Pontotoc City School District Welcomes Jon Gordon PCSD began the school year with professional development featuring best-selling author and keynote speaker, Jon Gordon. Mr. Gordon addressed all employees in the district about striving for positive leadership, keeping the vision alive and building on these three words: love, serve, and care. Jon Gordon’s books include: The Energy Bus, The Power of Positive Leadership and The Power of a Positive Team. Educators in the district also led professional development in a small group setting. All of the sessions built upon the district’s mission, “Cultivating Warriors of Distinction.”

District Events  

PHS Events ➢ Aug. 20 Balfour will deliver class rings & jackets ➢ Aug. 20 Volleyball vs Ripley, 5:30, 6:30 ➢ Aug. 22 Volleyball at Lafayette Co., 5:00, 6:00,

7:00 ➢ Aug. 23 Football at Houston, 7:00

PJHS

➢ Aug. 20 Volleyball against Ripley ➢ Aug. 27 Football at Amory ➢ Aug. 24 Track meet at New Albany

PMS DTC

➢ Aug. 22 Cookie Dough Fundraiser Kickoff PES

➢ August 19- Parent Night 5:00, 5:30, and 6:00 p.m.

Pontotoc High School

At the beginning of the school year, PCSD teachers had the opportunity to attend professional development sessions led by their peers who shared their best practices with those attending.

Rural Medical & Science Scholars Camp 

Congratulations to Chloe Foster, PHS senior, on her completion of the Rural Medical and Science Scholars Camp at Mississippi State University. The four week camp was held June 2-28, 2019, on the MSU campus. Participants were able to:

● shadow physicians, dentists, & other healthcare professionals. ● make new friends with similar interests and goals ● visit the medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical

Center to talk with faculty and students ● take two college-level courses (Introduction to Health Professions and Applied Public Health Sciences) ● earn certification as a Junior Master Wellness Volunteer ● participate in practical learning activities, including Biosecurity in the Age of Avian Influenza, Forensic

Entomology, Injury and Illness (I²) Simulation, Medicinal Aspects of Botanical Plants, Scholars in the Kitchen, Suturing Techniques, and One Health

● live on campus at Mississippi State University and get a taste of college life

Thanks go to the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund and CREATE for making these opportunities available.

New Gate Prices for 2019-2020 Athletic Events 

● $8.00 Varsity Football ● $6.00 All Other PHS Sporting Events ● $6.00 Junior Varsity and PJHS Football Games ● $5.00 All Other PJHS Sporting Events

$5.00 Football Student Tickets--on sale every Friday at school for students to purchase before home games

2019 Warrior Yearbooks  have arrived! Last year’s yearbooks are in and available for pickup in Mrs. Gersh’s room!

Buy your 2020 Warrior Yearbook Now Yearbooks can be purchased for the early bird price of $55

from now until October 31! Send cash or check (payable to PHS) to Mrs. Gersh at the high school.

For debit/credit card transactions, go online to purchase at www.yearbookforever.com. Please note this is for grades 9-12 only.

PHS Students Perform in Italy 

 This summer Ella Kate Nichols and Coda Ethridge traveled to Milan, Italy with the Mississippi Lions All - State Band. There the band was named as International Champions for the 7th time in a row. These two students traveled to Milan, Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Rome while representing Pontotoc High School and Mississippi.

New Warriors

at PHS

Pontotoc High School welcomes these faculty and staff this year:

● Rachel Boothe, Science

● Katie Donaldson, Inclusion

English

● Penny Greer, Inclusion Science

● Marley Jamison,

Mathematics

● Amanda Kelly, English Language Arts

● Ashlee Waldrip, Science

● Alex Russell, Speech

Language Pathologist

Cite your Sources!  Students in Mrs. Knight’s English III classes started the semester with an MLA Citation unit. Students competed in games, practiced in teams, and solved an escape room. MLA citation is a pivotal part of their writing, and students will use it all year to cite their sources.

When the One Interviewed 

Becomes the Interviewer  PHS student James Gonzalez was all smiles as he exited the driver’s license office in Tupelo this past week. Earlier that day, people were leaving disgruntled due to the computers being down. They were up and running, however, when James showed up to get his license. With a song in his heart, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” to be exact, a smile on his face, and his brand new license in hand, he met up with Wayne Hereford from WTVA who interviewed him about his experience. As Wayne was wrapping up the interview, James had his own questions for Wayne. With the mic in hand, James interviewed Wayne about his career, leaving both encouraging the other to follow his dreams.

