Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Students prepare for Benchmarks

McRae Middle School began the second semester the way it ended the first  fast and furious.

The first semester ended, according to Jamie Barnes, MMS principal, with workshops and meetings for the staff. The events, she told the Prescott School Board at its January meeting, included awards day for grades 5-8 with parent involvement, Just-4-Kids, a community meeting for Prescott schools, grade level meetings, vertical team meetings, leadership team meetings with Dr. Mona Briggs.

Briggs, Barnes said, has been on the MMS campus two or three days a month visiting and working with the staff. Briggs is with the Middle Start Initiative program. Briggs has also been working with a representative from Southern Arkansas University on the Educational Renewal Zone (ERZ).

Parent involvement activities, she said, include the R-E-S-P-E-C-T program, which is led by Tony Hamilton. He provides seventh graders a program on social behaviors and values.

Allison Kisselburg sponsored a talent show as the first semester came to an end. The show had both students and faculty performing and was sponsored by the FBLA. The show raised $430 for the organization to spend on student activities.

The FBLA, Barnes said, also raised money for the March of Dimes, $510, and the Katrina Relief Fund, $360.

Special Education students and their teacher, Sandra Browning, visited nursing home residents and giving them Christmas gifts they had made.

Barnes held the staff Christmas party at her house. She said it was a relaxed time for everyone as there was plenty of food and fun.

At this time she is in the final stages of staff evaluations while the teachers are getting ready for the Benchmark writing test Feb. 22-23. The regular Benchmark and Iowa Test of Basic Skills tests will be given in March.