posted August 5, 2005
This Week Inside Hamilton County Schools, August 8-12
Registration
Wednesday, August 10
(Call your child’s school for registration times.)
First Day of School
Monday, August 15
Date: Monday, August 8
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Places: See Below
Event: Some 3,000 classroom teachers in Hamilton County Schools are starting the new school year off right as they participate in a variety of professional development opportunities. Before the school bell officially rings for students, county teachers representing all grade levels and all subject areas will receive specialized training to help them better prepare for the new school year. Central office administrators and other professionals will facilitate the sessions. Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield is scheduled to speak to some 1,500 teachers at Christ United Methodist Church at 11:15 a.m. The mayor will announce details about his new “Great Ideas” student competition. The county-wide teacher staff development schedule is as follows:
Subject Location
Bible History Psychological Studies Institute
1815 McCallie Ave.
Technology (Grades 6-8) Red Bank Middle
Economics, Marketing, Entrepreneurship
Exceptional Education Howard School of Academics
and Technology
Foreign Language (Grades 6-8) Tyner Middle Academy
Guidance Counselors Chattanooga State
JROTC Soddy-Daisy High
Language Arts (Grades 6-10) Christ United Methodist Church
8645 East Brainerd Rd.
Librarians (Grades K-12) Battle Academy
Math Tyner Middle Academy
Brainerd High (8:30-11:30 a.m.)
Music East Ridge High
Chattanooga School for the Arts
and Sciences
Science Chattanooga State
Social Studies/Language Arts Hunter Museum
(Grades 6-8)
Contacts: Director of Secondary Instruction Charlene Becker, 209-8420
Director of Elementary Instruction Sabrina Walton, 209-8510
Date: Tuesday, August 9
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Place: East Side Elementary/East Side Community
Event: Faculty members at East Side Elementary are “taking it to the street” – literally! The principal, teachers and other staff will canvass the neighborhood, knocking on doors to remind parents about Registration Day on Wednesday. The faculty will also invite families to follow them back to the school for an end-of-summer cookout. Parents will talk to their child’s teacher and other staff, as well as learn all about the exciting opportunities that await them this new school year!
Contact: Principal Emily Baker, 493-7780
Date: Tuesday, August 9
Time: 5-6 p.m.
Place: Red Bank Elementary
Event: Red Bank Elementary is rolling out the welcome mat for former White Oak Elementary students who will be new to the school this year. White Oak closed its doors in May, and now some students will attend Red Bank. Red Bank school officials say they want their new “family” members to feel right at home. They will meet and greet their new principal, teachers and other staff, as well as tour the building to become familiar with their new learning environment.
Contact: Principal Stephanie Hinton, 874-1917
Dates: Tuesday and Thursday, August 9 and 11
Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Place: Chattanooga Theatre Centre
400 River St.
Event: Claudia Cornett, a nationally renowned literary expert, along with 13 area artists will conduct a series of workshops for a group of K-3 teachers. The workshops are designed to help educators develop and implement a curriculum that promotes reading and writing through dance, theater and visual arts. Dr. Cornett is the author of “Creating Meaning Through Literature and the Arts,” and she is professor emeritus at Wittenberg University. This workshop is sponsored by Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga, which is the recipient of a $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant to promote the advancement of the arts through literacy.
Contact: Randy Van Valkenburg, Allied Arts, 756-2787
Date: Wednesday, August 10
Place: All Hamilton County public schools.
Time: Parents should check with their child’s school for registration times.
Event: Today is Registration Day for all students attending Hamilton County Schools. Parents of first-time students, including kindergarteners, should bring the following items: child’s birth certificate, Social Security card, immunization records and two proofs of residency such as a utility bill or lease agreement. The first day of classes for students will be Monday, August 15.
Contact: Any principal.
Date: Wednesday, August 10
Time: 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Place: Howard School of Academics and Technology
Event: Faculty and staff members here are putting a twist on Registration Day by hosting Family/Alumni Day on the same date. Parents of current Howard students, other family members and graduates are encouraged to attend. Guests will have an opportunity to learn more about the school’s vision and course offerings, as well as tour the facility – including the new addition to the building that opened last summer.
Contact: Principal Elaine Swafford, 209-5868
Dates: Wednesday and Thursday, August 10-11
Time: 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. (Wed.)
4-7 p.m. (Thurs.)
Place: Soddy Elementary
Event: Soddy wants Registration Day to be successful and not stressful, so school officials are hosting two opportunities for parents to register their children for classes! Wednesday will feature the traditional morning registration while Thursday will accommodate families during the evening hours. At both registrations, parents and students will be treated to pizza and soft drinks. School officials at Soddy say they’re offering the two registrations to best meet the needs of the community they serve.
Contact: Principal Paula Burgner, 332-8823
Date: Thursday, August 11
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
Place: Ooltewah High
Event: This year’s ninth-graders and their parents will enjoy “freshman fling” this evening! They will have an opportunity to meet with teachers, tour the facility and learn more about curricular/extracurricular offerings. All ninth-graders at Ooltewah High will enter into the ninth-grade academy, which is designed to ease the transition from middle school to high school. The goal is also to increase academic performance and attendance, which are often problem areas during the freshman year. Many of the newcomers attended an “owl camp” back in June to get acclimated to their new school environment.
