October 26, 2005

Memphis City Schools plan events for Red Ribbon Week

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Schools across the country have dedicated the week of Oct. 24 - 28 to saying no to drugs, and several Memphis City Schools have their own events planned for the week.

Shannon Elementary School, 2248 Shannon, has a whole week of activities planned for Red Ribbon Week. Throughout the week, students are “shutting the door on drugs” by signing the door of Counselor Melissa Henry’s office. Students were also given red ribbons Monday, and those who wear their ribbons every day of the week will receive a treat. Other events are planned for each day.

The school held the Red Ribbon Balloon Release Monday. Tuesday was “Sock It to Drugs” Day, when students will wear or bring their most unusual or unique pair of socks for a prize. Wednesday is “Too Cool To Do Drugs” Day, when students wear their coolest sunglasses in exchange for “cool” peppermints. Thursday, Oct. 27 is “Too Smart to Start, Don't Do Drugs” Day, when there will be a Spelling Bee for students in grades K-5 from 1 to 2 p.m. Finally, students will wear red shirts Friday, Oct. 29, to show that they say no to drugs.

Getwell Elementary School will host a “Just Say No” parade at the school, 2795 Getwell Road, at 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28. Prior to the parade, at 12:30 p.m., the Memphis Police Department K-9 Unit will discuss the use of the drug dogs. Officers from the K-9 Unit and the Horse Patrol will participate in the parade, along with Sheffield High School’s band, American Way's band and cheerleaders.

“This parade will include the use of banners made by the students and their expression to ‘Respect Yourself and Say No to Drugs,’” said Latangla Mills, school counselor. “All week, students will have lessons involving respecting themselves and saying no to drugs. By taking it out into the community, we are hoping to enlighten the community as a whole to say no to drugs or either make a decision to discontinue drug use.”

October 26, 2005

Springdale Elementary to encourage involvement with Science Night

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Springdale Elementary will encourage family learning this week with “It Can Be Scary … It Can Be Fun” Math and Science Night.

Students from Rhodes College chemistry and physics classes will be on hand Thursday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. to give Springdale students and their families a lesson in science. The students will demonstrate a bed of nails and the Van De Graaf Generator at the school, 880 N. Hollywood. Refreshments will be provided, and participants will be eligible to win door prizes.

The visit from Rhodes students is part of a community partnership the college has with Springdale. Rhodes students serve as tutors and volunteers throughout the school year and host Science Saturdays.

October 24, 2005

Delano Elementary School named NCLB—Blue Ribbon School, featured in Dept. of Education publication, honored Nov. 10-11

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, TN — Delano Elementary School has been named one of the most “academically superior” schools in Tennessee and in the nation, giving a Memphis City School recognition as a No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon School for the second consecutive year.

Four Tennessee schools, including Delano Elementary, received the title of 2005 No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon School. These schools will be recognized Nov. 10 – 11 in Washington D.C. for their outstanding achievement. Delano Elementary is also being specially recognized for its notable achievement and improvements in this month’s edition of the U.S. Department of Education publication “The Achiever,” which is distributed nationally to half a million readers.

The No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private K-12 schools that are either academically superior in their states or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement. Last year, Keystone Elementary School received the honor.

“Delano and Keystone are both exemplary schools,” said Memphis City Schools Superintendent Carol R. Johnson. “The fact that two of our schools have received such a prestigious award is a tribute to the schools’ leadership team and faculty, the students and the parents. We are very proud.”

Delano Elementary was named a Blue Ribbon School because, based on TCAP test results, it is ranked in the top 10 percent of Tennessee K-12 schools, including private schools, where at least 40 percent of students come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"It is certainly an honor to receive such a prestigious award," said Delano Principal Patrice Shipp. "The faculty, staff and parents work hard to help students succeed in the classroom."

The No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools Program was created in 2002 and 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 over a three year period. The program also rewards schools that score in the top 10 percent on state tests, regardless of demographics.

This year’s recipients that are all in the top 10 percent of Tennessee schools and have a student population that is at least 40 percent economically disadvantaged are Delano, Dyersburg High in Dyersburg City School District and Morristown-Hamblen High School East in Hamblen County School District.

One other recipient, Chattanooga School of the Liberal Arts in Hamilton County School District, is in the top 10 percent of Tennessee schools and has a student population that is fewer than 40 percent economically disadvantaged:

“The Blue Ribbon School Program places the spotlight on those schools in Tennessee who succeed in providing the best possible education to all students regardless of the particular economic challenges the community may face,” said Tennessee Education Commissioner Lana C. Seivers.

