| Magee Courier-Simpson County News

Wed, 12/08/2021 - 08:29 AM

Republican Women of Simpson County members Ruby Ainsworth, Judy Yates and Betty Phillips presented US flags to Mendenhall Jr. High Principal Sydney Magee, second from left, after the club was made aware that some classrooms had no flag.

State Board of Education seeks high school sophomores to apply for junior representative Board position in 2022-23

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Thu, 12/02/2021 - 02:48 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) is seeking applications from high school sophomores to serve as the new high school junior student representative on the SBE Board for the 2022-23 school year. Application deadline is Jan. 28, 2022.

Jackson State University at Prentiss and J.R. Lynch Streets. Credit: Vickie D. King/Mississippi Today

Reeves awards $14 million of federal education funds

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Wed, 12/01/2021 - 09:36 AM

Mississippi College and Jackson State University (JSU) are receiving $5 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for the creation of a public health partnership.

The joint project is one of six to receive funding from Gov. Tate Reeves’ second round of Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) aid, which totaled $15.57 million. The aid is meant to provide relief to schools and education-related groups that have been most significantly impacted by COVID-19.

An entrepreneur at age 9

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Wed, 12/01/2021 - 08:54 AM

Ace Evans is as carefree a kid as any nine year old soon to be turning double digits. He is happy go-lucky, speaks whatever is on his mind, and never meets a stranger.
“Everything’s fine in Ace’s world all the time. It’s a very good attitude to have and a blessing from God. He did not get that from me and he did not get that from his dad. He’s not worried about a thing,” according to Lacye Evans, Ace’s mom.
Evans also believes it is this attitude that has helped Ace not only face but persevere and thrive after a daunting diagnosis at the young age of 6.

FBC to present ‘Joy’

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Wed, 12/01/2021 - 08:46 AM

When First Baptist Church of Magee presents their Christmas music and drama program this year on Sunday, December 5, and Monday, December 6, it will be an act of faith for the choir and the church’s minister of music, Lance Word.

Brandon Elementary was recognized nationally as an extraordinary school. Here’s why.

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Tue, 11/23/2021 - 03:42 PM

Blue Ribbon Schools in Mississippi:

• Woolmarket Elementary School, K-6, Harrison County School District: had exemplary gap closure in economically disadvantaged (English Language Arts and Math), students with disabilities (math) and African American (ELA and Math) students. Title I school

• Della Davidson Elementary School, third and fourth grade, Oxford School District: 69.7% of students scored proficient or higher on reading. 83.4% of students scored proficient or higher on math. Title I school

New Magee Beta Officers

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Tue, 11/23/2021 - 08:36 AM

Magee High School has elected new Beta officers. They are Alyssa Payne, President; Mackenzye Yates, Vice President; Mylah Davis, secretary; Kaitlyn Hayes, Chaplin; and Edmya Turner, treasurer. Beta Club is made up of A and B students.

Chandler Pittman gives back to MHS

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Tue, 11/23/2021 - 08:34 AM

Chandler Pittman, Magee High School class of 2021, sponsored the Trojan Student-Athlete Team Award for the first nine weeks period. Of the varsity cheerleaders, 93% of the squad of 15 girls made the honor roll for term one, the highest among the student-athletic clubs on campus. Chandler sponsored a pizza party to honor them and gave encouraging words to them. He also took time to encourage other students to do well on their upcoming state tests. The varsity cheer squad is coached by 10 grade English teacher Lindsay Purdum.

Emily Reed inducted into Phi Kappa Phi honor society at MSU Kappa Phi

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Tue, 11/23/2021 - 08:33 AM

BATON ROUGE, LA -- Emily Reed of Magee, Mississippi, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Reed was initiated at Mississippi State University.

SCSD presents Teachers of the Year

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Tue, 11/23/2021 - 08:12 AM

Matson’s sign behind Kirk Herbstreit’s right shoulder at ESPN “College GameDay” on Nov. 13, 2021. (Photo courtesy Andy Flores)

These UM students camped out to get a sign on ESPN ‘College GameDay’ about… financial aid?

