Our Coalfield School Story had so many good things happen this week. Of course we understand there will always be challenges that we face each week. James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” Our school Story will always consider the “great joy” each week brings.
High school and middle school students voluntarily gathered during their lunchtime this week for a Bible study. Thank you to coach Peyton Tinker for leading the high school and Pastor Corey Jones, Aaron Leslie, Misty Garrett Kring, and Kristan Conlon Headrick for gathering with the middle school. Two bus loads of our elementary students, with parent permission, attended Bible release at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Thank you to Melanie Mckinney and Ted Mckinney for helping organize this event each month.
Ms. Shelia Harvey and I were able to get into several classrooms this week to observe some amazing lessons that our teachers developed. Each of the lessons that I observed had students collaboratively engaging to discuss the concepts being learned.
Ms. Susanne Hitchcock Pemberton, as always, put in a lot of hard work to provide the book fair all week to our students.
Also, Ms. Sheila Walls and Shelia Harvey went out of their way to provide a nice dinner for staff during our parent/teacher conference on Thursday.
Ms. Carmen Jackson Hines did her much anticipated, Friday morning “Name that Tune” contest and some how Ms. Kristan Headrick’s class won again along with Mr. Hixson’s Spanish class. Ms. Melissa Morales, our Communities In Schools representative, provided the winners with snacks and they get to hangout with Ms. Carmen’s wierd ET figure.
Ms. Susan Bates and Ms. Susan Long helped our littles to have their annual Valentine Dance. This is one of the many wonderful things our Prek students get to experience under these two phenomenal teachers . Thank you to Ms. Brianna Massengale for helping and capturing all the cuteness.
I want to take time in this week’s Story to acknowledge the willingness of folks to step up for our students every time I’ve needed them to. Coach Benson Napier along with Coach Carmen Jackson Hines, Coach Josh Wright, and Coach Mark Napier came to me and volunteered to step in to coach our high school boys basketball team when the need arose. This week I also asked Coach Benson Napier to change teaching positions for our students. I also asked Coach Jason Wilson to change teaching positions to take over Coach Napier’s alternative school position. Coach George Lowe, who has an active teaching license with a wellness /PE endorsement, will fill in for Coach Wilson. These people didn’t hesitate when I asked . Folks, you can’t put a value on folks who will do what these folks have done! It’s not easy for any of them, but they didn’t flinch. Coach Napier has a Secondary Mathematics degree and endorsement. He will be teaching Geometry , Algebra 1, and Sails MSMD for the remainder of the semester. He also has several region championships under his belt as a football coach. Coach Carmen Hines and Coach Mark Napier have several championships and two state tournament appearances under their belts in basketball and coach Josh Wright has several championships and a state tournament final four appearance under his belt. I intentionally listed the accomplishments and qualifications of each of these folks, who have unselfishly stepped in to these roles under unusual and difficult circumstances, as an assurance that our students and student-athletes have the support they need to be successful on the court and in the classroom.
All of our staff are a great blessing to me!
Please continue to pray for our staff , students , and school.