11-28-17 Student Mission Briefing

GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING

For Tuesday, November 28, 2017 – L-day

School Mission – Boundless STEM: Learning & Leading

L&N Student Mission – #Own it!

School Ops:

·      Special thanks to our cleaning crew from SGA and volunteers who stayed after school Monday to get ready for our Showcase!  The campus looks great!!  Let’s all help keep it looking that way – when you leave an area, look around and check that you did not drop or spill anything.  A little effort by everyone will get a lot of work done in keeping our campus looking its best!  #GryphonPride

·      Have you put in ideas yet for next semester’s Genius Hour offerings?  The form stays open only until Friday!  This is from the email Mr. Childers sent yesterday.  Here’s the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeL5rKrRyI4LoXcv8mLLHmhjjlUCZrEOu9vjJNtZrDGkqwicQ/viewform 

·      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

·      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:

·      SENIORS:  Have you filled out your FAFSA?  Deadline is approaching!  See you counselor if you have questions!

Quote of the day from Woodrow Wilson:

You are not here merely to make a living.  You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.

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)