mary Lindsey Brian Parker like a dystopian future in here, but that?s OK,? said Parker, who Omar Gonzalez, a junior, also levity. teaches math. described his return to school with ?I?m surprised I?m here,? he said.
FROMASENIOR Top 10 tips to survive high school By Sherrice Wright Editor-in-Chief
Whether this is your first time roaming the halls of Center Hill or you?re a senior itching to leave these halls behind, it?s the beginning of another year of high school. With this year being my last, I feel that it?s important to spread what knowledge I have acquired throughout the years. 1. Procr astinating is the absolute wor se thing you can do? besides doing nothing at all. This is coming from someone who?s procrastinated on everything before I even knew there was a word for it. No matter what the deadline is or how soon I learn about the project, I probably won?t do it until the night before it?s due and I seriously regret that. I could have saved myself a lot of all-nighters if I would have just started as soon as possible. The only thing worse than staying up all night to work on something is to not do it at all. Forgetting a project once won?t be the end of your education, just don?t make it a habit. 2. Walk on the r ight side of the halls. Come on. This is the easiest thing you will ever do while in school and people still can?t get it right. It?s just like driving. 3. Use your agenda/planner. To be quite frank, I didn?t open my agenda aside from stuffing paper in it or turning it to the hall pass for my first two years of high school. Last year, I started using it to write down
assignments, and, surprisingly, it helped out a lot with my procrastination. Being more organized is definitely going to make your time so much easier. 4. Pick out your outfits at night. I wish I had someone tell me this, but it will save you so much time each morning. 5. Find a study buddy. You?re gonna miss class at one point or another, and it?s pretty much impossible to take notes when you aren?t in class. Have someone in each class you can talk to about any projects, notes or tests. Get the digits. 6. Join some clubs. While everyone totally wants to spend every last waking second studying, it?s important to find a balance. Joining clubs is an easy way to become more involved in our community and add some extra curricular activities to your resume. 7. Wr ite your locker combination in mor e than one place. There?s nothing more embarrassing than asking a coach for your combination after school. 8. When you?r e sick, br ing your own box of tissues. 9. Step out of your comfor t zone. Get to know your teachers; it makes life so much easier. 10. Wor r y less about what other people think and mor e about what you want. High school is about finding yourself.
Counselors offer advice to CHHS students Bill Hatch, 9th- and 10th-grade counselor ?The most important thing is to remember it?s an exciting time, but it?s also a time to learn self-advocacy skills. It?s important to stay organized and to reach out for help whenever needed. It?s important to be involved in school assignments and to not let them overwhelm you. I think out of all of that, the most important is to not be afraid to ask for help. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a first step. Make your first
step count.? Danielle Brown, 11th- and 12th-grade counselor ?The first thing seniors need to do is apply to the colleges of their choice. Most of those applications open Aug. 1. Check on scholarships that are available at the schools they apply. Those are called institutional scholarships. They need to sign up for the ACT and send their ACT score to the schools they applied to. Plan college visits. Senior year is what you make it. If you get involved
and stay plugged in, you?ll have a good year. The year tends to take on the attitude that you have towards it. Make sure to take senior pictures and buy a yearbook. They need to make sure they are getting my email updates that will start the second week of school and make sure they check my Remind 101s. Don?t wait for the fun, or the friends, or the scholarships to come to you. You have to go find it.? ? Compiled by Randi Terry, Staff Writer
NEWTEACHERS 12 educators join Center Hill family this year Twelve new teachers have joined the faculty at Center Hill High School. Among them are a former powerlifter, a mother of six, and a world traveler. ?We have a lot of diversity and experience as far as background goes,? said Alisha Green, who coordinates the mentoring program for new teachers at CHHS. ?I think they will benefit us by bringing a variety of experiences.? Spenser Allen By Randi Terry Staff Writer
Spenser Allen, a first-year teacher, is a graduate of CHHS and the University of Memphis. ?I graduated here,? he said. ?There is good administration, both scholarly with the principals, and athletically with Coach (Alan) Peacock.? Before joining the CHHS faculty, ?I trained professional athletes,? said Allen, who will teach Biology and help coach football. Alex Cain By Stephen Shol Staff Writer
Alex Cain, a World History teacher, is beginning his first year at CHHS with plenty of experience. ?I?ve taught for 13 years,? Cain said. ?This will be my 14th year.? Cain spent 12 years at Forrest City High School in Arkansas and a year at Germantown High School in Tennessee. Before