October 24, 2005

American Way Middle to hold student-run bookstore open house

Memphis, Tenn. — American Way Middle School students now have more opportunities than ever to improve their reading skills, thanks to a student-run bookstore at the school. Community members will be able to see the bookstore through an open house Nov. 9.

American Way Middle is taking part in an innovative program, sponsored by Schoolwide Inc., which allows the school to open a student-run bookstore with 200 books. The bookstore’s grand opening was held Sept. 12, and the school will hold an open house to showcase the store Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 8 a.m.

The Schoolwide Inc. Student-Run Bookstore Program is a researched-based approach to improving reading skills by building a community of readers and providing access to quality children's literature. Schoolwide supplies bargain-priced books and set-up materials to schools. Student workers then re-sell these books to other students, generally at $2 or below.

American Way Middle received the opportunity to start this bookstore through a drawing Schoolwide Inc. held that Candy Pollan, the school’s reading specialist, entered over the summer. The open house is sponsored by Schoolwide, Inc. as publicity for its program in which other schools can also win the opportunity to open a bookstore through a drawing.

October 24, 2005

All City Honors Orchestra to perform at Cannon Center Oct. 27, guest conductor to host special jazz workshop at Overton Oct. 26

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. – Memphis City Schools students are gearing up this week for a big performance when the district’s All-City High School Honors Orchestras take the stage at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday evening, Oct. 27.

More than 350 students from the Memphis City Schools Stringed Music Programs will perform Thursday at 7 p.m. in the 22nd Annual All-City Orchestra Festival, sponsored by VH-1 and Save the Music Foundation. This program is made possible by the Optimist Foundation, and all proceeds from the $10-a-piece tickets will go toward the Optimist Youth Foundation Scholarship Fund.

“We owe many thanks to the Optimist Clubs,” said Jim Holcomb, performing arts specialist. “The work the clubs’ members have done to promote the arts and to fund some of our orchestra members as they continue in college has been wonderful.”

The event will also feature two nationally-renowned guest conductors — Randy Sabien, a jazz artist from Wisconsin, and Scott Lair, a conducting and recording technology educator from North Carolina — as well as recording artist Susan Marshall Powell and the Echoes of Truth Choir, who will perform "Save The Music" and “I'm American” from their new album, “Soul Has No Color.”

“This event raises the bar for Memphis City Schools student performers,” said Phillip Joyner, a strings instructor for the district. “The performance really gives them something to work toward because they’re participating with students from all over the city. Also, the performance occurs only a couple months into the school year, so these students are really diving in head first.”

It can be a challenge to prepare a performance so close to the beginning of the school year, but it’s one that the Memphis City Schools conductors and performers have met head on, Holcomb said.
“ Attendees will definitely be impressed by the performance they’ll see at the festival,” he said.

To prepare for the concert, Sabien will host a jazz workshop for all MCS string students on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Overton High, Room 313, 1770 Lanier Lane, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Tickets for the 21st Annual All City Orchestra Festival are $10 each and can be purchased at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts on the night of the concert.

October 21, 2005

Ridgeway Middle student from New Orleans to serve as grand marshal of world-famous New York Village Halloween Parade

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — As a trumpet player in New Orleans, 10-year-old Glenn Hall had already made quite a name for himself, playing at several venues, including Preservation Hall. Soon, he’ll make a name for himself in New York City, as well.

Glenn has been chosen to serve as this year’s grand marshal for the 32nd Annual New York Village Halloween Parade on Monday, Oct. 31.

“As we talked about folks who could be grand marshal, we discussed some very famous folks from New Orleans, but it seemed to me that this family, and this talented boy in particular, really spoke more to what the situation in New Orleans is at the moment. He is its future. What happens to Glenn, happens to the city itself,” said Jeanne Fleming, director of the parade. “He is also connected by way of his family with the old jazz tradition, the present jazz practitioners as well as the future of that heritage.”

His cousin, James Andrews, a New Orleans musician, introduced Glenn to jazz. Andrews was also the person who put the Halls in touch with parade organizers. At first, organizers were hesitant to allow such a young musician to serve as grand marshal, Glenn’s mother, Patrice Hall said, but after they saw tapes of his performances, they changed their minds. Since the age of 6, Glenn has played the New Orleans Jazz Festival with several bands, including the New Birth Jazz Band, of which he was recently made an official member.

“Glenn is very excited about this opportunity,” Mrs. Hall said. “We have never been to New York before.”

Effects of Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Hall’s Gentilly home, and the family will be in Memphis at least until the end of this school year, Mrs. Hall said, adding that she and her husband have been looking for work, but her husband recently suffered from nerve damage to his arm.

“We see this as an uplifting opportunity in a hard time,” Mrs. Hall said of the parade.

