Monroe County Schools Radio

It’s been a big week for Monroe County Schools.  After months of searching, the Monroe County Board of Education announced the sole finalist for Superintendent.  Let’s listen as Board Chair Stuart Pippin shares the news.

Nearly 300 Mary Persons Bulldogs gathered at Dan Pitts Stadium last weekend for their graduation ceremony.  Valedictorian Sydney Stapleton, Salutatorian Ellie Adams and Principal Tammy Marion all spoke before the students received their diplomas.  Let’s listen. 

We have a huge event this week at the Monroe County Fine Arts Center. Mary Persons students will bring one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals to the FAC.  These kids have been working for months on the world-wide sensation, Les Misérables. You will be amazed when you hear the people sing the classic songs from this award-winning musical. Let’s check in with director Holly Spires, and a few cast members, for more on this amazing performance.

Every day, dozens of people fasten their seatbelts and hit the road with one common goal, to safely transport your children to and from school.  Let’s meet the man in charge of our bus fleet, and talk to a few of those special drivers who greet your kids every morning.

The Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen, or  REACH, Georgia program was designed to provide promising students with the support needed to graduate from high school, to access higher education and ensure that these students graduate with relevant postsecondary degrees in a timely manner. In a two-year pilot beginning in 2012, REACH Georgia added five school systems and committed 35 students as REACH Scholars and invested $350,000 to student scholarships. Today, REACH serves all 180 school systems across Georgia and more than 3,600 Scholars, committing over $36 million in scholarships. Monroe County Schools had our first four REACH Scholar graduates with the Mary Persons High class of 2022. Today, we have 8 scholarship recipients across the district. Two of them are getting ready to graduate with the class of 2023, Trilok Patel and Austin Vaughn.   MCS Radio spoke with them about the opportunity the scholarship has provided.

Maintaining the technology needed for our staff and students is not an easy task.  But our Chief Technology Officer, Josh Griffis, is up to the challenge.  MCS Radio spoke with Mr. Griffis about his first year on the job, and what it takes to keep us online.

We hope you enjoyed our elementary school plays this year.  All three schools did fantastic jobs with their performances.  Now it’s time for the middle school to take the stage under the direction of first-year chorus teacher Kelley Monahan.   Let’s check in with her about this week’s show, Matilda, JR.

The Mary Persons construction program recently earned its industry certification.   But what does that mean? MP-TV spoke with Construction teacher DJ Hurm to find out.

The MPHS tennis team is swinging into action on the newly renovated courts. MPTV spoke with Coach Bernard and two players to see how our Bulldogs are looking this season.

Our fine arts students have been in competition mode this month.  There were literary competitions, all-state performances, and both the band and the chorus recently competed in the Large Group Performance Evaluations and they did very, very well.  To give you a taste of what the judges experienced, we have a few selections for you to enjoy. 

Safety is one of the top priorities for Monroe County school leaders.   That’s why each school has a dedicated resource officer.  MCS Radio spoke with Sergeant Sam Leggett about his team and their duties.

In case you missed it, the Mary Persons Game Day Cheerleaders recently won their second, consecutive state championship.  But just what is the Game Day squad?  MP-TV’s Molly Rivers spoke with the coaches and a cheerleader about the team.  Please note, this interview was recorded prior to the state championship competition.

It’s the time of year when Mary Persons seniors are deciding which college to attend and how to pay for it.  MP-TV’s Faith Jones spoke with the Mary Persons counselors to find out all about the scholarship application process.

The Junior/Senior Prom is one of the most memorable nights for a high school student, and it will be here before you know it. MP-TV’s Mary Michael Tane tells us all about this year’s special night.

Good morning.  Forsyth and Monroe County recently celebrated its first Super Bowl winner, Malik Herring.   The Monroe County Commissioners made a proclamation declaring February 25 as Malik Herring Appreciation Day, the City of Forsyth gave Herring a key to the city, and Monroe County Schools named herring a "Friend of Education."   Let's listen to part of the ceremony.

In less than two weeks, the students of K.B. Sutton Elementary will take us on a magical trip down the yellow brick road.  MCS Radio spoke with director Sandy Watson about this fantastic production of "The Wizard of Oz."

The Mary Persons Golf Team is teeing off on a new season, and this year, they’re under the direction of a new coach.  MP-TV’s Hayden Walker sat down with Coach Easterly for a preview of the season.

Pre-kindergarten registration is right around the corner.  As you probably know, we can only accept a limited number of pre-k students each year, so it’s very important to register in a timely fashion.   This year, our process has changed a little, so we spoke with System Registrar Lisa Watson to learn everything you need to know before registration day gets here.

Each year, the Mary Persons senior who is in the top ten percent of the class and who earns the highest SAT score becomes the STAR student.  This year, it’s Ellie Adams.  MP-TV spoke with Miss Adams about receiving the recognition.

Spring is always the busiest time of year at the Monroe County Fine Arts Center, and this year is no different.  From school plays to student concerts, there’s always something going on.   Plus, this week, season tickets go on sale to the general public for our next concert series.  Let’s check in with Fine Arts Coordinator Samantha Stephens for more.

Mary Persons has developed a strong wrestling program, and it’s earning state recognition. MP-TV’s Alex Johnston spoke with several members of the Mat Dawgs about this year’s season.

When it comes to fine arts, our Monroe County students shine.  Many of you watched this week as our Hubbard Elementary students brought the story of Moana to life on stage.  Now, it’s T.G. Scott’s turn to take center stage.  We spoke with music teacher Lynneth Whitten to find out more about their upcoming play, and the powerful lesson it offers the audience.

"Press Start" is just one show of many headed to the Monroe County Fine Arts Center this year.  Let’s check in with Fine Arts Coordinator Samantha Stephens for more about fine arts educational opportunities and our next professional concert season.

We’re just a few days away from two of our district’s premiere events for students,  the MCMS Valentine’s Dance and the annual Father-Daughter Dance at Hubbard.  For more on those events, and some other exciting activities for our students, we spoke with Parent Engagement Specialists Brandi Pye and Conni Tane.

Monroe County Schools is gearing up for its annual employment fair, and this year it’s going to be bigger than ever.  We begin with Monroe County School Superintendent, Dr. Mike Hickman, and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Operations, Dr. Jim Finch,  with more on what to expect at this year’s big event.

Another great event at the Monroe County Fine Arts Center this week is the kickoff production for our spring season of musicals.  Our Hubbard Elementary students will take you from the edge of the water, to where the light from the sky meets the sea, in their amazing production of Moana, Jr.  We spoke with  music teacher Emily Rusgrove, as well as the talented McKenna Moore and Elijah Hoover, to get the details about the show.

Sarah Alford hit the ground running as the new principal of the Monroe County Achievement Center.   She’s spent her first few months on the job getting to know the students, while also planning for the return of one of Forsyth’s favorite events.  Let’s find out more.

It’s a new year and a new semester for Monroe County students.  That means we’re half-way through the school year.  So far, It’s been a great one for our students and the community.  Dr. Mike Hickman, Superintendent of schools, joins us this week with a recap of some of the big accomplishments we’ve seen this school year.

We have a lot of great CTAE pathways for our students to experience.   MP-TV tells us about a few of them.