L&N STEM Academy: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

Robocall text re: TN Ready testing

Here's the text to the robocall that just went out about TN Ready testing:

As you aware, TN Ready assessments begin this Wednesday, March 2nd through Tuesday, March 8th, please make sure your students are present for testing and help them be prepared. Please make sure your student is here on time and has had a healthy breakfast each day. The schedule is as follows: English 1, English 2, and English 3 will test on Wednesday and Thursday mornings; Algebra 1 and US History will test on Friday morning; Algebra 2 will test on Monday and Geometry will test on Tuesday morning. Make-ups will be administered on an ongoing basis through the testing window. Students need to check their Mission Briefings each day to be sure they know where they will be testing. Please have your students bring #2 pencils for all subjects. For math tests, students are responsible for bringing their own calculators; if students do not have their own, we encourage them to borrow one from another student that will not be testing that day. We only have a small number available for students to borrow. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure the best possible testing experience for your student. I'd now like to sing a song for you to motivate your success--I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky....Go Gryphons!

Sunday, February 28, 2016

2-29-16 Student Mission Briefing

GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING

For Monday, February 29, 2016 – “M” classes

Early Release Schedule

2015-16 L&N Student Mission – Own it!

School Ops:

· Its time for us to select our candidate from the L&N for the CTE Goes Live systemwide talent contest! If you’d like to be considered, send Mrs. Ashe a link to a video of you performing (YouTube works great). We’ll send a single link to all of the videos during Advisory period Friday, March 4 (next Friday) so everyone can watch and cast your votes for our rep to this big contest. Email if you have questions – good luck! (must be solo acts only – no groups or bands, sorry, that’s CTE contest rules).

· Autumn is the best time of the year for a trip to NYC! There will be an interest meeting about our fall break trip to NYC on NEXT Wednesday, March 9 from 6-7 p.m. The trip will take place Saturday morning, October 8-Thursday morning, October 13, 2016. We will see: the Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Station, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, 9/11 Memorial, Greenwich Village, Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park & the Zoo, Times Square, High Line, the American Museum of Natural History/Hayden Planetarium, a Broadway and an off-Broadway Show. If you are interested, please answer the survey at: http://goo.gl/forms/rDYWbvQdkX

(If you have already done this, please DO NOT do it again. Thanks.)

Chaperones will be Mr. Bell, Mr. Childers, Mr. Crattie, Ms. Ellis, Ms. Morrell and Ms. Jorgenson.

· Congrats to Sydney Fuhrig who just got accepted to the Governor’s Schools for the Humanities at UT Martin this summer! Way to go!

· REMINDER: Your $300 balance is DUE if you are going (and have already paid your deposit) to the National Science & Engineering Festival in Washington, D.C. April 13-17. Please bring your payment to Ms. Jorgensen or Ms. Ellis before March 4. If for any reason, you cannot come, please let us know right away.

Note: Because of hotel room arrangements we have two additional slots for male students available on the DC Field Trip. First come, first served. E-mail cheri.jorgenson@knoxschools.org if you decide to go. Bring your $400 (total cost) and filled out field trip permission form (attached). Ms. Jorgenson will also be taking a team of art students to explore the wonderful (and free) art museums. For more information, see http://www.usasciencefestival.org.

· SENIORS: There's only 2 weeks left to pay Senior Dues! Don't delay! Full dues are $140. See breakdown of price below. Don't forget your $25 Senior Fee. This is not included in the dues! Dues and Fees can be brought to Ms. Stanish or Mrs. Brown.

Senior Dues Breakdown: (fee waiver CANNOT be applied)

1) $50 Yearbook (discounted $20)

2) $40 Prom ticket (discounted $15)

3) $50 Senior Luncheon and 10 custom Thank you Cards

Senior Fees: (fee waiver CAN be applied)

$25 for diploma and diploma cover

· On Monday, March 7th, you can support our school and help the community (and so can your parents!) at our annual MEDIC Blood Drive. Here’s a link to sign up for your donation time:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4aafab28aa8-blood

There is a form you need to complete and bring with you on the day of donation. It is attached.

· Make plans to join us for a pancake breakfast fundraiser hosted by SGA on Saturday, March 5th, from 8:30 A.M. to 10 A.M. The fundraiser will be held at the Chili's restaurant located in North Knoxville at 6635 Clinton Highway. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Great Starts program at the Helen Ross McNabb Center. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pancake-breakfast-fundraiser-tickets-21053284942?aff=ebrowse. Bring your family and friends and help us give back to our community!

