Du Quoin schools share the good news

At every School Board meeting, Superintendent Gary Kelly reads a list of good things happening at Du Quoin schools. With all of the bad news that the media has to report on, it's just nice to be able to report on some positive things, and there's no better place to look for those than at our local schools.

Du Quoin Elementary School
Du Quoin Elementary School held an all-school reading buddy event March 3 to celebrate Read Across America. Staff members report the younger students couldn't wait to meet their "upper-grade partners," and the "big kids" were just as excited.
The Jump Rope for Heart campaign raised a little more than $2,500 for the American Heart Association.
Grace Phipps and Jessi Rudloff were recognized for academic excellence at the Illinois Principals Association Student Recognition breakfast March 2. Phipps and Rudloff were honored for excellence in scholarship, academic achievement, ethics and character.
Ten teachers received a "teachers rock" gift bundle from the Cellular Connection. The prize included pencils, paper, Kleenex and other classroom items.

Du Quoin Middle School
Aubrey Barwick was selected by eighth-grade teachers to attend the Illinois Principals Association Student Recognition Breakfast.
The scholar bowl team finished third in regional competition.

Du Quoin High School
Senior Carson Bookstaver was awarded Du Quoin State Bank's $1,000 scholarship.
On March 2, the River-to-River Conference held its annual honor band concert at Shryock Auditorium. Du Quoin was represented by Abigel Alvarado, Kayla Deen, Trevor Eubanks, Delainey File, Sydney Gilliam, Madelyn Haggard, Emily Hamburger, Jennifer Lambert, Michael Lynd, Nathan Manning and Reagan Tilley.
Kate Smith was selected by the 2016-17 Southern Illinois River to River Girls Basketball All-Conference.
Swimmers Paxton Higgerson and Rylan Ragar competed at the Illinois High School Association Sectional Swim Meet in Champaign.
Track athlete Tarynn Mays set a new school record for the triple jump with a jump of 37 feet and four inches.
On March 3, the high school hosted the annual eighth-grade night for next year's freshman class. About 90 members of the class of 2021 attended to learn about academic and extracurricular opportunities.
SIU held its annual accounting challenge at the end of February. Competing for Du Quoin High School were Kaylyn Betts, Jared Brown, Alex Cruz, Olivia Hargis, Jennifer Lambert, Tarynn Mays, Dawson McRoberts, Tyler Swiney and Caitlyn Williams.
The Egyptian Region of the Illinois Principal's Association held its annual student recognition breakfast in Mt. Vernon March 3. Du Quoin High School was represented by two seniors, Emily Born and Quinn Kirkpatrick.