Wednesday, December 17, 2014

12-18-14 Gryphon Mission Briefing - last of fall semester 2014


GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING
For Thursday, December 18, 2014
L3 & L4 Midterm exam day
Last school day of fall semester 2014

School Ops:
·      First day of next semester is Tuesday, January 6.  It is a full school day and will begin our new schedule of Tuesday and Thursday being “L” days and Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays being “N” days.  First early release Friday of next semester is January 16.  Progress reports will be mailed home on January 6.

·      Congratulations to Erykah Carter for advancing to the final round of actors who will compete in January for the Bijou Awards.  Erykah is one of 5 young ladies who will compete live at the Bijou Theater on January 16, at 7 PM.  Best of luck to Erykah as she goes into the final round of acting that offers $1000 to the winner and $500 to the school.

·      Big congrats to Mr. LaFollette!  This morning he was awarded at $24,000 grant in a surprise presentation by the Great Schools Partnership of E TN.  He will use this money to create a new animation/simulation and virtual reality lab in room G006.  Congrats Mr. LaFollette!

·      New club forming in January - D&D club! Ever wanted to fight mighty dragons? Beat evil necromancers? Want to become the evil necromacer? Join NOW!!!  Starting after Christmas break, every Wednesday, from 4:30-5:30.  Campaigns started during Dungeons and Dragons genius hour may be continued, or new campaigns started.  If you desire to join this club, please respond here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RF39QHG

·      SGA is sponsoring a Winter Formal dance on Saturday, Feb 7, 2015 here at the school.  The theme is Winter Wonderland.  Will be open to all grades, unlike the prom.  More details coming soon.

·      Interested in serving as a facilitator for a student Honor Court?  We’ll be staring one in January for infractions like plagiarism, cyberbullying, and excessive tardies.  We need sophomores, juniors, and seniors to fill out the application before Christmas break.  Email lnstemhonorcourt@gmail.com to ask for an application and see Mr. LaFollette if you have questions.

·      Time to start ordering prom tickets!  Order now to get the cheapest rate possible – tickets are $40 per ticket until the end of December. They will be available on Wednesdays during Genius Hour, and they will be sold at the door of the Media Center.  In January the cost goes up.  Get ‘em now!

Research Ops:
·      Hey seniors – here are some scholarships with their application deadlines coming up soon, find out more from guidance dept:
o   Feb 3 Executive Women International (local chapter offering $500 based on need, $500 based on merit)
o   Feb 15 UT Chattanooga ($3000/yr to a Chem major)
o   Feb 15 UT Chattanooga (2 different offers to Math major)
o   Feb 15 Ned McWherter ($6000 with 3.5 GPA, 29 ACT)
o   E TN Foundation (multiple awards in the health care, business, info. Security, engineering fields)
o   Several offerings to Boy Scouts

·      Juniors who have not obtained their free state voucher for the ACT need to do so as soon as possible.  The next ACT is being given February 7th.  The deadline to register for this is January 9th.  Please make sure not to miss this important requirement for college admissions!

Community Ops: 
·      The eLemeNtal Literary Magazine: Access our e-publication here: http://www.lntole.com/featured-student.html Want to be featured or included in the next issue? Next issue’s theme is “Winter Wonderland”. Students are invited to submit their work to lntole.stem@gmail.com

Quote of the day from Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol

No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused.
Happy Holidays to all our students and families from your teachers, staff, and administrators!  See you in 2015!

Practice L&N Habits every day: Collaboration, Critical thinking, Design, Innovation, Inquiry, & Professionalism
L&N STEM Academy – TN’s First Apple School of Distinction, 2-time TN Reward School for Performance (2012 – 2014)

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

12-16-14 Gryphon Mission Briefing


GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING
For Tuesday, December 16, 2014
“N” Day Classes

School Ops:
·      Big congrats to Mr. LaFollette!  This morning he was awarded at $24,000 grant in a surprise presentation by the Great Schools Partnership of E TN.  He will use this money to create a new animation/simulation and virtual reality lab in room G006.  Congrats Mr. LaFollette!

·      New club forming in January - D&D club! Ever wanted to fight mighty dragons? Beat evil necromancers? Want to become the evil necromacer? Join NOW!!!  Starting after Christmas break, every Wednesday, from 4:30-5:30.  Campaigns started during Dungeons and Dragons genius hour may be continued, or new campaigns started.  If you desire to join this club, please respond here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RF39QHG

·      Want to wear a hat in school and not be hassled about it?  The swim team is trying to raise funds and will be selling “permits” (stickers) that will allow students to wear a hat on Wednesday for $1.  Please support the swim/diving teams and buy a sticker for $1 so you can wear a hat all day Wednesday!

·      SGA is sponsoring a Winter Formal dance on Saturday, Feb 7, 2015 here at the school.  The theme is Winter Wonderland.  Will be open to all grades, unlike the prom.  More details coming soon.

·      Interested in serving as a facilitator for a student Honor Court?  We’ll be staring one in January for infractions like plagiarism, cyberbullying, and excessive tardies.  We need sophomores, juniors, and seniors to fill out the application before Christmas break.  Email lnstemhonorcourt@gmail.com to ask for an application and see Mr. LaFollette if you have questions.

·      Time to start ordering prom tickets!  Order now to get the cheapest rate possible – tickets are $40 per ticket until the end of December. They will be available on Wednesdays during Genius Hour, and they will be sold at the door of the Media Center.  In January the cost goes up.  Get ‘em now!

