MCS Connected 2021-2022
February Newsletter for Marion County Schools
ADVANCE EXCELLENCE
WHO WE ARE
News from the Academic Team
District Teacher of the Year Winners
Kathy Hess, Marion County High School
Felicia Floyd, Whitwell Middle School
"I am honored to have the opportunity to represent Teacher of the Year for the middle schools of Marion County. My love and dedication for my students have been noticed and for that, I am extremely grateful. I am blessed to have a classroom full of students who are eager to learn as well as co-workers, administration, and district leaders who provide the support I need to give my all to my students."
Ashley Thomas, South Pittsburg Elementary
Teacher of the Year Honorees
Message from the Office of Coordinated School Health
*Life Maze for all 8th grade students will be March 11th at Jasper Middle. Transportation will be provided. Parent permission notes will be sent home with students the week of February 21-25. Students cannot attend Life Maze without parent permission.
*Healthy Horizons will be held for all 4th grade students and interested parents April 14th at Cornerstone Ministries. Transportation will be provided. More information will be provided closer to time. Look for Parent Permission notes coming in March.
*Life Skills Health Curriculum is being taught in elementary, middle and high schools this semester. Topics covered include: Good Health; Decision Making for Health; Risk-Taking and Substance Abuse; The Media and Health; Managing Stress, Anger and other Emotions; Family Communications and Healthy Relationships. Thanks to our teachers and staff for getting the training and sharing this information with our students.
*Skate Time is coming to your schools!! Check with your Physical Education teachers for details.
*Did You Know? (Data from Voices from Healthy Kids—American Heart Association)
- Children begin learning while in prenatal development—even before birth?
- Children’s adverse experiences—including prenatal development—can have short and long term health affects?
- A child’s experiences can impact mental health, physical health, and learning behavior in both the short and long term?
- The environment a child grows up in doesn’t only impact brain development, but also heart and lung function, digestion and immune systems and physical growth?
- Recurrent hardships and trauma in childhood can have lasting consequences that linger well into adulthood?
- Hardships and trauma students experience can impact their health as adults, appearing as chronic illness such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression?
- Students/young adults that have at least one significant person they can depend on and trust, will be successful adults? (Mental Health First Aid USA)
*Marion County Schools BMI Weight Categories Comparison between 2018-2019 and 2021-2022
Underweight 2018-2019 2.66%
Underweight 2021-2022 6.49%
Normal weight 2018-2019 54.55%
Normal weight 2021-2022 57.03%
Overweight 2018-2019 19.42%
Overweight 2021-2022 14.41%
Obese 2018-2019 23.37%
Obese 2021-2022 22.07%
*Volunteer Behavioral Health Information
First time appointment 1-877-567-6051
*National Crisis Resources:
Crisis Line for Adult Clients 1-800-704-2651
Crisis Line for Child and Adolescents Crisis Services 1-866-791-9221
*National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK (8255) for free 24/7 support
Call 888-628-9454 for Spanish support
*The Trevor Project 866-488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678 for mental health support specialized for the LGBTQ+ communities
*Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Line
Helpline 800-985-5990 or text “TALKINGWITHUS” to 667-46 to connect with a trained crisis counselor
*Get At-Home COVID-19 Tests
· ParTNers for Health members now have multiple ways to get at-home COVID-19 tests at no cost to them. The federal government site is https://www.covidtests.gov/
· ParTNers Health plan members can get over the counter COVID-19 tests as part of their pharmacy benefit. Covered plan members may get up to eight individual, at-home tests per month. Get these tests at any CVS Caremark pharmacy that chooses to participate in this program and has kits in stock.
Marion County Spelling Bee
The top three students received a plaque. The top two winners will advance to the regional competition in Chattanooga.
Participants included the following students.
Hailey Broyles - Jasper Middle
Damien Hughes - Jasper Middle
Jakeb Layne - Monteagle Elementary
Soham Patel - Monteagle Elementary
Kinsley Baugh - South Pittsburg Elementary
Mason Jackson - South Pittsburg Elementary
Hunter Baugh - South Pittsburg Academy
Mason Havner - South Pittsburg Academy (Second Place)
Ethan Henry - Whitwell Middle (First Place)
Hailee Scissom - Whitwell Middle
News You Can Use from the Health Services Director
The TN Department of Health is celebrating the 7th annual Tennessee Quit Week and promoting this February 13 - March 4, 2022. This year's theme is "My Journey". The goal is to inspire Tennesseans to live healthier lives and to take advantage of our state's free resources to help individuals stop the use of tobacco products. Tennesseans who are ready to quit can call the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW, text “QUIT” to 615-795-0600, or access web-based services at www.tnquitline.com for free coaching and nicotine patches (if eligible). These effective services can double a tobacco user’s chance of quitting successfully.
Please share this information with family, friends and colleagues. I am also providing the link below for many other resources.
Thank you for helping reduce tobacco use in Tennessee.
Tennessee Quit Week - Tennessee State Government - TN.gov
Information from TN Dept. of Health about the Ongoing Novel Coronavirus Outbreak
Message from the School Nutrition Department featuring Nutrition News You Can Use from Dynamic Dietetics, Inc.
90% of the US population does not eat enough fruit and 80% lack adequate vegetables daily.
Try this new 2022 cutting edge "Focus on Five" printable tracker to help you improve your fruit and veggie intake.
http://dynamicdietetics.com/fruit-and-veggie-tracker
You can do this and we can help! Use this simple log to make a BIG difference in your health.
March 14 - 18, Spring Break
Inspirational Quote
"Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."
- Winston Churchill
Our Schools - Click on each school's picture to visit its website.
Jasper Elementary School
495 Warrior Drive
Jasper, TN 37347
423-942-2110
Jasper Middle School
Jasper, TN 37347
423-942-6251
Marion County High School
Jasper, TN 37347
423-942-5120
Monteagle Elementary School
Monteagle, TN 37356
931-924-2136
South Pittsburg Elementary School
South Pittsburg, TN 37380
423-837-6117
South Pittsburg High School
South Pittsburg, TN 37380
423-837-7561
Whitwell Elementary School
Whitwell, TN 37397
423-658-5313
Whitwell High School
Whitwell, TN 37397
423-658-5141
Whitwell Middle School
Whitwell, TN 37397
423-658-5635
Marion County Schools Central Office
Website: www.marionschools.org
Location: 204 Betsy Pack Drive, Jasper, TN, USA
Phone: 423-942-3434