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Join in as Peabody celebrates the distinct and unique cultures of the world at its annual International Festival. Under the direction of Orff music teacher Jerry Sanders, the beautiful voices of the students, musical and incredible dance performances are guaranteed to delight. In the classrooms, visitors will see displays of art and student and taste delicious food from each honored country.
Classroom activities will demonstrate how much our children understand different cultures. Peabody students have studied Kenya, France, Mexico, Russia, Japan, and China. This year, they have also studied Turkey, the Memphis in May featured country. The Pre-K class learned all about the neighborhood and Memphis, and three kindergarten classes studied the USA. This festival is the culmination of a year of intense study. Please join us on Thursday, May 8, at 8:30 a.m. at Peabody Elementary School, 2086 Young Avenue
Snowden has an office full of trophies from its trip to the Fiesta-Val Music Festival in Atlanta, Georgia April 25-27.
The Snowden band and choir placed first in every category in which they competed and came home with the Overall Grand Champion Award.
The specific awards Snowden won are:
James Robertson, the band director, received the "Award of Distinction" for his contribution to music excellence in education.
Directors are Ms. Wendy Baker, Choir; Mr. James E. Robertson, Sr., Band; Ms. Pattie Davis, Pep Squad Sponsor, and Ms. Gloria Williams, Flag Corps Sponsor.
Several White Station High students in the school’s Hearing Impaired Program earned the right to participate in the Gallaudet University Academic Bowl, which was held April 26-29 in Washington, DC.
Ten teams of deaf and hard of hearing students from across the United States arrived on Gallaudet's Kendall Green campus on Saturday, April 26 to participate in the university’s Academic Bowl, including a team from White Station High School.
In addition to White Station, other national finalists include Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine, Florida; Indiana School for the Deaf in Indianapolis, Indiana; John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois; Montana School for the Deaf in Great Falls, Montana; Edmonds-Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington; Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, Maryland; W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia; Monroe #1 BOCES in Rochester, New York, and Austine School for the Deaf, Brattleboro, Vermont.
Sullen Sa and Sara Gewin, students at White Station Middle School, have won the Physics Quest for 2007-2008. Physics Quest is an activity designed to engage students in science inquiry. Students compete across the nation by completing four activities in class, individually and small groups. This year’s theme was the works of Marie Curie. Their teacher is Chris Clapsadle.
Lucy Morrell, an eighth grader, will be attending the United States Naval Academy’s Summer Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Program, June 22-27 in Annapolis, Maryland. She will join middle school students from throughout the country for enrichment activities. Students will conduct laboratory experiments and witness practical applications of scientific principles in the context of today and tomorrow. They also will visit the academy’s flight propulsion labs, high speed wind tunnels, coastal labs, satellite tracking stations and hydrodynamics labs.
Students in grade 8 competed in CYBERMISSION, an “internet science fair.” Students submitted Mission Folders, and the on-line projects involved science, math, arts and entertainment, and the physics of sports. Participants were: Yiden Zeng, Shavari Desai, Taylor Mitchell, Haley Harlan, Kayla Jett, Cierra Burnett, Landy Tate, Candace Williams, Stanley White, Andrew Jordan, Austen Poynter, Uday Cherukuri, Madhuri Prasad, Sloane Blair, Abby Barker, Bowei Deng, Sam Harden, Jonathan Lin, and Jordan Berryhill.
The Memphis in May International Festival, together with the Smucker’s Corporation, sponsored a creative writing contest. Students wrote short stories and poems, which celebrated and made a cultural connection with this year’s honored country of Turkey. Mrs. Erskine and Mrs. Varriano are proud to announce the White Station Middle School winners of this highly competitive competition:
First Place – Zoe Harrison, who will receive $200 in prize money
Second Place – Daniel Zuo, who will receive $100
Third Place – Aakash Kumar, who will receive $50
All three students were honored at the Education Awards Ceremony on April 17 at the Teaching and Learning Academy.
WSMS Band, under the direction of Mr. Skip Quinn, was nominated again for the Sudler Cup. This award is given to the top middle school band programs in the United States. The White Station Middle School band has been nominated three times in the last five years.
WSMS had excellent results in the 2008 Duke University Talent Identification Program. Students took the College Board’s ACT or SAT tests. Fourteen students qualified for both Grand Recognition and State Recognition, and 31 students qualified for State Recognition.
