Whitehaven
High Student Selected as One of This Year’s
Ricky
balances a demanding academic load of Advanced Placement classes with
several commitments to Memphis Teen Challenge, Bridge Builders,
Knowledge Bowl Team and a media ministry at his church. In addition,
Ricky serves a vital role as a student team leader for the Whitehaven
Foundation, a philanthropic organization. In this capacity, he
spearheads a group of students who tutor Algebra I students. Ricky
scored a 33 on the ACT while a junior. He currently holds the highest
grade point average in the Whitehaven senior class. He is a member of
the National Honor Society and the Beta Club. He won first place in
Geometry and Algebra at the University of Memphis Math Competition.
Ricky has an uncanny ability to connect with his peers, teachers and
administrators. He is a leader in the classroom and gives of himself to
others. He was selected to attend two summer
preparatory programs. He was honored by Proud
Magazine as one of the 100 best and brightest students in
Memphis.
Seventeen
MCS Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Memphis
City Schools is proud to announce that 17 of its high school seniors
have been named Semifinalists in the prestigious National Merit
Scholarship Program. These talented students are part
of a national pool of high school seniors chosen on the basis of their
academic achievement, skills, accomplishments and potential for success
in rigorous college studies.
More
than 1.4 million juniors in nearly 21,000 high schools entered the 2008
National Merit Program by taking the 2006 Preliminary SAT/National
Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an
initial screen of entrants. The group of Semifinalists, which
represents less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors,
includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.
To
be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must advance
to the Finalist level of the competition. Qualifications include an
outstanding academic record throughout high school, SAT scores that
reflect high performance on the qualifying entrance exams and
demonstration of participation and leadership in various school and
community activities.
About
90 percent of the Semifinalists (roughly 15,000) are expected to attain
Finalist standing, approximately half of whom will be selected as Merit
Scholarship winners. More than $34 million in scholarships will be
presented in spring of 2008, including the $2,500 National Merit
Scholarship that will be awarded to 2,500 students, nearly 1,100
corporate-sponsored scholarships and some 4,600 college-sponsored
awards.
These
17 MCS seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship
Semifinalists:
- Christopher
J. Campbell – White Station
-
Christopher
V. Carlile – White Station
-
Xiaoyang
Leng – White Station
-
Andrew
Y. Lu – White Station
-
Sophie
S. Moskop – White Station
-
Shawn
Pan – White Station
-
Tabatha
R. Parker – White Station
-
Rachel
A. Schoumacher – White Station
-
Hannah
R. Shaffer – White Station
-
Jun
Song – White Station
-
Sara
E. Stephens – White Station
-
Chandra
Vishwas – White Station
-
Tianxiong
Wu – White Station
-
Ray
Xiong – Cordova
-
Benjamin
Yang – White Station
-
Peter
A. Zastoupil – White Station
-
Chi
Zhang – White Station
National
Civil Rights Museum Receives Save
Our History Grant From The History Channel®
The
History Channel and Comcast Support Preservation Initiative that links
the National
Civil Rights Museum and Snowden School
The
History Channel awarded the National Civil Rights Museum a
$10,000 Save Our History grant to partner with Snowden School to
conduct an oral history project “Connecting Generations: A
Look at Memphis During Desegregation”. This venture will work
to help preserve the part of Memphis history that surrounded the
American Civil Rights Movement. Its purpose is to document and explore
how the Evergreen Community was impacted by the Memphis Sanitation
Workers’ Strike and Dr. Martin Luther King’s
assassination. The project will launch with a public event at Snowden
School on September 27 at 6:30 p.m. with Maxine Smith, former executive
secretary for the Memphis chapter of the NAACP, as the keynote speaker.
The
National Civil Rights Museum is one of 27 history organizations
nationwide that received Save Our History community preservation
grants. These grants fund innovative preservation projects
designed to bring communities together, actively engage children in the
preservation of their local history and communicate the importance of
saving local history for future generations.
This
project will preserve a significant aspect of our community history by
capturing eyewitness testimony of local desegregation efforts and how
those efforts mirrored or differed from statewide and national efforts.
It will also give students the opportunity to see first-hand how the
civil rights movement shaped their school and neighborhood, while also
learning the importance of their local history.
In
addition to this project, The History Channel is also awarding Save Our
History grants to historic organizations in Alaska, Alabama,
California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Vermont and Wisconsin.
