Give a round of applause to this year's winner and runner up in the Kathryn C. Mitchell Spelling Bee. The Bee was held last week and Jeremy G. of DuPont Hadley Middle School came out on top. Christine L. from Meigs Middle Magnet followed closely behind as runner-up.
As if graduating from high school wasn't enough of an honor, some Metro students could be on their way to graduating as Presidential Scholars! Five high school seniors in our district have been chosen by the U.S. Department of Education as Presidential Scholar Candidates, meaning they will go through a rigorous national application process. They are among 3,000 candidates in the nation, a number that will shrink to 560 semifinalists and ultimately to 141 Presidential Scholars. Our candidates are:
They were chosen for outstanding academic achievement, particularly for scoring highly on the ACT or SAT. We are so proud of them, and you can bet we'll be tracking their progress. Check back for updates!
We'd like to give a big, BIG thanks to Papa John's and Michael Griffin of the Tennessee Titans for a sizable donation given to Hunters Lane High School this week. Michael came by Hunters Lane with a check for more than $8,500 to be used for healthy snacks and fresh food for students. The money was raised through a pizza promotion done at Papa John's restaurants. Both Michael Griffin and executives from Papa John's were proud to particiapte, saying how important it is to be involved in the community and to give help young people who need it. Thank you for the donation!
Tennessee Titan Michael Griffin with Hunters Lane principal Susan Kessler & assistant principal Andrew Davis.
On behalf of Antioch High School and other high schools involved, we want to thank everyone from the Hermitage and Nashville Deloitte offices who volunteered at last week’s Antioch High School FAFSA Drive. Thanks to all of the FAFSA volunteers from Deloitte, they reached two MNPS-FAFSA milestones: Milestone #1 - 100 plus families in one night – On Thursday night January 17, volunteers provided assistance to 106 families at Antioch. This is the result of their hard work and a three year partnership with Antioch High School. The work with Antioch has included more than 100 volunteers assisting with Job Shadow Days, the Be the First Campaign, the JA Company Program, along with many other efforts. Milestone #2 - More than 500 families impacted – On January 17, Deloitte provided assistance to the 500th FAFSA family! They ended the night with a three year total of 585 families served from their FAFSA Drives at McGavock High School, Antioch High School and Overton High School. This clearly puts them in a great position to reach the 600th family milestone at the Overton drive on January 24.
Is it still volunteering if you can win cash? You bet it is! OneNashville.org is enticing you to volunteer in our schools by putting cash and prizes on the line. You can enter as yourself, enter your whole school or enter your business. It's easy. Log on to OneNashville.org and choose volunteer opportunities in our schools. Be sure to log your hours on the website. And that's it. Really, that's it! When you hit the minimum number of hours you will be entered into a drawing. There are three separate prizes for individual, school and business:
Hillsboro High School is deepening its commitment to International Baccalaureate, applying for another IB certification that would give even more choices to students. Officials at Hillsboro submitted an application to become an IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC) candidate. An IB-appointed committee will visit the school this spring to assess the school’s readiness to offer this IB certificate, which launched internationally in 2010. What is the IBCC, you ask? It's another track for students seeking an IB diploma that allows students to:
Mark North, Sports Fan & President of The Fans, Inc.
MNPS: The First Choice for Outstanding Sportsmanship
Art on display right now at Cheekwood came straight from the minds of Antioch and Hillsboro High School students. They worked closely with professional and well-respected artists over a period of months to create pieces for display in one of the South's premiere art museums. The Loop Project is a collaborative effort between Cheekwood, Antioch High School and Hillsboro High School. The program brought together eight art students from each school to work with Nashville-based artist Hans Schmitt Matzen and New York-based artist Gieves Anderson. Together they created collaborative pieces of work using a variety of media and methods. When the students and artists met, they paired up to create collaborative pieces of art – sending the work back and forth to each other for several months, allowing each other to add to or build upon the work. The final pieces are on display at Cheekwood right now. “It was a really great experience," said Antioch student Sarah W. "The Loop Project was interesting because we got to meet our project partners from Hillsboro High School. We would switch our artwork together so that they could do something to change or improve it, send it back and do that again. We would also communicate with each other to talk about our ideas. It was exciting in the end to see our final pieces hanging on the walls in the Great Hall at Cheekwood!” A small reception was held at Cheekwood to celebrate the students who participated in The Loop Project and spotlight their work. Here’s one from Tristan Higginbotham a student at Antioch High School “The Loop Project was an overall interesting experience," said Antioch student Tristan H. "It was kind of difficult to give my work to someone I had never met before, just because they may not understand why I made the choices I made and so on. Thankfully our styles didn't clash, and my partner and I were able to meet in the middle somewhat. "It was really nerve-racking to try and meet the expectations that I imagined my partner had, but after awhile I just did my own thing and stopped being paranoid about it. I would definitely participate in this again, especially since I know more about it the whole process now. It was really awesome to have so much freedom and step away from the more technical work I had been working on. I feel really confident about the two pieces that came from this project.” Thanks to Cheekwood’s Karen Kwarciak for the great information!
The safety of our students and staff is always our first priority. Lately, some questions have been raised about carbon monoxide in schools. The vast majority of our classrooms, including portables, are heated with units using electricity and do not have a source for carbon monoxide, greatly reducing this risk for students and staff. Our heating units are inspected by our maintenance department annually, and our staff routinely conducts random carbon monoxide monitoring. We have had no recent reports of elevated carbon monoxide in any of our buildings. The Metro Code does not require carbon monoxide detectors for schools and Metro school buildings do not have them. Our maintenance and construction offices meet regularly and do plan to discuss whether or not the installation of carbon monoxide detectors is warranted.
Like most of the country, you probably know someone who has the flu (if you don't have it yourself). We're watching out for the flu in our schools and want you and your family to be safe from illness. Here's some help in making that happen! Prevent Everyday preventive actions are steps that people can take to help slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory illness, like flu.
En Español
In this month's Music Makes Us newsletter, read how the December performances went, learn more about the Board's resolution committing to music education and see a musical calendar of events.
John Early Museum Magnet Middle was transformed into a museum to showcase work done in the past nine weeks. This was an opportunity for students to share and show off work to parents, teachers and their fellow students. It was also is a wonderful chance to experience what the museum theme has to offer. Grade Level Themes:
MNPS: The First Choice for Historic Performances
The McGavock Cluster Coalition helped more than 85 families during its Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Drive night yesterday. Students and their parents received assistance filling out paper work, learning about college and university deadlines and how much federal aid students should ask for. The Donelson Hermitage Chamber volunteered for the evening as well as first –time volunteer Deloitte. Deloitte will be hosting additional FAFSA Drives the month.
Hey, high schoolers: Want to be a teacher? If so you could win a scholarship worth up to $3,000. The Metropolitan Nashville Education Foundation, the charitable arm of MNEA, awards three scholarships each year to outstanding high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in public education. Scholarships are awarded to graduates of MNPS in amounts of up to $3,000 ($1,500 per semester). If you want to apply, fill out the application, print it, date it and sign it. Applications must be returned to MNEA Headquarters by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2013. Don't leave money on the table! Apply and win!
DOWNLOAD the Application
"Within the next three years, all Kindergarten through Grade 12 students in Metro Schools will have opportunities to participate in high quality music instruction..."
Read the full resolution
Learn more about Music Makes Us
Hey teachers: Know a stellar colleague in his/her third year of teaching? Then tell him/her about the Teacher Leadership Institute. The Institute gives teachers chances for career and leadership development without having to leave the classroom. It's a year-long program of classes, collaboration, retreats and more where highly motivated teachers can learn all new skills and better their classrooms, their schools and the entire district. So if you are a teacher and know colleagues who could benefit from this oppotunity, send them to MyMNPS and tell them to apply!
Bank of America is looking for students who want to make a difference in their community. Applications are now available for the bank's "Student Leaders" program, which promises to show how non-profits, government and business can work together to change communities and connect citizens. The program offers an eight-week, paid internship at a local non-profit and admission to a week long Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.! Applications are due by January 25 2012 and can be found on the Bank of America website: http://www.bankofamerica.com/neistudentleaders. Click below for the program flyer.
Want to meet students who are a lot smarter than you and I? Then meet these semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search. Four students from Hume-Fogg Magnet High and three from Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet High won the distinction for their work done through the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt.
Read more about the award. Apply for the School for Science & Math at Vanderbilt
Updated January 8, 2013
As we begin the second half of our school year, the terrible tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, is still on our minds. It is difficult to comprehend what happened and we grieve the loss of the children, teachers and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
We are committed to the safety of our children and staff and we have been working to create positive, safe schools for years. We are well ahead of many area districts. Any changes we make to our procedures now will be based on thoughtful, measured decisions that produce real improvements to school security.
We know parents are troubled by this event and may want to know more about school safeguards and security measures in our district.
The safety of our students and staff is our first priority. We are reviewing every piece of our security practices and plans and expediting security upgrades that we had previously planned. We have been in ongoing communication with local law enforcement and emergency management officials to insure our emergency management procedures are current and aligned with best practices. With our large district, we need a process to address the improvements and we are underway.
Toward that end, all principals, assistant principals and central office staff who work in schools were asked to complete a FEMA crisis management training program over the holidays as a refresher for good safety procedures. We have reviewed our safety procedures with local law enforcement and are in communication with the state. Our maintenance and security staffs are reviewing access and safety measures in every school, with help from school staff. We want to make sure procedures are consistent and in place and that safety devices are up to date. We remind visitors they must sign in and out and wear visitor IDs in district facilities.
Thank you for continuing to observe and follow all of the safety procedures currently in place.
Our middle and high schools have School Resource Officers who are sworn Metro Police Officers employed by the Metro Police Department. We believe any armed staff in our schools should be fully-trained uniformed police officers.
We are in a better position to keep our schools safe when we limit detailed discussion of our security measures to those who need to know the details. Consequently, if you have concerns about the specifics in your school, please talk to your principal, who can address your concerns or share them with our security and facilities staff as appropriate.
So that we can all help our children emotionally process this disturbing news and continue to feel safe at school and home, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has put together a number of suggestions and tips for families. The NASP website has even more, including tips translated into several languages.
From NASP:
It is important to keep in mind that an event like this is rare. Schools are one of the safest places for children and youth during the school day, and an important place for them to receive support and return to normalcy.
Communication and collaboration among schools, parents, and communities is critical to ensure that our students continue to view schools as safe, caring, and supportive environments. How adults react to this tragedy can shape the way children and youth react and their perceptions of safety.
Educators can reinforce students’ sense of safety by making classrooms predictable and welcoming, providing access to mental health supports as needed, and connecting families with other available resources after school hours.
Families are encouraged to spend time together, validate children’s feelings, ask for help as needed, and find calm and relaxing activities to do at home.
It is very important to limit children’s exposure to media coverage, particularly for young children. If children are watching the news or accessing information online, parents and caregivers should be available to talk to their children about it.
Families and educators will serve on the frontline of helping children understand and cope with this violence and loss of life. Most children and youth are resilient and will cope well with the support and caring of their families, teachers, friends, and other caring adults. However, young children may have particular difficulty understanding and describing their feelings and emotions.
Some tips to help children include:
More Resources:
Seven Metro high school students (who like to get their hands dirty) are taking on prestigious leadership roles in Nashville's volunteer community. Hands on Nashville has named ten high school students to it's Urban Agriculture Fellowship program and seven of them come from Metro Schools!
Let's give a hearty congratulations to Dr. Kecia Ray, recently featured online as a "global hero in education." Kecia is in charge of Learning Technology for Metro Schools, which means she helps teachers, schools, and the district integrate technology into curriculum and the classroom. Of course she does so much more than that, like designing and launching MNPS Virtual School.
Historic Isaac Litton Gymnasium
Be a fan. Go watch some basketball.
MNPS: The First Choice for Fans
Looking back to help the future: Six high school basketball teams are taking part in The FANS Retro Classic this weekend that benefits The FANS, Inc., a foundation raising money for Metro Schools athletic programs. So what makes these games so special? Teams will be wearing old school uniforms to honor high school teams of the past! Hume-Fogg and Hunters Lane will wear Madison High polka dots, Maplewood and Stratford will wear uniforms to honor Isaac Litton High, McGavock will honor DuPont High, and Glencliff will honor Cameron High. Will the uniforms look exactly like you remember them? Of course not, but that's not really the point, is it? The point is that schools of today are willing to honor the past, and together we can build a bright future. Here are the details:
Friday, January 4, 5:00 p.m. Hume-Fogg vs. Maplewood (Girls) Hume-Fogg vs. Maplewood (Boys) Saturday, January 5 McGavock vs. Stratford (Boys) Hunters Lane vs. Glencliff (Boys) Historic Location The historic Isaac Litton High School Gym. Tickets Tickets are $6 each night and are available at the door. This event might sell out, so get there early. Parking Please park at Litton Middle School, 4601 Hedgewood Drive (turn on Richmond from Gallatin Road). Benefit Proceeds from The FANS Retro Classic go to The Foundation for Athletics in Nashville Schools, Inc. for the benefit of athletic programs in Nashville's public schools. If you are unable to attend but want to help, you may donate online at www.thefansinc.com or send a check The FANS, 1215 Gallatin Pike, S., Madison, TN 37115.
Cover courtesy of The Nashville Scene and photographer Michael W. Bunch What a way to end 2012. Two teachers in Metro Schools have been named Nashvillians of the Year by the Nashville Scene. Adam Taylor of Overton High School and Christina McDonald of Nashville Prep Charter School represent the teachers who "give Nashville's schoolchildren, no matter what their background, a fighting chance to reach their brightest future." In a lengthy and detailed article, reporter Steven Hale lays out the bare - and sometimes forgotten - fact in our city's current debate over education: whether charter school or district school, great teachers are at the center of great education. It's a great piece, and I strongly recommend you take a few moments to read the full article so you can see how teachers like Christina and Adam can bring the focus of the education discussion back where it belongs.
Cover courtesy of The Nashville Scene and photographer Michael W. Bunch
Given the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut last week, many are looking for ways to hold their families a little more safely. A new service offered in partnership with Metro Government gives you that opportunity - and it can help the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Smart 911 offers a service that gives emergency responders and 9-1-1 operators important details about you and your home, such as floor plans, medical needs, pets, and more. Metro Government recently subscribed to this program and works with it in 9-1-1 situations. For every account registered between now and the end of the year, Smart911 will donate $1 to the Sandy Hook Support Fund. It is 100% free for you to sign up and maintain an account. If you're interested in signing up, learn more about Smart911 first.
From Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee: Oliver Middle School students spent all day Monday learning about capital resources, imports and exports, the importance of budgeting, and the characteristics of entrepreneurs. They studied foreign currency, created business plans, set personal budgets and crafted résumés. Students learned all of this not from their teachers, but from businesspeople. More than 60 employees from 23 area companies took over the school on December 17th, leading interactive programming on financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship through a JA in a Day event hosted by Junior Achievement of Middle Tennessee. “JA in a day at Oliver Middle School is a wonderful day for our students. Students get to play math games and make advertisements for products, which helps develop critical thinking skills and stimulates their creativity. Students also get to know a variety of community professionals who are interested in furthering students’ educations in unique and thoughtful ways. Thank you, Junior Achievement,” said Linda Latter, Counselor at Oliver Middle. Dr. Susan Kessler (center), JA Associate Board Member and Executive Principal at Hunter’s Lane High School, and Andrew Davis (right), Assistant Principal at Hunter’s Lane High School, volunteer at Oliver Middle School. Junior Achievement provides hands-on programming that connects what students are learning in the classroom to the real-world. Offered to students in Kindergarten through high school, JA programs combine discussions and group activities into lessons that help students understand the important role education plays in a successful future. JA in a Day combines all six lessons of JA’s middle school programming into one day, instead of spreading the lessons out over several weeks. Having dedicated volunteers take over the entire school ensured all 860 students in the Metro Nashville school received the lessons at the same time on the same day. JA of Middle Tennessee President Trent Klingensmith said, “Being able to reach every student in four grades with JA’s message of financial responsibility and workplace skills is incredible. As an organization, Junior Achievement is grateful to the volunteers who helped inspire hundreds of students at Oliver Middle to take the steps today that will lead to success in life and the workplace down the road.” Several volunteers participating in Oliver’s JA in a Day were JA Board Members. Associate Board Member Jaclyn Carney of Radsource had a great experience. She said, “my teaching partner and I spent the day with a great group of 23 eighth graders...this day was so rewarding as it allowed me the opportunity to engage with the next generation and challenge them to start thinking about what it means to own their own economic success. The lessons and activities provided to us by JA were visibly impactful as they empowered these students to open their minds, think about their future, and begin the important journey of self-discovery. From evaluating their own skills, values, and interests in thinking about future career options, to balancing a budget, to understanding the difference between credit and cash, the value of education, and many things in between, I feel as though each student walked away from this JA in a Day experience with an increased level of self knowledge and the important foundation from which to build upon their own economic success. I am confident that because of JA in a Day, each of these 23 students were exposed to priceless lessons that challenged them to think outside the walls of their eighth grade classroom and dream big!” The teachers and students at Oliver Middle School are no strangers to JA volunteer experiences. This marked the fourth year in a row the school has opened its doors to host a whole-school JA in a Day event for its middle schoolers. Junior Achievement hosts other JA in a Day programs throughout Middle Tennessee. Companies and schools interested in participating should contact JA Director of Programs Andy Schenck at 615.627.1186 or andys@janash.com.
