Oak Ridge Today

COVID-19: Oak Ridge Schools cancel Safety Patrol trip

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Note: This story was updated at 5:35 p.m. March 15.

Oak Ridge Schools has cancelaed an elementary school Safety Patrol trip to Washington, D.C., but the Oak Ridge High School winter guard and percussion trip to Suwanee, Georgia, is still scheduled to occur.

Update: The WGI has canceled all future events, and the ORHS Indoor Percussion will not be traveling to Georgia. But they did perform at the Oak Ridge Civic Center on Friday. It’s not clear if the status of the band and orchestra trip mentioned below has changed.

Regarding another trip, the Oak Ridge Board of Education did not vote in a meeting on Wednesday to cancel the ORHS band and orchestra trip to New York City at this time. But school officials plan to keep monitoring conditions in New York City.

The school board was considering the status of the trips because of concerns about COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

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ORHS Masquers presents ‘Little Mermaid’ this weekend

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The ‘Good Guys’ in ‘The Little Mermaid’ presented by Oak Ridge High School Masquers this weekend (March 6-8, 2020) are Emily Salko as ‘Flounder,’ Marian Vacaliuc as ‘Ariel,’ Mazzie Zawisza as ‘Sebastian,’ and Jack Lloyd as ‘Scuttle.’ (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” the musical based on the classic animated film, in four performances this weekend.

The performances are Friday, March 6, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. in the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center. Advanced tickets are $8, and they are available at the ORHS office and The Ferrell Shop. At the door, tickets will be $9 for students and $10 for adults.

Under the direction of Dana Wham—who has directed, choreographed, or acted in numerous adult and children productions throughout the region— this year’s “The Little Mermaid” continues the ORHS Masquers tradition of bringing excellent performances, impressive sets, amazing orchestration, and technical panache to the stage, a press release said.

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Current risk of coronavirus is low, but schools, health dept. provide info

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The immediate risk of the coronavirus in the United States is believed to be low, but Oak Ridge Schools, Anderson County Schools, and the Anderson County Health Department are providing information to help respond to the emerging public health threat.

“Oak Ridge Schools is committed to keeping our students and staff safe and are currently working to determine the appropriate steps to address the potential coronavirus outbreak,” the school system said in a message sent to staff members on Friday afternoon. “We are communicating with the Anderson County Health Department to attain the latest information and recommendations from federal, state, and local authorities.”

Oak Ridge Schools said it will use that information to create a plan to keep students and staff safe.

“Staff, students, and parents will receive information regarding a coronavirus plan should the implementation of such action become necessary,” the message said.

The school system said it will communicate with students, staff, and parents about the importance of consistently practicing these recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

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UCOR accepting applications for education grants

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UCOR, a federal cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, is accepting applications for education grants between $500 and $1,000.

The grants will support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, projects.

The grant applications are open to public school teachers in eight counties: Anderson (including Oak Ridge and Clinton City schools), Campbell, Knox, Loudon, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union.

“Teachers in those counties are welcome to apply, but applications should focus on STEM,” a press release said. “For instance, a music teacher might apply for a grant for a math-related project within the field of music.”

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Snow fell in Oak Ridge on Thursday

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Snow falls in Oak Ridge outside the Joe L. Evins Federal Building on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Snow fell in Oak Ridge on Thursday morning, and the snow briefly accumulated before melting in the afternoon.

The snow and winter weather did not affect Oak Ridge Schools, but it did affect other school districts.

Anderson County Schools dismissed early Thursday and will be closed Friday due to the threat of ice and road conditions that could get worse. Two buses, Bus 48 and Bus 50, were unable to continue their routes past Briceville Elementary School on Thursday afternoon, and students were picked up from the building.

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Sponsored: Mattress fundraiser to benefit ORHS WildBand

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A mattress fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, will help the Oak Ridge High School WildBand.

A mattress fundraiser on Sunday will help the Oak Ridge High School WildBand.

The Second Annual Mattress Fundraiser is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, February 23, in the ORHS Food Court.

“If you are you looking to replace a bed in your home, now is the time,” a press release said. “For one day only, the High School Food Court will be transformed into a mattress showroom.”

There will be 30 different mattress styles on display in all sizes for customers to try, priced below retail, the press release said. Adjustable power bases, premium pillows, bed frames, and mattress protectors will be available as well. The brands—including Simmons Beautyrest, Southerland, Intellibed, and Wellsville—all come with full factory warranties, are made to order, and will be available 2-3 weeks after the fundraiser, the press release said. Delivery is available.

