Our Coalfield School Story-Week of April 22

The Coalfield School story continued this week.  Again, we will focus on the positives and continue to face the challenges.  Our students and staff were consumed most days with testing. I received many reports from teachers and staff about students giving good effort.  It was encouraging to hear from students talking about doing the best they could.  I want to give a huge shout out to Ms.  Susanne Hitchcock Pemberton for the amount of detail she gives as our Building Testing Coordinator.  This is a very high stress position especially in a Pre-K through 12th grade school.  She works diligently to organize this monumental event with TCAP and EOC testing.  Also, I want to thank Ms. Dee Dee Harrison Wallace for providing expert support to help Ms. Susanne manage all the testing duties. 
Our students were amazing as they traversed through the halls with courtesy toward those who were engaged in testing. Ms. Shelia Harvey planned and organized the “Good Effort” fun day on Friday to help our students release some pent up energy from all the testing. I’m thankful for all the staff and the grace they showed in allowing a controlled chaotic day, especially our custodians whom I had to apologize to for the wet grass we tracked in the building.  The rain tried to disrupt our fun, but the kids had a blast.
Coach Phillip Richardson setup two inflatables for students to play on.  Chief Laxton and officers from the Oliver Springs Police Department brought their gaming trailer out for our students. These guys were fantastic!  Staff setup laser tag in the elementary gym for students to engage in and several other game stations in different classrooms.  Mr. Zach Stewart and Ms. Kristan Conlon Headrick organized an epic wiffle ball tournament on the practice field. Ms. Carol P Jackson, Ms. Peggy Hamby, and Superhero cafeteria staff made sure all the kids had pizza or pulled pork to keep their energy up for all the fun events.  Our very gracious custodial staff (Edward Swanger, Mark Tolstych, Jenny Taylor, and Sandy Boshears)had to do extra duty to clean the floors with the wet weather and all the kids tracking wet grass into the building.  Needless to say it was an exhausting, but fun day that our staff worked hard to provide to students for their good effort and attendance during testing. 
Our Senior signs came in and Coach Jones and I got them put up for us to celebrate them in their final month at Coalfield School.  
Ms. Casey Bass, staff members, and volunteers worked hard to provide high school students with a nice prom happening this evening.  
Ms. Susanne won a $1500.00 grant through UCOR that she applied for to help our school and students. 
Coach Jones received some new toys for our STEM students.  A cool saw and a wood lathe with all types of knife attachments for turning wood.  These were donated by Ms.  Pamela Fears Lay family.  We are so thankful for their generosity. 
Coach Josh Wright, Coach Ted Mckinney, Coach Shelley Burgess, and Coach Kevin Walls are working together and combining funds to help replace the old metal lockers in the locker rooms with nice wood lockers made by the inmates at Morgan County Correctional Facility.  We received some of them this week.  (See pictures). I appreciate our coaches and the extra effort they give for our student-athletes.  Our Spring Sports teams are wrapping up their seasons this week.  Tournament play will start next week.  We will host the high school baseball tournament and the CMS softball tournament next week as they both won the regular season district championship. We will also host the  high school softball tournament the next week.  Check Facebook postings from each team for dates and times.  
Our CMS Baseball players and our CHS Senior, Reilly “Down Town” Brown were recognized this week.  I appreciate Corey Jones and Aaron Leslie for volunteering their time to MC this time of recognition.  Also, I want to thank these fellas along with Noah Hines and Mallory Conlon for consistently volunteering their time to broadcast games, do walk up songs, and keep the scoreboard for  Coalfield High School Baseball this season. 
Benjamin Jackson ,our board member, purchased a board for the students who started a prayer wall on the office window.  Now, they have a nice area they can place prayers if they choose to do so. 
I was blessed to see Wartburg High School Baseball and Coalfield High School Coalfield High School Baseball come together after their game to pray for Ian Pemberton.  Please continue to pray for this young man and his family.  Also, please continue to pray for Izzy and family, our staff, our students, and their familiesl