Oak Ridge Today

Front Page Follies presents musical news revue on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Front Page Follies cast rehearses for the June 17, 2017, event at Knoxville Convention Center. (Submitted photo)

The Front Page Follies cast rehearses for the June 17, 2017, event at Knoxville Convention Center. (Submitted photo)

 

Social media tweets and WikiLeaks figure prominently in the national news and in the 39th annual Front Page Follies, but the show will focus on finding fun in state and local stories.

The cast of local media folks and friends is ready to present the Front Page Follies on Saturday, June 17, at the Knoxville Convention Center. The musical revue of the year’s news and newsmakers offers an evening of laughs as the Front Page Foundation, host of the show, raises funds for journalism and broadcast scholarships, a press release said.

The evening will begin with a 6 p.m. reception, followed by dinner, live and silent auctions, and the stage show. Tickets to the event are $125 each. They are available on the Front Page Foundation website at www.frontpagefoundation.org, which also features a preview of auction items.

Among song highlights is “Don’t You Forget D-O-E,” on the confirmation hearing of new U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, to the 1980s tune “Don’t You Forget About Me.” Other Follies parodies include “Suppositions” to the tune of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and a Wiki-Wacky tale of “The Leaks” from the Clinton and Trump campaigns set to Ray Stevens’ “The Streak.” [Read more…]

ACHS baseball coach, assistant principal takes new job in Alcoa

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Anderson County High School baseball coach and assistant principal Ben Downs has announced his resignation.

Downs, who has spent the last 10 years guiding the Mavericks’ baseball team, has accepted an administrative role in the Alcoa city school system.

WYSH Radio in Clinton is an Oak Ridge Today news partner.

Einstein Simplified, an improv comedy group, at UT Arboretum on Sunday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Einstein Simplified

Einstein Simplified

 

Einstein Simplified, an improvisational comedy group, will perform at the University of Tennessee Arboretum in Oak Ridge on Sunday.

Organizers called it a great early Father’s Day gift for dad, spouse, or friends. But you must bring your sense of humor, they said.

“We live in a crazy up-and-down world, so the UT Arboretum Society is offering you a chance to forget all that on Sunday, June 11, at the UT Arboretum Auditorium, located at 901 South Illinois Avenue in Oak Ridge,” a press release said. “Join us as we all laugh non-stop as the renowned award-winning comedy group Einstein Simplified presents an hour of uninterrupted improv comedy. This 23-year-old well-established group performs funny, and often physical, unrehearsed comedy.”

The fun begins at 5 p.m. Sunday with a reception that includes wine and a wide variety of cheeses. “This is a chance to mingle with the comedy troupe and socialize with the crowd,” the press release said. The cost is $30 per person, and that includes one free glass of wine, cheese, crackers, and the comedy show.

All tickets will be sold before the event. There are no walk-up sales. Soft drinks will be provided free of charge. A cash bar for additional glasses of wine will be available. The preferred method of ticket sales is online at the UT Arboretum Society website at http://utas.brownpapertickets.com/. If online purchase is a problem, call (865) 776-8227. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools registration, orientation information

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

All students new to Oak Ridge Schools need to register at their respective schools Monday, July 10, through Wednesday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Parents who pre-registered kindergartners in May also need to complete the registration process on those dates.

Registration for new students in grades 9-12 will be made by appointment only. For more information regarding high school registration, please contact the registrar at (865) 425-9524. Information necessary for new student registration includes the following:

  1. Child’s birth certificate (a certified copy for school records, not the hospital copy or mother’s copy)
  2. Child’s Social Security number (optional)
  3. Health insurance provider
  4. The Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization available from your doctor or Health Department consisting of two parts:
    • Immunizations—A Tennessee Department of Health Certificate of Immunization form showing the complete dates (month, day, and year) immunizations were administered.
    • Health examination—A physical examination is required for all children entering Tennessee schools (K-12). Oak Ridge Schools require a physical examination current since January 1 of the year the student will enter kindergarten. Students entering the seventh grade will also need to provide proof of the T-dap immunization.
  5. Grades 1-12 only—Provide the name, address, and phone number of the school(s) where your child previously attended or provide report cards or withdrawal forms.