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First ORHS Middle College class at Roane State about to graduate

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Oak Ridge High School Roane State Community College Middle College 2020
Pictured is the first class of Roane State Middle College students from Oak Ridge High School. Seated from left are Aamariah Crow, Isabella Kelly, Chloe Mallett, Savannah Shropshire, Selena Sterling, and Christina Thomas. Standing from left are Caroline Webb, Katie Swigert, Haley Snyder, Jacob Wright, Shaelyn Deal, and Cameille Schubert. Not pictured: Cameron Malone and Marissa Colvais. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

One wants to be a doctor. Another, a lawyer involved in immigration cases. Two plan to become engineers, another wants to be involved in mission work, and one intends to work as an ultrasound technician.

They are among 14 Oak Ridge High School students who are members of the first Roane State Community College Middle College class, and they’re getting ready to graduate this spring, both from high school and college.

Although they have varying career goals, they have several things in common. They all say they have enjoyed their Middle College experiences, they’ve all been accepted to colleges and universities to continue their educations, and they’re fans of their advisor and English instructor, Assistant Roane State Professor Margaret “Maggie” Bouldin.

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Glenwood, JMS, RMS receive STEM grants

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Three Oak Ridge schools—Glenwood Elementary, Jefferson Middle, and Robertsville Middle—recently learned they had been awarded grants for projects involving science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM. The grants were for $5,000 and $10,000.

Glenwood Elementary School received a grant for $5,000 to fund a project titled, “Engineering a Brighter Future.” That’s a hands-on initiative to engage students in STEM-based learning focused on careers of the future.

This competitive grant came from a program sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority that provides teachers an opportunity to apply for funding up to $5,000. Preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA’s primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic and career development, and community problem solving.

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Reminder: ORHS Masquers presents ‘Little Women’

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A reminder: Oak Ridge High School Masquers is presenting “Little Women” at the high school this weekend.

The first show was Thursday evening in the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center at ORHS.

The next two shows are at 7 p.m. Saturday, November 16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, November 17, also in the Performing Arts Center.

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Roane State wins $1 million grant to help mechatronics, cyber security programs

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By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Roane State Community College has won a $999,950 state grant that will be used to expand dual enrollment studies in mechatronics and computer technologies at 11 high schools in four rural East Tennessee counties. Dual enrollment courses enable high school students to obtain college credits.

The community college’s grant proposal, titled “Fast Forward for Success,” was one of 28 grants selected for funding out of 61 requests filed under the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education program.

That effort prioritizes learning opportunities in rural counties and enhances career and technical education statewide, according to an announcement from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s office.

“These funds directly support our workforce development efforts in distressed and at-risk counties and are a key component of our strategy to prioritize rural Tennessee,” Lee said in the announcement.

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Judge to discuss Juvenile Court, school truancy

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Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brian Hunt

Anderson County Juvenile Court Judge Brian J. Hunt will present a program about the court’s approach to truancy issues in Anderson County schools, including Oak Ridge, on Monday, October 28.

The presentation will be during the general meeting of AAUW (American Association of University Women) at First Presbyterian Church, Room 122 at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Hunt’s talk will begin shortly after noon, with a luncheon catered by The Soup Kitchen being served at 11:30 a.m., a press release said. Reservations for the luncheon are $8.50 and may be made by calling Mary Uziel at (865) 483-1043. A choice of soups and sandwiches will be available, with desserts and iced tea and coffee. Those attending who want to bring a sack lunch or not have lunch are asked to make a reservation to ensure adequate seating for the program, the press release said.

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Roane State hosts launch of ‘Dream It. Do It.’ competition

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Roane State Dream It Do It Oct. 14 2019
Roane State Community College hosts the 5th annual ‘Dream It. Do It.” competition launch at the Clinton Higher Education and Training facility on Oct. 14, 2019. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

Roane State hosted the launch of the fifth annual “Dream It. Do It.” competition last week at the community college’s mechatronics campus in Clinton, and it is also providing judges for the months-long events.

Now in its fifth year, the unique student competition highlighting manufacturing careers is sponsored by Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, the contractor that operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, and the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce.

The event is held each October as part of the National Manufacturing Day celebration.

Chamber President Rick Meredith during the competition kickoff expressed appreciation for the college’s assistance. Gordon Williams, director of the mechatronics program in the Clinton Higher Education and Training facility, showed the students the various types of equipment used in mechatronics.

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