Education

 Alyson Coffman has her sights set on becoming the first person in her family to graduate from high school, but that was the last thing on her mind when she dropped out of Marion County High School during her freshman year.

Coffman, 17, of Bradfordsville said she was being bullied by kids at school, and suffering from anxiety and depression when she decided to quit.

“I couldn’t take it anymore,” she said. “I wanted to quit everything, and just get a job.”

West Marion Elementary had a wonderful Jumpstart Program this year with an average of 50 students each day. Incoming kindergarten and first grade students got to experience a ‘Universe of Possibilities’ as they participated in various lessons and crafts over the course of three days. The FFA department provided a mini science lesson accompanied by a petting zoo. Cody and Angela Rakes from the Loretto Motherhouse Farm taught students how a combine works on a farm.