Terry Howell, Principal of McKenzie High School
Mr. Howell's Notes from the High School
The McKenzie High School bookstore is open every Friday from 1:30 – 3:00 P.M. The bookstore is the place to shop for McKenzie Rebel clothing and accessory gear. With the upcoming holiday season, people can shop for great Christmas gifts. Also, shoppers may e-mail Mrs. Dyer at dyers@k12tn.net for custom orders such as pullovers, long sleeve shirts, and similar apparel. The bookstore is having a play-off special this week. Homecoming T-shirts and Maniac T-shirts are on sale for $7.00.
The cheerleaders have beautiful Schermer pecans available for purchase. They have 1 lb. bags of halves or pieces or decorative bags of chocolate covered or cinnamon glazed for $8.00 per bag. Call the school if you are interested. They will deliver if needed. These are great for holiday baking or Christmas gifts.
Mrs. Dyer’s marketing and DECA students have visited several places during the past few weeks for valuable, first-hand experience. On Thursday, November 6, her Third Block Marketing II class toured the Carroll County Business Expo sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Students learned techniques and methods that area businesses use to advertise the products and services they offer. On Friday, November 7, both of her Marketing II classes went to Bethel College for an activity with SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise). Our students did an ethics exercise in conjunction with the Bethel SIFE members. SIFE also provided our students with lunch. SIFE is the collegiate equivalent of DECA so students could see how they could transition to this program after high school.
About 50 veterans attended our annual Veterans Day Program last Tuesday. Sgt. David Jarrett addressed the students and gave a personal, thoughtful account of his involvement in the military and what it means to be a veteran. Including our band, we had about 60 students involved in the program which included the Voice of Democracy winner, Matt McBride, delivering his speech; several student recitations of patriotic poems; students singing patriotic songs; and other similar activities. Ms. Jennifer Yates and Ms. Paula Doster, our Student Council sponsors, along with the officers of the Student Council planned and organized the event. They did an extraordinary job on this special day.
Last Thursday our students watched a video about ordering yearbooks. Jostens, our yearbook company, sent letters to the parents of all students a few weeks ago. Parents will need to order yearbooks directly from Jostens this year. The letter should have had information about this process. I think that parents can pay in installments. This method makes acquiring a yearbook much easier for those who do not want to pay a lump sum. The base price of the yearbook is $40.00. The yearbook may be customized for additional fees. The website to go to is www.jostensyearbooks.com and follow the necessary links. Parents who did not receive the yearbook letter may call the school for additional information.
Last Friday we administered the PLAN test to all of our 10th grade students. The PLAN is now a required test of the State. It is a preliminary exam to the ACT and gauges how well students are meeting the ACT standards. The PLAN also gives a projection on how well students will do on the ACT. The State has also mandated that all juniors will take the ACT. The date for that test has been set statewide for April 22. This year’s 8th grade class will not be under the umbrella of needing to pass Gateway exams. They will take end-of-course exams and have to pass 22 credits designated by the State. Eventually, I think that ACT will be the exit exam for graduating seniors in the state. Next year’s freshmen will already use the ACT as a means to identify honor graduates – a far cry from the use of local grade point averages.
The football team avenged an early season loss to the Golden Tornadoes of Union City by earning a 17-14 victory in the Second Round of the state playoffs. Playing in adverse conditions, the Rebels fell behind 6-0 after the Golden Tornadoes scored on their opening drive. The Rebels countered in the second quarter with their own score as Jake Johnson bulled over from the 3-yard line. Harris Laughrey continued his strong kicking with the extra point. Six minutes later Harris added to the lead with a 27-yard field goal. The third quarter had no score, setting up an exciting conclusion. With five minutes left in the game, Colton Speed, the Union City Mr. Football candidate, rushed 45 yards for the score. A two-point conversion put the Golden Tornadoes on top 14-10. The Rebels took the kickoff on the 35-yard line after an out-of-bounds kick and began their drive to glory. Jake Johnson ran the ball with determination all night long, but was especially effective on the last drive. Carrying the ball eight out of the eleven plays, Jake added to his impressive stats (24 rushes for 176 yards). His two-yard run with 38 seconds remaining was set up earlier by Max Arnold’s 16-yard reception on fourth down from Austin McKinney. The Rebels out-gained the Golden Tornadoes 307 total yards to 220. The offensive line had its best game of the year helping Jake Johnson and Austin McKinney to have great nights on the ground. The defense played it best game of the year against the high-powered ground attack of Union City. Jake Johnson had nine tackles; Evan Rogers had seven stops; and Max Arnold and Zach English six and five tackles respectively. This Friday the Rebels again try to gain some measure of revenge as they face the Falcons of Lake County. Kick-off is at 7:00 P.M. in Tiptonville in this quarter-final match-up.
The office is now selling season passes for basketball for $35.00. These are individual season passes that are good for all home, regular-season games. We have 11 home games scheduled. The price of admission to a game will be $5.00 so a season pass is a great deal for those who plan to attend games this season. Our first basketball game of the year is a home game against South Fulton with the girls’ game at 6:00 P.M.
A reminder that we will once again have Time for Time this Saturday from 7:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Students with over six (6) absences in a class will need to attend this mandatory session. Parents should have received a letter informing them of their student’s obligation. If parents have any questions, they may call the office. Absences beyond 10 days will result in withholding credit.
The Beta Club will have its fall induction ceremony on Sunday, November 23, at 2:30 P.M. To qualify for the Beta Club, a student must meet a 92 or above composite average during their high school career. Students must also receive a positive recommendation from a faculty member to be inducted. The Beta Club induction is open to parents and the public. It is an impressive and solemn ceremony that stresses academic standards and personal integrity. The candlelight ceremony to close the induction is particularly poignant. The program will take place in the Theater.
On Tuesday, November 25, we will administer the ASVAB to our junior class. The ASVAB is an excellent aptitude test that assesses a student’s abilities and inclinations for him/her to make educational or career decisions. The ASVAB is given by the military. Results are interpreted for our students who can use data to make concrete goals.
Thanksgiving break is scheduled for next week – November 26-28. School will resume on Monday, December 1.
Soon after we return from the holiday, we will give the Gateway exams. These exams will be given as follows: Math Gateway (12/2), Language Arts (12/3), and Science Gateway (12/4). The U.S. history end-of-course exams will be on 12/3. The Gateways directly affect a student’s graduation status. All of the exams will count 15% of the semester grade.
Have a great week and a joyous Thanksgiving season.
