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MCS Hosting HIV/AIDS Awareness Workshop for Teachers

On Friday, February 24, Memphis City Schools will host a teachers workshop aimed at better preparing the district’s health teachers for the complex task of increasing HIV/AIDS awareness among students and gauge how students and parents view topics associated with sexual activity.

This informational session will include a presentation from Ms. Ruth Geertz, a consultant who will explain the new “Choosing the Best” curriculum provided under the district’s HIV/AIDS resource grant. The curriculum is an abstinence-only program designed to educate teens about self-respect and refusal skills, as well as the importance of delaying sexual activity until marriage. It also addresses other sex-related issues, such as sexually transmitted infections (STI’s, formerly known as STD’s) and unplanned pregnancy.

The workshop will be held from 7:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Telecommunications Center (TCC) Auditorium, 2485 Union Ave. Each school is asked to send one teacher who is responsible for delivering the health, Family Life and HIV/AIDS Prevention Education curriculum. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Please contact Ms. Sudie Cushman, HIV/AIDS Grant Coordinator, with the name of teacher who will be attending this workshop so that she can order food accordingly. Ms. Cushman can be reached at 416-1327 or cushmans@mcsk12.net.

Raleigh Egypt High School
To Host Forum on Gang Awareness February 23

Raleigh Egypt High School will host a panel of experts from law enforcement, government, the judicial system, higher education and the school district Thursday, February 23 beginning at 6 p.m., in a forum designed to help educate parents and the community about gangs.

The forum is being organized by District 1 Commissioner Stephanie Gatewood. Commissioner Wanda Halbert, who serves on the Disproportionate Minority Confinement Task Force for Tennessee, is also participating.

Others on the panel include Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton; Sheriff Mark Luttrell and Inspector Bill Allen and Captain Barnett from the Sheriff’s Office; Criminal Court Judges D’Army Bailey and Tim Dwyer; Sgt. Vince Higgins, Maj. Johnny Currin and Command Staff from the Memphis Police Department; Reginald Henderson from the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office; MCS Security Director Sam Moses; Professor Richard Janikowski, chairman of the Criminal Justice department at the University of Memphis; and Dr. Leon Caldwell, associate professor of psychology, University of Memphis, among others.

“The goal is to provide parents with resources and good information that they can use and share with others,” Commissioner Gatewood said. “We invite all parents, community leaders, teachers and administrators to come to the forum and to arm themselves with information.”

“WILD” Opportunities for Teachers Available at
Memphis Botanic Gardens

The Memphis Botanic Gardens is giving teachers the chance to learn more about some of the most interesting species on the planet and find out creative ways to pass it along to their students. It’s all part of the Memphis Botanic Gardens’ Flying WILD class Saturday, March 4.

The program focuses on migratory birds describes how to get students involved with activities that promote environmental learning and stewardship. Flying WILD also describes how to integrate bird education and conservation into the every day classroom curriculum, from math to social studies, science and language arts.

Flying WILD is free for all teachers and pre-service teachers. It will be held at the Memphis Botanic Gardens from 9 a.m. – noon. *The session is designed for middle school classes, but can easily be adapted for younger students.

Participants will receive:

• Flying WILD: An Educator's Guide to Celebrating Birds
• A detailed orientation on how to use the guide and options for implementing Flying WILD in the classroom
• Background information on migratory birds
• Practice conducting Flying WILD activities
• An overview of how Flying WILD activities connect to subject areas across the curriculum
• Contact information and networking opportunities for working with local bird experts and conservation organizations

Flying WILD is presented by Memphis Botanic Garden in conjunction with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency and the Tennessee Environmental Education Association.

Space is limited, so pre-registration is required. Call Gina Harris at 685-1566 ext.110 to register or for more information.

