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Oak Ridge Schools first in state to earn AdvancED STEM certification for all elementary, middle schools

Posted at 10:22 am July 10, 2017
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

Students at Jefferson Middle School collaboratively plan problem-based learning (PBL). (Submitted photo)

Students at Jefferson Middle School collaboratively plan problem-based learning (PBL). (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge Schools is the first district in the state to earn AdvancED STEM certification for all of its elementary and middle schools, a press release said.

AdvancED uses a research-based framework and criteria for the awareness, continuous improvement, and assessment of the quality, rigor, and substance of STEM educational programs, the press release said. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

In the spring of 2016, three Oak Ridge elementary schools earned AdvancED STEM certification: Glenwood, Linden, and Woodland. These schools were the first in the district to demonstrate the capacity to prepare students for STEM fields of study and work, the press release said.

In the spring of 2017, three more schools in Oak Ridge received this distinction: Willow Brook Elementary, Jefferson Middle, and Robertsville Middle.

“Our district is the first in the state to certify every elementary and middle school in the district,” the press release said. “We are committed to preparing our learners for the careers of tomorrow by perpetuating their enthusiasm for STEM disciplines today. Our focus on STEM demonstrates our continued commitment to ensure every Oak Ridge student is prepared for college, career, and life success.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: AdvancED STEM, AdvancED STEM Certification, engineering, Glenwood, Jefferson Middle School, K-12 STEM, K-12 STEM teaching and learning, Linden, mathematics, Oak Ridge Schools, Oak Rige, Robertsville Middle School, science, STEM, STEM-based learning, technology, Willow Brook Elementary School, Woodland

Council to consider contract to convert former railroad into greenway

Posted at 2:42 pm July 8, 2017
By John Huotari 6 Comments

The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday will consider a $1.5 million contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation that would allow a former railroad to be converted into a greenway.

The so-called Rails to Trails project would convert about 4.85 miles of unused CSX railroad into a pedestrian and bicycle trail.

The former railroad starts at Elza Gate Park at Melton Lake Drive in east Oak Ridge, runs past the Emory Heights neighborhood and Jefferson Middle School, crosses Emory Valley Road near Hank’s Market, and then continues through the Hendrix Creek neighborhood along Lafayette Drive before ending near South Illinois Avenue, Scarboro Road, and the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) approved $1.224 million for the project in October 2016 through the Transportation Alternative Program, or TAP. There is a local match of $306,000. The combined funding from the TAP award and the local match is $1.53 million.

In an interview after the grant was awarded, Ellen Zavisca, senior transportation planner for the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, said it’s federal funds disbursed in the area specifically for projects that provide safe places for bicycle and pedestrian projects. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Recreation, Sports, Top Stories Tagged With: CSX Railroad, CSX railway, Ellen Zavisca, Jefferson Middle School, Jon Hetrick, Kathryn G. Baldwin, Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Mark S. Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Community Development, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, Rails to Trail, TAP, TAP award, Tennessee Department of Transportation, TPO, Transportation Alternative Program

Oak Ridge Schools registration, orientation information

Posted at 2:36 am June 8, 2017
By Holly Cross 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…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: Jefferson Middle School, Larissa Henderson, middle school orientation, Oak Ridge Schools, Oak Ridge Schools Pupil Services Department, orientation, registration, Robertsville Middle School

Local students honored for exceptional academic success

Posted at 12:04 pm June 6, 2017
By Medi Ozcan 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…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: 7th Grade Talent Search, Duke TIP, Duke University, Duke University Talent Identification Program, Eli Roth, Ipek Ozcan, Jefferson Middle School, Shawna Young, Sidney Ozcan

Oak Ridge receives $1.2 million grant for Rails to Trails

Posted at 1:39 pm June 2, 2017
By John Huotari 6 Comments

The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The City of Oak Ridge has received a $1.2 million grant that it can use for the proposed Rails to Trails project.

