Back To School 20150724 by Journal Inc

A supplement to the Daily Journal | July 24, 2015 | Section D

Bonds fund school construction projects BY CHRIS KIEFFER DAILY JOURNAL

TUPELO – Shannon High School students will eat lunch in a brand new cafeteria when the new school year opens next month. Meanwhile, pupils at Tupelo Middle School will use new Chromebook computers and those at Saltillo High School will christen a two-story classroom addition. While students were on summer break, both the Lee County and Tupelo school districts were active on construction projects that resulted from two successful bond referendums. Lee County voters in 2013 allowed the dis-

trict to issue up to $13.5 million in new bonds, while Tupelo voters in April gave their district permission to sell about $44 million in bonds. “These upgrades will ensure we are providing a safe and secure learning environment for our students, faculty and staff,” said Tupelo Schools Executive Director of Operations Andy Cantrell. “We are very blessed to have funds earmarked to take care of this district for the next 10 to 20 years.” Construction crews completed three projects in the Lee County School District this summer – a two-story 12classroom addition at Saltillo High, an TURN TO BOND, 2D

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At top, Tupelo Tint employees Garrett Jones, left, and Nick Suzich, install window film at Tupelo Middle School. The film was purchased with bond funds and is designed as a safety feature to keep glass from shattering. Above, Shannon High School’s newly constructed cafeteria is ready to serve its first meals this school year.

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Dylan Morse screws on a piece of the heating and cooling duct inside the new Mooreville Middle School administration building that was constructed this summer.

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Bond FROM PAGE 1D

administrative building at Mooreville Middle and a cafeteria at Shannon High. They now have only two projects remaining to proceed from the bond sale, which has funded construction and renovation on nine campuses across the district. The remaining work includes new classroom buildings at Shannon High and Guntown Middle, which are both scheduled to be completed next summer. “I’m confident the district’s physical plans will be in a much better position that they were in before these projects began,” said architect Rud Robison of Pryor & Morrow, which is serving as architect for most of Lee County’s work. The new classroom building at Saltillo High was part of a series of projects at that school that also included expanded dinning space, a third serving line and a new secure entrance through which visitors to the school will be buzzed into the building. The new classrooms are particularly important, Superintendent Jimmy Weeks said,

because the school had three classes that met in the commons area and a handful of teachers who didn’t have a permanent classroom. “It gives everyone a home and makes scheduling easier,” he said. The Tupelo School District, meanwhile, is just beginning its bond-related projects. Crews worked this summer to install a new roof at the Fillmore Center, to add security cameras, fire alarms and burglar alarms on several campuses and to attach a security film on entrances and windows throughout the district. The film is designed to keep glass from shattering, a measure in response to national school-shooting incidents in which intruders shot through glass to force entry. It would delay would-be intruders from being able to enter before law enforcement could respond. Cantrell said he was glad a pair of local companies won the contracts for the security upgrades. Prime Logic of Tupelo installed the cameras and alarms, while Maloney Glass and Overhead Door of Tupelo applied the film, with Tupelo Tint serving as a subcontractor. “Another positive aspect of the citizens of Tupelo passing the bond issue is that $951,530

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Construction crews from Burton Builders begin digging for footing and foundation walls for the new two-story classroom building at Shannon High School.

DAILY JOURNAL

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Danny Abbey measures a piece of the heating and cooling duct to be installed inside the new Mooreville Middle School administration building earlier this month. will go back into the local economy from these safety upgrades,” he said. “It is nice for the local vendors to win these bids, and many have a vested interest with children and grandchildren in the schools.” The district also used the funds to purchase about 1,000 Chromebook laptops to be used by seventh- and eighthgraders at Tupelo Middle, replacing aging MacBooks. Work will begin soon on two major classroom additions -five to seven new classrooms at Tupelo Middle School, as well as four to eight new rooms at its Early Childhood Education Center. Next summer, crews will complete various renovations at Rankin, Lawhon, Lawndale, Parkway and Milam schools, and possibly at Tupelo Middle. More work will be done in the summers of 2017 and 2018, with the goal to finish most of the work in 2018 and complete any final details in 2019.

Jared McMinn, right, and Chris Fuller with 3G Industrial Roofing of Fredericktown, Missouri apply a finish coat of HydroStop to weatherproof the roof of the Fillmore Center in late June. The Tupelo school got a new roof from bond funds.

chris.kieffer@journalinc.com Twitter: @chriskieffer

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OUNTY CHOOLS Also congratulations to EE for being nominated in the following categories: Best Public Elementary School SALTILLO & MOOREVILLE

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We would like to thank everyone who voted for us! – Jimmy Weeks, LCS Superintendent and Staff

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BACK TO SCHOOL

DAILY JOURNAL

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Back to School Calendars Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12-13: Fall break Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 21: Staff development March 25: Good Friday May 23: Last day for students May 20: Graduation

Alcorn County School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday March 28: Good Monday May 20: Last day for students

Houston School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 9-12: Fall break Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 18: Christmas break begins Jan. 4-5: Staff development Jan. 6: Students return Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25-28: Easter April 15: School holiday May 26: Last day for students May 26: Graduation

Amory School District Aug. 7: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Jan. 4: Second semester begins Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: Staff development March 14-18: Spring break April 8: Railroad Festival May 19: Graduation May 20: Last day for students

Itawamba County School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 3: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday May 21: Graduation

Baldwyn School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25-28: Easter May 20: Last day for students May 20: Graduation

Lafayette County School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 9-12: Fall Break Nov.23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 3: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President's Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday April 15: School holiday May 20: Graduation May 23: Final day for students

Benton County School District Aug. 10: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-28: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Teacher work day Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: Teacher work day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday March 28: Good Monday April 11: Teacher work day May 20: Last day for students May 21: Graduation Calhoun County School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: Staff development March 14-18: Spring break March 25-28: Easter May 20: Last day for students May 20: Graduation, CCHS and BHS May 21: Graduation, VHS Chickasaw County School District Aug. 5: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 9-12: Fall break Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 18-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4 and 5: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25-28: Easter May 26: Last day for students Corinth School District Aug. 13: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday May 26: Last day for students May 27: Graduation Holly Springs School District Aug. 6: First day for students