“The
History Channel receives stacks of applications for Save Our History
grants,” said Dr. Libby O’Connell, SVP, Corporate
Outreach and Chief Historian, The History Channel. “The
National Civil Rights Museum demonstrated the creativity and commitment
to preservation and education that we believe is fundamental to giving
our past a bright future.”
The
History Channel, with the counsel of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
(RPA) and American Association of State and Local History (AASLH),
created the Save Our History Grant Program as an extension of the Save
Our History philanthropic initiative and is committed to inspiring and
motivating local communities to learn about and take an active role in
the preservation of their past through projects involving artifacts,
oral histories, sites, museums or landmarks that exist in their own
neighborhoods. In four years, 1,934 historic organizations,
representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia have applied
for funding through the Save Our History Grant Program. To date, The
History Channel and its cable partners have given $1 million dollars to
fund community preservation projects across the country.
Historic
organizations interested in receiving funding for preservation projects
developed with local schools or youth groups are encouraged to apply
for a 2008/2009 Save Our History Grant. Applications will be available
in January 2008, online at saveourhistory.com.
_____________________________________________________
First
Grade Teacher Represents Grahamwood during Muscular
Dystrophy Telethon
First
grade teacher Rachel D. Graham represented Grahamwood on Labor Day
during the national televised Muscular Dystrophy Telethon.
Ms. Graham has been the coordinator for the Shamrock Drive at
Grahamwood for the past two years. Last spring, the students
and staff raised over $1,600 for this great cause. The
shamrocks were displayed all over the school to show support for the
MDA. Ms. Graham's children, Jahdiel, a sixth grader, and
Joell, a second grader, represented the school as well on Channel 3
during the telethon. The students and staff can't wait to do
it again!
_____________________________________________________________________
White
Station Elementary News
RSVP
Program Helps White Station
One
of the many things that make White Station a great school is its RSVP
volunteer program. Senior citizens from around the city come
to tutor, encourage and mentor WSE students in reading and math, and
many of the school’s volunteers came for a reception in their
honor recently. They were greeted by Marylyn Washington,
White Station’s Guidance Counselor, and by other members of
the staff.
High
Tech has arrived at White Station Elementary
Using
a program that changes fingerprints to algorithms, students are able to
sign in quickly and efficiently.
Above,
teacher Angel Jackson demonstrates morning check-in using the computer
to first grader Jaden Holmes.
First
PTO Meeting of the Year Successful
The
first PTO meeting at White Station Elementary was a great
success. Student models demonstrated appropriate and
inappropriate school attire, which was critiqued by a panel of teacher
judges. Barbeque was served by PTO members and teachers, and
fellowship was enjoyed by all.
___________________________________________________________________
White
Station High’s Royce Myers Named Tennessee
Track Coach of the Year
SFC
Royce Myers, Army Instructor at White Station High School, was recently
honored as the 2007 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
(TSSAA) and the Pepsi Cola Best of the Preps Girls Track and Field
Coach of the Year. His selection for these prestigious awards
was based on his leadership, coaching skills, and demonstrated
sportsmanship. The unparalleled success of his Track and
Field teams in 2006-07 culminated in their winning the 2007 Division I
Class AAA Tennessee Track and Field Championship.
His
coaching duties, of course, are in addition to his primary
responsibilities as a JROTC Instructor. SFC Myers was
instrumental in the White Station Spartan Battalion receiving its Honor
Unit with Distinction rating as well as being selected as the top Army
JROTC Program in 2007 among the 26 Memphis High Schools offering Army
JROTC. SFC Myers’ teaching acumen was also
recognized by the 2003-2007 Editions of Who’s Who Among
America’s Teachers.
Besides
his dedication to JROTC and coaching, SFC Myers is the founder and
sponsor of the acclaimed White Station High School Community Service
Club. SFC Myers represents the best of the U.S. Army and
JROTC.
___________________________________________________________________
Ridgeway
Middle -- East Memphis Kick-Off Classic Champions!