Dr. Susan Kessler (center), JA Associate Board Member and Executive Principal at Hunter’s Lane High School, and Andrew Davis (right), Assistant Principal at Hunter’s Lane High School, volunteer at Oliver Middle School.
UPDATE! Marcus and Joey will finally make their national debut! Thursday, Dec. 20, a special segment highlighting their time working with Brad Paisley will air during the CMA Country Christmas Special on ABC. Live television, folks! CMA Week (a.k.a “Country Music’s Biggest Night™”) cast a national spotlight on two Metro high school students – even if they didn’t end up playing with Brad Paisley during the broadcast. Marcus Wanner, a student at Nashville School of the Arts, and Joey Santoro, a student at Hume-Fogg Magnet High School, were hand-selected to perform with Brad during the The 46th Annual CMA Awards on Thursday. The performance was meant to draw attention to Keep the Music Playing, a program that has donated more than $6.1 million to support music education on behalf of the hundreds of Country Music artists that perform at CMA Music Festival for free. But the hectic world of live television forced the performance to be cut from the show, though they still had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rehearse with Brad and appear with him on Good Morning America. Isaac Litton Middle School, home of the Marching 100, was also to be featured, though that video segment was cut from the broadcast, as well. Teachers Allison Winstein and William McMillan - along with more than twenty students - participated in a video shoot promoting the Keep the Music Playing partnership with MNPS. Litton was selected to participate for its long and rich history of excellence in music. Litton is now redeveloping its music program as part of its overall school improvement program and in partnership with Music Makes Us, a city-school partnership that aims to reinvigorate music education in Nashville. “The support and generosity of our Nashville community is remarkable,” said Laurie Schell, director of Music Makes Us. “We are so grateful to the Country Music Association's Keep the Music Playing program for ensuring our students have access to quality musical instruments. Having a good instrument is the first step toward becoming a music-lover for life." About Keep the Music Playing Keep the Music Playing is an initiative of the CMA Foundation, which exists to provide financial support to worthwhile causes that are important to the Country Music Association and the Country Music community. The CMA Foundation places special emphasis on serving the needs of CMA's core constituents and nonprofit organizations with initiatives that preserve the legacy of the format, music education, and respond to such other needs that may be identified in the future by the CMA. Since 2006, KTMP has contributed more than $6.1 million to Metro Nashville Public Schools. The funds have been used to build music labs, provide sound and lighting equipment for school auditoriums, and purchase more than 4,000 instruments for the schools. About Music Makes Us Music Makes Us promotes, supports and advances student engagement and achievement through robust, high quality music education with both a traditional music curriculum as well as a contemporary curriculum track that uses new technologies and reflects a diverse musical landscape. A public/private partnership among Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, and music industry and community leaders in Nashville, Music Makes Us is committed to becoming a worldwide leader in music education, bringing the resources of the Nashville music community together to enable participation and foster student success for all of its 81,000 students. Building on a model partnership and the generosity of the Country Music Association’s Keep The Music Playing program, Music Makes Us seeks to establish groundbreaking new contemporary curriculum pathways as well as create a strong alignment with the instructional goals of MNPS, enhance existing chorus, band and orchestra programs, facilitate strong partnerships among the business and nonprofit music communities, develop a facilities master plan, and improve the support infrastructure for teachers, students and community partners.
MNPS: The First Choice for Hope for the Future
Congratulations to our two Optional School Application iPad winners! Amber Trice and CoCo Thomas both visited their fair share of schools during the application period to see first-hand what schools had to offer to their students. They also took the time to enter our contest, open to all parents who visited schools for the Optional Schools Application. Their contest entries came from Maplewood High School and Meigs Middle Magnet School, where they filled out our short survey, which was also an entry form. Thank you for playing, and we hope the iPads come in handy!
The Hume Award
A nice place to relax after intense Maplewood basketball games.
MNPS: The First Choice for Prestigious Scholar-Athletes
MNPS: The First Choice for the Incomparable Flair of School Spirit
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” –Theodore Roosevelt
MNPS: The First Choice for Knowing the Triumph of High Achievement
More students graduated from Metro Nashville Public Schools in 2012, according to state figures released today in the 2012 Report Card. The district’s graduation rate rose by 2.2 percentage points, up from 76.2 to 78.4 percent of students graduating in four years. “Our goal is for every child who enrolls in our schools to earn a high school diploma,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jesse Register. “We are working hard across all grade levels to help students realize that goal and I am pleased to see continual improvement in our graduation rate. “Achievement scores are up and our value-added scores compare well to state averages. We saw some improvement in our letter grades and expect more in the future.” The percentage does not include students who require more than four years and a summer to graduate. Many students, including some English Learners and students with disabilities, need more time to complete the graduation requirements. “As a community, we claim every graduate as a success even if students need a little more time than the state’s calculation allows,” said Register. Metro Schools has focused on programs that allow students to learn in more personalized schools designed to fit their interests and educational needs. Increases in the graduation rate are the result of many factors, including the success of the Academies of Nashville in zoned schools, the addition of magnet schools and specialized schools such as MNPS Virtual High School, Nashville Big Picture, Middle College High, the Academies at Old Cockrill, Hickory Hollow and Opry Mills, and the district’s data review, school improvement and support programs. Metro Schools’ employees at the middle school and elementary school levels are working to identify and address early indicators that students are at risk for dropping out. The 2012 Report Card includes district data on the event dropout rate. The report shows an increase to 8.8 percent from the 2.3 percent reported in 2011. The state is using a new calculation to determine this rate. The district has asked the state for a list of students to cross-check against district records to develop an apples-to-apples, year-to-year comparison. “Erin O’Hara and the data quality team at the Tennessee Department of Education have been very helpful,” added Register. The Report Card for Metro Schools includes achievement and accountability data originally released in July. The district showed growth in achievement among all subgroups of students last year, placing the district in intermediate status - the second highest accountability category. Under this new accountability framework, the top-performing districts are “Exemplary” while the bottom performing districts are in two “In Need of Improvement” categories; the remaining districts are in an intermediate category. Tennessee’s new accountability system replaces No Child Left Behind’s Annual Yearly Progress measures. Rather than expecting all districts to meet the same benchmarks year after year, the new system acknowledges that districts are starting from different places and rewards those that show the most growth. Under the new system, approximately 43% of districts were categorized as “In Need of Improvement” or “In Need of Subgroup Improvement.” “These results show thousands more Metro Nashville students are performing at higher levels,” Register said. “Tennessee standards are among the highest in the country and this new accountability system is real and is holding districts to standards that are difficult, but attainable. “The growth we have seen this year is the result of hard work, changes to instructional practice, professional development for principals and teachers, and meeting our students’ diverse needs. We want to accelerate that growth at all levels and close achievement gaps.”
MNPS: The First Choice for Perfection
Hey art teachers! The Nossi College of Art has something for you. Help them design a new tote bag and you could win $500 in art supplies for your classroom. Full details:
615/514.2787 or GGraves@nossi.edu
During a phone call just after being hired, Spencer Taylor had to cut off his new boss. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to go. Our schools are serving tilapia today, and I don’t want it to be overcooked.” This isn’t your average school lunch chief. The newly named Director of Nutrition Services was still working at Birmingham City Schools at the time, and had a job to do: serve healthy fish to school kids – and make it taste good. Now that he’s in Nashville, Taylor is ready to feed tens of thousands of students at more than 140 schools. He certainly has the credentials. He is a registered and licensed dietician who has worked everywhere from restaurants to medical facilities to the U.S. Army Reserves. “I’m an active person with a strong interest in health and wellness,” he says. “I want to serve our students tasty meals with high nutritional value.” So what does he like? What kind of food person is he? Here are five facts about Spencer Taylor:
MNPS: The First Choice for the Ultimate Embodiment of School Spirit
MNPS: The First Choice for Competing When It’s All on the Line
MNPS: The First Choice for Digging Deep and Finishing Strong
MNPS: The First Choice for Bright College Futures
MNPS: The First Choice for the the True School Spirit of the Fans
There are so many opportunities for students and families during the fall intersession - both in schools and out in the community. But not all of them offer a FREE glimpse at country music's greatest treasures! The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is offering free tickets to all MNPS students from October 8 until October 13, with discounted chaperone admission of $12 for the adults (up to two) bringing them in! More from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum:
If you've wondered what all the fuss is about with International Baccalaureate, you'll get answers and then some next Tuesday at Hillsboro High School. Hillsboro is hosting an IB Information Night for everyone in Nashville to learn more about this presigious, internationally recognized academic program. There will be displays of student projects, sessions about the Middle Years and Diploma IB Programmes, and an in-depth panel discussion about how colleges view an IB diploma. Come see why Hillsboro cluster schools are the best option for your child. We hope to see you there!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 5:30 p.m. - 7:35 p.m. Hillboro High School
Like a shopping mall for higher education... 200 colleges and universities will pack the LP Field club level this Thursday, September 27, for College Night 2012! You can speak with representatives from schools, learn about applications, and even find out about financial aid. It's never too early to start thinking about college, so students and families of all ages are welcome. It's completely FREE to attend and FREE to park!
SEE the list of participating colleges & universities.
Our students' voices will be heard loud and clear... on TV, in movie theaters, in the newspaper, wrapped around city buses and more. They'll tell the whole city how the Academies of Nashville have impacted them and share their success stories. The ads are designed to encourage students and families to explore their high school options and find the right path for them. It's an amazing outreach effort, fully paid for and produced by the Ford Motor Company Fund and other amazing Academy partners:
We want to give a HUGE thanks to these partners for their generous donations of time and money. Because of them, we'll see these ads all over town!
MNPS: The First Choice for the Wisdom of Great Leaders
The Nashville Public Library Foundation invites all Davidson County High School students (ages 13-18) to submit a very short story in honor of the 2012 Nashville Public Library Literary Award recipient, Margaret Atwood. About the contest Students are asked to write an original and creative story of no less than 5 and no more than 10 sentences inspired by Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale or this photo:
View complete rules and entry guidelines. Entries will be accepted September 20 – October 4, 2012 Entries may be submitted online http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P6JNHSF OR Mail one printed copy of submission to: Nashville Public Library Foundation Essay Contest 615 Church Street Nashville, TN 37219
You may have heard about and executive order from President Obama that will stop deportations of young people under certain conditions.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DEFERRED ACTION PROGRAM
MNPS: The First Choice for High-Flying Monster Spikes
Joseph Occhipinti had another excellent night. Occhipinti kicked a 29-yard field goal, went 2-of-2 on extra points, had 48 and 45-yard punts. All five of his kickoffs went for touchbacks… So far this season, he is 10-of-10 on kickoffs for touchbacks and in the season opener… two of his five kicks went completely out of the end zone.
MNPS: The First Choice for World Class Clutch Performances
Did you know... by 2018 there will be more than a million available jobs in STEM careers, but only a fraction that many qualified college graduates to fill them? Did you know... for the last 10 years, the number of STEM jobs has grown three times as fast as non-STEM jobs? Did you know... Metro Schools and its partners put students on a direct path to STEM colleges and careers? The Adventure Science Center and other partners from Stratford’s Academy of Science & Engineering are bringing students closer to those careers and the degrees needed to meet them at Stratford’s Engineering Day. The event, made possible with a grant from the Community Foundation, will feature STEM professionals from firms such as Universal Robotics, Barge Waggoner Sumner and Cannon and Nissan presenting engineering-based, hands-on activities such as bridge building and water purification. The goal driving the event is to inspire students and ignite their curiosity in STEM fields.
Stratford STEM Magnet High School Engineering Day Thursday, September 20, 2012 8:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. at Stratford
Constitution Day is Sept. 17 and to celebrate the Baker Center is having a Constitution Day Essay Contest! Attention all students – 9th grade to seniors in college! In an essay of no more than 500 words, respond to the following quote:
“I’m ready to wager my life’s meaning that what America will be remembered for in the centuries to come is the staggering achievement of taking different people from all over the world and building a great civilization.” -- Sen. Howard H. Baker, Jr. Baker, H. (1980) No Margin for Error. New York, NY: New York Times Book Co.
bakeressaycontest@gmail.com Deadline for submission is September 10th, 2012, by 11:59 p.m. Winners will be chosen in two categories (high school and college) and announced September 17, 2012. 1st Prize: $250 2nd Prize: $150
Have weekend plans? You do now. The Academy at Hickory Hollow is hosting a benefit concert this Sunday night at the Crossings Event Center. Come listen to the music of the Laura Vida Band and bring a donation of $10 (or more!) to give to the school. The Academy at Hickory Hollow is one of three of our Academy schools, along with Old Cockrill and Opry Mills, where students aged 17-21 can earn their final few credits needed for a high school diploma. In the last three years, Academy schools have graduated more than 1,000 students! Principal Billy Fellman and a few of his faculty will be there to meet you and answer any questions you might have about the Academy. Come out and support a great school!
Dr. Nicole Cobb, director of school counseling, to share regional input with national organization
MNPS: The First Choice for the Incomparable Excitement of High School Sports
Antioch High School to begin International Baccalaureate Feasibility Study
Mariachi offered at Wright Middle, Glencliff High as part of the Music Makes Us education program
Attention shoppers: Opry Mills will offer more than just great shopping this year; it will also help hundreds of students earn their high school diplomas. Forced to close after the devastating May 2010 flood, the Academy at Opry Mills, supported by the Simon Youth Foundation, is back in business and eager to help its new class of students get on track and graduate. “The impact we have felt in the three short years that we have offered these non-traditional programs has been tremendous,” said Director of Schools Dr. Jesse Register. “Since 2009, we have watched 1,040 students graduate from our Academies -- located at Hickory Hollow, Old Cockrill and Opry Mills. These young men and women were at high-risk of dropping out but instead got back on track and earned high school diplomas.” Led by new principal Carmon Brown, who previously served as an assistant principal at Hillsboro High School, the school will cater to each student’s unique needs and circumstances. In a statement issued earlier in the summer, Associate Superintendent of High Schools Jay Steele commended Brown’s 20 years of experience in high schools and said he will be a “strong leader for the Academy at Opry Mills who understands how the Academy can help students overcome obstacles and earn a high school diploma.” The new, state-of-the-art facility features an open concept with identifiable learning centers that can be easily adapted to accommodate different instructional practices, projects and learning opportunities. The innovative space will promote collaborative and learning opportunities for the students. It also features a new exterior entrance that will make the school much easier to locate and access from the parking lot. “For the students at the Academy, the traditional classroom setting did not work,” said SYF President and CEO J. Michael Durnil, Ph.D. “Our Academy will create a non-traditional environment that will ignite hope in students, giving them the confidence to be successful and earn their high school diploma.” The Academy at Opry Mills is one of three Metro Schools supported by SYF. The second is The Academy at Hickory Hollow, which opened to serve the students displaced by the closure of the school at Opry Mills after the historic flood in May 2010. The third is The Academy at Old Cockrill, which opened in 2009 and this year will begin receiving scholarship support from SYF. Between the three academies, SYF and MNPS will annually serve hundreds of at-risk Nashville youth. About the Academies These academies are for students who wish to pursue a high school diploma in a non-traditional high school setting. For admission, students must be 17-21 years of age and need eight or fewer credits in the content areas. Studies are highly individualized to each student’s needs and personal circumstances. About SYF Simon Youth Foundation, established in 1998, operates 23 academies in 13 U.S. states that give at-risk students the same education they would receive in a traditional classroom while offering the flexibility that their individual circumstances require. Recipient of the Crystal Star Award of Excellence in Dropout Prevention from the National Dropout Prevention Center, the foundation has helped more than 8,000 students earn their high school diploma and provided more than $10.7 million in college scholarships to 3,500 students in 42 states. The Education Commission of the United States has recognized the Foundation with its Corporate Award for sustained and substantial investment in improving public education.
