September 29, 2006

Sixteen MCS Students Named National Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists

Sixteen MCS Students Selected from More than 130,000 U.S. Applicants

Memphis, Tenn. ñ Memphis City Schools is proud to announce that 16 of its high school students have been named Semifinalists in the prestigious National Achievement Scholarship Program. The students were selected from a national pool of more than 130,000 high school applicants.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program is an annual academic competition established in 1964 to provide recognition for outstanding Black American high school students. Students qualify for the program based on scores from the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test among other requirements. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring program participants in their respective states.

The 16 Semifinalists from Memphis City Schools are among a group of about 1,600 students vying for one of 700 National Achievement Scholarships worth $2,500. One hundred Corporate-Sponsored Scholarships are awarded as well. Finalists will be notified beginning in late February.

Semifinalists for the 2007 National Achievement Scholarship Program

* Nabill Z. Abdurehman ñ Cordova High School
* Ashley Aluko ñ White Station High School
* Kevin A. Bolton ñ Central High School
* Ian-Schuyler P. Burnett ñ Central High School
* Brittany R. Douglas ñ Central High School
* Autriel E. Galloway ñ White Station High School
* Xavier A. Jones ñ White Station High School
* Adrian S. King ñ Ridgeway High School
* Nicholas D. Martin ñ White Station High School
* Eric C. Miller - Whitehaven High School
* Gabrielle R. Westbrook ñ Ridgeway High School
* Angelique N. Williamson ñ Central High School
* Keadrea R. Wilson ñ Whitehaven High School
* Cordera M. Woodard ñ Hamilton High School
* Amber N. Woods ñ Overton High School
* Stephon D. Woods ñ White Station High School

For more information about the National Achievement Scholarship Program, visit www.nationalmerit.org.

September 26, 2006

Students, counselors and their parents are invited to attend and participate in Student-College Interview Sessions (SCIS), often referred to as college fairs, Thursday-Saturday, October 12-14, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the:

MEMPHIS COOK CONVENTION CENTER
255 NORTH MAIN STREET
MEMPHIS, TN  38103

An evening session for parents and students at all grade levels will be held on Thursday, October 12, from 6-8 p.m., also at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.  The Saturday program, on October 14, will be Early Awareness/College Preparation Workshops and is also open to parents and students at all grade levels.

The Thursday and Friday day sessions, from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., are especially for high school seniors interested in pursuing a postsecondary education regardless of test scores, grade point averages, and ethnic or economic backgrounds.  In addition to high school students and their counselors, the session is open to parents and faculty as well as junior and community college students.  There is no cost involved in attending the SCIS. Additionally, participating students are provided with other pertinent information regarding scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Students should plan to spend approximately 60-90 minutes at the session during the scheduled time period.

Student-College Interview Sessions, often referred to as college fairs, were conceived by the National Scholarship Service in 1963 to assist students in gaining access to a postsecondary education.  The sessions provide an opportunity for students to meet college representatives on a one-to-one basis to obtain information about programs at the institutions that interest them.  Participating at the SCIS are Ivy League institutions, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), traditional state colleges and universities, junior and community colleges, vocational schools, and military academies.  This year, approximately 70 institutions are expected to participate.  Many of these institutions provide onsite Admissions and Scholarship opportunities to student(s) who provide them with copies of their transcript and SAT/ACT test scores. 

September 18, 2006

MCS Hosts Free Seminar for Parents to Boost Parental Involvement

Memphis, Tenn. – Parents of Memphis City Schools students are invited to attend a two-day No Child Left Behind Parent Seminar. The annual event will be held on Tuesday, September 19 from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Teaching and Learning Academy, 2485 Union Avenue, and Wednesday, September 20 from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Select, 2240 Democrat Road.

"This is a great opportunity for parents to learn more about the new programs and options available to them this school year," said Lola Bolden, the Director of the Division of Parent and Community Engagement. "In addition, we will discuss how to improve the partnerships between parents and schools."

The Tuesday evening session will feature Ms. Brenda Thomas of the National Network of Partnership Schools and Johns Hopkins University. Board President and Commissioner Sara L. Lewis will be deliver the keynote address Wednesday morning. The Seminar will conclude with workshops on kindergarten readiness, nutritional guidelines, testing, school safety and more.

The Seminar is free, and refreshments will be served. To register, please call 416-7264. The event is sponsored by the district's Division of Parent and Community Engagement, Division of NCLB, and Division of Careers, Technology and Adult Education.

September 15, 2006

Memphis City Schools Breaking Ground on New Douglass High School

Community Parade and Ceremony Highlight
Douglass Groundbreaking Festivities Saturday, Sept. 16

Memphis, Tenn. ñ Memphis City Schools will celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Douglass High School on Saturday, September 16 at the site of the original Douglass School, 3200 Mt. Olive Street.

The morning's festivities will kick off with a community parade leading to the site of the new school at 9 a.m. Several School Board Commissioners, along with MCS Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson, will join a host of other district leaders and distinguished guests from the community for the official groundbreaking ceremony, which takes place at 10 a.m.