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Mon, 11/22/2021 - 11:18 AM

Last Saturday morning, viewers watching ESPN’s “College GameDay” event in Oxford saw a blue-and-white rectangular sign pop up behind Kirk Herbstreit’s right shoulder. In lettering the shape of the state of Mississippi, the sign read: “Help Save HELP.”

Miss. school boards group withdraws from national association over ‘inflammatory’ letter to Biden

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Fri, 11/19/2021 - 02:48 PM

The Mississippi School Boards Association is joining 12 other states’ associations in breaking from its national federation over what it says has been lapses in governance on the national group’s part.

The problems came to a head in late September when the National School Boards Association (NSBA) authored a letter to President Joe Biden asking federal agencies to assist local law enforcement in protecting school board members, students and educators from threats and potential violence stemming from debate over issues such as masks and critical race theory.

College board OK’s University of Mississippi funding controversial drug unit for another year

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Fri, 11/19/2021 - 09:36 AM

The University of Mississippi got the green light to continue funding a controversial drug unit that faced criticism for coercing college students into working as informants.

On Thursday, the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved a request from UM to renew its interlocal agreement with Lafayette County and the city of Oxford to fund the drug unit commonly called the Metro Narcotics Unit for another year.

Potential New Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Sponsors Sought for 2022

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Thu, 11/18/2021 - 11:18 AM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Child Nutrition (OCN) is seeking sponsors to operate the 2022 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) throughout the state. The federally funded program provides nutritious meals to school-age children (0-18 years) during the summer months. Meals and snacks are served to children in places such as schools, churches, playgrounds, libraries and parks.

Kindergarten students work on a class assignment at Ambition Prep in Jackson, Miss., Friday, Aug. 7, 2020. Credit: Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today

Kindergarteners see pandemic-related learning decline

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Tue, 11/16/2021 - 04:36 PM

About one-third of Mississippi kindergarteners demonstrated they were kindergarten ready on a state literacy test this fall, a declining statistic State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright said is “further proof” of the pandemic’s negative impact on students.

Veterans and family members gathered in the fellowship hall to celebrate Veterans Day at Goodwater Baptist Church.

Vets honored in Magee

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Tue, 11/16/2021 - 03:22 PM

On Thursday, November 11, at 11 a.m. Goodwater Baptist Church and the City of Magee hosted an event honoring our community’s veterans for service to their country.
Joe Worrell opened the Veterans Day program with words of welcome and thanks to the church, Magee Volunteer Fire Department, Mayor Jimmy Clyde, and all who were in attendance. Jason Webb, Pastor of Goodwater, offered prayers of thanksgiving. His hope is this becomes the first of many Veterans Day programs to be held at Goodwater Church.

Consolidated high school being planned

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Tue, 11/16/2021 - 02:35 PM

It appears that the Simpson County School Board’s decision to move forward with a consolidated high school for the county comes despite the objection of board member Stacey Herrin.

Mississippi State University students walk to class on the Starkville campus. Credit: Molly Minta/Mississippi Today

Data: The racial and economic impact of Mississippi’s proposed financial aid program

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Fri, 11/12/2021 - 05:06 PM

In 2022, state lawmakers might consider revamping Mississippi’s state financial aid programs in a way that will change how thousands of students pay for college — and whether they even go.

Under the proposed “Mississippi One Grant,” the state’s three current financial aid grants will be consolidated into a single program that will award aid using a formula of need plus merit.

This policy would have wide-ranging implications for college students and their families, but understanding the ins-and-outs of this proposal can, at first glance, seem confusing and complicated.

MDE: Fall 2021 Kindergarten Readiness Results Released

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Fri, 11/12/2021 - 02:36 PM

Below is a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education:

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has released the fall 2021 assessment for kindergarten readiness.

Among the 33,265 kindergarteners tested, 31.8% scored kindergarten-ready with a score of 530 or higher on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. Statewide, the average score was 487.