Lee County School District Aug. 5: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 7: Staff development Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday March 28: Easter Monday May 20: Last day for students May 21: Graduation Marshall County School District Aug. 5: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Fall break Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 4: Christmas Jan. 4: Teacher work day Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday March 28: Good Monday April 15: Teacher work day April 18: Teacher work day May 24: Last day for students May 28: Graduation Monroe County School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 19: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 18: End first semester Jan. 4: Begin second semester Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday April 8: Railroad Festival May 19: Last student day May 19: Hatley and Smithville graduation May 20: Hamilton graduation Nettleton School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 18: End first semester Jan. 5: Start second semester Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday May 19: Last day for students May 21: Graduation New Albany School District Aug. 5: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday April 18: Staff development May 19: Last day for students May 20: Graduation North Tippah School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Staff development Nov. 3: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 3: Christmas Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 8: Staff development March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday April 11: Staff development May 20: Last day for students May 18: Falkner graduation May 20: Walnut graduation Oxford School District Aug. 12: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Fall break Oct. 13: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day March 14-18: Spring break

March 25: Good Friday April 15: Staff development May 26: Last day for students May 27: Graduation Pontotoc City School District Aug. 10: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 16: Warrior Pride Day/fall break Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 18: Begin Christmas break Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 5: Students return Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday March 28: Easter Monday May 20: Graduation May 24: Last day for students Pontotoc County School District Aug. 7: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-31: Christmas Jan. 1: New Year’s Day Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: Staff development March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday May 17: Last day for students May 21: Graduation Prentiss County School District Aug. 5: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4 and 5: Staff development Jan. 8: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day

March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday May 24: Last day for students South Tippah School District Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 12: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 21-Jan. 3: Christmas Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 8: Staff development March 14-18: Spring break April 11: Staff development May 19: Last day for students May 20: Graduation

Tupelo School District Aug. 4: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day Oct. 9: Staff development Oct. 12: Columbus Day Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Dec. 18-Jan. 1: Christmas Jan. 4: Staff day Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 25-28: Easter May 20: Last day for students May 20: Graduation

Union County School District Aug. 5: First day for students Starkville-Oktibbeha County Sept. 7: Labor Day School District Oct. 12: Columbus Day Aug. 10: First day for students Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Sept. 7: Labor Day Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas Oct. 5-6: Fall break Jan. 4: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Jan. 5: First day of second seDec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas mester Jan. 4: Staff development Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day King Jr. Day Feb. 15: President’s Day March 14-18: Spring break March 14-18: Spring break March 25: Good Friday March 25: Good Friday May 24: Last day for students May 19: Last day for students May 27: Graduation May 19: East Union and Ingomar graduation Tishomingo County May 20: Myrtle and West School District Union graduation Aug. 6: First day for students Sept. 7: Labor Day West Point Oct. 12-13: Fall break School District Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Aug. 6: First day for students Dec. 21-31: Christmas Sept. 7: Labor Day Jan. 1: New Year’s Day Oct. 19: Teacher work day Jan. 4: Staff development Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther Dec. 21-Jan. 1: Christmas King Jr. Day Jan. 4: Staff development March 14-18: Spring break Jan. 18: Dr. Martin Luther March 25: Good Friday King Jr. Day March 28: Good Monday Feb. 15: Teacher work day May 17: Belmont graduation March 14-18: Spring break May 19: Tishomingo Co. March 25-28: Easter graduation May 20: Last day for stuMay 20: Last day for students dents May 22: Graduation

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BACK TO SCHOOL

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

DAILY JOURNAL

BY EMMA CRAWFORD DAILY JOURNAL

School districts across Northeast Mississippi continue to focus on teaching students how to learn – and succeed – in an increasingly technology-driven world.

IN THE CLASSROOM

Beginning with the Tupelo Public School District’s 1-to-1 initiative in 2010, which gave each student in grades 6-12 a MacBook computer to use in class and take home, many districts have followed suit with similar programs. Niki Peel, Tupelo Schools Instructional Technology Coordinator, said one of the biggest benefits she sees of weaving technology together with curriculum is helping the students realize there are a wealth of devices for their varying needs. “It may come down to what works best for this need,” Peel said. “That’s a perspective our students are lucky to have.” Peel said she notices a difference in the mindset of the millennial-generation students in school now in that they use the technology available to them to figure things out for themselves. “For our students it’s OK to say, ‘Hey, I don’t know, but I can figure it out,” Peel said, noting the age of Google is beneficial to students in that way. In the New Albany School District, Superintendent Jackie Ford said all grades 3-12 will be part of its 1-to-1 program this upcoming school year. Previously, grades 6-12 were not included. The high-schoolers will receive iPads to use at home and at school, and students in grades 3-8 will receive Lenovo Thinkpad laptops. Giving the students laptops allows them to use digital curriculum, similar to a traditional textbook, but online. Children who do not have access to the Internet at home, approximately 25-30 percent of New Albany students, can ac-

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Makayla Fortson, 10, uses her laptop to work on a project last year in Kristen Roberts’ fourth grade classroom at Lawndale Elementary School. An increasing number of school districts are using computers and tablets in their classrooms. cess the digital curriculum via a jump drive. Ford said the devices allow students to learn more interactively using additional resources available to them through the digital curriculum. This includes videos, which Ford said extends the opportunity to fully grasp the material to children who may be more visual or auditory learners and need that extra element to master a skill. Although the cost may be higher up front, in the long run, Ford said, the district will save money by opting to buy devices for all students and by using digital curriculum. In order to keep students equipped with the most updated information, the district would have to order new textbooks each year, which are outdated even by the time the district receives them. “There is no way we could buy current textbooks every year,” he said. “Digital curriculum is current every time you turn it on.” Ford said students seem more eager to participate in a digital curriculum because it’s what they know, but the district will not be able to see its effects on

test scores until the fall. “We feel like it’s increasing student achievement,” Ford said. “It takes some getting used to and changes the culture of the classroom, but you get more of an interactive classroom and more student participation.” The Booneville School District received a digital interactive learning grant in the spring of 2014 to add a 1-to-1 program for grades 3-12, and Superintendent Todd English said since then, the district has seen students and teachers broaden their horizons through better access to online resources. “We’ve seen it open up doors educationally, not just for students, but for teachers as well,” he said. “When other states are using standards similar to ours, the sky’s the limit on the resources available to us online.” Lee County Superintendent Jimmy Weeks said integrating technology into the classroom day-to-day has become necessity for today’s students. “With all of our state testing going online, you really don’t have a choice,” Weeks said. Last year, Shannon High School received funding to install a robust wi-fi network at the school and students were al-

