Oak Ridge Today

Robertsville Middle School vice principal appointment announced

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Tonya Childress

Tonya Childress

 

Tonya Childress was selected to serve as the Robertsville Middle School assistant principal beginning July 11, 2017.

Childress holds both doctor of education and educational specialist degrees from Lincoln Memorial University. She received both her master of science and bachelor of science degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in Technology Education.

During the past 18 years, Childress has served as a teacher and administrator with Knox County Schools.

This press release was submitted by Holly Cross.

Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation presents two new grants

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Pictured above during a check presentation to Free Medical Clinic are Amber Price, Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation; Jackie Clay, executive director, Free Medical Clinic and board members Carol Smallridge and Judy Wilson; and Janie Click and Stephanie Zuleger, Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation. (Photo by Y-12 Federal Credit Union)

Pictured above from left to right during a check presentation to Free Medical Clinic are Amber Price, Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation; Jackie Clay, executive director, Free Medical Clinic and board members Carol Smallridge and Judy Wilson; and Janie Click and Stephanie Zuleger, Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation. (Photo by Y-12 Federal Credit Union)

 

Free Medical Clinic and Oak Ridge Computer Science (ORCS) Girls were the newest recipients of grants from Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation, a press release said. A check presentation ceremony was conducted at the Y-12 Federal Credit Union branch in Oak Ridge on Monday, August 7.

Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation was established by Y-12 Federal Credit Union, a full-service financial provider headquartered in Oak Ridge, with 14 branches located in Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Knox, Roane, and Sevier counties serving 108,413 members. The foundation was established to extend the Y-12 FCU mission of “people helping people” into the philanthropic realm of charitable giving and support.

Y-12 FCU Gives Foundation will improve communities by delivering human and financial resources, the press release said. The Foundation Board of Directors will use their compassion, accountability, and dedication to make a difference in the hearts and lives of the communities served in the areas of: [Read more…]

Reminder: Emerald ash borer workshop at UT Arboretum this evening

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An ash tree is pictured above in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

An ash tree is pictured above in Oak Ridge. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

 

The Oak Ridge Tree Board is hosting a workshop focused on the impact of the emerald ash borer in the area. The event, scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, August 29, will provide important information regarding the emerald ash borer for property owners, landscapers, and others involved in the maintenance of green spaces, a press release said.

Ash trees make up a significant percentage of the urban forest in the area and have traditionally been a landscaping staple. Many of these trees in Oak Ridge are already dead or beyond treatment, but a significant number can be saved. At the workshop this evening, experts from around the area will address issues that include the identification of affected ash trees and responses to emerald ash borer infestation, including appropriate treatment. [Read more…]

More on Clinton schools’ decision to close on Eclipse Day

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Information from WYSH Radio

As you are no doubt aware, there will be a total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, with the path of totality expected to pass over East Tennessee. Several area school systems will be closed that day, including those in Anderson County and the city of Clinton.

Originally, the school system had planned to keep schools open and allow parents to join their students to view the eclipse with their teachers to take advantage of the unique educational opportunity, but that has changed over the past week or so, as Director of Schools Kelly Johnson explained Wednesday morning, with many parents citing safety concerns associated with viewing an eclipse and a desire to have more of a role in determining the level of their student’s involvement. [Read more…]

Anderson County, Clinton schools to close for solar eclipse on Monday

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Anderson County and Clinton schools will be closed over safety concerns during the total solar eclipse that will cross the United States on Monday, August 21.

“After receiving feedback from teachers, staff, and concern over safety from the media, Anderson County Schools will be closed on Monday, (August) 21, Eclipse Day,” a notice posted by the county school system said.

“Due to the abundance of safety concerns being expressed, CCS (Clinton City Schools) will be closed on Monday, August 21, for the eclipse,” the city school system said in an online post. “This has been a difficult decision to make, but we want parents to have input on their child’s level of participation on this special day. We will be sending home eclipse glasses with each child on Friday afternoon. Please use these based on your personal discretion. Special activities will occur this week in classrooms to make this a meaningful learning experience for our students. We appreciate your understanding and support.” [Read more…]

Former astronaut to speak during eclipse activities at AMSE on Saturday, Aug. 19

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A former astronaut originally from Jamestown, Tennessee, will share stories and answer questions regarding his experience as a payload specialist aboard a NASA Space Shuttle mission in 1997 as part of solar eclipse-related activities at the American Museum of Science and Energy on Saturday, August 19.

Roger Crouch will be at AMSE at 1 p.m. August 19.

The activities at AMSE that day are in preparation for the total solar eclipse occurring on Monday, August 21. They’re scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Hands-on “Explore Science: Earth & Space” activities will allow visitors to explore the eclipse phenomenon, a press release said. The activities were developed and distributed nationwide by the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net) and used in more than 250 museums during the spring and summer of 2017. [Read more…]

INVO PEO donates more than $8,500 in school supplies to Boys & Girls Clubs of Clinch Valley

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INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said. (Submitted photo)

 

INVO PEO, a professional employer organization based in Clinton, recently partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Clinch Valley to collect school supplies for students to prepare for the upcoming school year, a press release said.

