Diboll Junior High students enjoyed a trip to the Ellen Trout Zoo for their accelerated reading and math reward trip. Students watched a presentation on animal ecosystems and food chains that was presented by Charlotte Henley, zoo director. They got to view a hedgehog and ball python up close. They also toured the zoo and got to look at all of the exhibits. Many students had not been to the zoo since they were young children.

“I was surprised to see the sloth moving and the bats hanging around,” Dylan Allen said. The students enjoyed the snake house the most and many are hoping to return for the Zoo Boo. The students were encouraged to become junior zookeepers in the summer.

The Dazzlers performed at the Piney Woods Fair and earned second place honors at the junior high division. The girls enjoyed watching the SFA pom-pon squad perform.

“All of the teams did a good job and we had a lot of fun performing,” Ashley Coleman said.

The football team played several tough games. The boys are looking forward to next week against Center. Thanks to the high school band for energizing the pep rally. The crowd was rocking to the songs and the high school twirlers gave the fans a great performance. The seventh grade won the line dance competition with the help of teachers Amy Rush, Rebecca Adair and Christine Mize. They seemed to enjoy the dancing more than the students. The seventh grade also won the spirit stick, in part to the great hall decorations.

The cross county team ran in the Huntington Cross Country meet last Saturday and the team fared well.

The seventh grade collected the most soda can pop tops or pull tabs for the first six-weeks. They will have a party in science class for collecting the most tabs. The pop tops are donated to the Ronald McDonald houses to provide supplies for needy families. Please pull off your tabs and send them to school with your child. Each grade level competes each six-weeks.

UIL is underway and teachers are starting to organize their teams. Students can participate in a variety of events geared toward academics.

Be watching next week for a complete list of all of the events and coaches.

Report Card day was successful. Parents had the opportunity to visit with teachers and discuss grades, behavior and other school issues. Students who made the All “A” Honor Roll will be rewarded by having breakfast with the principal. The students’ names and pictures will be displayed in the hallway for the whole six-weeks. Each six-weeks, the honor roll students will have a different reward party.

Seventh-grade science is selling raffle tickets for a Halloween basket. The proceeds will help fund the annual trip to Palacios.

The Scholastic Book Fair is ending this Friday, so if you haven’t had a chance to visit the book fair and view the new and popular young adult books, come to the library. Students were able to visit the fair during their reading classes. This is a great way for students to purchase books and view new literature.

Students need to remember to follow all dresscode rules when attending school. Melinda Dover, the assistant principal, wanted to remind students that jeans must not have any holes above the knee and skirts/shorts must be fingertip length, even over the leggings. Also, students may not wear pajamas anytime during school hours. Students must also be in dress code at any after school function.

Homecoming is coming up and so is Red Ribbon week, so get ready for a fun-filled, educational end of October. Be sure and come out and support our football, volleyball and cross country teams.