School News
DES Teacher Of The Month – Victoria (Tori) Stickland, kindergarten teacher, was selected by her peers as Davidson Elementary Teacher of the Month for October. – Photo by Jack Gurner
Star students selected at Davidson Elementary School in November include (kindergarten) Matthew Crump, Robert Cooper, Alaina Allen, Summer Webb and Tiara Brown; (first grade) Cameron Holmes, D’Antonio Hervey, Christian Melton, Allyson Wilbourn, Austin Hill and Kaddarious Liddell; (second grade) Madison Urban, Colton Gardener, Sydney Epes, Tykayla Woodard and Brooke Hollinger; (third grade) Gabby Adams, Megan Romberger, Haley Walls, Jana Hart and Sara Ellis Dean; (fourth grade) Shamiyah Judson,
Mechanics Bank responded again this year to a former challenge issued by the Rotary Club that each Elementary School Teacher be provided $100 to purchase classroom supplies. Donna Blake, on behalf of the second grade teachers, accepts a $500 check from Mechanics Bank employee Charlie Edwards. On hand for the presentation include (from left) Raymond Hawkins, Donna Blake, Charlie Edwards, Christy Lowery, Kelsey Edwards, Brandy Russell, Melissa Burrell and Tyler Hill. – Photo Provided
The Kindergarten classes at DES enjoyed watching the workers from The City of Water Valley as they made improvements to their playground. The students were very excited to watch the tractor dig and move dirt. The teachers and students would like to thank the workers for their time. – Photo and info submitted
The Kindergarten, First Grade and Third Grade classes were visited by the Water Valley Rescue teams. The students were able to see the firetruck and the ambulance (pictured here). The teachers and students at Davidson Elementary appreciate the firemen and paramedics that came. – Photo and info submitted
Among the fall decorations in the halls of DES was this scarecrow made to look like Principal Chester Drewery. – Photo by Jack Gurner
A firetruck from the Water Valley Fire Department also visited with the DES first grade, third grade and kindergarten classes recently.
WATER VALLEY – Sixty percent of students at WVHS had five or more unexcused absences during the 2010-2011 school year.
During the same period, 27 percent had 12 or more unexcused days, Superin-tendent Kim Chrestman reported during the Monday night meeting of the district board of trustees.
The rate at Davidson Elementary School was 20 percent with five or more unexcused days and five percent with 12 or more.
The overall district truancy rate was 43 percent with five or more days and 15 percent with 12 or more, Chrestman said.
The school attendance officer receives referrals when the student reaches five unexcused absences and court petitions are filed when the student reaches 12 days. Students over the compulsory school attendance age of 17 are included.
Chrestman also reported that the annual Fall Festival at Davidson Elementary School was a huge success, even with the rainy weather.
“Approximately $7,000 was raised for the school,” the superintendent said. “DES wanted to thank the community for all the support and help with the Fall Festival.”
The full text of Chrestman’s Superintendent’s report is included below.
In other actions during the Nov. 7 school board meeting, trustees:
• Heard a request from Head Coach Brad Embry to begin construction on the second phase of the weight room addition.
Embry told trustees that the concrete had been poured several weeks ago and $11,543 was left in the fund for the project. The winning bid to construct the building portion is $9,740.
Trustees voted to accept the bid and proceed with the construction.
• Accepted a $500 donation from Mechanics Bank.
• Entered executive session at 6:46 p.m. after meeting in regular session for just under 15 minutes.
The next meeting is scheduled for the third Monday, Nov. 21.
by Kim Chrestman
Nov. 7, 2011
Ms. Lauren Burgess at Davidson Elementary has been selected to participate in a Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation meeting for physical education professionals. This special invitation only meeting will provide a stipend check for $200 for her time and travel and physical education equipment worth $500. The goal is to make the children of the Water Valley School District and the state of Mississippi healthier.
Active learning at Davidson Elementary School continues as the fourth grade students attended HealthWorks! in Tupelo. HealthWorks! engages the students and teachers the entire time with lots of health/nutrition activities and information. Every grade that participated in this ARC sponsored field trip experience has talked about how educational and fun it is.
