7th and 8th

Graders en-

joyed being

rewarded for

their hard work

on their Febru-

ary STAR tests. Prior to February’s testing, students

were informed of their reading levels and January

STAR test performance levels. Ms. Jasonya Harris

helped them set personal goals. After setting these

goals, students prepared, focused, and made signifi-

cant gains on their STAR tests. As a reward, these

successful students enjoyed delicious Domino’s

pizza, snacks, and social time.

As of March 1, 2014, Coahoma

County High School is home of

the 2014 North Half 2-A Girls

Championship team. By defeat-

ing New Site High School with a

buzzer beating shot by Melvin-

isha Jenkins, the Lady Panthers

proved victorious against the

Lady Royals, who on three sepa-

rate occasions prevented Coaho-

ma County High School’s post

season success. After this victo-

ry, the Lady Panthers proceeded

to the championship game where they defeated H. W. Byers’ Lady Lions. Leading scorers Geneva Walker

(12) and Walneika Holmes (15) lead the Lady Panthers to a 48 to 43 victory. The young ladies attribute their

success to their excellent coaching staff and continuous commitment. As 2-A North Half Champions, the

Lady Panthers have been featured in area newspapers, television broadcasts, and presented with various

awards including recognition from the Coahoma County School District Board of Education.

Champions of the Classroom

F E B 2 0 1 4 – M A R 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3

H I G H L I G H T S

2A North Champions

Black History Program

Featured Students

Calendar of Events

Mission Statement

“The mission of the Coahoma

County School District is to

provide a high quality education

to each child in a safe and caring

environment in order to produce

contributing citizens who will be

able to excel in a global society.”

Champions of the Court

C A L E N D A R

March

Women’s History Month

26– P-16 Council Meeting

29 – CCC ACT Workshop

April

National Poetry Month

1– Juke Joint Writing

Competition Deadline

12– ACT Test Date

15– PTO Meeting

18-21– Easter Break

28– MS Science Test (8th)

Coahoma: Home of Champions

Mrs. Mary

Kimmons

and five

of her

students

attended

Jobs for Mississippi Graduates 21st Annual Career

Development Conference on March 25-26th, 2014 at the

Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, MS. Congratulations to the

following winners: Ladonshay Dampier and Jaimee’

Mitchell, 1st place and $75.00 in Talent Show. LaDon-

shay Dampier, 3rd place in Spelling. Trakila Whitehead,

4th Place of 43 students in Public Speaking. Dotterria

Lofton won an IPad Mini. Aaliyah Brinston received the

Chairman’s Award.

Champions of Competitions

P A G E 2

CCJSHS: Champions of Culture

General Music and Band students at Coahoma County Jr/Sr High School enjoyed a unique violin concert at DSU’s Bologna Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, March 4. The Black Violin Trio, featuring an electric violin, a viola and a DJ, dazzled their audience with a unique blend of classical music mixed with contemporary beats and lyrics taken from hip-hop. Students were delighted to hear strains of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto alongside samples from songs like “Radioactive” and other pop favorites. Further departing from the usual conventions, mem-bers of the trio urged students to stand, cheer, clap, rap and dance along to their music. “The thing about a Black Violin Trio show,” violist Kev B. said to the crowd, “is that we want our audience to party with us.” CCHS students and teachers alike

were happy to oblige.

Coahoma County Junior –

Senior High School students

wowed an auditorium of their

peers and parents Friday, Feb-

ruary 28th. Organized by

teachers Kara Green, Alice

Hasen, John Howard, and

Gwendolyn Johnson this artis-

tic display encompassed sever-

al genres that spanned across

various time periods.

African dancers began the

show, but praise dance and hip

hop followed, creatively depict-

ing the evolution of African– American music. Presentations honoring of the legacies of Michael Jackson, Whitney

Houston, the R & B group TLC, and the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were performed by Samyah Johnson,

Myrical Taylor, Jamie Mitchell, Miracle Johnson, Kyra Kemp and the percussion section of the Coahoma County

Junior-Senior High School band. Numerous students grades 7-12 recited poetry and prose. The students’ articu-

late oral talents were praised by the audience. “It was absolutely amazing. You all have some very talented chil-

dren,” stated one excited community member. This event has truly set a successful precedent. We look forward to

next year’s celebration of black history.

C O A H O M A C O U N T Y J U N I O R - S E N I O R H I G H S C H O O L R E D P A N T H E R S

Music is in the Air!

Thanks to Ms. Katrina Blanch

and her tireless efforts, fifteen

Red Panthers are now regis-

tered voters! Pictured above,

Distance Learning and Plato

supervisor, Blanch advised stu-

dents on the various identifica-

tion needed and the overall im-

portance of voting.

A Timeless Tradition

The 2014 Black History Essay Compe-

tition was held at Coahoma County

Junior High School. Students were

given the topic, “Is the celebration of

Black History still relevant and neces-

sary in society today?” Mrs. Y. Miller

would like to congratulate the winners.

Listed below are the writing competi-

tion champions and their prizes:

1st Place Kentavion Simpson-

$100 and 10 Positive Rewards Cards

2nd Place

Tatyanna Williams and JaShauna Starks

$50 and 8 Positive Rewards Cards

3rd Place Derrick Moore-

$25 and 5 Positive Rewards Cards

Honorable Mention Jameiya Ewings-

Hibachi Gift Certificate

Coahoma County High School students Jordan Sales and Christo-

pher Wilson led the Excel classes in collecting tabs from soda

cans for donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. These dona-

tions, when converted to cash, will fund several nights at the

Ronald McDonald House for the families of cancer victims.

