September
28, 2005
Westhaven
High hosts
Blue Ribbon
Plan fight-free
celebration
By
Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net
Memphis,
Tenn. — Westhaven
High School
will host a
special party
to involve
community members
in school life
and celebrate
the Blue Ribbon
Plan.
Westhaven
High will hold
a block party
Friday, Sept.
30, at 1 p.m.
at the school,
4585 Hodge to
celebrate the
fact that the
school has been
fight-free for
27 days, as of
Sept. 28. The
block party will
feature a DJ,
guest speaker,
fight-free cheers
and a fight-free
T-shirt design
contest.
The
Blue Ribbon Plan
encourages schools
to develop discipline
initiatives that
replace corporal
punishment, which
was banned from
Memphis City
Schools in the
2004-05 school
year.
September
27, 2005
Memphis
Goes Back
to School
AAS Partnership
Week encourages
community
members,
business
leaders to
visit the
MCS schools
By
Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net
Memphis,
Tenn. – Memphis
City Schools
is inviting
community members
into the schools
next week for Memphis
Goes Back To
School Adopt-A-School
Partnerships
Week.
Memphis
Goes Back
to School
Week is
scheduled
for Oct.
3 – 7.
Schools will
welcome guests
each day
during the
week from
9 a.m. – 1:30
p.m. for
an official
tour.
“Citizens
visiting their
neighborhood
school will be
able to see first-hand
what goes on
during a typical
school day,” said
Peggy Jones,
community partnerships
coordinator. “They
will see how
faculty and staff
are preparing
all of our students
to be successful,
productive citizens
and the future
leaders of our
city and country.”
The
week will begin
with an invitation-only
breakfast at
Ridgeway Middle
School at 8 a.m.
that will be
attended by Mayor
A C Wharton,
as well as city
council members,
county commissioners,
Board of Education
commissioners
and civic and
business leaders.
Following breakfast,
these leaders
will participate
in the Principal
for a Day program.
Each participant
will join his
or her school’s
principal to
act as the school’s
leader for the
day.
“This
is an excellent
way to show the
community how
hard our principals
work every day,” Jones
said.
Residents
are encouraged
to participate
in the weeklong
event. They may
visit schools
on any day, but
there are specific
days identified
to target different
segments of the
community. The
schedule is as
follows:
Monday,
Oct. 3 – Business/Professionals
Day
Tuesday, Oct.
4 — Alumni
Day
Wednesday, Oct.
5 — Realtor
and Family Day
Thursday, Oct.
6 — Faith
and Community
Day
Friday, Oct.
7 — Civic
Leaders and Elected
Officials Day
Because
there is no school
for students
on Oct. 7, and
it is a half-day
for teachers,
visitors that
day are invited
to have coffee
with the staff
of their visiting
schools. For
more information,
contact Peggy
Jones at 416-5622.
September
26, 2005
Central
High students
build birdhouses
to help combat
West Nile
By
Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net
Memphis,
Tenn. — Central
High School students
today will learn
a lesson in carpentry
while also protecting
the Mid-South
from West Nile
Virus.
Nine
students will
construct bluebird
boxes to post
in DeSoto County
parks. These
boxes will attract
the pretty birds
to the area,
and they will
also decrease
the population
of adult mosquitoes
since bluebirds
eat mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes carry
West Nile Virus,
as well as malaria,
heartworms and
encephalitis.
The
students will
construct the
boxes today in
Room 12 of Central
High, 306 S.
Bellevue, from
2:15 to 3:15
p.m. They will
learn to use
a drill and a
corded screwdriver
and how to follow
a building plan.
The Payton family
of Nesbit, Miss.,
donated red cedar
wood for the
boxes, and Dr.
Darrell Barnes
is sponsoring
the project,
which will place
more than 60
bluebird boxes
in 10 DeSoto
County parks.
September
26, 2005
Middle
College receives
12 new guitars,
thanks to
teacher’s
efforts
Memphis,
Tenn. — Middle
College High
School students
now have the
chance to learn
music on 12 new
Epiphone acoustics,
thanks to the
efforts of one
Memphis City
Schools teacher.
