Mandy Bell Teacher of the Year

Fifth-grade reading and language arts teacher Mandy Bell was selected as the Sunny Hill School Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching for seven years, five of them in the Haywood County School System. She holds a bachelor of science degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in professional education from Union University. She was named the Union University Elementary Student Teacher of the Year and received the Union University Academic Excellence Medal in Liberal Studies in May 2001.
 

Sunny Hill Motown Show honors Black History Month

Dorothy Bond as Mahalia Jackson

Marsha Reynolds, Wendy Piercey and Robin Cunningham as The Supremes

Alexia Davis as Mary J. Blige

Principal Drayton Hawkins as Al Green

Tim Seymour and students as The Temptations

Gwen Brown with Tim Seymour as Aretha Franklin

One of the 5 Heartbeats

B
arbara Wellington as one of the Ohio Players

With an appreciative audience of students, school personnel, teachers, parents and other relatives, Sunny Hill “stars” entertained with their annual Motown Show in honor of Black History Month. Students, teachers, and principals participated by singing, lip-syncing, or dancing to various songs from the past, produced by famous Motown artists. Special guest “performers” included Big Luther Vandross, Al Green, the Temptations, Mahala Jackson, Arethria Franklin, the Ohio Players, and several other recording artists.

Students participate in Black History trivia game

On February 29, as part of Sunny Hill’s observance of Black History Month, the students participated in a Jeopardy-formatted game featuring Black History trivia. Three fifth-grade students challenged three sixth-grade students in the contest with the rest of the fifth and sixth graders cheering on their grade contestants. Prizes were awarded to each of the contestants. Winners in the fifth grade were: 1st place - David Johnson, 2nd place - Ebony Clark, and 3rd place - Clayton Converse. Winners in the sixth grade were Emily Pugh, Jada Brooks, and Jeffrey Starks.


 

Winners announced in Black History Oratorical Contest

At Sunny Hill School, 22 students participated in a Black History Oratorical Contest on February 28 sponsored by Barbara Wellington and Daphne Maclin.

In the fifth grade, Jamie April, Jackie Sorrell, Alecia Nelson, Hunter Roten, Jalen Springfield, Clayton Converse, Alex Markle, Damian Jones, Abbey Thomas, and Jada Shaw participated.

Sixth graders participating were Enchantra Henderson, Cassidy Hendrix, Asia White, Jordan Goodman, Keondria Muex, Makiya Maness, Saderius Delk, Bailey Overton, Henry Smith, Deonte' Brown, Thomas Currie, and Averyon Pettigrew

Judges Jacob Bond, Mandy Bell, Anna Roberts, and Kathleen Holmes graded students on the following criteria: self-identification, appearance, personality, voice, volume, pronunciation, gestures, eye-contact, sincerity, emphasis, appeal, impression, attitude, and effect.

Girls had to recite a poem entitled “Woman to Woman,” and boys had to recite a poem entitled “Our Deepest Fear.”

Winners in the girls’ division were Jordan Goodman, 3rd place; Jada Shaw, 2nd place; and Enchantra Henderson, 1st place. In the boy’s division, winners were and Henry Smith, 3rd place; Averyon Pettigrew, 2nd place; and Hunter Roten, 1st place.
 

Enhancing students’ writing skills

In preparation for the state writing assessment, selected Sunny Hill students attended a three-week class to enhance their writing skills. Gina Cozart taught this class. All students participating scored advanced on the language and reading portions of their achievement tests. The students are striving to make a six, the highest possible score for their writing assessment this year.

To encourage students to do their best, the school awarded prizes to the top 45 writers. Top writers among the boys were Jacob Levy, Jacob Rice, and De’Koria Clark. Top writers among the girls were Alexia Davis, Bailey Cozart, Dannon Eubanks, and Ragan Avant. And, Eliza Ford and Ryan Watson won the grand prizes and certificates to Wal-Mart.
 

Sunny Hill inducts new Beta Club members

Guest speaker for the Sunny Hill Beta Club induction ceremony was Lee Ward Reeves, a former Haywood County student and a VIP Jackson Magazine executive.

Sunny Hill Junior Beta Club members inducted new members into their club on February 4.

Sunny Hill Elementary held its National Junior Beta Club induction ceremony on February 4 in the school gymnasium. During this special recognition ceremony, current members presented new members with their official certificates and pins. Special guest speaker was Mrs. Leigh Ward Reeves, a Haywood County native and an executive for VIP Jackson Magazine.

A reception for the Beta Club members and their families was held after the induction to celebrate the students’ achievement.

Members of the Sunny Hill Junior Beta Club are Alexandra Anthony, Jamie April, Ragan Avant, Jordan Bailey, Emma Baumheckel, Deterion Boyd, Alyzza Campbell, Hunter Campbell, Keilah Castellanos, Ebony Clark, Will Clinton, Clayton Converse, Bailey Cozart, Quantez Davis, Dannon Eubanks, Preston Evans, Eliza Ford, Hunter Garner, Shelby Harris, Quaserica Holmes, Madison Jackson, Jamira Jarrett, David Johnson, Emily Gooch King, Zaterius Laird, Eduardo Magadan, Lauren Markowski, Carlie McCage, Keyana Miller, Blake Moore, Abbey Morris, Jacqueline Munoz, Infinity Pickens, Samantha Pittman, Mireya Pulido, Jacob Rice, Ethan Riddle, Sara Rodriquez, Wynyatta Ross, Hunter Roten, Jada Shaw, Kyle Sills, Dustin Staggs, Natalie Sweat, Kayla Thompson, Davarius Tyus, Isaiah Walker, Ryan Watson, Destiny Williams, Shay Williams, Jerry Woods, Nathan Yoder and Spencer Zeigler.

Sponsors for the Beta Club are Mr. Mike Leigh, Ms. Rhonda Jones, Ms. Barbara Wellington, Mrs. Sandra Humphrey's, Ms. Mandy Bell, Ms. Kriste Voss, and Ms. Jackie Whitten.

County Spelling Bee participants

Photo by David Sills

The Haywood County Spelling Bee was held at the Board of Education Tuesday, January 29. Participants included two students each from grades five through eight at Sunny Hill Elementary and Haywood Junior High. Participates were: Diamond Fuller, Dannon Eubanks, Chardonnay Demoss, and Galen Austin, Cassidy Hendrix, Bria Jelks, Chelsi Jones, Derail Shaw, Mary Smith, Aaliyah Whitmore, Destiny Williams, and Shanterica Williamson. The last two standing were Galen Austin, seventh grade, and Bria Jelks, eighth grade. Galen was declared the winner and will represent Haywood County at the Mid-South Spelling Bee in Memphis on Saturday, March 1.