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lowed to bring their own devices into the classroom to be used with teacher permission. “Shannon saw a great benefit from it this past year,” Weeks said, adding that the district hopes to receive funding to expand wi-fi district-wide and eventually implement the same Bring-Your-Own-Device program in all of its schools. Technology engages students in familiar ways, bringing the interactivity they enjoy on electronic devices outside of the classroom, into it. But according to English, technology does not diminish the student-teacher relationships and social interactions vital to a child’s education. “Technology is great, but it will not replace the human element in education,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships.”

AT HOME

The gap between students and many of their pre-digital era parents still exists, presenting a potential challenge for parents wanting to play an active role in their children’s education. However, English said there are more parental pros than cons when it comes to technologybased curriculum. On the plus side, there are more resources available to parents through their children’s digital curriculum to help them understand the concepts and skills their children are studying. More parents are becoming tech-savvy, English said, citing the ever-growing digital shift in the world means digital literacy becomes less and less of a generational gap, and more of a necessary skill to survive in our world at any age. “Technology has played more of a major role in people’s lives,” English said. “If their kids are using it, then there’s a sense of responsibility of the parents needing to know how to do it.”

IN THE FUTURE

Weeks said if the Lee County district receives necessary fund-

ing for its wi-fi expansion, the schools could begin using online textbooks. Right now, Weeks said, this is simply something the district is looking into, but it would give students access to their textbooks 24/7. The district would purchase a number of licenses to the textbook material that would be good for years, so it would not have to purchase updated books for each student. Those licenses, Weeks said, are more cost-effective than textbooks. English said he believes incorporating technology into the classroom better prepares students for higher education and to be competitive in today’s workforce. “It puts the technology in the hands of the people who need the technology,” he said. “At the end of the day, the more they are accustomed to the technology, the more successful they will be.” In the future, English said he would love to offer online courses for Booneville students, or even streaming video classes. For English, it’s all about improvement and access to education. “We believe in what technology can offer,” English said. “Technology can make it affordable for students to have experiences that they otherwise wouldn’t have.” Peel said although Tupelo Schools is a technology-savvy district, she feels strongly that they must remember to teach the children how to use technology in a productive way. “The one thing we sometimes forget in education is simply providing technology doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to have a more positive experience in learning and teaching,” Peel said. “We have a wealth of technology resources, and our goal is to make sure we use those in the best interest of our students. That’s a focus we have to keep.” emma.crawford@journalinc.com

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Tech-savvy school districts hope to see student success

BACK TO SCHOOL

DAILY JOURNAL

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Back to (school) basics: Preparing your child for the first day Finally, the most important piece of your back-to-school basics is to be positive. Talk to your child daily and check in before and after school starts. Encourage them and let them know that they can succeed at school. important events, establish a house calendar that has all school events in one place. Allow your child to help you create the calendar. This could be completed using blank calendars printed from any one of many free sites on the Internet and then allowing the child to use markers or colors to highlight important dates. Many schools offer a school website that lets parents know about open house events and other ways to meet the teachers and help your child become familiar with the school environment. It is important to attend the open house, in order to help your children identify their teachers, walk the school halls and navigate to important places like the lunch room and bathroom. It may even offer you a time to reminisce about when you were in school.

3. SETTING A SCHEDULE FOR DAILY ROUTINES It is a good rule of thumb to begin a sleep/wake routine two weeks prior to the beginning of school. Go ahead and set their alarms in the morning. This ensures your child is familiar with the morning routine and evening routine, in regards to breakfast, lunch, dinner, bath time, and winding down to sleep. A set routine is very important for school-age children. It is also a good time to help your children identify the bus schedule or car pool, which friend could help him/her navigate the school during school and who will be looking after him/her after school. Moreover, for your older teens and adolescents, set up a time to “turn in” all electronic devices and prepare to sleep in the evening. It will be awfully tempting for your

teen to stay up and play on the phone, but it can disrupt their sleep cycle, as well. 4. IDENTIFY COMMUNITY SUPPORT/EVENTS AND FAMILY SUPPORTS Be on the look-out for events that will help you with your child’s school supplies. There are communities that hold back pack and school supply drives, tax free weekend sales for clothing and book sales. USA.gov website gives information and resources on nutritional programs, financial assistance for school supplies and school bus safety. There are also resources on afterschool programs that could help you in reducing the cost of childcare and school supplies. Moreover, talk to your neighborhood friends/parents that could help you with homework time and possibly help with childcare. To access

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the tax free weekend sales, browse your local mall websites for the dates and times. These are a few ways you can prepare for the hustle and bustle of the beginning of the school year. It will also help your children decrease their anxiety regarding new teachers, friends, schools and routines. Talking with your children is the best way to identify their needs

for the upcoming year; however, most children and adolescents will depend on your knowledge and preparation to successfully navigate the school environment. Finally, the most important piece of your back-toschool basics is to be positive. Talk to your child daily and check in before and after school starts. Encourage them and let them know that they can succeed at school.

CLAIRE BROWN is the Regional Director of the Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS). In North Mississippi, MCHS offers behavioral health and social services to children and families. For more information on the services MCHS offers, please visit www.mchscares.org or call (800) 3886247.

