Location: Gautier, Mississippi
The Pascagoula-Gautier School District in Mississippi shut down in-person classes in March 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and make a transition to virtual schooling for an unknown period of time.
As told to Lisa Esposito as part of U.S. News & World Report’s “One Pandemic Question” series. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Q: How did COVID-19 turn schools upside down for your students?
It was around the beginning of the pandemic. The kids in band were pumped about their spring concert and evaluation coming up in a couple weeks. It’s a big deal where they prepare and practice for months to give the best possible performance.
MASSENA â Massena Central High Schoolâs band director has received national recognition for his work with student musicians.
Jonathan Hunkins received the National Band Associationâs Citation of Excellence in January, and the accolades started pouring in this week after Principal Alan Oliver learned of the recognition and posted it on social media.
Mr. Hunkins said he was talking to Mr. Oliver one morning and the Citation of Excellence was one of the topics of discussion.
âI kind of mentioned that I had been given this award from NBA,â he said.
After he found out, Mr. Oliver posted his congratulations Sunday morning on the high schoolâs Facebook page.
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Congratulations to Neel Gautam and Cameron Allivand of Durant High School who have been selected as the April 2021 Shamrock Bank Impact Athlete and Performing Arts Student of the month.
Gautam, a senior, has been a stalwart of the Lion tennis team. A four year varsity player, Neel has fashioned a 20-7 record this season and has never finished below third place in any of the tournaments.
“Neel is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached,” DHS tennis coach Jonathan Rodriguez said. ” He is also an amazing teammate. He is willing to help out his team and cheer them on all the time.”
knichols@newsandsentinel.com
During the Marietta City Schools Board of Education meeting on Monday, some of the board’s decisions included a learning loss prevention program, the recall of two staff members, and the renewal of contracts.
Two staff members were recalled at the meeting after previous job losses, Emilia VanReeth, kindergarten teacher at Washington Elementary, and Korey Parlin, Band Director at Marietta High School.
The meeting also featured two-year contract renewals for Kyle Scott, Kristi Lantz and Alison Woods. Three-year contract renewals were approved for Scott Kratche, Cody Venderlic, Cheryl Cook, Tasha Werry, Chad Rinard and Brittany Schob.
Although positions have changed, school board president Russell Garrison said parents should be assured that the same people will still be teaching their children.