F A L L 2 0 1 4 G R A D U A T E S

M A R C H 2 0 1 5 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 3

SPECIAL

POINTS OF

INTEREST

Principal’s Council 1

Fall 2014 Graduates 2

Where Are They Now? 4

Teacher of the Year 4

of The Simon Youth Academy at Old Cockrill

CONGRATULATIONS FALL 2014 GRADUATES

The Pulse

Sam Ackerman Ashley Adams

Hafashimana Adeline Maria Arciniega

Blake Bessire Karen Biggs Jose’ Birdine

Jacquelyn Cardenas Domonic Chrismon

Hailey Collins TyRaneisha Crenshaw Camron Donaldson

Greg Falls Max Gander

Tyler Gauthier Jasemine Henson

Destiny Jones Antionette Jordan

Mykea Knowles Kaylen Ledford Jaquan Mason

Alicia McClellan Chaney McClendon

Evan Mills Ashley Moore

Ti’Coreyia Preston Nia Ray

Brianna Roberson Kerry Scott

Patrick Swanson Mahdiya Thompson De’Angelo Williams

Lexi Willis Reginald Woods Charlie Zelaya

October 24, 2014 October 31, 2014 November 7, 2014 November 14, 2014

Kayeba Armour Hafashimana Adeline Ashley Adams Jasmine King

Arthur Batts La'Darius Blair Tiffany Crawford Jaquon Mason

La'Darius Blair Luke Haley TyRaneisha Crenshaw Evan Mills

Nayla Henderson Jasmine King Michael Edwards Chris Nevils

Jasemine Henson Timericka Oglesby Shawell Ever Cristina Ramirez

Mykea Knowles Glenairial Richardson Luke Haley Natalie Steinborn

Lexi Willis Ronielle Robins Eric Hill

Chris Nevils De'Angelo Williams Nia Ray

Timericka Oglesby Victoria Worley Ronielle Robins

Ronielle Robins Kendrick Wright Nature Wesby

Reggie Woods

Charlie Zelaya

This issue was created and edited by Miles Slay as a capstone project for Journalism Publications.

T H E P U L S E

P A G E 2

Sam Ackerman Ashley Adams Hafashimana Adeline Maria Arciniega

Camron Donaldson Greg Falls Max Gander Tyler Gauthier Jasemine Henson Destiny Jones

Evan Mills Ashley Moore Ti’Coreyia Preston Nia Ray Brianna Roberson Kerry Scott

Blake Bessire

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 3

P A G E 3

Karen Biggs Jose’ Birdine Jacquelyn Cardenas Domonic Chrismon Hailey Collins TyRaneisha Crenshaw

Antionette Jordan Mykea Knowles Kaylen Ledford Jaquan Mason Alicia McClellan Chaney McClendon

Patrick Swanson Mahdiya Thompson De’Angelo Williams Lexi Willis Reginald Woods Charlie Zelaya

T H E P U L S E

P A G E 4

Percy

Reynolds, a

December,

2012, graduate, is currently working at Bridgestone Arena, and has a job in con-struction.

Administration: Bill Warren, Principal Carl Carter, Assistant Principal Tammy Nash, School Counselor

To request this information in an alternate format, please contact your building principal or department head.

Mission of Old Cockrill

Tiffany Fuston, a December, 2012, grad-uate, has a good job working for Asurion Call Center. She is planning to go to school to become an RN, and one of her many goals is to be a good mother to her son.

Congratulations, Mr. A! Created by Kelley Nelson-Gibbs

A special “Thank You” to Ms. Gibbs for taking her time to help proof and edit.

To produce a safe en-vironment in which stu-dents are inspired to achieve success through an individualized plan that leads to graduation. Our goal is to develop produc-tive citizens and celebrate their success.

The Academy pro-vides an opportunity for students who want to pur-sue a high school diploma in a non-traditional setting.

We have flexible scheduling, non-traditional curricula, a diverse student body, and an open cam-pus, far removed from the traditional high school experience.

After an application process you may be select-ed for an interview.

We are a school of choice, meaning that you choose to be here and you choose to work hard. Oth-erwise, we have the choice of not letting you attend.

Students are treated like adults, and we expect adult behavior from every student.

Let’s give a big shout out to Mr. Atkeson,

who was elected Teacher of the Year for the

2014-2015 school year by the faculty and

staff of The Academy at Old Cockrill.

Mr. Atkeson has been a teacher at the Acade-

my at Old Cockrill for three years and he pre-

viously taught at W. A. Bass Learning Center.

When asked how he

felt about being elected

teacher of the year, Mr.

Atkeson responded by say-

ing, “I’m not somebody

who likes the spotlight or

recognition. The reason I

teach is to help you guys,

but it is nice to have recog-

nition.”

Mr. A (as his students

call him) stated that he

doesn’t know why he be-

gan to teach. All he knows

is that he loves working with students and

having an impact on their academic lives. He

especially enjoys working with students who

may have struggled in the past or weren’t

given that second chance.

Mr. A told me that he loves to see when

the students’ hard work “pays off” and he

sees them walk across the stage to get their

diplomas. Graduation day is one of the happi-

est days of the year for all the teachers at Old

Cockrill.

As the interview proceeded, and I contin-

ued to ask a slew of more

questions, I got to a ques-

tion that the majority of the

school population ponders:

“What is the origin of your

last name?” Mr. A replied

by saying, “I think it is a

mixture of some things and

has changed over the years.

I really have no idea.”

After the interview I

realized that Mr. A is not

only kind but he is recep-

tive, respectful, gracious,

and humble. These attributes are without

doubt essential characteristics to be Teacher

of the Year. Being good at math, though, is

definitely a bonus.

Getting to know Mr. Atkeson By Miles Slay