This Week Inside Hamilton County Schools, December 11-17, 2004
Last day of school for students prior to Winter Break
December 16
Students return to classes
January 5, 2005
Magnet School Applications Available
Deadline – January 28, 2005
Call 209-8616 or log on to www.hcde.org/magnet for details.
Alternative Teacher Certification
Application Deadline – January 31, 2005
Date: Saturday, December 11
Place: Cleveland Middle School
Event: Select band students from several Hamilton County schools will participate in the East Tennessee Bands of America All-State East Junior Band Clinic. Those schools are East Ridge Middle, Loftis Middle, Red Bank High and Soddy-Daisy High.
Date: Saturday, December 11
Time: 6:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Place: UTC’s University Center
Event: Brainerd High’s Army JROTC is hosting its 10th annual military ball this evening. The Panther Battalion was officially established by the Headquarters, Department of the Army General Orders No. 5, on April 15, 1994. Alumni cadets have also been invited to attend this evening’s gala affair. Panther Battalion alumni Robert Love, CEO of Signature Consulting, and Nicole Prater, a 2000 graduate of Spellman University, will be the featured speakers.
Contact: Principal Frank Jones, 855-2615
Dates: Today - December 24
Time: Regular mall hours.
Place: Northgate Mall
Event: Don’t have time to wrap all those holiday gifts? Don’t worry. Students from Hixson High have set up a special booth in the mall where they are wrapping presents through Christmas Eve. All holiday shoppers are encouraged to stop by!
Contact: Principal Don Swafford, 847-4800
Date: Monday, December 13
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Place: Hixson Middle
Event: Thanks to one Hixson Middle student, seventh-grader Brandon Herzberg, a famous NASCAR driver will speak to the entire student body. Brandon was the big winner in the “Bring Ryan Newman to School” national sweepstakes sponsored by NASCAR and Books-A-Million. The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup “Raybestos Rookie of the Year” will zoom in to Hixson Middle today to deliver a motivational message to the students.
Contact: Principal Jim Boles, 870-0600
Date: Monday, December 13
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Place: Service Center, 2501 Dodds Ave.
Event: The Hamilton County School Board’s facilities committee will meet today to discuss building needs and ongoing projects across the district.
Contact: School Board secretary Ann Bates, 209-8400
Date: Monday, December 13
Time: 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Place: Brown Academy for Classical Studies
Event: The community is invited to take a walk in a winter wonderland filled with artwork and other creative projects at Brown Academy’s Exhibit Night. The evening will include a viewing of the students’ artwork, a holiday performance by youngsters at each grade level and a reception.
Contact: Principal Freda Moore-Smith, 209-5760
Dates: Monday and Tuesday, December 13-14
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Dallas Bay Baptist Church
Event: Happy holidays in Hixson! Talented student singers and musicians from six Hixson-area schools will combine their talents to present two holiday concerts for the entire community. The orchestra, band and choral groups will perform several holiday classics. Participating schools include Big Ridge Elementary, DuPont Elementary, Ganns-Middle Valley Elementary, Hixson Elementary, Hixson Middle and Hixson High. The concerts are sponsored by the Hixson Chamber of Commerce and the Hixson Kiwanis Club.
Dates: Monday and Tuesday, December 13-14
Time: All day.
Place: Woodmore Elementary
Event: The students here are relaxing the formal dress code for a couple of days. On Monday, everyone’s asked to wear funny or mixed-matched socks to school. And on Tuesday, everybody gets to wear their favorite shirt. Many of the boys and girls are expected to be donned in holiday attire.
Contact: Principal Faye Ison, 493-0394
Dates: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, December 13, 15-16
Time: 3-7 p.m. Mon.; 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Wed. and Thurs.
