HJH Duke University qualifiers

Thirty seventh grade students at Haywood Junior High School qualified to participate in the Duke University Talent Identification Program. In order to qualify, a student must score at or above the 95th percentile on the national norms of a standardized achievement test. A student may qualify in one of three areas: mathematics, verbal, or total battery. To participate in the program, a student must take the ACT or SAT, tests that are designed for college-bound high school students. After participating in the program, Anna Baumheckel, Nathan Peace, Travis Richardson, and Benjamin Tims qualified for the State Recognition Ceremony. Anna Baumheckel qualified for the Grand Recognition Ceremony at Duke University. Those who qualified to participate in the program were Zach Austin, Anna Baumheckel, Megan Cooper, Will Currie, Spencer Douglas, Logan Eubanks, Brian Evans, D.J. Frederick, Tevyn Greene, Willis Hardaway, Chris Harston, Holly Hayes, Kirk Hilliard, Felicia Ingram, Cory Jackson, Will Joyner, Matthew Martin, Nathan Peace, Travis Richardson, Haynes Russell, Breanne Sills, Leslie Smith, Samantha Snipes, Will Taylor, Benamin Tims, Peyton Turnage, David Watts, Lindsey Yoder, Rodney Brown, and Nicholas Zamudio.
 

HJH gym named for the late Leonard Thomas Boyd


George Chapman, Director of Haywood County Schools; Aubrey Bond, President of the Haywood County NAACP; and family members view the photograph of the late Leonard T. Boyd that will be on display at the Haywood Junior High gymnasium named in his honor. Among those attending the dedication ceremony were (from left) Raybon Hawkins, Boyd's nephew; Billye J. Hawkins, Boyd's sister; Director Chapman; Aubrey Bond; Kizzie Boyd, Mr. Boyd's widow; and Jones A. Boyd, his brother.

Local dignitaries, teachers, students, family members, and friends turned out in great numbers Thursday, May 4, for the dedication ceremonies naming the Haywood Junior High Gymnasium in honor of the late Leonard Thomas Boyd.

The dedication was approved during the February 14 meeting of the Haywood County Board of Education when local NAACP President Aubrey Bond made a request to name the gym in honor of Mr. Boyd. In his request, Bond stated, “Mr. Boyd, as he was affectionately known by his students, was a strong believer in education.” Boyd taught physical education, health, and had a distinguished career as a coach. Bond continued, “While teaching in school, he coached basketball, track and tennis, thereby instructing thousands upon thousands of our children during his 31 years as an educator here in Brownsville and Haywood County."

Accolades poured in during the ceremony regarding Coach Boyd. Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith said, “He brought a passion to everything he participated in whether it was as a teacher, coach, community activist, or an elected official.” Bennie Morrison, former principal at Anderson School, concluded, “My life was richer because he was my friend.” Junior High coach Ray Jones said, “Coach Boyd was a pioneer in bringing in the tradition of great basketball in Haywood County. He had a talent for selecting kids with potential.” George Chapman, Director of Schools, described Boyd as a “gentleman who served the county and community admirably for years.” City Mayor Webb Banks remembered Coach Boyd as a “a great guy and a man of character who enjoyed the art of negotiating for the best price.”

According to Boyd’s widow, Kizzie Pirtle Boyd, he was born in Haywood County but moved to Madison County early in his childhood. He graduated from Merry High School and Lane College in Jackson. After graduation from college, Boyd returned to Brownsville and fulfilled his student teaching requirement at Carver High School. His first teaching assignment was Fredonia Grammar School where he taught for about two years. He returned to Carver High Schoo, teaching health and physical education until the school closed in 1970. Boyd later taught at Anderson Grammar School and remained at that position until the county opened its first junior high school. He taught at Haywood Junior High until his retirement in 1992. He was diagnosed with cancer that same year and passed away nine months later on June 7, 1993.
 

HJH Step Team stepping to the beat

Under the direction of teacher Merry Bond and Coach Terrance Beard, the Haywood Junior High School Step team is performing with success against other school teams. This is the sixth year for the teens to perform and compete at HJH. Several members are at HHS now, but come back to perform and practice with the younger group. The HJH team has placed first and second in several of their competitions against teams in Ripley, Covington, Memphis, Jackson, Munford, and Brighton.

The HJH Step team performs a series of foot and hand movements in unison to the beat of the selected song. They watch videos and share “moves and routines” with each other until they perform as “one” in their show. They also learn from the direction of Brandon Taylor, a University of Memphis student who comes to teach them new steps. The team performs in parades and at various events in the county.

And their participation is entirely voluntary. Ms. Bond says the team members practice after school sometimes as much as four times a week to prepare for their events. It’s “teamwork” at its best.

Members of the team are Charbie Boyd, Raven Currie, Johnny Bell, Ki-esha Holmes, Kaswayla Gayden, Destinee Douglas, Jana Barken, Sharee Hayes, Tiara Walker, Kaleshia Rice, Amber Covington, and Briana Shaw.