School Snippets – May 1, 2015

Published May 1, 2015

The information below is provided by each school. Schools are listed in alphabetical order according to grade level.

Elementary Schools

Bethesda Elementary

First graders at Bethesda Elementary are learning survival skills. The students have been learning what someone would need to survive in the wild.

Chapman’s Retreat Elementary

Second graders at Chapman’s Retreat recently went to the library to experience the Joy of Reading for their Related Arts Class.

Clovercroft Elementary

Clovercroft Elementary students Arya Jalem and Dhruv Chandra competed at a National Junior High Chess tournament in Louisville, Kentucky this past weekend, in which about 900 kids from all over the country took part. The students played blitz (speed chess) and also regular chess in K-9 championship section. Even though there were only two players from Clovercroft, they managed to win enough games and earn enough points to get a team prize in both blitz as well as the regular tournament.

Crockett Elementary

The Crockett Elementary School first grade music program, Bugz by John Jacobson, was fabulous. A special thanks goes out to our music teacher Wydell Crooms for his dedication and hard work. On another note, students in kindergarten recently enjoyed a field trip to the Nashville Children’s Theatre to see Cat in the Hat and fourth grade enjoyed learning about Nashville from Marylin Switzer. In other news, Dennis Fetting, a Special Agent with U.S. Department of Homeland Security, spoke to a group of Crockett Elementary School parents about internet safety. The presentation was very informative and participants went home with a wealth of new knowledge and tips to implement. For more information on Internet Safety visit netsmartz.org. Kindergartners and first graders also enjoyed a visit by Williamson County Sheriff’s Deputy M. Grandy and K-9 Lexer.

Edmondson Elementary

The third grade teachers at Edmondson Elementary painted with the highest bidders during the Mardi Gras celebration for the silent auction. Each class had a winner and we painted after school while enjoying snacks. The girls painted a flower with ribbon petals. Each girl seemed to enjoy the afternoon. The results were beautiful.

Fairview Elementary

There is excitement all over FES as the older grades get ready for TCAP and the younger grades get ready to support them! Each younger grade classroom has an older classroom they are assigned to help cheer them on! We are so ready to rock the test! On Friday, April 24, several members of the daughters of the American Revolution came to our community meeting to talk about George Washington and present a framed picture to the school. They also generously gave two books to the library about some local history. We can’t wait to display our new art!

Grassland Elementary

Students in Christy Green’s third grade class recently wore “Team Z” shirts in honor of their classmate who has autism. Thank you to Lori DuFrain for all her efforts on the Autism Awareness campaign for the month of March, and a special thank you to the Burke family for sharing their story. TCAP testing for all third, fourth, and fifth graders is scheduled May 1-8. It’s essential for your child to be well rested, eat a healthy breakfast and arrive promptly to school. Testing begins immediately following arrival at 8:35 a.m.

Heritage Elementary

Heritage Elementary is ready for TCAP! HES held a pep assembly to pump the students up for TCAP week. The Independence High School drumline and the Heritage Middle cheerleaders came to support the students with the celebrations.

Hunters Bend Elementary

Hunters Bend had a great time at the Scholastic Book fair. This year, one of our book fair goals was to ensure as many children as possible receive books and have access to books. Through the All for the Books program, the students donated money to help families. For every dollar a student donated they received a ticket for a foot of duct tape. Our librarian, Joni Nesbitt, was duct taped to the wall by our students! TCAP begins May 1. Please be sure your students have a good night of sleep followed by a healthy breakfast. Also, please refrain from taking students out of school during tcaps. May 11 is field day. Kindergarten through second will be from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Third grade through fifth grade will be from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. We are still in need of volunteers to help. We need four per classroom. Please contact your homeroom parent or teacher to volunteer. May 18 is the fifth grade recognition service at 1:30 p.m.

Kenrose Elementary

Kenrose Elementary School students recently participated in a Rock the Test pep rally. Parents sent students “Good Luck” letters and students in grades K-2 made posters and cheered on their “buddy classes.” Good luck to all KES students.

Nolensville Elementary

The NES Drama Troupe performed their spring play, The Secret Garden, on Friday afternoon at school and then again on Saturday for parents and special guests. The students performing in the play did an awesome job and showed how amazingly talented they truly are. A special thank you goes out to art teacher Katie Boothe, fifth grade teacher Rachel VanNote, and the many parents who helped make the performance successful for our students.