Nat’l Award Allows Frayser Grad to Retrace
C.O.G.I.C.’s Rise in Memphis

Elton Weaver, a graduate of Frayser High School and a doctoral candidate in history at The University of Memphis, has been given the honor of conducting research at New York’s prestigious Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture under the fellowship awarded by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Mr. Weaver’s project title is “Mark the Perfect Man, and Behold the Upright: Bishop C.H. Mason and the Emergence of the Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee.”

Weaver graduated with honors from LeMoyne Owen College and earned his Master’s Degree from Warwick University. Since then, he’s received the Tennessee Board of Regents Graduate and Doctoral Graduate Minority Fellowships, The University of Memphis History Department Endowment Dissertation Research Grant, the Donovan Dissertation Research Travel Award and the Southern Regional Education Board Dissertation Fellowship.

Founded in 1994, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History promotes the study and love of American history among audiences ranging from students to scholars to the general public. Every year, the Institute awards short-term fellowships for doctoral candidates and post-doctoral scholars of all faculty ranks. The Institute has funded a total of 390 fellowships since 1994.

For more information, visit www.gilderlehrman.org.

Parents Sound Off through MCS School Climate Surveys

Principals at every Memphis City School are sending their students home with School Climate Surveys to pass on to parents this week. The surveys will give parents the opportunities to express their views about the education being provided for their children at Memphis City Schools, while allowing the district to gauge how well they’re meeting parents’ needs.

The School Climate Surveys address everything from principal leadership to teacher quality, learning atmosphere, school safety, home-school relations and parental involvement. The results of the surveys will be shared with the Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson, as well as the district’s academic superintendents, principals and teachers to determine whether changes may be necessary at any of the MCS schools.

“The questions in this survey will basically help the teachers, principals and administrators get a better idea of how parents feel about their work in the schools and help everyone learn how to develop a better school climate,” said Florence Calaway, coordinator of the MCS Office of Research and Evaluation.

The district will begin compiling the results on March 10. For more information, contact the Office of Research and Evaluation at 416-5455.

Lester Sixth Graders Skip School Holiday
To Meet Author of The Ditchdigger’s Daughters

Although Friday, February 17 was a holiday for Memphis City Schools students, sixth graders at Lester Elementary made sure they were in class that day – because they had a date with a VIP.

Dr. Yvonne S. Thornton, M.D., author of The Ditchdigger’s Daughters: A Black Family’s Astonishing Success Story agreed to speak to Lester Elementary sixth graders about her life and her book after reading their touching email messages. The students emailed Dr. Thornton about some excerpts of her book that they read in The Commercial Appeal.

Excerpts from Dr. Thornton’s book have been published in The Commercial Appeal from January 17 and are running through February 23. It is the story of the Thornton family, headed by Donald Thornton, a laborer, his wife Tass, a domestic worker, and their six daughters who grew up to pursue professional careers: two physicians, a court stenographer, a dentist, a registered nurse and an attorney.

Since the book's publication in 1995, it has been named a Literary Guild Selection and has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in literature. In addition, a made-for-television movie was produced with Carl Lumbly portraying Donald Thornton.

The visit was coordinated at Lester by the school’s instructional facilitator, Barbara
Thomas, in conjunction with Kay Shelton of Mid-South Reads.

MCS Offering Spring Driver Education Classes

Memphis City Schools is offering the following Driver Education courses during the Spring semester for students between the ages of 15 and 20:

• Feb. 27 - March 3 – Craigmont High School, 3333 Covington Pike
• March 20 – 24 – Cordova High School, 1800 Berryhill
• April 10 – 14 – White Station High School, 514 South Perkins
  (At least 20 students must register for classes to be held.)

All classes meet from 3-6 p.m. Each features classroom instruction, simulated driving and supervised street driving. Students will earn one-half credit and an insurance certificate upon satisfactory completion. The cost of tuition is $175 for current MCS students and $225 for others. Payment will be collected on the first day of class. No checks will be accepted.

For information or registration materials, call 416-6458 or 416-5659. Applications must be returned to the Driver Education office, 2687 Avery.

