Students return to classrooms this week

Ring the bell. The new school year gets underway this week as students return to class.

Here is the schedule:

• Choctaw Tribal Schools were to return today (Wednesday); 

• Leake Academy and Union High School return Thursday; and, 

• Neshoba Central and Philadelphia school districts return on Friday.

Two local schools will be under new principals. Melisha Hancock will be at Philadelphia Elementary School and Jacob Drury will be at Neshoba Central. 

Both are looking forward to meeting their students and getting school underway.

“There is a lot of work that has to be done ahead of time before anybody shows up,” Hancock said. “We are having an open house (Tuesday, Aug. 3) and I’m looking forward to meeting our students and their parents.”

Hancock came to the elementary school from the central office and has been in the district 19 years. 

This is Drury’s first year in the Neshoba County district but he is familiar with it. He lives in Neshoba County and his children go to school in the district.

“We are ready to get back and get started,” Drury said. “We have an open house on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. That is where I will meet the majority of our kids. Some have come in for registration. We are hoping to have a good turnout.”