The last instructional day of each month at Marion County Middle School includes something especially unique: no use of screens. Specifically, students complete assignments without their Chromebooks and teachers lead lessons without using their classroom’s interactive boards.

It’s an initiative started by MCMS principal Amanda Farmer, and while the school has only had one Screen Free day so far, it’s already a hit among students and teachers.

You can read the full story here.

Or you can hear directly from MCMS students below as they discuss the Screen Free day and what they enjoyed about a school day without Chromebooks.

__________________________________________________________________

Marion County High School senior Will Blake has been named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist based on his exceptional performance on the PSAT, a prominent student aptitude test.

Blake will now complete an application for a chance to be named a national finalist.

“With any scholarship application, starting them can be kind of daunting because you never know what it’s going to be,” he said. “But I looked at it recently and started it and it’s comparable to any other scholarship. I’m excited to fill it out and see where it takes me. I feel confident about it.”

Blake learned earlier this month that he had been named a semifinalist, although he said he felt confident that he would receive the honor after a strong performance on the PSAT.

After receiving his PSAT scores, MCHS counselor Rachael Trent told him she thought he was a strong candidate to be named a National Merit semifinalist.

Trent could also be thanked for Blake taking the PSAT at all. She encouraged him along with other students who were applying for the Governor’s Scholars Program to take the test as a way of helping them be selected for GSP. By taking the PSAT, that also meant he would be considered for the National Merit Scholarship.

Now he’ll attempt to become a finalist for the program which offers 6,780 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million.

As for being named a semifinalist, Blake said his parents shared in his excitement in finding out.

“They were super excited and ready to share the news,” he said.

The annual MCPS Community Reading Celebration is scheduled for October 3 starting at 5:00 pm at Marion County High School.

This year's theme is Game On! Catch a Book!

As always, the event will feature games, prizes, and free hot dogs and chips.

The Reading Celebration is open to students of all ages.

The MCHS JRTOC program is looking to honor veterans laid to rest at the Lebanon National Cemetery by helping collect wreaths for Wreaths Across America Day, which is Saturday, December 14.

The JROTC program is encouraging community members to sponsor a wreath by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/KY0206P.

There are approximately 4,500 graves at the cemetery, but in past years only about 400 wreaths were placed.

The JROTC, which will help place the wreaths on Wreaths Across America Day, is hoping enough wreaths are sponsored to place one on each grave.

The MCPS Early Childhood department will host its first Preschool Family Night Thursday, September 26 from 6:00-7:00 pm at West Marion Elementary School.

The event is open to all families with preschool students and will feature a guest speaker on hand to discuss early childhood development. This is the first of a series of Family Night events which will be held at different locations.

Supervision will be provided for families that bring their children.

High school students interested in earning the MCPS Work Ethic Seal have until October 31 to submit the annual application.

Students who meet the annual requirements can earn a certificate each year of high school, and students who earn the certificate all four years will also receive a graduation medallion.

You can read more about the Work Ethic Seal program and find the application here.

The MCHS Athletics Department is currently accepting nominations for the inaugural class of its Athletics Hall of Fame.

In addition to those associated with Marion County High School, nominees can also come from the former high schools throughout the county. Community members are encouraged to review the nomination and election guidelines and then complete the nomination form which can be accessed here or by visiting the MCHS Athletics website at www.marioncountyathletics.com.

Nominations are due by October 30.