11-17-17 Student Mission Briefing

GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING

For Friday, November 17, 2017 – L-day

School Mission – Boundless STEM: Learning & Leading

L&N Student Mission – #Own it!

School Ops:

·      Today is the LAST DAY to order your yearbook for $60. The price WILL go up, so make sure to order yours before Saturday to save up to $20 this year! You can order your yearbook from jostensyearbooks.com or pick up an order form from the office, and remember to follow @STEMYB on Twitter to keep up with any and all yearbook updates!

·      Congratulations to these L&N art students whose work was juried into the 2017 Tennessee Art Education Association's East Region Student Art Show! Abigail Rumpp (Mixed Media), Desiree Dobbins (2 pieces; Photography and Collage), Eli Lundin (Painting), Josie Bresler (Painting), Kate Jolly (Photography), Molly Miller (Mixed Media) and Reverie Johnson (Mixed Media). Special congratulations to Josie Bresler whose work was awarded an Honorable Mention. This work was selected from entries from all of East Tennessee. The work will be on display from the Friday after Thanksgiving until January 14, 2018.

·      Congratulations to the following students for their excellent performances on Monday's Knoxville Symphony Youth Orchestra Concert:  Bobby Moran (Violin, Sinfonia), Audrey Moran (Violin, Sinfonia), Campbell Maben (Violin, Chamber), Connor McGinley (Violin, Chamber), Maddie Maben (Cello, Chamber), Jack Baldwin (Cello, Chamber), Nick Thompson (Cello, Chamber), Kieran Maben (Double Bass, Chamber), Marcus Lee (Bassoon, Youth Orchestra), and Gregory Croisdale (Violin, Youth Orchestra).  Also, congratulations to the following students who performed in Tuesday's Knox County Schools Honors Band Concert:  Anastasia Slisher (Principal Oboe), Anna Wysmierski (Flute), Emma Patterson (Flute), Ander Van Dyke (Alto Saxophone), Clara Winn (Saxophone), Connor Mitchell (Trombone), Charles Brush (Bassoon), Malcolm Massey (Baritone Saxophone), Perry Hall (Percussion), and Raymond Wysmierski (Percussion)!  Bravo to all of our musical Gryphons!

·      You are cordially invited to attend...  OUR WINTER READING NIGHT! Who: Students (and their families), teachers, and alumni When: Friday, December 1st from 7 to 10 p.m. 

Where: The L&N STEM Academy Commons

What: Read undisturbed for 30 minute intervals. Socialize in between!

Free: Hot drinks, baked goods, and popcorn, as well as good company! 

Helpful information: 

Dress up as your favorite Literary Character Contest!--Optional

Bring a book or check one out from our library

We have limited comfy chairs so consider bringing a pillow, bean bag chair, or blankets

Questions? Contact Mr. Blevins or Ms. Ellis

·      Our Key Club is participating in two projects and needs YOUR help collecting items!

1)    Toiletries Drive for Beaumont Magnet Academy's local community--We've learned that many public assistance programs don't cover hygiene products for those in need. We're working with Beaumont Magnet Academy to collect all hygiene products but especially shampoo, soap, hand or body lotion, antiperspirant/deodorant, and feminine products. Any sizes and quantities are welcome (including travel size)! Please drop them off in the collection bin in the Bookstore Hallway. 

2)    Plastic Grocery Bags Collection: We'll be collecting disposable shopping bags all year to create lightweight sleeping mats to distribute to our homeless community. (Here's a video if you're interested.) Each mat requires about 700 disposable shopping bags (what you'd get from Wal-Mart or a grocery store). Please drop off your extra bags in the collection bin in the Bookstore Hallway.

·      New activity to be offered during Early Release hour on Mondays – come learn how to play the card game Bridge!  There will be an informational meeting on Monday, Dec 4 at 3:30 in room 214.  More information is below.

·      Congratulations to senior Taylor Flores, who on Friday will be attending a luncheon to receive the Optimist Club Service to Humanity Award.  Well done, Taylor!

·      Shout out to our Scholars Bowl team – they made it to the Round of 16 (quarterfinals) in the regional tournament yesterday!  If you see them, congratulate these students: Nicholas Lester, Zachary Medley, Emmanuel Sosa-Cruz,  and Alexander Yarkhan

·      Friendly reminder, this week is your final week to make boxes for Operation Christmas Child. If you have not started on your box, it is not too late! If you do not feel that you can pack a whole box, please consider bringing individual items or making a donation to cover the shipping costs for other boxes. Additionally, this is a fun project to complete with a group of friends. Don’t forget this is an advisory competition, with a donut party for the winning advisory in each grade. We also want to reiterate that this competition is for all grades and all faculty members. We will be collecting boxes on the plaza during advisory on Friday, November 17 (this Friday). Finish packing up your boxes with your advisory, then head on down to the plaza. Come drop off your box, grab a candy cane, and celebrate another year of our school serving globally!  A side note that some of you may be interested in is the option of being able to track your box. Go to the link below to find the place to pay online and get a special tag that allows you to see which country your box travels to. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/follow-your-box/

·      Enter the 2017-2018 PTA Reflections competition! The theme this year is "Within Reach." The Reflections deadline is extended to Friday, November 17, 2017. Categories are Photography, Visual Art, Film Production, Dance Choreography and Literature.   All information is in this Google folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BzLZuqJAEUMAeFVvcFpPczJscVE?usp=sharing  There is an information sheet for each category as well as an entry form. If you use the form, please replace YOURNAME with your actual name. Create a folder and put your entry and entry form in your folder. Visual artwork should be delivered to M056 art room.  If you have any questions, just email Mr. Jorgenson @ cheri.jorgenson@knoxschools.org. 

·      Congratulations to our 4 Chinese 2 students who competed at the Johnson University state Chinese Character Recognition on Saturday.  Our team was the only “newbie” against programs that have been around a lot longer!  Our students took 3^rd place!!  Well done, Gryphons and congrats to Ms. Wang!

·      FRUVED Announcement-  Interested in a chance to be one of 25 L&N students to win a $25 gift card? Click on the link below to take a survey about your health before the survey closes. If you already took and fully completed the Fruved survey, you'll be automatically entered into the drawing! Thanks in advance for your participation! https://utk.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eqq0Cn8ltwEzzL

·      Next Monday is our school level National History Day competition! It is not necessary to do this as part of a class project.  You may compete just for the love of history and the love of competition!  As always, follow exact directions on NHD website, and bring Process Paper, Annotated Bibliography, and your project to the competition in the Commons--9:30, Monday, Nov 20.  Please email Mrs. Robbins or Ms. Stanish if you plan to compete (other than as part of a class) so we can plan exhibit space for you.  Remember, you may compete as an individual or a group (maximum five people).  Questions?  Email Mrs. Robbins or Ms. Stanish.

Community  & Guidance Ops:

·      College recruiters coming!  Each of the following will be in guidance at 12:15 on the days listed below.  See Mrs. Johnson to sign up :

o   Mon, Nov. 20 - University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL  

o   Mon, Nov 27 - East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN  

Quote of the day from Alvin Toffler:

The illiterate of the 21^st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

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

L&N STEM Academy – TN’s First Apple School of Distinction, 3 time - US News & World Report medalist – Silver 2017, Gold 2016, Bronze 2015, 3 time - Newsweek’s Top 500 American High Schools 2015 – 17, TN Reward School (3 times)