Luncheon for West retired teachers

Photo by Billy Woods

West honors retired teachers

West Junior High recently honored its retired teachers with a Christmas luncheon in the school's library. They were also accompanied by many of their former students who are now on faculty at West.

New little library at West

Photo by Billy Woods

Little library at West

Shop students at West Junior High combined to construct a Little Free Library in front of the school building. Students are free to pick out any book in the box. Shop students Mitchell Ramsey and Matthew Christensen constructed the box and art club students who painted the box are Adrienne Lewis, Haley Hardy, Cayla Sanders, Chloe Marriott, Trinittee Hampton, Emma Fraley and Jackson Tilley. Teachers include Michelle Wren, Cleo Lane, Ashley Lipe and principal Charlie Tyler.

By Billy Woods

WM School District

In an effort to promote reading on the West Junior High campus, students built a Little Free Library located on the school's front lawn.

"We'd heard Ken Stamatis, our literacy lab consultant, talk about the Little Free Libraries and we thought it would be a great addition to our campus," said West literacy coach Ashley Lipe. "Our goal at West is to create life-long readers and, in turn, lifelong learners. This is just one more step in that direction."

Students, parents, teachers and members of the neighborhood community can access the Little Free Library whenever they want. They can leave a book for someone to read, they can take a book to read or they can leave one and take one.
The West librarian is Amber Heigle.

West's shop teacher, Cleo Lane, and two of his students, Mitchell Ramsey and Matthew Christensen, built the Little Free Library. The school's art teacher, Michelle Wren, and her art students painted it.

The art students painting were Chloe Marriott, Adrienne Lewis, Haley Hardy, Cayla Sanders, Trinidee Hampton, Jackson Tilley and Emma Fraley.

You can find more information about how the Little Free Library was started on https://littlefreelibrary.org/start/.

West students earn all-region band honors

Photo by Billy Woods

West all-region band

Eighteen students at West Junior High were recently named to the all-region band. Front row, from left, are alternate Bailey Merritt, first band Annabelle Pulliam, second band Serenity Lewis, alternate Trevor Trevino, first band Joylyn Kumpati, and first band Cameron Dale. Back row includes second band Amelia Walker, first band Andrea Tennison, second band Kaitlyn Jackson, first band Josey Leverette, second band Brandon Curtis, first band Demarius Davison, second band Arial Kyles, alternate Antonique Miller and second band Kaelyn Albers. Not pictured is Rondarrius Howard. Band director is Lisa Alford.

AWM star Quiz Bowler heading to Vandy

By Billy Woods

WM School District

West Memphis' latest Division 1 college recruit from a Power 5 Conference had a tough decision to make, but he said he feels a peace about the final choice.

Academies of West Memphis senior Jason Scott nixed an earlier decision to take a scholarship to Baylor University and instead chose Vanderbilt.

Scott won't be blocking or tackling on the gridiron at Vandy.

But he will be tackling neuroscience and saxaphone performance.

Scott, the captain of the AWM Quiz Bowl team turned down a $78,000 scholarship offer to Baylor and will head to Nashville on a Questbridge National College Match Scholarship Program.

"Being on the Quiz Bowl team I've learned to think on my feet," said Scott. "And I've learned a lot of things in the broad spectrum of education. Being captain of the team I've also learned a lot about leadership."

Judging from her comments, Scott is a favorite of Quiz Bowl sponsor Dee Kirkland.

"Jason has one of the biggest hearts of any student I've ever taught," she said. "He's always willing to help anybody. And he never has a bad day. He's also really, really intelligent."

Scott's list of accomplishments at AWM is too lengthy to mention, but the highlights include first place in the state foreign language contest last year at Harding University, two-time all-state tenor saxaphonist, bronze medalist at the state Skills USA Health Knowledge Bowl competition, a part of the University of Central Arkansas wind ensemble for two years and two-time captain of the Dixie Band Camp.

Scott says his two biggest heroes are both teachers at AWM: Kirkland and math department chair Joanne Smith.

Scott attributes his academic prowess to "my love for challenges."

"Whenever something is challenging for me it motivates me instead of degrading me," Scott added.

Richland receives 'healthy' grant

By Billy Woods

WM School District

Richland Elementary will benefit from a $75,000 grant to build a walking track as well as additional fitness equipment.

West Memphis School District physical education coordinator Jody Fenter wrote the grant that was accepted by the Blue and You Foundation. Richland is only one of 31 programs and 215 applicants to receive the grant.

"(The walking trail) is going to be beautiful, and adding that on top of all the other new construction going on at our school it's going to be a sight to behold," said Richland principal Gwen Looney.

The Blue and You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas is a charitable foundation established and funded by the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield to promote better health in the state.

"Richland students have, in the past 10 years, averaged about 15,000 miles per year walking at the school," said Fenter. "The entire school is dedicated to the success of this Walking Club that promotes a healthy lifestyle."

Fenter said the surrounding neighborhood will also benefit from the walking trail because the school is located in the center of a residential neighborhood.

"I feel confident that the entire city of West Memphis would use this trail because it is in a very safe location," Fenter added. "I have the same feeling as the movie 'Field of Dreams.' If you build it, they will come."

The project will also call for fitness equipment that includes a pull-up bar, sit-up station, fitness ropes and a stationary bike.

"My students can't wait," said Richland P.E. instructor Candy Eubanks. "With the construction currently going on at our school they haven't been able to do any walking. They are going to be more than excited to have that pavement to walk on when it's finished."

AWM seniors offered by ASU

By Billy Woods

WM School District

Fifteen Academies of West Memphis seniors were rendered surprised last week when Arkansas State University rep LaTasha Pye informed them her school has offered them all scholarship money.

Four levels of scholarships were handed out, including the Promise Scholarship, which is worth $8,000 for four years; The Pride One Scholarship, which is worth $26,880 over four years; The Pride Three Scholarship, which is worth $28,880 over four years and the Excellence Scholarship, which is worth $36,880.

"These scholarships are great accomplishments because it means the students have done four years of work to get them," said Pye, a recruitment adviser at A-State. "It is based on the ACT scores and GPA their last four years."

The Promise Scholars at AWM included Rileigh Smith, Luci Blankenship, Amari Turner, Zakiah Smith, Takiya Warren, Taylor Gore, Merrie Lancaster and Kyrus Rodgers.

Pride One Scholars include Hayden Spears, John David Kemp, Tristan Banks and Kentarious Stewart.

The Pride Three Scholarship went to Rylee Elmore.

The Excellence Scholarship went to Joshua Foster and Austin Sudbury.

"We're so thankful that ASU comes and recognizes these kids with a type of ceremony," said AWM senior guidance counselor Latarsha Johnson. "A lot of colleges will just send a letter or email, but ASU comes down here personally to congratulate the kids and surprise them with the announcement. I look forward to this every year."

Bosch donates to L.R. Jackson Elementary

By Billy Woods

WM School District

L.R. Jackson Elementary got a huge lift recently when a major West Memphis business donated a large sum for Science, Technology, English and Math.

The Bosch Power Tool Corporation donated $10,000 toward STEM for L.R. Jackson. Bosch is a major player in the West Memphis School District's Partners In Education program for the last four years.

"Bosch is a big supporter of the STEM programs," said Scott Wallace, director physical logistics for North America. "Coming from a company with a lot of engineering, that's what we like to support. This also gets our name out there to the community because we want to be linked to this area. We just want to be a good community member."

Accompanying Wallace in presenting L.R. Jackson with the check were HR manager Marion Littlejohn and director of physical distribution Virgil Roberson.