Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Schools receives three funding awards from Carl Perkins Reserve Grant

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Oak Ridge Schools has received three competitive grant awards from the Carl Perkins Reserve funds. The first award in the amount of $50,000 is designated for the continuation of a large competitive grant that was won to increase the offerings at Oak Ridge High School in advanced manufacturing, a pathway that includes welding, robotics, and new courses in mechatronics engineering and machining technologies.

The second award is for $10,000, and it will continue the schools system’s efforts in assisting students by paying for industry certification vouchers in nursing, Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and AutoCAD concept-to-production toolsets, a press release said. [Read more…]

New principal named at Oak Ridge Preschool, administrative assistants at Linden, Glenwood

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Lisa Downard

Lisa Downard

Oak Ridge Schools have announced a new principal at the Preschool and new administrative assistants at Linden and Glenwood elementary schools.

Lisa Downard will be the new principal of Oak Ridge Schools Preschool. Downard has a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She earned her Ed.S. in instructional leadership from Lincoln Memorial University in 2014, a press release said. Downard was the assistant principal at Linden Elementary School for six years.

Heather Jenkins has been selected to become the new administrative assistant at Linden Elementary School. Jenkins has a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Tech in elementary education and an master’s degree from Tennessee Tech in instructional leadership. Jenkins has taught at Linden for 11 years. [Read more…]

Tee Higgins commits to Clemson

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Wildcats Tee Higgins Catch at Ooltewah Nov. 13, 2015

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5), shown making a playoff catch against Ooltewah on Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, announced Monday, July 4, 2016, that he has committed to Clemson. (File photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak Ridge Wildcats wide receiver Tee Higgins has committed to Clemson. Higgins, who will be a senior this fall, announced his decision in a Bleacher Report video posted on Twitter on Monday.

The video shows Higgins, a five-star receiver who had once been committed to Tennessee, at a barbecue cookout with friends and family. It ends with orange and purple fireworks in the sky.

The 247Sports Composite lists the 6-foot-5, 188-pound Higgins as the nation’s third-ranked wide receiver in the 2017 class. Prep Xtra at the Knoxville News Sentinel reported that he is considered the number one overall player in Tennessee.

Higgins, who won a Mr. Football award in November and was also a Mr. Basketball finalist, chose the Tigers over finalists Ohio State, Florida State, Tennessee, and Ole Miss. [Read more…]

Thompson named vice principal at ORHS after Scott becomes administrator at Secret City Academy

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Stephanie Thompson

Stephanie Thompson

A new administrator, Stephanie Thompson, has been announced at Oak Ridge High School. Thompson will be an assistant principal, filling the position previously held by Christopher Scott, who is the new administrator at Secret City Academy (the alternative school).

In other recent changes, Lisa Downard is now principal of Oak Ridge Schools Preschool. The position she vacated at Linden Elementary School (assistant principal) is being filled by Heather Jenkins.

Thompson began her career as a substitute teacher in Marion County, Florida, at Lake Weir High School. She served in that position for 18 months until she was hired as a College and Career Lab coach in 1998.

In 2000, Thompson moved to Ocala Christian Academy with her children to serve as a full-time business teacher. There, she was charged with rebuilding the program, aligning the curriculum to the current Sunshine Standards of the public schools, and implementing and supervising a work-based learning program, a press release said. [Read more…]

AC students team up with veterinarian, dogs to study, protect state reptile

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CRESO and DOE OREM Turtle Hunt with Boykin Spaniels 1

Pictured above at right is John Byrd, director and co-founder of the Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization, or CRESO. At center is Dr. Matt Allender, DVM (zoo veterinarian from University of Illinois). He operates the Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, or W.E.L. They worked with Boykin Spaniels and Anderson County middle and high school students to collect information about the state’s reptile, the Eastern Box Turtle, at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. (DOE photo/Lynn Freeny)

 

Anderson County middle and high school students contributed to long-term ecological field studies at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, using Boykin Spaniels to help a veterinarian and an education and research program collect information about the state’s reptile, the Eastern Box Turtle.

The Clinch River Environmental Studies Organization, or CRESO, is leading the “turtle hunts” with the students this week, from June 27-30 in Oak Ridge. More than 20 students will participate in the program and experience hands-on field research, a press release said.

Collecting information about box turtles is a priority for CRESO to learn how local human activity is affecting their health and habitat, the press release said.

The Boykin Spaniels involved in the turtle hunt are a dog breed that has an uncanny ability to sniff out turtles. Boykins can swiftly find four to 12 turtles in an hour compared to the human ability of finding one every four hours. The Boykin’s soft mouth and calm, easy temperament ensures the turtles are not harmed. [Read more…]

Elementary school success in Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair

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Lilly McDonald of Woodland Elementary School placed first in Life Science for her project, “Birds: Feed, Eat, Repeat” at the da Vinci Arts and Science Fair at New Hope Center in May. (Submitted photo)

Lilly McDonald of Woodland Elementary School placed first in Life Science for her project, “Birds: Feed, Eat, Repeat” at the Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair at New Hope Center in May. (Submitted photo)

On May 21-22, six students represented Woodland Elementary School with science fair projects at the Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair at New Hope Center in Oak Ridge.

Five third-grade students participated: Abi Beach, Isabella Liu, Lilly McDonald, William Shen, and Edie Weston.