Employees at both INVO PEO’s Clinton and Oak Ridge offices collected more than $2,600 in monetary donations, 116 pairs of shoes, 85 backpacks, 416 packs of paper and notebooks, 1,130 writing utensils, 274 pocket folders, 550 glue sticks, and 919 other miscellaneous items, the press release said.

All the supplies collected will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs so they can distribute to students as needed. The total dollar amount of all items collected is estimated to be more than $8,500. [Read more…]

Families in need appreciate ADFAC backpacks, school supplies

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Oak Ridge Utility District employees packed 156 backpacks for Robertsville Middle School students. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Utility District employees packed 156 backpacks for Robertsville Middle School students. (Submitted photo)

 

Becky Hook’s back-to-school shopping list includes 3,500 backpacks, 5,100 dry erase markers, and 700 clipboards, among thousands of other items. That’s because she is shopping for ADFAC, which is giving away the backpacks filled with supplies to children whose families can’t afford them.

A mother of six students at Sunbright School in Morgan County said the backpacks and school supplies ADFAC recently provided for her children came just at the right time.

“This has been an extremely difficult summer. I lost my job and am going through a divorce, but regardless of what is happening in my life, my children still have needs and lives that go on,” Mary Ann Massey said. “These backpacks have been a godsend.”

ADFAC (Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties) is distributing the 3,500 new backpacks with supplies to children in need at 33 schools in Clinton, Oak Ridge, Anderson County, and Morgan County.

“I wish you could see the joy that students have when they come to pick out their backpack and the relief that their grown-ups feel to know that their children have the supplies they need to start the school year,” said Jo Bruce, director of Oak Ridge Schools Family Resource Center. [Read more…]

Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September

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Nuclear Suppliers Workshop Oak Ridge September 6-7 2017 Oak Ridge

The East Tennessee Economic Council and the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council are having a Nuclear Suppliers Workshop in Oak Ridge in September.

The workshop is September 6-7 at the Pollard Technology Conference Center in Oak Ridge.

The focus of the event will be on manufacturing opportunities arising in the southeastern United States around small modular reactors, next generation nuclear technology, nuclear medicine, and national security programs, a press release said.

Invited speakers include senior executives from the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NuScale Power, Teledyne Brown Engineering, Terrestrial Energy, University of Tennessee, Duke Energy, and others. The final agenda is still under development, the press release said. [Read more…]

ORHS Class of 1982 to hold 35-year reunion

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The Oak Ridge High School Class of 1982 will be holding its 35-year reunion September 1-3.

Activities include a Friday night social, a Saturday night dinner and dance, and a Sunday picnic. The cost for the weekend’s events is $65 per person.

For more information or to register for the reunion, contact Mark Boatner at (865) 483-0402 or by e-mail at boatnerm@comcast.net.

Jefferson Middle School students win map award

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Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools

Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Schools

 

Jefferson Middle School students Ian Bailey and Beatrice Shea were awarded second place in the Student Map—up to age 12 category at the Esri 2017 Users Conference Map Gallery.

The students selected their mapping project because their school is unique by having wooded and protected areas near it. They learned that these areas provide a habitat that is important to the local ecosystem. Jefferson Middle School has taken a strong interest in protecting these resources and has taken steps to add more habitats, creating a wetland, for example, and maintaining trails, eradicating invasive species, and providing bird boxes in the Cedar Barrens.

Their map, Cedar Barrens, is an online Story Map created using ArcGIS Online to display efforts to engage Jefferson Middle School students in their surroundings in a meaningful way. Students collected the locations shown on the map using GPS, added photos and text to explain each location. You can view their map at http://arcg.is/2g66cm1. [Read more…]

Roane State joins National CyberWatch Center as college grows high-tech cyber defense program

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George Meghabghab leads Roane State's cyber defense program. The college is now part of the National CyberWatch Center. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

George Meghabghab leads Roane State’s cyber defense program. The college is now part of the National CyberWatch Center. (Photo by Roane State Community College)

 

By Bob Fowler, Roane State staff writer

In this era of widespread hacking, ransomware, and other cyberattacks, Roane State Community College is about to launch an educational counterattack.

Preparations are under way for the college to become a center for academic excellence in cyber defense.

George Meghabghab, professor of computer science and director of Roane State’s computer information technology program, recently unveiled the college’s long-range plan to expand its IT (information technology) curriculum.

“We’re going to begin a culture of cybersecurity,” he said. “Cybersecurity is a growing field, and our goal is to build a program that teaches the very latest technology and is closely aligned to industry needs.” [Read more…]