Gerard
Harris taught
Orff music to
elementary students
for the past
seven years,
but as the new
music teacher
at Middle College
High, he gets
to fulfill his
true dream — to
teach guitar
and help develop
a Memphis community
of skilled guitarists.
When
Harris arrived
at the school
he surveyed all
the band instruments
and realized
that there were
no acoustic guitars
in the inventory.
So within the
first week of
school, he wrote
a letter requesting
help from Play
It Again Memphis.
Harris
wrote that he
wants to develop
true musicians
who know how
to read, play
and compose music.
As he teaches
students to master
various band
instruments,
he also intends
for Middle College
to be a special
training ground
for guitarists
and plans to
start a guitar
club and recruit
several of Memphis’ local
guitarists to
teach their various
styles.
After
receiving Harris’s
request, Play
It Again donated
12 new Epiphone
acoustic guitars
to the Middle
College Music
Program. Thanks
to the support
of the Memphis
community, Play
It Again Memphis
has put more
than 600 instruments
in the hands
of children with
a desire and
willingness to
learn. The hope
of the Play It
Again Memphis
program is that
every child in
Memphis who wants
to learn, love
and play music
can be given
that opportunity.
Call
1-866-340-KIDS
for more information
or to make a
donation to Play
It Again Memphis.
September
14, 2005
Memphis
City Schools
presents
Support Our
Schools Week
By
Stephanie Pachucki, PachuckiStephanie@mcsk12.net
Memphis, Tenn. — For
the first time,
Memphis City
Schools officials
will combine
the district’s
important events
that normally
occur in September
and join them
together in a
push for backing
called Support
Our Schools Week.
Support
Our Schools,
or S.O.S., Week
will kick off
Monday, Sept.
19, with the
start of the
second year of
the district’s
premier literacy
campaign, Memphis
City Schools
Reads. The literacy
campaign, which
was credited
for helping improve
reading scores
on standardized
tests last year,
again asks community
members to read
at least two
books a month,
at least 25 in
a year.
“We’re
looking forward
to another successful
year,” said
Nikita Flynn,
marketing communications
manager and MCS
Reads co-chair. “Last
year, our school
children read
more than 1.4
million books.
We’re hoping
to read even
more this year.”
Then
Tuesday, Sept.
20, from 7 a.m.
to 3 p.m., the
Office of Community
Development will
hold its annual
Adopt-A-School
Partnership Workshop
at Hope Presbyterian
Church. The workshop
provides partners
and school coordinators
a chance to find
new ideas for
making their
partnerships
successful ones.
“The
purpose of this
workshop is to
provide schools
and partners
with ideas on
how they can
work together
to improve student
achievement,” said
Peggy Jones,
Memphis City
Schools community
development coordinator. “The
training day
provides an opportunity
for schools and
partners to network
with others and
share what really
works.”
All
parents are asked
to attend a Parent
Seminar on Wednesday,
Sept. 21, at
Mississippi Boulevard
Christian Church
from 8 a.m. to
2 p.m. to discuss
the district’s
Blue Ribbon Plan.
“I
hope to involve
all areas of
the community
in this discussion
on new behavior
initiatives for
the Blue Ribbon
Plan,” said
Lola Bolden,
director of Parental
Involvement and
Family Support. “This
initiative takes
the efforts of
the whole community,
and I’m
looking forward
to everyone’s
participation.”
The
Urban League
will host its
annual Do the
Right Thing Celebration
on Sept. 22,
at Ridgeway High
School at 6 p.m.
And to wrap the
week up, Superintendent
Carol R. Johnson’s
executive staff
will host a meet-and-greet
for the community
on Friday, Sept.
23, at 4 p.m.
at the Teaching
and Learning
Academy, 2485
Union Ave.
September
13, 2005
American
Way Middle
opens bookstore
to improve
literacy
skills
Memphis,
Tenn. — American
Way Middle School
students now
have more opportunities
than ever to
improve their
reading skills,
thanks to the
opening of a
student-run bookstore
at the school.
