HILDA SPENCER | CONTRIBUTED
SAFETY: The Mattamuskeet Schools Safety Committee has been working diligently this year to improve the safety on its campus. Violence in schools all across the country is affecting students’ overall health and well being as well as their educational outcomes. Children should grow up free from fear and violence, especially in their school environment. However, as is portrayed in the news media everyday these tragedies are increasingly becoming a part of our children’s daily lives. With this in mind, the school safety committee agreed that one of the ways among others already in place, was to provide a lockdown bucket for each classroom. In the event of an extended period of time emergency lockdown, the bucket will include such items as a first-aid kit, drinking water, survival blanket, toilet paper, and cleansing towelettes, among other things. After receiving necessary donations from Hyde businesses such as Williford Auto Supply, Swan Quarter Fire Department, and other organizations including the American Red Cross, and Hyde County Schools, students and staff prepared the buckets for each classroom on the Mattamuskeet Campus. Pictured (left to right) are MES teachers Jeffrey Stotesberry, M.D. Coleman, Principal, Paula Spencer and Sherri Cox.