teaching World History, he taught Economics and German. He graduated from the University of the South and later attended Arkansas State University for his master?s degree. ?The people that I?ve met so far are really nice,? he said about his new CHHS family. At home, Cain?s family is growing. ?I have another child on the way, actually any day now,? Cain said, noting that the new baby will be his fourth daughter. He and his wife also have a son. Leslie Cliburn By Sherrice Wright Editor-in-Chief
Leslie Cliburn is a first-year teacher in the Special Education department. However, he is not new to the halls of Center Hill. He spent the previous school year as a student teacher here. Cliburn earned his degree in education from the University of Mississippi. ?I chose Ole Miss over Harvard,? he said with a laugh. Cliburn said he is embracing the family atmosphere at CHHS because it?s much like the tight-knit closeness of his own family. He added what he loves most about working here ?is being able to see Mrs. Case?s beautiful smile each morning.? A fun fact about Cliburn is that when he was in college and participated in powerlifting competitions, his name was once listed as the fourth strongest woman in the country in his
weight class. Sara Flowers By Connor Hutto Staff Writer
For Sara Flowers, teaching Algebra I at CHHS is starting a new chapter of her career. She previously taught math at Southaven Middle School and is also a former sixth-grade science teacher. Flowers, being a mother of five, is well-prepared to deal with high schoolers. In fact, she has a sophomore at CHHS, Chelsee Ayers. Her oldest child is 22 years old and is also a teacher. Flowers majored in education at the University of Mississippi. At CHHS, she said she is most excited about ?working with the very welcoming and helpful staff as well as teaching Algebra.? Randy Griffith By Paige Lockett Staff Writer
Randy Griffith teaches both chemistry and physical science. He has been teaching for 16 years. ?I?ve taught at Boston High School, Macon Road Baptist School, Fayette Ware High School and Harding Academy,? Griffith said. Griffith has attended four different colleges and is currently working on his fourth degree. ?I received my undergraduate from Samford University, and I went to medical school at the University of Tennessee,? he said. ?I received my masters from the University of Memphis, and I am Continued on next page
working on my masters of administration at Freed-Hardeman.? At The Hill, Griffith will also help coach football. ?I love the football team,? he said, adding that the other faculty members are very friendly. One thing Griffith said he would like others to know is that his family is very important to him. He said one thing about him that might surprise people is that he played college basketball even though he was short.
?It?s important to look past their disability,? said Smith, who was motivated to become a special education teacher because of her belief that it is crucial to provide opportunities to every student. After five years as an assistant at Pleasant Hill Elementary, Smith will begin her first year as a teacher at CHHS. ?I have six kids,? Smith said. ?All have come through Center Hill. Four have graduated and two are still in high school.? Because her children have been a part of the Center Hill family, Smith said she is familiar with and impressed by the staff, environment, and most importantly, the academics.
Thrash said. The team roper and barrel racer was on the rodeo team at Mississippi State University and completed her degree at the University of Mississippi. She comes to Center Hill as an Algebra II teacher for her first full year in the classroom. ?This is my second semester,? she said, explaining that last spring she was a permanent sub in the math department. ?I like the students, and staff, and we have great administration. I like the consistency here.?
Hannah Joyner is no stranger to the Center Hill family. As a 2013 graduate, she left quite a legacy here. Joyner was a three-time state champion as a member of the Center Hill Dance Team, she is listed in the Hall of Fame, and she achieved a 30 in a subject on the ACT. ?I really enjoyed my time here at Center Hill as a student,? said Joyner, who graduated from the University of Memphis and is beginning her first year as a ninth-grade English teacher. She said she loves that the teachers at CHHS care about their students. ?The teachers are not here for just a paycheck, but to shape and contour a Mustang champion,? she said.
J.J. Terry
Chandler West
Melissa Smith
By Randi Terry Staff Writer
Hannah Joyner By Kylen Wicks Staff Writer
By Annie Chan Staff Writer
Helping others has always been a passion for Melissa Smith, a new special education teacher at Center Hill.
By Lavincia Lakes Staff Writer
This school year, J.J. Terry will be working at CHHS as a teacher for the first time ever. He will be teaching Marine Aquatics, Environmental Science and Biology II. Terry will also be the new assistant baseball coach. So far, Terry said he already has a couple of things that he likes about Center Hill. ?I like the structure of the school and the administration,? he said. A graduate of the University of Mississippi-DeSoto, Terry is married to CHHS math teacher Judy Terry. Their daughter, Randi, is a CHHS junior. Terry said he likes to ride horses in his spare time. Mary Frances Thrash
Mary Frances ?Pudden? Thrash got her nickname from her father. ?I?m named after his mom, but he started calling me Pudden before we left the hospital,?