American
Way Middle is
taking part in
an innovative
program, sponsored
by Schoolwide
Inc., that allows
the school to
open a bookstore
with 200 books.
The bookstore’s
grand opening
was held Monday,
Sept. 12, complete
with a student
performance by
the school’s
eighth grade
orchestra. The
students were
so excited about
the new store
that 27 books
were sold just
at the opening!
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
store will be
open from 8:30 – 8:50
a.m. Monday,
Wednesday and
Friday, and a
group of eighth
graders will
run the store,
manning the cash
register and
replacing stock.
“The
students were
so excited about
the ‘lounge’ look,” Pollan
said. “I
have tried to
make it have
a real bookstore
atmosphere, with
muffins and juice
to purchase,
along with lamps,
tables and a
couch.”
Also
at the grand
opening, Principal
Russell Heaston
presented a family
displaced by
Hurricane Katrina
with a check
for $1,000, representing
money raised
by the American
Way Middle School
community. The
family’s
two children
are enrolled
at American Way
Middle. Schoolwide
Inc. also pledged
to help the family
by giving them
a home library
of 20 books!
September
8, 2005
Desoto
County, MS
corporation
gives Memphis
City Schools
$5,000 to
support district's
literacy
initiative
- 'Memphis
City Schools
Reads’
The "Memphis
City Schools
Reads" annual
literacy campaign
received a jumpstart
this week, when
the Alcoa Foundation
provided a $5,000
grant.
“We
are very thankful
to receive this
generous grant
from the Alcoa
Foundation,” said
Nikita Flynn,
marketing communications
manager and "MCS
Reads" coordinator. “It
is very encouraging
to know that
Mid South community
organizations
are supporting
the school district’s
focus on improved
literacy skills
for students.”
The "MCS
Reads" campaign
in conjunction
with the school
district's investment
in literacy instruction
proved to be
a successful
combination as
reflected in
2004-05 TCAP
reading comprehension
scores. Memphis
City Schools'
scores soared
an average of
ten points district-wide.
Alcoa's Olive
Branch plant
senior level
management team
was impressed
with the school
district's results
in literacy,
and decided that
the nation's
21st largest
school system
deserved the
company's financial
help.
"While
we are located
across state
lines in Olive
Branch, Mississippi,
many of our employees
reside in Memphis," said
Robert Lowe,
Alcoa CSI, Inc.
(Olive Branch
plant) Human
Resources Manager. "Superintendent
Carol Johnson,
teachers, principals,
students and
parents have
done an excellent
job of focusing
on literacy.
We believe literacy
is the key to
ensuring that
every child reachers
his or her full
potential." 'MCS
Reads' asks each
member of the
Memphis City
Schools community
to read at least
two books a month,
at least 25 in
a year. The program
offers special
incentives for
the top readers
on elementary,
middle and high
school levels.
Last year, MCS
students read
more than 1.4
million books
through the "MCS
Reads" program.
The campaign
for the 2005-06
school year kicks
off on Monday,
Sept. 19.
"Seeing
what Memphis
City Schools
is doing to accommodate
Hurricane Katrina
evacuees reinforces
the fact that
our plant in
conjunction with
the Alcoa Foundation
made the right
decision to partner
with the school
system for its
literacy program,” said
Lowe.
Alcoa
is the world’s
leading producer
of primary aluminum,
fabricated aluminum
and alumina and
makes and markets
consumer brands
including Reynolds
Wrap®, Alcoa® wheels
and Baco® household
wraps. Among
its other businesses
are vinyl siding,
closures, fastening
systems, precision
castings, and
electrical distribution
systems for cars
and trucks.
To
sponsor "Memphis
City Schools
Reads," contact
Nikita Flynn
in the Office
of Communications
and Public Affairs
at 416-5628.
September
8, 2005
Parent
Learning
Academy Schedules
Parent Workshop
The
No Child Left
Behind Act and
the Memphis City
Schools Blue
Ribbon Initiative
will be the topics
presented to
city school parents
on Wednesday,
September 14
at the Martin
Luther King Center
Library.