Jason Gupta, a student in Mrs. Erskine’s class, wrote a winning essay for the Financial Literacy Contest sponsored by First Tennessee and the Commercial Appeal. The topic was “Why financial literacy matters to our community.” As a winner, he received three tickets (one First Tennessee suite ticket and two terrace-level tickets for guests) to see the April 4 Grizzlies game, the book The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of, and a $200 savings bond from First Tennessee
Southwest CTC hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 30 to celebrate its new outdoor learning pavilion. Last May, Southwest CTC received an education grant for $10,000 from Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) and SkillsUSA to build an outdoor learning pavilion. Students and teachers have been involved in every facet of the construction from beginning to end. The masonry classes laid the foundation while the manufacturing classes set up the column supports. The CAD class created blue prints, and the broadcasting classes captured pictures and videos. The carpentry classes were responsible for the roof, and the horticulture classes took care of all the landscaping. Now the outdoor learning pavilion will serve as an alternative classroom setting for teachers and a meeting place for various organizations and community events.
Several students, faculty, and staff members from Southwest CTC traveled to Chattanooga, to participate in the 43rd annual SkillsUSA state conference on April 13-16, 2008. Southwest CTTC winners are listed below:
Student |
Contest |
Place |
Jeremiah Blanchard |
Occupational Health & Safety Multiple |
1st |
Alexis Brown |
Occupational Health & Safety Multiple |
1st |
Tashea Clark |
Occupational Health & Safety Multiple |
1st |
Dana Kimble |
Occupational Health & Safety Multiple |
1st |
Daryl Mason |
Occupational Health & Safety Multiple |
1st |
Lashundra Davis |
Chapter Business Procedures |
2nd |
KeAyra Dowell |
Chapter Business Procedures |
2nd |
Odelsia Foster |
Chapter Business Procedures |
2nd |
Twanda Greene |
Chapter Business Procedures |
2nd |
Toni Wilson |
Chapter Business Procedures |
2nd |
Asia Golliday |
Chapter Business Procedures |
2nd |
Natasha Newsom |
Chapter Business Procedures |
2nd |
Robert Scott |
Sheet Metal |
3rd |
Damion Bolton |
Diesel Equipment Technology |
3rd |
Alexandra Blakemore |
Job Interview |
3rd |
Ceronda Dodson |
HVAC/R |
3rd |
On Friday, April 18, over 400 Getwell Elementary students attended the Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival. The children had a great time in spite of a little rain. The children enjoyed learning about the 2008 honored country - The Gambia. Thanks to all the sponsors and organizers for presenting the festival.
Mrs. Rutkowski, Ms. Anthony, Ms. Pasquale, and Mrs. Thurmond's Exceptional Education classes from Getwell Elementary visited the Memphis Zoo on Thursday, April 17. The children encountered many exciting animal exhibits with their favorites being the polar bears and monkeys. The children learned about animal habitats, their eating habits, and much more.
Pictured below is Ms. Anthony's KK Transition class.
The Exceptional Children Classes at Getwell Elementary have been reading the "Flat Stanley" book series. They participated in a nationwide activity where classes send out Flat Stanley' to people and other classrooms across the United States and around the world. Ms. Stephanie Pasquale, a special education teacher, got the project started to inspire and motivate the children at Getwell to explore their world. They have received pictures of their Stanley in Washington, DC; Dallas, Texas; Duluth, Minnesota; Phenix City, Alabama; Nicaragua, and even Iraq! SPC Loriahn McLean is a member of the US Army, Carnage Troop 4-6 Air Cavalry Squadron, COB Speicher. Loriahn, who is stationed in Tikrit, Iraq, sent back pictures of Stanley doing everything from hanging out on a helicopter, driving a firetruck, and even ordering food from a Taco Bell in Baghdad, shown below.
SPC McLean's entire squad had fun with Stanley, and they went above and beyond the call of duty. They sent a U.S. flag that had been flown over Iraq during a mission, with a certificate honoring the school and the work that it does with children and a t-shirt from their squadron. As a thank you, the teachers at Getwell had two Faculty Jeans Day and raised over $100 to send a care package to the soldiers for their courage and sacrifice to protect our freedom at home. HoneyBaked Ham, one of Getwell's adopters, also pitched in, donating supplies for the care package. To find out about all the places Flat Stanley has traveled and see lots of pictures, visit the school web site at http://www.mcsk12.net/schools/getwell.es/site/GetwellElementarySchoolFlatStanley.shtml
Getwell had a host of volunteers to join us during the week of April 14 to proctor the TCAP test. Parents, employees of the IRS (a Getwell adopter), and many community members joined the school for a quick Chick-Fil-A breakfast before heading out to the classrooms. Everyone at Getwell appreciates the support of their volunteers. Some of the volunteers are shown below.
Under the expert coaching skills of Corey Alexander and Assistant Coach Gregory Stewart, the Craigmont Middle School boys’ basketball team has emerged as a group of champions both on the basketball court and off. The team has won four major competitions this year: the Grizzlies Christmas Tournament, the District championship, the City championship, and the State Sectional championship. And if that were not enough, the team has also come out on top in their academics. Coach Alexander held study/homework sessions each afternoon from 3:30 - 4:45 p.m. before basketball practice every day this year. The study sessions paid off because over 90 percent of the basketball team members hold a 3.0 GPA or better. None of them have any failing grades -- an exceptional group of young men.
