Each year during October the “Coats for Kids” campaign kicks off in our community in an effort to provide people with much needed coats for the winter months. The Brown Elementary Student Council took up coats on our campus to be donated to P.A.T.H. Our students really came through! The Student Council collected a total of 111 coats this year from our “Small and Mighty” campus! Students were proud to contribute to our community and to know that they were able to help others. Way to go Brown Elementary!

The NEHS Chapter at Mozelle Brown Elementary has recently completed their first service project. The students chose to help the Humane Society of East Texas by collecting money. Funds collected will help the Humane Society pay for kennel renovations to house larger breeds of rescued dogs. From October 12 -20, the students at Brown Elementary brought in all types of coins and dollars. The NEHS students were responsible for collecting and counting the money. They learned valuable skills in counting large amounts of money and managing the collection process that is involved in helping the local community. The NEHS students and the students of Brown Elementary collected a total of $2,050.75 for the animals at the Humane Society. A huge check was presented to Gayle Helms, Humane Society Director, at the Pets in the Park function on Saturday, October 22. Gayle Helms said, " This is so unbelievable! It's great to see kids at a young age learning how to give back to their community." Thanks to everyone who supported the NEHS and the Humane Society of East Texas!

Deputies from the Smith County Sheriff's Department, led by Jeremy Black, came to Higgins Elementary for Community Helper Day. They talked to students about what Sheriffs do on a daily basis and how students can stay safe. They also let the students inspect their trucks and police cars. The Whitehouse Fire Department also came by to talk about how they help the community and how students can stay safe if a fire is near. They showed the students all of the fire truck equipment as well. Then the ETMC helicopter flew in at 1pm. Once they were safely on the ground, students were able to crawl through the helicopter and the flight crew answered questions about the helicopter and how they help the community. Students had a blast meeting all of the Community Helpers, learning about their jobs and equipment, and of course watching the helicopter land! Thanks so much to the Smith County Sheriff’s Department, Whitehouse Fire Department, and ETMC flight crew!

Dustin Ross Hannon, a 2005 graduate of Whitehouse High School and a senior during the first year of the new "Tradition" brought by Coach Randy McFarland has been recruited by Coach Danny Padron and Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas to play as a wide-receiver for the Bulldogs for the 2011 Football season.

Whitehouse Junior High students collected 610 Coats for Kids during the month of October.

Websites for the education of adults:

• Tyler Junior College GED Program
  
• East Texas Literacy Council
• Education for Adults