Community & Guidance Ops:

· Knox County Youth Health Board is seeking applicants. The Youth Health Board is a diverse group of young people from across Knox County. Two reps from each high school will be accepted. Students who are selected will be able to explore the field of Public Health and expand their knowledge by working with numerous health professionals. Members will work with their community to address issues that they are passionate about. Deadline to apply is April 1, 2016. See front office for more info and applications.

· Current juniors – are you interested in having a voice in our system? Applications are now open for the Student Rep on the Knox County School Board. Pick up an application in the office. Deadline is March 11.

Quotes of the day from Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.:

Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.

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 – 2015)

Thursday, February 25, 2016

2-25-16 Student Mission Briefing

GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING

For Thursday, February 25, 2016 – “L” classes

2015-16 L&N Student Mission – Own it!

School Ops:

· Congrats to Sydney Fuhrig who just got accepted to the Governor’s Schools for the Humanities at UT Martin this summer! Way to go!

· Bring your neighbors – bring your friends and join us to help the Senior Class raise money at the STEM Around the World event, Saturday, Feb 27, from 12:00 – 4:00. See the attached flyer for more info. Notice the decorations around the Commons and in some classrooms? They’re for the event – please do not disturb or move them!

· Congratulations to our Knox County PTA award winners. In the Reflections competition Photography category, Kiersten Morris won 1st, Kendyl Nicely won 2nd, and Erin Victorson won 3rd; Visual Arts category, Austin Monk won 3rd, Katlynn Armstrong won an Honorable Mention; Literature, Cadence Forrest-Banks won an Honorable Mention. Kiersten also won a Knox County Council PTA Scholarship! Great job, Gryphon artists!

· Don’t forget to return your course request sheet for next year to the office or guidance by tomorrow, Feb 26!

· STUDENTS: There's only 1 week left to get prom tickets at the current price and tickets are only on sale for 3 more weeks! Prom tickets for the Junior/Senior Prom are available for purchase during lunch. Single tickets are $50 and couple tickets are $90 until February 29! Don't wait! Prices increase in March!

Theme: A Red Carpet Romance Location: Gettysvue Country Club

Date: Saturday, April 23, 2016 Time: 7-11 pm

· SENIORS: There's only 3 weeks left to pay Senior Dues! Don't delay! Full dues are $140. See breakdown of price below. Don't forget your $25 Senior Fee. This is not included in the dues! Dues and Fees can be brought to Ms. Stanish or Mrs. Brown.

Senior Dues Breakdown: (fee waiver CANNOT be applied)

1) $50 Yearbook (discounted $20)

2) $40 Prom ticket (discounted $15)

3) $50 Senior Luncheon and 10 custom Thank you Cards

Senior Fees: (fee waiver CAN be applied)

$25 for diploma and diploma cover

· On Monday, March 7th, you can support our school and help the community (and so can your parents!) at our annual MEDIC Blood Drive. Here’s a link to sign up for your donation time:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4aafab28aa8-blood

There is a form you need to complete and bring with you on the day of donation. It is attached.

Community & Guidance Ops:

Quotes of the day from John Adams:

I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.

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 – 2015)

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

2-24-16 Student Mission Briefing

GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING

For Wednesday, February 24, 2016 – “N” classes

2015-16 L&N Student Mission – Own it!

School Ops:

· Rising Juniors and Seniors, there will be a dual enrollment informational meeting on Wed., Feb. 24th at 9am in room G006--next to the Guidance Office. If you're not sure how to register for dual enrollment classes and need more information about the process, you won't want to miss this meeting.

· Don’t forget to return your course request sheet for next year to the office or guidance by tomorrow, Feb 26!

Theme: A Red Carpet Romance Location: Gettysvue Country Club

Date: Saturday, April 23, 2016 Time: 7-11 pm

Senior Dues Breakdown: (fee waiver CANNOT be applied)

1) $50 Yearbook (discounted $20)

2) $40 Prom ticket (discounted $15)

3) $50 Senior Luncheon and 10 custom Thank you Cards

Senior Fees: (fee waiver CAN be applied)

$25 for diploma and diploma cover

· On Monday, March 7th, you can support our school and help the community (and so can your parents!) at our annual MEDIC Blood Drive. Here’s a link to sign up for your donation time:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4aafab28aa8-blood

There is a form you need to complete and bring with you on the day of donation. It is attached.

Community & Guidance Ops:

Quotes of the day from poet Sally Berger:

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

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 – 2015)