In honor of the team’s accomplishments, the team was recognized at the Board of Education on Monday, April 7. During the recognition ceremony resolutions issued by the Memphis City Council were read aloud applauding the Craigmont Middle School boy’s basketball team of 2007-08 for their excellent athletic and academic abilities.
In addition to the already outstanding season, Coach Alexander was recently recognized as Middle School Coach of the Year by the MIAA and the TSSAA.
Pictured are Coach Alexander (second from left) and Coach Stewart (second from right) with the Craigmont Chiefs boys’ basketball team.
The International Mall at Craigmont Middle will be the scene of the schools International Festival May 9 from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Various countries around the world will be honored at the Festival. Each middle school team will have an area in the Mall where they will celebrate their chosen country through art, music, presentations, displays and a variety of other exciting ways. Highlights of the Festival will include dance, good and games, colorful costumes, plays, re-enactments and Powerpoint presentations.
The teachers and students at Egypt Elementary started to TCAP testing off by having a school pep rally. The children in grades 2-5 created banners, cheers, poems, and songs to gear up and get ready! The students had an awesome time encouraging each other to do their best. The faculty and staff ended the pep rally by doing the TCAP Shuffle to promote positive thinking and encouraging attitudes to begin the test!
Fourth grade students at Sea Isle Elementary found a fun way to illustrate history by using a two-liter soda bottle and a styrofoam ball. Students created “bottle people” representing significant African Americans. These non-traditional book reports gave the students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning in a creative hands-on way. The students loved figuring out the identity of each of the characters and their cultural significance. The fourth grade hallway at Sea Isle has currently been transformed into a “Hall of Heroes” showcasing all of the students’ hard work.
Below are examples of “bottle people” created by Sea Isle students.
Sea Isle Elementary recently celebrated Youth Power/Red Ribbon Week. Ms. GayNell Welch, preschool HIP teacher and math/science cadre chairman, reported that the students and teachers had a lot of fun saying “No to Drugs.” They socked it to drugs by wearing crazy socks. Students and staff wore their favorite hats to show that they use their heads to made wise choices. Terrific posters were made, and the winners of the poster contest were Mrs. G. Maley’s Kindergarten class, Mrs. J. Baldridge’s second grade class and Mrs. D. Edwards’ third grade class.
Sea Isle ended the week with students and staff wearing red shirts and participating in an assembly program organized by Dr. J. Epstein, professional school counselor at Sea Isle. She said that “NED and his sidekick Gary Garland came to Sea Isle to talk to us about being champions. NED means Never give up, Encourage other, and Do your best.” Gary Garland performed yo-yo tricks and had several students from the audience to help him with his program. Fifth grader Taric Estell got a hat that Mr. Garland made from balloons and a yo-yo with a yo-yo belt holster when he also gave words of encouragement to his fellow classmates.
The week of April 28 - May 2 was a busy one for the Islanders. Besides continuing with academic studies, many students will be rewarded for their good behavior as well as their academic achievements during this week of activities.
Among the award activities were:
average in their conduct grades were rewarded with an hour of
board games, arts and crafts, and/or music
Eighth grade Colonial Middle art student Jocelin Williams is on the way to pursuing her dream of being a fashion designer. Jocelin was accepted into a performing arts high school in New York City and will be moving there at the beginning of the summer. Jocelin will take classes in art and fashion design, as well as the regular high school curriculum. Congratulations, Jocelin!
Seventh grade art students Darion Beasley, Jarvis Boyland, Morgan Hargrove, and Vanessa Yarbrough were all invited by the National Scholastic Art Awards Association to apply for a very prestigious national scholarship to further their art education. These students were selected because of their gold key winning self-portraits in the Mid-South Scholastic Art Awards. Among these students, Darion Beasley was chosen as the association's Young Art Scholar's nominee for the Jack Kent Cook Foundation's Young Artist's scholarship. This scholarship would provide funds to supplement his art education from eighth grade through the 12th grade. Darion is one of four finalists.
The Colonial CAPA Orchestra was a featured performing group at the Memphis Youth Symphony's 10th Annual International Food Festival and Silent Auction in April. The students performed a variety of folk songs from the different regions of the United States and around the world. This is the third year for Colonial to be invited to this event.
The CAPA Orchestra will perform a Spring Concert on Monday, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Colonial Middle School Auditorium. They will be joined on stage by strings students from Willow Oaks Elementary, Sea Isle Elementary, Cromwell Elementary, Evans Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, and Goodlett Elementary. Admission is free. A reception will follow, sponsored by the Colonial Orchestra Parents Club.