[Read more…]

More than 55 runners compete in Oak Ridge Schools Stomp Out Tobacco 5k

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

More than 55 runners from Oak Ridge and Morgan, Roane, Anderson, and Knox counties competed in the Third Annual Oak Ridge Schools STOMP OUT Tobacco 5k on Saturday, May 20, 2017. (Submitted photo)

More than 55 runners from Oak Ridge and Morgan, Roane, Anderson, and Knox counties competed in the Third Annual Oak Ridge Schools STOMP OUT Tobacco 5k on Saturday, May 20, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

More than 55 runners from Oak Ridge and Morgan, Roane, Anderson, and Knox counties competed in the Third Annual Oak Ridge Schools STOMP OUT Tobacco 5k on Saturday, May 20. The focus of the event was to encourage physical activity throughout the community while raising awareness to the dangers of tobacco use, a press release said.

Jacob Price of Oak Ridge was the first place male overall winner with a time of 21:24.9. The female overall winner was Amanda Seal of Knoxville with a time of 25:09.9.

The 5k took place on the Grove Center Course that started at Randolph Road. ASAP of Anderson County and Premiere Martial Arts set up at the registration site to provide information regarding their agencies. Breakfast items and water were provided by Oak Ridge Schools Coordinated School Health partnership with Anderson County Health Department. Chick-Fil-A was also on site to provide fruit cups to the first 50 participants to cross the finish line. [Read more…]

Melody Guo earns perfect score in National French Contest

Posted at
By 1 Comment

Melody Guo, a ninth grade French 2 Honors student at Oak Ridge High School, is a platinum winner in the 2017 National French Contest. (Submitted photo)

Melody Guo, a ninth grade French 2 Honors student at Oak Ridge High School, is a platinum winner in the 2017 National French Contest. (Submitted photo)

 

Melody Guo, a ninth grade French 2 Honors student at Oak Ridge High School, is a platinum winner in the 2017 National French Contest.

The National French Contest is known as LeGrand Concours. It is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French, and it is open to all students of French in grades 1-12 all 50 states and abroad. Students take a written test and compete against students with similar educational background for prizes.

Platinum is the highest award in LeGrand Concours. Guo earned the top score in the nation in her respective level 2A French. [Read more…]

Education Foundation book project will celebrate 75th anniversary of Oak Ridge Schools

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation has a kick-off meeting with Anchor Authors in April 2017. Pictured above is Jessica Steed, standing, and ORPSEF Board Member Benita Albert. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation has a kick-off meeting with Anchor Authors in April 2017. Pictured above is Jessica Steed, standing, and ORPSEF Board Member Benita Albert. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation is planning a special book project to celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Oak Ridge Schools. The book will be a collection of memories as told by teachers and alumni across all classes from 1944-2018. The Foundation has identified people to serve as anchor authors for each of the 75 classes. Anchor authors have the option to share their memories, and they will help collect memories from classmates. Each class will submit two to three pages for publication in the book.

“This is a timely project to still be able to tell first-hand stories from the early beginnings and to cross-pollinate and historically savor and preserve the collected experiences from the first 75 years,” said Benita Albert, Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation board member.

Albert, a retired math teacher, has found the project to be very rewarding while interviewing alumni and researching stories from the earliest years, a press release said.

The Foundation’s Board approved the special project at its March board meeting. A kickoff meeting was hosted by the Foundation for all anchor authors in April. A few stories have already been submitted and many others are in the works. It is anticipated that the book will be about 250 pages long. In an effort to conserve any unpublished stories, the Foundation will offer a virtual archive where those stories can be accessed. [Read more…]

Roane State to host information sessions for adults interesting in going back to school

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Adults thinking about returning to college or enrolling for the first time can get any questions they may have answered during three upcoming meetings at Roane State Community College.

Adult learner information sessions will be Thursday, June 15, and Wednesday, July 19, in the City Room of Roane State’s Coffey-McNally Building on the college’s Oak Ridge campus.

Another session on Thursday, July 13, will be in the Raider Room in the Dunbar Building on main campus in Harriman.

