September 5, 2008
In this edition: Board to Elect New Chair
NCLB Choice Starts Monday
SLC Late Arrival Day
5th grade at H. G. Hill Promotes Success and Achievement
Essay Contest for Seniors
Nashville Sites Receive 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants
Whites Creek AFJROTC Cadets Participate in MDA Telethon
Overton High Gets a New Book Room
Math Partners Expands to Elementary
Overton Parents Serving as Partners
Metro School Board to Elect New Chair
Tuesday, Sept. 9, the Metro-Davidson Board of Education will elect its new chairperson and vice-chairperson. At the meeting, board members will motion, or nominate, a potential chair and/or vice-chair and then the entire board will vote for the individuals best suited for the positions. Both chair and vice-chair will serve one term, which is the equivalent of one school year. Together, these leaders will create the bi-monthly board meeting agendas. The board chair is also responsible for conducting the board meetings and appointing board committees. Board meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month. Order is called at 5 p.m. in the Board Room at the Central Administration Building on Bransford Ave.
NCLB Choice Starts Monday
Students who have accepted a seat at an NCLB school of choice will report to the designated school of choice Monday, Sept. 8. The MNPS transportation department is currently working to confirm with families which students will be utilizing the transportation services and which will not. If you have questions regarding NCLB Choice, please call the Customer Service Center at 259-INFO Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
SLC Late Arrival Days
Monday, Sept. 15, the 12 MNPS high schools implementing Smaller Learning Communities will have SLC late arrival days. The 12 high schools affected are: Antioch, Cane Ridge, Glencliff, Hillsboro, Hillwood, Hunters Lane, Maplewood, McGavock, Overton, Pearl-Cohn, Stratford and Whites Creek. Students enrolled in these 12 high schools will report to school 2 ½ hours late, with the school day beginning at 9:40 a.m. Buses will still run for all students; they will simply run the routes 2 ½ hours later than normal school days. Therefore, if a student normally catches the bus at 6:30 a.m., he or she should expect to catch it on an SLC late arrival day at 9 a.m. Dismissal time will be the same on these late arrival days.
The district has built in eight SLC late arrival days for the 2008-2009 school year. They are Sept. 15, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Nov. 10, Dec. 1, Feb. 2, Feb. 23, and April 13. On these late arrival days, faculty and staff will report to school at regular time and use the 2 ½ hours prior to students’ arrival for professional development and in-depth team meetings. These extra hours are crucial to the success of Smaller Learning Communities as they will allow all school staffs time to plan, prepare, and coordinate lessons as well as develop the most effective instructional skills.
Fifth grade at H. G. Hill Promotes Success and Achievement
The fifth grade at H. G. Hill Middle is spending this school year studying under the theme “A Beloved Community.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. expanded Josiah Royce’s idea and committed himself to ending the three evils he defined: racism, poverty, and war. In the fifth Grade Beloved Community, they are working to build a peaceful understanding to minimize the effects of violence, poverty, and hatred and help students expand their moral development. Throughout the year, teachers will be leading students in thinking about the importance and meaning of a beloved community.
Every other Friday, all fifth grade classes will come together in an assembly called “Spotlighting Success.” In the assemblies, the focus will be on recognizing students for their achievements, which helps promote the idea of a beloved community. The first assembly was held this past Friday. Each fifth grade class has given their “village” a name and students presented this information, explaining the meaning of their names. All names were based on promoting success and achievement. Students were then recognized by receiving certificates for showing respect, resourcefulness, and responsibility. Students were introduced to the guidance counselor, who spoke on issues he will be helping students with this year and his role in the school. Students ended their assembly by watching a clip of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, I Have a Dream.
Essay Contest for Tennessee High School Seniors
In an effort to encourage students to become more financially literate, the Securities Division for the State of Tennessee, Department of Commerce and Insurance is sponsoring an essay contest for high school seniors in Tennessee.
Students will be asked to write an essay on the subject of financial literacy and investor education. In a time of new economic challenges and new information outlets, students are being asked to convey how they will plan for their financial future and justify their choices, keeping in mind future goals and risk tolerance.
There will be two winners from each division of the state -- East, Middle and West. First place winners will receive a $1,500 savings bonds with second place awarded a $1,000 savings bond.
Deadline for entries is Nov. 28. Official contest rules and topic guidelines can be found by visiting the district website at www.mnps.orgor www.tn.gov/commerce/securities.
