Oak Ridge Today

UCOR awards $45,000 in STEM education mini-grants

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dyllis Springs kindergarten students build problem-solving, creativity, and spatial skills with Lego projects. (Photo courtesy UCOR)

Submitted

Drones, a manufacturing simulator lab, and hands on meteorology are among the classroom projects that United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) will fund through its 2024 mini-grants. UCOR awarded $45,000 in mini-grants to fund 41 projects for East Tennessee K-12 teachers in 29 schools. The grants support projects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as related classes.

With this year’s awards, UCOR has given a total of $395,000 to fund STEM and STEM-related projects since 2012.

“STEM education is an important part of both our community outreach and our workforce development program. It’s exciting to read the grant proposals and see all of the projects teachers are doing to expose students to future STEM careers,” said UCOR Community and Education Outreach Coordinator Shannon Potter.

This year’s mini-grants went to elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools and included projects such as:

[Read more…]

ORHS graduation could be rescheduled, moved depending upon weather

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

A previous Oak Ridge High School commencement ceremony at Blankenship Field in 2016. (File photo by Julio Culiat)

Rain and thunderstorms are possible Friday and Saturday, and the Oak Ridge High School graduation could be rescheduled or moved depending upon the weather.

Oak Ridge Schools announced the plan on Tuesday.

ORHS graduation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at Blankenship Field (the football field), with gates opening at 6 p.m.

The National Weather Service forecast for Oak Ridge currently calls for a 50 percent to 80 percent chance of rain on Friday, with a thunderstorm possible after 2 p.m.

[Read more…]

School staff not allowed to carry guns

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools will not allow teachers and other staff members to carry guns in buildings, Superintendent Bruce Borchers said Wednesday. Borchers made the announcement in a notice sent to school families.

His announcement came the day after the Tennessee House of Representatives passed legislation to allow some trained teachers and school staff to carry handguns. Republicans approved the bill in a 68-28 vote despite pleas from Democrats, students, and gun-reform advocates, The Tennessean reported.

“Yesterday, Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill that would allow teachers and other staff members to carry concealed handguns on school campuses should a school district decide to allow it,” Borchers said. “If Governor (Bill) Lee signs the legislation allowing concealed firearms in schools into law, Oak Ridge Schools will not allow teachers or school staff to carry firearms in our buildings. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and it is our core belief that our ongoing safety initiatives have a greater positive impact on our overall safety than arming staff would.”

[Read more…]

Borchers to discuss schools on Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Bruce Borchers
Bruce Borchers

Oak Ridge Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers will discuss the state of the schools during a lunchtime meeting on Tuesday.

The presentation will be hosted by the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. The Lunch with the League is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

“All are welcome to bring their lunch or purchase a boxed lunch for a nominal fee,” a press release said. “Coffee and tea will be served. The presentation will begin at noon.”

[Read more…]

Three students, schools selected for ORNL FCU art, mural program

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Three students and schools have had their art work selected for the ORNL Federal Credit Union’s Community Art and Mural Program.

Introduced in 2017, the Community Art and Mural Program was created to support initiatives that make the arts accessible to all and help our communities thrive. The 2024 mural theme was “new beginnings,” a press release said.

“Congratulations to the following students and schools,” the press release said:

[Read more…]

ORAU Education Grants applications now open for 2024

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Rebekah Bozeman, STEM teacher at Lake City Elementary School, used her 2023 ORAU Education Grant to purchase building blocks, fort boards, interactive gloves, Spirographs, mazes, and iPad minis to use in a variety of ways to teach kindergarten through sixth grade students. (Photo courtesy ORAU)

Proposals now being accepted from educators in five East Tennessee counties; deadline is April 19

ORAU is accepting applications for its Education Grants program for 2024, offering $30,000 in grant funding for teachers in five East Tennessee counties.

Educators in Anderson, Campbell, Morgan, Roane, and Scott county public schools are invited to submit proposals to fund programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), a press release said.

[Read more…]

Winter weather: Closings, cancellations, delays

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Photos courtesy Oak Ridge Schools/ Isaac Walton, transportation supervisor, and Allen Thacker, supervisor of maintenance and operations

Oak Ridge Schools will be closed again on Monday due to unsafe road conditions, and City of Oak Ridge offices will open three hours late.

The schools were closed four days after the holiday last week due to the winter weather, as were many other schools, offices, and businesses. Some roads were also briefly closed. The winter weather has included more than eight inches of snow, freezing temperatures, below-zero wind chills, and slippery roads and sidewalks.

On Sunday, the Oak Ridge Police Department and City of Oak Ridge said many roadways were still very icy despite being treated and plowed.

“Conditions are expected to worsen once the sun goes down,” they said. “Stay home, if possible.”

The schools said temperatures are projected to warm on Monday.

[Read more…]

Schools closed Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Snow falls at Oak Ridge High School on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Oak Ridge Schools announced they will be closed Tuesday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge Schools will be closed again on Wednesday due to the winter weather.

The school system had been closed Tuesday as well due to the weather.

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools closed Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Snow falls at Oak Ridge High School on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Oak Ridge Schools announced they will be closed Tuesday. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge Schools are closed Tuesday due to winter weather.

“Please stay warm and safe!” a press release said.

ORHS Masquers Showcase is Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge High School Masquers Fall Showcase is Saturday.

The performances will start at 7 p.m. Saturday in the ORHS Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $5 at the door or online at https://orhsmasquers.booktix.com/.

[Read more…]

School bus driver arrested following alleged assault on elementary student

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Matthew Bak

Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 p.m.

Oak Ridge police arrested a 73-year-old school bus driver Friday evening on an aggravated assault charge after he allegedly acted aggressively toward an elementary-aged student, the city said in a press release. Additional charges are pending, the press release said.

Matthew T. Bak of Oliver Springs was taken into custody Friday following an investigation into reports that he acted aggressively toward an elementary-aged student on the bus he was driving on Thursday evening, the City of Oak Ridge said in the press release. Bak’s actions caused all students on the bus to fear for their safety, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Final days of ORHS WildBand fruit sale

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge High School WildBand earned the top class 5A band spot September 23, 2023, at the Clinch River Classic competition.  The performance was titled “WildBand presents…METAL.” In addition to first place for the band, WildBand received first place for percussion, second place for drum majors and second place for guard. (Photo courtesy Michael Johnson)

This is your last week to order Oak Ridge High School WildBand fruit to arrive in time for the winter holidays.

It’s also your last chance to see WildBand perform its award-winning METAL halftime show during the Oak Ridge football playoff game at Blankenship Field on November 3, a press release said. “The band had strong 4A showings recently at the Walden Ridge and Foothills Classic marching competitions,” the release said. 

The award-winning band, which has a fresh fruit fundraiser, consistently earns superior ratings and top-ranking placements at regional marching band competitions, while also providing the community artistic enrichment through annual concerts and halftime shows at football games, the press release said.

It said the indoor percussion ensemble and winter guard achieve the highest scores and rankings in regional contests, and in 2022, both made it to the finals in regional WGI competitions. The indoor percussion ensemble went on to achieve a historic 10th place finals finish at the WGI World Championship in Dayton, Ohio, the press release said.

[Read more…]