Oak Ridge Today

History teacher, ORHS grad to appear on Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament

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Lydia Cuffman

Lydia Cuffman, a 2004 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, will compete in the Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament on Tuesday. The show will air at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday on WBIR-TV in Knoxville. (Photos courtesy Jeopardy Productions, Inc.)

 

Lydia Cuffman, a 2004 graduate of Oak Ridge High School, will compete in the Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament on Tuesday. The show will air at 7:30 p.m. on WBIR-TV in Knoxville.

Cuffman is now a history teacher at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, California.

Her mother, Kym Cuffman, said 200,000 people sign up to take the Jeopardy test each year. One hundred fifty thousand actually take the test, and 400 make it to the final contestants’ pool, Kym Cuffman said. There were 15 K-12 teachers chosen to be in the Teachers Tournament. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools have health, wellness panel, screening on Saturday

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Oak Ridge Schools Logo

The Oak Ridge Schools Office of Coordinated School Health and the Allergy, Asthma, and Sinus Center are hosting a free Health and Wellness Panel Discussion and Health Screening this Saturday, January 31, at Oak Ridge High School Auditorium from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The event will be hosted by Dr. Bob Overholt of the Dr. Bob Show. The panel will consist of Dr. Karthick Krishnan (asthma/allergy specialist), Dr. Chris Nolte (sleep specialist), Dr. Randy Robbins (orthopedic specialist), and Dr. Matthew McCallister (concussion/pediatric health). The panel will answer audience questions from 10:15 a.m.-11:15 a.m. [Read more…]

Wildcat Pride Club raising awareness of autism this week

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Oak Ridge Wildcats LogoThe Wildcat Pride Club of Oak Ridge High School hopes to raise awareness for autism this week as they promote “Hoops for Autism.”

This cause hits home with Lady Wildcats Coach David Scott because his son Daniel was diagnosed with autism at an early age, a press release said.

The club is holding fundraisers this week at the High School with all proceeds from the fundraisers going to the research of autism. Activities have been planned that will culminate on Friday night as the Wildcats host the Central Bobcats in basketball. [Read more…]

Two ORHS students among 100 in state to earn perfect score on TCAP writing test

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Abigail Greenhalgh, David Bryant, and Sarah Dowling

From left are Abigail Greenhalgh, David Bryant, and Sarah Dowling. (Submitted photo)

Two Oak Ridge High School students were among only 100 students in the state of Tennessee to earn a perfect score on the 2014 TCAP Writing Assessment, a press release said.

Abigail Greenhalgh and Sarah Dowling each received a perfect score on all categories of the assessment, which was given statewide last February. The students each received a certificate signed by Governor Bill Haslam and the commissioner of education.

“This is a fine example of how well our teachers are preparing our students to be proficient writers, not only at the high school, but at the elementary and middle schools as well,” Oak Ridge High School David Bryant said.

Documentary on kindness to be shown to middle school, high school girls on Feb. 12

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Oak Ridge Schools will show a documentary on kindness to middle school and high school girls at 6 p.m. Thursday, February 12.

The documentary, “Finding Kind,” will be shown at Oak Ridge High School, and the evening is expected last until approximately 8:30 p.m., with activities to include viewing the documentary, discussions led by Oak Ridge School staff counselors, and then wrapping up with the opportunity for girls to take a kindness pledge, to apologize to those they may have wronged, and then to express something kind to their peers, a press release said.

Door prizes will be awarded as well.

The press release said this event is recommended to girls ages 11 and up due to language and some content. This event is free of charge. [Read more…]

Grant will allow Roane State to expand mechatronics program

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Chris Whaley

Chris Whaley

Roane State Community College will use a nearly $1 million state grant to expand its mechatronics program and to pilot offering the program’s first year as dual credit courses for high school students. The college will partner with schools in Oak Ridge and Anderson County.

The mechatronics program trains students to become technicians who operate, maintain, and repair high-tech automated manufacturing systems. Roane State offers a one-year certificate in mechatronics. Through a $970,000 Labor Education Alignment Program, or LEAP, grant, Roane State will create a two-year associate degree in mechatronics. The program will be launched in fall 2015.