Place: East Side Elementary
Event: Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Students here are celebrating the grand opening of the East Side Animal Kingdom. The third-graders have completed an in-depth study of various animals and their habitats. The youngsters formed teams and created six major habitats that include a water feature, plant life and shelter for selected animals. The students were also given an assignment to submit a real estate ad to a newspaper in order to solicit buyers for their habitats. The “animal kingdom” will be open for tours this week.
Contact: Principal Emily Baker, 493-7780
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts
Event: A special induction ceremony and reception is being held for new members of the National Honor Society. A total of 104 middle and high school scholars will be inducted. This event is hosted by the Performers, Artists, Parents and Advocates group.
Contact: Principal Gary Record, 209-5900
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Place: North Chattanooga area
Event: Center for Creative Arts choir members will travel to several nearby locations to spread some holiday cheer. The choir will perform carols of the season for employees and customers at Town and Country Restaurant, The Mudpie and other sites.
Contact: Principal Gary Record, 209-5900
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Bayside Baptist Church
Event: Hamilton County High, the county’s new adult high school, will host its first graduation ceremony for approximately 30 students who have completed the necessary coursework to earn a regular diploma. Superintendent Jesse Register will be the keynote speaker. Hamilton County High opened in August in the former Harrison Bay Technology Center. The school currently serves 157 students ages 17-20 who have dropped out of high school but wanted a second chance at success. The school offers various options for students to achieve academic success. Students have flexible class schedules and opportunities for credit recovery, online courses and independent studies. School officials may also enroll new students every four weeks.
Contact: Principal Bill Warren, 344-1433
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: Lookout Valley Baptist
Event: The varsity chorus and auxiliary singers from Lookout Valley High will present a holiday performance at Lookout Valley Church.
Contact: Principal Lee McDade, 825-7352
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Ooltewah High
Event: Drama III classes will present the lighthearted comedy “When Men Are Scarce.” The entire community is invited to share some good laughs during this uplifting performance.
Contact: Principal Ed Foster, 238-5221
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Place: Rivermont Elementary
Event: Parents are invited to attend a Title I meeting just for them called “It’s A Holiday Special.” The moms and dads will swap holiday recipes and participate in several other seasonal activities. The will be plenty of food, fellowship and fun!
Contact: Principal Barbara Howell, 870-0610
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Tivoli Theatre
Event: The schools atop Signal Mountain will present “Christmas on the Mountain.” This annual holiday performance will feature the musical departments from Nolan Elementary, Signal Mountain Middle and Thrasher Elementary. Come celebrate the most wonderful time of the year!
Date: Tuesday, December 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Woodmore Elementary
Event: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The school is hosting its monthly PTA meeting and holiday performance that will feature students in grades preK-2.
Contact: Principal Faye Ison, 493-0394
Dates: Tuesday and Thursday, December 14 and 16
Times: 6:30 p.m., Tues.; 10 a.m., Thurs.
Place: Barger Academy of Fine Arts
Event: 'Tis the season to be jolly! Students in the string program and Spanish studios will partner with the Barger Charoleers to present an exciting evening of holiday and classical music on Tuesday night. The students will give an encore performance for their peers on Thursday morning so everyone can get into the holiday spirit!
Contact: Principal Juanita McClarty, 493-0348
Dates: Tuesday-Friday, December 14-17
Place: New York
Event: American studies students from Ooltewah High are headed to the Big Apple to see several historical and cultural attractions. The students will visit Ground Zero and the Empire State Building, as well as take in the fascinating hit Broadway show “Wicked.”
Contact: Principal Ed Foster, 238-5221
Date: Wednesday, December 15
Time: 1-2:15 p.m.
Place: Brown Middle
Event: There’s something for everyone at Brown Middle! The school is hosting a new Club Days initiative each month during the academic year. The purpose of this program is to offer students more opportunities to become well-rounded and feel a sense of belonging in a small-group setting. There are 27 different “clubs” students may participate in such as the Yoga Club, Puzzles and More, Science Lab Club, African American Culture Club and Critic’s Corner Book Club.
