Oak Ridge Today

OR Schools asks for state help with military program, consistency for teachers

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McDonald-McQueen-Ragan-ORHS-Jan-7-2016

Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen, center, visited Oak Ridge High School on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. Also pictured are ORHS Principal Martin McDonald, left, and Tennessee Rep. John Ragan, an Oak Ridge Republican. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge Schools could use help with a military program, one of the so-called “seven keys” to college and career readiness, education officials told a state official on Thursday.

State officials can also help by “keeping teachers on the same path for more than one year,” Oak Ridge Board of Education Chair Keys Fillauer told Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen during a Thursday afternoon tour of Oak Ridge High School.

“Let’s give them (teachers) some consistency,” Fillauer said. McQueen’s path is called TNReady, Fillauer said. That’s described as a “new and improved” TCAP (Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program), which students have taken since 1988.

McQueen is visiting all districts as part of a statewide tour. On Thursday, it was Oak Ridge’s turn. In addition to Oak Ridge High School, McQueen toured Glenwood Elementary School and Robertsville Middle School. [Read more…]

ORHS senior a national winner of Aspirations in Computing Award

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Melissa Yuan

Melissa Yuan

Oak Ridge High School senior Melissa Yuan was chosen as a national winner for the 2016 Aspirations in Computing Award from NCWIT, or National Center for Women and IT.

Yuan was among 35 girls chosen from more than 3,100 applicants nationwide, Oak Ridge Schools said in a press release. She is only the third girl from Tennessee to ever win this award. The second was Patricia Edou from ORHS in 2015.

Yuan will receive an all-expenses paid trip, provided by Bank of America, to the National Award weekend, which includes the Award ceremony and showcase, March 4-6, 2016 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. She will also receive $1,000 and a new laptop.

Yuan is a senior at Oak Ridge High School who is passionate about research and music. [Read more…]

Parking lot sweeps at ORHS designed to ensure safe, healthy campus, principal says

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Oak-Ridge-High-School-Safety-Check-Coley-Justice-Nov-20-2015-1

Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Rick Coley and his police dog Justus help conduct a safety check at Oak Ridge High School on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The random parking lot sweeps conducted several times per year at Oak Ridge High School with officers and police dogs are meant to help ensure a safe, healthy campus, an official during one sweep Friday.

The school conducted the Friday sweep with help from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and Oak Ridge Police Department and several canine officers.

Officials said it was a successful operation, although they declined to give specific information, including because the searches involve juveniles.

It was the first parking lot sweep since new ORHS Principal Martin McDonald replaced David Bryant, who retired this summer. [Read more…]

Photos: ORHS boys win Region 2 cross country championship

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Gashaw Duhamel

Oak Ridge senior Gashaw Duhamel finished first in the Region 2-AAA championship at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015. (Photo by Adrian Etheridge)

 

For the second year in a row, the Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team has won the Region 2-AAA championship. The boys finished first in Knoxville on Thursday.

Oak Ridge senior Gashaw Duhamel finished first in the 5k race. Senior Tyler Boullie finished third, senior Thomas Colburn was sixth, junior Jacob Etheridge was seventh, and senior Daniel Beckett finished ninth.

The Oak Ridge boys team will compete in the state meet on Saturday, November 7, at Percy Warner Park Steeplechase Course in Nashville.

Here are photos by Adrian Etheridge from the 5k (5,000 meter) race on Thursday at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville. [Read more…]

ORHS Masquers presents ‘Harvey,’ a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, in November

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ORHS Masquers "Harvey"

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Harvey” in three performances in November. (Photo courtesy ORHS Masquers)

 

Oak Ridge High School Masquers, the school’s drama program, will present Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Harvey” in three performances in November.

“Harvey” is the story of Elwood P. Dowd and his invisible, six-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey. When Elwood’s sister Veta tries to have him committed to the local mental hospital, the doctors commit Veta instead and mad-capped hilarity ensues. Come “see” the best dressed rabbit in town and a fantastic cast of student actors, a press release said.

The Masquers performances will be at the Oak Ridge Performing Arts Center (ORPAC) on:

  • Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m.;
  • Saturday, November 14, at 7 p.m.; and
  • Sunday, November 15, at 2 p.m.

[Read more…]

ORHS boys cross country wins McCallie Invitational in Chattanooga

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ORHS Boys Cross Country Team at McCallie Invitational on Sept. 26, 2015

The Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team finished first at the McCallie Invitational in Chattanooga on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. (Photo courtesy Steven D. Martin)

 

The Oak Ridge High School boys cross country team finished first at the McCallie Cross Country Invitational in Chattanooga on Saturday.

The Wildcats also had three of the top five male runners in the 5,000-meter run, or 5k.