To find out exactly what you need to do to request deferred action, visit the Conexión Américas website. You may have heard about and executive order from President Obama that will stop deportations of young people under certain conditions. This executive order means many people will need to access school documents demonstrating they have graduated from high school or are currently enrolled. How to Request Student & Graduate Records If the student is currently enrolled or graduated within the last three years (in 2010, 2011 and 2012), the records are at the Metro Nashville high school from which the student graduated. If the student graduated prior to 2010, the records must be retrieved. The student must complete a Records Request Form found at this link: http://www.mnps.org/Page58540.aspx. The fee for this request is $3. Who is eligible for deferred action under this new directive? Pursuant to the Secretary’s June 15, 2012, memorandum, in order to be eligible for deferred action, individuals must:
More information from the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition
Board Member & Sports Fan Mark North
MNPS: The First Choice for the Beauty and Grace of Public Education
Chaney Mosley brings diverse background to academies
It almost looks like a college student center or an employee lounge at Google. Thanks to a generous donation from John Ingram, Hillwood High School cut the ribbon on its brand new library yesterday! Look at all the city officials who came out to see it. It's easy to see why they're so excited. Just look at it! All photos by Gary Layda, Metro Government Photographer - http://www.metrophotos.nashville.gov/
Apollo Middle School received a helping hand from more than 40 volunteers from Nashville Tools For Schools. Nashville Tools for Schools and community members were on hand to build and install desks for the school’s auditorium. Nashville Tools For Schools (“NTFS”), in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools and members of our community, exists to provide the best possible learning environment for our young people and to demonstrate the community’s dedication to our educational system. We want to give each and every student in the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools the best education possible. Nashville Tools For Schools is committed to small maintenance and construction projects within our public schools, projects such as building desks or installing shelving, projects which empower our schools children and protect our schools resources. Much more information is available on the Nashville Tools for Schools website.
American Idol Live! tickets to be given to one vaccinated Metro Schools 7th grader
DOWNLOAD our flyer for the full details - then share it with your friends!
Michael Murray, 2009 Pearl-Cohn graduate and the son of two metro school employees (Kathryn Murray-Mays-teacher at the Academy @ Hickory Hollow and Michael Mays-maintenance dept-painter) is headed to London!!! Michael Murray has made history by becoming the first American runner, with an intellectual disability, to go to the Olympics!!! Michael is a member the USA Paralympics team and will be running the 1500m in London in September. This is the first time, in over a decade, the Olympic committee has allowed T-20 athletes to compete. Michael competed at the trials in Indianapolis in early July. He was selected to be a member of the 2012 Paralympics team to compete in London!!!!! Currently he is in San Diego (Chula Vista) training at the Olympic training facility. Michael will return home August 10th and leaves for London August 17th. He will actually compete September 3rd(10:31am) and 4th(7:19pm) all London times. London times are 6 hours ahead of us. His race can be viewed on http://www.paralympic.org/MediaCentre. Note: Michael is on several websites. Athletes Without Limits (www.athleteswithoutlimits.org) ,Running Journal:(http://Running.Net), USA Paralympics (http://www2.teamusa.org/Athletes/MU/Michael-Murray.aspx), Nashville Illusions Track Club (http://nashvilleillusionstrack.com/runners.html)
August 9, 2012 7:00pm at Maplewood Maplewood Panthers vs. Hillwood Hilltoppers Pearl-Cohn Firebirds vs. Hunters Lane Warriors August 10, 2012 6:00pm at Cane Ridge Cane Ridge Ravens vs. DCA McGavock Raiders vs. Stratford Spartans Whites Creek Cobras vs. Antioch Bears August 11, 2012 7:00pm at Overton Overton Bobcats vs. Hillsboro Burros East Nashville Eagles vs. Glencliff Colts
MNPS: The First Choice for lifetime values of hard work, discipline, and teamwork
Three Hillsboro High School students have returned to school after the summer of a lifetime! Adam Simmons, Noah Simmons, and Morgan Hyde just landed back in the States, having spent two weeks in China. They went over as part of the Confucius Institute Summer Bridge Program. The Confucius Classroom at Hillsboro High gives students experience with Chinese language and culture, taught by teachers recruited from China. In fact, Hillsboro has two brand new Chinese teachers this year, including one shared with JT Moore Middle School! These three East-West scholars met with representatives of the Confucius Institute Friday afternoon to talk about their experiences in China. Adam and Noah recently transferred to Hillsboro from a local private school because they were seeking a "better education" in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Morgan is in the Academy of International Business. All three of them have said they want to go back to China and spend more time learning Chinese.
The Hillwood High School faculty and Academy business partners celebrated as one big happy familiy this week, recognizing the schools’ successful Academies and the national honors they've won. Hillwood High was recognized as a "Triple Crown" school for having three Academies awarded ‘model’ program status, the highest level, by the National Career Academy Council. Academy coach Emily Hughes received a stating ovation for her hard work and dedication to help mold and shape each academy. The Academy of Art, Design and Communications, the Academy of Business and Hospitality and the Academy of Health Sciences were all recognized as model programs. Each model academy will received a $1000 check, listing on the national website, and a banner to display in the school. Congratulations, Hillwood!
Twenty Metro Nashville Public Schools have received USDA’s Healthier US Schools Challenge Awards (HUSSC). The Healthier US School Challenge (HUSSC) is a voluntary certification initiative established in 2004 to recognize those schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have created healthier school environments through promotion of nutrition and physical activity. “This is a great recognition of all the work we have been doing in the schools and with the community to offer students appealing, healthy meals,” said Fred Carr, Metro Schools’ Chief Operating Officer, who oversees the district’s Nutrition Services Department. The schools and awards are:
Join Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Simon Youth Foundation and Opry Mills at a reception for the Simon Youth Academy at Opry Mills. The Academy is a non-traditional high school that serves at-risk students, and its return after the floods in 2010 will once again provide hope to students in need.
What a day! The first day of school in 2012-13 was a whirlwind for parents, educators, and everyone in or near a Metro school. We had new schools opening (Cane Ridge Elementary, The Cohn School, The Academy at Opry Mills), others in new locations, and thousands of students coming to our schools for the first time. At the end of the day (or half-day, if you like), things moved pretty smoothly, with one teacher even describing it as "the smoothest, most positive I can recall." We went all over the city taking photos at several schools. Parents also sent in pictures of their children heading to school. They're all collected below in a Flickr slideshow.
Elsewhere online, parents, teachers, and the community were all a-buzz about the first day, sharing their experiences with us as the morning went on. We've collected them all together in a Storify story that includes several more pictures. Read the story here. Thanks to everyone who made Day One such a success. The start of school is always a big day, and thanks to our wonderful families and community for helping out!
School starts Wednesday, August 1, and several of our schools are helping families prepare by holding open houses, orientations, meet & greets, and other events. Below is a listing of some of these events in no particular order. If we're missing some, send us an email to let us know. We'll add it!
District meets seven of nine benchmarks; student achievement grows
Watch the live announcement of these results.
They're a piece of every child's imagination, and several of our Metro students learned to build and control them this summer at Robocamp 2012. But no need to fear: these robots are built for peace. Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School held RoboCamp July 9-13. Teachers from Bailey, Litton Middle School and Stratford STEM High School led rising 5th-7th graders through the process of building a robotic arm to use in a competition at the end of the week. The students also learned to solder on a circuit board for an electronic siren. A trip to the Nissan factory in Smyrna provided students the opportunity to see robots in action. The students stopped at Home Depot on the way back to school for an “Inventor’s Tour” of the Home Depot in East Nashville where they explored alternative uses for different materials in the store. The competition on Friday put the students’ robotic arms to the test as they competed as teams and individuals. Thanks to all the educators who made this free summer camp possible and to all the campers who had an amazing time building robots!
Court affirms school district’s position in Spurlock case
Several Metro students have been working on math class work during the summer, even winning awards! Thirteen Metro Schools participated in the Metro Nashville Summer Math-a-lon and earned Apangea Math Points for their school. Apangea Math provides one-student-to-one-teacher differentiated math instruction through a unique integration of proprietary tutoring technology and live, online certified teachers. As a web-based solution, Apangea Math can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection – ensuring students can learn math anytime, anywhere. Here are the Metro Summer Math-a-lon schools and scores:
Julia Green Elementary school parents, neighbors and faculty filled the school’s auditorium Thursday, July 26 for a community discussion about the school’s future. Leaders from Metro Schools, Metro Codes, Metro Planning, and Metro Public Works answered questions for nearly three hours. Metro Council Members convened the meeting, which was prompted by a planned purchase of two parcels of land adjacent to Julia Green. The proposed purchase contract requires Metro Council approval. School buses, traffic flow, student enrollment, land use, portable classrooms, classroom additions, the school zone and school size were among the issues discussed. The district shared drawings that showed how the additional land could be used with or without additional classrooms. There is no funding for additional classrooms.
VIEW Drawings of Possible Uses for Additional Land
The Middle Tennessee Reading Association is the local council affiliate of the Tennessee Reading Association. Several Metro School teachers hold positions with the association.
MNPS: The First Choice for Legendary Athletes, Coaches and Fans
Tougher high school courses better prepare students for college so Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools is changing its high school GPA calculations to encourage and reward students who choose academic rigor.
Nueva escala de calificaciones 5.0 para las escuelas preparatorias (high schools) promueve el rigor académico
From 1933 until 1986, Nashville area high schools went head-to-head in major sports as part of the Nashville Interscholastic Sports League. To remember those glory days, alumni of Nashville high school sports will gather for a reunion this Wednesday. Come take part - bring sports memorabilia from your school, reconnect with old team mates, and relive the past glories of Nashville scholastic sports. Sports radio superstar George Plaster will even broadcast his show live from the reunion!
Wednesday, July 25 2:00 p.m. until "as long as folks keep coming" Freeland Work Truck Superstore 504 Collins Park Drive in the Antioch/Hickory Hollow area
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools has named Barbara Frazier and Kellee Akers to elementary school principal positions effective immediately. Frazier, who recently served as principal of Hermitage Elementary, has been appointed principal of Gower Elementary School. No stranger to the district, Frazier began working for the district in 1986 as a teacher at Tom Joy Elementary, where she taught for 16 years. Frazier also served as an athletic coach for Pearl-Cohn, Maplewood and Hunters Lane High Schools and Meigs Middle School. In 2002, Frazier returned to Tom Joy Elementary as assistant principal for one year before moving to principal of Hermitage Elementary where she completed seven years as principal. Frazier is an alumna of Metro Schools, graduating from Pearl-Cohn High School. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Tennessee State University and a master’s in educational leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. She will replace former principal Steven Cagle, who retired this summer. Akers has been appointed principal of Hermitage Elementary School. Akers most recently served as assistant principal at Granbery Elementary School. Before serving at Granbery, Akers was a teacher at Una and Glenview Elementary Schools. As a Glenview teacher, she provided statewide professional development for the Tennessee Department of Education and district-wide professional development in the use of DIBELS and Tennessee Standards. At Glenview, she was named Teacher of the Year. While assistant principal at Granbery, Akers traveled to China as a delegate for the Educational Leadership Learning Exchange with Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College of Education. Akers received her bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University and master’s degree from Cumberland University. She also participated in the Principal Leadership Academy of Nashville at Vanderbilt University. Akers will be replacing Barbara Frazier.
See a complete list of new leadership for Metro Schools in 2012-13.
Seven Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Academies of Nashville programs have received national accreditation, including five that earned the highest designation as “model” academies by the National Career Academy Coalition. Hillwood High School, with a “Triple Crown “ of three model Academies, is Nashville’s first high school to receive the model designation for all academies in the school. “When we launched the Academies of Nashville, we had high expectations for the program and for the effect on students’ academic performance,” said Jesse Register, director of schools. “We have seen an improvement in graduation rate, student engagement and school climate and now national experts in preparing students for college and career have named several academies as models for the nation.” The National Career Academy Coalition will honor the five “model” academies at the National Career Academy Conference to be held in Nashville November 8-10, 2012. Each model academy will receive a $1000 check, listing on the national website, and a banner to display in the school. The model academies to be honored are:
The Maplewood Showstoppers performed at the grand opening of a Fifth Third Bank last Saturday, July 14. The Maplewood Showstoppers' "Black Cat Band" performed outside the new Madison bank branch, and were even joined by a famous sabre-toothed mascot - Gnash from the Nashville Predators!
The PENCIL Foundation is gearing up for the August 1 start of school! LP PENCIL Box will open for teacher shopping starting July 31st, and everyone is busy collecting supplies to make sure every Metro teacher can stock their classrooms for FREE this school year! Want to help out? There are several ways to it. Hold a supply drive at your business. Donate gently used office supplies. Or you can even donate at several supply drives taking place this month! Here are some BIG supply drives taking place now:
Nine Metro Schools educators, including teachers and coordinators, took a ride with Sally Ride Science Academy sponsored by ExxonMobil. Through this program, each teacher will learn new and innovative strategies to help raise student interest in science subjects and careers. Congratulations to the following teachers selected for the Academy:
Four of the district's IB experts traveled to the International Baccalaureate (IB) World Conference not just to learn, but to teach others. Dr. Terry Shrader, principal at Hillsboro High School; Emily Munn, IB Coach; Stephanie Knight, IB Coordinator at Hillsboro; and Dr. Sharon Chaney, the MNPS Director of Advanced Academics, gave a presentation detailing how the district was able to seamlessly integrate the International Baccalaureate program with the Academies of Nashville model that has transformed our high schools in the district. Hillsboro has the Academy of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which has a 100% graduation rate and 97% post-secondary enrollment rate. We are so proud to have these four represent the district and this program at an international conference!
Students at Middle College High School are already earning college credits and attending school on a college campus. This year they'll be getting even more of the full college experience, starting school on August 13 and following the Nashville State Community College Academic Calendar. "In addition to extending summer break," Principal Roderick Manuel says, "following the Nashville State Community College calendar will allow our students to have a more complete college experience and will give our students real breaks during the academic year." Middle College students had huge college successes last year, with many earning associate degrees and general education certificates. Read the full letter from Principal Manuel:
Long-time educator Dr. Betsy Ruhl Potts has been tapped as principal of Old Center Elementary School in Goodlettsville. Potts will succeed former principal Rob Hancock who has accepted a position in the district’s Human Resources department. Potts, who most recently served as assistant principal at Amqui Elementary, has worked in education for more than 20 years. She began her career teaching first grade at Goodpasture Elementary and later became principal of the school. She joined Metro Schools in 2006 and taught first and third grades at Goodlettsville Elementary School. There, she was selected Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the district’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She has also served as assistant principal representative to the Metropolitan Nashville Principal Association board and participated in the Education Leadership Learning Exchange between Vanderbilt’s Peabody College and South China Normal University in Guangzhou, China and in the Principal Leadership Academy of Nashville. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from David Lipscomb University, a master’s degree in administration and supervision from Trevecca Nazarene University and a doctorate, also in administration and supervision, from Tennessee State University.
Glencliff High School has named two new basketball coaches. John Filson has been named the new head girls basketball coach and Doug Kiel has been named the new head boys basketball coach. Filson worked as a teacher and assistant basketball coach at Glencliff High before assuming his new position. Before coming to Metro Schools, Filson worked at LaVergne Middle School, Hunters Lane and Holloway High Schools. He also serves in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Filson is a graduate of Belmont University. Kiel recently served as a mathematics teacher and boys assistant basketball coach at Mt. Juliet High School. He also worked for Lebanon and Warren County High Schools, where he was a teacher and head boys’ basketball coach. His coaching expertise has led 97% student-athletes to college, and he attended five region and three region semi-finals games. Kiel has a bachelor’s from Western Kentucky University and master’s from Tennessee Technological University.
There's a big change happening this summer in the district's Technology Services, and it's getting some national press. The Metro Schools Technology & Information Services (TIS) team is moving to provide email accounts to all employees and students using Microsoft's Office 365 platform. This means transitioning away from the Metro government email system that was used in the past, a move that will reduce the district’s cost for email services while also addressing storage, security and information sharing needs. Employees will keep their current email addresses and existing emails will transfer to the new platform. Office 365 for education is a new platform just made available this summer. Metro Schools is one of the first institutions to take it on, which garnered us a mention in a blog post last month. From GettingSmart.com:
Read the full article on GettingSmart.com
High honors came for two of the district's principals this summer. Dr. Nancy Meador, principal of Madison Middle School, was elected President of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Not long after, Ruby Major Elementary principal Teresa Dennis was chosen to serve on the NAESP Board of Directors! These are high national honors for Ms. Dennis and Dr. Meador, so a big, hearty congratulations to them both! They will serve NAESP and represent our district well.