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ummer is winding down and soon the kids will be returning to school. The air is fraught with anticipation and anxiety: “Who is my teacher this year?” and “Will my friend be in class with me?” With this much excitement, it is important that parents CLAIRE begin BROWN preparing their children for the beginning of school. These are a few tips that will be beneficial for each parent to consider during this exciting time of year. 1. PREPARING FOR SCHOOL ENROLLMENT If your child is starting school for the first time, it will be important that you check their vaccination record and ensure they meet the school’s requirements. Moreover, it would be a good idea to schedule your child to see the doctor and dentist, as part of a healthy check-up, prior to school starting. If your child is on medication, ensure that the refills are ready and that your school is aware of your child’s disabilities or medical needs. This includes informing the school staff of any medicines to be taken during the day and if your child has a diagnosis of ADHD, ADD, or other mental health diagnosis, that may hinder success in a class setting. 2. CREATING A SCHOOL CALENDAR Once you have received the school information regarding the first day of school and other

BACK TO SCHOOL

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

DAILY JOURNAL

BY RILEY MANNING DAILY JOURNAL

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Shannon Middle School guidance counselor Penny Barnes said her job includes a large emphasis on students’ daily living skills.

Shannon counselor meets variety of student needs BY RILEY MANNING DAILY JOURNAL

Above counselor Penny Barnes’ desk at Shannon Middle School, a small sign reads, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” “I’m kind of an open door for the students because we can’t really know what they go through unless they tell us,” she said. “In the mornings I get here, I try to greet every one of them. They have to see you’re there. Consistency is key.” In her third year at Shannon Middle, the Mantachie native helps students deal with everything from rough home lives to Facebook drama to life skills. Many times, she serves as a cushion between disruption in the classroom and administrative discipline, to help students learn to manage their behavior on their own.

“Some have tough transitions if they’re transferring in from another school or have behavioral issues in general,” she said. “Sometimes they just need a space to calm down. Other times I can talk until I’m blue in the face, and it won’t help, but they have to know you’re available.” In addition, Barnes visits classrooms three times per week in what’s known as classroom guidance lessons. These lessons are geared toward helping upper middle school grades acquire the life skills, like organization and test taking, they will need for high school. In fact, high school counselors are constantly in touch with the middle school about what will be expected of students when they make the jump. “As I was getting my graduate degree from Ole Miss, the culture of the

counselor was changing,” Barnes said. “Now there’s a bigger emphasis on daily living skills. It’s usually topical, about recognizing bullying during October, because that’s the awareness month, or anti-tobacco. Some of it, like the organization skills, doesn’t always stick, but we’re laying the foundation. The sooner kids start learning these skills, the easier they are to use when a kid does finally see their usefulness.” Even middle school counselors have an eye toward graduation. Eighth graders now, Barnes said, can earn high school credits in middle school, through Mississippi history class and others. “The way I see it, my job is to make sure each child has their needs met so they can be successful,” Barnes said. riley.manning@journalinc.com

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If something needs painting in the Tupelo School District, David Miles is the one who gets the call. Before coming to the Tupelo, Miles painted for a district in his native Oklahoma. He’s served Tupelo for nine years. “It’s a rewarding job,” he said, “to take ugly walls and make them like new again.” Miles is in high demand during the summer. He said he couldn’t count how many rooms he’s painted already. “I just got done doing an accent wall in one teacher’s classroom, but mostly at this point I’m going around and touch-

ing up without moving their stuff around,” he said. “It’s boom, boom, boom from one work order to the next, you know.” Sweating over a hefty wooden bench he’d been applying sealant to outside Joyner Elementary, he said he didn’t mind being inside. It’s the heat that wears him down. Miles is the only painter for the district, and works with the tight-knit maintenance squad that also contains a plumber, a heat and air technician, and a few others. “We could use a few more, but I guess you always can,” Miles said. “We’re pretty tight. We eat lunch together at the shop every day, and ride

each other’s nerves like family.” He’s thankful it’s not like last summer, he said, after the tornado damage to Joyner. Not only did the elementary school’s kindergarten hallway need a new roof, every room needed repainting due to the accumulation of grime and water from the storm. “On top of that, our shop got hit,” Miles said. “It used to sit right behind Joyner, so in the middle of all that work, we were trying to relocate at the same time. I’ll never forget it. Everyone came over the very next day, and everyone worked as fast as they could.” riley.manning@journalinc.com

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Tupelo School District painter David Miles is busy during the summer applying fresh coats to classroom walls.

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Tupelo district painter revitalizes classrooms through summer

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DAILY JOURNAL

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Teachers use first-day traditions to set tone for school year BY RILEY MANNING

Teachers will tell you, even though students may have attended kindergarten or even pre-K, first grade is the first day of “real school.” “Many of them went to kindergarten here (at Joyner Elementary in Tupelo), but others may have gone to a private church-held kindergarten,” said Joyner Elementary school teacher Laura Russell. “Either way, they don’t know what to expect. Especially for first-graders, the first day of the first year makes a big impression on how they will continue to view school.” That said, Russell makes the first day of school an equal mix of routines and fun. She and her class of around 20 go over the procedures for lining up, how to handle bathroom time, etc. “I give them an activity with crayons and markers as soon as they come in. It’s not a very structured activity, but it gets them in their seat,” she said. “We read a lot, and one book I read on the first day is called ‘First Day Jitters’ about a teacher who doesn’t want to go to school on the first day because they’re nervous. But the fact that it’s a teacher and not a student who is nervous isn’t revealed until the end.” It’s a balancing act, she said. Perhaps in no other grade do students converge from such different backgrounds, and, consequentially, such varying abilities. For reading, students are grouped by skill level, but not so much by math. For arithmetic, Russell frequently employs graphing activities, like the ratio of boys and girls in the classroom or students’ favorite colors. “But the most important thing is that they feel safe and loved,” she said. “You can’t allow chaos, but you have to be empathetic to their newness. You have to be cognizant of where they came from, be it a less-structured environment in kindergarten or a rocky household they deal with every day before even getting to school.” Tupelo High School government teacher Jeramy Turner gets students at the opposite end, as seniors preparing to enter the real world. By the time they reach Turner, they know the drill. “Like most teachers, I start out more strict and ease up as the year goes on,” he said. “Most of them have been going to school together, so it’s more of me getting to know them than them getting to know each other.”