Oak View Elementary

Oak View’s jump rope team represented our school very well with a performance at the Franklin Main Street Festival. Our jump rope team took center stage to showcase months of hard work and practice. The kids wowed the crowd and made us all very proud! Also this week, Oak View first graders got a chance to meet Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson. Mayor Anderson came and spoke to the students about our county government, our community and our schools. The students enjoyed this time with the mayor and appreciated the opportunity to ask questions.

Scales Elementary

Tina Tidwell’s second grade class recently visited Boiling Spring Academy in Brentwood where they learned what school was like for students in the 19th century. In other news, Scales fifth grader Kent Babe was named the school’s Academic All-Star for his positive attitude and commitment to excellence in the classroom.

Trinity Elementary

The Trinity Elementary School fourth and fifth grade chorus entertained residents at the Fountains of Franklin Assisted Living Home April 23 with their spring concert. The students performed while the residents ate dinner.

Walnut Grove Elementary

This week at Walnut Grove, students in the Jump Rope Club performed exciting routines for their parents. Jump Rope Club is comprised of approximately 70 3rd-5th graders that meet once a week in the morning to learn various jump rope skills and techniques. Jumping rope is an easy way to enhance overall fitness as well as incorporate cardiovascular endurance. Ten minutes of jumping rope is equivalent to jogging for 30 minutes and the students’ jump rope for approximately 40 minutes each week. It is fun to see the students develop and nurture relationships with their peers and work together to create incredible routines using a jump rope.

Westwood Elementary

Members of the Westwood Elementary School chorus performed for parents, staff and community members April 23.

Winstead Elementary

Our Winstead fifth grade students are focusing on sight reading in music using their recorder instrument. This is in preparation for band and music classes for middle school. Students are learning to name all notes on the treble staff and become proficient in playing the notes of B, A, and G. In addition, students are learning note values and are able to demonstrate each value of eight notes, quarter notes, half notes and whole notes.

Middle Schools

Brentwood Middle

Recently BMS students competed in the State Science Olympiad competition in Knoxville. Earning first place medals were Malak Elmessiry, Alysia Kang, Elisabeth Laviolette, J.B. Seiters and Banks Murdock. Placing third were Stephanie Chang and Yi Qu. Quinn Cunneely and Frederec Green placed fourth. Yi Qu has won three state medals while at BMS.

Grassland Middle

Grassland Middle School recently celebrated the 4th Annual Good Citizens Luncheon. Students were nominated by faculty and staff based on their ability to demonstrate the high standards of character expected of all GMS students. This year 70 students were recognized and were treated to a lunch served by the GMS administration. Way to go Generals! The online yearbook sale is over, but there are still a few books left to purchase and they will be sold on a first come first served basis. Stop by the GMS office to purchase and reserve your copy before they are gone. Cost is $60 and limited while supplies last. Lastly, supply kits are available for the 2015-16 school year. If you would like to order your kit visit http://www.1stdayschoolsupplies.com/ and enter our school zip code 37069.

Heritage Middle

The Heritage Middle School PTO will host the HMS Spring Lauau, an end of the year dance party, on Friday, May 8 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the HMS cafeteria. Admission is $5 per student and includes drinks and snacks. Tickets will be on sale during lunch on May 1, 5 and 7 and at the door the night of the event.

Hillsboro K-8

TCAP begins May 1. The testing schedule is as follows: May 1 – English Language Arts (the longest test), May 5 – Math, and May 6 – Science. Parents, it is helpful if your children could arrive at school early on testing days, but definitely by 8:12 a.m. to ensure a calm beginning to the test We want students to feel relaxed and positive that morning, from the moment they wake up to the minute they finish their TCAP.

Sunset Middle

On April 24 and April 25, Sunset Middle School’s theatre department entered into a whole new world with their spring production of Disney’s Aladdin Jr. For two nights only, Sunset’s most talented and dynamic performers captivated audiences and drew them into the enchanting world of Agrabah, a world filled with amazing adventures, elaborate dance numbers and magic carpet rides. Meanwhile, seventh grade students chose a standard that they had challenges with during TCAP review and then created a presentation explaining the strand and tips for how to identify and understand it on TCAP which they shared with their classmates. The classroom was transformed into an academic gallery where students set up a booth and their peers could come and learn about their standard. Their presentations included a visual aid they created, an interactive technology running presentation and a student created handout with beneficial review information. Students were able to walk through the gallery engaging in hands on activities and lessons designed and explained by their fellow classmates.