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools taps Glencliff High School assistant principals Dr. Adrienne Battle-Koger and Sonia Stewart as the district’s two new high school principals. Dr. Battle-Koger has accepted the position as principal at Antioch High School. Formerly academic principal at Glencliff High School, she also served as the high school’s Academy of Medical Science and Research principal, where she led the charge toward achieving national certification for the academy. Dr. Battle-Koger also facilitated and implemented instructional programs that increased school-wide Reading/English for each grade level. Prior to coming to Glencliff High, she served as principal and assistant principal at East Academy and taught at Dalewood Middle School. Dr. Battle-Koger is an alumna of Metro Schools, graduating from John Overton High School. She has a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University, and master’s and doctorate degree, from Tennessee State University. She will replace former principal Brian Mast, who resigned to take a job in higher education. Stewart has been appointed principal of Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School. Stewart recently served as Glencliff High School’s Freshmen Academy principal with responsibility for providing instructional leadership, supporting Small Learning Community team meetings, and managing effective student intervention plans. As academy principal, Stewart increased ninth grade promotion, developed student leadership teams, improved parental involvement through academy showcases and student recognition. Prior to coming to Glencliff High, she was a teacher for Antioch High School, Brentwood Academy High School and Washington Prep High School in Los Angeles, Ca. Stewart received her bachelor’s degree from Biola University and master’s degree from Trevecca Nazarene University. Stewart will be replacing Dr. Milton Threadcraft, who retired this summer. See a list of all principal changes for 2012-13.
See a list of all principal changes for 2012-13.
When I arrived at the newly renovated Isaac Litton Middle School, principal Tracy Bruno was fleeing the spray of a lawn sprinkler deployed to help the parched and newly planted landscaping. The grass may not have been prepared for the drought, but the school is prepared for more students and a higher profile in its East Nashville neighborhood. “We are the epitome of a neighborhood school, right here in the middle of all these houses,” Bruno told me. And it’s true. Litton sits nestled between small, residential streets like Winding Way and Littonwood Drive right off Gallatin Pike. The renovations that have taken place over the last year and a half have transformed the school into a building that looks practically new – and that’s because a lot of it is. The main office has been expanded. The library has a massive bank of new windows opening to the front lawn. The cafeteria is brand new and full of natural light. And the gym – once completely disconnected from the main building – has now been built out with new entrances, a new concession stand, and a host of new classrooms underneath it for fifth grade and related arts classes.
Click "Read more" for photos and the full story of Litton's neighborhood transformation.
A Metro Schools alumna educator is spending her summer in the deep end of a huge pool of knowledge in our nation's capital, all to help other teachers in the classroom. Deloris Burke, formerly principal of McMurray Middle School, is honored to participate in the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Summer Teacher Institute. Burke was selected from more than 300 candidates to participate in this week-long program in Washington, D.C. During the program, Burke is working with Library education specialists and subject-matter experts to learn effective practices for using primary sources in the classroom, while exploring some of the millions of digitized historical artifacts and documents available on the Library’s website. This session will also include instruction on using primary sources from the World Digital Library website, established by the Library of Congress, endorsed by UNESCO and launched online. in 2009. The site contains cultural materials from all 193 countries in UNESCO with expert commentary in seven languages. The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled integrated resources to Congress and the American people. The Library serves the public, scholars, Members of Congress and their staffs—all of whom seek information, understanding and inspiration. Many of the Library’s resources and treasures may also be accessed through the Library’s website.
Dr. Antoinette Williams, principal of Gra-Mar Middle School, has been named Tennessee Association of Middle Schools Middle Tennessee Administrator of the Year. Dr. Williams was awarded this honor during the Tennessee Association Middle School Conference this summer. She was given the honor for her accomplishments in providing Sustainable and Relevant Teacher Professional Development, Success in Transforming Low Achieving Schools, and Improving Student Achievement. Congratulations, Dr. Williams!
Chadwell Elementary School hosted its first Academic Vocabulary Bee for the second, third and fourth grade students. Students prepared by studying the State Academic Vocabulary word list for Reading and Math. Chadwell teachers and literacy coaches planned rigorous activities to help students learn definitions and the origins of words. The Bee included a written test followed by two rounds of oral testing. Congratulations to the winners and participators. All winners received an Apple iPod!
WHEN: Saturday, July 21 2:15 – 5:00 p.m. WHERE: Whites Creek High School
We say it often: it is very important for schools to have your correct address and phone number. How important? This important: When report cards were mailed home after school ended a few weeks back, nearly all of them arrived on time and at the right house. But more than 2,700 were sent back because of incorrect addresses.
Want to help great students earn their high school diplomas? A school that gives students their second chance to graduate is getting a second chance itself. The Academy at Opry Mills had to move across town after the historic flood of 2010. But it is being reborn with a lot of hard work and help from Metro Schools and our partners at the Simon Youth Foundation. Now you can pitch in, too. Simon Youth has set up a “gift registry” of sorts where you can make donations that will go directly to finishing The Academy’s space inside Opry Mills Mall. Have $50 to contribute? You just “bought” a lamp or other classroom support item for students to use. $100? That’s good for a set of group seating. Big spenders can sponsor high-tech items like interactive white boards, teacher workstations or even an entire media center that students will use directly.
Furnish the Future of The Academy at Opry Mills
“Furnish the Future” Public Giving Campaign Launches in Support of Simon Youth Academy at Opry Mills
It's important for students to have a physical before coming back to school. It can help prevent the health problems that may impact learning. That's why United Neighborhood Health Services is offering Back to School check-ups to get ready for that first day! Students will also be given all of the shots they need to come back to school. Incoming kindergarteners, pre-kindergarteners and 7th graders are required to have updated immunizations certificates and will not be allowed to attend without them. UNHC is offering immunizations and physicals at its three clinics now through the first day. TennCare and private insurance plans are accepted. Uninsured patients are also welcome, with fees based on a sliding scale. Call ahead to make appointments for physicals.
United Neighborhood Health Services Clinics 615-620-UNHS (8647) www.unitedneighborhood.org Dickerson Road Clinic, 1223 Dickerson Road, Nashville 37207 Main Street Clinic, 905 Main Street, Nashville 37206 Southside Family Clinic, 1101 Charles Davis Boulevard, Nashville 37210
Back-to-School Immunizations and Physicals Are Available at Three Clinics of United Neighborhood Health Services Free immunizations offered to students; shots are required for 7th graders and kindergarten & pre-K students by start of school on August 1
The first day of school, Aug. 1, is fast approaching and Metro Schools’ Nutrition Services Department is hard at work preparing for next year. One of its tasks this summer is spreading the word about important changes in USDA rules that will affect all Metro Schools’ students who participate in the Meal Benefits (free/reduced lunch and breakfast) program. Starting this year, students who are on the Meal Benefits program must take certain items for the meal to qualify as a free or reduced meal. A lunch meal consist of one meat/meat alternate, one serving of vegetables, one serving of fruit, one serving of grain and milk. A breakfast meal consists of one fruit, one grain and milk. If a student does not take all required items, the student will be charged at the à la carte rate for the meal. Café employees will encourage students to take all the required items; however, families should also make sure their children are aware of this change to prevent from incurring charges. School meals are a great value and a huge convenience for busy families! Children need healthy meals to learn. Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools offers healthy meals at every school every day. Breakfast costs $1.25 for elementary, middle and high schools and lunch costs $2.25 for elementary and $2.50 for middle and high schools. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals which cost $ .30 for breakfast and $ .40 for lunch. A lunch meal consist of 1 meat/meat alternate, 1 serving of vegetables, 1 serving of fruit, 1 serving of grain and milk. A breakfast meal consists of 1 fruit, 1 grain, and milk.
More information for the new year is available in our Back to School Guide.
Experienced educators to assume new posts at Shwab, McGavock and Bellshire
There will be new principals at Shwab Elementary, Julia Green Elementary and Bellshire Elementary schools when the 2012 -13 school year starts Wednesday, Aug. 1. Dr. Natalyn Gibbs has accepted the position as principal for Shwab Elementary. Currently the assistant principal of Cole Elementary, Dr. Gibbs has also served as assistant principal of Hull-Jackson Montessori Magnet Elementary. She has background experience in teaching third, fourth and fifth graders at the elementary school level. Dr. Gibbs is a graduate of Tennessee State University, where she received her master’s degree in administration and supervision and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction. She replaces Catherine Prentis, who is retiring. Lance Forman has been appointed as principal of McGavock Elementary. Forman most recently served as assistant principal at Julia Green Elementary. Prior to coming to Julia Green, he was a fourth grade teacher at Andrew Jackson Elementary and worked the summer of 2008 as a STEM coach. Foreman is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in interpersonal communications and human resources and his master’s degree in educational leadership. Dr. Chris Marczak, formerly at McGavock Elementary, will take over as principal at Bellshire Elementary. Dr. Marczak has led McGavock Elementary as principal for three years and, prior to that post, served as assistant principal for both Una and Charlotte Park Elementary schools. Dr. Marczak is a graduate of Austin Peay State University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and elementary education. He later received his master’s degree in educational leadership and doctorate in professional practice/leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University. In addition to being a principal, Dr. Marczak teaches in both the master’s and doctoral programs at Trevecca and David Lipscomb universities. He replaces Donna Wilburn, who has been named principal of the new Cane Ridge Elementary, opening this year.
Working together, parents can do anything! That's why we're bringing parents and experts together for another big Parent University Conference. We're offering free workshops and seminars meant to help all of our parents raise self-confident, disciplined, and motivated children. Parents will learn tips for helping their children learn in modern classrooms. There will also be plenty of information on healthy lifestyles and families. It's happening Saturday, July 21, at McGavock High School. It's free and open to everyone, but you do have to register. So don't delay. Sign up today!
MNPS: The First Choice for the Finest Student-Athletes
Metro Schools brought home three honors at the Parthenon Education Awards this month.
The Avery Give Back to Schools™ campaign has launched, marking the third year the office supply company has given back to schools, students, educators and communities throughout the United States. Schools are selected to win through an online voting process. May 7th – September 14th 2012, communities, students, families and school supporters (ages 18 and older) can vote for their local K-8 school at http://www.avery.com/giveback. Avery is expanding the 2012 campaign to award 40 schools with much-needed educational resources and offering cash benefits through Avery’s partnership in Box Tops for Education®. This year, Avery will award the top 35 schools with the most online votes in a tier-based structure:
Latino high school juniors across America can apply to the Youth Awards program presented for the 15th year by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF). The 2012 Youth Awards applications are available at www.hispanicheritage.org and must be postmarked no later than Friday, July 6, 2012. William Levy, who is the official spokesperson for the 2012 Youth Awards, will be part of a national public awareness campaign in both English and Spanish.
Much more information available on the Hispanic Heritage website.
Students in the Teaching as a Profession course offered through the Academy of Teaching and Service at Antioch High School gained valuable “real world” teaching experiences during the 2011-2012 school year. In partnership with The Hermitage, these students created lesson plans related to Andrew Jackson and the Jacksonian era. The students taught various lessons to Mr. Ben Oldham’s fourth grade class at Lakeview Elementary Design Center over the course of several weeks. As a culminating event to celebrate their hard work and achievement, the fourth graders were able to use what they had learn and perform as junior docents at The Hermitage on May 14, 2012. Teaching as a Profession is a dual credit course (meaning it can be taken for college credit) designed to capture the interest of secondary students as potential teachers, introduce students to teaching as a profession, and foster respect for the teaching profession. Students gain knowledge and skills that will enable them to establish a foundation for a successful pathway to a teaching career. The course at Antioch High School is taught by Patricia A. Deas and is also offered at Whites Creek High School.
The Cole Elementary 4th Grade Chorus received Superior ratings and the Highest overall score in the Elementary Division at the 3rd Annual Beech Bend Band and Choral Festival held in Bowling Green, KY. The 25 member chorus, chaperones, and director Bill Laarz enjoyed many hours playing in the park together, traveling and finally bringing home 2 trophies to celebrate with the entire school. Principal Chad High and Vice Principal Dr. Natalyn Gibbs were both excited with how well the Chorus represented the school, the community and MNPS.
Public-private partnership will make the Metro Schools program the nation’s best
On May 21, 2012 when Metro Nashville Fire Department decided to evacuate the Parthenon Towers located at 301 28th Avenue North Nashville, Tennessee 37203, the Metro Schools Transportation Department was called upon to assist. The following Transportation employees went to the aid of the residents.
Metro Schools will mail elementary students’ report cards to their home address this year. To ensure everyone receives a report card, it is very important for families who may have moved to check with their child’s school to make sure their home address is listed correctly. The report cards are not available at schools today due to an unexpected problem with grade calculations by the grading software. Metro Schools’ Information Technology staff worked through the night with the Gradespeed software vendor to identify and resolve the problem. Those efforts will continue today. Online grades available to parents do not appear to be affected. While the district has used Gradespeed effectively for a number of years to generate report cards for middle and high school, this is the first time to use the product to generate elementary report cards. The middle and high school report cards are not affected and will be mailed as usual.
Expect a few phone calls from us this summer. When you answer there will be the familiar recorded greeting “Good evening, Metro Schools families.” What comes after may determine whether or not your child can attend school next year. When school starts Wed., August 1, 2012, any student entering the seventh grade must have an updated Tennessee Immunization Certificate showing a recent tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) booster and verification of immunity to varicella (chicken pox). Without it, students will not be allowed to attend school. That’s why we’re urging everyone to take care of these requirements now, not later. Have your child vaccinated and give the updated certificate to your school before summer break starts. It’s easier for everyone and takes another item off your summer to-do list. The Metro Public Health Department offers immunizations required for school each Monday through Friday at its three Health Centers. Health officials emphasize that children with insurance coverage should visit their own healthcare provider for these shots, along with an added benefit of getting an annual well child physical exam. Tell your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and church groups. Send it to your neighborhood list-serv. Announce it at your next PTA meeting. It’s important information for the entire community. Go to your family doctor or one of the three Public Health Centers to make arrangements for your child to receive these immunizations. Then when the phone rings with our friendly reminder, you can go on with your evening. For full information about required immunizations and where you can get them, call your child’s healthcare provider or visit the Metro Public Health Department website: http://health.nashville.gov/Immunizations.htm
The first day of school is always special, but for Cane Ridge Elementary School students, August 1, 2012, will be particularly memorable. It is not only the first day of class for Metro Nashville Public Schools, but also the first day of operations for Cane Ridge Elementary. Veteran educator Donna Wilburn, who will be the school’s first principal, will start work even before then to prepare for the school’s 700 students. “Students never forget their elementary school teachers and principals because they provide the foundation for children’s academic achievement and personal development,” said Brenda Steele, associate superintendent for elementary schools. “I know Mrs. Wilburn will be a great principal for Cane Ridge Elementary and will give Cane Ridge students a solid foundation for middle school success.” Wilburn currently serves as principal of Bellshire Elementary Design Center. She began her career in the Hardeman County School District and also served as a teacher in Memphis City Schools. Prior to becoming principal at Bellshire, she taught third grade at Amqui Elementary School and served as a first grade teacher, reading specialist and assistant principal at J.E. Moss Elementary. She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Tennessee at Martin, a master’s degree in administration and supervision from the University of Memphis, and an educational specialist degree from Tennessee State University. Cane Ridge Elementary School, located at 3884 Asheford Trace 37013, is included in the district’s proposed 2012-13 operating budget at an incremental cost of more than $1.1 million. Teachers and students will move from other schools to Cane Ridge Elementary’s 45 classrooms in 90,000 square feet. The budget request must be approved by Metro Council. In addition, the proposed capital spending plan includes funds to acquire land for another elementary and middle school in the area because of enrollment growth. Projected enrollment in the Cane Ridge and Antioch clusters for the 2012-13 school year is about 2900 students more than five years earlier; an additional 1900 students are expected by 2016.
Education reformers have made teacher quality a top concern in Tennessee and elsewhere – and rightly so. But without the support of a great principal, working quietly behind the scenes to create the conditions for success, even the best teachers will inevitably be limited in what they can accomplish in the classroom. The Education Consumers Foundation is, therefore, proud to recognize the achievements of 18 principals from across the state through its annual Value-Added Achievement Awards. “These 18 principals show what a dedicated principal and teaching force can achieve in Tennessee schools,” noted ECF President Dr. J. E. Stone. “If every school performed at the level of our 18 winners, Tennessee would lead the nation in educational improvement.” According to Commissioner of Education Kevin Huffman, “I am pleased to join with the Education Consumers Foundation in recognizing some of our most effective principals and schools,” Huffman said. “Value-added achievement is a central focus as we work to boost student achievement across the state, and these education leaders are shining examples of what’s possible in Tennessee.”
Three Hume-Fogg students are organizing a great benefit concert with all proceeds being donated to UNICEF. There will be a wide range of performers including bands such as Peter and the Tinseys, Joey and the Indian Wonders, and HFA's Silver Jazz sax quartet; dancing, from traditional Indian dance to hip-hop dance; and covers like Celine Dion's Aun Existe Amor, Beatles songs, and Edward Sharpe's Home by extremely talented singers! Come support these great artists and also donate to a great cause.
Friday, May 25th Baha'i Center 1556 Bell Rd, Nashville, TN 37211 Dinner starts at 6:30 pm. Performance starts at 7:30. Tickets are $3; dinner not included.