Ridgeway
Middle School opened its 2007 football season by participating in the
"East Memphis Kick-Off Classic." Ridgeway Middle, coached by Fred
Stringer, is coming off of a season where the team finished second in
the city, so expectations are running very high for a city championship
this season. Ridgeway was paired against Havenview Middle in the game
which began at 5 p.m. The second game featured American Way Middle, the
host school, against Hickory Ridge Middle. RMS ended the half by
scoring three touchdowns to go up by 18 points. The RMS defense held
Havenview scoreless in the first half as well. By the end of the game,
Ridgeway scored 34 points on offensive as well as defensive touchdowns.
Players that stood out on the offensive side of the field were Sheldon
Dawson and Jaylen Walton, both running backs for the Roadrunners. On
defense, Kameron Perry intercepted a pass and scored a touchdown, and
Justin Robinson recovered a fumble and scored another touchdown. The
game ended in a 34 to 0 shutout for the first game of what looks to be
a promising season for the Roadrunners!
_____________________________________________________________________
News
from Overton High
Student
to Perform at VH-1 Gala in New York
Congratulations
to student Sergio Vazquez for his selection to the VH-1 “Save
the Music”10th Year Anniversary Orchestra. Sergio will
receive an all-expense paid weeklong trip to New York City to perform
at the VH-1 Gala with Jon Bon Jovi, John Mayer, and Roger
Waters. Mariah Carey, former President Bill Clinton, Senator
Hillary Clinton, Maria Manounos, Tim Gunn, and John Sykes will attend
the Gala.
Jazz
Legend Wynton Marsalis Conducts FREE Master Clinic at Overton High
School
Memphis
City Schools music students benefited from the knowledge and expertise
of legendary trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis when he conducted a
master clinic for students on Saturday, September 15. The workshop was
held at the Overton High School auditorium and was free to all Memphis
City School Band students and band directors. Sponsored by Memphis City
Schools and the Cultural Development Foundation, the Overton High
School jazz band prepared three “Essentially
Ellington” tunes. Marsalis is a nine-time Grammy award winner
and has recorded 30 albums.
________________________________________________________________
Egypt
Elementary Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
The
celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month are grand and ongoing at Egypt
Elementary. The festivities began on Friday, September 14 with a
program in honor of Mexico’s Day of Independence, which was
September 15. The program features dances typical of Mexico, with
students and adults in traditional Mexican dress. The celebration
continues with the dedication of “La Puenta,” Egypt
Elementary’s one-of-a-kind language lab. Hispanic parents
will prepare and serve traditional food in the language lab to teachers
and visiting dignitaries after a brief dedication of the special, new
facility. The language lab is the vision the principal, Rita White, and
is designed to more effectively and efficiently teach English to ESL
students.
Displays
and cultural opportunities will continue throughout the month and the
celebration will end with a program on October 12 featuring
presentations by parents and children about various countries of
Central and South America.
Messick
Students Honor Lives Lost on September 11, 2001 at Annual Tribute
In
remembrance of the thousands of lives lost on 9/11, students at Messick
Adult Center held an annual tribute Tuesday, September 11. Trees
located on the campus are decorated by students to honor the victims.
Community members served as judges, selecting the best tree, and the
winner received awards on Friday, September 14. First place received
$100 for class supplies, second place received $50 and third place
received $25.
_____________________________________________________________________
Sea
Isle Elementary Celebrated College and Career Week
The
staff of Sea Isle Elementary is encouraging its students to value
diversity and work ethic as well as consider career and college
choices. In celebration of College and Career Week, a series of events
and guest speakers were on hand September 10-14 to explain to students
how to explore different careers. Classroom doors were decorated with
college themes, students participated in a “College
Cheer” assembly and had the opportunity to dress in attire
for their dream career. The week culminated with a Career Day. Guest
speakers included a pediatrician, FedEx pilot, attorney, real estate
agent, artist, chef and an opera singer.
Double
Tree Elementary Commemorates 30 Years As First Public Montessori
Optional School in Tennessee
Thirty
years ago, Double Tree Elementary opened its doors as the first public
Montessori optional school in the state of Tennessee. On Saturday,
September 15, the school celebrated all of its years of academic
achievement at its Annual Title I Parent meeting and 30th Year Reunion.
Hispanic
Heritage Month at Brownsville Road School
Raising
multicultural awareness to promote acceptance is a belief that the
faculty members at Brownsville Road Elementary value. The staff is
excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month during the month of
September. The support staff and the PTO are working together to
provide activities that will enrich students’ knowledge of
Hispanic leaders, countries and culture.