Woodland Middle

Congratulations to the following participants for a job well done at the 2015 Special Olympics at Brentwood High School on April 24! Vanessa Foster brought home a blue ribbon for first place in the 25 meter race as well as 5th place in the 100 meter run; Aidan Vogus brought home 2nd place in the softball throw and 4th place in the 50 meter run; Karrington Thomas took 3rd in the 100 meter run and 5th in the softball throw; Matthew Blake brought home red ribbons for second place in both the 400 meter run and the softball throw; and Abbey Seeling received a blue ribbon for 1st place in the 25 meter walk in addition to 4th place in the softball throw. The Warrior 400 meter relay team which included Karrington Thomas, Aidan Vogus, Vanessa Foster and Matthew Blake brought home 4th place ribbons! Great job Warriors! Thanks again to the buddy volunteer that attended this fun event, you are very much appreciated!

High Schools

Brentwood High

Congratulations to the Brentwood High School media production students for winning four of the six categories at this year’s MTSU Blue Spark Awards. BHS media students also won awards at this year’s Midsouth Student Television Production Awards. The final high school film festival is at Western Kentucky University. Brentwood has seven nominations in the five categories there.

Centennial High

Please congratulate two more CHS Track and Field athletes who broke school records last week. Senior Emily Grams broke the school record for shot put, and sophomore Hayden Fobare broke the school record for the 3200m. Congrats to these outstanding athletes. Congratulations also goes to the following students who competed in the Skills/USA competition: Caleb Jackson took first place in the state for Technical Drafting; Austin Brotzman was second in the state for Advertising Design; and Morgan Smythe placed third in the state for Photography. Please congratulate the newly elected leaders of CHS National Honor Society: Brady Bove, President; Jack Crouch and Joanna Finny; Vice Presidents; Bradley York, Secretary; Katherine David, Treasurer; and Meredith Bishop, Historian.

Fairview High

Contemporary Issues students are developing a version of ‘Apples to Apples’ game that will used as the spring board for a final research project. The students are given various problems and then required to come up with different solutions. Broadcasting 1 students are preparing ‘Year End Videos’ that summarize an activity of their choosing – a sport, theater, the school year, etc. Broadcasting 2 students are making a music video that matches shot-for-shot the music video, “Your Wildest Dreams” by The Moody Blues. Their remake includes period costumes, locations, props, choreography, and more. Broadcasting 3 students are completing this year’s Senior Video, which goes on sale May 18.

Franklin High

Congratulations to all the Franklin High media production students who received awards April 23 at the Midsouth Student Television Awards ceremony. Meanwhile, Williamson County Schools has opened registration updates for returning students (Grades K-11) April 1- May 15. The updates will take place online through existing Family Access accounts. Contact Kathy Street (kathy.street@wcs.edu) if you have not requested a Family Access account. If you need further assistance please contact Gina Cavender at gina.cavender@wcs.edu.

Renaissance High

The Renaissance High senior class will hold an album release party at Landmark Booksellers in Franklin during the Franklin Art Crawl on May 1 at 6 p.m. Students will perform their original songs from the album, Harmony In Chaos. All donations and proceeds from the album sales and various student made artisan crafts will go directly to Blood:Water Mission.

Summit High

Summit’s clay target team is having its best year yet! The team brought home numerous awards in Amateur Trap Association (ATA) competitions. Congratulations to all those who competed at the ATA and Scholastic Clay Target (SCTP) competitions in March and April. Squad awards went to Joe Gary, Wyatt Green, Dillon Waggoner, Aleyna Davis, and Caitlin Vincent (2nd place B class) and Jeremiah Daniels, Chase Breeding, Rylan Meares, and Jessica Gean (3rd place B class). In D class, Justin Erickson, Gavin Harris, Nate Olsen, Olivia Casada and Ryan Search brought home first place. The following students received individual awards for their classes: Jeremiah Daniels won first place (B class), Tucker Glenn second place and Ethan Flatt third place (both D class). Rylan Meares won third place in Junior Overall, and Aleyna Davis placed second in the Ladies Division. Our next competition will be on April 18 at Big Springs Shooting Complex.