The executive board of the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization approved the grant in October, said Ellen Zavisca, senior transportation planner.

It could be used for project planning and property acquisition for the Rails to Trails project, and possibly to start construction, said Jon Hetrick, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department director.

Hetrick said the grant was awarded by TPO, but it’s actually a Tennessee Department of Transportation grant. The city is entering into a contract with TDOT for the grant, and the Oak Ridge City Council could consider accepting the grant in July.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson briefly mentioned the $1.2 million grant during a budget presentation to City Council members on Tuesday of this week. The city would administer the $1.2 million grant but would have to follow certain TDOT requirements.

The Rails to Trails project would convert a few miles of former railway that runs through the center of Oak Ridge into a bicycle and pedestrian trail. The railway runs from Melton Lake Drive in east Oak Ridge; past Jefferson Middle School and near the Hank’s Market shopping center in central Oak Ridge; and to the Y-12 National Security Complex. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Recreation, Slider, Sports Tagged With: City of Oak Ridge, Ellen Zavisca, Jefferson Middle School, Jon Hetrick, Kathryn Baldwin, Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Departement, Rails-to-Trails, TDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation, TPO

Presentation on opioid drug epidemic this evening

Posted at 8:48 am May 24, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

2017CHASING THE DRAGON_flyer

A presentation this evening will feature a retired drug enforcement agent discussing the opioid drug epidemic.

The presentation is titled “Chasing the Dragon: Understanding the Opium Drug Epidemic in Our Community.” It’s scheduled from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at the Jefferson Middle School Little Theater in Oak Ridge.

The presentation will be by Neil Morgenstern, a specialist with the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, or AHIDTA. Morgenstern is retired from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Health, K-12, Police and Fire Tagged With: Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Jefferson Middle School, Neil Morgenstern, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Police Department, opioid drug epidemic

Oak Ridge teams take top honors in FIRST Robotics World Festival

Posted at 5:44 pm April 28, 2017
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

Secret City Wildbots FRC Houston 10 April 22 2017 Agle

The Secret City Wildbots, Team 4265, were underdogs in the quarterfinals, but they survived to the semifinals where they lost to the number one seed in the First Robotics World Championship in Houston on Saturday, April 22, 2017. (Photo by Angi Agle)

 

From Wednesday to Saturday last week, the Master Builders (Team 3132) from Jefferson Middle School and the Secret City Wildbots (Team 4265) from Oak Ridge High School competed in the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics World Festival in Houston, Texas.

“We are pleased to announce that both teams experienced success in the World Festival,” Oak Ridge Schools said in a press release.

The Jefferson Middle School FIRST LEGO League team, the Master Builders, received trophies for the top awards in the world for first place in robot performance and second place in programming during the FIRST Robotics World Festival in Houston, Texas from April 19-22, 2017. (Submitted photo)

The Jefferson Middle School FIRST LEGO League team, the Master Builders, received trophies for the top awards in the world for first place in robot performance and second place in programming during the FIRST Robotics World Festival in Houston, Texas from April 19-22, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

The FIRST LEGO League team, The Master Builders from Jefferson Middle School, received trophies for the top awards in the world for first place in robot performance, and second place in programming. There were 108 teams present for FIRST LEGO League at the World Festival from all over the globe, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Education, K-12, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Angi Agle, Farragut High School, FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics World Festival, Flagship, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, Hardin Valley Academy, Jeff Thomspon, Jefferson Middle School, Lexie Scott, Lisa Buckner, Master Builders, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Schools, RoHawkTics, Secret City Wildbots, Team 3132, Team 4265

Cast your vote in ‘Dream It. Do It.’ middle school competition

Posted at 11:13 am April 26, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

CLINTON—The videos are in, and it is now time to vote in Anderson County’s “Dream It. Do It.” middle school competition. The program is in its second year and has grown from four to six schools, including two from the Oak Ridge school system.