Music education is getting a big bookst at Lakeview & Oliver thanks to an influx of cash from the Nashville Singers. These schools have been awarded the Music Makes a Difference Education Grant. It will fund a new chorus program at Oliver and help fund music classes at Lakeview. From Oliver's Choral Music Teacher Franklin Willis:
The Oliver Middle School community advocates in the importance of music education in students' lives. Receiving this award not only serves as monetary gain to fund the new chorus program, but motivation to meet the challenge of engaging students in finding their own voice through music. It is truly an honor to be a recipient of the Nashville Singer's Music Makes a Difference Grant. I look forward to future collaborations with the Nashville Singers and the Oliver Middle School Chorus.
Maplewood High School Unit TN-933 was one of 80 units to receive the 2011-2012 Air Force Junior ROTC Distinguished Unit Award with Merit. This award recognizes Air Force Junior ROTC units that have performed above normal expectations and have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force Junior ROTC mission of producing better citizens for America. Cadets completed more than 500 hours of community service including “The Get Motivated” Seminar, Veteran’s Wreath Laying Ceremony, Veterans’ Day Parade, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Congressman Cooper’s Academy Day, GNASBE, United Way’s McGruder Playground Groundbreaking Ceremony, the Mayor’s Field Day, and most recently, the Department of Defense Small Business Conference. The objectives of the Junior ROTC program are to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship and life skills, promote community service, instill responsibility, character, and self-discipline through character education.
After more than 15 weeks of rehearsals and performances at their own schools, Metro students took the stage at TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall to showcase their adaptations of three classic Disney musicals. Before an audience of parents, teachers, administrators, and folks from the community, students performed excerpts from The Jungle Book, Aladdin, and 101 Dalmations.
There are a lot of reasons why students may not follow the traditional path to graduation. For Dylan Wright those reasons are deeply personal and tragic. When Dylan was a sophomore in high school, his brother was murdered. The two of them were extremely close, even starting a lawn care business together. After his brother’s death, Dylan had trouble at his Williamson County high school. He couldn’t focus and would suffer from emotional breakdowns in the middle of the day. Sometimes he would just skip school entirely, putting him far behind in his classes. After three months out of school, Dylan decided to give it another try – but not in the usual fashion. Dylan enrolled at The Academy at Hickory Hollow, which he heard about from a friend. At The Academy he was given the individual attention he needed to keep focused in class. He says he was treated like an adult, not “a little kid.” It was actually a lot like a college environment, where the faculty never gave up on him and pushed him to success. Now Dylan is graduating, applying to college, and is even a featured speaker at The Academy’s graduation this morning. Congratulations, Dylan. We’re so happy you found your place and your path to success at The Academy.
Big congratulations and a round of applause are in order for MNPS Middle College High School seniors who will not only graduate from high school this evening, but have also earned Associate Degrees or General Education Core Certificates (earned 41 or more college credit hours) from Nashville State Community College. Each of these students participated in the Nashville State Community College graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.
You may have heard a lot about Common Core Standards recently. They represent a huge shift in how subjects are taught across all grades. Here in Metro Schools we started implementing Common Core in middle schools some time ago, and now some of those first educators to use the curriculum will help train others in our district. The Houghton Mifflin Lead and Learn Organization, led by nationally recognized Doug Reeves, has approved 25 MNPS educators as certified trainers for middle school Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
SEE a list of the certified trainers in Metro Schools.
Lt Col Martha Shaffer has been selected as the 2012 Outstanding Instructor Award with Merit (OIAM) winner for AFJROTC! Those selected represent the top 10% of all officer and NCO instructors. She was selected for her exemplary dedication to the corps, Maplewood High School, and the community, as well as her exemplification of the Core Values (Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence) each and every day. She was also selected for her continuing dedication to developing "Better Citizens for America", exceptional classroom management, outstanding instruction, and leadership to over 100 students, completing over 500 community hours for the 2011-2012 academic term. This dedication to the corps earned her unit the Distinguished Unit Award with Merit for the 2011-2012 school year.
Cole and Kirkpatrick Elementary Schools participated in the first-ever debate championship May 10, at the Estes Kefauver Building in downtown. The debates were held in federal courtrooms, with five teams from each school debating. Each school’s debate team consisted of 4th grade students with one 3rd grader. The topic of the debate was “Parents should not be held legally responsible for their children’s poor choices.” Kirkpatrick argued the affirmative and Cole the negative. Kirkpatrick Elementary took home first and second place and Cole placed third. This was only the second debate between these two schools. This was the first year for each team of elementary students, coaches and principals. Congratulations to both teams!
Chris Cotter decided early in life he wouldn’t be another statistic. He would not be “average” or accepting of the bare minimum. He would expect a lot out of himself – only the best – even if he didn’t expect much help from others. He moved around a lot, often changing schools in the middle of the year. Until high school, he had never stayed at one school for longer than one year, giving him precious little growing time in his classes and with friends. After suddenly losing their rented home to an unexpected sale, Chris’ family found themselves without many options. Through all of this misfortune and despite hard times, his mother stayed strong and provided for her sons. Chris was able to stay with another family, but it would not be the only time he found himself without a home. He realized then he couldn’t depend on others to help him succeed. He’d have to do it himself. One day while searching on the Internet, Chris found an article claiming young men in his situation would never lead successful lives, never rise above the statistics for “average black men.” He would not accept that. Through hard work, Chris earned a 3.5 grade point average and is graduating with honors this weekend from Hunters Lane High School. He never accepted Bs and only worked toward As – even in honors and AP classes. He has been accepted to Berea College in Kentucky, where he’ll study to become a math teacher. The school has offered him full scholarships for all four years, totaling $100,000. The young man who always has a smile, but hasn’t always had good fortune, has found his path in life. And he will soon be making a difference in the lives of young students very much like himself. Congratulations, Chris. We couldn’t be more proud of you.
We have just learned End of Course (EOC) exam scores will not be available as soon as expected. This makes it impossible for us to calculate final grades and to award diplomas to any student who took an EOC this spring. Students who completed their EOC exams before this spring will not be affected by this delay. We have all been looking forward to the excitement of graduation and we will do everything we can to allow students and families to enjoy the celebration, despite this delay.
CLICK HERE for a full graduation schedule.
Dan Mills Kindergartener Julia S. and her parents recently set up a lemonade and cookie stand at their home to raise money for the Dan Mills library book fund. The Schencks raised $650! Julia presented a check to the Dan Mills librarian Starra Withers during the morning announcements on Wednesday, May 9.
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Antioch Middle School 5050 Blue Hole Road Thursday, May 17th 6:00 p.m.
Made weekend plans yet? Don't bother! We know what you'll be doing. Grammy nominated mariachi star José Hernàndez is giving a FREE performance at Glencliff High School this Friday night! He'll be joined by the Veterans Juvenil de America Mariachi Band from Rio Grande City, Texas. It's all a fundraiser for the Music Makes Us Mariachi program kicking off next year. This new program will bring middle and high school students into the world of mariachi, practicing and performing in school ensembles. Donations will be accepted at this free concert event. This is a wonderful opportunity to not only enjoy a free concert, but to support a budding music program that could change the lives of young students. Don't miss it!!
In just a few days, the sounds of Pomp and Circumstance will be heard throughout Davidson County as more than 4,000 Metro seniors receive their high school diplomas. Thousands more families, friends, neighbors, and guests of Metro Schools will join in the celebration of that accomplishment at graduation ceremonies. We want everyone to enjoy graduation, which is why we’ve developed a Graduation Etiquette Pledge (GEP) made up of four easy steps to an honorable, dignified, and civil ceremony. Guests of graduation pledge to:
CLICK HERE for a full schedule of all graduation ceremonies!
On May 11, 2012, McGavock High biology teacher Nae'Shara Neal is hosting the Second Annual Science Symposium. This is a competition between high school students and includes a variety of science projects from Overton, Hume Fogg, and McGavock High Schools. The students invited to the symposium are all part of a National Science Foundation Grant called GK12. These are original science research projects completed by Nashville high school students with the help of “real” scientist mentors. There will be no vinegar/baking soda volcanos. The mentors participating in this program practice in a number of different scientific fields. The students have used the scientific method to investigate their projects and have worked with their science mentors for the last 7 months. The Middle Tennessee area is one of only two such National Science Foundation programs currently in place in Tennessee schools. This symposium will showcase the hard work of the students, teachers, and their science mentors. Students will be at the competition from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at McGavock High School. Feel free to stop by at your convenience!
After a nationwide search for outstanding educators, Metro Nashville Public Schools Innovation Cluster has selected school principals, called iLeaders. Four are new to their schools and six are veterans; all are charged with leading dramatic improvement at Innovation Cluster schools.
Learn more about the Innovation Cluster on its website.
“iLeaders are an elite group of educators committed to transforming Innovation Cluster schools into exceptional schools,” said Alan Coverstone, director of Innovation Schools. “These iLeaders will analyze data and implement strategies to improve student achievement at each school. We want rapid results and will work with teachers, students, parents and the community to achieve them.”
McVicker is a product of Metro Schools as a member of the first graduating class of Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School. She began her teaching career at Norman Binkley Elementary and then moved to Bordeaux Elementary where she taught sixth grade until becoming the outreach manager for Nashville Public Television. In 2004, she joined Rutherford County Schools as school technology specialist. In 2007, she became an assistant principal in Murfreesboro City Schools, splitting her time between Hobgood Elementary: A NASA Explorer School and The Discovery School. During her tenure, both schools have been recognized for student achievement. Hobgood is 13th in the state and second in Middle Tennessee for improving student achievement in Education Consumers Foundation rankings. McVicker earned an associate’s degree from Columbia State Community College and a bachelor’s degree from David Lipscomb University, both in elementary education. She holds a master’s degree in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University and the Ed. S. from Tennessee Technological University. Rohrer has five years’ experience in school leadership in New York, the British West Indies, and Washington, D.C. He joined DC Prep in 2010 as an instructional coach and became executive principal of the school’s Benning Elementary Campus in 2011. Previously, he was regional director of Potomac Lighthouse Public Charter School, also in Washington. In the British West Indies, he was the principal of the Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute. He began his career as a Teach For America Corps member in New York where he was a semi-finalist for the New York Sue Lehmann Award for teaching effectiveness. He has four years of elementary teaching experience. Rohrer holds a bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College, a master’s degree in elementary education from Pace University, and has completed the Principal Leadership Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also earned the M.Ed. He is the first African-American to win the overall title at the United State Alpine Skiing Junior Olympic Championship and was on the U.S. Olympic Development Ski Team. Sawyer returns to Metro Schools from Louisiana where he worked to integrate 21st century learning technology into classrooms. He taught at Hillsboro High School and served as "Teacher in Residence" at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education, where he taught in the Teaching and Learning in Urban Schools program. He has been an instructor of Geopolitics at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, and an Atlantik-Bruecke Fellow studying German-American relations with the Tennessee Department of Education. He was named 2006 National Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year by the National Council for the Social Studies and the 2006 Tennessee Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year. In 2008, he received both the Tennessee Distinguished Educator honor and Nashville’s "Educator Award" from the Mayor's Commission on People with Disabilities. He has written and edited curriculum, including books on Human Geography. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the honors program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development.
Learn more about the Office of Innovation.
Three students from the Academy at Hickory Hollow have racked up big scholarship dollars from the Simon Youth Foundation, to the tune of $28,000 each! Lance Dowling, Clinton Ekwuazi, and Simone Ross-Thompson were awarded the scholarships during the Opry Mills Mall grand re-opening celebration on Saturday, May 5. SYF established the Community Scholarship to meet the financial needs of students in communities that host Simon® shopping centers. The goal of the Foundation is to apply a holistic approach to the educational experiences of our youth. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, statement of goals and aspirations, and an outside appraisal. The Academy at Hickory Hollow relocated from Opry Mills after the May 2010 floods that submerged the Opryland area, but still receives great support from SYF. The Academy at Opry Mills, will re-open this fall. Lance Dowling is a May 2012 graduate, who will be attending Middle Tennessee State University to study sports medicine. Clinton Ekwuazi, also a May 2012 graduate, has been accepted to Middle Tennessee State University and waiting on a response from Austin Peay State University. Simone Ross-Thompson, a December 2011 graduate, has been accepted to Tennessee State University.
Adam Taylor, Biology teacher at Overton High School, has been busy chatting on twitter with other Metro teachers. Taylor has created the "#scistuchat" hashtag on Twitter, where he coordinates a technology conference in the summers to raise awareness for learning technologies. He also leads professional development in his school to help more teachers become comfortable with teaching with technology. Taylor was recently featured in The Scientific Muse for his work with Twitter in the classroom. Check out his interview here. Great job, Mr. Taylor!
Twenty‐six students from thirteen area middle schools have been selected for the School for Science and Math Class of 2016. Students were selected on the basis of test scores, grades, personal essays, teacher recommendations, and in‐person interviews. These students are the sixth class to begin the program. SSMV allows students to spend one full day per week studying with scientists and experts at Vanderbilt all through high school. Find out more on
See the full 2016 Class.
Front Row: Debra Jenson, Kimberly Osborne, Jennifer Norton, Keri Davis, Lauryn Crabtree Back Row: Lisa Baranoski, Darcie Finch, Ernestine Saville-Brock (math coordinator), David Williams The Tennessee Department of Education is putting the work of the Common Core transition into the hands of those who know best - a few of Metro's top teachers! As Tennessee gears up to implement the Common Core State Standards in grades 3-8 math next school year, more than 200 teachers from across the state will spend their summer as Core Coaches, helping colleagues in their districts navigate the transition to the rigorous standards. “This is an exciting moment for Tennessee as we take the important concepts of the Common Core State Standards directly to classroom teachers where they will have the biggest impact for children,” said Emily Barton, assistant commissioner for curriculum and instruction for the Tennessee Department of Education. More than 400 teachers applied to be Core Coaches, and the 205 chosen state-wide went through a rigorous application process. Kicking off the transition process to new standards and assessments, they will now spend the spring training to lead sessions this summer for more than 11,000 teachers across the state.
Our very good friends at the Simon Youth Foundation want to give Nashville students a chance at $5,000 for college just for telling their own stories of perseverance. Simon Youth is sponsoring the contest to mark the reopening of Opry Mills Mall after the historic flood of 2012 - and the upcoming relaunch of The Academy at Opry Mills. All you have to do to win is write an essay with the theme "Back in a Big Way: My Personal Story of Perseverance." It's open to all current Metro students who are juniors in high school. You must also be in good academic standing and have plans to enroll in college full-time. The deadline is June 1, 2012. Full details, including where to enter, are in the flyer below.
One and all were invited to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Hume-Fogg Academic High at its Centennial Block Party! There were games, food, performances galore, and two brand new flavors of Hume-Fogg ice cream developed by Jenny Piper of the Pied Piper Creamery. Music was provided by the winners of the 2012 Battle of the Bands, the HFA Jazz Combo, the HFA Gospel Choir, and the HFA Steppers. Headliners were The Co., which includes 2004 alumnus Troy Akers. There was also an historical exhibit of HFA memorabilia from the last 100 years displayed in the front hallway and recognition of Alumni outside at the stage.
Carmon Brown, Debbie Booker to lead new Metro Schools
This school year hasn’t closed out yet, but the first day of next school year will be here before you know it! So where will your child be going to school on August 1st? Enrollment confirmation letters are in the mail and headed to your house. They state very clearly which school your child will attend in 2012-13. Every student in Metro Schools will receive one. Here’s the important part: if the letter is correct, you do not need to do anything. If the letter is not correct, you must correct it and return it to the Customer Service Center by May 22. You may do this by mail or in person. I think that’s worth repeating. If your child’s enrollment letter is correct, do nothing and enjoy the school year! If your child’s enrollment letter is wrong, correct it and return it to the Customer Service Center by May 22. The corrected letter must be mailed or delivered in person. Faxes, phone calls, and emails will not be accepted. The Customer Service Center is located at 2601 Bransford Avenue, 37204. It is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Now that that business is out of the way, I’ll take a moment to wish everyone a happy and successful end of the year! And don't forget school starts August 1st!
It’s not a science fair. It’s a STEM Fair, the first of its kind in our city, and it’s changing the face of Nashville. Metro Nashville Public School students compete against one another individually and in teams using videos, presentations, and on-site demonstrations to see which of their projects has the best potential to improve the city. Don’t come expecting to find science fair stand-bys like plaster volcanoes and three-panel display boards. The Metro Schools STEM Competition is a district-wide high school event. Students have worked with Nashville’s top STEM professionals to share their ideas, investigations and recommendations to “Change the Face of Nashville.” At the competition, individuals and teams will use videos, presentations, and on-site demonstrations to showcase the project with the best potential to improve the city in any of five categories: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, STEM Career.