Parent Training Session February 22
"Financial Literacy for the Family"

The Memphis City Schools Division of Parent and Community Engagement has rescheduled the "Financial Literacy for the Family" parent training session for Wednesday, February 22. Dr. Julie Heath, director of the Center for Economic Education at The University of Memphis, is among the scheduled presenters.

The training session will be held from 9 – 11:30 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Center, 620 S. Lauderdale. Call 416-7549 for more information.

MCS “Kids Kan” Help Fight Hunger

The Division of Nutrition Services and the Memphis Food Bank are counting on Memphis City Schools students to once gain join the fight against hunger by way of the “Kids Kan” food drive. Many families and organizations benefit every year from the generous contributions from the students in Memphis City Schools. This year, the Food Bank hopes to reach a total of 500,000 pounds of donated food.

Packets containing all of the necessary information for participating in the “Kids Kan” food drive, as well as tips for making this program a success, are being mailed to principals this week. Participating schools will collect cans during the week of February 27 – March 3, with pick-ups beginning the week of March 6.

A downloadable copy of the “Kids Kan” participation form can be obtained by clicking the link below. Please return the form as soon as possible so the Food Bank can begin planning for pick-ups.

Kids Kan Participation Form - pdf

Participation forms must be returned no later than February 17.

Mail: The Food Bank, 239 S. Dudley, Memphis, TN 38104

Fax: Attention: Kids Kan at 901-528-1172

Email: David Stephens, Director of Community Relations at stephens@memphisfoodbank.org.

Academy Awards Technology Challenge
Entries Due April 4

The Memphis City Schools Academy Awards Technology Challenge is open to all K-12 students in the district. Central to the Academy Awards Technology Challenge philosophy is the notion that students learn best by doing. This challenge invites participants to explore topics within a content area, collaborate to achieve goals and develop interesting multimedia projects that extend their knowledge. The backbone of the entire process is teamwork.

Student teams will be organized in the following groups: K-4, 5-8 and 9-12. Each team is eligible to submit projects in one of the following formats:

• Video (Maximum length 5 -7 minutes)
  Submit in VHS or DVD format
• Multimedia Software (Maximum 25 slides or cards)
  All software-based tools (e.g., PowerPoint) must be self-running (No presenter)
• Web-based (Web-site Maximum of 25 pages)

Judging will begin immediately after the April 4 entry deadline. Finalists, their coaches, teachers, principals and parents will be invited to attend The Academy Awards Night, Thursday, May 4 at the Telecommunications Center Auditorium at 7 p.m. The event will be televised on Channel 19.

For more information or to download entry forms, visit http://www.memphis-schools.k12.tn.us/admin/tlapages/tech/academy_awards.asp.

MCS Administrator Guides U.S. Educators
on Path to Accreditation

Curtis L. Morris, coordinator of accreditation services for Memphis City Schools, stands as an example for educators across the country when it comes to preparing academic institutions for learning in the 21st century. Mr. Morris highlighted the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) 2005 Annual Conference of the Council on Accreditation and School Improvement in Houston, TX in December.

Morris’ presentation, entitled “Managing Complex Change on the Road to Continuous Improvement through Accreditation: Unpacking a Few Principles and Formulas,” discussed the necessary tools and techniques that educators must employ in order to effectively engage their schools and school systems in today’s diverse learning environment. He outlined the challenges facing today’s school leaders, such as new legislation, budget cuts and the increased need for professional and instructional developmental services that differ from those provided in the past.

The theme for the Annual Conference was Opportunities and Challenges: The Road to Continuous Improvement through Accreditation. It featured more than 75 sessions focusing on effective educational practices, processes used for initial and continuing accreditation and school improvement.

Founded in 1895, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is a voluntary, nongovernmental agency composed of more than 13,000 accredited colleges, universities and K-12 schools. SACS is based in Decatur, Georgia. It serves 11 Southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. It also reaches colleges and schools in Mexico, Central and South America and the islands of the Caribbean.

