Education Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Virtual career fair for ORNL on Feb. 20

Posted at 2:34 pm February 15, 2019
By Amy Schwinge Leave a Comment

Submitted

Discover the variety of internships and research participation programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory by participating in the Laboratory Internship Virtual Event, or LIVE, career fair on Wednesday, February 20, from noon to 3 p.m.

During the LIVE virtual career fair, participants will connect with ORNL recruiters and staff, talk to ORNL’s staff scientists about their research and how they are solving some of the world’s most compelling challenges, and learn more about the different directorates that make up ORNL, the largest U.S. Department of Energy open science laboratory, a press release said.

Register now or learn more about this LIVE virtual career fair: https://orau.6connex.com/event/LIVE/ORNL19Q1/login. [Read more…]

No injuries reported when car crashes into school bus

Posted at 12:25 pm February 15, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

No one was injured when a car crashed into an Oak Ridge school bus on Thursday, police said.

The two-vehicle crash was reported at about 6:55 a.m. Thursday in the eastbound lanes of Oak Ridge Turnpike at Salem Road.

School bus #64 was struck on the driver’s side near the rear axle by a car pulling out onto the Turnpike from Salem Road, the Oak Ridge Police Department said. [Read more…]

Roane Commission rejects school consolidation plan

Posted at 12:25 pm February 12, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Monday night, the Roane County Commission overwhelmingly voted against the long-discussed school consolidation project. Commissioners voted 11-2 with two abstentions to reject the approximately $63 million plan that would have consolidated Harriman, Kingston, and Rockwood high schools into one large central facility that would be built near Roane State Community College’s campus in Harriman.

Since discussions began on the possibility of consolidating the three high schools and making renovations to Midway and Oliver Springs high schools, which would remain open under the proposal, school officials have been fighting an uphill battle. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools announces district teacher of the year

Posted at 5:48 pm February 6, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Melanie Bloomer

Oak Ridge Schools on Wednesday announced its district teacher of the year: Melanie Bloomer of Willow Brook Elementary School.

The nine school-level teachers of the year were announced previously.

Teachers of the year are selected competitively through five cycles: school, district, region, grand division, and state, a press release said. Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine region-level teachers of the year.

“The Tennessee Department of Education has encouraged us to recognize teachers who care about children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of Tennessee students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Three ORHS students qualify for state chess championship

Posted at 11:42 am February 6, 2019
By Gilbert Chan Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School freshman Henri Scott was one of three state championship qualifiers from the high school for the state chess championship at Tennessee Tech on Feb. 16, 2019. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge High School freshman Henri Scott is one of three state championship qualifiers from the high school for the state chess championship at Tennessee Tech on Feb. 16, 2019. (Submitted photo)

Note: This story was updated at 6:05 p.m.

Three Oak Ridge High School students have qualified for the state chess championship on February 16 at Tennessee Tech University.

The three ORHS students took home trophies and qualified for the state championship during the Region 1 scholastic at Oak Ridge High School on Saturday, January 26, a press release said. More than 109 students from across East Tennessee attended that event.

ORHS juniors Justin Blanchard and Bear Moran took third and seventh, respectively, in the high school division, the press release said. Freshman Henri Scott also qualified for the K-9 championship by taking sixth in that division. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools names nine teachers of the year

Posted at 10:19 am February 6, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Teachers of the Year in 2019 at Oak Ridge Schools are pictured above. (Image by Oak Ridge Schools)

Oak Ridge Schools has named its teachers of the year at its nine schools.

The teachers of the year are:

Preschool—Melissa McMurry
Glenwood Elementary School—Amanda Fitch
Linden Elementary School—Steffanie Smith Greer
Willow Brook Elementary School—Melanie Bloomer
Woodland Elementary School—Inger Scudder
Jefferson Middle School—Michael Murphy
Robertsville Middle School—Michael Mott
Oak Ridge High School—Kayla Gass
Secret City Academy—Tobran Tillman

The school winners were nominated by their principals and peers for this 2018-2019 application.

