What on EARTH is that flag?

“This is an article that appeared in our local newspaper Sunday. We appreciate everyone’s hard work and patience. We are very proud of the end result.”

Students design new seal

The newly designed Kennett Middle School Flag is held by Kennett High School students Meredith Combs, left, and Jody Vancil, right, who helped to design the KMS seal featured on the flag, under the guidance of faculty member Rita Westerfield, far left, and principal Ward H. Billings, not pictured.

When Kennett High School students Jody Vancil and Meredith Combs become adults and reflect on their memories of days spent at Kennett Public Schools, they will most likely be able to recall numerous memorable times, including one in which the two of them made significant contributions to the school environment.

According to Kennett Middle School Principal Ward H. Billings, Vancil and Combs began working on a project under the guidance of faculty member Rita Westerfield and himself during the 2005-2006 academic year when both students were in the eighth grade at KMS.
Vancil is former president of the KMS Student Council, and Combs is former president of the KMS chapter of the National Honor Society. During their eighth grade year, the pair began working creatively and collectively to create a newly designed Kennett Middle School seal.
The newly designed KMS seal first appeared on the program for the eighth grade commencement exercises in May 2006.
Even more momentous perhaps, is that the new KMS seal that Vancil and Combs worked to fashion is now being used as the centerpiece for the official Kennett Middle School flag.

Billings said that both Vancil and Combs are outstanding students and school citizens, who worked hard as they participated in the design of the seal, as did Westerfield.

Billings noted that Westerfield equally dedicated herself to the project, working countless hours on the design, even after Vancil and Combs transitioned into their freshman year of high school at Kennett High School.

“Mrs. Westerfield worked untold hours on this endeavor and did so with the utmost attention to detail,” Billings said. “She even worked at various times throughout the summer, selflessly donating her time and efforts at no cost to the district, converting the design for the school seal into the design for the KMS flag.”

The KMS principal said that Westerfield is an excellent teacher and staff member who is a tremendous asset to the school district.
“She is to be highly commended for her efforts,” Billings added.

The company the school ordered the flag from was also a key component in the design and production of the new school flag.
According to Billings, Carrot-Top Industries, Inc., specializes in patriotic, special event and custom-made products and committed to the project with their professionalism and superior customer service.

“I simply cannot say enough about this company,” Billings said. “Their commitment to this project was reflected time and time again through their attention to detail, superior customer service and dedication to insuring our satisfaction.”

Of the former KMS students’ contribution to the project and to the school, Billings said “They did an exceptional job both in and outside of the classroom, and provided KMS with excellent leadership as presidents of respective organizations.”

“I was very fortunate as a principal to have such responsible students in these leadership positions,” Billings added. “Jody and Meredith made significant contributions to the school environment and their presence is still being felt at KMS. They are indeed two young people whom this community can be very proud of.”

On behalf of his campus, Billings said the school sincerely hopes that students, staff members, parents, and citizens of the community will be proud of the KMS school seal and flag, “Both of which reflect the school district’s unity of purpose and commitment to the continual pursuit of educational excellence.”

Article Written by: Deanna Coronado

Photo Submitted By: Rita Westerfield, Kennett Middle School