Yes, We CAN!

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 3

Contact Us!!!

Coahoma County Junior– Senior High

Jr. High Office - 662-627-7371

High School Office - 662-627-7378

Meet Jordan Sales, Champion of Leadership

Jordan Sales, the

son of LaSonia

Thompson, was

recently selected

to participate in

the Rotary Club’s

Young Leaders

Conference in

Olive Branch, MS at the Whispering Woods Hotel.

Sales’ experience was sponsored by the Clarksdale Rotary

Club. Networking opportunities and team building skills

were the primary focus. Jordan is truly thrilled by his experi-

ence and thanks those who allowed him this unique oppor-

tunity. Thank you again to the Clarksdale Rotary Club and

Counselor Latasha P. Stringer.

Mayra Parrilla is an eleventh grade student at Coahoma County High School. She is currently enrolled in Career Pathway Experience Program taught by Margaret Shelby Ellis Mayra would like to become a journalist. She has been asked to be a youth news writer for The Clarksdale Press Register this year.

Meet Mayra Parrilla, Champion of the Pen

I would like to think that life has its own joke because we live, experience life, and die! Every since the moment I knew enough to build my own personality and character, I realized I was meant to be more than a person who was going to live and die. I have always had my own personality, and in spite of what people think, I did not want to be the average person; I want to be su-per woman, Indiana Jones, and a total character at the same time. I

am an unknown half Spanish, half Puerto Rican girl, lost in this world trying to survive with the weapons and resources God gave me.

My personality is pretty much unknown because I live by my own rules of life. What gives life that little mystery is the fact that I do not know what kind of person I truly am. At times I can be funny, sad, annoying, dramatic, overprotective, lovable, or mature. I like to think that I am the outspoken student who takes the initiative of the one's who cannot speak for themselves as well as the one's who speak but remain unheard. I was created to share my life with oth-ers, and nothing is going to stop my destiny. I was born into a very traditional Hispanic family; I'm fully bilingual. I allow people to ex-perience my culture and I try to teach them as much as I can to help others understand my cultural uniqueness.

I am a junior at Coahoma County High School. You will find I am involved in the following: Band (Drum Major), DECA, Youth Leader-ship, Choir, former Debutante, former Cheerleader, former Student Council Representative, and a school Journalist. I am a very active multi-tasker. I try to give passion, dedication, and responsibility in everything I set my mind. I love writing. Writing gives a meaning to life, not to mention the joy a good article or book can give you. I have my ups and downs, but overall I give my best. I am an open book, simply because I allow God to guide me and I try to learn eve-rything life has to teach me.

My life is a mystery and my story continues to be in the making. I let the words guide me and I am still learning how to be me. Will I ever learn the person I truly am? I do not know. Yet, I am going to keep going, find my journey, and in the end, God will write the rest of my story and accomplish every dream I set in my mind.

Jordan, pictured on the far left with students

Meet Sade Carter and Quasha Tillman,

Champions of Science

Coach Michael Gregory nominated Anatomy students Sade’

Carter and Quasha Tillman to attend the National Youth Lead-

ership Forum Careers in Medicine. The conference is offered

in most major cities during the summer. If selected, these stu-

dents will have a fully paid scholarship to study with other as-

piring medical students across the United States of America.

They will experience the challenges facing medical students

and health professionals in the 21st century first hand as they

debate medical ethics and practice basic skills such as sutur-

ing. They will develop essential critical thinking skills, such as

analysis, reasoning, conflict resolution and problem solving as

they engage in a disaster triage simulation and other problem-

based learning exercises. Hats off to these young ladies for

being nominated. We wish you well.

Panther Photo Highlights

Lady Panthers are featured above in Jackson, Mississippi competing in the 2-A Girls State Championship Game. Also featured above is District 2 Coach of the Year, our

very own Coach Derrick Moore. Coach Moore is not only an outstanding teacher, coach, and mentor, but also a proud product of the Coahoma County School District.

Mississippi Blood Services receives a boost from the Red Panthers. Organized by Mrs. Sally Chow, the blood drive was successful in its efforts to increase the needed supply of

blood and knowledge of the necessity of blood donation. Mr. Jimmy Parrilla gives an informative presentation on cultural diversity to CCJSHS eleventh grade students. The Coaho-

ma County Junior High School Cheerleaders win 2nd place in the Spring Cheer and Dance Competition at Coahoma Community College on March 1, 2014.

The Daughter’s of

Isis, Hira Court #183

showcase their dedi-

cation to the stu-

dents of Coahoma

County Junior– Sen-

ior High School by

bearing gifts. The

ladies of the organi-

zation are featured in the photo above with some of the many students

that will be impacted by dozens of donated dresses. In addition to dress-

es and jewelry, the Daughters provided valuable information regarding

scholarships, community service, and other valuable opportunities for

our school’s young ladies. Our students can purchase these dresses

with Positive Rewards tickets or by serving as a campus volunteer. For

more info, please inquire with Ms. White in the main office.

General Music and Band

students had a special

guest in the Band Hall

on the Friday before

Spring Break. Guitarist

and vocalist Seth Stroud

joined Ms. Hasen on

violin and vocals to per-

form live music from the

Blackwater Trio, their Clarksdale-based band. Students and

teachers listened to classic rock, country, jazz and a few origi-

nal songs by the Trio, then had the opportunity to ask questions

about performing and songwriting. Of all the songs, however,

one stood out as the most popular in every class. Students

requested Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,”

an energetic and fast-paced fiddle tune, to be replayed four

times!

Volunteer Visits Band Hall The Daughters Donate

A Community of Champions