Contact: Principal Stacy Stewart, 344-1439
Date: Wednesday, December 15
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Howard Elementary
Event: The school is presenting its annual production of “The Christmas Carol 2004." All students in grades preK-5 will have a part to play. This beloved story of Scrooge tells of his passage to charity and love as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. It is a timeless tale and an amazing journey audiences of all ages are sure to enjoy.
Contact: Principal Sharon Dodds, 209-5858
Date: Wednesday, December 15
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Rivermont Elementary
Event: Charlie Hughes from the Community Kitchen will be at the school to collect a monetary donation of $850 on behalf of the student body. The youngsters here are truly putting this month's character trait - caring - into action.
Also at 2 p.m., the school will host its awards day ceremony for those students who have excelled in academics, attendance and behavior. The fourth- and fifth-grade chorus will also perform “Carols from Home and Abroad.”
Contact: Principal Barbara Howell, 870-0610
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: Board Room, Bonny Oaks Central Office
Event: The Hamilton County School Board will meet for its regular monthly session. Some items on the agenda include adoption of the 2005-2006 school calendar, approval of select Board policies, several special recognitions and other routine business matters. The Choo Choo Kids from Center for Creative Arts will entertain the audience with a special performance. All regular School Board meetings are broadcast on Comcast Cable Channel 3 at 7:30 p.m. on the Saturday following the meeting.
Contact: School Board Secretary Ann Bates, 209-8400
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Place: Bonny Oaks Central Office
Event: Central Office employees for Hamilton County Schools hope to bring some holiday cheer to disadvantaged children all across the county through Toys for Tots. The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys and distribute them as Christmas gifts to needy children. Toys for Tots began in 1947 when Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR and a group of Marine Reservists in Los Angeles collected and distributed 5,000 toys to needy children. The idea came from Bill's wife, Diane. For the past several years, the Central Office Toys for Tots contribution has been made in honor of longtime educator and Associate Superintendent Sandra Black who died of cancer.
Contact: Associate Superintendent Sheila Young, 209-8439
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: Check with school.
Place: Chambliss Children's Home
Event: Students in geometry classes at 21st Century Academy will travel to the Chambliss Home to deliver unwrapped gifts for the children. The students are creating a "Tree of Need" and will decorate it with geometric ornaments. Each ornament will bear the name of a child and a requested gift for that child. What a wonderful tribute to those in need during this time of the year.
Also at 10 and 11 a.m. at 21st Century Academy, the school will host its annual winter concert. Everyone is invited to take in the breathtaking sounds of the season!
Contact: Principal Fred Wunderlich, 493-0309.
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 5 p.m.
Place: City Hall (Mayor Bob Corker’s Office)
Event: There will be an opening reception at Mayor Bob Corker’s office to celebrate the artwork of students from Center for Creative Arts. The mini-masterpieces were based on the works of John Henry, a Chattanooga sculptor of national acclaim who was a guest artist at this magnet school. The exhibit, which will be displayed in the mayor’s office for the next six months, is the first exhibit of its kind at City Hall. The works include technical drafting, geometric drawing, printmaking and abstract painting. This project was made possible, in part, by a grant from Allied Arts of Greater Chattanooga.
Contact: Principal Gary Record, 209-5900
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 9 a.m.
Place: East Lake Elementary
Event: The school is hosting a holiday celebration, featuring the kindergarten and preK students along with the fifth-grade chorus. Following the program, a drawing will be held for a 28-foot stocking filled to the brim with toys! All students who have perfect attendance and have displayed good character will have a chance to win. Parents, friends and other school supporters are invited to help East Lake students celebrate the season!
Contact: Principal Neelie Parker, 493-0366
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Place: Hunter Middle
Event: Hunter Middle boys and girls will be rocking to the sounds of the season at a holiday dance tonight.
Contact: Principal Gary Kuehn, 344-1474
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 8 a.m.
