School | The Mckenzie Banner

First graders (L to R) Kenson Keymon, Livaeh Harrell and Lucas Edwards showing some of the donated items.

West Carroll Primary Joins Forces with United Neighbors to Give Back

West Carroll Primary School is proving that even small hands can make a big difference. more

4/22/25

McKenzie High School FBLA state competitors (L to R) Front Row: Olivia Pate, Addi Davis and Carleigh Lunn. Back Row: Tobey Brooks, Brody Berryhill, Aleecia Williams, Carlton Townes, Gracie Aird and Sophie Cole.

CHATANOOGA (April 6-9) — The McKenzie High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) recently competed at the state competition. more

4/22/25

McKenzie Middle School Hosts Honors Banquet

McKENZIE (April 15) — McKenzie Middle School hosted its annual Honors Banquet Tuesday evening, sponsored by the McKenzie Rotary Club. more

By Brad Sam
brad@mckenziebanner.com | 4/22/25

The MSSD began the retreat with breakfast at the central office. Pictured are (L to R): Spiros Roditis, Karen Fowler, Misty Aird, LaShonda Williams, Chad Brown, Director of Schools Dr. Justin Barden, George Cassidy and Bobby Young.

McKenzie School Board Tours Schools, Discusses Issues

McKENZIE (April 19) — The McKenzie Special School District Board of Education held a retreat Saturday morning to discuss a wide variety of issues, assess needs and prioritize actions for the short- to midterm future. more

By Brad Sam
brad@mckenziebanner.com | 4/22/25

Pre-K students (L to R) Willow Pate, Kaison Kirby and Fernanda Hernandez hold ducklings they help raise in the classroom.

Pre-K Raises Ducklings, Grows Small Gardens

McKENZIE (April 17) — McKenzie Elementary Pre-K students are getting hands-on experience while learning about the life cycle thanks to a $500 Ag in the Classroom grant from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. more

By Brad Sam
brad@mckenziebanner.com | 4/22/25

West Carroll High School FCCLA members (L to R): Summer Spain, Jada Bradshaw, Linda Murphy, Brilye Mueller, Karma Wilkey and Sasa Lane.

West Carroll FCCLA Students Earn Honors at State Conference

Six West Carroll High School students recently represented their school at the 79th Annual FCCLA State Leadership Conference held in Chattanooga, marking the first time this chapter has competed at the state level. more

4/15/25

Pictured are (L to R): Director of Schools Dr. Justin Barden, School Board Chairman LaShonda Williams, school board members Bobby Young and Misty Aird, Gränges Recruiter and Retention Specialist Rachel Carter, Gränges Senior HR Generalist Hannah Barger, MHS Baseball Coach Chris Wall, Gränges HR Manager Brooklyn Napier and MHS Principal Kelly Spivey.

Gränges Donates to McKenzie Schools

McKENZIE (April 11) — Gränges Americas Inc. made a donation to McKenzie Special School District Friday, part of a series of donations to area schools. more

4/15/25

Kellen Finley, a McKenzie High School FFA student, sells live plants to Kevan King, a computer tech at the school.

McKenzie FFA Hosts Live Plant Sale

McKenzie FFA, Hollow Rock-Bruceton, West Carroll and Huntingdon all held live plant sales at the related schools. more

4/15/25

Sophie Beasley is Miss Gleason 2025

GLEASON (April 12) — Sophie Beasley is Miss Gleason 2025. She is the daughter of Mike and Jennifer Beasley of Gleason. The event was held at Gleason School and sponsored by the GHS Class of 2027. more

4/15/25

McKenzie High Hosts 30th Annual Honors Banquet

McKENZIE (April 1) — McKenzie High School hosted its 30th annual Honors Banquet on Tuesday, April 1 in the schools gymnasium. The annual event is sponsored by the McKenzie Rotary Club, that sponsored a pre-event meal for the honorees and provided the four-year plaques. more

4/8/25

The old windows were removed and new windows installed at McKenzie High School during the Spring Break.

