STEM STUDENT Announcements for 4/8/13

GRYPHON ANNOUNCEMENTS

For Monday, April 8, 2013

"L" Schedule Day

ACADEMIC PUSH PERIOD

·      Bus riders:  The afternoon only routes for buses 977, 55, and 244 will be changing beginning Monday, April 8.  Go to our website to see the new stops for buses in the afternoon.

·      Tell your parents:  TONIGHT, from 5:30 – 7:30 our PTSA is hosting the 2^nd Annual spaghetti dinner/bingo fundraising night here in our commons area.  Bring the whole family for a spaghetti dinner for $5 each (you may make additional donations) and then stick around to have some old fashioned fun playing Bingo for prizes!  The PTSA can use everyone’s help – if you or your parents can help set up/serve/clean up that night or if you’d like to contribute a prize for the Bingo games, please leave a message (or bring the prize) at our front office.

·      Juniors ONLY:  This Wednesday, April 10, will be your “open campus” lunch “trial.”  Any junior who has an extended campus form on file and had no lower than a “C” on his/her last progress report (list will be confirmed during Adivsory on Tuesday) will be able to check out (you MUST CHECK OUT AND BACK IN THROUGH THE OFFICE) for lunch/advisory time.  Your Advisors will go over all rules and policies during Advisory class on Tuesday, we took into account your and your parents’ input from our meeting in February.  As long as things go well and we have no tardies back to 3^rd period, we’ll have another one on April 24, and then 3 more times in May. 

·      It was the “night of the Jonathans” at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Festival Thursday night at Thompson Boling Arena.  Jonathan Redington and Jonathan Bueckman were both recognized with certificates of merit and a monetary award for their project “Student Bot,” an iPad interface robot that turns in the direction of voices so it can allow a homebound student to participate in group discussions/work at school.

·      See Mrs. Salerno for applications for next year’s Youth Action Council.  Sponsored by the Metropolitan Drug Commission, this group meets outside of school for efforts involving students from all over the city. 

·      Students of color – see Mrs. Salerno for applications for next year’s National Achievers Society.  We had five students selected this year.

·      Get volunteer/service hours!  The Urban Wilderness Arts & Trade District (South Knoxville's business association) is gearing up with Knox County to make SouthFest one of Knoxville's finest festivals. SouthFest will be held Friday, April 11th (4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m; followed by an outdoor movie at the South Knoxville Branch Library) and Saturday, April 12th (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.). There are some very exciting things planned! See http://KnoxSouthFest.com for more information about the planned activities and a schedule of events.  They are looking for individuals to help with parking and in the kids zone and would like to have 12 volunteers in the kid zone for each shift and 4 to 6 for each parking area.  If you can volunteer some time either Friday or Saturday (OR both days!), please complete the volunteer form on the UWA&TD website here:

http://uwaandtd.com/SouthFest_Volunteer

·      Hey everyone!  Gryphon Outreach is expanding its membership.  Gryphon Outreach is the school sponsored community outreach program that works with the local community through community service.  We will be holding a general meeting on April 12^th (next Friday) at 9:00 AM in Mr. Smith's room G006. Gryphon Outreach is going to be the lead volunteer group from the L&N STEM Academy for the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) walk on May 10th and 11th. We would like to extend an opportunity to students who would like to give back to the community through this event.

·      The Chess Club is having a fundraiser selling flower bulbs. We are raising money to buy more chess boards, timers, and pay competition entry fees in the Fall. This event runs through April 15, 2013. If you are interested in reviewing the items available, please click on this link  where you can place your order directly online. The Chess Club thanks you in advance for your support!

Brown Bags:  RSVP to Mr. Smith – you MUST email or check in with your Advisory teacher to attend any Brown Bag event.  Attendance will be taken!

o   Monday, April 8 – College Access – Maryville College recruiter with more info about this summer opportunity for rising juniors and seniors (this year’s sophomores and juniors): Go here:
http://www.maryvillecollege.edu/academics/learn-by-experience/gse/ to learn about a 2-week residential experience in the Smokies at Tremont.  You can earn college credit from Maryville College while enjoying an immersion experience in nature, July 18 – 31.  Applications are due in May.  More info can be found at the link provided.

o   Friday, April 12 - Trent Nichols, UT & ORNL, Topic: Medical Technologies, will discuss medical careers and medical technologies that have led his work.

College/career news:

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

·      Summer School info – applications available online now.  Click on “guidance” tab on our website for more info.

·      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.

Club Meetings:

·      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.

·      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. 

·      Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) meets every Friday during 2^nd lunch in room 222.  This group is about spreading tolerance of diversity in all its forms - all are welcome.

·      Peer study group meets every Tuesday from 5:00 – 7:30 at the Lawson McGhee library (downtown branch).

Quote of the day from Audrey Hepburn,

Nothing is impossible.  The word itself says “I’m possible.”

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