Mansfield School Blog

Taking time out to reward academic success, MHS students attended an assembly Oct. 27 to congratulate students who improved their performance on MAP and EOC tests the previous school year. Students who improved their scores from the year before, or who scored proficient or above, were entered into a drawing for 19-inch Viao flat screen televisions.

All mine: With a big grin, junior Mikiah Moore grips a television she won in a drawing during the EOC awards assembly. "I put it in my room," said Moore of her prize.

Deciding to participate in SADD’s dress up days during Red Ribbon Week, several MHS teachers dressed as wicked witches for Fairy Tale Day on Oct. 21. Perhaps the most outrageous costume was assembled by Colleen Klingensmith, special education teacher. In addition to a black outfit, green makeup and teased hair, Kliingensmith strapped a simulated hunch to her back and wore it all day. “It took me 30 minutes this morning just to get my hunch on,” she said.

I've got a hunch: Dressing as a wicked witch for Fairy Tale Day, Colleen Klingensmith, special education teacher, pauses in the high school office on the way to her class room.

As SADD sponsors Red Ribbon Week this week at MHS, students are dressing up in wild costumes to reflect the themes of the various days. Monday, Oct. 19, was Hippie Day. Many students came to school with bell bottoms, ponchos, tie-dyed shirts and sandals. They seemed to be enjoying each other’s outfits all day long.

“I like the ’60s clothes,” said senior Kristina Criss. “They’re comfortable and don’t show a lot of skin.”

Happy hippie: Waiting in the commons for lunch to begin, senior Kristina Criss wears her hippie outfit. "I like the whole era," she said. "I kind of wish I was born back then."

Practicing a dance number for the annual District Nine meeting, FCCLA members took to the front lawn of the high school campus Oct. 7 to spread out and perfect their moves. Every year’s meeting has a theme, and this year’s was a western one. Members at the meeting had to perform the dance and spend the day dressed in western attire.

“That dance was impossible to learn,” recalled senior Kaleb Nolen. “It was awkward for the guys,” he added, “or at least for me.”

Pop it and lock it: Holding a pose, senior Kaleb Nolen practices for the FCCLA dance routine.

Bringing the past to life, students in Roger Woods’s history classes dressed in period costumes to deliver presentations on a variety of historical periods to their peers. One team, sophomores Mikeal Pippin and Lexi Sherman showcased ancient Greek culture. “The funnest part was me dressing up in a toga,” said Pippin.

Living statue: Caught in a pose during his history presentation, sophomore Mikeal Pippin sports a homemade toga. Partner sophomore Lexi Sherman holds his notes.

Trading high school for preschool, FCCLA members spent fifth period helping youngsters learn. Organization members worked alongside preschool teachers to help the beginning students learn songs about body parts, explore artistic expression and practice building with blocks. Making a pretend birthday cake out of beans turned out to be sophomore Jordyn Loge’s favorite activity, she said.

Other club members preferred the body parts activity, called the Tootieta dance.

“Me and Jordyn and [sophomore] Tyler [Henry] are good at that dance,” laughed sophomore Emily Neal, recalling the activity.

Joy of learning: Preschoolers are helped while demolishing a construction project by sophomore Emily Neal, who aims the debris at sophomore Tyler Henry.

Students in science teacher Pam Probert’s sixth hour class conducted experiments on Sept. 30. However, the class was not without incident. Sophomore Tucker Kirkland reported falling down while moving two test tubes. “I thought I was dead! I thought I was dead!” said Kirkland at the time. He was, however, completely uninjured. Sophomore Billy Estrada said that Kirkland’s fall was the funniest thing that happened all hour.

More seriously, sophomore Christian Gray said that the most fun part of the experiment was mixing hydrogen peroxide with liver to observe the reaction.

Opening a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, sophomore Christian Gray sports pink safety goggles to protect his eyes.