Pubdate: Sat, 30 Oct 2004
Source: Mississippi Press, The (MS)
Copyright: 2004 Mississippi Press
Contact:  http://www.gulflive.com/mississippipress/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2254
Author: Virginia Langum, The Mississippi Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Red+Ribbon (Red Ribbon Week)

TOO MUCH SCHOOL SPIRIT IN OCEAN SPRINGS?

OCEAN SPRINGS - Is there such a thing as too much school spirit?
Three Ocean Springs Middle School students say "yes." And that school
administrators found them guilty of it Friday.

Nikki Roland, 14, Jessica Bull, 13, and Samantha McDowell, 13, said
they were asked to leave on Friday morning for their spirited hairdos
and face paint.

The three eighth-graders decorated themselves at a slumber party
Thursday night to show support for the Ocean Springs Greyhounds in
their Friday night game against Gulfport. All three streaked their
hair with blue dye and painted paw prints on their faces.

Friday was also "Spirit Day" at the school, the culmination of
activities for Red Ribbon Week, which promotes drug-free living among
youngsters.

When the three friends reached their second class, they were ushered
to the principal's office.

"All the other teachers saw us and didn't do anything about it. They
said it was cute," Samantha McDowell said.

The Ocean Springs School Board released a statement Friday afternoon
stating that announcements were made all week that students were not
to paint their faces or color their hair.

"The paint becomes a distraction from learning especially in that age
group," said Community Relations Coordinator Mary Louise Mason.

Mason said the students were also given the option of washing their
faces and hair in the bathroom sinks before their parents were called.

"We support allowing our students to take part in the Red Ribbon Week
and Halloween Festivities but we must maintain the climate and
atmosphere for learning," Superintendent Anna Hurt said. "We
appreciate the students and the parents who follow the rules and
behave in a proper manner."

The girls were offended but undaunted by the school's
actions.

"It makes me feel horrible," Jessica Bull said. "They told us we were
a disgrace to the school."

"It makes me want to go to home school," Nikki Roland
said.

Nevertheless, all three girls said they intended to go to Friday
night's game, adorned in their Greyhound splendor.
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