Window, Door Replacement Begins at McKenzie Schools

McKENZIE — New windows and doors are being installed at McKenzie High School and McKenzie Middle School. more

By Joel Washburn
washburn@mckenziebanner.com | 4/1/25

West Carroll FFA members gather outside the Gatlinburg Convention Center during the 97th Annual Tennessee FFA State Convention, held March 23–26. Fourteen students attended the event for leadership development, competition, and recognition.

West Carroll FFA Earns State Recognition at Convention

ATWOOD (March 27) — Fourteen members of the West Carroll High School FFA chapter traveled to Gatlinburg to attend the 97th Tennessee FFA State Convention, held March 23–26. more

4/1/25

Pictured (L to R): Courtney Edwards, Camilla Jenkins and Aysia Johnson.

West Carroll Elementary School Celebrates Exceptional Students with SOAR Awards

West Carroll Elementary School (WCES) continues its tradition of celebrating outstanding students through its SOAR Awards program, recognizing those who embody the school’s core values of Safety, Ownership, Achievement, and Respect. more

3/25/25

West Carroll High School freshmen earning OSHA certifications.

West Carroll Students Earn OSHA Certifications

ATWOOD — Freshmen and sophomores at West Carroll High School have taken a significant step toward workplace readiness by earning their Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certifications through Career Exploration and Career Advising courses. more

Courtesy WCSSD | 3/25/25

(L to R): Hayley Argo, Raelynn Maples, and Madeline Finley.

WCES Celebrates Read Across America Week

West Carroll Elementary School celebrated Read Across America Week from March 3 to 7 with a variety of engaging activities designed to foster a love for reading among students. more

3/25/25

Middle school athletes learn about MHS sports from high school athletes. Pictured are (L to R): MMS athletes Sophie Dameron (soccer) and Ellie Doede, Alleigh Britt and MaKayla Dabbs (soccer and basketball) and MHS athletes Gracie Aird (basketball and cross country), Tobey Brooks (soccer, cheer and cross country) and Brody Berryhill (cross country).

McKenzie High Hosts Eighth Grade Night

McKENZIE (March 13) — McKenzie High School hosted Eighth Grade Night Thursday in the gymnasium. Eighth grade students and their parents were provided with key information about what they can expect and what will be expected of them at the school beginning this fall. more

By Brad Sam
brad@mckenziebanner.com | 3/24/25

Retired teacher Teresa Norton reads to first graders in her old classroom.

West Carroll Primary Celebrates Read Across America Week

West Carroll Primary School recently celebrated Read Across America Week with a series of engaging activities designed to promote a love of reading among Pre-K through second grade students. more

Courtesy WCSSD | 3/18/25

McKenzie High School Celebrates Black History

McKENZIE (March 4) — McKenzie High School’s Minority Council hosted its annual Black History Celebration in the school gymnasium, recognizing the contributions of African-Americans locally and nationwide. more

By Joel Lancaster
jlancaster@mckenziebanner.com | 3/11/25

(L to R) Holly Arnold, PA-C; Ellen Pruitt, marketing director; and Baldo Hernandez, community health worker, talk to students about services offered at Hometown Health Clinic.

McKenzie Middle Hosts Health Fair

McKENZIE (March 7) — McKenzie Middle School hosted a health fair Friday, with 17 organizations participating. From the eclectic set of presentations, students learned about a wide variety of factors that affect their health and things they can do to live healthier lives. more

By Brad Sam
brad@mckenziebanner.com | 3/11/25

West Carroll Elementary School Royalty

Miss West Carroll Elementary School Royalty (L to R): Second Maid Ally Clarke, First Maid Raelynn Maples, Queen Abigail Hays, Third Maid Maddie Martin and Fourth Maid Camilla Jenkins. Not pictured is Miss Congeniality Norah Reynolds. more

3/11/25