School Snippets - November 14, 2014
Published November 14, 2014
The information below is provided by each school. Schools are listed in alphabetical order according to grade level.
Elementary Schools
Allendale Elementary
The first grade classes have had a great time learning all about Tennessee in social studies! They created a detailed map with rivers, lakes and important cities in each region! They also created a graphic organizer with all of the Tennessee symbols! The first graders also loved learning about the voting process by voting for their favorite food in a class poll.
Bethesda Elementary
Caleb Durrough, a third grade student at Bethesda Elementary School, placed third in the Grey Ghost 5K with a time of 24:25.
College Grove Elementary
The third grade students at College Grove performed a musical program in honor of Veteran’s Day. The program was titled “A Time to Remember” and featured patriotic songs. These students would like to thank their music teacher, Ms. Morford, for all of her hard work putting the program together. Great job, third grade!
Crockett Elementary
This week is National Educator’s week and Crockett’s PTO has been busy making the faculty and staff feel very appreciated. Faculty and staff were treated to breakfast on Monday and lunch on Wednesday. In addition, students brought in wish list items for their classroom and special classes. They will cap off the week with thank you notes for teachers and support staff. Meanwhile, parent volunteers are also busy helping Crockett Librarian Shannon Meadows set up for the book fair. The book fair will run from November 14-20 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. with special events on each day as follows: Friday, November 14, Mom’s Breakfast and Shopping from 6:30-8:30 a.m.; Tuesday, November 18, Family Night with Nucci’s gelato from 4-7 p.m (cash only); and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, November 19-20 – Grand Lunch Events! Invite someone grand to lunch and shop the book fair!
Edmondson Elementary
Edmondson Elementary kindergarten students experienced an exciting science session. Through the expert presenter Charlene Hosey, the children learned about bats while participating in hands-on activities. Pollination, seed dispersal, classification, biodiversity, interdependence and environmental conservation were also introduced.
Fairview Elementary
Fairview Elementary first graders had a treat this week when Mr. Richie the science guy came to visit on November 12! He did experiments with the first graders graders involving states of matter. Using dry ice, he showed how extreme temperatures can impact the state of matter. The first graders had a blast and learned a lot too! On November 13, the second graders graders will visit TPAC to see a play and visit the museum. The play “Before the People Came” is a retelling of a African folktale and uses song, dance and amazing visuals to tell the exciting story. Should be an awesome day!
Grassland Elementary
Fall picture retakes are Tuesday, November 18. Fifth graders will attend Junior Achievement BizTown on Thursday, November 20 and Friday, November 21. BizTown is a replica of a small town where students will learn first-hand how to create a business, run a newspaper, supervise employees, run a bank, pay taxes and hold elected office. Each student will be responsible to earn and manage their own money. Thanksgiving Break is November 24–28. GES wishes everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Hunters Bend Elementary
Flat Stanley has come back from his travels! First grade is excitedly opening packages from all over the United States, finding each state on the map and learning some important facts about them. The second graders have been working hard with Miss Smallwood on their upcoming musical ARF. Also, a big thanks to all the parent volunteers for their help. Third grade is moving on from multiplication to division this week, and in science, they are beginning their study of plants and animals where they will learn how to set up a hydroponic lab to grow their own green beans. In fourth grade, students are discussing ecosystems and putting together habitats for fiddler crabs, dwarf frogs and millipedes. These students have been researching to find out more about their animal’s food chain, food web, energy pyramid and adaptations. Adoption forms will be sent home shortly. We have millipedes, frogs, and crabs to send to good homes at the end of the unit. Each of the students have temporarily adopted an animal in the classroom. In math, fourth graders are starting division to understand how to break numbers down into equal groups. Meanwhile, Campus Beautification Day is November 15.
Kenrose Elementary
Kenrose Elementary School students participated in Treats for Troops sending 1200 pounds of candy to Afghanistan. This campaign was led by 5th graders Lexie Rogers and Gavin Blanchette.
Nolensville Elementary
Family Math Night is planned for Thursday, November 20 from 6-8 p.m. The theme this year is Math Around the World. Estimation stations, computer games, data collections, measurement activities and a wide variety of other math related activities are planned. Families are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Nolensville Food Pantry. A bar graph will be created showing the canned items. The Book Fair will also be going on in the library. Be sure to stop by and purchase some books.