The parade, billed as the largest public Halloween celebration in the nation, will begin at 7 p.m. in New York’s Greenwich Village. Costumed revelers from around the world will join dancers, artists, hundreds of puppets and 42 bands. Organizers expect more than 2 million parade attendees, and Glenn will lead the pack.

The New York Village Halloween Parade was the first public event held after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. That year, organizers made the theme of the parade “Phoenix Rising,” incorporating a giant puppet of a newborn Phoenix rising out of the ashes. This year, organizers have changed the theme to “Phoenix Re-Rising” to reflect the spirit of rebuilding New Orleans, following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Instead of ashes, the Phoenix puppet will rise out of the waters that swamped New Orleans. Hurricane evacuees from New Orleans living in New York will carry the puppet.

October 20, 2005

Kirby Teens Invite National Television Star for Peace Week 2005

Memphis, TN – (October 12, 2005) – Teens for Peace of Kirby High will host their 5th Annual Peace Week celebration November 14 – 18. Headlining the events will be Cee Cee Michaela, television star of UPN’s comedy “Girlfriends.” Michaela will facilitate a “Girls Only” Abstinence workshop at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 in the Kirby High library and a school-wide Peace Rally at 1 p.m. on Friday. Michaela, known as the “zany cop” Yvonne, recently founded an organization for young women called the Godzgirl Network and hosts empowerment sessions, motivational speeches around the country for schools, churches, and community groups, and the “Holy”wood Retreat in Atlanta, GA. Teens for Peace invited Michaela along with several other youth spokespersons such as Mr. Del of Holysouth Ministries, former Triple Six Mafia rapper, to promote healthy choices for teens through workshops, team builders, a youth rally, and community talent show.

For the past 13 years, Memphis City Schools have had groups like Teens for Peace, student-centered leadership teams geared toward improving their school environments. “Keep Hustlin’ 2 Survive: Peace Week 2005” is a radical outreach program designed to teach teenagers drug, alcohol, and violence prevention techniques as well as abstinence awareness. All workshops are free to the public and will begin at 2:30 p.m in the Kirby High library. Educators from the Juvenile Violence Abatement Program (JVAP) will host a Gang Awareness Forum for “Go Sit Down Monday.” Activists from the Mid-South Center for Alcohol & Drug Abuse will lead “Think Twice Tuesday” focusing on healthy decision-making for teens and pre-teens. The topic of discussion for “Where R U Goin’ Wednesday?” will be college preparation with Kirby guidance counselors. Cee Cee Michaela will host the “Save That Laffy Taffy” Girls-Only Abstinence workshop on Thursday, Nov. 17.

The character-building event ends in a Peace Rally at 1 p.m. and a city-wide step show, “The Resolution” on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Kirby High gymnasium. Tickets for the show are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Over a dozen elementary, middle, high school, church and community teams will compete in majorette, drill, dance, and stepping for a $500 cash prize and trophies. Mr. Del and Holysouth will perform and give a special tribute to deceased member, Eric Nichols, who helped Teens for Peace in past celebrations and community projects. Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. steppers from LeMoyne-Owen College will also provide special entertainment. There will be food, music, and prizes. The funds raised will benefit community service projects, peer mediation sessions, leadership training, scholarships, and prevention materials for TFP members and steppers. For more information, contact event coordinator and Teens for Peace sponsor Erika Williams at (901) 416-1960 ext. 20318.

October 18, 2005

Disability Mentoring Day provides job shadowing for MCS students

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Tomorrow will be a special day for Ridgeway High School senior Brittany Carter. Instead of going to class, she’ll shadow someone with a job she may like to have one day.

Brittany is on the honor roll and the student council and plans to attend the University of Memphis next year with the hopes of becoming a psychologist. Brittany also has cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair. Tomorrow at 1:45 p.m., she’ll participate in the 2005 Disability Mentoring Day by shadowing Dr. Denise Landua, a clinical psychologist in Cordova.

Disability Mentoring Day was created through a partnership between the American Association of People with Disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy and many private sponsors. The day is observed on the third Wednesday of October every year and is designed to promote career development for students and other job seekers who have disabilities through hands-on career exploration and job shadowing.

“This is an excellent opportunity for our students to visit job sites outside of the school district and see the possible careers they could work toward,” said Pat Beane, coordinator of the Memphis City Schools Division of Exceptional Children & Health Services. “We’re very thankful for the members of the community who are taking time from their day to mentor our students. These are meaningful partnerships.”

Some of the businesses that will serve as mentors to students include The Works Studio Salon on Highland, Hickory Hill CO-ACT and Homewood Suites on Hacks Cross. Students from East High will visit The Works Studio Salon from 9 – 10:30 a.m. to learn about cosmetology, while Avon Lenox students will learn job skills, including basic housekeeping chores, at the Hickory Hill CO-ACT and Homewood Suites.