Pontotoc Junior High School 

 

 

 

Here is a link to the school 

calendar: 

2019-2020 School Calendar 

PJHS Welcomes New Staff Members: 

 

Kate Hester - 7th Math, Assistant 

Volleyball Coach 

Kerissa Thrasher- 7th ELA 

Zach Gory - Science, Swim Coach, Golf 

Coach 

Sarah Burrell - Interventionist 

Ashley Dowdy - Nurse 

James Barnes - ISS 

Cassie Cooper - Library/Media 

Specialist 

2019 Schedules: 

 

Cross Country  

Aug. 24  

Aug. 31 

Sept. 7 

Sept.14 

Sept. 21 

Sept. 28 

Oct. 5 

Oct. 7 

Oct. 12 

Oct. 19 

Oct. 22 

Nov. 2 

One Word…. 

While studying characterization, students in Miss Thrasher’s and Mrs. McKnight’s 7th grade English 

classes chose a character trait that they hope to embody during this school year. Students decorated and 

hung their words in the hallway as a reminder of who they aspire to be. Some of the words included 

undefeated, resilient, and kind.  

Librista: Library App 

 

Librista is a modern app available on Apple® and Android™ devices that 

delivers a blend of searching power and connectivity to your library catalog. It allows students and teachers to search 

your catalog and read summaries on books and more. You can download the app to your device and scan the QR code 

for access.

QR Code: After you have downloaded the Librista App, they will need to go to the page to add a new library, from there they will click on the QR 

code button to the right of "Select Your Library!". They will need to scan the QR code below: 

This will bring up your school's library and you 

will be able to search what items are available in the library. 

Science Senses……….. 

Science classes at PJHS (Murray, Anderson, and Gory) recently conducted an investigation to 

determine which sense allowed them to react the fastest with a “Senses Lab”. The students 

also completed an investigation to determine “Who Stole the Apple Pie”. While conducting 

these investigations, the students used inquiry skills. They made observations, collected and 

analyzed data, and made conclusions. 

 

 

  

Pontotoc MIddle School welcomes several new faces.   

Courtney Mason and Monica Lorick - Math Mary Coker Kristen Greer and Jesse Clayton - Science 

Tonya WIlbanks, Avery Lorick, Alyssa Lee and Stacey Bardo - ELA  Anna McCarley and Lori Johsnon - Reading.  

Birthdays This Week 

Lily-Anne Morse  

Jacob Johnson  

Annalisa Householder 

WOULD YOU RATHER... 

 

In Ms. Walker’s Local Culture class, the students participated in an ice breaker - “Would You Rather?” 

Students raised cards to answer if they would rather do this or do that? Some questions were “Would you 

rather eat lunch with your principal? or Would you rather eat lunch with teachers?” and “Would you rather 

vacation at the beach? or Would you rather vacation in the mountains?” Students enjoyed getting to know 

their classmates with this activity.  

 

 

How Do I Learn Best?   Students in 6th Grade ELA started off the year taking an online survey to find their learning style. Students could either be tactile, auditory, visual, or a combination. Students will use this information about themselves to help them be successful this year! 

WORKING TOGETHER TO COMPLETE THE PUZZLE   Fifth grade UFO students worked on collaboration and communication skills this week as they participated in a simulation where they were challenged to cross a river of hot chocolate, construct a collaborative art piece, and complete a mixed-up jigsaw puzzle. They also learned about the history of fingerprinting and cooperated in small groups to solve a mock-mystery using fingerprints. These activities are part of their first unit entitled, "What does it mean to be me?" Students are investigating how they are unique and what it means to be intellectually gifted and to be a Warrior. 

 

Welcome to DTC! We are happy to welcome several new

teachers to our tribe this year!! Third Grade: Mr. Bramlett, Mrs. Collums, and Mr. Woodruff Fourth Grade: Mrs. Bass and Ms. Wood Not Pictured: Mr. Jim Littlejohn (SRO)

Lunch With Friends Teachers at DTC enjoyed a catered lunch and fabulous door prizes during professional development days. Thank you to all who helped to make this happen!