Oak View Elementary
Oak View third graders have been learning about the great state of Tennessee in social studies. Using a gigantic floor map, the students located different geographic areas across the state. Students placed props in different areas of the state to represent landforms and natural resources found in that area. More hands-on learning came for third grade in science. Learning the life cycle of a chick truly came to life when eggs incubated in the classrooms and then hatched! Fourth grade has had their own excitement in the classrooms as students have been busy writing and presenting speeches as part of a 4-H competition. Good luck to all of the fourth graders! Finally, the Oak View book fair is quickly approaching and will take place December 4–9. Great things are happening at Oak View!”
Sunset Elementary
Sunset Elementary will present its Winter Holiday Celebration December 11 in the gym. The fourth and fifth grade students will perform your holiday favorites on Tone chimes and English Hand Bells. They will also sing songs of the season. This program will definitely get you in the Holiday spirit! Please join the fourth grade students at 8:45 a.m. The 5th grade students will perform on the English hand bells at 11:05 a.m.
Trinity Elementary
In art classes at Trinity Elementary School, students are participating in a gallery walk. During the gallery walk students are recognizing and explaining the characteristics and merits of the works of their fellow students. This is done by leaving a note for their fellow students about his or her artwork. The lesson also includes time for the student to reflect about his or her own artwork as well.
Walnut Grove Elementary
This week, fourth graders at Walnut Grove will be presenting their 4-H speeches. 4-H helps students develop skills in leadership, service and communications. Each student has written a 2-3 minute speech on one of the nine character traits that support positive, constructive behavior; such as respect, responsibility, perseverance, caring, courage, citizenship, trustworthiness, cooperation and fairness. To write an effective speech, students use research tools to gather information and take notes. They organize their notes into a clear and coherent theme with an introductory topic sentence, supporting details and a closing sentence. Students also learn confidence and poise in their ability to share ideas.
Westwood Elementary
First grade will soon be learning about maps! We will locate all seven continents and five oceans on a map of the world. Second grade will be learning about the moon phases! Kindergarten will be learning about describing words.
Winstead Elementary
The Veterans Day Ceremony was conducted by the fifth graders at Winstead Elementary. Students participated by reading aloud from various primary sources, such as The Gettysburg Address, quotes from presidents concerning the holiday, and other Tennesseans that have made an impact during their military service. The students also conducted a White Table ceremony to honor MIA’s and POW’s. In addition, the students invited parents, veterans and students at Winstead to the ceremony. Meanwhile, kindergarten students wrote Thank-You notes on Veterans Day. The cards will be sent to students’ family members who are currently serving in various branches of the military. The students in second grade have been busy learning the addition properties. Third grade math students are working on solving two step word problems. Students are challenged to provide an illustration to demonstrate their solution. Students will also be creating their own two step word problems for other students to solve. In fourth grade, students are working to identify the relationship between multiplication and division and divide with one and two digit divisors.
Middle Schools
Heritage Middle
Heritage Middle School is a bustling busy hive of activity both during school hours and with all the after school activities. Our students experience bell to bell instruction and have extra opportunities with several unique related arts programs that are only offered at HMS with Heritage Helpers, Creative Communications and Library Aides as well as Model U.N. and Youth Legislature. After school there is cheer and dance practices, wrestling matches or practice, soccer games and practices, basketball, baseball and softball conditioning plus Vox Aurea and play practice. Our Hornets are fierce!
Hillsboro K-8
Hillsboro has won… again! Hillsboro School was named a winner of the Drive Away Hunger Challenge! We donated 4.94lbs of food per student. Way to go, Hillsboro! Hillsboro will be presented with a trophy and a check for $1,250. We are so proud of each student and family here at Hillsboro. Thank you for your support and generosity! You have helped many needy families across Williamson County.
Sunset Middle
The results are in for the 2014 Middle School Drive Away Hunger competition which concluded October 31. This is the first of what is hoped to be an annual event supporting GraceWorks Fuel Bag Program, which provides weekend nutrition for students on the free and assisted lunch program. District-wide, middle school students brought in 6,814 pounds of food. In addition, $3,651.61 was collected. Sunset Middle School collected over 3700 pounds of food (including food and weight equivalent of cash donations)! In the district competition, that put us in second place just behind Woodland when comparing total pounds collected. That averages out to 4.47 pounds per student! Our homeroom winners are: 6th grade – Mrs. Christianson, 7th grade – Mr. Bresnahan, and 8th grade – Mr. Barnwell. Each of these homerooms have won a donut party! The grand prize winner – the homeroom with the most items donated (and winner of sonic coupons) goes to….Mr. Bresnahan who squeezed past Mr. Barnwell’s homeroom by only 12 (yep, 12) items!
