Magnolia Public Schools served as one of four national pilot sites for the Connected Mathematics Project during 2001-2002. Teachers provided input to the authors of the math curriculum after using the revised materials in their classrooms. MPS is the only Arkansas school chosen from over 50 national applicants to pilot CMP in 2002-2003. Mathematics coordinator Kittena Bell and four teachers, Carolyn Monk (5th), Elizabeth Tye and Maxine Broom (6th), and Dave Graham (7th) traveled (all expenses paid) to the National Summer CMP Institute at Michigan State University in July.

The Magnolia High School Panther Painters hosted an art exhibition entitled “Selfish Images” in February. The exhibit included free-standing self-image cutouts, collage paintings and montage pieces created with a variety of media. The works reflect the lives, ideas and attitudes of each artist. The exhibition was located in the Rosemary Rhea Regional Arts in Education Gallery in Magale Library on the campus of Southern Arkansas University.

The Magnolia High School Panther Painters displaying their works in the exhibition were Victoria Bell, Ray Biddle, Jonathan Brooks, Sam Connelly, Heather Elliott, Lindsey Fowler, Daniel Hudgens, Sabra Hudman, Michael Key, Rachel Mack, Lindsey Manning, Molly Morgan, Heather Roberson, Lisa Rowe, Shannin Watkins, Lauren Warlick, Jessica Wilhite and Amy Wilson. Laurie Hicks is the art instructor at Magnolia High School.

Promotion criteria implemented at MJHS resulted in many students spending their summer days in the classroom. Because Arkansas graduates of 2004 (current 11th grade), are required to earn four mathematics credits to graduate, students must successfully complete mathematics courses in grades 9-12. Students failing to pass math in grade 9 must successfully complete mathematics in summer school to promote to grade 10. Two sessions (first semester and second semester) of math summer school served 90 junior high students and 51 high school students.

The promotion criteria also requires ninth grade students successfully completing mathematics but failing English, to attend a summer school for English. Eleven students attended summer school for English.

A digital video camera system monitors the entrances and strategic areas at MJHS. The system, which is networked and expandable, allows for 16 different simultaneous views (photo below) and one zoom capability. The system offers continuous recording or can be programmed to save room on the computer hard drive by switching over to motion detection. In addition, the system can be programmed to monitor on a certain day and time.

All sixth grade students and students in the eighth grade health rotation class received CPR training by certified staff using regulation equipment. Five PE/Health teachers are certified CPR instructors. The school purchased the equipment necessary to teach CPR training during PE/health classes. The training for certification includes an in-class study, hands-on practice and a written exam. A passing score on the written exam and demonstration of proper techniques during hands-on practice sessions are prerequisites for certification.

From the ‘Crusaders for Courage’ climbing from the rooftop of the school building to the director of the Arkansas Department of Education arriving in an Army National Guard helicopter, the students of East Side Elementary School saw their ‘Mission Possible’ CD impressively delivered during the school’s monthly Character-Centered Teaching pep rallies. The methods of delivery included a swat team from the rooftop, a fire truck, a presidential car escorted by secret servicemen, a motorcycle policeman, ‘Cajun Chicken’ on a horse, authentic race car, Harley-Davidson motorcycle gang, a backhoe with a front loader, and a helicopter. Each month’s ‘Mission Possible’ message was recorded on a CD by Ken Sibley of KVMA.

The Character-Centered Teaching activities at East Side Elementary School are directed by teacher-leaders: Susan Hanson, music teacher; Tena Hughes, physical education teacher; and Kay Whitehead, speech therapist.

Character-Centered Teaching is part of Arkansas’ Smart Start and Smart Step Initiative. Act 631 of 1997 required all schools in Arkansas to begin Character-Centered Teaching during 2000-2001. “Character is the issue, and your character makes a difference every day,” says Governor Mike Huckabee. Developing exceptional character promotes learning, achievement and a stronger self.