In addition, Colonial Orchestra students entered the Amro Music Stores "What Music Means to Me" photo competition. Winners will be announced in May. The entries are currently displayed at www.amromusic.com.
Selected Colonial Orchestra students will be traveling to Chicago, IL on May 7-10 to perform in a music festival and to tour arts venues in the city along with students from the other CAPA fine arts classes.
The CAPA Choirs traveled to Beijing, China on March 5-11. While there, they performed with two primary schools in a Friendship Concert. They were able to see many of Beijing's premier attractions such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall.
The CAPA Choirs also performed at Overton High's annual Arts Festival on April 26. They will travel to Chicago on May 7-11 along with the other CAPA departments to participate in the Festival in the Parks.
To kick off TCAP, students at Airways Middle School held a carnival on Saturday, April 12 that focused on the connection between doing well academically and making healthy life choices. Students who eat well, exercise regularly and get a sufficient amount of sleep perform better academically. The carnival featured a number of fun and educational activities centered on healthy living.
The carnival was co-sponsored by Volunteer State Health Plan, Ladies in Training and Men in Training at Airways Middle. Greeting the students that day was Reggie Williams, vice president of the Memphis Redbirds, and City Councilwoman Wanda Halbert. Airways’ feeder schools, Hanley, Charjean, Dunbar, Bethel Grove elementary schools and Melrose High, were invited to participate in order to foster community awareness of the importance of bridging academics with healthy life choices.
More than 40 volunteers assisted with the carnival. Contributions to the effort totaled more than $5,000. In addition, a number of vendor partners, including Girls for Change, TennCare, Tobacco Free Memphis, Shelby County Crime Victim Center and the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center, participated. More than 300 people participated in the event.
On March 27, the Bridge Builders Club at Whitehaven High School presented “Chain Reaction,” a program designed to help stop the violence prevalent in today’s society and to build a better community, one person at a time.
In addition to Whitehaven students, staff, parents and community members, participants included Pastor Radonte Ashford of the Greater Imani Church and Christian Center, Memphis City Councilman Harold Collins, Eyewitness News Anchor Dee Griffin, and WMC-TV news anchor Joe Birch.
Below, Pastor Radonte Ashford and Joe Birch pose with Whitehaven Bridge Builders.
Parents of students at Snowden School planned an exciting night at the school April 24 to promote good health. Parents organized the school’s annual health fair, which was open to students and families throughout the Snowden community. The free event featured various health screenings led by local medical professionals, healthy food giveaways from Kroger and Easy Way, yoga and exercise demonstrations and health-related contests and games for children.
Cordova Middle School is proud to have had Mr. Edward Jones and his nine wonderful students represent them at the Project Citizen Competition. On April 22, Mr. Jones and Mrs. Saulsberry had the pleasure of watching the students present “Oh No! Uniforms Must Go” in Nashville as a part of the We the People Project. Other students from schools across the state of Tennessee also presented, and Cordova Middle represented Western Tennessee. However, this year was the first time that Cordova Middle participated. Dajha Sutton, Ariyana Moya, Jessica Frazier, and Atyra Warner presented the project to Brenda Ables, the Social Studies Coordinator for the State of Tennessee. The other participants were Jenna Fuller, Alejandra Machin, Victoria Yates, Andrea Saldana, and Debra Christy. They received a ranking of Superior, the highest ranking a presentation can receive. These ladies proved that the Best and the Brightest are definitely at Cordova Middle.
As an active participant in the School Violence Prevention Demonstration Program, Mr. Jones has taught his students to engage in civic education through group participation and exercises throughout the school year. The young ladies worked within their group to demonstrate that students can definitely make a change within our community. The girls have also learned more about civics through their active pursuit to change the current policy on school uniforms. They have discovered that change is a process that takes time, different skills, hard work, dedication, and a commitment to the community as well as tolerance for differing opinions.
The young ladies also presented in Memphis on Saturday, April 26 in Cordova Middle’s Library as a part of a showcase.
From February 18 - March 12, American Way Middle School's Student Government Association sponsored its annual Pennies for Patients fund-raising campaign to collect money for children's cancer research conducted by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Grade-level homerooms competed to raise the most funds by donating pennies each day. The entire amount raised school-wide was $701.81.
On Friday, February 29, American Way Middle School fine arts performers graced the stage with an educationally entertaining Black History presentation entitled, "The Soul of the Message." Written and directed by theater arts instructor Dorothy Bailey-Peete, "The Soul of the Message" emphasized the creativity, strength, and dignity in African-American and African history. Carter G. Woodson, known as the father of Black History, said, "When a community forgets its history, it dies." Mrs. Bailey-Peete quoted him and went on to say, "We fail to remember all of the contributions black people have made to build this nation. We have to honor all of the lives lost." Students participating in the program felt privileged to perform in this production. Both daytime and evening performances were held at American Way for the entire school and community to enjoy.
