MPISD – News

 

MPJHS Student Honored by Duke University

The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is honoring Samantha McClenan, a seventh-grader at Mount Pleasant Junior High School, for her exceptional scores on the ACT. Duke TIP identifies students across the United States who have achieved scores on the ACT or SAT rivaling those of half of all college-bound seniors who took the tests.

This year Duke TIP is hosting their annual recognition ceremony at Trinity University on May 17. Samantha is among those honored for her high scores on the ACT Test. She met the state level qualifying score criteria and was sent a special invitation to attend the ceremony. She will receive a medal for achievements.

Samantha is the daughter of Katie Ballenger and Patrick McClenan.
 

MPHS Goin’ Gold Band Earns Sweepstakes Award

Members of the MPHS Goin’ Gold Band and Colorguard celebrate their Sweepstakes Award

For the third time in four years, the Mt. Pleasant High School Goin’ Gold Band has earned one of the highest honors the UIL awards bands – being named a Sweepstakes Award Winner.

To be named a Sweepstakes Band, the band must earn all One’s, the highest score awarded, in the UIL Marching Contest, UIL Sight-reading Contest, and UIL Concert Band Contest.

“I am so proud of these musicians,” said MPHS Band Director Dr. Theo Luckett. “This is not an easy award to earn. These students worked hard during the fall to learn the music and the movements for our awesome half-time show that earned us, One’s at the marching contest. They then worked on the music to prepare for the sight-reading and concert contests where they again earned all Ones. At the same time, they were working on other contest music, work that earned 37 of them the privilege of advancing to State Solo and Ensemble Contest. I can’t say enough about how great they are.”
At the recent UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest, the MPHS Wind Ensemble received a Superior rating, both on stage and in sight reading. The Symphonic Band received a superior rating on stage.

Congratulations Goin’ Gold Band!

 

MPISD 3rd & 4th Graders Students Attend Sky Ranch

MPISD Students at Sky Ranch

Seventy-six Mt. Pleasant ISD 3rd and 4th graders spent three days and two nights at Sky Ranch in Van, Texas. The Gifted and Talented students field trip was full of educational experiences in an outdoor classroom.

The students participated in four separate classes:
Ranch Life: The students rode horses, learned about dangers settlers faced on the trail rides, determined what necessary items they would need to pack in their saddle bag for a trail ride, worked in the garden and investigated how farm animals help humans.
Limnology: The students collected samples to determine if a pond was healthy, conducted experiments to determine the ph of water samples, and to determine pollution in water.

Challenges: The students participated in team building activities and discussed qualities that would make a team successful. They also discussed ways to take what they learned and apply it to other areas of their lives.

Texas History: The students took a trip back in time and learned about Susannah Dickinson, the Texas Rangers, played with “old-timey” toys, learned about cattle brands and the need for branding.
Nighttime activities included “Funology Go!” (an outdoor scavenger hunt), and a campfire, at which groups of students presented skits they had developed earlier in the afternoon. After all, they presented skits, the students roasted marshmallows and made s’mores.