Personal Attributes Win Success, “PAWS”, is the motto for the character-centered teaching program in Magnolia Public Schools. Character-centered teaching is an integral part of Magnolia Public Schools’ culture. The focus is to foster positive student attributes, thereby promoting academic success for all students. A new “character” word is introduced each month to all students in the district. The entire staff participates in modeling, teaching, recognizing and encouraging good character.

Seven students at Magnolia High School have earned the distinction of being a member of the Platinum Club 2001-2002. To be eligible for membership in the prestigious club, a student must score 30 or higher on the ACT or be a National Merit or National Achievement Scholarship recipient.

Of the seven students who qualify, five are seniors and two are juniors. The five seniors have accumulated scholarship money in excess of $199,700 to institutions of higher education. All five students will further their education in the state of Arkansas.

MHS seniors have exceeded One Million Dollars in scholarships awarded each year for the past five years. Thirty-six of MHS 2001 graduates earned scholarships totaling more than $1 million to assist in furthering their education.

Downtown Magnolia District recognized 160 MHS students who acquired a 3.5 or better cumulative grade point average at the annual Scholars Banquet.

Two students from Magnolia High School were selected to attend the 2002 Arkansas Governor’s School for the Gifted and Talented. The selected students are John Epley, son of Mike and Betty Epley, and Laura Reynolds, daughter of Victor and Deborah Reynolds. Epley was selected in the Social Studies discipline, while Reynolds was selected in the English/Language Arts discipline.

All 2004 graduates in Arkansas are required to earn four mathematics credits, including algebra and geometry.

Students graduating in 2005 will be required to earn 23 credits to receive a diploma from Magnolia High School. The previous MHS requirement and the current state requirement is 21 credits.
 

Betty Wooldridge Wilson, a kindergarten teacher at West Side School in Magnolia, has been selected as one of Arkansas’ three state finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Program. As a state finalist, Wilson received an unrestricted cash award of $750 from the National Science Foundation. Her video application packet will progress through a judging process conducted by a national selection team. The White House will announce the results in early spring. Wilson was recognized and honored during the Arkansas Mathematics and Science Professional Development Institute banquet held at University of Central Arkansas in Conway in July.

Wilson was selected to make a presentation at the Arkansas Smart Start Conference in Little Rock in July. The conference was attended by more than 1,400 teachers and administrators from around the state.

Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 who have maintained a ninety percent grade average in the core subject areas of English, foreign language, mathematics, science and social studies are eligible to take an academic achievement exam to qualify for an Outstanding Academic Recognition Award. Students may take the academic achievement exam for all core subject areas as long as eligibility requirements are met for each subject.

During the spring semester, students may sign-up to take an academic achievement exam in the core subject areas for their appropriate grade level. The tests are developed and graded by the teacher of each subject/course and include material specific to each grade level.

The exam scores of all students participating in the academic achievement exams are ranked from highest to lowest. The first place award is a pullover jacket; the second place award is a plaque. A Certificate of Participation is presented to all students who take the exams.

Dr. Linda Griffith, mathematics consultant from the Arkansas Center for Mathematics Education at University of Central Arkansas provides training for teachers of students with disabilities in an effort to improve mathematics results. Attending the professional development mathematics training in July were Rose Biley, MHS; Dr. Griffith; Kittena Bell, mathematics coordinator and grant writer; Kathleen Dingman, Central,Mona Cayce, Central & OCS; Pam Mayo, East & West; Terry Hudman, Central; Merrye Smith, East; Stella Edwards, special education supervisor; and Vickie Pennington, MJHS. Consultant fees for this and other staff development opportunities are paid from funds provided by the grant.

Magnolia Public Schools mathematics coordinator Kittena Bell, Albemarle Corporation production manager Steve Miller, plant manager Scott Bottelberghe, regulatory affairs supervisor Steve Card, MHS science teacher Bill Boyd and MHS math teacher Jan Alford worked together to make the project a success.

Approximately 200 secondary mathematics and science students at Magnolia High School participated in the Industrial Estuary Water Analysis Project. Through a partnership arrangement with Albemarle Corporation, seven rotating teams comprised of approximately ten students each traveled to six sampling sites at the 50-acre artificial marsh during the spring semester. Five quality parameters were used including dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, conductivity and temperature.