The
parent workshop
begins at 9 a.m.
and lasts until
11:30 a.m. Presenters
are Aubrey Bond,
Director of No
Child Left Behind/Accountability
for the school
district, and
Brenda Cassellius,
Memphis City
Schools Middle
School Director.
The Martin Luther
King Center is
located at 620
S. Lauderdale.
Door prizes will
be given away,
and refreshments
will be served.
For more information,
call 416-7264.
September
1, 2005
Memphis
City Schools
to Aid Victims
of Hurricane
Katrina
Homes,
schools, communities
and families
have been tossed
to the winds
along the Gulf
Coast, and Memphis
City Schools
is opening its
arms and doors
to extend much-needed
assistance to
victims of Hurricane
Katrina.
In
a meeting with
Memphis Mayor
Willie Herenton
and other city
leaders who have
formed a Task
Force to find
ways to provide
assistance to
individuals and
families displaced
by Hurricane
Katrina, Superintendent
Carol Johnson
and Board President
Wanda M. Halbert
announced that
Memphis City
Schools is offering
to the Red Cross
and the Shelby
County EMA its
four closed schools – Locke
Elementary, Walker
Elementary, Stafford
Elementary and
Dunn Elementary – as
shelters for
displaced families
from New Orleans
and other devastated
areas along the
Gulf Coast.
The
destruction of
homes and communities
in Louisiana,
Mississippi and
Alabama will
prevent many
families from
returning to
their homes for
many weeks, even
months. Some
will have no
home to which
they can return.
Offering
its four closed
schools to be
used by the Red
Cross as shelters
to Katrina victims
is just a way
the Memphis City
Schools is trying
to help.
Displaced
parents with
school-age children
who are staying
in Memphis also
will have the
opportunity to
enroll their
children in school,
giving the children
the chance to
keep up with
their grade levels
and to regain
a sense of normalcy
in a confusing
time.
“It
is our responsibility
to help our neighbors
who are in need
during this difficult
time, and we
want to ensure
that children
receive the help
they need by
being allowed
to continue their
education,” said
Board President
Wanda M. Halbert.
Dr.
Johnson pointed
out that while
the victims of
Hurricane Katrina
need food, clothing
and shelter,
the educational
needs of the
children should
not be overlooked.
Memphis
City Schools
has set up a
special hotline
for displaced
families with
school-age children.
By calling the
Education Services
Hotline, 416-2100,
families with
children who
need to be enrolled
in school will
be able to find
out about various
options available
to them, including
special education
needs. Because
of the dire situation
that many families
are facing and
will continue
to face over
the coming months,
Memphis City
Schools will
not require any
documentation,
such as proof
of Memphis residency
or transcripts,
for the displaced
children to enroll,
however, MCS
is asking that
families provide
something that
indicates where
they are coming
from. MCS will
be flexible in
regards to this
information.
Memphis City
Schools is coordinating
this effort with
the Shelby County
Schools and the
Catholic Diocese
of Memphis.
Dr.
Johnson received
special permission
from Tennessee
Department of
Education to
use funds to
provide educational
support for the
students who
are now in Memphis.
Memphis
City Schools
Seeks School
Supplies
for Schoolchildren
Displaced
by Katrina
Written
by: Deborah W.
Baker, bakerd@mcsk12.net
To
assist schoolchildren
who have fled
with their families
from hurricane-ravaged
areas of Louisiana,
Mississippi,
Alabama and Florida,
Memphis City
Schools is seeking
donations of
basic school
supplies, as
well as cash
donations to
provide supplies
and uniform clothing
for the students.
The
Technology Center
of Southwest
Tennessee Technical
College has provided
a large truck
to the school
district to use
in collecting
school supplies
for the children
who are now enrolling
in the Memphis
City Schools.
The truck is
parked in front
of the Memphis
City Schools
Administration
Building, located
at the corner
of Hollywood
and Avery.
Collection
hours today and
next week are
7:30 a.m. – 5:30
p.m., Tuesday– Friday.
