What a busy spring! So much is going on around us that it can literally make you dizzy. However, we can’t escape the fact that school is almost over for this year. It has gone by so fast. I hope that you will take time to catch the senior profiles on the front page of the website. We have 46 outstanding seniors that will soon carry the spirit of Magnolia Heights with them as they go on to college and successful careers afterward. The scholarships and honors they are racking up are incredible. What a testament to their ability and our school’s educational influence!

With everything going on please don’t forget several important dates.

         

          April 23 ...............Catfish on the Hill

          May 1 ................  Last day to register without late fees

          May 4 ................  Elementary Special Awards

          May 10 ..............  Senior Awards Night

          May 18 ..............  Elementary and Secondary Awards Day

          May 18-25.........  Final Exams

          May 24 .............. Graduation

Also don’t miss our baseball games, tennis and golf matches, and track meets. Our young athletes are working extremely hard to balance their academic workload and still participate at the highest level in MAIS athletics. I am so proud of them and accolades they bring our school through their accomplishments.

February 28, 2012

The weather last week reminded me how close we are to spring and how quickly the school year is passing. As the parent of a senior I see the end quickly approaching and it got me to thinking how fortunate and blessed I am to not only be a part of a great school, but also on a selfish note, how it has impacted my two son’s lives. MHS has not only prepared them for the rigors of college academia, but also taught them hard work, sacrifice, goal setting, teamwork and the worthwhile pursuit of something greater than themselves.

MHS graduates are everywhere, many serving their communities, state, nation as elected officials or working in state or federal legislative bodies. Two graduates Steve Hale (1972) and Trey Lamar (1999) were just elected to our state legislature and Stephen Moore (2006) works in Governor Phil Bryant’s office. Will Todd (2001) lives in Washington, DC where he works as an aide in Senator Cochran’s Office. I’m sure that there are others that I’m unintentionally leaving out, but the list is noteworthy as it is.

It is clear to me that our graduates understand the big picture and their ultimate role. I am blessed to be a parent of one and soon to be two MHS graduates.

From Luke 12:48 we get that to whom much is given, even much more is required. Our graduates are given much, but they are working even now to give back a portion of what they have been blessed with. What a testament to our school and the vision of its founding fathers.

February 6, 2012

We Are family

As I exited the school today, I happened to glance over at our new sign as it was scrolling “We Love You Mrs. Bouchillon.” It was then I was reminded of one of the many comments that I consistently hear echoed at Magnolia Heights "we are a family."

Mrs. Susan Bouchillon underwent surgery yesterday in her battle with breast cancer. All throughout the day prayers and thoughts were lifted up for her and her family. Around 6:00 last night I received word that she was out of surgery and that everything went well. There was no cancer in the lymph nodes and the prognosis is for a full recovery. We give praise to God for her surgeons, nurses and other medical personnel who worked with her during the surgery and are attending to her now.

Susan is not only a gifted educator and a teacher who truly loves her children, but she is also a beloved member of our Magnolia Heights family. I know that you will join me in the coming days, weeks, and months to continue to lift her and her family up in prayer as she convalesces toward a full recovery.

It’s just what families do!

God Bless you Susan and we wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

January 2, 2012

As we begin the New Year, I am filled with so much pride about our accomplishments last semester. Again we saw our average ACT scores continue to rise; our students continued to excel in state-wide contests (we have just received notification that our 7^th grade math students were state winners in the “Sum Dog Competition"); our students continued to look for ways to give back in service to our community (elementary students visiting Providence Care facility and shopping for underprivileged children’s Christmas presents) - and so many other accomplishments that are too numerous to name. All resonate with what a special place we have to grow and learn!

However, I also know that even more awaits our students in the second semester. They will again excel in many areas and will continue to offer their service to the community and world as well. I do wish everyone a very Happy New Year and pray that God will continue to bless us.

December 9, 2011

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on a great first semester. From faculty and staff to students, everyone has worked so hard to put forth their best effort. Around exam time everyone gets focused, but it seems that this year the commitment has been there all along.