Senior Mitchell Poynter of Tippecanoe was the top individual male runner, finishing the 5k in 15:43.57.

Senior Tyler Boullie of ORHS was 14 seconds behind him in second place, finishing the race in 15:57.96.

Boullie was followed by junior Jacob Etheridge of ORHS at 16:22.88. [Read more…]

ORHS Homecoming pep rally is Thursday

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ORHS Homecoming Pep Rally

The Oak Ridge High School Homecoming pep rally is on Thursday evening at ORHS.

The pep rally starts at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, September 17, on the front steps of Oak Ridge High School. The 2015 Homecoming Court will be introduced.

It’s a community event, and it will feature a senior Wildcat football player dance, ORHS cheerleaders, and Dance Cats.

There will also be prize drawings.

The Homecoming football game is at Blankenship Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Wildcats will play Lenoir City.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Support the Wildcats at ORHS Boys Basketball Golf Classic on Sept. 26

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Oak Ridge Wildcat Basketball Golf Tournament 2015

The Oak Ridge High School Boys Basketball Golf Classic is Saturday, September 26, at Centennial Golf Course. At left above is Wildcats basketball coach Aaron Green. (Photo by Oak Ridge Wildcats Basketball via Facebook)

 

You can support the 2015-2016 Oak Ridge High School basketball team in a fundraising golf tournament on Saturday, September 26, at Centennial Golf Course in Oak Ridge.

Here are details about the ORHS Boys Basketball Golf Classic:

  • Saturday, September 26 at Centennial Golf Course
  • 8 a.m. Shot Gun Start
  • Four-person scramble
  • $75 per player (includes breakfast, lunch, and sleeve of ProV1 Golf Balls)

[Read more…]

Photos: 9/11 memorial ceremony at ORHS on Sept. 11

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ORHS 9/11 Memorial Moment of Silence

Oak Ridge High School students and staff and police officers and firefighters have a moment of silence at the 9/11 memorial at ORHS on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

A September 11 memorial ceremony at Oak Ridge High School paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, and it honored military personnel.

Here are pictures from the Friday morning ceremony.

ORHS 9/11 Memorial Shichen Zhang and Melissa Yuan 2015

Shichen Zhang, Student Council president, left, and Melissa Yuan, Student Council vice president, raise the United States flag to half-staff during a 9/11 ceremony at Oak Ridge High School on Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Wildcat Day is Saturday

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Wildcat Day Flyer

The Oak Ridge High School Football Boosters will host Wildcat Day on Saturday, August 15, from 7-9 pm at ORHS Ben Martin Track.

Wildcat Day is a community-wide pep rally. Fans can begin arriving at 7 p.m. for free pizza, provided by Pizza Inn, as well as hot dogs and drinks. Wildcat players and coaches will be on hand to talk about the upcoming season with the crowd members before the formal pep rally begins at 8 p.m.

“The ORHS Cheerleaders, Dance Cats, and Pep Band will combine with the football team and coaching staff to make this a very spirited evening,” a press release said. “Wildcat Day will be a big motivational push for the Wildcats as they kick off the season against Clinton on Friday, August 21, at Blankenship Field.”

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Two ORHS football players listed in serious condition after car crash, hospital says

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Jaylen Nickerson and McMinn County

Junior running back Jaylen Nickerson (29) scored two touchdowns for the Oak Ridge Wildcats at McMinn County on Friday, September 19, 2014. Nickerson was one of three Oak Ridge High School football players injured in a Tuesday afternoon car crash in Blount County. (File photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was updated at 4:41 p.m.

Two Oak Ridge High School football players are listed in serious condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville after a Tuesday afternoon car crash in Blount County, a spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon.

Jaylen Nickerson, who will be a senior this year, and DeVonta Mitchell, who will be a junior, are both at the hospital in serious condition, spokesperson Susan Wyatt said.

Davon Middleton, a third ORHS student-athlete injured in the crash, was reportedly taken to Blount Memorial, treated for a concussion, and released.

Nickerson is a running back, Middleton is a defensive back, and Mitchell is a wide receiver. Nickerson was one of two main running backs last year. T.J. Allison was the other. [Read more…]

ORHS teacher a state finalist for presidential teaching excellence award

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Mary Elaine Vaughan

Mary Elaine Vaughan

Oak Ridge High School math teacher Elaine Vaughan has been named a Tennessee state finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, or PAEMST.

The PAEMST are the nation’s highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science, a press release said. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education.

Vaughan is one of five finalists in mathematics for the 2015 PAEMST in Tennessee. Awardees will receive a certificate signed by President Barack Obama, a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. [Read more…]