For more information about the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, contact Jennifer H. Oliver, director of communications and marketing, at (404)-679-4501. To find out more about accreditation services at Memphis City Schools, call 775-7452.

MATCU Extends Deadline for $10,000 Future Educator Award

Students pursuing a teaching career have until March 1 to apply for the Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union (MATCU) scholarship program designed to aid future educators. MATCU will award six scholarships of up to $10,000 each to high school seniors or college freshmen planning a career in teaching during the Spring 2006 semester.

“MATCU’s Board of Directors and management team want to help curb the current teacher shortage facing the education profession,” said MATCU President and CEO Carlos Webb. “We believe that by offering scholarship assistance to future educators, we can contribute a valuable resource for our community.”

Guidelines

High school seniors graduating in 2006 and college freshmen who are either MATCU members or dependent children of MATCU members are eligible to apply. Applicants must be attending or planning to enter an accredited teacher preparation college or university for the summer or fall semester of 2006. They must also state that their career goal is to become a classroom teacher and maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average.

Interested students can log on to www.matcu.com for a printable version of the application, or visit any MATCU location. Complete rules and eligibility requirements are included with the application. The deadline for entry is March 1.

MATCU Offering “One Class at a Time” Teacher Grants

The start of 2006 marks the start of another opportunity for teachers to win extra money for their classrooms. The Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union (MATCU) is now accepting applications for the $500 “One Class at a Time” grant.

The “One Class at a Time” grant was developed by MATCU and Eyewitness News to award one Mid-South teacher each month with a $500 grant for supplies and to fund specific projects to enhance learning in the classroom. Last year four MCS teachers enjoyed the $500 grant: Angela Brookins from Gordon Elementary, Stephanie Parker-Bradley from Wooddale Middle, Coral Niknahad from Westside High and Janice Brown from American Way Middle School.

To learn more about “One Class at a Time,” visit www.matcu.com and click on the “One Class at a Time” logo.

MCS Accepting Optional Schools Transfer Applications for 2006-07

Memphis City Schools is currently accepting transfer applications for parents seeking to enroll their children in the district’s Optional Schools program for the 2006-07 school year. The transfer process started Friday, January 27 from 6:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Applications will be accepted until the first day of the 2006-07 school year in the Optional Schools office at the Memphis Board of Education. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday – Friday.

Parents will need the following items when they apply:

• Completed application form
• A copy of the child’s most recent comprehensive report card
• Current nationally-normed or Tennessee-normed standardized achievement test scores
• A copy of the child’s Social Security card
• Birth certificate for KK applicants to Double Tree & Idlewild only

First preference for available optional transfers will go to qualified siblings with brothers or sisters who are in satisfactory standing in the requested school at the beginning of the 2006-07 school year. City residents will also be given priority for the available spaces.

Non-city residents will be considered on a space-availability basis and will be required to pay tuition. Any student who meets the specific program requirements and lives within the geographically assigned area of an optional school automatically qualifies. Parents of these students should contact the schools directly.

For more information, contact the Memphis City Schools Division of Optional Schools, 416-5338.

Robert R. Church Scholarship Applications Being Accepted

Applications for the Robert R. Church Scholarship award are being accepted now through March 31. The Robert R. Church Scholarship Fund began in 1997 by a group of African American business owners to provide deserving young African American high School students with financial assistance to continue their education. To date there have been approximately 40 plus students who have received this award and have gone on to colleges and universities throughout the State of Tennessee.

Requirements for Robert R. Church Scholarship

• Must be a Memphis City Schools or Shelby County Public Schools student
• Must maintain a “C” average in junior and senior year of school
• Must attend a two or four-year college/university in the State of Tennessee
• Must major in a Business Related Field

An Application form and requirements are included below. Please include the following materials with the application:

• High school transcript
• ACT/SAT scores
• Three letters of recommendation from teachers, employers, clergy and/or persons other than family members who are familiar with you and your abilities.