Getting to know you…. Students in Mrs. Nichols’ third grade class spent some time interviewing each other on the first

week of school. This was a great way for the students to learn all about their new friends.

  Students save Fred Many classes at DTC participated in a STEM project called Save Fred. Students were given a gummy worm (Fred) sitting on top of an upside down cup (boat). His life preserver (gummy life saver) was underneath boat. They had to get the life preserver out and

out Fred in it using only 4 paper clips. They couldn’t use their hands. The kids LOVED this activity!!

 Paper Chain Challenge 

 

Several students at DTC participated in the longest paper chain challenge last week! Students were in groups, given 2

pieces of construction paper, one pair of scissors, and one piece of 12 inch long tape. They had 30 minutes to make the longest chain. The kids really enjoyed competing against their peers!!

Scientific Method using M&Ms   Students in Ms. Clingan and Ms. Spicer’s classes used the scientific method to predict what would happen to an M&M when dropped in water. After 20 min they observed what happened.

They found that the M floated to the top because it’s made is edible paper. The color came off and colored the water because it’s water soluble.

Marshmallow Challenge  Classes at DTC had loads of fun completing the Marshmallow Challenge! Groups of students were given 20 small marshmallows and 10 pieces of spaghetti and had to make the tallest and

sturdiest tower (or object) that could hold small plastic bears without the tower collapsing. The kids had a blast doing this!!

Water cycle fun Ms. Wood’s fourth graders worked with the water cycle this past week. They went over condensation, evaporation and precipitation.They

were shown flocabulary and a water cycle song. Ms. Wood incorporated music in movement into this lesson. The students created their own movements to remember the song. They loved it!!

Self-Control Mrs. Hutchinson’s Bible class learned all about self-control this week. Students were given a marshmallow and were told they could not eat it for 3 minutes. If they used self control, they would win a prize. At the end of three minutes, students who showed self control were given an extra marshmallow!Unlike Adam and Eve, the students of DTC CAN have self-control!

Atop the tower 

 After reading the book, Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, Mrs. Franks challenged her students to help Molly Lou Melon "stand tall" by constructing the tallest tower possible by using only pencils, tape, index cards, construction paper, and scissors. Once the tower was constructed, students measured their tower's height to see which tower was the tallest. Students were really challenged to work together and to build with the amount of supplies. This was a great example of STEM.

Pontotoc Elementary School

PES is off to a GREAT start!

The students at Pontotoc Elementary had

a great first week! They were involved in

great activities that helped them get

acquainted with their new teacher and

class. The students in every grade

practiced school and class routines.

What a GREAT line!

Welcome to PES!  

Haley Peterson- Kindergarten Teacher 

Sandra Williams - Kindergarten Assistant 

Dr. Donna Akers- Self-contained 

Nancy Simmons- 1st Assistant 

Dee Ivy Franklin- Speech Pathologist  

Alayna Keeton - Speech Pathologist  

Chloe White - 2nd Grade Teacher 

Lauren Haney - 2nd Grade Inclusion  

 

PES now has two HeadStart Classrooms! We 

welcome Chevonda Webber and Ambreca Vance ! Courtney Wilson will be working with Ambreca 

Vance.  

 

 Rainbow Fish and Friendship 

First graders read “The Rainbow Fish” and discussed 

ways to be a good friend. For an art extension to the 

lesson, the students made a “rainbow” fish and wrote a 

sentence about what a friend should do.  

 

Name Fun in Kindergarten! 

Kindergarten students worked on fine motor skills by placing beans and dried pasta on their names! They could

then touch each letter and spell their names out loud to classmates.

Building Community in UFO! Second Grade students in UFO worked together to

create a name for their group. The students brainstormed objects that are the color of their

UFO group. Once they voted on a name, they worked together to create their group sign. The

names that were created were Red Hot Lava, Blue Night Shooting Stars, The Purple Magic Cats, and

The Yellow Cool Bananas.

PBIS Pep Rally  

             

 On Friday, PES had its PBIS Pep Rally! Everyone was very excited! The Pontotoc High School football players and cheerleaders came and encouraged the students to be 

Warriors of Distinction. The students were challenged to be Respectful, Responsible, and Ready each and every day.