The original Douglass School became part of the Memphis City Schools in 1950 and housed both the elementary and high school for a number of years before Douglass Elementary School was built. The last graduating high school class from Douglass was in 1981.

Members of the media* are encouraged to attend and witness this proud day for both Memphis City Schools and the people of the Douglas Community.

*Media Parking
Members of the media who plan to attend the groundbreaking for the new Douglass High School should park along Mt. Olive Street.

September 8, 2006

Memphis City Schools Holds Job Fair to
Hire Campus Monitors

Parents and Community Members Encouraged to Attend Job Fair on
Tuesday, September 12 at 4 pm at the
Board Of Education Auditorium

(Memphis, Tenn.) Memphis City Schools is excited to announce the addition of 60 Campus Monitors for high schools and middle schools throughout the district.

In an effort to promptly place parents, community members and other job seekers, Memphis City Schools is holding a job fair on Tuesday, September 12 at 4 pm in the Board of Education Auditorium. Candidates will be interviewed, selected and hired at the job fair, pending a criminal background check.

Campus Monitors will be responsible for supporting the district's existing safety measures and providing additional adult supervision for students. Other responsibilities include inspecting areas inside and outside of school buildings, assisting faculty during student transition time and serving as a deterrent to disruptive and negative behaviors. This temporary position is effective September 18 ñ December 22, 2006. The rate of pay is $12.00 per hour.

Additional plans regarding student safety will be announced at the regular Board Meeting on Monday, September 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Board of Education auditorium located at 2597 Avery in Memphis, TN.

Campus Monitors School Locations - pdf

Campus Monitors Job Fair Flyer - pdf

September 8, 2006

National Honor Society Officers to be Inducted at Airways Middle

Memphis, Tenn. - Memphis City Schools Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson will lead a special ceremony celebrating newly inducted National Junior Honor Society officers from Airways Middle School on Sunday, September 10. The event titled "Light is the Symbol of Truth" will take place at 2 p.m. at Annesdale Cherokee Baptist Church.

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Dwight Montgomery, pastor of Annesdale Cherokee Baptist Church, will recognize the wonderful achievements made by each of the inductees and highlight the four key principles embodied by all honor society officers: scholarship, service, leadership and character.

Dr. Montgomery will use the occasion to formally announce "Faith Based Leaders Day," which is set for October 19 during "Memphis Goes Back to School Week." "Faith Based Leaders Day" will spotlight leaders from the faith based community who support public education and have helped make a difference in the Memphis City Schools.

For more information, call Annesdale Cherokee Baptist Church at 743-2057. The church is located at 2960 Kimball Avenue.

September 5 , 2006

Snowden Teacher to be Honored
by U.S. Department of Education as
American Star of Teaching

Memphis, Tenn. ñ Representatives of the U.S. Department of Education will be at Snowden School later this morning for a surprise ceremony recognizing Myra Govea de Arce as the American Star of Teaching recipient for the state of Tennessee.

Govea de Arce was one of only 51 recipients of the prestigious American Star of Teaching honor ñ one from each state and the District of Columbia ñ selected from among 4,000 nominees nationwide for their success in improving academic performance and making a difference in students' lives using the principles of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Govea de Arce provides a unique learning environment for her sixth through eighth grade Spanish students, allowing them to investigate an array of world cultures with engaging classroom lessons and enriching off-campus projects. Her diverse teaching style allows every child in her presence to build skills they need to be highly competitive at the high school level.

"Teachers like Myra Govea de Arce never give up on a child. They believe every child-regardless of race, income or zip code-can achieve high standards in school," U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings said. "We're proud to honor these excellent teachers for their hard work and commitment to leaving no child behind."

Still unaware that she has been chosen for this outstanding distinction, the ceremony will come as a total surprise to Govea de Arce. Snowden Principal Catherine Battle and her team have been working hard to keep it under wraps for weeks, masking the occasion as a celebration for a new language grant, and they can't wait to see her expression and those of her children when this honor is unveiled.

The ceremony at Snowden will begin at 10 a.m. Margarita Pinkos, Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Education, will be presenting the honor. She'll also discuss effective teaching practices and the No Child Left Behind Act.

Nominations for the American Stars of Teaching were submitted by principals, colleagues, superintendents, legislators, civic/local leaders, students and parents. Nominees were chosen by a panel of former K-12 teachers who now work for U.S. Department of Education.

Started in 2004, the American Stars of Teaching is part of the U.S. Department of Education's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, which was developed under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

For more information about the program, contact Stephanie Babyak or Jane Glickman at (202) 401-1576.

Media Guidelines

Media members planning to attend this event should park in the lot in the rear of the school near the football field. The easiest way to access this lot is to enter the private drive located on the East side of Snowden between the school and the Cotton Club building in the 1800 block of North Parkway.

All attendees should enter the school in the rear of the building located in the courtyard and check in at the main office.