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Joyner Elementary School first-grade teacher Laura Russell prepares for the upcoming school year by decorating her reading table with quotes about books. Turner said he lays down the ground rules and tries to impress upon them the immediacy of senior year. Though seniors can see a light at the end of the tunnel, one year is still plenty of time for everything to go off the rails. “They actually have less room to mess up, since they won’t have another chance to make up for mistakes,” Turner said. “The first day of school, I get them into groups and have them talk about what they want to do after graduation and what they’re doing to get there. It’s kind of amazing, I’ve had kids decide to be roomates from this activity, when they find out they’re going to the same school.” Then, Turner said, they jump right into learning, to answer the big question of, “What is government?” “As seniors, they’re about to be of age, so I try to encourage them to participate as citizens,” Turner said. “Plus, some of

them have already had negative experiences with the government in the form of police. So we talk about how government is helpful and in what ways it may be a hindrance.” THS art teacher Pat E. Parker faces a similar challenge. The art teacher often has students taking her class to fill an elective after being cut from a sports team, and they are initially less than pleased with the arrangement. “A big part of my first day of school is to sell them on art,” Parker said. “Boys are especially shy about being creative, because around third grade they begin to think of art as something feminine for some reason.” On the first day, Parker gives them 30 minutes to draw a still life set up in the classroom. Then she has them draw it over, only giving them 15 minutes, then again in five minutes, and one last time in just one minute.

“I have them pick which one they think is best – usually the second attempt, actually – and have them write and explain three reasons it’s the best one,” she said. “That way they see they can improve, and that they can always find something good about their work.” To break them in, Parker shows them famous works of arts and outlines the projects they will do throughout the year. Like Turner, Parker is strict at first, which is especially necessary in making sure students are respectful in critiquing each other’s work. “I let them know I’m not going to make fun of their work, so they shouldn’t either,” she said. “I see the first day as an opportunity. Some of them are so ticked off and would rather be anywhere else, but if I can get them into art, that’s why I’m here.” riley.manning@journalinc.com

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

DAILY JOURNAL

Eleven notes to know as new year begins

FEWER TESTS TO BE GIVEN TO TUPELO STUDENTS Kindergarten to second-grade students in the Tupelo Public School District will have fewer district-wide tests next school year. The district is cutting in half the number of district-wide common assessments those students will take, going from eight to four for English and for math. Those tests are developed by the district to give it data on how well students are performing. Third- to eighth-graders still will have eight common assessments, but teachers will be given an advanced copy of four of those to guide their instruction. The other four will be cold tests. District officials said they hoped to reduce the stress on students and teachers while still getting the data they need.

SCHOOL LEADERS FACE ELECTIONS Residents in eight Northeast Mississippi county school districts will elect their superintendents this fall, either in August party primaries or during the November general election. Eleven of the region’s 16 counties have districts with elected superintendents – the rest are appointed by school boards – but Chickasaw County’s Betsy Collums, Marshall County’s Jerry Moore and Monroe County’s Scott Cantrell do not face opponents. Incumbents are running in each county except Benton, where Jack Gadd decided he wants to try something different after his term ends in January. All of the region’s municipal school districts have appointed superintendents.

STANDARDS RECEIVE EXAMINATION The Mississippi Department of Education is seeking public input as it revises its English language arts and mathematics academic standards. Mississippi adopted in 2010 the Common Core State Standards, new guidelines for English and math instruction initially adopted by 45 other states. In 2014, the state renamed its version of the standards, dubbing them the Mississippi College- and Career-Ready Standards. As it reviews those standards, it has launched a website, mississippi.statestandards.com, where the public can provide input. A committee of educators will evaluate those comments and make recommendations on possible changes to the state Board in December. The website will remain open until Sept. 15.

TUPELO HIGH ADDS JAPANESE Tupelo High School students will be able to study Japanese this year. The school reached a partnership with the University of Mississippi to become the first in the state to offer a Japanese language course. Students also can earn college credit from the course, which will be taught on the THS campus by a graduate student from Japan. THS currently offers French, Spanish, Latin and German.

DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION Northeast Mississippi will have two fewer school districts this year. That’s because the Clay County and West Point school districts consolidated, as did the Starkville and Oktibbeha County school districts. This year marks the beginning of those county-wide mergers.

TUPELO PILOTS AP PROGRAM Tupelo High School will launch this year a new program designed to push a select group of students to complete a collegelevel research project. The school was among 359 high schools in the world selected by the College Board to participate in the new Advanced Placement Capstone program. Participants will take two one-year courses. In the first, they will work as a group to complete a project, make a presentation and write a research-based essay. In the second, they will continue their research, write an academic thesis paper of at least 5,000 words and make a public presentation and oral defense.

LEE COUNTY AWAITS OK ON DISTRICT-WIDE WI-FI EXPANSION All Lee County schools could receive wireless Internet as soon as this school year if the district's application for funding gets approved. The funding for the project would come from E-Rate, a federal program that provides money to schools, libraries and others from service charges assessed on telephone bills. The funding would allow for every classroom at every school to have its own wireless access point, allowing the rooms the capacity for 30-32 devices to be used. Multipurpose buildings could host 100 devices or more. Once funding is approved, the installation should take no more than 40 days.

TUPELO SCHOOLS CREATES DISCIPLINE ACTION PLAN In an effort to maintain equality in the discipline process in its schools, Tupelo Public School District will focus on teaching students expectations for their behavior in the classroom and on school campuses at the beginning of the school year. This is part of an action plan developed through looking at data and discussion by the district and groups of students and faculty. For the first 20 days of class, students will spend time going over these expectations. Then, throughout the school year, students will have a character trait to focus on per month.

SALES-TAX HOLIDAY BEGINNING IN JULY From 12:01 a.m. LEE COUNTY CHANGES July 31 to midnight SPECIAL EDUCATION Aug. 1, the state of Mississippi has APPROACH granted its fourth sales tax holiday. Special Education Di- The sales tax exemption will give rector Kathy Dickerson shoppers a break on clothing and announced in early July at a shoes that are priced less than School Board Retreat that she $100 each. School supplies and hopes to restructure the specomputers aren’t included in the cial education program in Lee annual sales holiday. In Tupelo, County schools. that amounts to a 7.5 percent disDickerson said she believes count. the IEP program would be Shoppers can spend as much as more efficient if it took a reme- they would like, but individual diation-focused approach, items can’t cost more than $100. rather than focusing so much Stores can offer discounts to on helping special education make items that are normally $100 students keep their grades up. qualify for the sales tax holiday. With the realization that However, buy one, get one free ofmany IEP students do not fers can’t be averaged together to graduate high school because make items qualify.The sales have they lack reading and other to be made during the tax holiday fundamental skills, Dickerson to qualify. said the goal of this mindset A complete list of eligible and inshift for the program is to imeligible items is available from the prove the district's 18 percent Mississippi Department of RevIEP graduation rate. enue. For the most part, the sales Mooreville Elementary will tax holiday covers clothes, coats be the first school to adopt any and shoes that aren’t for special acchanges in its special educativities. School supplies and comtion program. puters are not included.

