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Tyler Consolidated Doing All the Right Things

By Randy Rutherford - Staff Writer | Oct 23, 2024

Astronomy Club at Spruce Knob.

This is Part 1 of a two-part story addressing all the activities happening on the TCHS campus this year. The second part of the series will be published in the October 30th edition of the Tyler Star News.

Tyler Consolidated High School is off to a great start for the 2024-25 academic and athletic school year. I had the opportunity to sit down with Principal Paden Morris the other day, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the high school. I asked him to share some of the unusual opportunities available to TCHS students. Mr. Paden stated that of their total enrollment of 368 students, 91% were involved in some activity that the school offers. Mr. Morris went on to praise the outstanding staff of teachers and coaches that surpassed expectations to make sure that all students are offered school supervised extracurricular opportunities while attending TCHS.

Principal Morris began with a review of homecoming week. Traditionally, it is always an exciting time for the students, starting with a pep rally and powder puff football, followed by the highly competitive Class Homecoming Banner competition. This year was no different with a theme of “Enchanted Knights” that found 4th place awarded to the Freshman Class, 3rd place to the Juniors and 2nd place to the Sophomore Class. First place was grabbed by the Seniors. The action-packed week concluded with the crowning of Miss Ava Mongold as 2024 Homecoming Queen as the Knights brought home a victory defeating Magnolia.

Other exciting events that had TCHS students standing in the winner’s circle were the Golf Team qualifying for the state tournament and the TCHS Knights Marching Band winning Grand Champion at the Viking Fest in Ripley. Mr. Morris went on to share how the boys’ Soccer Team just competed in the LKC Championship game in St. Marys against Braxton County but fell just short by the score of 2-1. They now have their sights set on sectional action.

In addition, three senior band members presented to the Board of Education their accomplishments thus far this school year and upcoming events in which they will participate in the coming weeks.

In other musical news, Rodney Marcellus and Big Brass came to the school and performed for the students. Later in the same day they performed for the community utilizing the new state-of-the-art auditorium. The event was in collaboration with ArtsLink who graciously hosted the performances.

A group of students recently visited the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine for a tour which provided a unique opportunity while the Astronomy Club visited Spruce Knob and Blackwater Falls. The Astrology Club members brought their own telescopes and got great close-up pictures of the moon.

The school hosted the FFA Ox Roast on Sunday, Oct 13th. FFA has been competing resulting in members qualifying for state convention in large tractor and zero turn mowers. Mrs. Stollings traveled to Charleston for the school to be recognized as College Access and Success Champion where she was presented with a banner and plaque. This honor makes the third year in a row for this recognition.

In other sports news, Volleyball is having a great year at 19-4 and getting ready for LKC tournament and sectional play. The Silver Knights football team is off to a 5-2 start looking to make their way into the postseason. Winter sports are right around the corner and those teams are gearing up with high numbers competing to make the boys and girls basketball team. Wrestling is in pre-season with 17 boys and a record high 15 girls taking part.

The school has two heavy equipment simulators for training. The unique part of the simulators is their ability to run both pieces of equipment on the same job and work in tandem. The seat time on the simulators allows the students to earn OHSA credentials. They receive certificates on all the tasks they have completed. There may be other requirements once they land a job after high school but the experience they gain while at TCHS goes a long way for an employer.

The business program is also off to a great start under the direction of Amy Yost. The Castle Coffee Program serves a variety of coffees to the staff and manages the billing. It is run like a true business. In addition, the coffee is also sold at home football games. A brand-new embroidery machine has allowed the students to begin taking orders for tee shirts and the students are printing the shirts in-house. All this merchandise will go on sale in the school store which will be in the new gym expansion. All programs in the school are represented and available for printing. The business program offers a variety of classes such as business and marketing, business law and ethics and yearbooks.

It’s been an exciting start to the school year. Students are involved, active and taking their responsibilities seriously. It is very busy within the walls of Tyler Consolidated High School.

Don’t forget to return next week, which will feature the second part of this story in the October 30th edition of the Star News.