Stratford STEM Magnet High School will host this inaugural competition on May 16. More information about registering to compete and other contest details can be found here. The deadline to register is Tuesday, May 1, 2012.
When it comes to growth from year to year, Meigs is number one! The magnet middle school was recently named the top performer in all of Tennessee when looking at growth in testing scores over a three-year period. The Education Consumers Foundation has been analyzing TVAAS data in its 'Tennessee Project' to find out just how effective our schools are. As parent David Kern said, "This speaks volumes about the hard-working teachers at Meigs and even more about the strong leadership." Congratulations to the students, faculty, and families at Meigs!
Big congratulations are due to three Metro high schoolers who are so determined to go to college they just received a combine $60,000 in scholarships from Dell Computers! Brandon P. and Escarlet E., both of McGavock, and Dustin Binkley of Maplewood were all named 2012 Dell Scholars. The Dell Scholars program honors students who have a strong determination to succeed and great academic potential. That's exactly why Brandon, Escarlet, and Dustin participate in the AVID program at their schools. AVID stands for 'Advancement via Individual Determination' and is designed for students who have a determination to graduate and attend college. AVID students work on their own and with tutors to learn study skills, leadership skills, test taking skills, organization skills, career opportunities, and time management as well as many other strategies for success in high school, college, careers, and life. It took a lot of hard work to get where they are, and we say congratulations to all three of them. You are all stellar students! P.S. - If Dustin's name looks familiar, it's because he was also the winner of this year's Hume Award for athletic sportsmanship and academic achievement AND he played on Maplewood's near-championship football team. What a year this guy's had!
It's one of the top national awards a high school student can receive, and Metro students earned three of them! The National Merit Scholarship is given to students who have "the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies." Narrowed from a starting group of 1.5 million students (!) down to 15,000 finalists, just 2,500 Merit Scholars are chosen nationwide. Three of our graduating seniors will receive honors and $2,500 to be used at the university of their choice.
What an honor!
In his May 1 State of Metro Address, Mayor Karl Dean announced his proposal to fund $100 million in capital needs for Metro Schools. That would go a long, long way toward helping a number of our schools and communities with needs identified in our Capital Master Plan for 2012-13. If the Metro Council approves the proposed budget, major projects expected to be funded include:
Last year we spent $674 million educating more than 79,000 students. Every year that number goes up – and not necessarily because we want it to. Inflation hits individuals and organizations alike. We have to pay more for many of the same services we receive year to year. For 2012-13, the Board of Education has approved a budget increase of more than $48 million over the 2011-12 budget. So where would it all go? Let’s take a look. Monday we saw how people are the biggest expense in Metro Schools. Yesterday we looked at a plan that will pay teachers more and help recruit the best new teachers available. Today we give you a plan to replicate some of the success we've already had in graduating more students and preventing drop outs. And we need your help to make it happen.
We already mentioned the new Cane Ridge Elementary School. That’s an area that needs a new school and will get one no matter what. But we also need new schools for those students who may need a little extra help or a second chance. No one wants a student to drop out of school. We want every child who enters our schools to leave with a high school diploma. One way in which we’ve made huge strides toward making this happen is with our Academy schools. The Academy at Old Cockrill and the Academy at Hickory Hollow are terrific schools for students who need another option for earning their diploma. They opened three years ago and have since graduated 1,000 students. And they do it at a fraction of the cost of a traditional high school. It’s one reason for the significant rise in our high school graduation rates. They have been so successful, in fact, that we’d like to open another one. Opry Mills was the original home of the Academy at Hickory Hollow, but the school had to move after the May 2010 flood destroyed the mall. Now that the mall is back open, we’ve been invited to reopen the Academy at Opry Mills. We know a third Academy will turn out as many graduates as the other two. But it requires more teachers, an investment in technology, and supplies. And all of that costs money. WATCH a news report on Academy successes Another step in fighting the dropout rate is catching students early, before they get to high school. That’s the idea behind the new Nashville Bridge School proposed in this budget. Bridge would be a place for middle school students who are over aged and under credited, which are warning signs of dropping out. These students would attend Bridge until they get back on track academically. These are proven strategies to boost the graduation rate. And they’ll do it for less money than traditional schools: $2.1 million. That takes our total increases up to $47.5 million.
WATCH a news report on Academy successes
Another step in fighting the dropout rate is catching students early, before they get to high school. That’s the idea behind the new Nashville Bridge School proposed in this budget. Bridge would be a place for middle school students who are over aged and under credited, which are warning signs of dropping out. These students would attend Bridge until they get back on track academically. These are proven strategies to boost the graduation rate. And they’ll do it for less money than traditional schools: $2.1 million. That takes our total increases up to $47.5 million.
SEE the approved budget proposal in its entirety.
Where does the other million in expenses go? Several smaller increases are listed below: Match for Teacher Incentive Fund Grant: $292,000 Increase in contract with New Teacher Project: $261,000 Increase in contracts for Health Services for school nurses (Red Cross, Metro Health, & Vanderbilt): $398,000 Hiring more school translators: $117,400 Hiring more parent outreach translators: $165,000 Making up for funds in a now-expired grant for Smaller Learning Communities: $198,800 Music Makes Us, the collaboration among Mayor Dean, the district and private supporters to improve music education: $540,900 Staffing adjustments in various departments: $1,783,000 There are also savings! Staff savings (including changes to pension, FICA savings, and new hires replacing higher paid retirees): $3,632,000 Not purchasing new literature textbooks (they must be further studied for compatibility with Common Core Standards): $2,000,000 And when it’s all added together it comes out like this: NEEDED CHANGES: $39,401,200 PROPOSED CHANGES: $9,484,300 TOTAL ADDITIONAL FUNDS: $48,885,500
How can the district get the funding needed? You are the answer. We need your public show of support for fully funding Metro Schools. Mayor Dean has presented his full budget proposal for Metro Nashville to the Metro Council. In June the Metro Council will vote on a final budget, including funding for schools. Call and email your Council Member and the five at-large Council Members and ask them to vote for the Mayor’s budget for schools. List of Metro Council Members Metro Nashville’s public schools are making strides. Support full funding for education, so schools can continue the journey to success.
List of Metro Council Members
High school students got a crash course in running a business from Junior Achievement and a team of business professionals acting as mentors. Teams from Antioch, Cane Ridge, Glencliff, Hillwood, McGavock, and Maplewood took part in the JA Titan Business Challenge presented by Catepillar Financial. The team from Cane Ridge came out on top, besting teams from Metro schools and some from out of county. McGavock was close behind in second. Congratulations to all who took part! From a full Junior Achievement press release:
Bottle rockets may be child’s play to some, but to NASA and students at Bailey Middle Magnet, Cora Howe Middle and Wright Middle schools, they are serious business. The space agency has awarded its 2012 Educational Engagement Award to a combined team of Vanderbilt University engineering and education students for their work with about 500 students in the three Metro schools. Nine mechanical engineering students in the Aerospace Club worked with six students in Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development to develop lesson plans for the middle schoolers. The Peabody students teach in Metro Schools as part of their teacher licensure requirements. Together, the Vanderbilt students taught teams of Metro students scientific and engineering concepts and then worked to design, construct and launch the rockets. Metro students calculated their rockets’ altitudes based on the rockets’ time aloft and the group from each school with the highest-flying rocket earned a visit to Vanderbilt, including a tour of engineering laboratories, workshops, project demonstrations and lunch. Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School is part of a K-12 science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) continuum that includes Hattie Cotton STEM Magnet Elementary, Isaac Litton Middle, and Stratford STEM Magnet High School. This post is based on an online article “Engineering, Peabody effort lands NASA STEM outreach award” www.news.vanderbilt.edu. Posted with appreciation to Brenda Ellis and Vanderbilt University.
Proving that whole 'entertainment' part of Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School, students showcased their musical chops at Puckett's Grocery on 5th and Church Street downtown Monday. In a night described as a "momentous occasion," several singers and a backing band performed a diverse musical set for the restaurant's Up 'n Comer's Night. Everyone agreed that the show was a raging success, including the folks at Puckett's. Management at the restaurant said the show was "amazing" and called the student performers "stars in the making." They were so impressed they plan to bring students back for more live events like this one! Thank you to Puckett's Grocery and the hard working folks at Pearl-Cohn and in the high schools office for making this night such a success. And congratulations, students! You've earned the accolades!
PICTURES COURTESY OF PUCKETT'S GROCERY
The Stratford STEM Magnet High School baseball team played ball for the first time on its new baseball field Monday. The new field was made possible by Michael Holt, a volunteer in the Inglewood community who gave a generous donation to the school’s athletic department to renovate the baseball field. Now that it's updated the field is one of the nicest in Inglewood. To thank Holt for his contributions, the team invited him to throw out the ceremonial first pitch during the team’s last home game. Great team effort in the Stratford High community!
Hunters Lane High School has won a $1,000 grant from a major restaurant chain to feed those who need it most. The grant from Darden Restaurants, Inc. allows the school to provide food on the weekends to students who do not have access to consistent food sources outside of school. The money comes from the inaugural Restaurant Community Grant Program from Darden Foundation. Hunters Lane is one out of 900 schools taking part in the program. It is a $1.7 million local grants program intended to help support nonprofit organizations in the hundreds of communities where Darden has restaurants. Those include Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. Nonprofits receiving grants support one of Darden’s three key focus areas: access to postsecondary education, preservation of natural resources, and hunger. Thanks, Darden for helping our students!
Last year we spent $674 million educating more than 79,000 students. Every year that number goes up – and not necessarily because we want it to. Inflation hits individuals and organizations alike. We have to pay more for many of the same services we receive year to year. For 2012-13, the Board of Education has approved a budget increase of more than $48 million over the 2011-12 budget. So where would it all go? Let’s take a look. Yesterday we saw how people are the biggest expense in Metro Schools, and how inflation, raises, and needed new hires account for a huge majority of the requested budget increase. But that's not all of it. We also have some new ideas that will continue the strides we're making. And as usual, it starts with teachers.
No one will argue over the importance of hiring the very best teachers we can find. But that’s actually a lot harder than you think. Working in an urban school district is not easy. As Director of Schools, Dr. Jesse Register, has said so many times, “We’ll never be the easiest place to work, but we can be the best.” Attracting great teachers to an urban district is tough when a suburban rural district pays more. Currently Metro Schools is ranked 30th in the state in starting teacher pay. Let that sink in. We are the 2nd largest district in the state, but 29 districts pay teachers more than we do. That has to change. And we don’t just compete with Tennessee districts for the best teachers; we compete with cities from across the region. Teacher recruiters from Houston have visited Nashville three times this year offering new teachers $44,000 a year.
Under the 2012-13 budget, teachers would start out making $40,000 annually, placing us 3rd in the state and positioning us to hire more of the strongest teachers who have their pick of jobs. That also means current teachers with up to five years’ experience who make less than $40,000 will get bumped up to that level. We’re also proposing changes to teacher pay at the top end, allowing them to reach the top level after just 15 years, not 25.
SEE a list of starting teacher salaries across Tennessee.
These are the kind of dramatic steps that will draw great teachers and college graduates to Metro Nashville Public Schools. Our hiring recruiters are already hearing positive buzz building around our district just at the very mention of a $40,000 starting salary. It must be done if we are to be considered a top destination for the best of the best. What’s the price tag on this huge step in the right direction? Just under $6 million, bringing us to a total of $45.3 million in additional costs for 2012-13.
Last year we spent $674 million educating more than 79,000 students. Every year that number goes up – and not necessarily because we want it to. Inflation hits individuals and organizations alike. We have to pay more for many of the same services we receive year to year. For 2012-13, the Board of Education has approved a budget increase of more than $48 million over the 2011-12 budget. But you may be surprised to learn a huge majority of that increase comes from unavoidable increases. The rest would be dedicated to programs aimed at increasing achievement, bettering our schools, and graduating more students. So where would it all go? Let’s take a look.
The most expensive part of almost any organization is people. A school district is no exception. Some 80% of our budget goes to people – salaries, insurance, and pensions. Every year the amount of money required to keep those people goes up just a little bit. Insurance costs rise and many employees are eligible for “step” salary increases.
On top of that, the State of Tennessee has passed a 2.5% raise for teachers, and the district pays most of that. This year, we’re also proposing a 2% raise for support employees. These are the bus drivers, school secretaries, cafeteria staff, and many more who have not had a raise since 2008. They deserve one. This year we’re also opening a new elementary school in Cane Ridge, because of big growth in that area. That requires hiring 13 new employees and boosting maintenance and custodial budgets. Across the district, we expect about 1,700 new students next year, meaning we have to hire new teachers to keep up our teacher-to-student ratios within state law. That’s 100 new teachers. Add to that three more school days next year (which are also more paid days for support staff) and two new charter schools opening. They’re all necessary additions and they all cost money. So when you add all of that together, where do we stand? Just these needed – and in some cases unavoidable – costs come to an additional $39.4 million for 2012-13. That’s more than 80% of our requested budget increase.
Congratulations to students at McGavock High School, Nashville School of the Arts and Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School for winning four Student Emmys! The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), best known for the internationally recognized Emmy Award, held the 10th Annual Mid-south Student Television Award for Excellence student competition on Friday, April 20. McGavock Academies was the winning clip in the area of Long Form - Non-Fiction for outstanding achievement in a long-form treatment of a single subject. Concept, content and execution were important elements in judging the entries. Judges also looked for well-organized material, clearly written narration and appropriate sound bites. McGavock Student Winners:
A school of fish swam its way into Mt. View Elementary’ s cafeteria! The school is using Pepperidge Farms fish bread to promote healthy choices and eating at school during TCAP testing. Check out the pictures of the healthy lunches MNPS students are enjoying.
MNPS: The First Choice for Excellence On and Off the Court
Academy at Hickory Hollow student Grecia Esparza knows her languages! She won two national awards by taking two very difficult foreign language exams. Grecia won first prize in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese level 5 bilingual exam and 3rd place in the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese level 4 bilingual exam contest. She even earned a bit of prize money for the 1st place honors. Grecia entered the exam at her previous school (Hume-Fogg Magnet High School), but is current a student at the Academy. The exams are a national competition assessing knowledge of vocabulary & grammar. Way to go, Grecia!
Thirty - four Metro School students will be participating in the 2012 Governor’s School. The State of Tennessee provides twelve summer programs for gifted and talented high school students. These programs provide challenging and intensive learning experiences in these disciplines: Arts, Humanities, International Studies, Engineering, Science, Prospective Teachers, Scientific Exploration of Tennessee Heritage, Information Technology Leadership and Agricultural Science. Governor School is held at universities across Tennessee. Schools with students attending Governor's School include:
Cole Elementary School fourth grade debate team will participate in a debate on Saturday, April 28, at 10:00 a.m. in Vanderbilt University’s Calhoun Building. Cole’s debate team has had a successful year, competing in various debates with Kirkpatrick Elementary School. Cole's three teams will debate against three teams from Kirkpatrick Elementary School. The top three teams will go on to compete in the finals on Thursday, May 10. The topic of the debate will be “Parents should not be held legally responsible for their children’s poor choices.” Good luck to all teams from both schools!
Harris-Hillman School Celebrated Earth Day on last Thursday, April 19. Students were able to go outside and learn in ways designed just for them. They learned about many Earth Day topics at accessible interactive stations, bubble machines, and adaptive kite flying. This annual event provides Harris-Hillman students with an amazing opportunity to get out and explore the world around us.
Learn More About Harris-Hillman School
Glendale Elementary is like a brand new school on the outside. Its community is anxious to show off its newest outdoor features and say a hearty 'Thanks!' to the folks who made it possible at an open house next week. Glendale has recently finished renovations on a large playground, planted 30 shade trees, built new birdhouses and planters, and even installed a raised garden and outdoor learning structure! And none of it would have been possible without the private donations given to the school. The school is hosting an outdoor 'open house' on Friday, May 4, at 8:30 a.m. at the raised bed garden. Please join them in celebrating their newest additions!
Fifth and eighth grade students are getting their hands dirty and drawing from all of their subjects in a service project that ties academics to gardening and to their community. With the help of teacher Dr. Boone and the East Nashville Community Garden group, the fifth graders are planting different herbs and crops to understand how multiple factors influence the growth rate of each particular species of plant. The eighth graders are learning about pH levels through acid and base testing to see what conditions will work best for their plants so Bailey can have the best garden possible. The older students will then share what they have learned with their peers, giving both groups a deeper understanding of the concepts involved with growing a successful garden. The happy conclusion to this experiment is that the families and community of Bailey get to enjoy in the fruits of the students’ labor. The fifth grades will open their very own restaurant using recipes they’ve researched and herbs, fruits, and vegetables from the garden. Their math skills will work overtime as they set up the menu for opening day, which is Bailey’s Student Celebration Day on May 15th. Not only will participants enjoy fresh, healthy foods, but visitors can see “STEM-ulating” demonstrations, investigations, and projects done throughout the year by students from Bailey.
