Monticello Live

During the 2011-12 school year the Monticello School District will begin the process of implementing a new curriculum for all English and math classes. The District will join all other public schools in the state of Arkansas in teaching the “Common Core State Standards”.

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Spring break is over, and this is worth a re-post for the MMS students, who are returning to school today.

MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Monticello 6th grade students raised $4,773 for World Vision, to provide a water well in an undeveloped country.

Principal Jerry Martens is shown in the video swimming across the school pond, like he agreed to, if the students reached $3,100.

Also, 4 teachers agreed to spend Thursday night at school if $3,000 was reached, including Blake Abbott, who spent the night in a tent on top of the roof.

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Monticello High School EAST is making an effort to “go green”.

Every Thursday, students collect paper from the recycle bins that are placed in every high school classroom.

They also collect from the OEC and Administration Building.

After all of the paper is collected, the Drew County Recycling Center picks it up and starts the recycling process.

Each student on the recycling team feels that they are doing their part in helping the economy.

According to Monticello school district officials, 4  elementary students were suspended, following an incident that occurred on the school’s playground after lunch Thursday. (more…)

This year’s MADD sponsored DWI mock accident was held on the parking lot area of the Monticello High School, Monday.

This year’s event was held in honor of Dustin “Rooster” Ferguson.

The first video show the accident re-enactment.
The second covers Steve Brantley’s comments about the event.
The last video is of Dustin Ferguson’s mother’s statements from Monday, which was the first time she has spoken publicly about the wreck that took Dustin’s life.

MADD MOCK DWI 2009-04-13 from MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Dustin’s parents came out to speak for the first time since the accident. His mom told the students attending, “Sept. 22, 2008, two days after his 19th birthday, our son lost his life from a drunk driver. One choice of an indivdual changed our lives and our community. I stand before you as Dustin’s voice. His plans and his dreams could not be achieved because of the choice of another. Remember your choice affects everyone.”

DVD video’s of last year’s presentation are available at James Quick Print.

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6th grader Sam Pelkki is shown here shaving Monticello Middle School Assitant Principal Jerry Martens’ head.

Martens’ promised the student body to shave his blond locks if 80% of the MMS student body met their Accelerated Reader (AR) goal this 9-weeks grading period. In the end, 81% of the 6th-8th grade students met their goal by the March 6th deadline.

The top 4 student “point-earners”, including Pelkki, also had the opportunity to take turns shaving some of Martens’ hair. The AR program is a reading program in which students earn points by reading both fiction and non-fiction literature and taking and passing tests based on books read.

By Bentley Brodnax, 8th grade student at MMS

Monticello Middle School teacher Jennifer Touchstone has been selected to be one of the regional finalists for the 2008-09 Arkansas Teacher of the Year. (more…)

As many drove by Monticello High School this morning something out of the ordinary was happening on school property. Unfortunately, the scene was all too familiar for the many public servants who took part in helping. An organized reenactment of a drunk driving accident was staged for high school students to observe, complete with rescue teams from the Fire Department, Police Department, State Police and ambulance service. A helicopter even landed to med-flight some of the victims.

Teresa Belew, Executive Director for the Arkansas Mothers Against Drunk Driving, visited from Little Rock and spoke to students. She related to the audience that a survey of the youth of Drew County reveals shocking facts. Twelve years of age is the age most reported for having a first taste of alcohol. Of young people who regulary drink alcohol, most say they began regular use at age fourteen. She also reported that in Arkansas alone, there are four to five people killed each week because of an alcohol related accident. Countless others are injured.

Steve Brantley, organizer of the reenactment today, has first-hand experience of an alochol related accident. Today, he shared his story with students of how his wife, Patricia Brantley, was killed in a collision with a drunk driver on June 21, 1996. It forever changed his life and the life of their four children. Steve is passionate about educating others about the dangers of drinking and driving and is very involved in the local chapter of MADD as coordinator for the county.