November 2005 MCS News Releases

November 30, 2005

Community members to judge Winchester Elementary spelling bee

Memphis, Tenn. — Winchester Elementary School will hold its Annual Spelling Bee next week, with local judges serving as the bee’s officiators.

Judges for the bee, Friday, Dec. 9, will include judges Chris Craft, Frank Crawford, Walter Evans, Betty Thomas-Moore, Kay Robilio and Don Southern and Circuit Court Clerk Jimmy Moore. Bernard Watson from Fox News 13 will serve as announcer.

“We support Dr. Carol Johnson in her effort to focus on the four Rs — relationships, responsibility, results and respect. A community connection is crucial for school success. This exceptional cadre of judges only enhances the relationship between the community and schools,” said Winchester Principal Flora Childres.

The Spelling Bee will begin at 8:15 a.m. at Winchester Elementary, 3587 Boeingshire.

November 30, 2005

Overton High, Cordova Middle host cultural identity art workshop

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Overton High School is working with Cordova Middle School and the University of Memphis for a special workshop on cultural identity, thanks to a grant form the Rotary Club.

This workshop, titled “Dimensional Dynamics,” is a collaborative art educational project that utilizes vertical teaming for 60 college, high school and middle school art students. Through the project, students address cross-cultural, thematic curriculum design, development, implementation and evaluation by creating dolls.

The three-day workshop began Monday and will end today with a formal presentation from 6 to 7 p.m. in the choir room of Overton High, 1770 Lanier Lane, of the 60 dolls created in the workshops.

Amy Lutterloh, Cordova Middle art instructor; Dr. Donalyn Heise, University of Memphis art education supervisor; and Dr. Emily Ruch, Overton High art department head, have been working together to integrate advanced sculptural problem-solving skills into the middle and high school art curriculum and received a Teacher Initiative Rotary Grant to fund the workshop.

This three-day event is a vertical teaching workshop involving students working together on teams to explore different cultures, artists and themes while producing a sculptural “identity doll.”

“Everything about this workshop is exciting,” said Dr. Ruch. “The multi-level ages and diverse groupings of these students provide the opportunity for interaction and exchange of cultural ideas and differences. Problem solving, both individually and in group situations, will develop confidence in the creative process and increase higher-level thinking skills, and the transitional skills of 2-D shape to 3-D form will be increased.”

Dr. Ruch will present during the first two weeks of December on art curriculum at the U.S. – China Joint Educational Conference in Beijing, China, drawing on her experiences with the workshop. A display of photos, drawings and dolls documenting the workshop will be exhibited at the beginning of the second semester at Cordova Middle, Overton High and FedEx World Headquarters.

November 28, 2005

MCS students to take part in SkillsUSA competition Thursday

Memphis, Tenn. — Memphis City Schools students will compete in leadership and skills contests this week at the annual SkillsUSA competition.

Thursday, Dec. 1, 150 students from 12 schools will compete in six leadership contests and 12 skills contests ranging from cosmetology and diesel technology to prepared speech and job interview sessions during the SkillsUSA Inter-City Competition at the Tennessee Technology Center, 550 Alabama.

SkillsUSA, previously known as VICA, is a vocational student organization with a goal to help students develop the technical, communication and leadership skills necessary to become productive in the 21st century workforce.

The contests begin at 9 a.m. and will conclude at 11:30 a.m., followed by an awards luncheon.

The competition is sponsored by Trezevant Career and Technology Center. For more information, contact Betty Russell at 416-3800.

November 28, 2005

MCS combats risky behaviors with Healthy Choices Week

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Memphis City Schools and community officials hope to open students’ eyes to the detriments of taking part in risky behaviors through a special initiative this week — Healthy Choices Week.

Healthy Choices Week, Nov. 28 – Dec. 2, will present a different societal issue each day through community and school activities to emphasize to Memphis students the importance of making good life decisions. Today is Drug Free Day.

“This is one way the community and the school district can work together to educate Memphis youth on how to make the right decisions in life,” said Dr. Deborah L. Slawson, co-chair of Healthy Choices Week and an evaluator in the MCS Office of Research and Evaluation. “The problems Healthy Choices Week addresses are ones our community needs to focus on, and through this week, we have that opportunity.”