MCS Offering New Teacher Information Sessions

Do you have a friend or family member that has a degree in math, engineering or the sciences? Would they make a great teacher? Tell them about Memphis City Schools’ upcoming new teacher information session!

The sessions will provide information about two math and science licensure programs that could pay full tuition costs for an accelerated 15-month program at The University of Memphis.

Current teachers will also be there to answer questions about what it’s really like to teach high school math and science, and human resources staffers will share tips on the best way to interview and land a job with MCS for the 2006-07 school year.

Information session dates:

• Thursday, February 23 – 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, March 6 – 5:30 p.m.

All information sessions will take place at the Teaching and Learning Academy, 2485 Union Avenue. For more information, visit www.teachmemphis.org.

“Finding Economics in Literature”
Essay Contest Open to MCS High School Students

The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, along with its Little Rock, Louisville and Memphis branches, is sponsoring the “Finding Economics in Literature” essay contest for high school students during the 2006 spring semester. Students are asked to identify and discuss the economic concepts in their favorite book using plenty of examples and supporting details to show how the concepts relate to the story. Each regional branch of the bank will judge the essays from its area and award prizes to the top five entries.

Awards:

First Place - $500 Savings Bond
Second Place - $400 Savings Bond
Third Place - $300 Savings Bond
Fourth Place - $200 Savings Bond
Fifth Place - $100 Savings Bond

Examples of economic concepts that could be used in the essay are:

Winners will be notified the week of April 24. They’ll receive their awards during a recognition luncheon in early May. Each winner is allowed to bring one adult - teacher, parent or guardian - to the luncheon. In addition, all students who enter the contest will receive a certificate of participation.

The deadline for entries is April 3. Students can register and find additional information online at www.stlouisfed.org/education/essaycontest.html.

“Who Are Today’s Patriots?”
James A. Sweeney Memorial Essay Contest

Presented by Mid-South Reads and The Military Order of the World Wars, Memphis Chapter

CONTEST RULES

1. This contest is open to all students attending public, parochial or private schools (including accredited home schools). Only one entry per student is permitted.

2. The contest is for an original essay written in English. For grades 4-6, a minimum of 350 words are required. For grades 7-12, a minimum of 500 words are required excluding the title page. One or two-letter words, such as “I,” “to,” and “we,” will not be not counted. When counting words in a date, a numerical date (2006) or a date spelled out (Two thousand six), they will be counted as one word.

3. The topic of the essay is: “Who Are Today’s Patriots?” Students must submit a release form (attached below) along with their essay.

4. The essay must be typed double-spaced on 8 1/2 X 11 white paper using a computer, word processor or typewriter. Graphics are not permitted.

5. The essay will be judged on the following criteria:

• The essay must follow the topic of “Who Are Today’s Patriots?”
• The essay must be interesting and shows creativity.
• The essay must show clear organization, appropriate sentence structure, appropriate spelling and appropriate punctuation.

6. All entries shall then be submitted to the judges of The Military Order of the World Wars, Memphis Chapter. Judges shall not be parents, relatives or teachers of participating students. All decisions will be final. Participants in this contest agree that the interpretation of rules and the decisions of the designated committees of Mid-South Reads and The Military Order of the World Wars, Memphis Chapter and its judges shall govern without reservation.

7. All entries must be filled out completely and clearly. The release form must be signed.

8. Upon receipt, all entries become the property of The Military Order of the World Wars, Memphis Chapter and Mid-South Reads.

9. Entries must be postmarked no later than March 3, 2006. Winners will be notified by March 24, 2006.

10. Winners will be announced at the April evening meeting of The Military Order of the World Wars.

AWARDS:

Students in grades 10 - 12:

First place - $500 savings bond
Second place - $200 savings bond
Third place - $100 savings bond

Students in grades 7 – 9:

First place - $200 savings bond Second place - $100 savings bond
Third place - $50 savings bond

Students in grades 4 – 6:

$50 savings bonds for the top three winners

Send entries to:
Kay Shelton
Mid-South Reads
409 Ball Hall
Memphis, TN 38152

A downloadable copy of the parent/guardian release form is available below. Forms can also be obtained at www.midsouthreads.org. The scoring guide for essays is also listed below.