Tori Stickland, kindergarten teacher, was selected by her peers as Davidson Elementary Teacher of the month for October.
Davidson Elementary School annual Fall Festival was huge success, even with the rainy weather. Approximately $7,000 was raised for the school. DES wanted to “Thank” the community for all the support and help with the Fall Festival.
Friday, November 4th, a Dropout Prevention Breakfast was held at the Davidson Elementary Cafeteria. The breakfast program was meant to emphasize the dropout crisis in the United States/Mississippi and to recognize the significant risk factors for school dropout. Four specific factors have been identified to significantly impact dropout at all levels of school. They are low achievement, retention/over age for grade, poor attendance, and low socioeconomic/poverty status.
Water Valley Truancy Rate for 2010-2011:
Water Valley School District
43% of students had 5 or more unexcused days
15% of students had 12 or more unexcused days
Water Valley High
60% of students had 5 or more unexcused days
27% of students had 12 or more unexcused days
Davidson Elementary
29% of students had 5 or more unexcused days
5% of students had 12 or more unexcused days
*School Attendance Officer receives referrals at 5 unexcused and court petitions are filed at 12 unexcused days. Students over compulsory school attendance age (17) are included.
Water Valley Blue Devil Football team defeated Leflore County 45-12 last Friday night in the first round of the State Playoffs. The Blue Devils will host Winona in the second round of playoffs at Bobby Clark Field at 7:00 pm this Friday night, November 11, 2011. Admission is $7.
Water Valley High School Student Council entered the “Rock the Schoolhouse” challenge. The challenge was issued by the Associated Student Body Presidents of Mississippi’s eight public universities. Schools were offered the opportunity to submit an application and video outlining a project for their school. Water Valley High School Student Council submitted a project for the flagpole/tower area of the WVHS campus. The project objective was to turn the current unmanageable green space into a much more manageable hardscape. The application and video presentation earned WVHS one of the awards. Taylor McGraw, Associated Student Body President from The University of Mississippi, notified Principal Glenn Kitchens that WVHS was selected as a recipient. The Associated Student Body Presidents from the universities reviewed all applications/videos and McGraw stated that they loved the WVHS video. McGraw and others from Ole Miss along with members of the WVHS student council and club sponsors Anna Koshenina and Nicole Murchison will spend the day November 18 bringing the project to fruition. A planning day was held on Friday, November 4, and the team will return on the 18th to execute the plan. This is a very exciting time for our school. We look forward to the finished project and know that it will enhance our school campus and the local community as well. Thanks to the Student Council for entering the contest and special thanks to senior Mallory Washington for creating the video. Thanks to Ole Miss and the other seven universities for selecting WVHS for this award. We are very grateful.
The Water Valley High School Drama Club will present their fall play Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Civic Auditorium.
The play, “Spy TV” by Kenneth R. Preuss, is the story of what happens when a cable TV company installs cameras in every corner of fictional Bradbury High School to be broadcast live all day long.
When the cameras catch students in embarrassing situations, most students want the cameras out, according to Debra Anderson, drama club sponsor and play director.
“But the football star, the gossip girl, and leader of the Grunge band like all the attention,” Anderson said.
The play is a humorous lively commentary on trash TV and suitable for all ages. Tickets are $5 at the door. The curtain goes up at 7 p.m.
The drama club is doing a special performance during the day Friday, Nov. 18 for DES students in 3rd through 6th grade.
Students participating in the production are: Holly Bounds, Autumn Mooney, Lorin Moser, Emily Rone, Niketa Wilson, Devonte Alexander, Rod Harris, Victoria Hopper, Cameron Horton, Ashley Isaacs, Michanda Jefferson, Audrey Jones, Amber Mooney, Timothy Perkins, Lilly Petrovic, Elizabeth Davis, Sofiya Lipenkova, Sydney Nelson, Christian Stone, Tumarro Williams, Kelsey Hernandez, Michael Hines, Zachary Patton, Annie Person, Caitlin Reid, Hannah Story, Laura Vaughn.