Today is designated as Drug Free Day. Information is being presented to students on the dangers of drugs, and the community activity will be attendance of the U of M’s Men’s Basketball game against Lamar University of Texas. Healthy Choices Week representatives will distribute information at the game. Each middle, junior high and high school held a poster contest, and the winner from each school received three tickets to tonight’s game, courtesy of the University of Memphis.

Tomorrow is Healthy Neighborhoods Day, when communities are encouraged to clean their neighborhoods of crime, debris and negative behavior. On this day, community members are encouraged to organize clean-ups around schools and form Crime Watch organizations. In addition, school officials will provide students’ parents with information about anti-violence and anti-bullying.

For more information on Healthy Choices Week, visit the Memphis City Schools Web site, www.mcsk12.net/HealthyChoices, watch Time Warner Cable Channel 19, or listen to WQOX FM88.5.

November 22, 2005

Downtown students to display geography knowledge with bee

Memphis, Tenn. — Downtown Elementary students will display their geography knowledge Dec. 9, when the school hosts its Annual Intermediate Geography Bee.

The bee, which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society, will take place Friday, Dec. 9, at 9 a.m. in the school’s multipurpose room, 10 N. Fourth St.

Of the 71 fourth through sixth grade students with As in social studies and Es or Ss in conduct who took the qualifying test, eight Downtown Elementary students scored high enough to participate in the bee.

Students will receive a packet of material to study over Thanksgiving break and will meet each morning before school until the event to practice map skills and geography content.

Each student will receive a certificate and gift bag for participating in the bee. First, second and third place trophies will be awarded. The School Champion receives a medal and a certificate from National Geographic Society. This student will also take the written test to qualify for the State Geography Bee in January.

Fourth, fifth and sixth grade students and teachers and parents are invited to watch the Geography Bee.

November 22, 2005

Overton High students participate in holiday performance

Memphis, Tenn. — Overton High School students will join a local church for a holiday performance on Dec. 7.

Overton orchestra and piano department will join the Middle Baptist Whitehaven Church Music Ministry for holiday music “Celebrating The Savior’s Birth” at the church, 801 Whitehaven Lane, Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m.

Organizers for the event include Middle Baptist Minister Rev. Lester Basken, Middle Baptist Minister of Music Chris Terry, Overton Principal Mike Bowlan, Overton Assistant Principal for Performing Arts Phyllis Roy, Overton Orchestra Director Kristi Hancock and Overton Piano Director Tracey Montgomery

November 17, 2005

Bethel Grove Elem. plans event to encourage father involvement

Memphis, Tenn. — Bethel Grove Elementary School will host an event Tuesday to involve students’ father figures in the school.

Bethel Grove Elementary School will host Doughnuts With Dad Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 8:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria, 2459 Arlington. The purpose of the event is to encourage fathers, stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers and other male role models important in the lives of Bethel Grove students to become more involved in school life.

Rep. Harold Ford Jr. will serve as guest speaker for the event. In addition, Bethel Grove students will perform, and door prizes will be awarded.

November 17, 2005

Memphis City Schools students receive service, leadership awards

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Two Memphis City Schools high school students were recently honored for their efforts in service and leadership.

Shruti Shah, a junior at White Station High School, and Candace Charmaine Peebles, a senior at Craigmont High School, were chosen as six winners from 30 nominees to receive the Keeper of the Dream Award, sponsored by International Paper. They will be honored at the Dec. 5 Memphis City Schools Board of Education meeting at 5: 30 p.m. in the board auditorium, 2597 Avery.

The Keeper of the Dream Award recognizes young people in grades 6 – 12 who go above and beyond the normal call of duty to demonstrate extraordinary courage compassion and service. First, second and third place winners are named in the grades 6 – 8 category, and first, second and third place winners are named in the grades 9 – 12 category.

Shruti won second place for grades 9 – 12 for efforts in community service for spearheading a project last year in honor of the MCS Reads campaign that raised a number of books for elementary schools through a 5K run/walk. Tamala R. Boyd, assistant principal at White Station High School, nominated Shruti for the award.

“Shruti is an extraordinary student and individual who possesses an innate desire to succeed and to serve,” Boyd said in her nomination. “As a student, Shruti excels academically; moreover, as an individual, she exhibits a passion for her fellow students and greater community.”