For more information, call Kay Shelton at 678-2001 or ksheltn1@memphis.edu.

Click Here to download Release Form.

Click Here to download the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Scoring Guide for Writing

Reserve Your Place Now!
75th Anniversary Piano Celebration to Span the Decades

Memphis City Schools 75th annual All-City Class Piano Concert is more than just a performance. It’s a celebration of everyone who was ever part of the program, which is why the District is inviting every former teacher and student of the MCS Class Piano program to join in the excitement.

Fox13’s Leon Griffin will host the Spring concert at Overton High School and serve as narrator while each set of performers guides the guests on a musical tour of the past seven decades. Students will play a song or two that captures the essence of each decade, from the 1930’s up to 2000. Mr. Griffin will offer interesting anecdotes about each time period. For example, students were once taught on paper pianos, and lessons only cost a quarter decades ago.

Senior students will perform the night’s grand finale, which will be an original piece written by Michael Ching, Artistic Director for Opera Memphis.

All in all, the night will honor the school system’s commitment to providing a valuable musical education for students and celebrate every child who has reaped the benefits.

Organizer Karen Gephart, Orff Music Director for MCS, says, “It would ‘tickle our ivory’ pink to have you as a guest.”

Call 416-5411 now to reserve your place in the 75th Anniversary All-City Class Piano Concert on April 6.

FedEx Institute of Technology Offering Free Business Workshops

In conjunction with its 2006 Business Plan Competition for college students and local researchers, The FedEx Institute of Technology on The University of Memphis Campus is offering the following free business planning workshops and activities to public:

February 22 -- Marketing & Markets - 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., FedEx Institute, Room 314

February 24 -- Startup.com (film) - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., FedEx Institute, Methodist Theatre

March 2 -- Legal Organizations & Financial Projections – TBA

For more information about the workshops or The FedEx Institute of Technology, visit www.fedex.memphis.edu/BizPlan or call 678-5105.

Free Family Fun at the Memphis Library

Look no further than your public library for an exciting and entertaining evening for your entire family. The Memphis Public Library & Information Center has announced the Family Activity Night (FAN) schedule for Spring 2006.

FAN is in its fourth programming season, and organizers say this year’s programs will be better than ever. As always, the programs are free but registration is required – call 415-2849 or email EVENTS@memphislibrary.org. All FAN events are held on Friday nights at 6:30 p.m. at the Benjamin L. Hooks Library, 3030 Poplar Ave.

Spring 2006 FAN Schedule

Friday, March 3, 6:30 p.m.:
I’ve Been Workin’ on the Railroad - Learn about model trains, and listen to old railroad tales. Families can also make their own train craft to take home. Presented by the Memphis Society of Model Railroaders.

Friday, April 7, 6:30 p.m.:
Dance the Night Away – Learn new dances and go to a sock hop.

Friday, May 5, 6:30 p.m.:
What’s Growing On? - Plant a flower and learn some fun-tastic plant facts.

Friday, June 2, 6:30 p.m.:
Into the Wild - You will get up close with unusual and wild animals at this program.

Botanic Gardens Helping Students Grow with In-School Programs

From creating sweet treats to dissecting peanuts and making paper out of trash, Memphis Botanic Gardens’ in-school programs will help students enhance their environmental learning experience. The Botanic Gardens is hosting a series of one-hour programs for students at the elementary level. The cost is $50 per session, and they can be done at the Botanic Garden or in the classroom. If a school orders more than one session in the same day, the cost per program is $40. There is a $10 fee for any travel outside Shelby County.