American Way Middle School students are excited about chartering a chapter of the Model United Nations here at American Way Middle School. The model United Nations is a debate club that proposes resolutions to international political, social, and economic issues through position papers represented by different countries. Ms. E. Silverman, eighth grade ESL teacher, is the club sponsor, along with Dr. D. Smith, eighth grade counselor, and college student consultant, Ben Lyons, from Rhodes. American Way’s club was invited to the UN-USA Middle School Model United Nations Conference in New York City April 4-5, at the United Nations Headquarters. Team members are Sarai Martinez, Djiby Sall, Briana Paige, Angel Garcia, Stevie Dickens, Jr. and Jacquelyn Paredes.
American Way Middle School had the first middle school representation at the Model United Nations conference from this region of the country.
The pictures below are of the United Nations Building and the students in New York sightseeing with their sponsor, Mrs. E. Silverman.
Tuesday, February 26 was the third annual Renaissance Read-A-Thon in support of Memphis City Schools' Read-to-Achieve Literacy Campaign. The evening program consisted of students engaged in sustained silent reading segments, accompanied by Ms. Holt's Performing Orchestra Ensemble with featured poetry readings and snacks for their refreshment pleasure. Students and parents alike expressed their desire to continue this night each year.
American Way Middle School was the privileged host of this year's Tennessee Association of Middle Schools (TAMS) statewide conference held Saturday, March 29. Educators from across the state were greeted at the door by "Uncle Sam" and the "Statue of Liberty." Mayor A C Wharton was the keynote speaker. Concurrent sessions focusing on educational issues such as teaming, curriculum and instruction, and guidance were available. Entertainment featured the American Way Show Choir, led by Mrs. Donna Wright. Vendors and community organizations were set up to offer information about services they provide. TAMS Executive Director, J. Paul Williams, had nothing but high praise for the great conference, commenting on the positive attitude of American Way staff and students, as well as the attractiveness of American Way’s beautiful facility.
The April PTO meeting at Shannon has the highest attendance of the year. Over 200 parents, students, faculty, staff and community members met on Thursday, April 24.
The highlight of the event was the presentation by Cassaundra Arbertha, the MCS special project coordinator for Gang Awareness & Intervention. Ms. Arbertha told the parents that although there was not a gang problem at Shannon, they still needed to be alert. She went over some common signs of gang activity that included colors of clothing and even pro team brands. Those attending were very appreciative of the information.
Entertainment was provided by the Shannon Choir under the direction of music teacher Jason Kindel. Ms. Dones' and Mrs. Shah's fifth grade students also performed a step routine. Drawings were held throughout the evening and refreshments were served.
Cassaundra Arbertha (pictured above) presented information about gangs at the PTO meeting.
Pirates, police, and kidnapped opera singers took the stage at Idlewild Elementary. Opera Memphis mounted a production of "Mystery on the Docks" in the school gym for all pre-K through 5th grade students. Three members of the opera company sang the lead roles with Idlewild students taking supporting parts as rat pirates and rat police. Teacher George Veasley portrayed the rat police chief. The Idlewild PTO sponsored the show.
Teacher George Veasley and students enjoyed participating in the opera.
Students participated in a “Careers on Wheels” day at Dunbar Elementary. The day was aimed at students in grades Pre-K - 2. Students were allowed the opportunity to explore a variety of careers that involve cars, trucks, motorcycles, a limousine, a police horse, a UPS truck, a taxi, and a tow truck, among other careers.
Police motorcycles and a UPS van were among the vehicles used to illustrate various careers at Dunbar’s “Careers on Wheels” day.
Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center in Missouri made a site visit to Trezevant Career and Technology Center on Friday, April 25. Cape school’s visit was to acknowledge their appreciation of Trezevant’s visitation to their city and facility in Missouri in 2005.
The Cape Girardeau visitors spent the day on Friday at Trezevant. They enjoyed breakfast prepared by the Culinary Arts program at Trezevant. After breakfast, the Cape crew toured the school and visited with classes that closely related to their area. Principal Milton Burchfield and Mr. Rich Payne, the director of Cape Girardeau school, played early morning guest DJs with Paul Gubala at WQOX-FM Radio, the Memphis City Schools’ radio station. Thanks to Ms. Amy Rosenberg, the radio and television program’s teachers toured the Telecommunications Center during the morning. After the morning excitement, the Cape crew enjoyed lunch with the faculty of Trezevant. The lunch was also prepared by the Culinary Arts students. At the end of the day, the staff and students at Trezevant Career and Technology Center wished the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center farewell as the loaded the bus and returned to Missouri, the “Show Me State.” The Trezevant Career and Technology Center’s staff “showed them” how Memphis City Schools does career technology education.