In addition to on-site analysis, water samples were analyzed in the high school lab by all chemistry and physics students to increase student participation in the project. Calculus and Transition to College Math students analyzed the data collected from each of the six sites by quality parameter. In addition, results from each of the seven sampling trips were compared. A project notebook was compiled which included the data analysis, project log and student evaluations.

The project was made possible by a matching grant written by mathematics coordinator Kittena Bell, in cooperation with Albemarle Corporation regulatory affairs supervisor Steve Card. Card worked with the students each time samples at the six sites were collected.

Magnolia High School science teacher Bill Boyd and mathematics teacher Jan Alford supervised the Industrial Estuary Water Analysis Project. The project resulted in a very positive impact on the students, the faculty and the community.

East Side Elementary School received four $500 grants from the Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance program to support the school’s Accelerated Reader program.

The curriculum at East Side Elementary School includes emphasis on the Accelerated Reader (AR) program. AR is a highly-motivational reading program in which students choose books to read based on their individualized reading level. After reading a book, students take a computerized quiz covering pertinent information from the reading material. Upon receiving a passing score on the quiz, students earn points based on the level of difficulty of the book. East Side Elementary School has implemented a recognition and rewards program for students achieving milestones at designated levels of cumulative AR points. Because the AR program is based on a child’s individual reading level, every student, regardless of reading ability, has an opportunity to be successful.

Funds awarded from the first grant will be used to purchase AR computer software for approximately 200 computerized AR quizzes for books currently in the school library. Funds provided by the grant will also be used to purchase a greater variety of AR books for students to read and additional software for quizzes. Expanding the choices and subject-variety of books and quizzes is necessary to keep enthusiasm high and enhance the quality of the Accelerated Reader program. Students have a tendency to read only AR books which offer the computerized quiz and an opportunity to earn points. Reading material of varied areas of interest exposes students to new learning.

Funds from the second grant will be used to purchase additional Accelerated Reader software quizzes. The East Side Elementary School library contains numerous books without the corresponding AR quiz. The AR software and quizzes purchased with the grant funds will serve approximately 600 students attending East Side Elementary School.

Funds provided by the third and fourth grant will be used to purchase classroom sets of books of various reading levels. The classroom sets will provide additional opportunities to read Accelerated Reader books.

Kittena Bell, district mathematics coordinator; Kay Whitehead, district speech pathologist; Susan Hanson, East Side music teacher; Tena Hughes, East Side physical education teacher; and LaNita Talley, East Side principal, are making plans for the implementation of the specifications set forth in the Character-Centered Teaching grant.

East Side Elementary School has been awarded a Character-Centered Teaching grant in the amount of $19,879.00.

Susan Hanson, East Side music teacher; Tena Hughes, East Side physical education teacher; Kay Whitehead, district speech pathologist; and Kittena Bell, district mathematics coordinator, are responsible for submitting the application for the grant. The Arkansas Department of Education received federal funds from the United States Department of Education as part of a program to promote and enhance the Character-Centered Teaching Model in Arkansas.

Some of the activities of the Character-Centered Program to be implemented at East Side Elementary School during the 2002-2003 school year include (1) purchasing and installing a school marquee, (2) establishing a “Kids w/Character ‘r’ Us” rewards store, (3) purchasing levelized character-based literature for use in classroom literacy groups and the Accelerated Reader program, and (4) creating a mentoring partnership with Southern Arkansas University’s athletic department.

East Side Elementary School is committed to promoting the academic, creative, emotional and social development of its students. The financial assistance provided by the Character-Centered Teaching grant fosters the implementation of the Character-Centered Teaching Program.

Susan Hanson, Tena Hughes and Kay Whitehead were selected to present Character-Centered Teaching breakout sessions at the Arkansas Smart Start Conference in Little Rock in July. The conference was attended by more than 1,400 teachers and administrators from across the state.