Candace won first place in grades 9 – 12 for her efforts in leadership. Among other things, Candace is the founder and president of Youth Working for a Better Tomorrow, a group that works to reduce drinking, smoking and violence among young people. Larry Aldridge, assistant principal of Craigmont High School, nominated Candace for the award.

“Candace is a person who always places service to others before herself,” Aldridge said in his nomination. “She serves as a positive role model for all youth in the Memphis community.”

For receiving a first place award, Candace received a $500 savings bond. Both Candace and Shruti, along with the four other winners, receive a leather Keeper of the Dream jacket and a medallion. The winners were presented their awards at the National Civil Rights Museum’s public forum, where they had the chance to meet Oprah Winfrey and other Freedom Award recipients.

November 17, 2005

MCS combats risky behaviors with Healthy Choices Week

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Memphis City Schools and community officials hope to open students’ eyes to the detriments of taking part in risky behaviors through the district’s first Healthy Choices Week.

The problems the week will address are based on statistics that show Memphians are making decisions that result in some negative behaviors and results. For example, Memphis ranked No. 2 in prevalence of violent crimes out of 320 communities compared in 2004. Memphis ranked No. 4 in the nation for primary and secondary syphilis cases in 2000. Almost 20 percent of Memphis youth live in neighborhoods characterized by high rates of poverty, unemployment and high school dropouts. In addition, one in six children born in Memphis is born to a teen mother, with 31 percent of these teen mothers having at least two children while still in their teen years.

The goal of Healthy Choices Week is to bring community attention to healthy eating and exercise habits, safe sexual behaviors and positive relationships in hopes of deterring Memphis children from the unhealthy choices plaguing the community.

In addition to every MCS classroom participating in the week, community agency representatives from the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department, Parks and Recreation Department, the University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee, Healthy Memphis Common Table and Shelby County Schools have also joined on board.

Throughout the week, community events will be held, and students will participate in activities in their classrooms. Every school will also hold a poster contest for students. Elementary school winners will be able to attend a special Toys R Us party at the Perkins store, thanks to store manager Kathy Crane. Middle, junior high and high school winners will receive three tickets to the Nov. 28 University of Memphis Men’s Basketball game, thanks to the U of M Athletic Department.

Monday, Nov. 28, is designated as Drug Free Day. Information will be presented to students on the dangers of drugs, and the community activity will be attendance of the U of M’s Men’s Basketball game against Lamar University of Texas. Healthy Choices Week representatives will distribute information at the game.

Tuesday, Nov. 29, is Healthy Neighborhoods Day, when communities are encouraged to clean their neighborhoods of crime, debris and negative behavior. On this day, community members are encouraged to organize clean-ups around schools and form Crime Watch organizations. In addition, school officials will provide students’ parents with information about anti-violence and anti-bullying.

Wednesday, Nov. 30 is Healthy Weight Day, when students will be encouraged to make a commitment to exercising and forming healthy eating habits to maintain a healthy weight. Parents and Adopt-A-School partners will be invited to the school to eat a healthy lunch with students. Community members are also encouraged to register to attend the Shaping America's Youth Town Meeting at the Cook Convention Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, by visiting www.shapingamericasyouth.org or calling 1-800-729-9221.

Thursday, Dec. 1, is World AIDS Day, and community members will be encouraged to get HIV/AIDS testing and attend the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department’s press conference. Memphis City Schools faculty members will wear red ribbons that day to show their support in the fight against AIDS, and all students will be provided with age-appropriate HIV/AIDS prevention education.

Friday, Dec. 2, is Healthy Relationships Day. Invited parent representatives from each school will attend a special community seminar on creating and maintaining healthy relationships with their children and will be asked to educate the other parents at their school in what they learn.

“We would love every business, every church, every person in the community to participate in Healthy Choices Week,” Dr. Slawson said. “This is an excellent opportunity to stand together against the negative influences in our community.”

For more information on Healthy Choices Week, visit the Memphis City Schools Web site, www.mcsk12.net, watch Time Warner Cable Channel 19, or listen to WQOX FM88.5.

November 17, 2005

Memphis City Schools students receive service, leadership awards

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Two Memphis City Schools high school students were recently honored for their efforts in service and leadership.

“Candace is a person who always places service to others before herself,” Aldridge said in his nomination. “She serves as a positive role model for all youth in the Memphis community.”