Click below for
Information for 2021-2022
2022-2023
KMS was honored to host the Veteran’s in the Classroom this morning. This is the 31st year that our local veterans have educated our 8th grade students on the importance of hard work, respect and the many reasons why we have the rights and freedoms that we do today.
Thank you to Mr. Phillip Greenway and all of the veterans who made this such a special day.
Thank you to Mr. Phillip Greenway and all of the veterans who made this such a special day.
Congratulations to the top three Patriots Pen Essay Winners:
1st Place - Chloe Chase
2nd Place - Kate Leeker
3rd Place - Kade Anderson
2021-2022
KMS was honored to host the Veteran’s in the Classroom this morning. This is the 30th year that our local veterans have educated our 8th grade students on the importance of hard work, respect and the many reasons why we have the rights and freedoms that we do today.
Thank you to Mr. Phillip Greenway and all of the veterans who made this such a special day.
Also, congratulations to the top three Patriots Pen Essay Winners:
1st Place - Haylie Russell
2nd Place - Emory Kamper
3rd Place - Jady Beth Quinn
Thank you to Mr. Phillip Greenway and all of the veterans who made this such a special day.
Also, congratulations to the top three Patriots Pen Essay Winners:
1st Place - Haylie Russell
2nd Place - Emory Kamper
3rd Place - Jady Beth Quinn
2020-2021
Pictured above, from left are, Patriot Pen Essay Contest winners Jaxon Patterson, 2nd Place; Larry Ellerbee, 3rd Place; Nathaniel Wilkins, 1st Place.
2019-2020
The Kennett Middle School held their annual Veterans Appreciation Assembly on Wednesday morning (November 6, 2019) honoring area veterans. This is the 27th year for the Veterans in the Classroom assembly originated by longtime KMS staff member Sheila Marchbanks and VFW Commander Phillip Greenway. KMS principal Nathan Baker delivered the welcome and opening remarks.
Read the full story from the DDD here
Our winners:
1st place - Dax Sutton
2nd place - Taleaya Gooden and Kaydee Taylor
3rd place - John Clinton Poole
February 2019 - VFW
2018-2019 Patriot's Pen Essay Winners
The 2018-2019 Patriot's Pen Essay Contest winners at Kennett Middle School were announced at the KMS Veterans in the Classroom Assembly on Wednesday, November 7th.
Kayden Dye, 1st place; Mimi Tran, 2nd place; Sophie Boone, 3rd place.
Honorable mentions: Jaelyn Chadwell, Daylee Pitts, and Brianna Pittman
Pictured are all the winners and runner-ups.
Left to right: Jaelyn Chadwell, Daylee Pitts, Brianna Pittman, Kayden Dye, Mimi Tran, and Sophie Boone.
Kennett Middle School held their annual Veteran’s Day Assembly on Wednesday, honoring area veterans and remembering those who gave their lives defending our nation’s freedom. This is the 26th year for the Veterans in the Classroom assembly originated by longtime KMS staff member Sheila Marchbanks and VFW Commander Phillip Greenway. KMS principal Nathan Baker delivered the welcome and opening remarks.
“When Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner he called America, the land of the free and the home of the brave,” said Mr. Baker. “Those words are as rue today as they were then.”
Mr. Baker continued, “Today we say thank you to our veterans and let them know we appreciate their service and their sacrifice. The price of freedom is high and we will not forget.”
VFW Commander Phillip Greenway then led the students, faculty and families in attendance in the pledge of allegiance. “I want to talk to you today about veterans, but I would be remiss in my duties if I didn’t mention those that made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Greenway. “If you listen and look around, you can hear them. You have to listen quietly.” All stood and faced the flag as Harry Turner played Taps.
The winners of the Patriot’s Pen essay contest were then announced. Each year more than 125,000 students in grades 6-8 enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest. The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by writing a 300to 400 word essay on a patriotic theme.
The first place winner from each state competes for national awards totaling $50,000.
This year’s first place winner is Kayden Dye. Mimi Tran placed second and Sophia Boone placed third in the contest. Honorable mentions are Jaeyln Chadwell, Dailey Pitts, and Briana Pittman.
Kayden read her essay to those in attendance.
Patriotism is alive in the United States today,” she said. “The American flag is still a symbol of patriotism.” Kayden continued, “It’s a symbol of what makes us Americans. The American flag is a symbol of our freedom, history, and responsibility.” “It’s everyone’s responsibility to defend our rights,” stated Kayden. “We must participate in our democratic process. Each of us must be willing to fight for our country and keep our rights. No matter the difference in people’s beliefs or opinions, the flag is one thing that symbolizes everyone as Americans. It brings us together to make this country great.”
Greenway then gave tribute to all veterans. “Veteran’s Day means much more than a federal holiday,” he said. “It is on this day we honor the contributions and sacrifices of more than 23,000,000 veterans that proudly served our country in the name of liberty and justice.”