All
month, students will get the full Spanish experience when attending
support classes. During P.E., students will learn the fundamentals of
soccer and participate in a soccer competition. In music, the students
will learn about instruments that are common to Hispanic music, and
will also learn Spanish songs. The art teacher will teach fourth and
fifth grade students how to make piñatas, and the
piñatas will be entered into a school wide contest. First
through third graders will make paper bag ponchos similar to the
traditional “sarape.”
The
PTO has organized an essay writing contest for third through fifth
graders in honor of great Hispanic leaders. The students will be
encouraged to write a five-paragraph essay on a leader who has made
significant contributions to his/her country or people. The students
will also be judged on a hand drawn map of the country where the leader
is from. First, second and third place winners will be awarded cash
prizes to commend their excellent writing
efforts.
An
ESL open house was scheduled for September 20. This was a time for
administrators, the ESL teacher and the bilingual mentor to meet the
parents of ESL students and discuss important information about the
school and community.
Brownsville
Road embraces diversity and is looking forward to seeing our students
and staff engaged in multicultural activities. ¡Que comienze
la fiesta!
News
from Kingsbury Career Technology Center
Kingsbury
Career Technology Center Students Rank
High in DECA Stock Market Game
The
Marketing Education Class of Kingsbury Career Technology Center
completed the first week of the DECA Stock Market Game with Seniors
Timmy Jeffries and Damarcus Manghum ranked seventh in the nation out of
571 teams based on their stock portfolios. The
marketing students conduct research, select stock companies, and use
the technology available in the classroom to invest $100,000 during the
14-week game which will end on December 14. The top teams at the end of
the game will qualify for International DECA Competition in Atlanta in
2008. Frances Galloway is the Marketing Instructor at
Kingsbury Career Technology Center.
Kingsbury
CTC Teachers Visit NASA
This
summer two Memphis teachers from Kingsbury Career Technology Center had
an opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by the John Stennis Space
Center in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Rebecca Gibson, fashion
and fabric teacher, and Paula Stack, business technology teacher,
traveled to Stennis Center through a Science Foundation grant from
Mississippi State University. The purpose of the
Industry-Education Partnership was to offer workshops, hands-on
experiences, and research into various work sites in order for math,
science, and technology teachers to understand the skills that students
need in the current workforce. Teachers from all over the
U.S. were delighted with this “enlightening”
educational experience and with the materials received to use in the
classroom.
U.S.
Navy's Blue Angels Landed at Wooddale High
Known
throughout Memphis for its outstanding Optional aviation program,
Wooddale High School welcomed members of the famed Blue Angels flight
crew, as well as a team of African-American pilots, for a thrilling
aviation assembly on Friday, September 21.
A
retired Air Force Lieutenant and pilot, Memphis City Schools’
Interim Superintendent Dan Ward was a guest speaker for the
event.
Students
heard about the exciting career opportunities available for aspiring
pilots and other professions in the aviation industry, while also
hearing some incredible first-hand stories from the officers who amaze
millions of spectators at air shows across the country as commanders of
the Navy’s high-powered Boeing F/A-18 Hornets.
Several
students from Wooddale High School who participate in the
school’s aviation program have spent the early part of this
school year researching the aircrafts scheduled to fly over the Memphis
area last weekend during the Mid-South Air-Show in Millington. Those
students made special presentations at the Air Show on Saturday and
Sunday, September 22 and 23.
Dunbar
Celebrates Achievement
Dunbar
Elementary School students celebrated their successful first few weeks
of school with a rally recently. Roll Call by each grade
resulted in class cheers and chants with student-made banners raised
high and proudly for everyone to see. Parents and faculty
watched as students shouted out: “What are we here for? -- To
learn, to learn, yes, to learn!”
Mrs.
Phillips, Dunbar’s new principal, came forward and praised
the student assembly for their good behavior. Teachers came forward by
grade levels to enact skits for students that modeled the desired
behaviors needed to successfully meet the school and classroom
rules. Kindergarten teachers talked about restroom behavior
and rules and were followed by First Grade faculty who modeled
successful conduct in the halls. Cafeteria behavior was
discussed and modeled by the Second Grade faculty. Dress To
Learn and Dress to Succeed was the highlight of the Third Grade Fashion
Show which focused on the correct way to wear the school
uniform. Fourth and Fifth Grades had a “talk about
it” and focusing on succeeding with good classroom
behavior. The last part of the program focused on the
dismissal of school for the day. Students heard about
“how to leave school walking,” “how to
leave school if you will ride in a car” and, finally,
“how to leave school if you are dismissed to a daycare van or
bus.”
