April 2015 - Coahoma County School District

April 2015
Summer 2015
Coahoma
County High
School’s Class
of 2015 led by
Valedictorian
Malik Owten
and Salutatorian Sharnae
Dampier.
May 22, 2015 was a very special day for the 2015 senior
class at Coahoma County High
School. At 7:00 p.m., families
and friends happily entered the
Pinnacle on the Coahoma
Community College campus
as the 2015 Graduating Class
of Coahoma County High
School prepared to make their
final mark as high school seniors. This year’s graduating
class was led by Valedictorian
Malik Owten and Salutatorian
Sharnae Dampier. The Coahoma County High School chorus delivered wonderful selections during this occasion.
and the University of
Mississippi. Mr. Howard currently serves as
Assistant Principal for
Coahoma County Junior/Senior High School.
He is an avid songwriter, producer, musician
and was appointed Pastor of St. Mark Church
of God in Christ in
John M. Howard
April 2014. Tony
2015 Commencement Speaker
Young, Coahoma County Junior/Senior High
The speaker for the commenceSchool Principal, conment ceremony was Mr. John
Howard. Howard is a graduate of ferred the diplomas for
Clarksdale High School, Jackson the graduating class of
2015.
State University
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“Celebrating CCSD’s Leaders”
On May 28, 2015, Coahoma County School District held its annual “End of the Year Celebration” to honor faculty and
staff members for their hard work during the 2014-2015 school year. Coahoma County School District principals presented awards to faculty and staff members on the basis of attendance, individual performance and school academic
performance. Teachers who completed advanced degrees during the 2014-2015 school year were also recognized for
continuing their education. Superintendent Pauline Rhodes presented the 2014-2015 “District Teacher of the Year”
award and a $300 check from Mr. Gary Bailey of Bailey Education Group to Ms. Dana Ashmore. In addition, each
school’s “Teacher of the Year” was recognized and presented with a $50 gift card. The 2014-2015 “Teacher of the
Year” award recipients included: Derrick Moore (CCJSHS), Amy Landfair (Friars Point), Ben Baltimore (Lyon), Rossynlin Thompson (Jonestown) and Dana Ashmore (Sherard).
(Below) Superintendent Rhodes presented the “2014-15 Improvement in Academic
Achievement Award” to Charlette Artis-Harris, Jonestown Elementary School
principal and Jonestown Elementary School faculty members.
(Above) Superintendent Rhodes (far right) presented the “2014-15 Excellence in
Academic Achievement Award” to Mrs. Xandra Brooks-Keys, Sherard Elementary
School principal, and Sherard Elementary School faculty members.
“Superintendent Rhodes extends her appreciation to all CCSD Faculty and Staff Members for the successful completion of another school year!”
“Students and Teachers Prepare for Success During the Summer”
Just as athletes train
and prepare during
the off season for the
physical and mental
challenges of the
next athletic season,
likewise Coahoma
County School District held summer
academies and institutes to prepare students and teachers
for a successful 2015
-2016 school year.
During the month of
June the Coahoma
County School District held 4 summer
programs for grades
ranging from Pre-K
through 12th. The
(Pictured Above) Kindergarten students and teachers who attended Lyon Elementary School’s
“Summer 2015 Breakthrough Academy.”
programs were designed to build teacher instructional capacity, increase literacy skills,
increase ACT scores, and provide remediation and intervention. The following are some
of the positive outcomes of our summer Extended School Year Programs: PreKindergarten students scoring At/Above Benchmark increased ten percent
from 14% to 24%. The Summer Learning for Excellence Kindergarten Academy
showed a significant decrease of forty percentage points in the number of students
scoring at the Urgent Intervention Level, from 64% at the beginning of the program
decreasing to 24% at the
end of the program. Students scoring At/Above
Benchmark increased ten
percent from 14% to 24%.
The results of our
2015 MKAS 3rd Grade
Breakthrough Academy
showed that 57.1% of
students achieved growth
in Reading and 50%
achieved growth in Math.
We are pleased with the
success our students and
teachers achieved during
our summer programs and
are excited about the opportunities for continued
growth in student achievement and teacher capacity
in the 2015-2016 school
year. The summer programs were funded with
Title I and Title II funds.
“Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders”
Superintendent Pauline
Rhodes presented the
“2014-2015 Superintendent’s Leadership Award”
to Ms. Jordan Turner,
Lyon Elementary School
graduate.
Superintendent Pauline
Rhodes presented the “2014
-2015 Superintendent’s
Leadership Award” to Ms.
Brionna Baltimore, Lyon
Elementary School graduate.
