December 16, 2003

Manor Lake Elementary School Students Will Receive Early Christmas Gifts From United States Postal Service

Local United States Postal Service employees will make a special delivery to Manor Lake Elementary School Wednesday, December 17, at 8 a.m. They will deliver dozens of gifts to students during the school's Christmas program. The Postal Service is Manor Lake Elementary School's adopter.

The School is located at 4900 Horn Lake Rd. For more information, contact Velma Prichard, principal, at 416-8170.

December 16, 2003

Local Church Supports Students at Cherokee Elementary School

The Annesdale Cherokee Missionary Baptist Church will hold a "Student Recognition Night" on Wednesday, December 17 at 5:30 p.m. The church will honor students of Cherokee Elementary School who are achieving in the areas of academics, perfect attendance, conduct and citizenship. Students will be treated to a dinner, and they will receive early Christmas gifts from the church.

Parents, students, school faculty and staff will be on hand for the special event. Annesdale Cherokee Missionary Baptist Church is located at 2960 Kimball Avenue.

For more information, contact: Vince McCaskill, 325-5628

December 16, 2003

CHARJEAN ELEMENTARY TO RECEIVE EARLY CHRISTMAS TREAT FROM KELLOGG COMPANY

Kellogg Company will donate $5,000, along with free books and gifts, to Charjean Elementary students at the school’s annual Christmas program, Thursday, December 18 at 9:45 a.m.

The donation will be used to purchase instructional materials to enhance student literacy. Following the program, Kellogg, the school’s adopter, will provide each student with a free book and gift. For more information on the event, contact Betty King at 744-5018. Charjean Elementary is located at 2140 Charjean Road.

December 16, 2003

50 Hollywood Elementary School Students Will Be Awarded Bikes for Reading Extra Books

Reading opens the doors to a world of opportunity, and students at Hollywood Elementary School will soon find out if one of those doors leads to a new bicycle. The school's adopter, SMG Management, will award 50 bicycles to students who participated in the school's Bikes for Books Reading Contest. The bicycles will be awarded to students on Wednesday, December 17 at 12:45 p.m.

Over the past six weeks, Hollywood Elementary students read extra books to qualify to win a bike. Three hundred and two out of 383 students in grades one through five read a total of 4,825 books during the six-week period.

Hollywood Elementary School is located at 1346 Bryan Street. For additional information, contact Carla Shaw, principal, at 416-4860.

December 12, 2003

Keystone Elementary One of Six Schools
In State Nominated for Blue Ribbon School Awards

The Tennessee Department of Education has officially nominated Memphis City Schools' Keystone Elementary for consideration by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2004 National No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School, Education Commissioner Lana C. Seivers has announced.

Keystone was one of only six schools in the state to be nominated. The No Child Left Behind -Blue Ribbon School program recognizes K-12 schools that have at least 40 percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and that show dramatically improved student performance on state assessments in Language Arts and Mathematics. The program also recognizes schools that score in the top 10 percent on state tests, regardless of demographics.
Keystone was nominated because of its status of being in the top 10 percent on state tests, with greater than 40 percent disadvantaged students. In Tennessee, nominations are based on three years of test results on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP). The Blue Ribbon Schools program requires that one-third of the schools nominated by each state have at least 40 percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, defined as students eligible for free and reduced priced lunch, limited English proficient students, migrant students or students receiving services under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Keystone is headed by Principal JoAnne Jensen, who has served as principal of the school since it opened 13 years ago. She has worked as a teacher, guidance counselor, an assistant principal and principal with Memphis City Schools for more than 30 years. Keystone has received a number of honors over the years for its high levels of academic achievement.
"I attribute our school's success to the dedicated teachers here who work unrelentingly with their students," Jensen said. "These teachers work hard, and we are very honored and humbled to have been nominated for this award."

In order to be eligible for Blue Ribbon status, the nominated schools must submit formal applications to the U.S. Department of Education, and they must meet state and federal benchmarks for adequate yearly progress on the 2004 TCAP.

"These six schools show that when teachers, students and parents work together to put education first, they can succeed - no matter what their background or economic status. They are role models for all schools in Tennessee," said State Education Commissioner Lana Seivers.

December 9, 2003

2004 GRAMMY All-Star High School Jazz Band Selected
Memphis City Schools Students Selected For Performances in February

The Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy (the GRAMMY Awards organization) has announced its GRAMMY in the Schools All-Star High School Jazz Band for 2004.