“We are honored to receive a LEAP grant, and we appreciate the hard work of our partners and our legislative delegation on the grant,” Roane State President Chris Whaley said. “The grant is built on great partnerships between Roane State, industries, local school systems and the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology. Working together, we will help students learn the skills they need for high-tech manufacturing careers.” [Read more…]

Snow dusts Oak Ridge; Anderson, Roane schools closed

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Oak Ridge Snow January 27, 2015

A light layer of snow dusted Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning. (Photo by Sarah Johnson)

 

A light layer of snow dusted Oak Ridge on Tuesday morning, and schools were closed in Anderson and Roane counties.

The Anderson County Schools’ Central Office was following its bad weather procedures. The Roane County Schools’ Central Office opened one hour late.

Oak Ridge Schools opened on time.

Clinton City Schools reported that roads were clear in Clinton—”and school buildings are warm”—and schools would open on time. [Read more…]

BOE: Fix lead paint now, prepare for new Preschool by 2016-2017

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Oak Ridge Board of Education and City Council

The Oak Ridge Board of Education, seated at right, and City Council, left, are pictured above during a Jan. 15 work session on the Oak Ridge Schools’ Preschool, among other agenda items.

 

Finding a new preschool might not happen as quickly as some would like, but the city’s school board on Monday recommended a few first steps that could have children in a new building by the 2016-2017 school year.

The main concern now: Fix the lead-based paint on the decades-old home of the Preschool on New York Avenue. That repair could cost an estimated $150,000. A remediation plan could be submitted to federal officials and Anderson County education officials by March 4.

There had been some hope that a new home for preschool students might be found as early as this August. [Read more…]

School Board could make Preschool recommendation tonight

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Charlsey Cofer and Oak Ridge City Council and School Board

Principal Charlsey Cofer, left, discusses the Oak Ridge Schools Preschool with Oak Ridge City Council members and City Manager Mark Watson, seated at table, during a Jan. 15 work session with the Oak Ridge Board of Education.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 p.m.

It’s been on the city’s wish list for decades, but city and school officials now appear closer to finding a solution to repairing or replacing the city’s preschool.

Officials said they’ve “kicked the can down the road” for years, but the discussion gained urgency after lead-based paint was found on the exterior of the 70-year-old building during a routine inspection in the spring of 2014. It could cost up to $150,000 to make repairs. Officials have characterized that as a Band-Aid or “last investment.”

“We’re going to have make a decision now, unfortunately, because of the paint,” said Keys Fillauer, Oak Ridge Board of Education chair. “The bottom line is: How are we going to pay for this?” [Read more…]

Hike for Your Heart at Haw Ridge on Feb. 7

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Haw Ridge Park Parking Lot

Part of the Melton Lake Greenway is pictured above at the Haw Ridge Park parking lot.

 

Oak Ridge city and school officials will kick off Heart Health Month with a walk and hike at Haw Ridge Park on February 7.

Hike for Your Heart is a 4.2-mile walk with optional trail hiking included. It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, February 7, and the public is invited. The walk and hike has been organized by the City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee and Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health.

The walking path has varied elevations, a press release said. Walkers will leave the Haw Ridge parking area on Edgemoor Road promptly at 9 a.m. February 7. [Read more…]

Technology Town Hall at Glenwood Elementary on Tuesday

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Glenwood Elementary School

Glenwood Elementary School in east Oak Ridge is pictured above.

Glenwood Elementary will host the next Oak Ridge Schools Technology Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, January 27, at 6 p.m. in the library.

“Come learn why computer skills are important in our schools,” a press release said. “Learn about Hour of Code and how Glenwood has started to incorporate coding into the school day. Community members will be invited to the computer lab to try your hands at coding skills.”

ORHS: Four state winners, one national winner in computing awards for young women

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NCWIT Awards to Oak Ridge High School

Pictured above from left to right are Olivia Bookout, Patricia Edou, Serena French, and Keith Jackson. Indigo Jackson is not pictured. (Submitted photo)

 

Four Oak Ridge High School students won state honors, and one student was a national winner—the first from East Tennessee—in computing awards given to young women in 2015.

The Award for Aspirations in Computing by the National Center for Women and Technology honors young women at the high-school level for their computing-related achievements and interests, a press release said. Awardees are selected for their computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.

The four ORHS students were among 11 state winners from Tennessee. The Oak Ridge students are Olivia Bookout, Patricia Edou, Serena French, and Indigo Jackson. [Read more…]