I had the opportunity to visit some of the student technology presentations this week and last and came away very impressed with the work our students are doing. Next semester our computer applications’ students will begin “project based learning” where they will utilize technology in both individual and group projects. The skills that they learn in this class will serve them well in their college years and beyond.

I was also very impressed with our new online class “Principles of Personal Finance.” Mr. Barry Coleman has done a magnificent job designing the course and teaching the class. These students now have a basic understanding of how to handle their personal finances. They have learned simple things like spending less than you make – what a novel idea! Are you listening, Washington, DC?

However, I am just as proud of the giving and serving attitude of our students as well. From Samaritan Purse’s “Shoe Boxes for Christmas” to the Interact Club helping Senatobia First United Methodist fill 10,000 meals to help feed the hungry, our students have been involved in looking for ways to serve. Closer to home, Mrs. Meg Woods and the National Honor Society have set up an after school tutoring service, and our kindergarten entertained the residents of Providence Place with Christmas carols last week. Serving others and giving back are valuable lessons learned at school and home, and we are certainly proud of these students and many others who give so unselfishly of their time, talent, and treasure. What a great example these students are modeling for all of us!

In all of this I hope we haven’t forgotten the real reason for this special time of the year. I hope and pray that each of you remember the greatest gift of all Jesus Christ, who came from His eternal home to live and die a sacrificial death for us that we might spend eternity with Him.

From all of us, we wish you a very Merry Christmas. I hope you have a safe and joyful Holiday season!

October 27, 2011

I hope that you had the opportunity to come to the Harvest Fun Festival Monday night. We had a great crowd on campus and lots of fun, food, and fellowship. Of course we are excited that everyone had such a good time, but more importantly, the Parents’ Club again raised needed money to fund those projects and programs that make our school special.

I want to offer my gratitude to Amy Gordon (this year’s Parents’ Club President) and the entire cadre of Parents’ Club volunteers who set up and worked the various games, served and prepared the food, and coordinated the different events like Bingo and Chrysler’s “Drive for the Kids,” to help make it a such a rousing success. I absolutely love watching all the children (young and old) scurrying about having a great time. I was also very impressed with the students from the National Honor Society, who helped serve the Bar-B-Que and the Interact Club who ran the games out front, as part of their service projects for this year. These young student leaders are learning firsthand that to be an effective leader you must first have a servant’s heart.

So to all those who helped, and all those who attended, a big “Thank You” from all of us at MHS!

September 14, 2011

As we say in my administrative circles, school is definitely back in swing! My calendar continues to fill with school events ranging from athletic contests to academic events. Our fall sports are underway with football, softball, soccer, and cheerleading. I hope that you will take the opportunity to catch one of the many athletic contests on tap for the month of September and support our Chiefs and Lady Chiefs as they compete for MHS.

Our seniors and juniors will be taking important tests this month with the PSAT and ACT test dates upcoming. Progress reports have been electronically delivered (saving paper and postage) and from all reports Ren-Web is up and going with only a few glitches. Today we have school day pictures for everyone, and the juniors will look at their class rings. Busy, Busy, Busy!

I also hope you had the opportunity to read about the iPads and Macbooks that were featured in the local papers recently. I had the pleasure of watching Mrs. Steward’s first grade and was totally amazed at how engaged the students were with the iPads and how intuitive they were in their operation. Mr. Coleman’s online class, Principles of Personal Finance, as well as his Economics class, were also busy the same week with the Macbooks in the library. I am so appreciative again of the Parents’ Club providing the funding for these technology projects. I KNOW that our students are getting a significant head start when it comes to the technology they’ll be using in college and their careers afterward.

Speaking of the Parents’ Club, please make your plans for the Harvest Fun Festival. It is scheduled for Monday, October 24. As always it will be a great night of food, fun and festivities for the entire family. I hope that you will look for ways to get involved with our Parents’ Club and if you can’t be, support them with your presence and donations.

Until next time, Go Chiefs!