The 2004 Jazz Band is comprised totally of Memphis City Schools students who competed against students from public and private schools across the Mid-South region.

The Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy is one of 12 chapters in the nation, and the only one to have a GRAMMY in the Schools Jazz Band. The band will perform at a special GRAMMY in the Schools Career Day Feb. 13, 2004 before city and county students and a panel of professional artists and performers, according to Katherine Sage, Senior Project Coordinator for the Recording Academy - Memphis.

"Students from a number of area schools auditioned at the University of Memphis last month for spots in the band," said Sage. "We’re grateful for the assistance of Dr. Jack Cooper, Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Memphis' Scheidt School of Music, for his assistance in helping to select the best student musicians to form our All-Star Jazz band. The event in February will be a great opportunity for them to perform not only before their peers but also before a 'Super Panel' of professional musicians and performing artists."

Members of the 2004 GRAMMY All-Star High School Jazz Band are:

Lee Wang, White Station High, 1st Alto Sax
Jeremy Barzezzas, Overton High, 2nd Alto Sax
Michael Newson, Overton High, 1st Tenor Sax
Andrew Traylor, White Station High, 2nd Tenor Sax
Grady Henderson, Overton High, Baritone Sax
Erika Jackson, Overton High, 1st Trumpet (Lead)
Amber Burch, White Station High, 2nd Trumpet
Ben Crum, White Station High, 3rd Trumpet
Daniel Braswell, White Station High, 4th Trumpet
Anthony Walker, Overton High, 1st Trombone
Hal Bouldin, White Station High, 2nd Trombone
Mark White, White Station High, 3rd Trombone
Lauren Watson, Overton High, Bass Trombone
Mark Trussell, White Station High, Guitar
Graham DeWitt, White Station High, Piano
David Parks, Overton High, Bass
Hunter Deacon, White Station High, Drums

Jeff Huddleston is Jazz Band Director for Overton High School, and Leroy Snell is Jazz Band Director at White Station High. A series of rehearsals is being planned for the members of the 2004 All-Star High School Jazz Band to prepare for their February performances.

December 9, 2003

Superintendent Johnson announces District reorganization

On Monday, December 8, Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson unveiled a plan to reorganize the district's administration and better equip MCS to support schools, families, and students.

The plan will include the posting of most top-level and department manager positions. Dr. Johnson's goal is to have a new team in place by mid-February 2004.

Under the Superintendent's reorganization the district will be organized into three academic divisions - elementary, middle, and secondary - each with its own academic director. A deputy superintendent will be named to provide coordination across all schools and create a stronger connection between instruction and schools.

A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will lead all business and operational services. The CFO will report to the Superintendent and is responsible for helping restructure the district's more than $700 million total budget. As the second largest employer in Tennessee, it is important that the district continues to have the expertise to create greater business efficiencies to help us weather financial challenges.

Dr. Johnson has also named a Chief of Staff to assist her with Board communications and information sharing and to help facilitate implementation of the district's strategic plan.

Executive directors and associate superintendents from the following departments will round out the Superintendent's Executive Leadership Team:

Teaching and Learning
Policy & Strategic Planning
School Effectiveness & Accountability
Communications/Public Affairs
Research, Evaluation and Assessment
Business and Financial Affairs
Human Resources
Exceptional Children
Student Engagement
Special Programs

These executive leaders will meet weekly with the Superintendent to discuss the implementation and monitoring of the District's Strategic Agenda goals and to ensure the district is running smoothly.

At the school level, principals provide instructional leadership and will be in close contact with their academic directors. Each school is also encouraged to foster parent organizations and leadership opportunities.

December 5, 2003

MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS LIBRARIAN HONORED AS
UNIVERSITY’S DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Dr. D. Jackson Maxwell, librarian, Downtown Elementary School, was named a University of Tennessee Distinguished Alumni by the School of Information Sciences in Knoxville, Tennessee. The award recognized Dr. Maxwell for his professional achievement and leadership in the area of information sciences.

Dr. Maxwell, an 11-year employee of Memphis City Schools, obtained a master’s degree of Library and Information Science from the University of Tennessee Knoxville in 1995. He earned a doctorate in Education from the University of Memphis in 2000.

