LITTLE ROCK — Located in Brockwell, the Izard County Consolidated Middle School campus opened its doors in August 2006 to welcome students in grades five through eight. Prior to this addition, fifth- and sixth-grade students attended classes at the elementary campus while seventh- and eighth-grade students were part of the high school campus.
Along with the core education classes, ICC Middle School students take part in daily supplemental education classes such as music, art, physical education, library and basketball. New to the music program this year are Cilla Green as band instructor and Gloria Brown as music instructor. Green graduated from Wayne State University in Michigan with a degree in music education, and Brown graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in vocal music in music education.
Students have immediate access to approximately 10,000books that are available in classroom libraries along with the books that are located in the newly renovated library. This library is equipped with stateof-the-art computer equipment including an overhead projector and 24 laptops with wireless Internet connections. Students and teachers also have access to a separate computer lab that contains an overhead projector along with 15 computer stations and printers. Two technology classrooms are located in the middle school building, one containing 22 computers and a projector and the other containing 16 computers, overhead projector and Smartboard. In a drive to further provide students with access to technology, each year a number of classrooms are equipped with overhead projectors and/or document cameras.
Many other opportunities for educational enrichment are available as well. One such activity for students who qualify is Gifted and Talented. This year Gifted andTalented students will participate in Odyssey of the Mind, a competition between schools that encourages creativity and resourcefulness on the part of its student members. Quiz Bowl is another activity that pits the minds of ICC students against those of students at other schools. Last year, the students on the ICC Junior High Quiz Bowl team won the state finals competition for Class A schools. The ICC Junior High chess team also excels at its sport as it has won three of the last five regional tournaments, including this past year. In addition, all middle school students participate in local and regional science fair and history day competitions.
A wide range of extracurricular activities is in place for students. K-Kids and Builder's Club, extensions of the Kiwanis Club, are service organizations that participate in community service projects such as trash cleanup and making Christmas cards for area nursing home residents. Family, Career and Community Leadersof America is another service organization open to students in grades seven and higher that participates in work supporting Ronald McDonald House and Arkansas Children's Hospital. Each year all middle school students help support St. Jude's Hospital by taking pledges for working a number of math problems. Students raised more than $800 for St. Jude's Hospital last year. Beginning in eighth grade, middle school students become eligible to join Arkansas Shooting Sports. Funded by a grant written by teacher Wayne Neal, this newly installed after-school program through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission allows students to practice and compete in trap shooting. Students on the junior high squad placed in the state's top 16 squads kin its first year of competition. FFA is another popular interest for many students.
Eve Hatman teaches literature and science at Izard County Consolidated Middle School.
at a glance
Motto: Everybody is somebody at Izard County.
Grades: Five through eight
Enrollment: 160
Faculty: 20
Mascot: Cougars
Colors: Black and gray
Athletics: 1A basketball, track, cross-country, shooting sports
Principal: Monty McCurley
Address: Arkansas 9 North
Brockwell, AR 72517
Telephone: (870) 258-3142
Web site: http://icc.k12.ar.us
Three Rivers, Pages 55 on 11/13/2008