The
grand finale was a chanting, led by Principal Phillips, “I
Respect You, You Respect Me” which was shouted out three
times. A scene from the rally is below.
___________________________________________________________________
Grandparents
Day at Crump Elementary
This
year’s celebration of Grandparents Day was a huge
success. About 100 students had at least one grandparent stop
by to eat lunch with them. The Grandparents were treated like
royalty, and the gymnasium was decorated to honor them.
Mr.
Brown, Principal of Crump Elementary School, welcomes the grandparents.
Three
generations of love
Teachers
and staff all helped out with this fun event.
Cordova
Middle Students Reach Out to the Homeless
Cordova
Middle’s sixth grade CLUE classes just finished reading
Maniac Magee, a book about a young homeless boy who is just
looking for a home to call his own. While reading the book,
the students decided to take on a project for the homeless.
They researched and found a local organization called "Compassion on
the Streets." The classes invited a representative from the
organization to come and speak to them about the needs of the
homeless. She brought a list of supplies, and students went
above and beyond with their donations. The classroom is
overflowing with soap, deodorant, shampoo, food items and more.
The
students learned that a small group can make a big difference in a lot
of lives. The children’s efforts have paid
dividends by the excitement of seeing the supplies grow daily. The
lesson learned by their teachers, LeaAnn Flatt and Cindy Pearson, is
that in a time where many young people are viewed with such negativity,
there are plenty of caring adolescents willing to share what they have.
Hickory
Ridge Elementary is Big on Books
It's
a "Book Talk Walk" at the library at Hickory Ridge Elementary.
Everyone's talking about "great books." Teachers, assistants,
secretaries, custodial staff, and even the crossing guards are featured
along with their book talks displayed in the school library, promoting
their favorite library books. Mrs. Brockman, the librarian,
put together the displays that included personal pictures and the book
talks of the selected books. Students can't wait to check out
these special books!
The
Mighty Hawks are Fight-Free!
Hawkins
Mill students are excited about the new school year and a new
beginning. The school held a Fight Free Kick-Off on Friday
September 14. The Mighty Hawks have been fight-free for the
first 23 days of school. The students participated in a
banner contest to design the school's Fight-Free banner. The winners
were sixth grade students Timothy Miller and Raphael Ellis (pictured
below).
If
the students are fight-free for the first semester, they will
participate in a school-wide dance. If they are fight-free
for the year, they will participate in a school-wide field trip.
Students on each grade level receive a No Uniform coupon at the end of
each 20-day period if they are fight-free.
Ida
B. Wells Academy Celebrates Wonderful Grandparents
On
September 6, Ida B. Wells Academy’s faculty and staff held an
assortment of activities to celebrate Wonderful Grandparents’
Day. All grandparents received a personal telephone
call and flyer inviting them to the celebration. In a continuing effort
to promote community involvement, grandparents, seniors, and elders
from St. Mark Church, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church and the
LeMoyne-Owen Community were also invited. It was a morning of fun,
activities, food, and prizes. Students, grandparents,
parents, teachers, and staff enjoyed a wonderful turnout of over 25
participants. The morning began with welcome from Principal
Tamika Carwell, and the history of Grandparents’ Day was
explained by Ms. Carmen Gregory, Professional Development Staff
Compliance Coach. The Welcome Wonderful Grandparents Committee included
the entire faculty and staff of Ida B. Wells Academy.
A
wonderful luncheon of turkey and dressing was enjoyed by everyone.
Grandparents, parents, students, teachers, and administrators exited
the celebration by dancing the Ida B. Wells
Academy’s “Wonderful Grandparents’
Shufffle.”
Robert
R. Church Welcomes Grandparents
Robert
R. Church Elementary rolled out the red carpet for Grandparents Day on
September 5 and 6 and demonstrated outstanding lunch hospitality for
all attending. Grandparents from across the grades registered for
lunch, had their pictures taken, and accompanied their grandchildren to
a delicious meal. In fact, entire family members turned out for the
"Grand Occasion." The school extends its thanks to all who participated
in support of their grandchildren.
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