Nashville Sites Receive 21st Century Community Learning Center Grants
Governor Phil Bredesen and Education Commissioner Timothy Webb recently announced the awarding of $4.75 million in federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grants. Grants are awarded to programs seeking to raise achievement of low-income students and students at underperforming schools through enrichment programs operated outside the school day.
Twenty-two school systems and community organizations received grants to open a total of 74 sites across the state, six of which serve students of MNPS. Receiving grants are: Backfield in Motion, $147,500 for six Nashville sites; City of Life Corporation, $92,500 for one site; the Martha O’Bryan Center, $109,210 for three Nashville sites; Metropolitan Development Housing Agency, $97,500 for one local site; Metro Nashville Public Schools, $360,000 for seven Nashville sites; and the Project for Neighborhood Aftercare, $137,500 for two local sites.
Grant recipients can assist and reinforce student achievement through character education, arts education, remedial help, academic enrichment, expanded library hours and technology instruction. Each grantee will receive funding for the next three years with the opportunity for a two year extension if the program demonstrates adequate student progress. For more information on Tennessee's 21st Century Community Learning Centers, visit http://www.tennessee.gov/education/learningsupport/titleiv/partb/index.shtml.
Stratford Coach Named News 2 “Educator of the Week”
Congratulations to James Winrow, wellness and physical education teacher and varsity boy’s basketball coach at Stratford High. Coach Winrow was recently named the year’s first News 2 and Tennessee Lottery’s "Educator of the Week." According to his peers, Coach Winrow is a “dedicated” teacher, and according to his students, he serves as a “father-figure” for them.
Each week, a new News 2 and Tennessee Lottery’s “Educator of the Week” will be profiled Thursdays during News 2 at 6 p.m., Fridays during News 2 This Morning, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., and Fridays during News 2 at 10 p.m.
Whites Creek AFJROTC Cadets Participate in MDA Telethon
This past Labor Day, 13 cadets from the Whites Creek Air Force JROTC participated in the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, which was held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. This is the 14th year cadets from Whites Creek have participated in the national event. Throughout the telethon, the cadets served in various posts, including phone bank operators, pledge runners and mailroom attendants. Some even dressed as cartoon characters at the Fish Bowl. Their contributions help raise more than $ 745,121 for local Jerry’s Kids. The Cadet Trip Commander for the event was Cadet Kimberly Thompson, and serving as chaperones were both JROTC instructors, Major Roosevelt Williamson and Staff Sergeant Savington Nickens.
Overton High Gets a New Book Room
John Overton High School has a new book room with a 9,000 book capacity thanks to "Tools for Schools," a grassroots program that leverages competent professionals and college volunteers to assist with school needs. John Carpenter, a retired Nashville structural engineer, recruits volunteers from area colleges. On hand to assist with the Overton project, he had help from both Vanderbilt's School of Law and Belmont University. These volunteers helped with the installation of the shelving in the new book room and in building study carols for the in-school suspension room. School projects can be funded through the school itself or via charitable donations. If you are interested in volunteering with Tools for Schools contact John Carpenter at jcarpenter@carpenterwright.com or call 584-7078.
PENCIL Math Partners Expands to Elementary
Third and fourth grade students will now benefit from PENCIL Foundation’s Math Partners program, but not without your help! Recognizing the need in Metro Schools, PENCIL Foundation is now enlisting volunteers to work with students in both elementary and middle school on math skills. Last year, 376 students were engaged in weekly sessions with volunteers. Program activities are engaging and hands-on. The small group settings encourage students to work collaboratively, to engage in problem solving and to discover the relevance of math in everyday life. If you are interested in working with elementary or middle school students on math skills, please contact Debby Gould at 242-3167 x 235.
Parents Serving as Partners
Overton High School and McMurray Middle School kicked off a new program, “Parents as Partners,” with a goal to foster closer relationships between Latino parents and the schools. The program, organized by Conexion Americas, enlists and trains parents to share with other parents valuable information and tools that will help the parents then help their children succeed in school and in life. Parents are invited to attend meetings every Thursday night for the next eight weeks at Overton High. Meetings will begin at 6 p.m. and will be led by parental partners. The first meeting, held Sept. 4, was a big hit with the Latino community, with more than 100 parents in attendance.
The new program is part of MNPS Parent University, which was launched during the 2007-2008 school year to educate and inform MNPS parents about a variety of topics. The first topic of Parent University is the importance of graduating from high school and important steps parents can take to help their children graduate.