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STUDENTS TO SEE NEW STATE TEST For the second year in a row, Mississippi students will see a brand new state test this year. During the spring, the state pulled out of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of Colleges and Careers, a multi-state consortium that developed last year’s state tests, the first tests based on the new Mississippi College- and Career-Ready Standards. Mississippi education leaders opted to replace PARCC with Questar Assessment, a Minnesota-based company that will create the tests for its third- to eighth-grade students, as well as for high school students. Those students only will be tested once – at the end of the year – unlike last year when PARCC had an additional test near the end of the third quarter.

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DAILY JOURNAL

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

BY EMMA CRAWFORD DAILY JOURNAL

PRINCIPALS

When Brock English arrived for his first day on the job as Tupelo Middle School’s principal in early July, he already knew he was in the right place. English taught seventhgrade English for five years

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New Tupelo Middle School Principal Brock English returns to a school where he taught for five years early in his career. at TMS early in his teaching career, and now he returns as an administrator, eager to start his 14th year in education with a school of nearly 1,100 seventhand eighthgraders. “It felt like coming home,” he said. “I was very excited to get this position and thankful to Dr. Loden and the school board for the opportunity.” A Tupelo Public School District veteran, English student taught at King Street Early Childhood Education Center and Pierce Street Elementary, spent his first year teaching at Pierce Street and then taught at Milam and TMS. “It’s a great district,” he said. “It’s a place you want to work.” His familiarity with the school, English said, has allowed him to focus on making sure his new hires are prepared for the school year. English said he has met individually with all of his teachers and staff members to discuss

goals and expectations for the school year. “It’s more about helping them get ready at this point,” he said. “It’s giving them a chance to have a voice.” Until students arrive, English will also focus on updating the school aesthetically. He said the school will be painted, and rooms and floors will be updated in the weeks before school starts. Construction on new classrooms will also begin in the fall. At Thomas Street Elementary, Cindy Pike looks forward to beginning the school year as principal in the school where she spent six years teaching early in her education career. Pike said what drew her

to education was her love of learning. “I’ve always loved school,” she said. “I’ve always just had a love of learning. Even as an administrator, you’re always learning things.” Pike has been a literacy coach and a Reading Recovery teacher. She was also on the Pierce Street Elementary staff that helped start the Whole School Arts Integration program in the Tupelo school district. Kindergarten children, Pike said, are especially fascinating to her because at their age, they learn a wealth of basic skills. Pike said as August approaches, she wants to work hard to make sure parents and students will feel comfortable at

Education Director. Now, as she steps into her new role as a high school principal, she said she hopes to build a stronger bond between the students and their school and between the school and the community. “I want them to have a feeling of ownership of their school and their community,” she said. “That’s very important to me.” Having spent years in a school district central office, Wood said she looks forward to the opportunity to interact with stud e n t s face-toface every day. She also said she feels her experience will Wood give her a leg up on understanding the relationship between the school and the district’s needs. “I know what they’re looking for, and that helps so much,” she said. “We’re all trying to meet the same goal, and if you’re not over there, you’re not going to understand why.” Wood said there is a certain desire she thinks many educators feel to give back to the schools and communities they grew up in. “We want to come home and try to make a difference,” she said. TURN TO ROOTS, 10D

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Many students across Northeast Mississippi will see new administrative faces come August, but for several principals and superintendents, their new schools and districts won’t be so new to them. Rather, they will be coming home. Brock English, former principal of Lawndale Elementary, is now principal at Tupelo Middle School. Cindy Pike, who was assistant principal at Lawhon Elementary, is now principal at Thomas Street Elementary. In Mantachie, Millie Wood is the new principal of Mantachie High School. Superintendents Tony Cook and Ken Byars are new to their districts, Houston and Amory, respectively, as well. Other new principals in the region include among others: Melissa Thomas, Lawndale Elementary; Kristy Keeton, East Amory Elementary; Kenneth Goralczyk, Amory Middle; Brian Jones, Amory High School; Jeff Brooks, Monroe County Advanced Learning Center; Misty Powell, Hatley Elementary; Nikki Buchanan, Nettleton Primary; Angela Hendrix, Nettleton Upper Elementary; Ray Weeks, Nettleton Junior High; Brad Pounders, Pine Grove School and Tommy Ozbirn, Blue Mountain High.

Thomas Street, especially because for many children, it will be their first school experience. “I love watching children learn to read,” she said. “It’s just such a wonder sometimes. I’ve always felt like we are the most important years in school.” Pike’s children attended Thomas Street, and that parent perspective, she said, along with her previous teaching experience at the school, makes her feel prepared to lead Thomas Street well. Pike said she came into her new position knowing more than half of the teachers at Thomas Street. She said she is excited to be part of a school with so much community support. “The community around Thomas Street has always stepped up to support the school,” she said. “The community loves the school.” When the principal position opened up at Mantachie High School, Millie Wood said she knew she wanted to seize the opportunity to return to her alma mater for her 20th year in education. “When it came open, I knew I really wanted to be a candidate because I love the school,” she said. “I grew up here.” Wood taught special education in Lee County and Itawamba County and was Special Education Director of Amory Schools before becoming Mantachie School District’s Special

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Administrators move to new schools

