Written Word Jumps of Pages of Literature into Real Life at DeKalb West School

March 1, 2020
By: Bill Conger

The written word jumped off the pages of literature into real life as around 400 folks turned out for the 5th Annual Family Literacy Night at DeKalb West School Thursday night (February 27).

“I would say that this year’s event was a success!” says School Librarian and Event Coordinator Amanda Mullinax. “Students and families alike seemed to have a wonderful time. Excitement was evident on the faces of many. The faculty and staff at DWS put on another wonderful event; their creativity and love for their students was truly obvious!”

The two main antagonists from Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” book, Thing 1 and Thing 2, worked together on a cake walk that brought in the crowd as did Literacy Makerspace, and EnForce the Love of Reading. Capture the Flag and Minute to Win It also were popular with the crowd.

“The younger ones seemed to enjoy Mother Goose and her nursery rhyme friends as well as the Mouse and his games,” says Mullinax. “Platform 9 ¾ from the Harry Potter book series was a huge hit for a quick photo op!”

In addition this year, community volunteers DeKalb County 4-H Agent Leigh Fuson and Lisa Cripps and Jennifer Matthews with the DeKalb Prevention Coalition joined in the celebration.

D.W.S. started Family Literacy Night in 2015 because the school knew the value of students beginning literacy skills from a young age.

“The DWS faculty and staff knows that children need literacy instruction from birth; they can’t wait until they are of school age to begin,” Mullinax says. “We also know that hosting a night where learning is fun can ignite or further fuel a love of learning.”

The school librarian also emphasizes that developing literacy skills can come “in many shapes and sizes” including having real conversations with children, reading to them and reading with them, having literature available in the home and encouraging its use, welcoming questions about words they hear or read that they don’t understand, and playing word games at home or in the car as you travel.

“I would personally like to say thank you to all the families that took time out of life’s hustle and bustle to visit with us for our 5th Annual Family Literacy Night,” Mullinax says. “This giving of your time is one way to show your loved ones that you care for them and support them.”

Students in PreK-8th grade entered the 2020 Literature Fair, which took a different turn this school year. Unlike past years, this event gave students the opportunity to combine Social Studies, Science, and Literature into one project.

Congratulations to the following winners:

In the PreK-1st (Family): 1st place—Kaden and Karson Mullinax, “Mount Vesuvius,” 2nd place-Sawyer and Maggie Hendrix, “Buzz on Honey Bees,” and Molly Reynolds, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” 3rd place-Emma Thomason, “Gymnastics,” Aler and Mabry Organ, “Mussels of Smith Fork,” Honorable Mention-Myles Mendenhall-“Steam Locomotives” and Will Tripp, “The Polar Express.

2nd-5th Grades Individual Science Fair: 1st place-Christian Cripps, “Wash Your Hands,” 2nd place-Grady Thomason, “Football,” and 3rd place-Gabriel Beilfuss, “Optical Illusions.” 2nd-5th Grades Family Science Fair: 1st place-Levi Reynolds, “Zoom Rocket, Zoom” and 2nd place-Adam Brown, “Dinosaurs.” 2nd-5th Graces Class Science Fair: Mrs. Sheila McMillen’s class, “The Secret Science Fair Project.”

2nd-5th Grades Individual Fiction: 1st place, Mary Jane Scott, “Hunger Games,” 2nd-place Averly Moss, “Harry Potter,” and 3rd place-Rylie Stout, “Indian in the Cupboard.” 2nd-5th Grades Individual Nonfiction: 1st place-Autumn Crook, “Who Was Jesus?”, 2nd place-Bo Hale, “Monster Trucks,” and 3rd place-Drew Cook, “Steve Irwin.” 2nd – 5th Grades Group Nonfiction: 1st place—Olivia George and Reagan Murphy, “Rainforest,” 2nd place-Wyatt Tyree and Porter Hancock, “Football’s Greatest Running Back” and Lucy Moore & Ava Melton, “Kobe Bryant,” 3rd place-Sophie Desimone and Jordyn Agee, “Betsy Ross.” 2nd-5th Grades Author Study: 1st place—Max Hendrixson, “James Rallison.”