As part of his recognition, Dr. Maxwell will serve as the guest speaker at an awards banquet next spring where he will accept the award. Dr. Maxwell's name will be inscribed on a plaque to be displayed in the School of Information Sciences at the university.

December 5, 2003

PARENTS TO LEARN WORKFORCE SKILLS IN
MONTHLY WORKSHOP

The Title I Center for Parental Involvement will hold its Monthly Parent Workshop December 10 at 9 - 11:30 a.m. at the South Area Office Auditorium, located at 2300 Hernando Road.

George Kelley, president, Nexxstepp Service Systems, Inc., will discuss "The Real World of Work." The program will train parents in developing and improving human relations skills, critical thinking, conflict resolution, moral decision making and other skills that are important for success in the workforce.

Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents should contact their child’s school for registration. For more information about the event, contact the Title I Center for Parental Involvement at 775-7493.

December 3, 2003

White Station High School Principal Elected To National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Board of Directors

White Station High School Principal Wanda Winnette will serve a three-year term as one of 19 directors on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Board. Winnette was nominated and elected by the NMSC Board on November 17.

Currently in its 49th year, National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a non-profit organization that conducts two academic competitions for recognition and undergraduate scholarships. The National Merit Scholarship Program is the larger and older competition. It was initiated in 1955 when NMSC was established. The National Achievement Scholarship Program, a smaller competition, began in 1964. Each year some 55,000 high school students are honored in NMSC programs, and more than 10,000 of the most outstanding participants receive scholarships worth a total of $47 million for college undergraduate study.

Winnette previously served on the NMSC Advisory Council. She will begin serving her term immediately.

December 3, 2003

MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS TEACHERS LEAD THE STATE IN EARNING NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION IN 2003

Out of the 28 teachers from school districts across the state of Tennessee who earned prestigious National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) for 2003, 12 of them are from the Memphis City Schools.

The teachers are:

"Having high quality teachers is more important now than ever before, and achieving National Board Certification is the highest credential a teacher can earn," said Dr. Carol R. Johnson, Superintendent of Memphis City Schools. "We are extremely proud of these teachers who have worked so hard to attain the goal of becoming National Board Certified. Because the assessment to earn this certification is both arduous and lengthy, their certification also points to the tremendous dedication and commitment of these fine teachers."

Founded 16 years ago, NBPTS is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan and non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing the quality of teaching and learning. National Board Certification, a voluntary process established by NBPTS, is achieved through a rigorous performance-based assessment that takes between one and three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.

As part of the assessment process, teachers must provide a series of portfolios that document student work and lesson planning, and supply videos and analyses of classroom work. In addition, qualifying teaches must complete written assessments that probe the depths of the teachers' knowledge and ability.

With the addition of the 12 new National Board Certified teachers, Memphis City Schools now has 18 teachers who have earned the prestigious designation. To encourage teachers to pursue attaining this benchmark for quality teaching, Memphis City Schools helps cover the NBPTS fees for teachers who have gone through a pre-candidacy process, as well as provides teachers who successfully earn National Board Certification with an annual salary bonus, ranging from $6,000 to $10,000 depending on the teacher's years of service with MCS, as long as they retain their National Board Certification.

Other Memphis City Schools teachers and the years they earned National Board Certification are:

There are currently 91 teachers in the state of Tennessee who have earned National Board Certification.

December 2, 2003

MCS STUDENTS’ ARTISTIC SKILLS ROAR IN LION KING ART CONTEST

Students from Memphis City Schools took home a lion’s share of awards in the 4th Annual Academic Art Contest sponsored by the Orpheum Theatre. MCS students collectively won more than $4,000 out of a possible $5,500 in Savings Bonds awarded. The contest encourages Mid-South area students to create an original theme-based work of art. The theme for 2003 was "Circle of Life" created in conjunction with the running production of the Broadway Musical, The Lion King, playing at the Orpheum through January 4, 2004.

Awards were given in 1st - 3rd place and Honorable Mention categories. Craigmont High School Senior Sara Greer took first place in the "10th to 12th grade" division, and Donta Foster, an Overton High School seventh grader, won first place in the 7th to 9th grade division. Both were awarded a $1,000 Savings Bond. Other winners included:

7th to 9th Grade Division

10th to 12th Grade Division

All winning and selected pieces will be on display on the balcony level of the Orpheum for the entire run of The Lion King.