Greenway concluded, “Every generation owes a debt of gratitude to the patriots of past and present. All who have set aside personal pursuits and answered the call. Area veterans then spoke including former Kennett mayor Sol Astrachan and Dunklin County Hall of Honor recipient Carl Williams.
The Voca-Bella choir under the direction of Archer Tribett performed the National Anthem.
Below, Mrs. Kim Hively was awarded Teacher of the Year. She was presented a plaque from the VFW.
Please note that a lot of information was taken from the Delta Dunklin Democrat as linked below.
Kennett Middle School honors veterans
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Jeff Dorris [email protected]
Kennett Middle School honors veterans
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Jeff Dorris [email protected]
2017-2018 Patriot's Pen Essay Winners
The winners of the 2017-2018 Patriot's Pen Essay contest at KMS are as follows:
1st place - Ben McMullan
2nd place - Katie Dalton
3rd place - Hayden Sando
4th place - Anelle Harris
1st place - Ben McMullan
2nd place - Katie Dalton
3rd place - Hayden Sando
4th place - Anelle Harris
At the 2017 Veteran's Day Assembly, Mr. Greenway annouounced that going forward the Veteran's Assembly would be called the Sheila Marchbanks Veterans in the Classroom Assembly. Read the full story here by the DDD.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Jeff Dorris [email protected]
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Jeff Dorris [email protected]
Mrs. Sheila Marchbanks
2017-2018 Kennett Middle School Veteran's Day Assembly
2016-2017 Patriot's Pen Essay Winners
The winners of the 2016-2017 Patriot's Pen Essay contest at KMS are as follows:
1st place - Will Johnson
2nd place - Katelyn Chitester
3rd place - Adelynn Nelson
4th place - Owen Ross
Also pictured is Mr. Freddie Greenway from the Kennett VFW Post 5443.
1st place - Will Johnson
2nd place - Katelyn Chitester
3rd place - Adelynn Nelson
4th place - Owen Ross
Also pictured is Mr. Freddie Greenway from the Kennett VFW Post 5443.
Below is a slide show of the 2016-2017 Veteran's Day Assembly.
2015-2016 Patriot's Pen Essay Winner
click here for full story from DDD
Photo by Laura Ford, staff -----KMS Patriot's Pen winners and the Kennett VFW Post's nominee for Teacher of the Year were honored Tuesday night at the post's monthly meeting. Pictured from left are Gerald Wilkerson, Eliza Raspberry, Olivia Daniels, Emma McCormick, Connie Oldsen, Jimmy Ingram, and Jessie Wells
Slide Show below of 2015-2016 Patriot's Pen Essay Winners at the VFW Banquet Dinner on February 2, 2016
2015-2016 Patriot's Pen Essay Winners
Photo by Jill Hyde, staff Commander Greenwell presented certificates to the winners of the Patriot's Pen essay contest on Monday morning at the KMS Veteran's Day assembly. Participants of the contest were required to write a 400-500 word essay based around the theme "What Freedom Means to Me." Pictured (L to R) are winners: Olivia Daniels, first place; Eliza Raspberry, second place; and Emma McCormick, third place.
2014-2015 Patriot's Pen Essay Winners
Source: Photo submitted by Mike Mowrer to the Daily Dunklin Democrat. Click here for the full story from our local newspaper.
Kennett VFW Post 5443 hosted Patriot's Pen winners during its February 2015 meeting at their headquarters on the South By-Pass in Kennett, MO. Pictured are Larry Warbritton, Gerald Wilkerson, Allie Parrent (third place), Emma Phillips (second place), Kara Newton (first place), and Jesse Wells. The post also hosted their Teacher of the Year, Kim Figgins.
Kennett VFW Post 5443 hosted Patriot's Pen winners during its February 2015 meeting at their headquarters on the South By-Pass in Kennett, MO. Pictured are Larry Warbritton, Gerald Wilkerson, Allie Parrent (third place), Emma Phillips (second place), Kara Newton (first place), and Jesse Wells. The post also hosted their Teacher of the Year, Kim Figgins.
Photo by Steve Patton with the Daily Dunklin Democrat. Winners of the annual Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest were announced at the annual KMS Veterans Day Assembly. Pictured, from left, are KMS Principal Ward Billings, Eighth District U.S. Congressman Jason Smith, Allie Parrent (Third Place), Emma Phillips (Second Place), Kara Newton (First Place), and Kennett VFW Post 5443 Commander Philip Greenway. Click here for full story.
2013-2014 Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest
Kennett VFW members recognized the 2013-2014 Patriot's Pen essay winners recently at their post on the South By Pass. VFW members from left are Rocky Johnson, Jerald Wilkison, Harry Turner, Jim Ingram, and Bill Brigance. KMS students Kayton Harris and Hannah Mowrer read their winning essays. Mowrer took first place in the competition and Harris third. Second place winner Amory Smith was unable to attend. Click here for full story from Daily Dunklin Democrat.