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

Roots FROM 9D

SUPERINTENDENTS

Tony Cook moved to the Houston School District this summer, and said he could not resist the chance to return to his hometown as superintendent. Cook grew up in Houston and graduated from Houston H i g h School in 1982. “ Y o u Cook don’t get the opportunity to come home very often, so I thought I should take it,” he said. Steve Coker was Houston Superintendent for 14 years before Cook, and Cook said he hopes to build on the things Coker

did. Cook said with the district currently “C” rated, he hopes to change that rating to an “A.” “I want the best for the community I grew up in,” Cook said. Cook said one of his goals for the district is to make sure instruction is aligned with assessment. This, Cook said, includes teaching students how to apply the skills they’ve learned, rather than simply memorizing information. Cook coached college football at Delta State University and said his experience with college students revealed to him that many of them arrive in college unable to really apply what they learned in high school, forcing them to take remedial classes during their freshman year. “I saw what they were lacking,” he said. “I don’t want that for our kids. I

want them to be ready for college. You’ve got to be able to take what you’ve learned to everyday life.” Cook said he is excited to be part of a school district with strong community support. “There’s been a really good foundation laid here,” he said of Houston. “The community wants the school system to be good, and there’s support here.” With 28 years of education experience, Cook said he feels confident in his abilities to lead Houston to that goal. “I’ve seen the highs and lows, and I know the political issues that we’re facing, and the education issues that we’re facing, and I think all that will help us put the things in place we want to do here,” he said. Taking Cook’s place as superintendentof the

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Cindy Pike is the new principal at Thomas Street Elementary. Amory School District is Ken Byars. The upcoming school year marks Byars’ third full year in the Amory school system. Most recently, Byars was principal at Amory High School. Knowing most of the people he will be working with at the district office, Byars said, makes him feel confident about his transition into

his new role. B y a r s said he wants to continue to strive for the goals Byars Cook and the school board have set for the district. These goals include creating the safest atmos-

phere possible for students, keeping the district financially sound and maximizing student achievement. The latter, Byars said, is always a high priority for Amory schools. Byars said he hopes to maintain the district’s “A” rating and keep striving for improvement in academics, athletics and all other facets of the district. What drew Byars to administration, he said, was the idea that it allows him the opportunity to positively influence more students than his role as a teacher or principal. “I came to realize as a teacher, I can only impact who I come in to contact with face-to-face every day,” he said. “As an administrator, I get to have an impact on every student.” emma.crawford@journalinc.com

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10D

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FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

11D

BY GINNA PARSONS

In a perfect world, your 7-yearold would beg you to pack a roasted chicken sandwich on whole wheat bread, some carrot sticks, a piece of fresh fruit and a container of milk in his school lunchbox. But this is the real world, and your 7-year-old is probably whining instead for a pizza Lunchable, a handful of chocolate chip cookies and a Mountain Dew. So where do parents draw the line between what’s healthful for a child and what they’ll actually eat? “There are no forbidden foods,” said Lynn Patterson, a clinical dietitian at North Mississippi Medical Center. “It’s OK to have sugar and fat, but you don’t want to overdo it on a daily basis. Lunchables are OK now and then. Just remember they are higher in fat and you’ll

Popped popcorn Dried fruits Assorted nuts Mini pretzels M&M candies

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TRAIL MIX

Combine ingredients that you prefer in the amounts you like. Divide into small snack bags. need to adjust your child’s breakfast and dinner accordingly.” Some lunch options Patterson recommends that are nutritious and interesting for kids are turkey sandwiches on pita bread, pretzels, baked chips and dried fruit, such as raisins or trail mix (see recipe). “Always try to get them to drink milk in the cafeteria,” Patterson said. “For a child up to age 6, we recommend 2 percent milk. Once they get school-age, it’s safe to do 1

percent.” Patterson noted that 1 percent has the same calcium and vitamin benefits as whole milk or 2 percent milk, but much less fat. For kids who are reluctant to eat fresh fruit, Patterson said fruit cups and apple sauce are good substitutes. “Those colored apple sauces are fine,” she said. Fruit cups or fat-free pudding cups may have some sugar in them, “but they’re better than a Twinkie or Ding Dong.” One popular snack item that parents should be aware of is Fruit Roll-Ups and similar products. “Watch your Fruit Roll-Ups. They contain a lot of sugar. They’re more along the lines of a dessert or candy than a fruit,” she said. And let’s not forget the benefits of good old-fashioned peanut butter. “Lots of kids like peanut butter,”

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A well-balanced school lunch can consist of a turkey sandwich with lettuce and light mayo on whole wheat bread, a few pretzel chips, a piece of fresh fruit, a handful of baby carrots and water. Patterson said. “You could do peanut butter crackers or peanut butter on a bagel.” Two tablespoons of Reduced Fat Jif contain 12 grams of fat (regular Jif has 16), 8 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber and 4 grams of sugar. String cheese is another lowfat choice that kids like because of

the way it’s packaged, she said.Yogurt is another good choice for a school lunch, especially for kids who don’t drink milk. Patterson recommends cold packs (which can be purchased at grocery or discount stores) be placed in lunch boxes when kids are carrying yogurt, pudding, milk or anything with mayonnaise in it. “You put the cold pack in the freezer the night before, pack it with the child’s lunch the next morning and at the end of the day, put it back in the freezer again,” she said. She also advocates letting students help pack their school lunches. “Get the kids involved,” she said. “Let them have some say in what they’re having. Let them help pack it, even the night before.” ginna.parsons@journalinc.com

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BACK TO SCHOOL

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DAILY JOURNAL

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

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Healthy habits assist in child’s ability to learn BY MICHAELA GIBSON MORRIS DAILY JOURNAL

Kids need more than notebooks, pencils and crayons when they walk in the doors at school. They need to bring along a whole range of healthy habits to help make sure they are ready to learn when they get to the classroom.

DON’T SHORT SLEEP

A good day starts the night before. “Kids need to get at least eight hours of sleep,” Nabors said. “The lack of sleep is going to cause more stress.” Getting kids to sleep is never easy, and technology has added to the sleep deficit. “I think a lot of kids stay up late on phones and tablets,” Nabors said. Parents need to set bed times that allow for enough sleep and help their kids create environments that promote sleep. That may mean the electronics need their own bedtime. “Get them out of the bedroom or turn them off,” Nabors said.