Above, visiting director Rich Payne was served a great meal by the Trezevant Culinary Arts students.
Another visitor receives a manicure from a Trezevant CTC student.
Dr. William H. Brewster Elementary will present “An Extravagant Evening of Fashion” on Thursday, May 22.
The fashion show fund-raiser will begin at 6 p.m. at the school, located at 2605 Sam Cooper Boulevard. Tickets are on sale at the school’s main office now and may also be purchased at the door. Children under the age of five will be admitted free. Tickets are $5. Refreshments will be served.
The fashion show is being coordinated by Ms. Nancy Walker, a Brewster parent.
For more information, contact Susan Black at 416-7157.
Lester students visited Exchange City where hands-on learning came to life. They had an opportunity to put concepts learned in their classrooms to work in real-life simulations. The students engaged in economics, government, math, social studies and career education through real-life applications. Lester’s Middle School’s fifth graders governed and operated their own city which included a mayor, attorney, judge, accountant, store owner, and a police officer. It was a great learning experience!
Above, students use technology in their Exchange City jobs.
Students at Lester Middle School are grateful to their community donors, Mr. Charles Faithful and Margaret Brown, for their book donations. All kindergarten students will receive four personalized books in celebration of their promotion the first grade. Students in grades 1-4 have received books throughout the school year in support of their love for reading.
Fifth grade girls at Lester Middle School received a special lunch and mentoring session from their mentors. The mentors discussed their career and employment duties with the girls and spoke with them about many other issues, including positive character, self-esteem, gangs, peer pressure, anger management, and healthy eating habits.
Above, Lester’s Principal, Cindy Saulsberry, is pictured with the volunteer mentors, who include Yolanda Benton, Nikki Body, Florence Bowie, Dorothy Cleaves, Bettye Givens, Sallie McCullough, Tani Williams, and Juanita White.
Below, Lester’s fifth grade participant’s included Alexis Baker, Britanny Burnett, Jazzmyne Cole, Arkera Crutcher, Saffeunna Garmon, Nancy Hakok, Dynisha Holmes, Tyesha Jones, Keanna Mitchell, Chantara Perkins, and DeAnna Watt.
This visitation was part of a service-learning project for the Junior ROTC students. They visited classrooms where they tutored students, read stories to them, discussed the importance of following school rules, and shared with the students their activities as Junior ROTC Officer. The East High School Junior Reserves Officers included Sheerisa Griffin, Jasmine Holmes, Kevin Holmes, James Hudson, Quenisha Huggins, Jammeye Hunt, Canesha Jackson, Deonna Jackson, Markee Jones, Iesha Keglar, Tremain Pruitt, Teras Smith, Kathleen Sugars, Jeremy Weaver, Brian Wilburn, Cordarro Wilson, Kenneth Williams, and Ladarius Wrister.
The Optional School’s counselor, Sharon Hightower, of East High School visited Lester Middle School students and shared with them the East High school curriculum, grading and ranking system, advanced placement courses, honors courses, electives, extracurricular activities, awards and recognitions offered at East High School.
Douglass Middle will host its first annual Writer’s Showcase. The Writer’s Showcase features a variety of selected written pieces by the authors of Douglass School. Students, parents, and teachers will read students’ writing pieces and enjoy refreshments on Wednesday, May 7 at 1:30 p.m.
Douglass Middle is proud to announce “Let’s Rap About It.” The Douglass Middle seventh grade debate team will challenge eighth graders from Martin Luther King Middle School in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The topic of the debate is “The positive and negative impacts of rap music on our society.” The debate will be held at Douglass Middle School, May 21 at 5 p.m.
Congratulations to first grade National Board Certified teacher Tana Mitchell. She was selected as the Richland Teacher of the Year and the MCS Pre-K-3rd grade Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Mitchell will now be competing on the state level. The Richland family is very proud of her and wish her continued success.
Richland Elementary recently held its annual Family Reading Night. Guest readers from the community read to and entertained students on each grade level. Parents and students topped off the evening with milk and cookies while shopping at the spring Book Fair. Pictured below is Channel 3's Kris Brown reading to third grade students.
Over 150 guest speakers came to Richland for Career Week. Students learned about a variety of careers and jobs including a chiropractor, airline pilot, attorney, law enforcement, United States Marines, book publishing, and the Memphis Film Commission. Pictured below is a local chiropractor discussing his profession with a class.