All of the sessions will begin at 5:30 p.m., and they are free. [Read more…]

ORHS selected for Sprint 1 Million Project, providing free internet to students for homework completion

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools bus

Oak Ridge High School is participating in the Sprint 1 Million Project program. Through that project, the high school will receive free internet devices and service to help students complete their schoolwork from home, a press release said.

“Sprint’s mission with this project is to provide free wireless devices and service to one million students who are in need of reliable internet service,” the press release said. “The 1 Million Project is the largest corporate initiative in U.S. history to bridge the digital divide and help close the ‘homework gap’ for students lacking home internet access.”

The press release said Sprint plans to welcome approximately 200,000 eligible high school students into the program each year for five years, offering them devices and connectivity for up to four years while in high school. Oak Ridge High School is now a part of this five-year program.

“For the 2017-2018 school year, we will receive 300 devices,” the press release said. “We will continue to communicate with Sprint annually to determine the device quantities needed for the following program years.” [Read more…]

Roane State basketball players visit Roane Academy youth

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

From left are Grant Holt, Roane Academy Activities Director Andre McCullum, Coach Alan Holt, Garrett Crandell, Blake Ervin, Tyler Thompson, and Ricky Shearman. (Photo by Roane State)

From left are Grant Holt, Roane Academy Activities Director Andre McCullum, Coach Alan Holt, Garrett Crandell, Blake Ervin, Tyler Thompson, and Ricky Shearman. (Photo by Roane State)

 

ROCKWOOD—Five members of the Roane State Raiders basketball team recently took time off from studying for finals to become role models for some Roane Academy youth.

Squad members spent the afternoon of April 26 at the Roane Academy, a residential facility for adolescent males who have experienced complex trauma. Currently in the state child welfare system, the children have been exposed to multiple traumatic events—such as abuse, neglect, domestic violence, multiple losses—that can have substantial and lasting effects if left untreated.

Teresa Duncan, vice president of workforce development for the college, became familiar with Roane Academy through visits its residents have made to local athletic events as rewards for growth and change that shows in treatment progress and safe, healthy decisions. In response, she contacted Roane State Raiders Head Coach Randy Nesbit, requesting that the team spend some time with Roane Academy youth.

Raiders team members Grant Holt, Garrett Crandell, Blake Ervin, Tyler Thompson, and Ricky Shearman interacted with Roane Academy residents, from playing pickup basketball games to dunking exhibitions to simply talking with them. [Read more…]

ORHS student wins Tennessee Award for Aspirations in Computing

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Rhyannon Karney

Rhyannon Karney

 

Rhyannon Karney of Oak Ridge High School won the Tennessee Award for Aspirations in Computing by the National Center for Women and Technology.

The award honors young women at the high school level for their computing-related achievements and interests, a press release said. Awardees were selected for their computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability, academic history, and plans for post-secondary education.

Karney was honored at a banquet at Tennessee Technical University on April 22. She plans on attending Tennessee Tech and majoring in computer science and cyber security.

The award will provide her with a scholarship of $2,500 a year for four years, the press release said.

Submitted by Keith Jackson, instructor

Local students honored for exceptional academic success

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

DURHAM, N.C.—Ipek Ozcan, Sidney Ozcan, and Eli Roth, seventh-grade students from Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge, were among the students honored by the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) for their exceptional scores on the SAT and ACT, respectively. All three students were recognized at a state ceremony at Nashville on May 8 and at the Grand Recognition Ceremony on May 22 at Duke University’s Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Duke TIP’s 7th Grade Talent Search identifies students across the United States who have scored at or above the 95th percentile on a grade-level standardized test. As part of the program, these academically talented students take above-level college-entrance exams to learn more about their abilities, a press release said. Duke TIP then hosts annual recognition ceremonies to honor the seventh graders with remarkable ACT or SAT scores. Those with the highest scores are invited to the Grand Recognition Ceremony.

Working with host academic institutions, Duke TIP sponsors 36 ceremonies in 16 states throughout April, May, and June. Speakers include university administrators and professors from the host institutions, state and government officials, and accomplished former Duke TIP students. [Read more…]