STEM STUDENT Announcements for 2/20/13

Sophomores:  Encourage your parents to call and sign up for your Plan of Study meeting.  They take about 15 minutes and you can come at 4:45, 5:05, 5:25, 5:45, 6:05, or 6:25 on Feb 21, 25, or 27.  You will not be able to register for next year's courses until this is done.  Some appointments are available during the day if that is needed to meet your family's schedule.  Call the office, 329-8440, to schedule.

GRYPHON ANNOUNCEMENTS

For Wednesday, Feb 20, 2013

"N" Schedule Day

Enrichment Day

 

In recognition of Black History Month (February):

Lewis Latimer is highly known for making the functionality of the lightbulb possible. Even though Edison invented a lightbulb with a paper filament, it burnt out quickly. However, with Latimer's brilliance he constructed the carbon filament that we use today. He his Incandescent Electric Light Bulb in order to light New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London.

 

·      Hey students!  Special presentation today during lunch/advisory in the STEM space, Mr. Andre Canty is coming from the Becky Cultural Center.  You don’t need to sign up, just grab your lunch and show up quickly, ready to be a good audience.  Here’s a description of his talk:

I want to first talk about Black History in Knoxville. A few highlights including the Clinton 12, Dan Brown, Cal Johnson, Sarah Moore Greene, the Sit-In Movement, and the story of Rosa Parks' time at my job at Highlander Center. The purpose of that is to inform them of the rich history of African-Americans in their own city. I want to take away the myths behind most historical narratives. These people were ordinary people that took on extraordinary risks to have extraordinary results, but they were all ordinary. I want to end with a Q&A session.   The purpose also is to emphasize that the contributions made by African-Americans contributed to the whole country. Black history is simply a stitch in the fabric of American History. It must be celebrated as a positive alternative to so many negative images and narratives about African-Americans we see and hear every day.

 

·      Students – we’ve noticed that people are getting careless about cleaning up around their own area after eating in the Commons, Verandah, and even steps leading to Mezzanine classrooms.  We do not want to restrict all food and drink to the Commons area, but if we don’t see an improvement in the conditions of these areas after breakfast and lunch – that will be the consequence.  Please police yourself and your friends – don’t lose the privilege!

 

·      Any student interested in a new club – Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) – will be meeting on Friday, 2/22, 2^nd lunch in room 222.  All are welcome.

 

·      Congratulations to L&N STEM Academy Students:  Adra Anderson, Justin Baitinger, Alicia Borkman, Solana Forrest-Bank, Chris Kleinschimdt,  Lorna Treffert, Samantha Smith,  and Allison Reese, who participated in this year's Mid-South Model United Nations Conference at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN February 14 – 18, 2013 along with 320 other high school students from West TN, Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi. Our students represented Nepal and Switzerland in several committees including the World Health Organization; Human Rights Council; Social, Human, and Cultural Committee; Economic and Social Council, and the Special Political and Decolonization Committee.  A special shout-out and congratulations to Lorna Treffert who received the award for the Best Position Paper for the Special Political and Decolonization Committee!  Be sure to ask these students about their experience, what it means to commit, who Ban-ki-Moon is and whether or not they plan to participate in Model UN in future years.

 

·      Order your yearbooks now!  Click here for link.  Cost is $70.  Order now!

 

·      What do you do to stay fit? Do you go to YMCA during gym? Do you play tennis? Do you rock climb? What kinds of interesting activities do you to stay fit? If you want to share your fitness activities and be featured in the yearbook, then email S039856@student.knoxschools.org or S022925@student.knoxschools.org .

 

Brown Bags:  RSVP to Mr. Smith

o   Feb. 22 - Chris Halcomb & Keith Stump, KGIS, Topic: Using GIS (Geospatial Technologies) and topographies to create maps and technology 

o   March 1 - BJ Marshall, ORNL, Topic: Political Side of Nuclear Power

 

College/career news:

·      ACT Question of the day http://www.act.org/qotd/

 

·      If you’re filling out testing or college paperwork, our school’s CEEB code is 431118.  See Mrs. Salerno or the Guidance page on our web site for more.

 

·      Big Orange STEM Symposium:  High school juniors are invited to the University of Tennessee's Big Orange STEM Symposium on Saturday, April 6th from 10:00am-3:00pm at Hodges Library.  This program will introduce local high school students to careers and research exploration in STEM disciplines through active engagement, networking, and hands-on presentations from experts in the field and community.  Registration opens online at 10:00am on February 18^th, http://wp.lib.utk.edu/BOSS/
Please see Mrs. Salerno for more information (Mrs. Ashe is keynote speaker!)

 

Club Meetings:

·      Asian Culture & Language Club (ACLC): Wednesday during Enrichment in D223.

 

·      Chess Club meets on Wednesdays from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. in the media center.  

 

·      Gryphon Studios, film club, on Thursday afternoons 4:45 – 6:00 PM, in Room 214 in the Station. **NOTE – NOT meeting on February 14.

 

·      Teens for Christ: Mondays from 8:45 – 9:15 in D113.

 

·      Young Life: Wednesdays from 8:45 – 9:15 in the Mezzanine.

 

·      Venture Club (STEM career post of scouting) meets Thursdays from 5:30 – 7:00 in room 202. 

 

Quote of the day from A. Philip Randolph,

Freedom is never given; it is won.

 

Practice L&N Habits every day: Collaboration, Critical thinking, Design, Innovation, Inquiry, & Professionalism