Woodland Middle
On November 11, Woodland Middle School presented its annual Veterans Day Program for students and guests. The Chorus sang many patriotic songs including “God Bless the USA” with soloist Jason Jordan, a WMS Teacher. Nick Traub, also a WMS teacher and veteran of the United States Air Force, spoke to the audience sharing some stories about being a soldier. He made us laugh, he made us cry, but more importantly feel proud of the men and women who stand watch and guard our freedom.
High Schools
Brentwood High
Congratulations to the Brentwood High School Lady Bruins Volleyball Team! After winning the State championship, BHS is now ranked #3 in the MaxPreps Excellent 25 National Poll.
Centennial High
Centennial enjoyed hosting Leadership Franklin on Wednesday November 12 for a tour of the school, lunch and a student panel discussion time. Thanks to the following students who participated in the event: Angel Acosta, Yulissa Aguirre, Rachel Dumke, Jacob Elrod, Jevin Evans, Kali Hicks, Elise Hirt, Richard Kidd, Deon Sanders, Molly Wells and Abi Yan. The Cougar Chronicle has a great idea for the perfect Christmas gift for your friends and family that want to keep up with all the latest happenings at Centennial. For only $10, you may order a subscription to the newspaper, and a copy will be mailed to the address you specify. You can find the order form on the back of each issue of the newspaper or online. It’s a great way to keep relatives informed about what’s happening at CHS and for parents to have nice, clean keepsake copies of their favorite stories.
Fairview High
The Fairview High School’s Jobs for Tennessee Graduates program is celebrating much success. Seniors Cinthia Pierce and James Grayson will represent Fairview at the JTG National Student Leadership Awards in Washington, D.C. The students wrote award-winning essays and earned prize money to finance the trip. Meanwhile, the Fairview High School Student Council is leading a school-wide canned good collection. It’s all a part of a food drive called “Food for Fairview.” The canned goods will be donated to residents in need this holiday season. In addition, proceeds from the Mr. Fairview competition will help Fairview’s Habitat chapter fund a home for a local family in need.
Franklin High
Mark your calendar! Financial Aid Night is Tuesday, December 2 at 6 p.m. in the FHS Cafeteria. Important topics that will be covered include understanding financial aid terms, completing the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and information about Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarships (TELS). Please join us in congratulating Rachel Sharp on being placed in the ACDA National Honor Choir! Rachel was chosen from a pool of over 3,300 students who auditioned. She will be participating in this five day event in February with two culminating performances including a performance with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The marching band will be in Indianapolis this weekending competing in the Bands of America Grand National Championships. Forensics Team competed in the Krider Invitational last Saturday. Nina Donovan placed second in Poetry, Emma Bowmer placed fourth in Poetry and Musa Subramaniam placed fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking. Next competition will be Saturday. The FHS Chorus Concert will be on December 4 at 7 p.m. in the FHS Theater.
Independence High
The Independence High School PTSO is having another Fall Cleanup day this Saturday, November 15. Please join us between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the north parking lot. We will be continuing to clear brush out of the planter between the car rider pick up lane and the parking lot. Bring your gloves, boots, shovels, rakes & clippers. If you have access to a truck, drive that on over too. Donuts, coffee & hot chocolate will be provided.
Page High
Club pictures will be taken at Page High Tuesday, November 18. ASVAB testing will be Wednesday, November 19 for those students who registered. Senior Project Presentations will be held Thursday, November 20 from 3-5 p.m. This is mandatory for seniors at Page High School. The final deadline is Friday, November 21 for yearbook Senior Baby Ads. The ads should be sent to Megan Comer. Parents you will want to attend the Financial Aid Night Tuesday, December 2 from 6-8 p.m. It is especially geared to junior and senior parents.
Ravenwood High
Tickets to the annual Ravenwood Holiday Homes Tour are now on sale. This year’s tour will feature something for everyone including several homes new to the tour. And for the first time ever, each home will feature special holiday entertainment. Pre-paid tickets are $13 or $15 at the door. For $20, you can purchase the Holiday Home Tour Package which includes a ticket, a limited edition Ravenwood ornament and a complimentary coffee or cocoa at the tour. Tickets can be purchased through any 2018 Student Council member, the TEAM 2018 Parent Board or at pto4ravenwood.com/teams/team-2018/.
Summit High
Congratulations to our October Students of the Month! They are seniors Allison Baldwin and Keven Lucero, juniors Haleigh Ferretti and Cameron Presson, sophomores Mackenzie Blackstock and Gavin Ford, and freshmen Amanda Murray and John Blue.