“Dream It. Do It.” is sponsored by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Anderson County Schools, Oak Ridge Schools, and Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, the managing contractor at Y-12 National Security Complex. It is designed to bring student awareness of job opportunities in advanced manufacturing, a press release said.

Using GoPro cameras provided by CNS, six teams of eighth-graders were paired with area industries to create videos to tell the companies’ stories. These videos are then posted online for public voting. Each winning team member receives a GoPro camera, also provided by CNS.

This year’s participant teams included: Clinton Middle School and Aisin, Jefferson Middle School and Protomet, Lake City Middle School and Techmer PM, Norris Middle School and Eagle Bend, Norwood Middle School and Clayton Homes, and Robertsville Middle School and SL America. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: Aisin, Anderson County, Anderson County Chamber of Commerce, Anderson County Schools, Clayton Homes, Clinton Middle School, CNS, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, Dream It. Do It., E.T. Stamey, Eagle Bend, Jefferson Middle School, Kristin Waldschlager, Lake City Middle Schools, middle school competition, Norris Middle School, Norwood Middle School, Oak Ridge Schools, Protomet, Robertsville Middle School, SL America, Techmer PM, Y-12 National Security Complex

Photo: JMS First Lego League team competing in Houston

Posted at 11:31 am April 21, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

At the First Robotics World Championship in Houston, the Jefferson Middle School First Lego League team, the JMS Master Builders, is also competing in the FLL Division. Pictured above on Thursday, April 20, 2017, are team members (left to right) Matthew Alexander, Thora Spence, Amelia Thomson, Jessica Mohr, Stella Scott, and Adam Blanchard. (Photo by Angi Agle)

At the First Robotics World Championship in Houston, the Jefferson Middle School First Lego League team, the JMS Master Builders, is also competing in the FLL Division. Pictured above on Thursday, April 20, 2017, are team members, from left to right, Matthew Alexander, Thora Spence, Amelia Thomson, Jessica Mohr, Stella Scott, and Adam Blanchard. (Photo by Angi Agle)

 

At the First Robotics World Championship in Houston, the Jefferson Middle School First Lego League team, the JMS Master Builders, is competing in the FLL Division (see photo above).

The FLL matches began Thursday at 12:50 p.m. Central time.

Photo and information provided by Angi Agle.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Adam Blanchard, Amelia Thomson, Angi Agle, First Robotics World Championship, FLL Division, Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson Middle School First Lego League, Jessica Mohr, JMS Master Builders, Matthew Alexander, Stella Scott, Thora Spence

Oak Ridge students compete in Southern Appalachian Science, Engineering Fair

Posted at 2:36 pm April 16, 2017
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

Ryan Armstrong earned second place for his project titled “Quantifying the Evolution of Gas from Li-ion Battery Materials” under the mentorship of Gabriel Veith of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Along with a $750 scholarship and trophy, Ryan will travel to Los Angeles, California in May to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. (Submitted photo)

Ryan Armstrong earned second place for his project titled “Quantifying the Evolution of Gas from Li-ion Battery Materials” under the mentorship of Gabriel Veith of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Along with a $750 scholarship and trophy, Ryan will travel to Los Angeles, California, in May to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair. (Submitted photo)

 

Seven research students from Oak Ridge High School competed in the 66th Annual Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair hosted at the University of Tennessee. The competition was held March 27-30 with the awards ceremony on Thursday evening. There were 55 Senior Division projects in competition, a press release said.

Five of the students were part of the Math, Science, and Computer Science Thesis course at ORHS that is advised by Tammy Carneim and Jessica Williams. The remaining two did their research independently with the help of teachers Deni Sobek and Sharon Thomas.