Bailey STEM Magnet Middle School Student Celebration Day Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 2000 Greenwood Ave, 37206
From an MTSU press release: Alex Gibson, a junior in MTSU’s Electronic Media Communications, hopes to someday produce the halftime show at the Super Bowl. Last Saturday he undertook a project that some media professionals might think is just as daunting—he was in charge of an a hour-long awards program completely produced, directed, and performed by high school and college students.
NOMINEES & WINNERS
PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
Last Sunday Maplewood High School students Brien H. and Sengphachane P., parent volunteer Ms. Kizer, and Maplewood High teacher Chiquithia Fells, volunteered for the March of Dimes March for Babies representing Future Business Leaders of America. The volunteers committed more than three hours of their time to the information booth during the charity event. Thanks for getting involved, Maplewood!
Congratulations to two Croft Middle School eighth grade language arts students for winning the Tennessee Law Enforcement Officers Associations Essay contest! Zoe M. and Naba A. both received one hundred dollars for their essays on Tennessee Law Enforcement, with both students writing in the subject on “Why I will say No to Alcohol and Drugs.” Zoe and Naba were two among six Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County student winners. Croft Middle Principal Juana Grandberry surprised to the students with their checks during the morning announcements live on WCMS television broadcast.
Three students from John Early Museum Magnet Middle represented their school at the State Tennessee History Day last Saturday. La’Charsha W., Mitchell M. and Noah R. competed with six other districts in the state competition. La’Charsha won first place in individual performance category and will compete at the National History Day competition in Washington, D.C. in June. This is a huge honor as she not only had to write and perform her script about a topic in history, but she also had to create a bibliography of primary and secondary sources, complete a process paper, and complete an extensive interview with the judges. Mitchell M. won third place for his website and will be an alternate at the National History Day competition. Congratulations to all the winners and participants!
The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offered free tax help to people who make $50,000 or less and needed assistance in preparing their own tax returns. This year the program assisted an outstanding number of Metro Schools’ families to ensure that their taxes were completed before the April 17 deadline. MNPS Roving stations was used for several Family Resource Centers throughout tax season including:
Here is how many families VITA helped this year.
The Oasis Center College Connections is offering a “Yes you can afford college!” workshop for students and parents on Saturday, April 28, at 3pm in the Glencliff High School library, 160 Antioch Pike Nashville. We are targeting 8th, 9th and 10th grade in particular, with the idea that the earlier families know that college is within their reach financially, the more students will stay focused on their academics. While the emphasis is on families within the Glencliff, Overton, Antioch and Cane Ridge cluster schools, the event is open to EVERYONE. For more details, click the flyers below.
With nearly 80,000 students from hundreds of different backgrounds in 140 schools, nothing in Metro Schools is simple. Education is of course the primary focus of the district. It's what we do and it's the only reason we're here. But along with teaching, there are so many ancillary services that go along with it. Feeding students, getting them to and from school, assigning them to the right school or classroom, answering parents' questions: these are the other services of Metro Schools that really aren't so little at all. It's the little things... is a series of articles highlighting examples of these efforts, changes in them, and ways to make them even better. Today: School websites. MLK Magnet: just one of more than 140 websites in Metro Schools. It’s an exciting time for Metro’s 140+ school websites. We have just begun implementation on a long-in-the-works program to compensate faculty and staff members who take on the time-consuming task of updating school websites. We know parent involvement in schools leads to increased student achievement and that school websites are a good way to communicate with parents. With so many websites covering diverse schools, diverse programs and serving an even more diverse population, keeping these tens of thousands of pages up to date and accurate is a herculean task. Teachers, secretaries and principals have dedicated countless hours of their own time to the task in addition to their other full-time duties. Now, with a little help from Race to the Top, we will be able to pay a small stipend for their time and efforts. Starting next school year, each school will have a Website Manager, responsible for maintaining the site and updating content. In return, Managers will be paid semi-annual stipends made up of funds from Race to the Top and funds from the school’s own budgets. The stipends not only show the district’s commitment to accurate communication, but also present opportunities for motivation and accountability in website maintenance. We plan to pilot the program this year, with an assessment and study for future feasibility to follow. If it proves successful in improving our schools’ communications efforts, we expect to continue the program in the years to come. This is just one of many programs to address the “little things” in Metro Schools that seem so easy, but are made difficult by the scope of our district. Thanks to the leadership and support of Dr. Jesse Register, this project is now underway.
MLK Magnet: just one of more than 140 websites in Metro Schools.
Few groups know modern communications better than major television networks, and that's exactly who will help bring McGavock High School students into that career field. CMT is donating money, resources, and time to help educate students at McGavock. Today they helped cut the ribbon for the CMT Academy of Digital Design & Communication. The ribbon cutting brought together a huge group who all helped make the moment possible: Mayor Karl Dean, School Board Representative Anna Shepherd, Director of Schools Dr. Jesse Register, Principal Robbin Wall, CMT Senior Vice-President Suzanne Norman, and many more - not to mention the very happy McGavock students. Check out the slideshow of photos below, and learn more about the McGavock's Academies on the school website. Read the full press release.
Read the full press release.
Mayor Karl Dean has been working to make Nashville a more healthy city all year - walking 100 miles and hosting a 5K. Now he's truly taking it to another place entirely by taking over LP Field for a city-wide Field Day! It's on Saturday, May 5, and you can expect the usual round-up of field day events, along with plenty of games, fun, and friends. It's geared toward Nashville's kids (or the kids in all of us), teaching young people great ways to stay active in a more creative and fun way. From the Mayor's Field Day Website:
The students and faculty at Murrell School are celebrating Earth Day with Walden’s Puddle today. Walden’s Puddle is the only wildlife refuge in Middle Tennessee devoted to caring for hurt and injured wildlife. During their visit the Walden’s Puddle staff will demonstrate to students how they care for the wildlife that it rescues. To show their gratitude Murrell has collected 100 rolls of paper towels to donate to the wildlife refuge. Have fun!
Frank L., 11th grader at Hume-Fogg Magnet High School, was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship and the opportunity to attend the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journal Conference at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. this summer! The scholarship is given to rising seniors interested in pursuing a career in journalism and who demonstrate qualities of a “free spirit.” Frank and other students will take an all-expense paid trip the conference where they will learn the vital role of the First Amendment as a cornerstone of democracy and how to inspire students to pursue journalism careers. Frank earned the honor for strong writing in both his essays and collected works from the school newspaper, The Knightly News. Congratulations, Frank!
UPDATED 4/23/12: Edits made to reflect new information. Classes are not free, but will be offered for a small fee. However, we have been told no one will be turned away due to an inability to pay. Progreso Community Center is offering English classes for the Nashville community starting at the end of April. For more information, call or visit Progreso:
365-9002 367-3623 2675 Murfreesboro Pike, 37217
View the Teacher of the Year for each school
Hands on Nashville is celebrating this year's Global Youth Service Day (Saturday, April 21) at its brand new Urban Farm - and invites you to be a volunteer farmer for a day! The Urban Farm is run by Hands on Nashville staff and donates fresh produce to local non-profits serving low-income areas of Nashville. But it promises to be a lot of fun, too. Volunteers this Saturday can expect to:
ALL volunteers are welcome, ages 11 and up. Come on down and enjoy a day on the farm! Who: Families, individuals, and groups are welcome. (All volunteers must be 11+.) When: Saturday, April 21 – Two shifts available: Morning: 8 a.m. to noon – REGISTER HERE Afternoon: Noon to 4 p.m. – REGISTER HERE How: Individuals – Sign up via the links above. Groups – Contact caroline@hon.org; (615) 298-1108 Ext. 404 Questions? (615) 298-1108 Ext. 404; caroline@hon.org
FOR PUBLIC NOTICE and COMMENTS
MNPS: The First Choice for Setting the Stage for Success
End-of-Course exams start in just a few weeks, so it's time to study up! If you need an extra push in preparing for that biology exam, you have several chances to take part in an online review conducted by teachers from Overton and McGavock High Schools. Adam Taylor and Nae'Shara Neal will hold streaming video reviews and all students are invited to participate. Here are the dates (all sessions start at 7:00 p.m.):
If you miss one, don't worry; archive videos of each session will be posted online. To learn more and to take part, visit their website. Embedded below is a replay of the April 10 review session.
There's much more information on these contests and the Limitless Libraries program on their website. Check it out! (Pun intended.)
MNPS: The First Choice for Awe Inspiring Seasons
The Maplewood Cluster will soon host a special forum Bringing Justice to YOU. This district-wide event will be held Saturday, April 21 at Maplewood High School.
Guest speakers will be Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry and Public Defender Dawn Deaner. This is a FREE and open to the public event.
Trayendo justicia a USTED نأتي إليك بالعدالة دادپه روه ریێ بو هه وه دێنین Somali
Don't worry if you haven't filed your taxes yet. The United Way is offering Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) until April 14! So far this year VITA teams at Family Resource Centers have processed nearly 1,400 federal returns and $3,000,000 of refunds! Don't miss your chance to get free tax help. Check out the flier below for sites and times.
MNPS: The First Choice for Storied Sports Traditions
Researchers condemn shoddy methods, analysis of test data investigation UPDATE (3/27/12): The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has removed any references to Two Rivers Middle School from the original story. UPDATE (3/26/12): The Washington Post agrees with our objections
Read a detailed list of issues with AJC's methods
Read the full statement from the Council of Great City Schools
Continuing our salute to March Madness, we're bringing you Eight reasons why MNPS is an Elite place to work! Click on each reason for much more information. 8. The Teacher Leadership Institute, shaping young educators into future leaders. 7. The chance to earn a Master’s degree from Peabody College at Vanderbilt... at no cost to you! 6. Role Models 5. Exemplary Leaders 4. Cutting Edge of Reform 3. Diversity 2. An all-inclusive learning environment 1. Work alongside some of the nation’s top teachers
In honor of March Madness, we’re bringing you sixteen sweet moments from the 2011-12 school year!
16. The new Confucius Classroom at Hillsboro High opens for international learning.
15. Our students continute to learn alongside some of Nashville's top executives, thanks to partnerships through the Academies of Nashville.
14. Dual enrollment, which allows our students to earn college credit - and even degrees! - while finishing high school.
13. The students at Maplewood High School and the love they feel for their school.
12. The Academies at Old Cockrill & Hickory Hollow, who will graduate their 1,000th student this spring!
11. The announcement to reopen the Academy at Opry Mills, a school ready serve even more students who are serious about graduating.
10. A new record! We have the highest number of Nationally Board Certified teachers within Metro in a single year!
9. The explosion of online learning at MNPS Virtual School, open to ALL high school students looking for extra classes or a different approach to school.
8. Our amazing alumni, who continue to impress us every day.
7. Options galore! We offered families dozens of school options through fall and spring applications.
6. With Hattie Cotton Elementary, Bailey Midde, and Stratford High Schools all opening as STEM Magnet Schools this year, we have the only K-12 STEM continuum in our region!
5. Oh, and we also have the only K-12 International Baccalaureate continuum in Tennessee.
4. We won a grant from the National Association of Charter School Authorizers! MNPS was chosen as one of just four districts in the nation to serve as a model for how to evaluate and authorize a charter school.
3. The creation of Music Makes Us, a program designed to spread music throughout all students in all schools.
2. Our Teachers of the Year, who earned their titles through hard work and dedication to their students.
1. Our Community is #1 in 2011-12! You have all shown such great support of Metro Schools and public education. Get a taste of the love for MNPS in our "I Heart Metro Schools" video.
Proud Elementary School Teacher – Greatness Groomed Early The North Sports Report visited Chadwell Elementary School recently and chatted with Music teacher extraordinaire Marsha Brewer who spoke fondly of a former Chadwell student named Devin Wilson and pointed out that Devin recently received the Collegiate Scholar-Athlete Award from the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, after leading the TSU Tigers in receiving this year and carrying a 3.15 grade point average. TSU’s Coach Rod Reed described the Chadwell Elementary alumnus as “a true student-athlete. He is a great role model for young kids and spends time reaching out to our youth.” Mrs. Brewer remembers Devin as “a great music student.” Every high school and college scholar is built on a foundation of tremendous elementary school and middle school teachers. Congratulations to Devin and to Chadwell Elementary!
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words Can you imagine receiving a scholar-athlete award from a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Thanks to retired MNPS athletic director Scott Brunette, sports photo-journalist Mike Strasinger, and the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, these scholar-athletes have a memento to treasure, and the North Sports Report proudly shares the pictures with you.
PHOTOS of Student Athlete Awards
MNPS: The First Choice for Tremendous Teachers
Music superstar Drake gave MLK Magnet students the surprise of a lifetime, showing up for a school assembly to deliver a message of inspiration. Drake took time away from rehearsing from tonight's performance to talk about his own experience dropping out of high school and how he still wishes to earn his diploma. He told the students to stay in school and follow their dreams because "you never know what could happen." For the students in that auditorium it was the thrill of a lifetime.
Brenda Dann-Messier was in Nashville to see first hand how Hillwood High School exemplifies the important of career academies and their place in advancing American Education. Dann-Messier is the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Vocational and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education. She toured Hillwood's Academy of Health Science with students, Dr. Jesse Register, and Associate Superintendent of High Schools Jay Steele. After the tour, she moderated a panel discussion on the importance of career academies in offering students academically rigorous curricula. She also hosted a roundtable with students and parents.
VIEW Photos from the Assistant Secretary's Visit to Hillwood
Spring Gateway Testing is almost here. For high school students who will be taking Gateway Tests, the first opportunity to take them starts on Monday, February 20. Students who started high school prior to the 2009-10 school year will take Gateway Tests. If you are unsure if you are supposed to take Gateway Tests, ask your school counselor. Not all schools will give Gateway tests during this time. There are three possible times during the spring when a school may administer the Gateway Test. To find out when your school will be giving Gateway Tests, ask your school counselor. A full schedule of all testing windows is available below. February Test Administration Window: February 20- 24 March Test Administration Window: March 19-23 April Test Administration Window: April 23-27
See photos from Signing Day 2012!
Just think: this time last year we'd already had a full week's worth of snow days. This year we're all pleased that it hasn't been that bad yet. But it's always good to remind ourselves why we make the decision to close schools. Here's an old post from January of 2011 that explains the process and gives us all a reason to be thankful that 2011-12 is not a repeat of the 2010-11 Snowpocalypse.
Originally published in January of 2011
Many people are curious about how the district makes the decision to close schools. So here goes. It starts with the same first step as everyone else: looking at the forecast. MNPS officials closely examine what is expected and work with local meteorologists to get a frank and honest assessment of the chances for significant precipitation. Once the snow or ice has fallen, a group of dedicated employees within the Transportation Department fan out across the city to examine the road conditions. They drive on snow and ice covered roads, looking at potential trouble spots, which include difficult hills, winding back roads, heavily shaded areas and every other factor that could affect bus and car travel on the way to or from school. It is important to note that this group examines the city's roads as a whole. The decision is not based on a single street or a single neighborhood, but rather the 500+ square miles that constitute Davidson County. Members of this "snow patrol" then meet to discuss their assessments. In some cases they take photographs of what they found in the areas that they examined. You can see this morning's photos by clicking on the picture at the bottom of this story. The team may repeat this process 2-3 times per day, to see if road conditions have improved or worsened as the day goes on. Once all reports have been made, all areas of town have been accounted for and all voices have been heard, the decision is made. As soon as that happens, the Communications Department makes a district-wide callout, alerts the media, and posts the information online. We know our families have decisions to make regarding childcare, work and other arrangements, so there is no delay or dawdling in between making the decision and announcing it. We hope that this gives you a better understanding of just how much goes into making the decision to close schools. Losing an instructional day is not something to be taken lightly. If students and teachers are able to get to school safely, we want them there. But safety has always and will always come first. We appreciate the patience that everyone shows in waiting for a decision to be made, and thank you for supporting Metro Schools!
Click here for photos taken by the "snow patrol" on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 Click here for photos taken by the "snow patrol" on Thursday, January 20, 2011 Click here for photos taken on Thursday, January 13, 2011. Click here for photos taken on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. Click here for photos taken on the morning of January 11, 2011.
See pictures of Tyesha and Stratford's State Championship Track & Field Team
Schools will be closed on January 16, 2012, in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. But just because you're not in school doesn't mean there won't be plenty of chances to learn something and make a difference.
Whichever event you choose to take part in, have a safe and enjoyable long weekend as we honor an American hero in Martin Luther King, Jr.
We're proud to announce the winners of this year's Metro Kathryn C. Mitchell Spelling Bee!