Just prior to the test, Crump Elementary School celebrated the hard work and effort put forth by of all of its students, teachers and paraprofessionals by holding a uniform-free TCAP Pep Rally.
Everyone was doing the TCAP shuffle.
Students performed skits playing the parts of their teachers and classmates.
Dr. Earl Wiman, President of the Tennessee Education Association, visited classrooms at Westhaven Success Academy on Tuesday, March 25. He was accompanied by Yvonne Acey, President of the Memphis Education Association, and Susanne Jackson, a representative from MEA.
Dr. Wiman visited LaVerne Dickerson’s fifth grade classroom and was especially “heartened” by the good things he saw and heard. He was very pleased with the Success Academy’s inviting atmosphere and high quality instruction. The affable Dr. Wiman was introduced to the entire Westhaven team and interacted with all students prior to leaving the campus.
Above, left to right, are Susanne Jackson, Yvonne Acey, Laverne Dickerson,
Dr. Earl Wiman, and Sandra Johnnson, site administrator.
Below, students at Westhaven Success School show off their college board.
In addition to required academics, students at the Adolescent Parenting Program receive various support services that help them make wise choices about careers and post-secondary educational opportunities. Recently, a College/Career Fair was held at the school with representatives from several businesses and local colleges/universities. All students spent a half-day receiving information and considering possibilities.
Career speakers included chef Coredy Manning, physical therapist Kamari Greene, police officer Sabrina Scott, attorney Jack Payne, nurse administrator Charlene Blanchard, and MCS Board President and Urban League C.E.O. Tomeka Hart.
The colleges represented were Baptist College of Health Sciences, ITT Technical Institute, Christian Brothers University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Rust College, Southwest Tennessee Community College, University of Memphis, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and Job Corps Admission Office.
During the event, students asked insightful questions as they traveled by grade levels from speaker to speaker. Guidance counselor Ebony Suggs planned and coordinated College/Career Day, and all agree that the event was quite successful.
Above are photos from College Career Day.
During the school year, Reconation Academy’s “Cocoon to Butterfly” After-School Program provides tutoring, mentoring, and pre-release transition services for the girls sent from Juvenile Court. Due to the unique needs of incarcerated girls, the after-school program is supported by Title I and designed to help students achieve better academically and make wise choices after leaving Reconation.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, girls await the arrival of three after-school tutors who bring enhancements to the regular program with presentations and demonstrations that reinforce learning. Periodically on Tuesday and Wednesday, tutors invite guest speakers who serve as mentors and role models to inspire and positively motivate students. Such mentors and role models include community leaders, school board members, politicians, business professionals, visitors from other countries, and other interesting and notable people.
Thursday visitation is a special day for the girls and tutors at Reconation Academy. Each Thursday while parents are visiting their daughters, tutors hold pre-release transition conferences intended to motivate students to practice good behavior and stay in school after release from Reconation. Conferences cover such topics as promotion/graduation requirements, MCS rules and regulations, and school extended services and community resources. The “Cocoon to Butterfly” Program supports regular education by providing important information for parents and students that will help reduce recidivism and encourage students to graduate from high school and pursue meaningful careers.
The program continues to be a success this school year, and tutors are looking forward to even greater success next year.
Guest speaker and Memphis City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove emphasizes the importance of high school diplomas and serves as a positive role model for girls.
In the March/April, 2008 Edition of Grace Magazine, Dr. James Suggs, site administrator at Hamilton Success Academy, is featured in an article concerning healthy weight loss. The article entitled “Memphis Healthy Church Challenge – The Second Time Around” features Dr. Suggs telling about his journey to better health through sensible weight loss and exercise. In a personal account of his journey to fitness, Dr. Suggs explains what he is doing and how he is doing it.
Grace Magazine’s Memphis Health Church Challenge is presented by Baptist Operations Outreach and involves 12 churches in Memphis networking for healthier lifestyles. Dr. Suggs is a member of Cummings Street Baptist Church and decided to attend a Healthy Challenge meeting to see what all the fuss was about. He admits that his initial motivation for the Challenge was to participate in winning the various prizes offered. However, a routine check-up turned into an ambulance ride to the hospital and 12 hours in the emergency room for hypertension. Then Suggs said “It wasn’t about the prizes any more,” but “It was about changing my whole lifestyle.”
Dr. Suggs lost a total of 60 pounds during the Healthy Church Challenge and plans to do something special when he melts away a total of 100 pounds. Suggs was honored at the 2007 Sisterhood Showcase as the Healthy Church Challenge overall winner, and he and his wife Ebony took their own trip to Las Vegas as a reward.
Presently Dr. Suggs is focusing on weight training with a goal of losing strictly body fat. Grace quoted Suggs as saying, “The pressure is on me now because I’m the defending champ.”