One fourth-grader, Isaac Robinson, also competed.

Two students placed in the science competition. Edie Weston placed second in Life Science for her project titled, “How Long Until Sunscreen Blocks UV Light?” Lilly McDonald placed first in Life Science for her project, “Birds: Feed, Eat, Repeat.” [Read more…]

ORPD investigating truancy cases with DA’s Office, Oak Ridge Schools

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The Oak Ridge Police Department, Anderson County District Attorney General’s Office, and Oak Ridge Schools have started investigating juveniles with unexcused absences from school during the 2015-2016 school year, officials said Friday.

“This process involves seeking petitions for truancy for those students who were absent for significant periods of time,” a City of Oak Ridge press release said.

The petitions will be submitted with the Anderson County Juvenile Court for remediation, the press release said. The 15 petitions were the start of an ongoing investigation, and officials anticipate that additional juvenile petitions will be filed.

“As part of this investigation, ORPD will also be investigating additional allegations of educational neglect, and when warranted, will seek petitions in (Anderson County General) Sessions Court against parents of students with a high number of unexcused absences from school during the 2015-2016 school year,” the release said. [Read more…]

Council approves budget with no tax increase, more money for schools

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Note: This story was updated at 1:15 p.m. June 16.

The Oak Ridge City Council approved a budget on Monday that does not include a property tax rate increase, but it does include more money for schools. The budget anticipates increases in the trash fee and water and sewer rates.

It was the second and final vote on the budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The first vote, or reading, was Monday, June 6.

The property tax rate will stay at $2.52 per $100 of assessed value. It’s the ninth year in a row without a property tax rate increase by the city, although the tax rate had to be adjusted last year after five-year reappraisals.

The budget, which has about $22.8 million in the general fund, includes a 3 percent pay adjustment that will move municipal employees along their pay scales, helping to separate those who have worked for the city for a while from those who have just started. [Read more…]

Some of nation’s most accomplished STEM teachers selected as Albert Einstein Educator Fellows

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Teachers representing 10 states, District of Columbia will apply classroom experience to congressional, federal executive branch offices

Thirteen accomplished K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, teachers from across the United States have been named 2016-2017 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows. The fellows will spend 11 months serving in a federal agency or U.S. congressional office in Washington, D.C., engaged in the national STEM education arena.

The Albert Einstein Distinguished Education Fellowship, or AEF, Program provides a unique opportunity for accomplished K-12 STEM educators to apply their extensive classroom knowledge and experience to their host offices to inform federal STEM education efforts.

The 2016-17 Einstein Fellows are as follows: [Read more…]

School board has special meeting Monday to consider one-time spending approved by city

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Oak Ridge Schools School Administration Building

The Oak Ridge Board of Education will have a special meeting on Monday to consider approving $538,048 worth of one-time spending that was approved by the Oak Ridge City Council this past Monday (May 6).

If the Tennessee Department of Education agrees, the extra money, which had been requested by Oak Ridge Schools and the BOE, would not be part of the city’s annual “maintenance of effort” for the schools, a level of funding that can’t be reduced.

Most of the $538,048, or $425,000, would be used in the next fiscal year for principal and interest payments for a four-year technology lease that began in fiscal year 2016, the current fiscal year. That lease funded the purchase of convertible laptops for grade levels 5-8, supporting what is known as a 1:1 initiative and part of Access Oak Ridge.

The other $113,048 would be used for building improvements: [Read more…]

ORHS Class of 1986 has 30th Reunion on July 22, 23

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The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1986 will have its 30th Reunion this summer. It’s scheduled for Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23.

“Please come join us!” a press release said.

On Friday, the class will have hors d’oeuvres and music and plenty of time to chat at the Old Towne Inn in Oak Ridge. On Saturday, they will have dinner and dancing at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Oak Ridge. All graduates of 1986 and spouses/dates are invited and encouraged to attend, the press release said.

“We would love to see you and have a chance to visit,” the release said. [Read more…]

ORHS classes of 1974-1978 reunion in September

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The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1976 is holding their 40th reunion during the weekend of September 23-25, 2016.

The class is inviting the classes of 1974 through 1978, those who attended school with class members but may have graduated elsewhere, and our teachers and staff to join the festivities which are scheduled as follows:

  • Friday, September 23, will be an informal gathering at Blankenship Field as the Oak Ridge Wildcats host Sevier County in the Homecoming game. The tailgate party will begin at 5 p.m. near the upper gate, and then they will follow the team onto the field for recognition prior to the game, which starts at 7 p.m. Admission to the game is $7 per person.
  • The dressy casual main event on Saturday, September 24, will be held at the new Calhoun’s (formerly Riverside Grille) at 100 Melton Lake Drive. A cash bar starts at 5 p.m. and hors d’oeuvres at 6 p.m. Come enjoy music, dancing, and reminiscing along the waterway in this beautiful venue until 11:30 p.m., a press release said. Admission for the main event is $43.86 through August 14 and obtained by registration at orhs76reunion.com.
  • A lunch picnic gathering takes place on Sunday, September 25, at Clark Center Park (known as Carbide Park in our day) at 12:30 p.m. Bring your own lunch and family for a final informal get-together of the weekend, the press release said.

[Read more…]