Research Ops:
·      Hey seniors – here are some scholarships with their application deadlines coming up soon, find out more from guidance dept:
o   Feb 3 Executive Women International (local chapter offering $500 based on need, $500 based on merit)
o   Feb 15 UT Chattanooga ($3000/yr to a Chem major)
o   Feb 15 UT Chattanooga (2 different offers to Math major)
o   Feb 15 Ned McWherter ($6000 with 3.5 GPA, 29 ACT)
o   E TN Foundation (multiple awards in the health care, business, info. Security, engineering fields)
o   Several offerings to Boy Scouts

·      Juniors who have not obtained their free state voucher for the ACT need to do so as soon as possible.  If you didn't get in for the December test, there is another ACT being offered on Saturday, February 7th.  The deadline to register for this is January 9th.  Please make sure not to miss this important requirement for college admissions!

Community Ops: 
·      The eLemeNtal Literary Magazine: Access our e-publication here: http://www.lntole.com/featured-student.html Want to be featured or included in the next issue? Next issue’s theme is “Winter Wonderland”. Students are invited to submit their work to lntole.stem@gmail.com

·      Yearbook Spread: Stress – Yearbook staff is creating a page that is all about the fears a student has that will help them build a Wordle for display in the publication. If you'd like to include a comment about your fears or even pictures of you conquering them, email s739978@student.knoxschools.org.  All students are requested to visit this link and complete the form with your thoughts for the page, too.  Thank you for your participation and time.

Quote of the day from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:

Take the first step in faith.  You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

Practice L&N Habits every day: Collaboration, Critical thinking, Design, Innovation, Inquiry, & Professionalism
L&N STEM Academy – TN’s First Apple School of Distinction, 2-time TN Reward School for Performance (2012 – 2014)

Sunday, December 14, 2014

12-15-14 Gryphon Mission Briefing


GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING
For Monday, December 15, 2014
“L” Day Classes

School Ops:
·      Today is last day to turn in your permission slips for exam week dismissal! NOTE: IF YOU ARE FAILING ANY CLASS YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE EARLY ON WEDNESDAY – you can still leave on Thursday.

·      Want to wear a hat in school and not be hassled about it?  The swim team is trying to raise funds and will be selling “permits” (stickers) that will allow students to wear a hat on Wednesday for $1.  Please support the swim/diving teams and buy a sticker for $1 so you can wear a hat all day Wednesday!

·      SGA is sponsoring a Winter Formal dance on Saturday, Feb 7, 2015 here at the school.  The theme is Winter Wonderland.  Will be open to all grades, unlike the prom.  More details coming soon.

·      If you have a class scheduled in the STEM space on L days – you will be located in the Commons Area for that class today (Monday) unless notified differently by your teacher due to the blood drive below.
·      We need more students, parents and teachers, plan to "give the gift of life" and participate in the Medic Blood Drive on Monday, December 15 from 8 to 5 in the STEM Space.  Students 16 and over are eligible to participate. If you're 16 and 120 lbs, you may donate with parental consent. (Please use the form attached or come pick one up from Ms. Ellis in the Media Center.) Seventeen year olds that weigh 110 lbs or more may participate as well and DO NOT need consent. EVERYONE donating blood must have ID with them as well as a list of medications if appropriate. Please encourage your parents to contribute as well during our blood drive.  Use the following link to sign up:
 http://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a4fadad28aa8-lnstem  This is a fundraiser for the school on top of being good for the community.  If we have at least 20% of those eligible donate this fall and again in spring semester, the school will receive at $1000 grant.  Please give!

·      Interested in serving as a facilitator for a student Honor Court?  We’ll be staring one in January for infractions like plagiarism, cyberbullying, and excessive tardies.  We need sophomores, juniors, and seniors to fill out the application before Christmas break.  Email lnstemhonorcourt@gmail.com to ask for an application and see Mr. LaFollette if you have questions.

·      Time to start ordering prom tickets!  Order now to get the cheapest rate possible – tickets are $40 per ticket until the end of December. They will be available on Wednesdays during Genius Hour, and they will be sold at the door of the Media Center.  In January the cost goes up.  Get ‘em now!

 
Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the last day to pre-purchase the new red vintage t-shirt from PTSA.  Order form is attached.



Research Ops:
·      Hey seniors – here are some scholarships with their application deadlines coming up soon, find out more from guidance dept:
o   Feb 3 Executive Women International (local chapter offering $500 based on need, $500 based on merit)
o   Feb 15 UT Chattanooga ($3000/yr to a Chem major)
o   Feb 15 UT Chattanooga (2 different offers to Math major)
o   Feb 15 Ned McWherter ($6000 with 3.5 GPA, 29 ACT)
o   E TN Foundation (multiple awards in the health care, business, info. Security, engineering fields)
o   Several offerings to Boy Scouts

·      Juniors who have not obtained their free state voucher for the ACT need to do so as soon as possible.  If you didn't get in for the December test, there is another ACT being offered on Saturday, February 7th.  The deadline to register for this is January 9th.  Please make sure not to miss this important requirement for college admissions!

Community Ops: 
·      The eLemeNtal Literary Magazine: Access our e-publication here: http://www.lntole.com/featured-student.html Want to be featured or included in the next issue? Next issue’s theme is “Winter Wonderland”. Students are invited to submit their work to lntole.stem@gmail.com

·      Yearbook Spread: Stress – Yearbook staff is creating a page that is all about the fears a student has that will help them build a Wordle for display in the publication. If you'd like to include a comment about your fears or even pictures of you conquering them, email s739978@student.knoxschools.org.  All students are requested to visit this link and complete the form with your thoughts for the page, too.  Thank you for your participation and time.

Quote of the day from Eleanor Roosevelt:
Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Practice L&N Habits every day: Collaboration, Critical thinking, Design, Innovation, Inquiry, & Professionalism
L&N STEM Academy – TN’s First Apple School of Distinction, 2-time TN Reward School for Performance (2012 – 2014)