Take a few minutes to pick up a copy of Grace Magazine and read about Dr. Suggs and how he is on the road to good health.
Dr. James Suggs is stronger and healthier now.
On Friday, April 18, Ida B. Wells Academy hosted a TCAP celebration picnic for students and staff. The event was held to celebrate the hard work of the Ida B. Wells team in preparation for TCAP testing. Hamburgers, hot dogs, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and a variety of desserts were served. Before eating, the students had a TCAP program filled with music and laughter.
Recently Stafford Academy High School was the setting for much fanfare and excitement as Gwendolyn Nelson’s Spanish classes sponsored Stafford’s first “Latin-American Travel Fair,” featuring Mexico City. The mock tour of Mexico City gave students and visitors a glimpse of historical and archaeological attractions in and around one of the largest cities in the world.
Students served as tour guides and visitors climbed the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, and looked in awe at the ancient city of Teotihuacán. Along the way, tour guides provided candid descriptions of the people and cultures of Mexico as tourists gazed at the wondrous exhibitions in the National Museum of Anthropology. They met Zapata and Villa as they got up close and personal to the Mexican Revolution, and they strolled down the halls of Montezuma in the magnificent city of Tenochtitlan.
While at El Zocalo, visitors took advantage of the great bargains in the vast array of flea markets, stepped into the oldest cathedral in the Americas, and enjoyed the magnificent works of Mexico’s most famous muralist, Diego Rivera. They also took a leisurely walk through the symbol of Mexico’s unique heritage, the Plaza of Three Cultures. As added attractions, tourists spent the day in Chapultepec Park and trekked up to the famous Chapultepec Castle; they visited the world-famous zoo, and even took a boat ride on a sun-drenched lake.
The journey through Mexico City was a memorable event, and as the tour ended, you could see broad smiles, hear the sounds of popping cameras and shouts of “Hasta Luego!”
Twenty-four Job Corps Academy students recently participated in a four-mile unity walk that began in the parking lot of Oak Court Mall and ended at Kingsbury High School. About 200 teens from various MCS high schools participated in the walk. Students challenged the Memphis community and the rest of the world to come together and resolve conflicts peacefully. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen stopped by to give students a pep talk before they took off.
Hats off to the following Job Corps Academy students for showing pride and UNITY: Brian Miracle, Lashundra Pate, Vanieka Woods, Jaleesa Jones, Jason Sharkey, LaQuale McKinney, Amanda Goff, Carrington Rogers, Felix Springfield, Avery Williams, Brytani Garrett, Marvin Walls, Edwin Moering, Brittany Wilson, Catrina Niter, Randy McGee, Jeffrey Whitaker, Tiffany Vero, Laverne Pegues, Rishell Loudermilk, Destiny Walker, Anthony Smith, Andrew Woods, and Kevin McCray.
Friday afternoons are filled with anticipation of the arrival of volunteers who come to provide cultural arts and crafts instruction for Reconation Academy girls. Recently the excitement escalated with news that volunteer/mentor Audrey Gonzalez intends to carry prayer flags created by the girls to Nepal and Tibet. The work that the girls are doing caught the eyes of Commercial Appeal writer Wendi C. Thomas who wrote an article about the flags and Audrey’s trip. The trip is scheduled for May 2008 and includes treks to Nepal, Tibet, and Mount Everest, and flags with inspirational wording will be placed at high elevations along the way. Reconation girls are happy to share their work with many persons across the continent, and can’t wait for Audrey to return with a day-by-by account of her amazing adventure.
To read Wendi Thomas’s entire article, log on to www.commercialappeal.com and search Gonzalez. The story was published in the Sunday, April 13, 2008 edition of the newspaper.
Audrey smiles as she holds a prayer flag.
Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Academy is happy to announce that Rona Walker, business technology teacher, was recently named the recipient of a $2,000 Best Buy Teach Award. The award was based on a technology-based grant proposal that Rona wrote with the assistance of English teacher Pearlean Washington. The grant described some ways that students explore technology including Internet blogging, electronic portfolios, and projects requiring technology in collaboration with core area academics.
The prize money will help Rona purchase materials for her business technology classes. In her classes students write plans for mock businesses they develop, and then create balance sheets and advertisements for their selected businesses. Some students make commercials as their form of advertisement in order to promote their businesses and then transfer the commercial footage from film CDs.
Since 2003, the Best Buy Teach Award Program has rewarded schools that creatively integrate interactive technology into their curricula. Over the past four years, nearly 5,000 schools nationwide have received $14 million in Teach Awards, reaching 1.5 million K – 12 students. All accredited, public and private nonprofit elementary, middle and secondary schools located within a 50 miles radius of a Best Buy store are eligible to apply.
Rona Walker, Instructor, is shown above.
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