Contact: Principal Ed Foster, 238-5221
Date: Thursday, August 11
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Soddy-Daisy High
Event: The school is pulling out all the stops to make the freshman class feel welcomed. This year’s ninth-graders and their parents will participate in a parent orientation session and freshman dance. Parents will learn more about what they can expect as their children enter the high school years. While their parents attend the orientation session, the freshmen will mix and mingle at a “welcome to high school” dance.
Contact: Principal Robert Smith, 332-8828
Date: Thursday, August 11
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Place: East Ridge High
Event: Incoming freshmen and their parents will enjoy a back-to-school cookout this evening. The newcomers to East Ridge High will have an opportunity to meet the school’s new principal and teachers. They will also tour the building and learn more about curricular/extracurricular offerings.
Contact: Principal Mark Bean, 867-6200
Date: Thursday, August 11
Time: Program starts at 8 a.m.
Breakout sessions start at 11 a.m.
Place: Soddy-Daisy High
Event: Soddy-Daisy High is hosting a kickoff celebration for the Network Learning Community, a literacy-based initiative that involves the faculties at the 10 public schools in the Soddy-Daisy area. Participating schools are: Allen Elementary, Daisy Elementary, Falling Water Elementary, Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary, McConnell Elementary, Soddy Elementary, Loftis Middle, Soddy-Daisy Middle, Sequoyah High and Soddy-Daisy High. The principals and teachers will attend several breakout sessions regarding effective strategies for teaching literacy concepts. Educators say mastery of reading/literacy skills is the foundation for success in all other subjects.
Contact: Principal Robert Smith, 332-8828
Fabulous Features
Hamilton County’s School Age Child Care program operates before and after school hours, as well as during the summer months. The SACC Summer Day Camp will take place through Friday, August 12. At the day camp, children enjoy games, arts, crafts, field trips and other enrichment opportunities. The summer sites include Battle Academy, Big Ridge Elementary, Daisy Elementary, Harrison Elementary, Hixson Elementary, McBrien Elementary, McConnell Elementary, Red Bank Elementary, Wallace A. Smith Elementary, Snow Hill Elementary, Thrasher Elementary and Wolftever Creek Elementary. Contact Director of Child Care Programs, Jane Barker, 893-3530.
Hamilton County’s Magnet School Office is hosting an information session at Hamilton Place Mall for parents and others interested in learning more about the district’s 15 magnet schools. Magnet schools focus on specialized themes such as math, science and technology or the performing arts, while also offering students a traditional curriculum. The information session will be held on Saturday, August 13, from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the mall’s Center Court as part of a back-to-school bash. The district’s magnet schools include: 21st Century Academy, Barger Academy of Fine Arts, Battle Academy, Brainerd High, Brown Academy, Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts, East Lake Academy of Fine Arts, Howard School of Academics and Technology, Lakeside Academy, Normal Park Museum Magnet, Tyner Academy and Tyner Middle Academy. Hamilton Place Mall officials will also provide entertainment and special discounts at this back-to-school event. Contact Magnet School Director Karla Riddle, 209-8475.
Saturday, August 13, has been designated as PTA Meet & Greet Day at all 1,000-plus Office Depot stores across the nation. The National PTA has teamed up with its new “proud community partner,” Office Depot, to officially welcome everyone back to school. Officials say Office Depot is committed to supporting the important work of all PTAs by working with PTA leaders at the national, state and local levels to help make a difference in their communities throughout the school year. The Hamilton County Council of PTAs is encouraging its members to participate in this national back-to-school event. Contact outgoing PTA Council President Sherrie Ford, 209-8726.
Hamilton County’s Virtual High School is offering fall enrollment for students in grades 9-12 beginning August 16. The Virtual School provides students a personalized, interactive online learning opportunity. The online program initially focused on helping students pass state-mandated tests in English, algebra and biology. However, the Virtual School continues to expand its program to offer a broader range of online classes for middle and high school students looking to earn graduation credits and recovery credits, as well as prepare for state-mandated exams. Log on to www.hcschools.org/vhs for more details or call the Virtual School Office at 209-5410. Contacts are Wendy Hermann, coordinator of management research, and Stacy Schaudel, coordinator of curriculum development. Enrollment opportunities will last through April 1, 2006.
The Hamilton County Department of Education is hosting a job fair on Thursday, August 25, from 4 – 8 p.m. The HCDE Job Fair will be held in the Central Office Board Room, located at 6703 Bonny Oaks Dr. The fair will feature several information booths where jobseekers will receive details about the following positions: substitute teachers, educational assistants, School Age Child Care employees and child nutrition employees. Hamilton County Schools is an equal opportunity employer. All new hires must complete an application and criminal background check prior to employment with the school system. Call (423) 209-8538 for more information about the HCDE Job Fair.
PLATO Learning Inc., a leading provider of K–Adult computer-based and e-learning solutions, has announced East Lake Academy of Fine Arts as winner of the third annual PLATO Learning William R. Roach Technology Award. Through this grant, East Lake students and staff will receive a complete educational technology lab, including hardware, PLATO Learning software, onsite professional development and technical support. The award is given to a deserving school who has identified ways the lab will help them improve technology literacy, engage students with computer-based instruction, and support teachers with state-of-the art tools for teaching and learning. PLATO Learning officials have worked with educators to install the lab and provide teacher training this summer, which will enable the school to have the lab open for the start of the new academic year. A special dedication ceremony for the William R. Roach Technology Center will take place at East Lake Academy on Tuesday, August 30. Contact Principal Wendy Jung, 493-0334.
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