11-27-17 Student Mission Briefing

GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING

For Monday, November 27, 2017 – M-day

EARLY RELEASE SCHEDULE

School Mission – Boundless STEM: Learning & Leading

L&N Student Mission – #Own it!

School Ops:

·    Please join us tomorrow night (Monday, November 27) from 3:30 to dark for the SGA’s annual fall cleanup. We will be raking leaves, pulling weeds, trimming the bushes, and doing anything else we can to beautify our schools exterior. This is a great opportunity for a few service hours and to give back to our school. If you would like to participate please bring any tools that you think you may need (ex. Rakes, clippers, trowels, etc), gloves, and clothes that you won’t mind getting dirty. We will meet in the plaza at 3:30 and begin working at 3:45. Hope to see you there!

·    Congratulations to these students who participated in the 2017 All East Honor Choirs the weekend before Thanksgiving:  Wendell Thornton and David Stewart in the Men's Chorus, Gretta Berry and Katelyn Davis in the Women's Chorus, Kelsey Bledsoe in the Mixed Chorus, William Dishmon, William Hellwinckel and Abigail Phillips in the Freshman Chorus. 

·    The weekend before our break, 22 students from our school competed at the Southeastern High School Model United Nations conference. Our school held two delegations, representing the countries Ethiopia and Venezuela on committee topics ranging from the world food crisis to global security threats. Jared Watkins and Hyatt Christenberry both won Honorable Mention for best delegate in their respective committees, and Jared was appointed as the President of the Security Council for next year’s conference. He is the first student from our school to hold a staff position. Congrats to all of our delegates for their hard work! 

·    Congratulations to our Ultimate Frisbee team – they won the Knoxville City Championship for the 4^th year in a row on Saturday (ending their fall season)!  And they were inaccurately reported a couple weeks ago.  The tournament in KY was not their state championship, it was a national “all comers” competition – and our team was runner up!  They were ranked #6 in the nation in their age group!!  Way to go!

·    Freshman, please take a few seconds to fill out the following survey regarding the upcoming social for the freshman class! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3wTvazvfhrq4d9xfzQN8QOZB9RmYCl7P8WBZ1bTyw2qWyYA/viewform?usp=sf_link

·    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.

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 27 - East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN  

Quote of the day from George Addair:

Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.

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)