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KMS students Kayton Harris, Amory Smith and Hannah Mowrer are winners of the 2013-2014 Patriot's Pen Essay. Click here for full story from Daily Dunklin Democrat. |
Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest 2012-2013
BELOW: KMS Student, Hadley Hilburn,
places 2nd in the District Patriot's Pen Essay Contest
Full story from DDD
KMS Student wins 2nd place
in District Patriot's Pen Essay Contest
Thirteen-year-old Hadley Hilburn, daughter of Charlie and Charolyn Hilburn of Kennett, is an eighth-grade student at Kennett Middle School (KMS) where she recently finished first place in the Kennett 2012-2013 "Patriot's Pen Essay Contest," which is sponsored nationally by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States and, locally by the Kennett Memorial VFW Post No. 5443. The contest theme of this year's contest was, "What I Would Tell America's Founding Fathers?"
After placing first place among KHS eighth-grade students, Hilburn's essay was submitted to the VFW, District 15 which is located in Cape Girardeau, Mo., by Phillip Greenway, Sergeant Major, Missouri National Guard, 205th Military Police Battalion (retired), and Commander of the VFW in Kennett.
At a Veterans Day Assembly which was held on Nov. 7, 2012, in the KMS gymnasium, Hilburn was recognized and honored for placing first. During the assembly, other local award recipients were also recognized and honored.
According to Ward Billings, principal at KMS, the school was notified by Greenway that Hilburn's essay had been selected second place in the district level competition.
"Commander Greenway was very excited for Hadley, KMS, our school district and our community," Billings said. "He advised me that Hadley's second place finish is the highest placement by any KMS eighth-grade student in the 18 years in which KMS has participated in the 'Patriot's Pen Essay Contest.' We are extremely proud of Hadley for this wonderful achievement, and sincerely appreciate the support of the VFW at both the local and district levels, and in particular for the continued support of Commander Greenway."
Continuing, Billings commented, "Hadley is an outstanding student at KMS, and so it does not surprise me that she finished so high in the district level competition. She is a very intelligent, highly motivated and respectful person who possesses an exemplary work ethic. I am confident that even at her young age, Hadley has an understanding of, and deep appreciation for, the tremendous sacrifices which have been made by the men and women of the United State Armed Forces. She is, undoubtedly, one of the finest students that I have ever known, and she is a young lady for whom the future will be grateful."
Hilburn is a member of the KMS Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, and a member of the KMS Student Council where she currently serves as vice-president. She was a member of the KMS Girls Basketball Team during both her seventh and eighth grade years. She was also instrumental in helping the Lady Indians Basketball Team finish undefeated in both conference regular season and conference tournament play during both years. Additionally, Hilburn is a member of Girl Scout Troop 258, is a member of the Kennett Swim Team, and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Kennett.
She will be recognized and honored, along with other district level award recipients, at the VFW District 15 Awards Banquet on Jan. 20, 2013 and on Feb. 5, 2013, she will be recognized and honored along with other local award recipients, at the VFW Post 5443 Awards Dinner.
After placing first place among KHS eighth-grade students, Hilburn's essay was submitted to the VFW, District 15 which is located in Cape Girardeau, Mo., by Phillip Greenway, Sergeant Major, Missouri National Guard, 205th Military Police Battalion (retired), and Commander of the VFW in Kennett.
At a Veterans Day Assembly which was held on Nov. 7, 2012, in the KMS gymnasium, Hilburn was recognized and honored for placing first. During the assembly, other local award recipients were also recognized and honored.
According to Ward Billings, principal at KMS, the school was notified by Greenway that Hilburn's essay had been selected second place in the district level competition.
"Commander Greenway was very excited for Hadley, KMS, our school district and our community," Billings said. "He advised me that Hadley's second place finish is the highest placement by any KMS eighth-grade student in the 18 years in which KMS has participated in the 'Patriot's Pen Essay Contest.' We are extremely proud of Hadley for this wonderful achievement, and sincerely appreciate the support of the VFW at both the local and district levels, and in particular for the continued support of Commander Greenway."
Continuing, Billings commented, "Hadley is an outstanding student at KMS, and so it does not surprise me that she finished so high in the district level competition. She is a very intelligent, highly motivated and respectful person who possesses an exemplary work ethic. I am confident that even at her young age, Hadley has an understanding of, and deep appreciation for, the tremendous sacrifices which have been made by the men and women of the United State Armed Forces. She is, undoubtedly, one of the finest students that I have ever known, and she is a young lady for whom the future will be grateful."