The district winner will be announced today (Wednesday, February 6). [Read more…]

Book sale at Roane State in Oak Ridge on Feb. 25-26

Posted at 3:37 pm February 5, 2019
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

The Coffey Library at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photo by RSCC)

The Coffey Library at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus will host its annual “Love Your Library” book sale on Monday, February 25, and Tuesday, February 26, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The sale will include fiction, non-fiction, hardback books, paperbacks, textbooks, cookbooks, foreign language, children’s books, craft books, and much more, a press release said. Only cash and checks will be accepted. Checks need to be payable to the Roane State Foundation. Prices range from $1-3. [Read more…]

UT Arboretum Society presents smartphone camera workshop Thursday

Posted at 8:42 pm February 4, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Doug Edlund (Submitted photo)

Did you know that one of the best cameras you can own is in your smartphone? A program in Oak Ridge on Thursday titled “The Best Camera May Be the One in Your Pocket” is designed for people who have iPhones, Androids, and other smartphones, a press release said.

The class was rescheduled from January 29 to Thursday, February 7, because of weather. The class will be at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge Campus in the City Room from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Sponsored by the University of Tennessee Arboretum Society, Doug Edlund, assistant director with UT Institute of Agriculture Marketing and Communications, will share his tips and tricks to get the most out of your smartphone photography, the press release said.

“From lighting to composition, Edlund shares his experiences to help you get the best results to make your digital photos stand out,” the release said. [Read more…]

Owner of Pierce Physical Therapy to teach class at ORICL

Posted at 8:17 pm February 4, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ray Pierce, owner and clinic director of Pierce Physical Therapy of Oak Ridge, will be teaching a class at ORICL (Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning) starting Thursday.

Pierce will be teaching Anatomy and Health of the Musculoskeletal System, a press release said.

“We will review the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system with recommendations for health maintenance,” the press release said. “As a added bonus in one designated class session, we will review the recommendations for maintaining a healthy gut and digestive tract.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge, Anderson County schools closed Tuesday due to weather

Posted at 7:57 pm January 28, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge and Anderson County schools will be closed Tuesday due to weather.

Snow is possible, and temperatures are expected to plunge in the Oak Ridge area on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the seven-day forecast by the National Weather Service in Morristown.

The snow is expected starting overnight Monday and continuing into Tuesday morning. The low on Wednesday night is forecast at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. [Read more…]

City celebrates two major projects—Preschool, Senior Center—with groundbreakings

Posted at 12:53 pm January 21, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge held ceremonial groundbreakings on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, to celebrate the start of two major projects: the new Oak Ridge Preschool, pictured above, with Scarboro Park improvements and the new Oak Ridge Senior Center. Construction activity is already under way at both sites, and the buildings are slated for completion later this year. (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The City of Oak Ridge held ceremonial groundbreakings on Monday, January 14, to celebrate the start of two major projects: the new Oak Ridge Preschool with Scarboro Park improvements and the new Oak Ridge Senior Center. Construction activity is already under way at both sites, and the buildings are slated for completion later this year.

“These projects have been in the planning stages for decades and we are making good on promises to deliver them,” Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch said in a press release. “The Preschool and the Senior Center will have a positive impact on our citizens and their families for generations to come. We are excited to see construction begin.”

Studio Four Design Inc. was chosen to design the Preschool and the Senior Center. At a special meeting in October 2018, Oak Ridge City Council unanimously approved resolutions awarding construction contracts to Jenkins and Stiles LLC totaling just more than $11 million ($8.4 million for the new Preschool and Scarboro Park improvements and $2.68 million for the new Senior Center). General obligation bonds were sold in late November to completely fund the projects.

“After years of discussion, plans for these important facilities are coming to fruition,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said in the press release. “The Preschool and Senior Center are welcome additions to our community. We are appreciative of all the hard work that has gone into making these amenities a reality for Oak Ridge.” [Read more…]

ORICL provides scholarships for five Roane State students

Posted at 11:27 am January 21, 2019
By Owen Driskill Leave a Comment

ORICL board president Priscilla McKenney, right, congratulates scholarship recipients Sara Nesbitt, left, and Jessica Osborn. Not pictured are additional ORICL scholarship recipients Candice Day, Gage Dotson, and Ivorie Hicks. (Photo courtesy Roane State)

Five Roane State Community College students received scholarships through the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning, or ORICL.

Roane State and ORICL have a partnership that spans two decades. Established in 1997, ORICL offers dozens of enrichment courses for its members in classrooms provided at Roane State’s Oak Ridge campus.

In addition, ORICL has established multiple scholarships supported by its members.

The John Million Scholarship, supported by a $5,000 annual donation by ORICL members.
The ORICL Scholarship Endowment, established in 2002 in celebration of ORICL’s fifth anniversary.
The Bob Jones Memorial Scholarship, established through memorial donations received by the Roane State Foundation in honor of the longtime ORICL member Bob Jones, who passed away in 2012.

[Read more…]