By Rita Howell
Today’s edition of The Panolian will be distributed to 2,000 Panola students in grades 4-7 as the newspaper launches its 2011-12 Newspaper in Education program.

Eight sponsor businesses are underwriting the project which supplies the Friday issue to students each week.

“We felt is was important to reach out to our community and encourage reading programs,” Tri-Lakes Medical Center communications manager Madison Drake said. “NIE is a program that not only focuses on reading but also engages children through community news and events.”

At Batesville Junior High School, English teacher Sandy Snelling uses The Panolian to teach a variety of language arts skills.

“We really use the newspaper,” Snelling said, explaining her request for 150 copies each week–one for each student she teaches.

Her seventh graders will face an essay portion for the first time on their MCT-II tests next spring, she explained, and the newspaper is a useful tool in teaching writing skills necessary for success on the test.

To participate in The Panolian’s NIE program, teachers fill out a simple request form, explaining how they would use the newspaper in their classes.

This year’s NIE sponsors are: Tri-Lakes Medical Center, First Security Bank, Panola Construction, Stephen Sullivan, D.D.S.; Panola Paper, AT&T, TVEPA and the law firm of Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott and Nowak.

“Because of the generosity of our sponsors we were able to fill 2,000 requests we had from teachers,” publisher John Howell Sr. said.

Receiving newspapers will be students in the targeted grades at North Delta, Green Hill Elementary, Como Elementary, North Panola Junior High, Batesville Middle School, Pope School and Batesville Junior High.

“My students really look forward to reading The Panolian,” teacher Sandy Snelling said.