By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
More than 300 Jacksonville High School students were recognized Wednesday morning for doing well on 2010-11 end-of-course exams at the school’s first-ever Academic All-star Pep Assembly in the JHS gymnasium.
All the students received certificates for scoring proficient or better in literacy, math, or two certificates if they scored proficient or better in both areas.
Six students called to the podium to receive certificates in front of the student body for their top scores were Jonah Rodgers, eighth grade math; Taylor Hayden, eighth grade literacy; Quinettra Royster, algebra; Alexandria Williams, geometry; Shanice Triplett, geometry; and Joy Landry, 11th grade literacy. Chedijah Peoples, 11th grade literacy, and Joseph Gomez, algebra, were not present to accept certificates for their top scores.
Principal Henry Anderson encouraged the crowd, saying, “In spring, we’re going to be recognized for phenomenal growth in EOC scores.”
The most popular speaker was JHS football player Erin Davis. He said to his classmates, “We need everybody to be achieving. We need to be champions athletically and academically.
We need people to be recognized for intelligence and academic ability and not for discipline problems.” Students began chanting his first name in support of his message.
It was also announced that the Army National Guard donated $1000 to JHS. Anderson said the funds would be used to provide incentives in the form of awards to students who perform well academically.
The event began and ended with selections played by the JHS band. JHS cheerleaders kicked off the ceremony with a brief routine.
The students who earned certificates also got a break from the school cafeteria. They were treated to a picnic-like feast of hamburgers, hot dogs, sodas and cake at the school’s pavilion following the assembly. Mayor Gary Fletcher helped by serving. Centennial Bank provided the food.