Thrash?s husband, Devon Thrash, is also a new teacher at Center Hill this year. They have two children. By Haley Parker Staff Writer
Chandler West spent her youth as a world traveler. She has visited all but two continents, yet even after seeing the rest of the world, she decided to stay close to home. West, who teaches English II and 11th-grade Accelerated English, said she is enjoying CHHS. ?Everyone has been so nice and welcoming,? she said. A graduate of Lewisburg High School, West has a degree from the University of Mississippi and is licensed to teach History, Biology and English. She previously was a second-grade assistant teacher at Center Hill Elementary. Also new to The Hill is Amber Smith, who will teach Biology.
FarmBureauTeacher of theYear Pilcher recognized for promoting agriculture By Mary Catherine Miller Staff Writer
Angel Pilcher, who was recognized April 27 as the Mississippi Farm Bureau Teacher of the Year, attended the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Kansas City Missouri this summer. ?This is a huge honor that will open up many doors for our gardening program,? Pilcher said. ?This position will help us to network with others in this field who can aid in research and grant funding.? The Farm Bureau award is for teachers who promote agriculture in the classroom, which Pilcher does in a variety of ways at CHHS. ?We have vegetable, f lower and herb gardens, as well as a greenhouse, aquaponics, vermicomposting, and most recently ducks and guineas,? she said.
Pilcher also raises Rhode Island Red, Americana, Black Sex-Link, Catalana, Bantam and Barred Rock chickens, some of which spend some time in chicken coops at the school. ?I have 55 at home but 18 that I switch out in the coops here,? she said. ?This gives them a chance to free range on their days off.? Having chickens at school is a way for students to study the life cycle, Pilcher said. ?Because we hatch chicks in our incubator, the class is able to experience the life cycle of a chicken from birth to maturity where they produce or fertilize their own eggs,? said Pilcher, who teaches Nutrition and Wellness and Resource Management. ?We also use the eggs in our cooking labs and the students learn how to raise and handle chickens.?
Photo by Randi Terry
Angel Pilcher, center, was honored in April as the Mississippi Farm Bureau Teacher of the Year.
Photo courtesy of Angel Pilcher
Angel Pilcher holds two of the chickens she raises that sometimes live in the chicken coops at CHHS.
CHHS ready for challenges, opportunities of growth By Haley Parker Staff Writer
Assistant Principal Brenda Case said she is looking at Center Hill High School?s growth in two ways. ?We are definitely growing in numbers, which will bring challenges as well as provide opportunities to work together for the good of all of our students,?
said Case, who noted enrollment is now at 1,066. CHHS had 1,000 students last year. Not only is Case delighted to have the returning students, but also the new members of the Mustang family. The upcoming freshman class, which is just over 270 students, may be a little nervous about entering high school, but Case said they seem
generally excited for the new school year. ?Freshman orientation went great,? she said, adding that she feels ?good and confident? about the school year for all students. The CHHS administration also includes Principal Doug Payne and Assistant Principal Zack Sims.
CROSSWORDPUZZLE
Terry visits D.C. with Electric Cooperative Youth Tour By Sherrice Wright Editor-in-Chief
Over the summer, most students simply went to the lake, the beach, or the countryside. Very few, however, had such an opportunity as Amber Terry. The senior at Center Hill was given the chance to travel to Washington, D.C., as a part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Terry is one of 70 students who participated in the program. She was selected based on an essay she wrote about what a cooperative is and why they are so useful to
society. She then was interviewed by a council of members from the program and later selected to take part in the trip, which was sponsored by Northcentral Electric Power Amber Terry Association. ?I want to create or join organizations to help people, and I thought the leadership program would assist me in skills that would be useful in helping others,?
Terry said. ?Leaders encourage themselves and make a difference instead of waiting for a catalyst.? The members of the NRECA Electric Cooperative Youth Tour were able to experience exceptional leadership first hand when they visited the U.S. Capitol and met with Mississippi?s U.S. Representatives. The tour also visited national treasures such as the Jefferson Memorial and Ford?s Theatre. ?I really enjoyed the trip, and I was extremely grateful for the opportunity,? Terry said.