This year’s in-school programs include:

Nature’s Candy Store (Grades 1-6)
This presentation explores the plant origins of some of children’s favorite sweet treats. Engaging experiments include making their own chewing gum and Colonial mint candies.

Tie-Dying ... Naturally (Grades 1-6)
This presentation teaches students the age-old tradition of tie-dyeing, including the various plants that can be used to create cloths and dyes. They’ll also get to tie-dye their own t-shirts. (T-shirts are not provided.)

“The Magic of Seeds” with The Amazing Green Thumb (Grades 2-4)
This presentation will amaze students by showing them some of nature’s tricks such as the life cycle of a plant and how seeds are dispersed with the help of wind, water, animals, humans and other unusual adaptations. Students can discover the magic for themselves by touching strange seeds, dissecting a peanut and germinating their own “magical” beans.

Recycling Made Fun (Grades 2-6)
This presentation will teach students the importance of resource conservation and
recycling through hands-on experience. Students will also learn how “garbage” items
can be reused to make crafts.

“The Power of Plants” with Captain Chlorophyll (Grades 3-4)
Captain Chlorophyll doesn’t leap tall buildings in a single bound, but this superhero sure knows her way around the garden! In this presentation, students will learn the “super powers” behind some well-known plants used for food, medicines, and more. They will also get to experience a plant’s power first-hand as they create their own classroom greenhouse!

“The Mystery of Flowers” with Inspector Nectar (Grades 3-6)
Inspector Nectar will help students discover new sprouts of information as they seek out the clues hidden inside a plant. Students will learn answers to mysteries like why some flowers smell sweet and others smell rotten. The Presentation will also include a flower dissection that teaches flower structure and seed production.

In-school programs book quickly. To sign up, contact the Memphis Botanic Gardens at 685-1566, ext. 126 or 132.

“Aviation in the Schools” Week Lifts Off at MCS March 6-10

At one time or another, just about every young boy or girl has stared in the sky in amazement, dreaming about the day they’d soar through the clouds as the pilot of the very own airplane. In March, every Memphis City School will have the opportunity to teach children how to make that dream become a reality.

Aviation in Schools, Inc., a Memphis-based nonprofit organization promoting aviation careers to area youth, is offering free presentations to every school in the District March 6-10. The multi-media program is tailor-fit for every age group. The 45-minute presentation discusses the different aviation careers available and how to pursue them. It also motivates students to achieve overall educational excellence in the classroom.

All of the programs are provided at no cost to the schools. To register a school, send an email to aviationinschools@altitude123.org ranking the days of the week beginning March 6, according to preference, and request a morning or afternoon session.

To sign your school up for Aviation in the Schools Week, you may download the sign-up form here.

For more information, call 628-338 or contact Carole Hanson by calling 320-3406, by faxing to 325-5939; or by email to hansonc@mcsk12.net.

Autism Workshops Scheduled Throughout State

The Tennessee Department of Education’s Division of Special Education has announced that, for the first time, it is scheduling, in each of the state’s grand divisions, an autism workshop focusing on related arts teachers who serve children with autism.

The workshop for West Tennessee will be held March 1 at Jackson State Community College in the college’s Ayers Auditorium, 2046 North Parkway in Jackson. The no-cost, full day workshop, which begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m., will focus on supporting children with autism in related arts classes.

“Students with autism spectrum disorders are often included in related arts classes. Unfortunately, related arts teachers and staff do not always receive the necessary preparation to support these students in their classes,” said Linda W. Copas, Director of Behavioral & Autism Services for the Tennessee DOE Division of Special Education.

“This workshop will increase their understanding of autism and provide basic strategies for addressing the needs of students with autism in related arts classes such as art, music, physical education, library, and guidance.”

The workshop is designed to be helpful to all related arts providers, administrators, paraprofessionals, parents, and general education teachers who have children with autism included in their class.

To register for the West Tennessee workshop March 1, call Tami Henry at 731-421-5074.