25 cents
DECEMBER 2011
Logo design Congratulations to Petal Upper Elementary students Seth Williamson and Clay Minter who designed the logo for The Panther Print. Together, they did a wonderful job. Thanks for your hard work.
Are you smarter than a 6th grader? Try your hand at these questions to see if you are, in fact, smarter than a sixth grader. Email your answers to: 6thpetalnews@petalschools.com then watch the next issue of The Panther Print for the correct answers.
THE OFFICIAL SIXTH GRADE NEWSPAPER OF PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY
Football Panthers make historic run at State Title Petal High School is known for its achievement. Its athletics are no different. So although to hear the phrase "0-14" in connection with Petal sports would seem very much out of place, the two were connected at the hip until a month ago — that was the Panthers' all-time record in the football playoffs. But that zero was smashed to smithereens beginning on Nov. 11, when Petal dropped Gulfport in convincing fashion, 42-21, in Round 1 of the MHSAA Class 6A playoffs. The magic ride didn't stop there,
and two wins later the Panthers were playing for all the marbles in the State Championship against Olive Branch. It was a special milestone for both schools, as neither program had ever played in the title game before. In the end it was Olive Branch that was celebrating — after Petal's own celebration was cut short by a heartbreaking referee's whistle — a 35-34 victory, but the 2011 season will nonetheless go down as a magnificent one in the annals of the Friendly City's history. The Panthers, who finished with a
SCIENCE: What is a group of two or more atoms called?
Storybird?
MATHEMATICS: 7.8 x 3.5 + -7.9 ÷ 3.2 – 2.1 = ? LANGUAGE ARTS: What is the group of underlined words called? Kayla, Mallory, and Isaiah bought some textbooks for Mrs. Moreno.
Teacher Trivia See if you can guess which 6th grade teacher answered the following questions:
Q: Are you crazy, loud, or both? A: Neither Q: What color is your hair? A: Blonde Q: What made you decide to be a teacher? A: I love kids! Q: What’s your favorite restaurant? A: Sake Café Q: What is your favorite team? A: New Orleans Saints Q: Do you have any pets? A: Yes- a pug Q: What is your favorite hobby? A: Shopping or reading Email your best guesses to 6thpetalnews@petalschools.com
Hillman’s
HINT: Never wear socks with Crocs (unless it’s cold outside).
10-5 record, also defeated Biloxi (38-27) and Meridian (23-14) en route to a South State championship and a chance to play at Jackson's Veterans Memorial Stadium this past weekend. "We want to sit back and take a look around," Petal head coach Steve Buckley said before Friday's championship game. "I want them to take a deep breath, look around and see where they are. It's a memory they don't want to forget." It's safe to say it's a memory that no one in attendance will forget any time soon.
Have you heard of
HISTORY/READING: About how many Jewish people lost their lives during the Holocaust?
Q: What type of books do you like to read? A: Nicolas Sparks
A PETAL, MISSISSIPPI, US
Savannah’s first steps... A couple of weeks ago, Savannah Blansett, a sixth grade student at Petal Upper Elementary, took her first steps, which is a big deal because she has Cerebral Palsy. According to the A. D. A. M. medical encyclopedia, “Cerebral Palsy is a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking.” Savannah was super excited to walk for the first time. Savannah’s family and friends have encouraged her to take her first step. They By Savannah have had a huge DAVIS impact on her life since she was born. They have helped her through it all, even the bad times. Also, she has one true friend who has helped her through it all, and that person is her therapist – Tracie Thornton. She has helped Savannah through the rough times with therapy. Ms. Tracie, as Savannah fondly calls her, has been with Savannah since she was three months old. Some people might think that there’s no way you can stay so positive when you have a condition like Savannah, but you can. See STEPS, Page 2
At Petal Upper Elementary, accounts, so they can access Mrs. Haigler’s students created these stories from home and at books online at Storybird.com. school. Storybird is an online webOn Storybird, artists have site that allows children, chosen some of their artstudents, and adults to work to go online at create books. Storybird.com for peoDuring the week of ple to choose from. Oct. 24, students went to Once you choose artthe computer lab to crework, you create a story. ate stories online. Also, when students Their first activity on publish their stories for Storybird, which was for other students to read, By Devan a grade, was to create a RUSSELL students can comment fairytale. on other people’s stories Their fairytale part and/or “heart” them. needed to be make-believe. Students can also work Students enjoyed working on together to create stories. these stories. Students have online See STORYBIRD, Page 2
Riley Mitchell and Gracie Holman create their own narratives on Storybird.com using other people’s artwork as inspiration.
Petal community honors its veterans with ceremony On Nov. 11, the community of Petal gathered at Willie Hinton Park for the presentation of phase 1 of the Veterans’ Memorial Walkway. Mayor Hal Marx gave a speech welcoming all the veterans as they were honored for their service. A soldier was there to raise the American flag to represent all Americans. The memorial will be located in the center of Willie Hinton Park, formerly Relay Park. It will honor all veterans from all six branches of government: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coastguard or Merchant Marines. If you would like to honor a veteran, you can purchase brick to be engraved and then displayed as a part of this memorial. These bricks will be a permanent part of the memorial. To honor these veterans, Petal Upper Elementary students donated money and purchased a brick honoring all veterans. Sixth grade students raised $691 dollars to benefit this cause. The Petal Middle School Showtimers led the crowd in the See VETERANS, Page 2
Petal sixth grade students raised $691 to help purchase bricks honoring Petal veterans at the city’s new memorial in Willie Hinton Park.
Mrs. Stinson named Teacher of the Year Lenette Stinson, a sixthgrade inclusion teacher, was named Teacher of the Year for the 2011-2012 school year. Everyone here at PUES is so proud of her hard work and dedication to excellence for all students. Tyler Olson commented, “Mrs. Stinson is my favorite teacher. I am so happy for her! If I could have voted, I would have voted for her. I think Mrs. Stinson deserves that award because she is a very hard worker, and she is very caring. That’s why she got the award.”