Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge Schools names nine teachers of the year

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

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…]

Born in Oak Ridge, author Dan Kilday to visit Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday

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Dan Kilday, author of the new children's chapter book "Molly Warner: School Reporter." Kilday will be visiting several Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. (Submitted photo)

Dan Kilday, author of the new children’s chapter book “Molly Warner: School Reporter.” Kilday will be visiting several Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

Dan Kilday, author of the new children’s book “Molly Warner: School Reporter,” will be visiting several Oak Ridge Schools on Tuesday, February 13. The author will be visiting Linden Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School, and Willow Brook Elementary School, as well as Jefferson Middle School, a press release said.

A graduate of Central High School in Knoxville, Kilday earned a communications degree from Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, before working as a television anchor and reporter for local stations in three states. Kilday was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and currently resides in Austin, Texas, with his wife and three children.

Here is more information about the book: [Read more…]

Oak Ridge students earn spots in state chess tournament

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K-3 section winners are pictured above at the Tennessee Chess Association Individual Regional Tournament on Jan. 27, 2018, at Oak Ridge High School. An Nguyen from St. Mary's is at right. (Submitted photo)

K-3 section winners are pictured above at the Tennessee Chess Association Individual Regional Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at Oak Ridge High School. An Nguyen from St. Mary’s is at right. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge students have earned spots in the state championship chess tournament this month.

The Tennessee Chess Association Individual Regional Tournament was Saturday, January 27, at Oak Ridge High School. There were 36 competitors representing Oak Ridge schools: 12 from Oak Ridge High School, six from Jefferson Middle School, six from Robertsville Middle School, four from Willow Brook Elementary School, three each from Linden Elementary School and Woodland Elementary School, and two from St. Mary’s.

Kindergartener An Nguyen from St. Mary’s won a clear first place in the K-3 division with a perfect 5-0 score, a press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge Schools names teachers of the year

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From left to right, top row, are Lauren Blair, Lisa Buckner, Linda Dalton, Donna Gilbert, and Donna Grove, and from left to right, bottom row, are Michael Martin, Bob O'Connor, Steve Reddick, and Leslie Shelton.

From left to right, top row, are Lauren Blair, Lisa Buckner, Linda Dalton, Donna Gilbert, and Donna Grove, and from left to right, bottom row, are Michael Martin, Bob O’Connor, Steve Reddick, and Leslie Shelton.

 

Oak Ridge Schools has named its teachers of the year.

Here are the teachers of the year:

  • Oak Ridge Schools Preschool—Linda Dalton
  • Glenwood Elementary School—Lauren Blair
  • Linden Elementary School—Lisa Buckner
  • Willow Brook Elementary School—Donna Grove
  • Woodland Elementary School—Michael Martin
  • Jefferson Middle School—Steve Reddick
  • Robertsville Middle School—Bob O’Connor
  • Secret City Academy—Donna Gilbert
  • Oak Ridge High School—Leslie Shelton

Here is more information about the teachers and their schools from Oak Ridge Schools: [Read more…]

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

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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…]

Photo: Cell phone tower work

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Work on a cell phone tower near Willow Brook Elementary School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

Work on a cell phone tower near Willow Brook Elementary School on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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

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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…]

Eight Teachers of the Year announced by Oak Ridge Schools

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Teachers of the Year were announced Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, by Oak Ridge Schools. From left top row, they are Amy Brewer, Ashley Branson, Emily Haverkamp, and Julie Kinder-McMillan; and from left bottom row, they are Kristi Boruff, Lars Handoff, Tom Froning, and Glenda Bergener. (Photos by Oak Ridge Schools/Composite by Oak Ridge Today)

Teachers of the Year were announced Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, by Oak Ridge Schools. From left top row, they are Amy Brewer, Ashley Branson, Emily Haverkamp, and Julie Kinder-McMillan; and from left bottom row, they are Kristi Boruff, Lars Hondorf, Tom Froning, and Glenda Bergener. (Photos by Oak Ridge Schools)

 

Eight Teachers of the Year were announced Friday by Oak Ridge Schools.

Here is the Teacher of the Year at each Oak Ridge school:

  • Glenwood Elementary School—Kristi Boruff
  • Linden Elementary School—Glenda Bergener
  • Willow Brook Elementary School—Ashley Branson
  • Woodland Elementary School—Amy Brewer
  • Jefferson Middle School—Emily Haverkamp
  • Robertsville Middle School—Julie Kinder-MacMillan
  • Oak Ridge High School—Tom Froning
  • Secret City Academy—Lars Hondorf

[Read more…]

Oak Ridge students advance to state chess championship

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More than 100 students from 35 schools and home school groups in East Tennessee competed in the Tennessee Chess Association regional tournament at Oak Ridge High School on January 28.

Forty-two of the 115 participants represented schools in Oak Ridge: Jefferson Middle School, Linden Elementary School, Oak Ridge High School, Robertsville Middle School, St. Mary’s, Willow Brook Elementary School, and Woodland Elementary School. Those who qualified for the state tournament to be held February 18 at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville are: [Read more…]

Willow Brook Elementary receives grant from author James Patterson, Scholastic Reading Club for school library

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Willow Brook Elementary

Willow Brook Elementary School is pictured above in May 2012. (File photo)

Willow Brook Elementary School has received a grant from bestselling author James Patterson to support its school library. In addition, Scholastic Reading Club will match each dollar of Patterson’s donation with “bonus points” that teachers can use to acquire books and other materials for their classrooms.

Willow Brook was selected from among thousands of applications for funding grants. To learn more, listen to Patterson’s exclusive interview about the critical need for school libraries on the “Scholastic Reads” podcast.

Patterson and Scholastic Reading Club announced in March that Patterson would donate $1.75 million to save school libraries nationwide in the second installment of his School Library Campaign. As part of an ongoing effort to keep books and reading a number one priority in the United States, selected school libraries will be receiving grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Since the grant program’s launch in 2015, Patterson has donated $3.5 million to school libraries nationwide, with all funds are being personally donated by Patterson. [Read more…]

Willow Brook students will perform patriotic music in Veterans Day program

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Students at Willow Brook Elementary School will perform a patriotic music program to celebrate America, our right to vote, and our veterans in a program next week.

The program by second-grade and fourth-grade students is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, November 7, at Willow Brook Elementary School.

“We would love for community veterans to come and be our special guests,” a press release said. “Please arrive early so you can check in as a Willow Brook guest through our front office prior to show time.”

This press release was submitted by Holly Cross.

Elementary school success in Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair

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Lilly McDonald of Woodland Elementary School placed first in Life Science for her project, “Birds: Feed, Eat, Repeat” at the da Vinci Arts and Science Fair at New Hope Center in May. (Submitted photo)

Lilly McDonald of Woodland Elementary School placed first in Life Science for her project, “Birds: Feed, Eat, Repeat” at the Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair at New Hope Center in May. (Submitted photo)

On May 21-22, six students represented Woodland Elementary School with science fair projects at the Da Vinci Arts and Science Fair at New Hope Center in Oak Ridge.

Five third-grade students participated: Abi Beach, Isabella Liu, Lilly McDonald, William Shen, and Edie Weston.

One fourth-grader, Isaac Robinson, also competed.

Two students placed in the science competition. Edie Weston placed second in Life Science for her project titled, “How Long Until Sunscreen Blocks UV Light?” Lilly McDonald placed first in Life Science for her project, “Birds: Feed, Eat, Repeat.” [Read more…]