DeKalb Middle School Recognizes Students During Award's Day

DeKalb Middle School held their annual Award’s Day ceremony for 6th and 7th grade students on Tuesday, May 21st 2013. Mr. Randy Jennings opened the event and introduced Mrs. Lori Hendrix. Mrs. Hendrix recognized Junior Beta Club members with a certificate. Mrs. Tonya Sullivan then spoke about Student Council’s achievements throughout the year and honored those students by asking them to stand.

Miss Courtney Davis then presented the TTU Math Competition award to 6th grade student Madison Cantrell. Mrs. Ashley Barnes recognized the Yearbook Staff members, Kayla Belk, Alec Reynolds, and Eleonore Atnip with a certificate and pin. Mr. Tom Hill then presented the Computer awards to Molly Hall, Braya Murphy, Grace Godowns, Dailen Brown, and Hannah Brown. They received certificates and pins.

Art Awards were presented by Mrs. Amanda Dakas to 1st place- Autumn Summers, 2nd place- Brilee Neal, and 3rd place- Shaunta Koegler. Mrs. Dakas also presented Perfect Attendance certificates to Shaylah Dowell, Trey Fuston, Ethan Jenkins, Joni Robinson, Tesla Tapp, Ana Amaya, Courtney Ambrose, Faedra Burns, and Taylor Reeder. Mrs. Dakas then presented Citizenship award plaques to Dulce Maciel, Chance Mabe, Rebecca Gray, Dosson Medlin, Kyle Justice, and Kaitlyn Cantrell.

Special Recognition awards for citizenship and for helping with landscaping around the school were given to leaders- Cristobal Flores, Brandon Romo, and Cory Bennett. Awards were also given to students who served as the helpers- Brianna McDonald, Brayden Miller, Gage Myers, Nick Young, Emily Romo, Hailey Redmon, Justin Ferrell, and Madison Kemper.

All students who achieved Honor Roll were asked to stand and be recognized. Subject awards were then given out by Mr. Jennings. In the 6th grade (rotation A), the following received awards: English- Corina Mata, Social Studies- Braya Murphy, Math- Ealy Gassaway, Reading- Parker Gassaway, Science- Jacob Freeman, Most Improved- Richard Brown. In the 6th grade (rotation B) awards were given to: English- Chloe Sykes, Social Studies- Macy Hedge, Math- Derek Young, Reading- Megan Redmon, Science- Andrew Fuson, and Most Improved- Noah Martin.

The following 7th grade students received subject awards: Social Studies- Shauna Pedroza and Abby Evans, Reading- Austin Johnson and Makayla C. Bain, Math- Santanna Ferrell and Bradley Miller, Science- Thomas Webb and Allison Maynard, Language Arts- Marshal Evins and Annissa Hall, and Most Improved- Brittany Pinkard.

Highest GPA plaques were then given to 6th graders: 1st- Madison Cantrell and 2nd- Alec Reynolds, and to 7th graders: 1st- Marshall Evins and 2nd- Austin Johnson. Mr. Jennings and Mrs. Dakas then presented a plaque to the DMS Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Suzette Barnes.

SES Briefly Locked Down Wednesday Morning

Smithville Elementary School was placed on lock down for a few minutes this morning (Wednesday) after a student reported seeing someone near the school wearing dark clothing possibly with a weapon.

Central dispatch received the call at 7:42 a.m.

Smithville Police responded. A search of the school turned up nothing.

"This morning we had a student that reported to teachers that she had seen someone dressed in dark clothing that she thought had some type of weapon out on the side of the building by the car line (near Walker Drive)," said Principal Julie Vincent. "When we received that information we immediately called the police and we went into our lock down. We searched the entire perimeter of the school inside and out and everything was fine. All the students were safe. We followed all of the precautions that we have in place in such an event as this," she said.

"The students, staff, and faculty did an outstanding job of being where they were supposed to be and staying where they were supposed to stay until we gave the all clear for them to be able to move about the building again," said Vincent.