By Kevin Shannahan

The Marthaville Hawks got the school year off to a running start with a capacity crowd of students and families at their open house, Tuesday, Aug. 16. Principal Jacquetta Tanner introduced each faculty and staff member as well as highlighting services such as the school based health clinic.
She also let parents know about new opportunities for their children at Marthaville. This year will be the first for band at the school as one of the school district’s seven teachers for talented students will be instructing budding musicians. Tanner and gifted teacher Ashlie Phillips are also looking to expand Marthaville’s gifted student population, currently at eight students. Marthaville’s 8th graders will also have a new elective, Journey to Careers, in which they can earn high school credit while exploring their future opportunities. This is Tanner’s first year leading Marthaville’s 321 students.
Outside of the classroom, students may choose from a full range of sports. The school offers boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball and football in conjunction with Provencal. In addition Marthaville offers a 4-H club, FCA chapter, student council, and a new Beta club chapter.