Because of the
large number
of children anticipated
to enroll next
week, the collection
hours are being
extended to allow
Saturday donations
of supplies and
uniforms. Items
may be dropped
off at the collection
truck Saturday,
Sept. 2 from
8 a.m. – noon.
Registration
of displaced
children will
also take place
at the Memphis
City Schools
Board of Education
Auditorium on
Saturday from
8 a.m. – noon,
and next week,
Tuesday through
Friday, from
7:30 a.m. – 5:30
p.m. (Suggested
supply items
listed on separate
page).
“
I urge all Memphians
to support
these efforts
by the Memphis
City Schools
to help the
children in
these families,” said
Anabell Turner,
president of
the Memphis
Council PTAs. “We
want them to
feel encouraged,
to feel hope.
They need our
help.”
Memphis
City Schools,
along with parochial
schools and Shelby
County Schools,
have invited
those children
whose families
are now in the
Memphis area
to register and
enroll in school.
Memphis City
Schools has set
up an Education
Services Hotline
(901-416-2100)
to answer questions
parents may have
about enrollment.
The hotline is
manned from 7:45
a.m. – 5
p.m. weekdays.
“
We want to make
this as simple
and easy as
possible for
these families
to get their
children back
in school,” said
Dr. Carol R.
Johnson. “Their
lives have
been completely
disrupted,
and it is important
that they get
back into school
as soon as
possible. We
realize that
many of these
families have
few resources
to provide
school supplies
and uniforms,
so we are asking
the community
to help us
address the
need that exists
right here
in Memphis.
These children
and their families
are now part
of our community,
and we must
help them.”
Memphis City
Schools, under
the federal McKinney-Vento
Act*, is waiving
its usual residency
requirements
and other paperwork
in order to enroll
any child displaced
by the hurricane.
All that a parent
or guardian needs
to enroll his
or her children
in the Memphis
City Schools
is something
that shows the
parent’s
place of residence
prior to Hurricane
Katrina, such
as a driver’s
license or a
personal check.
Even if those
items are not
available, the
school district
will work with
the parent to
get the child
enrolled in school.
Memphis
City Schools
wants to provide
school supplies
and vouchers
for a school
uniform to all
displaced students
when they register.
The
school district
has also set
up a disaster
relief fund to
help displaced
families of Hurricane
Katrina. A special
account has been
set up at Tri-State
Bank, and funds
collected will
be used to assist
families who
have relocated
to Memphis because
of the hurricane.
Persons who wish
to contribute
to the fund may
bring their check
or cash to any
Tri-State Bank
or to the Memphis
City Schools
Communications & Public
Affairs office,
room 208, at
the district’s
administration
building, corner
of Hollywood
and Avery, during
normal business
hours, or send
by mail to: MCS
Disaster Relief
Fund, Memphis
City Schools,
Room 208, 2597
Avery, Memphis,
TN 38112.. Checks
should be made
payable to: MCS
Disaster Relief
Fund. If making
a contribution
at one of the
Tri-State Bank
branches, indicate
that the contribution
is for the MCS
Disaster Relief
Fund.
For
more information,
call Communications
and Public Affairs,
Memphis City
Schools, 416-5628.
*The McKinney-Vento
Act defines “homeless
children and
youth” (school-age
and younger)
as: “Children
and youth who
lack a fixed,
regular, and
adequate nighttime
residence,
including children
and youth who
are: sharing
the housing
of other persons
due to loss
of housing,
economic hardship,
or a similar
reason,” and
the Tennessee
Department
of Education
has instructed
that children
rendered homeless
by the hurricane
must be enrolled
immediately
(even without
academic or
medical records).
MCS
Hurricane
Relief – Supply
Drive
Items
Needed:
#2
pencils
crayons
markers, assorted
colors (washable)
pocket folders
with brads
pocket folders
without brads
dry erase markers
Fiskars-type
blunt end scissors
backpacks
rulers
glue sticks
bottled school
glue
Ziploc-type freezer
bags (both quart