This is exactly what we mean when we say MNPS is creating a 'College Going Culture' in our schools! More than 1,000 students and parents came to school on a Saturday to get a head start on preparing for the ACT. Pearl-Cohn High School started hosting these Saturday sessions last semester and brought in 400-600 students every week! This semester's classes started with the biggest crowd ever, and principal Milton Threadcraft is confident that many students and more will continue to come each Saturday through the end of the year. These classes are open to all students in Metro schools. Students who attend will get breakfast and be split up into different seminars covering different sections of the test. Even middle school students are welcome to join in if they want to get an early start on their ACT preparations. Classes start promptly at 7:00 a.m. each Saturday, so don't be late! Dr. Threadcraft told us that students need to come on time and ready to get serious about the ACT. He says that his students at Pearl-Cohn are already seeing results: so far this year more Pearl-Cohn students have scored a 20 or above than all of last year!
ACT Prep Classes Pearl-Cohn High School Every Saturday 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. See hundreds of students in action learning how to score well on the ACT. WATCH a NewsChannel5 story on Saturday ACT classes!
UPDATE: Litton Middle School will remain at the Dalewood campus for the remainder of the 2011-12 school year. Unexpected delays in the renovations happening at the Litton building mean the school cannot move this month, as was previously expected. Litton families moved to the Dalewood building more than a year ago while renovations started at their school. The construction process has been delayed, largely due to an unexpectedly high amount of rain this fall and winter.
Congratulations to seventeen of our school for winning the USDA's Healthier U.S. School Challenge Award! The HUSSC Award is given to schools across the country for exemplary steps, leadership and team work used to make changes to the schools’ nutrition environment. This includes the quality of the foods served; the offering of more nutritious, healthier choices; and, enhancing their physical activity program. Awards are given broze, silver, and gold. Winning schools receive a HUSSC award plaque, a banner to display, and a small monetary incentive award of $500 to $2000. The names of these schools are also added to the HUSSC awardees list on the Team Nutrition HUSSC website. Here are the winners:
Sen. Lamar Alexander Email | Facebook | Twitter | You Tube Washington D.C. Office: P: (202) 224-4944 F: (202) 228-3398 Nashville, TN Office: P: (615) 736-5129 F: (615) 269-4803
The Isaac Litton Lions will be back in their home den this January. The school moved to the Dalewood campus more than a year ago while the Litton building underwent a series of renovations. But the time has come to move back home! The newly renovated Litton Middle School building will officially open on January 17, 2012. The school was originally scheduled to move over the winter holidays, but an extra-rainy fall delayed construction just a little bit. The move will now happen over the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend, with students reporting to the Litton Middle building on January 17. We're so happy to have the Lions back where they belong, and hope the new renovations just add to their successful school year! Here is a map of the Isaac Litton Middle School building, opening on January 17, 2012: View Larger Map
You don’t have to take our word for it. One of the most well-respected educational research outfits in the country says MNPS Achieves is working and making our district better. Back in April of 2010, the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University started a two-year evaluation of the district’s massive reform effort. In the Institute’s ‘Year 2’ report, which is now available online, evaluators say that MNPS Achieves is moving the district “in the right direction.” The report includes a lot of praise for collaboration both within the district and with the community as a whole. It also notes the visible culture change taking root in Central Office and a more focused and shared understanding of what effective teaching should look like. For the full report, head over to the MNPS Achieves page. While you’re there you can learn more about the massive reform effort that’s been underway since 2009. Below you’ll find our official press release, which points out some highlights from the report.
METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOL REFORM “MOVING IN RIGHT DIRECTION” REPORTS EVALUATION TEAM Brown University’s Annenberg Institute Issues Year 2 Assessment; National Advisory Panel Offers Recommendations
Have your say in how your children are taught by giving us feedback on the new textbooks up for adoption. MNPS is looking to adopt new textbooks for literature, fine arts, and career & technical education. Once adopted, they will be purchased and used for six years. They will all be on display throughout December and January for your review. Details are below: WHAT Parents, teachers and the community are invited to view textbooks Metro Nashville Public Schools is considering adopting for literature, fine arts and Career & Technical Education courses. Books may be viewed daily; a feedback form will be available. The books selected will be used for six years. WHEN: Weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Friday, Dec. 9 through January 20, 2012. Limited hours December 19 through 21, 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Closed December 22, 2011 through January 2, 2012. WHERE: Cohn Adult Learning Center, Room 100, 4805 Park Avenue, Nashville, TN 37209 Parking is suggested on the street closest to the corner of Elkins Avenue and 49th Street. Enter through the door facing Elkins closest to 49th or the door on 49th closest to Elkins. Room 100 is just inside.
The Maplewood Panther (not Mark North)
Tell Ralph 'North Sports Report' sent you.
Nashville's business recognize leadersMetro Nashville Public Schools freshmen ssay contest winners receive prizes
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt
December is here and you can't escape those familiar holiday tunes playing in malls, on the radio and TV.Shake it up this year and escape the old standards by taking in one of the many fine performances by Metro students! Below is a listing of some of the performing arts events happening in Metro Schools in December. If you're looking for the holiday spirit or something a little outside the norm, take your pick and support our young artists!
Maplewood 21, East Literature 6Total Pins – Maplewood 2,701, East Literature 2,463High Pinfall – Owen (M) 208
Have you met our Family Involvement Specialists? Their mission in Metro Schools is to remove barriers to learning by working within clusters and directly with families. They are trained, talented, multi-lingual, and dedicated to helping all Metro Schools families.Together our Family Involvement Team has compiled these seven habits for successful students. These habits are a great first step to establishing a foundation of involvement in your child's education and growth.Read them over and think about how you can implement each of them. Then head over to our Family Involvement & Community Services page to see which of our Specialists serves your cluster.
They’ve done it again. Facebook has changed the way you see what your friends are talking about – and even which friends you see and don’t see. You might have noticed a change to your News Feed on the Facebook homepage. You now see ‘highlighted’ stories first in your feed instead of the most recent stories. You can tell which stories are highlighted by the light blue triangle across the top-left corner of the update. Stories are highlighted by the computers at Facebook, based on what they think you’ll be interested in most. This means Facebook decides which updates are most important to you, and not everyone makes the cut. But you can fix it. Here’s how.
Metro Schools do very well with fire safety, despite what you may hear about a story promoted by a local media outlet. Our staff and employees of the Metro Fire Marshal’s office work closely to ensure the safety of our students and employees and we value the partnership and respect that has developed between our two agencies. In fact, Fire Marshal Danny Hunt has publicly stated that Metro Schools’ staff is responsive when any question about fire safety or a fire alarm system is raised, and we share this opinion regarding our work with his staff. All buildings have fire alarm systems and the district has two full-time, certified personnel dedicated to inspecting and responding to maintenance on those systems. In addition, our schools conduct monthly fire drills as required by law. These drills not only provide students and staff the opportunity to practice how to evacuate safely in the event of a fire, they are also a monthly system test to ensure equipment and procedures are working properly. Here are the facts:
The safety of our students and staff is not something we take lightly. Metro Schools takes great care to ensure our facilities are safe for all.
Metro families have a brand new digital advantage in the Fall Application process this year. The new GeoZone mapping tool helps families find just the right fit by showing them exactly where they stand among the dozens of options available. The Office of Student Assignment has been hard at work for months developing this new tool, which guides families not only through their own school zones, but also maps out:
GeoZone comes along just in time with the Fall Application period in full swing. By mapping out school options GeoZone complements the ZoneFinder tool, which helps families find their school of zone. Try it out for yourself. It's easy to use and packed with information. Use the icons listed below to navigate and find the school you're looking for. Once you've found a school on the map, you can roll your cursor over or click on it to find more information about the school, such as its School Profile and website.
Click here to try out GeoZone.
Last week’s North Sports Report Game of the Week – Maplewood Principal Ron Woodard played the gracious host for the first round playoff game. The Maplewood Panthers football team was not as hospitable to the visitors as MNPS leading rusher and Mr. Football finalist Ladarius Vanlier carried the ball for 316 yards and four touchdowns … he had two more touchdowns called back because of penalties. Awesome! Different perspectives appreciate different things: Several television photojournalists at the game noticed and commented about the improved lighting from the new stadium lights. That brightened everyone’s night. Brush with fame – two Campbells: I enjoyed visiting and watching the game with math teacher extraordinaire and former Hunters Lane football coach Richard Campbell and Stratford Spartan legend running back Joe Campbell – two great men who have had great careers following their playing days at Stratford. Maplewood hosts Liberty this Friday night at 7:00pm. Everyone come out and cheer for the Panthers. In other action, Pearl-Cohn Firebirds defeated top seeded Smith County and will continue on the road toward the championship next week at Harpeth. It looks like Pearl-Cohn will play away games all the way to Cookeville for the Championship game. Go Firebirds! Congratulations to Antioch Bears, Glencliff Colts and Overton Bobcats on great seasons, and good luck to all the seniors who played their last high school game Friday night.
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The Hume-Fogg Lady Blue Knights completed a thrilling ride to the state quarterfinals in Chattanooga this week with a hard fought 3-1 loss to nationally ranked CAK. With 11 seniors, Hume-Fogg allowed only 2 goals in regular season district play, won the district tournament championship and out scored perennial power Page in a pressure packed shootout to advance to the state. Congratulations to Coach McClain, Coach Edwards and all the girls on a great season.
Come and learn about the ACT!
Thursday, November 3, 4:15 - 5:30 p.m. Glencliff High School Room #145
More options than ever before.More opportunities to see those options first hand.More schools and programs that are as unique as your child.
The Fall Application is so much more than a name change.
You and your child choose the right fit.
Is your son interested in science and technology? There are schools for him. Does your daughter have a flair for the arts? There are schools for her, too. There are schools for students who ask a lot of questions and for students who enjoy hands-on or project-based learning; schools for high school students who want to graduate early or students who want to work outside of the classroom. We have options for everyone.
We’ll guide you through the options.
The Fall Application period opens on November 7, but you can get started right now. Our Fall Application website can guide you through all of the options and help you find the best ones for your child. Our Customer Service Center can also help you through the process.
But the best way to learn about our schools is the old fashioned way: visiting schools and talking to educators. There are plenty of opportunities to do just that, starting on November 7 at the Fall Application Kick-off Event at IT Creswell Arts Magnet (3500 John Mallette Drive, 37218). There you can meet representatives from nearly three dozen schools, learn about their programs and offerings, and even apply on the spot. Schools will also hold walk-throughs and tours to give you a firsthand look at your child’s options. Contact the school to see when they will be offering tours.
Selection Day
Selection Day (formerly known as Lottery Day) is January 7 at the Martin Professional Development Center (2400 Fairfax Avenue, 37212). The selection process has been streamlined using the display technology available at the Martin Center, making it an easier and more enjoyable event for parents. Representatives from various schools will also be on hand to offer information during the selection process.
It’s a lot to take in, but that’s only because we have a lot to offer. We are proud of the options available to Metro Schools’ families and we will help you find just the right one.
Click Here to Visit the Fall Application Website
Nashville Teaching Fellows is now accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year. This project recruits recent college graduates and outstanding professionals to bring their knowledge into the classroom. Those selected will train in a intensive summer training program, and then pursue a teaching license during their first years in the classroom.
What is Nashville Teaching Fellows?The Nashville Teaching Fellows program is an initiative of Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) which recruits, selects, and trains high-achieving individuals from all backgrounds to teach in critical shortage subject areas and schools. It seeks to close the achievement gap in Nashville’s schools and ensure that every child, regardless of background, has excellent teachers.
Nashville Teaching Fellows (NTF) is unique because it seeks candidates who want to make a long-term career change to teaching. We help Fellows achieve that goal by providing intense pre-service training, and by working with them to find full-time teaching positions in MNPS. NTF is different from other alternative route licensure programs because Fellows teach full time in their own classroom and earn salary and benefits as full time MNPS employees while they are also taking evening classes offered by NTF to pursue their Tennessee teaching license.
Who is Nashville Teaching Fellows looking for?
We are looking for applicants who realize that one teacher's influence can change the possibilities for numerous students. We want people who are leaders in their community and who possess the commitment, flexibility, and drive necessary to achieve success in the classroom. We want professionals, recent college graduates, parents, and individuals who want to be the difference in Nashville’s schools. There is no specific type of applicant that NTF is looking for, but we want candidates who will use their experience and energy to ensure that all of our students excel academically.
Previous coursework in education is not required, but candidates must:
For More Information:
To learn more about NTF visit our website: www.nashvilleteachingfellows.org or email us: info@nashvilleteachingfellows.org
Applications accepted online at www.nashvilleteachingfellows.org
Early Application Deadline is November 28, 2011.
Apply Today!
Time and time again, research shows children who struggle with reading in third grade will continue to struggle in school and have a greatly reduced chance of graduating from high school. But we can all help turn this around - teachers, parents and everyone else - thanks to a wealth of new resources from the Tennessee Department of Education. ReadTennessee.org helps us all understand the new standards for reading in elementary school and gives ideas for helping to meet them.You don't have to be a professional educator or understand the jargon of pedagogy to help out. Cruising through the website, I see reading toolkits for both teachers and families. The reading standards are easily available from the homepage and written in language we can all understand. There is even an area set aside for those who want to volunteer as reading tutors. Tennessee's First Lady Crissy Haslam says in her welcome message:
Our students are on the air! You may have caught them on TV or heard them playing on the radio during Tennessee Titans games. A new series of commercials spotlights high school students and their experiences in The Academies of Nashville. Check them out!
CLICK HERE to listen to the radio ad
The LP Pencil Box is a free school supply store that provides learning materials for students in Metro Schools. Teachers are allowed to "shop" at the Pencil Box one a semester. More more information on the LP Pencil Box is available on the Pencil Foundation website.
Join your neighbors in the Antioch and Cane Ridge clusters for a discussion on school improvement and community involvement. All from these two clusters are invited to the Dream Centers of Tennessee (located in Hickory Hollow Mall) for town hall meeting about aligning resources and people for the betterment of our schools and community.
Thursday, October 6, 20116:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.The Dream Centers of Tennessee5252 Hickory Hollow ParkwayInside the mall, on the 2nd level(above Electronics Express)
If you're not hard at work with Hands on Nashville Day, take the kids down to the Parthenon for Celebrity Storytelling! Each Saturday morning a different local celeb will read a 20 minute story of Greek Mythology at the feet of the golden statue of Athena in the main room of the Parthenon. Following the reading, a Parthenon intern will offer an activity to enhance the reading, as recommended by the National Reading Panel. Here's the best part: It's 100% free and families who attend can stay and enjoy the Parthenon afterward!This week's celebs are Woody & Jim from 107.5 The River. Upcoming stars include news anchor Demetria Kalodimos, the Nashville Symphony's Giancarlo Guerrero and country singer Ketch Secor.The program will continue every Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. from now until November 12. Full details in the flier below.
Wow, talk about a big response - Hands on Nashville Day has set a new record with more tha 1,600 people already signed up to help beautify Metro Schools! The 20th annual Hands on Nashville Day is this Saturday, September 24, at 54 different schools. Volunteers will plant, paint, repair, rake, dig, and mulch until the schools look brand new inside and out. All of this volunteer labor is estimated to make a $145,000 economic impact. To make it all happen, the Department of Maintenance and Operations has prepared: 1,400 gallons of paint 1,700 paint brushes 504 rolls of tape 380 plastic drop cloths 400 roller covers and roller frames 440-4 ft wood paint handles 432-5 gallon buckets 884-1 gallon pails 8 bush / limb cutters 450 yards of mulch 65 wheelbarrows 100 rakes 80 shovels 35 hedge trimmers It's not too late to sign up, either. Head over to the Hands on Nashville website to register and get ready to work on Saturday! Volunteers will be rewarded with the CMT One Country Celebration at 3rd & Lindsley at noon. There's really no reason to not sign up!
It's not too late to sign up, either. Head over to the Hands on Nashville website to register and get ready to work on Saturday! Volunteers will be rewarded with the CMT One Country Celebration at 3rd & Lindsley at noon. There's really no reason to not sign up!
Slaps on the back and hearty handshakes are due to three Metro high school students who won the "Young Latino Essay Contest" from Conexión Américas!
We want to show off our Academies of Nashville and are throwing open the doors of Cane Ridge High School for an open house this Friday! Come see first hand how the Academies work and what students are learning inside.The open house is from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Friday, September 23. Full details in the flier below.More open house announcements from other high schools are coming soon!
Don't miss a single classroom grade! GradeSpeed (aka Parent Connection) keeps you informed of what your child does in school, from attendance to assignments to individual grades.If you're unfamiliar with GradeSpeed, the good folks at the Community Career Center are holding a special class to help parents sign up, sign in, and keep track of their children's progress.Class will be held on Monday, September 26, 6:00 p.m., at Glencliff High School. More details in the flier below.
