Oak Ridge Today

Deputy goes ‘above and beyond’: Replaces student’s lost items on Safety Patrol trip

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Shawn Bannach and Norwood Elementary School Student on Safety Patrol Trip June 5 2016

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said. (Photo used with permission of Norwood Elementary School)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:15 p.m. June 6.

Anderson County Deputy Shawn Bannach went above and beyond for a Norwood Elementary School student on Sunday, replacing her lost gift bag items during a AAA Safety Patrol Trip in Washington, D.C., school officials said.

“We had a student very upset because she waited in line for over an hour at the National Zoo to buy a stuffed animal, a mug, and a tumbler on our AAA Safety Patrol trip,” Norwood Elementary School said in a Facebook post. “She lost her gift bag and asked Officer Bannach from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department to please let her know if someone turned it in. The next time we saw him, he handed her a bag with the items she had lost.”

Bannach had gone and bought the same things at the gift shop, the school said. [Read more…]

Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry in Oliver Springs on June 21

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A Second Harvest mobile food pantry will be in Oliver Springs on Saturday, June 21.

Everyone is welcome to attend, a press release said.

The free food distribution includes fresh foods, canned goods, and much more, the release said. There are no income requirements.

It’s sponsored by Norwood Elementary School and Cornerstone Church/Compassion Ministries.

The food pantry is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Norwood Elementary School, 809 E. Tri-County Blvd, in Oliver Springs.

Spotlight: Norwood teacher part of state Innovative Educator Network

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Amy Gaskins

Amy Gaskins

Submitted

Amy Gaskins, a teacher at Norwood Elementary School, has been named a participant of the Tennessee Department of Education’s Innovative Educator Network.

The network will bring together high-performing educators eager to re-think the way they use their finite time, unique talents, and emerging technologies to transform the educational experiences and achievements of the students they serve. The network will expose participants to innovative approaches currently underway nationwide, guide them through a rigorous, hands-on design process, and facilitate connections with local and national leaders in order to plan, implement, and evaluate their ideas within classrooms.

Gaskins is one of 50 high-performing educators currently teaching in Tennessee public schools chosen to participate in the network. For her participation, Gaskins will receive a $2,500 innovation fund to purchase necessary technology for her fourth-grade classroom, and Norwood Elementary School will also receive a $7,500 grant to purchase necessary hardware and software to support the personalized learning model developed by the network.​

Honors: Norwood Elementary Classworks All-Stars

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Norwood Elementary Classworks All-Stars

Pictured above are Norwood Elementary School students Ronnie Rigney, Kristin Lindsay, Landan Lowery, and Jason Bolden. (Submitted photo)

 

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Congratulations to Norwood Elementary School students Ronnie Rigney, Kristin Lindsay, Landan Lowery, and Jason Bolden. They have been selected as Classworks All-Stars. This honor is only given to 500 students nationwide. This award is for math and reading achievement on the Classworks program sponsored by Anderson County Schools.

Honors: Norwood Elementary names teacher of the year

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Amy Gaskins

Amy Gaskins

Amy Gaskins, a fourth-grade teacher, has been named the 2013-2014 Teacher of the Year at Norwood Elementary School in Oliver Springs.

Gaskins has been teaching at Norwood, which are part of Anderson County Schools, since 2006. She taught first grade for six years, and this is her second year teaching fourth grade.

In addition to teaching, Gaskins in the coordinator for the UTrust program, sponsor of The National Junior Beta Club, and co-sponsor of the Spelling Bee Club, a press release said. [Read more…]

Four Anderson County schools among top in state for growth, achievement

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Norris Middle School

Norris Middle School in Anderson County was among the top 5 percent of schools in Tennessee for annual growth and academic achievement in 2012-13, state officials said Monday.

Note: This story was updated at 8:45 a.m. Aug. 21 to add Clinton Elementary School.

Four Anderson County schools were among the top 5 percent of schools in Tennessee for annual growth and academic achievement in 2012-13, state officials said Monday.

They were Clinton Elementary School, Grand Oaks Elementary School, Norris Middle School, and Norwood Elementary School.

The four were among 169 schools in 52 districts recognized as Reward Schools in the past year, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman said in a press release. The list includes 70 schools that serve mostly economically disadvantaged populations. [Read more…]