The Coahoma County School District held its Annual Sixth Grade Promotional Ceremony on May 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.
in the Coahoma County High School Gymnasium. Each promoting sixth grader was a awarded a promotion certificate from
his or her respective principal. The graduates with the highest academic averages from each elementary school were awarded special honors. Honor recipients inlcuded: Tyre Blackshire (Friars Point Elementary), Yazmine Hill (Jonestown Elementary), Dayshayla Galmore (Lyon Elementary) and Christopher Murphy (Sherard Elementary). Dr. Mario Keys, Coahoma
County School District Federal Programs Director, delivered a very powerful and inspiring message to the graduates. Dr.
Keys encouraged graduates to “Build Futures of Success,” which encompassed the theme of this year’s promotional ceremony. Superintendent Pauline Rhodes also recognized the graduates who exemplified leadership characteristics and good
citizenship throughout the 2014-2015 school year. The 2014-2015 Superintendent’s Leadership Award recipients were
Jordan Turner and Brionna Baltimore, both graduates of Lyon Elementary School. Ms. LaShondria Gooden, Salutatorian of
the 2014 Graduating Class at Coahoma County High School, served as the program guide. Principals Charlette Artis-Harris
(Jonestown Elementary School) and Crystal Hall-Gooden (Lyon Elementary School) served as chairpersons of this year’s
program.
The Mississippi Department of Education-Office of Federal Programs, mandates school districts to encourage
feedback from district stakeholders of
how Federal Title Funds are used.
Federal Title Funds aid in improving
student learning, improve teacher
quality and increase parental involvement. In an effort to satisfy this requirement, Coahoma County School
District held its “Annual Federal Review and Parent Appreciation Night”
on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 5:30
p.m. in the Coahoma County JuniorSenior High School Gymnasium. This
event informed parents about the use
of federal funds to support student
learning and improve instruction and
expressed appreciation for parents
who exceeded expectations to support
student and district success. Attende-
Superintendent Rhodes presenting the “2014-2015
District Parent of the Year” Award to Mrs. Margaret
Jordan Walker.
es included students, parents, faculty and staff
members and community organizations. Dr. Mario
R. Keys, Director of Federal Programs and Professional Development, gave an overview of teacher
professional development and an evaluation of
parental involvement activities. Principals from each school presented
“Parent of the Year” awards to parents
who went above and beyond during
the 2014-2015 school year. “Parent of
the Year” recipients included: Carolyn
Moore (Friars Point Elementary
School), Rudy Eagins (Jonestown
Elementary School), James Richard
Lee (Sherard Elementary School),
Francesca Maiden (Lyon Elementary
School), Margaret Jordan Walker
(Coahoma County Junior High
School) and LaShundra Clark Stokes
(Coahoma County High School). Superintendent Rhodes presented the
“2014-2015 Parent of the Year”
award to Margaret Jordan Walker and
expressed her appreciation for the
support parents provided during the
2014-2015 school year.
“Coahoma County School District and Clarksdale Municipal
School District Kickoff the 2015 Summer Feeding Program”
On Tuesday, June 2, 2015, Coahoma County
School District and Clarksdale Municipal
School District hosted the “2015 Summer
Feeding Program Kickoff” on the Coahoma
County Junior-Senior High School campus.
The kickoff gave students the opportunity to
learn about the importance of summer feeding
programs and to enjoy a day filled with nutritious foods, fun and games. The kickoff included musical selections by the “Blackwater
Trio,” Pradia and Tyler Slacks and special
entertainment from Makayla Garner, the Coahoma County Junior-Senior High School
Marching Band and Kronic Youngfresh. Superintendent Rhodes gave special recognition
to elected state and local officials who were in
attendance and outlined the importance of
incorporating healthy eating in school systems
and communities. Robin Bailey served as the
United States Department of Agriculture
Attendees enjoying outdoor activities on the
Coahoma County Junior/Senior High School
front lawn.
Coahoma County School District
Board of Trustees
Patrick Campbell, President
Lester Myles, Jr., V ice-President
Dianne Thomas, Secretary
Ann Surholt, Board Member
Edward Kinard, Board Member
Coahoma County School District Superintendent
Mrs. Pauline J. Rhodes
speaker for this event and expressed his appreciation to Coahoma County School District and
Clarksdale Municipal School Districts for giving students the opportunity to make healthier food choices. Former New
Orleans Saints player Deuce McAllister was
also a guest speaker for this occasion. McAllister encouraged students to incorporate exercise and healthy food choices into their daily
lifestyles. Ms. Eddye Johnson, Coahoma
County School District Food Service Director
and Mrs. Shenika Maiden-Newson, Clarksdale
Municipal School District Food Service Director, coordinated the “2015 Summer Feeding
Program Kickoff.” The kickoff concluded with
over thirty outdoor games and activities for
students, giveaways for attendees and nutritious lunches sponsored by Coahoma County
School District and Clarksdale Municipal
School District.
Coahoma County Jr.-Sr. High School
Marching Band leading program attendees
to outdoor activities following the indoor
ceremony.
Former New Orleans Saints Player
“Deuce McAllister” with a group of
attendees.