MAKE TIME TO PLAY

It’s tempting to keep the focus on homework and chores in the evening, but Nabors recommends that families make time to play |

CHILDCARE

CHILDREN UNDER 5 ENTERING LICENSED CHILDCARE facilities are required to meet the age-appropriate guidelines for the school entry immunizations and these additional vaccines. • Pneumococcal: Protects against invasive Pneumococcal disease, including meningitis. Recommended schedule: 4 doses between 2 and 18 months. • Hib: Protects against Haemophilus influenzae, bacteria which causes meningitis. Recommended schedule: 4 doses between 2 months and 15 months. |

NEED SHOTS

VACCINES ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE through pediatricians and family practice clinics. • Low cost immunizations, $10 an injection for children 18 and under who qualify through county health departments and Vaccine for Children providers. Call (866) 458-4948 or county health departments for more information. • Immunization registry Not sure what you need? Mississippi maintains an immunization registry with information from public health clinics and many private providers. Call (601) 576-7751

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Kamryn and Kylan Washington of Tupelo model a well-rounded morning meal. A healthy breakfast is an essential part of a strong backto-school strategy. together, too. Kids who consistently get physical activity scored better on state tests, according to research done at the University of Southern Mississippi. An after dinner stroll, a family bike ride or a backyard game of catch provides physical activity and a low-stress way to |

connect. “The interaction with parents and exercise is really important,” Nabors said. It also has the bonus of getting everyone away from screens, she said.

CHECK IN

A regular check-up with a primary care provider can help catch problems

REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS

These immunizations are required of all students entering public or private schools in Mississippi unless they receive an approved medical exemption. • Tdap: Protects against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough Recommended schedule: 5 doses between ages 2 months and 6 years. Booster required for rising 7th graders; recommended for all children 11 and up. • Polio: Recommended schedule: 4 doses between 2 months and 6 years. • Hepatitis B: Recommended schedule: 3 doses between birth and 18 months. • MMR: Protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Recommended schedule: 2 doses between ages 1 year and 6 years. • Varicella: Protects against chickenpox. Recommended schedule: 2 doses between 1 and 5 years.

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while they are still manageable. Well check-ups give physicians, parents and kids time to talk about a range of healthy habits such as nutrition, exercise, seat belts and texting and driving. It’s also a great time for kids to build a relationship with their doctor when they are miserable with the flu, a cough or some other crud, Nabors said. “Kids need to have someone they feel comfortable talking to,”

Nabors said. “If they don’t feel comfortable, they will never reach out.”

LITTLE STICKS

No one likes shots, but immunizations provide tremendous protection against a wide range of illnesses. In Mississippi, children are required to be immunized against polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, whooping cough, chicken pox and Hepatitis B before they enter kindergarten. Additionally, rising sev-

enth-graders are required to have a booster against whooping cough. “It’s important to keep those shots up to date,” Nabors said. Immunizations protect the children who receive them and those who can’t get them for medical reasons. Beyond the shots required for school, parents of tweens and teens will want to consider vaccinations against meningitis and HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, Nabors said.

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FUEL UP

Kids need to have a full tank of gas to make it through the school day. Many kids grab a Pop Tart or other sugary breakfast food that won’t fuel them fully until lunch. “They need more protein and less sugar,” said Tupelo physician Dr. Deanna Nabors, who is board-certified in pediatrics and internal medicine. Eggs, turkey sausage, turkey bacon can add a lean source of protein that will keep kids going and growing, Nabors said. Some cereals even have extra protein in the mix. Breakfast is also a great time to incorporate fruit. “There’s a lot of good options out there,” Nabors said. Parents can make sure kids have lots of healthy choices in the pantry for breakfasts and snacks. They can cut down on sugary soft drinks and junk food by not keeping it in the house.

FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015

DAILY JOURNAL

Proudly Brought To You By The Following Business Sponsors . . . Our friendly and concerned neighborhood service providers and merchants have joined together to bring you these important safety tips. Have a happy, healthy and safe 2014-2015 school year.

A B

ALWAYS use the sidewalk when walking to and from school. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic. BE aware of the street traffic around you. Avoid wearing headphones while walking.

CUSTOMER SERVICE COMPANIES

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CROSS in front of the bus, and make sure the driver sees you pass.

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DON’T play in the street while waiting for the bus. Stay on the sidewalk.

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IF you miss the bus, call a parent or guardian to drive you to school. Never ask a stranger!

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JAYWALKING is dangerous. Cross the street at crosswalks. KEEP a safe distance between you and the bus while waiting for it to stop.

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MAKE sure to keep your hands to yourself at all times while riding on the bus.

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NEVER throw things on the bus or out the bus window, and always keep your hands and arms inside.

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FACE forward and remain seated throughout the entire bus ride.

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TALK quietly on the bus, so you don’t distract or annoy the driver.

USE emergency exits only in emergencies, and make sure not to block them.

VACANT lots and buildings should be avoided on your walk to the bus stop.

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529 Daybrite Drive • Tupelo • 842-5523

W X

WAIT for a signal from the bus driver before you cross the street. X MARKS railroad tracks. Be silent when a bus comes to a railroad crossing, so the driver can hear if a train is coming.

OBEY your bus driver’s rules and regulations, so he or she can get you to school quickly and safely.

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GET to your bus stop five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.

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COMFORT ENGINEERING

STAY on the sidewalk, at least 10 feet from the road, while waiting for the bus.

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ENTER and exit the bus in a single-file line, letting younger students go first.

REMEMBER to look to the right before you step off the bus. Careless drivers in a hurry may sometimes try to pass on the right.

PRACTICE good behavior on and off the bus. Don’t get talked into breaking the rules!

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YOUNG children should be walked to the bus stop by their parents or an older sibling.

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2045 McCullough Blvd. • Tupelo, MS • 844-0830 Sherrie & Larry Hearn - Owners

HOLD onto the handrail when you are entering and exiting the bus.

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842.7305 • TUPELO

QUICKLY go to your seat when you enter the bus, and keep your feet and belongings out of the aisle.

Zzzz. Get a good night of sleep, so you can start each school day feeling refreshed.

Rabbit Patch

Daycare & Pre-School

Care for ages infant through 8 years in a family-type atmosphere.

2121 W. Main, Tupelo 844-4741 Cathy Davis - owner

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