Ryan Armstrong earned second place for his project titled “Quantifying the Evolution of Gas from Li-ion Battery Materials” under the mentorship of Gabriel Veith of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Along with a $750 scholarship and trophy, Armstrong will travel to Los Angeles, California, in May to compete at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Jasleen Narula earned fourth place and $100 for her project titled “Rapid High-Throughput Toxicity Screening of East Tennessee Water Samples Using Autobioluminescent Yeast Assay” under the mentorship of Steven Ripp. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Alex Shanafield, Alexandra Shanafield, Amelia Thomson, Bradley Lokitz, Center for Nanophase Materials, Deni Sobek, Dylan Payne, Gabriel Veith, Holly Cross, International Science and Engineering Fair, Jasleen Narula, Jefferson Middle School, Jessica Williams, Jim Franklin, John Beard, Kayla King, Lara Blokland, Laura Pullum, Logan Rumbaugh, Michael Ma, Nickolay Lavrik, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORHS, Richard Archibald, Ryan Armstrong, SASEF, Sharon Thomas, Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair, Steven Ripp, Tammy Carneim, Tyr Hondorf, University of Tennessee, Vig Sherrill, Wilson Huang

Jefferson Middle School artists take second-place award in Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk

Posted at 2:00 pm April 16, 2017
By Holly Cross Leave a Comment

ChalkWalk_JMS_StudentsPainting

Two Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders, Avery Parish and Anshra Ajaz, along with former JMS student Kiri Nelson, won second place in the Middle School Collaborative category at the Ninth Annual Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk competition on Saturday, April 1, 2017. (Submitted photo)

 

Two Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders, Avery Parish and Anshra Ajaz, along with former JMS student Kiri Nelson, won second place in the Middle School Collaborative category at the Ninth Annual Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk competition on Saturday, April 1.

The girls planned their masterpiece for several months and spent eight hours drawing it onto the pavement at Market Square, a press release said. Their work depicted an old painting of a Kraken attacking a ship and then beginning to emerge in vivid colors from the frame. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Arts, Education, Entertainment, Front Page News, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: Anshra Ajaz, Avery Parish, Chalk Walk, Dogwood Arts Festival, Dogwood Arts Festival Chalk Walk, Holly Cross, Jefferson Middle School, Jim Dodson, Kiri Nelson

Education Foundation to award more than $90,000 in grants in April 26 ceremony

Posted at 12:32 pm April 4, 2017
By Jessica Steed Leave a Comment

A photo from a grant award last year for a 3D printer for Robertsville Middle School. (Submitted photo)

A photo from a grant award last year for a 3D printer for Robertsville Middle School. (Submitted photo)

 

In the final year of its “Making the Critical Difference” campaign, the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation will award more than $90,000 in grants to Oak Ridge teachers at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 26, a press release said.

Shirley Raines, president emeritus of the University of Memphis, will be the featured speaker, the press release said. She will give a talk titled, “Dreamers, Thinkers, Doers.”

The grants ceremony is open to the public, and it will be held in the Oak Ridge High School cafeteria beginning at 4 p.m. April 26.

Demonstrations and displays of some of the projects and technology funded by the Foundation will be given after the formal ceremony, the press release said. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of Oak Ridge Utility District.

The 2017 grant recipients are as follows: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Education, Front Page News, K-12 Tagged With: Amelia Bell, Callie Painter, Caramia Milloway, Cathy Ginel, Cathy Toth, Chris Scott, Deanna Pickle, Doug Phillips, Elaine Vaughan, Emily Haverkamp, Felecia Sharp, Glenwood Elementary School, grants, Grants Program, Heather Henderlight, Jackie Laney, Jefferson Middle School, Jessica Steed, Josh Bibbs, Kayla Gass, Lauren Blair, Leigh Monger, Lisa Buckner, Lisa Meidl, Making the Critical Difference, Mardee Miller, Melissa Jeter, Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, Oak Ridge teachers, ORPSEF, Robertsville Middle School, Sharon Thomas, Shirley Raines, Stephanie Thompson, Teacher Grant Awards, Todd Livesay, Willow Brook Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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