6th Grade History: 1st place, Ethan Reynolds, “Monopoly,” 2nd place, Chaylea Lunsford, “Helen Keller,” and 3rd place, Jonathan Keith, “Everything About Egypt” and Cole Bain, “Ancient Egypt,” Honorable Mention—Nick Murphy, “Great Pyramids” and McKenna Miller, “Mummy Making.”

7th Grade Group Nonfiction: 1st place, Bryna Pelham & Caroline Crook, “The Maddie Diaries,” 2nd place-Caleb Lawson & Grant Buterbaugh, “Freaky Stories About Electricity,” and 3rd place-Haley Murphy and Ava Cantrell, “Heaven is For Real.” 7th Grade Individual Nonfiction: 1st place-Jordan Turbeville, “Live Original” and Emily Young, “Soul Surfer,” 2nd place, Evan Prichard, “Happy, Happy, Happy,” and 3rd place-Kenson Moss, “I Am George Washington,” Honorable Mention: Lauren Fry, “Heaven is For Real.”

7th Grade Group Fiction: 1st place-Thomas Damron & Wesley Kent, “Brian’s Return and 2nd place—Caleb Finocchiaro & Eli Davis, “The Trials of Apollo.” 7th Grade Individual Fiction: 1st place-Bradley Pelham, “Ready Player One,” 2nd place-Alex Haugh, “A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Wide Window” and Allie Overstreet, “Daughters of Eve: Bleeding Candle,” 3rd place-Jon Stanley, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret,” and Honorable Mention: Andy Shahan, “Ghost Dog.”

8th Grade Author Study: 1st place-Alyssa Crook, “Nicholas Sparks,” 2nd place-Tess Barton, “John Grogan,” and Marshall Farler, “Rick Riordan,” 2nd place-Blair Gipe, “Louisa May Alcott,” and Zoe Hale, “Alan Gratz, 3rd place—Mia Kemper, “Walter Lord” and Karson Smallwood, “Robert Bloch,” Honorable Mention: Melanie Ortiz, “Lois Lowry.”

March 1, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

DCHS baseball fans are invited to a night of good food and a LIVE auction, Friday, March 6. This annual fundraiser for the DCHS baseball program is sponsored by the Booster Club and will start at 6 p.m. at the DeKalb County Community Complex.

Tickets are $8.00 per person or $25 per family. You may purchase tickets from any DCHS baseball player or at the door the night of the supper. All the money raised will be used in support of the DCHS baseball program.

The season opener for the Tigers is March 9 at home against Grundy County starting at 5 p.m.

February 29, 2020
By: Dwayne Page

The DCHS Lady Tigers will advance to the semi-finals of the Region 4AA Basketball Tournament after defeating Sequatchie County 71 to 48 Friday night at Dunlap.

The Lady Tigers (18-14) will face Macon County (29-1) on Monday night, March 2 at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville.  Tip-Off will be at 7:30 p.m. WJLE will have LIVE coverage.

Macon County defeated Marion County Friday night 93 to 27.

Meanwhile Upperman girls (26-5) eliminated Bledsoe County Friday night 81 to 42 while York Institute (19-12) won at Cumberland County 64 to 57.

Upperman and York Institute will meet in the Region Semi-Finals

In the game Friday night, DeKalb County led Sequatchie County 24 to 15 after the 1st period, 42 to 19 at halftime, and 52 to 39 after the 3rd period before claiming a 71 to 48 victory.

Kadee Ferrell scored 22, Emme Colwell 13, Megan Walker 10, Kenzie France 8, Megan Cantrell 7, Gracie Griffin 6, Mya Ruch 4, and Summer Crook with 1.

In the previous meetings this season, the Lady Tigers lost to Macon County 78 to 54 in Smithville on January 17, 67 to 33 at Lafayette on February 11, and 57 to 31 in the District Tournament on February 21.

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