Avon Lenox, a school for students with disabilities, takes advantage of these partnerships throughout the year. In addition to the job shadowing tomorrow, the school has 17 job sites that provide mentoring to its students on a weekly basis throughout the year.

Mentoring and job shadowing provide a great service to students, Beane said.

“ This is a transitioning opportunity,” Beane said. “We want to show these students that they can have the type of career that they want to have, regardless of their disability.”

October 17, 2005

Group to collect donations at fair for Winchester Elementary

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — A community organization will hold a special fair Saturday to collect donations for Winchester Elementary Schools.

Positive Brothers Helping Others will host a community fair Saturday, Oct. 22, from noon to 5 p.m. at Audubon Park, at the corner of Park and Goodlett. The fair will feature music, games and barbecue. The group is asking for donations of school supplies and uniforms for elementary school-aged children.

October 17, 2005

NASCAR driver to visit Sharpe Elementary for MCS Reads event

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. — Sharpe Elementary School students will receive a special visit this week from a celebrity, thanks to the school’s involvement with Memphis City Schools Reads.

Kenny Wallace, NASCAR driver of AutoZone Chevrolet car No. 22, will make a guest appearance at the school, 3431 Sharpe, on Friday, Oct. 21, at 9 a.m. to read to students.

Memphis City Schools Reads, the district’s premier literacy campaign, asks the MCS community to read at least two books a month, at least 25 in a year. Last year, students read more than 1.4 million books thanks to the campaign, which is also credited for helping improve standardized test scores.

October 17, 2005

Winchester Elem. plans event to encourage father involvement

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

Winchester Elementary School will host its second annual “Doughnuts for Dynamic Dads” Thursday at 7:30 a.m. in the school cafeteria, 3587 Boeingshire. The purpose of the event is to encourage fathers, stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers and other male role models important in the lives of Winchester students to become more involved in school life.

This year’s theme is More Men for the Major Mandate. The program will include two guest speakers, 100 Black Men President Bernal Smith and City Court Clerk Thomas Long.

“It is always wonderful when our students’ male role models can interact in our learning environment to make a mark on students that will last a lifetime,” said Flora Childres, Winchester Elementary principal. “We look forward to developing new, wonderful and more meaningful relationships with our students’ father figures.”

October 17, 2005

Success marks Dr. Johnson’s second year as MCS superintendent

By Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net

Memphis, Tenn. – As Dr. Carol R. Johnson begins her third year as superintendent of Memphis City Schools, she has many successes upon which to reflect — and new plans to continue the momentum.

“As educators, we expect to make a difference in at least one child’s achievement — every child, every day, college bound!” Dr. Johnson said. “We hope to transcend whatever barriers of background and family circumstance that might stand in the way of our students achieving success.”

Since becoming superintendent of the 21st largest school district in the nation on Oct. 6, 2003, Dr. Johnson has more than made a difference. Her first two years are marked with change and progress, and this past year, those changes seemed to be paying off.

Under Dr. Johnson’s leadership, five of the seven schools eligible to be upgraded by the state were removed from Tennessee’s No Child Left Behind “high priority” list, and the other two made enough progress to move into a better category. There is also good news that no additional schools moved into the “high priority” category.

This year, although 57 schools remain on the “high priority” list, 61 percent of them made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Those schools must show two years, or one more year, of AYP before they can be completely removed from the state’s “high priority,” and Dr. Johnson said she is confident more improvement will continue to be made.

“These outcomes reflect the hard work and commitment of our great principals, teachers and support staff, and the involvement of active parents,” she said. “While the results are very promising, not all of our schools moved into the improving categories on the ‘high priority’ list, so we must continue to do even more to accelerate academic achievement at those schools.”

Memphis City Schools also demonstrated improvements on state standardized test scores this year. The percentage of the district’s third, fifth and eighth grade students scoring “proficient” or “advanced” on the reading/language arts and writing TCAP exams improved by 8 points, from 78 percent last year to 86 percent this year. In the category of math, the percentage of third, fifth and eighth grade students scoring “advanced” or “proficient” increased by 7 points, from 70 percent to 77 percent.

The percentage of high school students who performed at a “proficient” or “advanced” level on the Gateway English II exam and TCAP Writing Assessment increased by 6 points, from 83 percent to 89 percent. And the percentage of high school students scoring “proficient” or “advanced” on the Gateway Algebra I exam increased by 5 points, from 61 percent to 66 percent.

“We are proud of our students and staff members and their success,” Dr. Johnson said.
The increase in reading and writing scores are due in part to a special initiative Dr. Johnson created last year to help improve reading skills among students. Memphis