Place: Loftis Middle
Event: Loftis Middle is hosting its fall athletics award program for those students who have excelled in school sports. Middle school sports were eliminated from the 2004-2005 operating budget, but a grassroots fundraising campaign and matching contributions have kept the program alive. Educators say sports help students develop critical thinking and social skills that are useful in the classroom and everyday life.
Contact: Principal Steve Holmes, 843-4749
Date: Thursday, December 16
Time: 5:3 -7 p.m.
Place: Normal Park Museum Magnet
Event: This magnet school will turn itself into a virtual museum as it hosts a public exhibition of the students' interactive curriculum-based exhibits. The creative exhibits will line the school's hallways and exhibit room. "Moving Along" is the them for this Exhibit Night. Each grade level has focused on a topic such as comparative cultures, medieval times and the land down under.
Contact: Principal Jill Levine, 209-5900
Date: Friday, December 17
Time: Starts at 10 p.m.
Place: Hunter Middle
Event: The Student Council is sponsoring a “lockout” at the school – just in time to celebrate winter break!
Contact: Principal Gary Kuehn, 344-1474
Fabulous Features!
Battle Academy for Teaching and Learning was recently named a NASA Explorer School. And now, a team of teachers and the school’s principal have been selected to fly an experiment created by Battle’s fourth- and fifth-grade students on the C-9 in Houston, Texas. The C-9 is a twin-engine, T-tailed, medium-range, swept-wing jet aircraft used primarily for Air Mobility Command's aeromedical evacuation mission. The Battle “crew” will spend a week in Houston completing various activities before the flight. They will be engaging in distance learning events to consult with and report results to students as well as participate in other professional development opportunities. The Battle team will travel to Houston in February to train for the actual flight week in April. Contact Principal Aimee Randolph, 209-5747.
Several Hamilton County schools participated in the 20th annual Share Your Christmas Celebration, sponsored by WRCB-TV, Channel 3. Those schools included: Alpine Crest, Big Ridge, Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts, Clifton Hills, Dawn School, East Ridge, East Side, Hillcrest Elementary, Hixson Elementary, Hunter, Lakeside Academy, Lookout Valley, McConnell, Ooltewah Middle and Red Bank Elementary. Hats off to the students and staffs at these schools who shared their Christmas with the less fortunate in the Tennessee Valley!
At the recent National Career Academy Coalition Conference held in Santa Fe, New Mexico the East Ridge High's construction academy was presented with the prestigious Henk Koning Outstanding Academy Award. The criteria for this national award requires an academy program to demonstrate success in creating a school-within-a-school career-themed program that has significant links to the employer community. The East Ridge program was the first academy to debut in Hamilton County Schools. Congratulations to the construction ccademy students and staff. Principal Cheri Dedmon, 867-6200.
The Ooltewah High marching band was recently recognized by the Hamilton County Commission. Commissioners adopted a resolution to honor the band's outstanding performance at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. At the Grand Nationals, the band received a superior rating, was selected a semifinalist band (representing the Top 30 highest scoring bands out of the 93), received “high achievement” awards for Outstanding Music Performance and Outstanding Visual Performance, as well as finished 17th overall in the nation and in second place in Class AA. The marching band finished the year as the highest ranked Tennessee band in the nation. County Mayor Ramsey and several of the Commissioners made comments congratulating band members on their outstanding performance. Principal Ed Foster, 238-5221.
All systems ago! Participants in the Girls In Flight educational initiative are taking simulated space lessons at UTC’s Challenger Center. Girls In Flight targets 22 seventh-graders for enrichment opportunities in science. The girls attend Chattanooga Middle Museum Magnet, Howard Middle and Orchard Knob Middle schools. In its second year, this program is supported by a grant from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. The girls will meet every third Saturday of the month at the Challenger Center from 9 a.m. – noon through May 2005. Contact Parent, School and Community Involvement Coordinator Anne McGintis, 209-8595.