Hilburn is a member of the KMS Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, and a member of the KMS Student Council where she currently serves as vice-president. She was a member of the KMS Girls Basketball Team during both her seventh and eighth grade years. She was also instrumental in helping the Lady Indians Basketball Team finish undefeated in both conference regular season and conference tournament play during both years. Additionally, Hilburn is a member of Girl Scout Troop 258, is a member of the Kennett Swim Team, and is an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Kennett.
She will be recognized and honored, along with other district level award recipients, at the VFW District 15 Awards Banquet on Jan. 20, 2013 and on Feb. 5, 2013, she will be recognized and honored along with other local award recipients, at the VFW Post 5443 Awards Dinner.
Veteran's Day Assembly for 8th grade
November 7, 2012
V.F.W. Post 5443 member, SGM Phillip Greenway presented the student awards to the Patriots' Pen Essay winners. This event is sponsored by the Kennett VFW Post 5443.
The 2012-2013 winners are
1st place - Hadley Hilburn
2nd place - Hannah Criswell
3rd place - Alex Privett
2012-2013 Veteran's Day Assembly Slide Show
Veteran's Day Assembly for 8th grade
November 9, 2011
V.F.W. Post 5443 member, SGM Phillip Greenway presents the student awards to the Patriots' Pen Essay winners. This event is sponsored by the Kennett VFW Post 5443.
The 2011-2012 winners are
1st place - Bond Rouse
2nd place - Sofia Esquivel
3rd place - Luke Jones
2011-2012
Three students from Kennett Middle School were recognized for their entries in the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest during a ceremony at the local VFW on Tuesday. Pictured from left are Ward H. Billings-KMS Principal, Luke Jones-third place, Sophia Esquivel-second place, Bond Rouse-third place, Olin Parks-state commander, Brandon Jones-assistant superintendent, and Levi A. Woods Jr.-district commander
(Staff photo by Terri Crawford)
(Staff photo by Terri Crawford)
VFW Awards Dinner
February 1, 2011
SLIDE SHOW
Veteran's Day Assembly
November 9, 2010
Slide Show
2010-2011 Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest
1st Place - Joe Mobley
2nd Place - Blake Padrones
3rd Place - Logan Vaughan
Click here to read the full story from Wednesday, November 10, 2010 that was in the local Kennett newspaper.
2010 Patriots' Pen Essay Awards Dinner
V.F.W. Post 5443 member, SGM Phillip Greenway presents the school awards to Mr. Billings. He also presents the student awards to the Patriots' Pen Essay winners. This event is sponsored by the Kennett VFW Post 5443.
2009-2010 Patriot's Pen Essay Contest Winners:
1st place: Allison Shaver
2nd place: Clayshade Hudson
3rd place: Bryan Waller
Honorable Mention
Jay Brock and Samantha Hale
2009 Patriots' Pen Essay Awards Dinner
Three KMS students were recently honored by the local VFW for their participation in the annual Patriot's Pen Essay Contest. KMS students: Holly Sando placed 1st, Clara Henderson placed 2nd and D'Erika Rucker placed 3rd.
KMS Principal Ward Billings accepted an award on behalf of the school's staff, students, and efforts of the school for 13 years of essay contributions. From left: Sue Burns, Tonya Sando, Sheila Marchbanks, Ward Billings, Tina Brown, Kim Johnson, Rick Johnson.
2008 Patriots' Pen Essay Awards Dinner
V.F.W. Post 5443 member, SGM Phillip Greenway of the 1137th Military Police Company, awards the KMS students who placed in the 2007-2008 Patriot's Pen Essay Contest, which included, from left, Adam Grantham, Shelby Spence, Ashley Bryant. Not pictured is Brant Martin who received honorable mention.
2006-2007 Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest
The winners in the Patriot's Pen youth-essay writing contest that gives students the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy includes first-place winner Jennifer Goldsmith, right, second-place winner Uniqua Range, center, and third-place winner Aaron Smith, left. Full DDD Newstory
2006-2007 Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest
Pictured: Mrs. Tina Brown, Mr. Russ Fullerton, Mr. Ward Billings, Mrs. Kim Johnson, and Mrs. Leigh Scales
Pictured: Mr. Phillip Greenway and Mr. Ward Billings
2004-2005 Patriot's Pen Essay Writing Contest
click here for full story from DDD
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars presented the Kennett Middle School with a "best patriotism" award at the VFW meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005. Front row from left, Kim Lowery, KMS principal, Leigh Scales, Debbie Lyons, Sheila Marchbanks and Connie Olson. Back row from left, Darrell Sherrill, Randy Morgan, Danny Williams and Glenn Wilcoxson.
Kennett Middle School students were presented "Americanism" awards for an essay writing sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. From left, Freddie Greenway, Jeremy Hughes, first place, Hanna Bilinski, second place, Anna Grantham, third place, Mon T. Grays and Paul Harkey.