2-13-19 Student Mission Briefing

GRYPHON MISSION BRIEFING

For Wednesday, February 13, 2019 – N-day

School Mission – Boundless STEM: Learning & Leading

L&N Student Mission – #Own it!

School Ops:

·      Seniors:  Required Senior class meeting today 11:45 – 12:19 in the Commons.  You will get some important dates, announcements, and we will be announcing our valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2019!  Jostens will be here Thursday morning 8:15 - 9:30 to distribute caps/gowns and other graduation materials.  Look for the tables in the Commons.

·      Congratulations to Raymond Wysmierski (percussion), Campbell Maben (violin), Kieran Maben (bass), and Maddie Maben (cello) for all being accepted into the 2019 Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts!  In addition, Campbell, Kieran, and Maddie all three received full scholarships to attend! Another great achievement for our musical gryphons!

·      We have exactly 55 yearbooks left before we run out completely. This may seem like a lot, but there are over 200 students who still haven’t purchased theirs, so order yours ASAP to make sure you don’t get left out on distribution day. Go to jostensyearbooks.com to get yours for $70, and make sure to follow @STEMYB on Twitter! The price will increase on February 23 to $80.

·      Open-Mic Night is coming up (March 8th)! Are you a talented musician, singer, comedian, or dancer? If so, sign up to perform your special talent! This event is a great way to see a different side of our student body! The deadline to sign up is February 26th. If you would like to perform, you can sign up here:   https://goo.gl/forms/oUR50Fnw6hoA1hJd2

·      Boys and Girls Tennis Team tryouts will be held Tuesday, February 19^th from 5:00-6:00 at Tyson Park. You must have all forms complete and submitted to participate. Contact Mr. Blythe with any questions or concerns.

·      Congratulations to L&N STEM Aquatics Swim & Dive Team who competed in the State Meet (TISCA ) in Nashville over the weekend.  Finalists:

o   200 Medley Relay: 14th Mike Cho, Daniel Eshleman, Andrew Hines, Ethan Marsh

o   1 Meter Diving: 9th James Cassell, 10th Matthew Bretscher,  13th Delaney Martin

o   100 Backstroke:  11th Andrew Hines,

o   200 Freestyle Relay:  13th Mike Cho, Daniel Eshleman, Andrew Hines, Jed Smith

·      Saturday, February 16^th from 7:00-10:00pm is the annual Winter Formal. This year’s theme is Fire and Ice! Tickets are on sale in the commons during lunch, so make sure to stop by and buy these ahead of time. There is also a new opportunity at this dance! You have the chance to pay a dollar to play the song of your choice! (Proceeds will go to the senior class).  Remember if you are bringing a guest who does not attend L&N you must complete a visitor’s application form to purchase a ticket.  They are available in the office.

·      Congratulations to L&N Ethics Bowl team, Sonaz Jazny, Cade Brown, Reece Brown, Michelle Carrera, and Elijah Skeirik, for their outstanding performance last Saturday in the Tennessee High School Ethics Bowl hosted by the UT’s Department of Philosophy and the Humanities Center. The Gryphons won five consecutive matches, including victories over Bearden, Oak Ridge, and Hardin Valley, to advance to the championship for the fifth year in a row. There, in cases concerning Liver Allocation for transplants and Political Gerrymandering, the decision went to St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. Special recognition to seniors Cade Brown, for two years of strong competition, and Sonaz Jazny for four fantastic years of representing L&N at this event!

·      Who will represent L&N STEM Academy at the 2019 CTE Live Competition?  It could be you!  Applications and videos are being accepted now through February 15.   For more information and to submit click here:
https://goo.gl/forms/m9NtWsPC6scZwLt52 
L&N Students will vote March 1 for our representative.  

·      Did you know one of our athletes has been nominated for the Knox News’ “I AM SPORT Award”?  Go to http://knoxnews.secondstreetapp.com/I-AM-SPORT-Award-2019/ and vote for L&N senior Sydney Rockwell!  You can vote once per day until the voting ends on March 5, 11:59 a.m. EST.  Share the link with everyone you know!

·      Teens for Christ is starting back up for spring semester – come join them Monday mornings at 8:45 in D113

·      PROM TICKETS:  The prom committee members will be selling tickets during both lunches everyday except Mondays. Tickets will be single tickets are $45 and couples tickets are $80. Additionally, if students paid their senior dues the cost of a single ticket was included. 

Community  & Guidance Ops:

·      Did you know that your old, unused cell phones could help save critically endangered species that call Africa home? Donate your old cell phones for recycling and reduce the need for Coltan! Coltan, a mineral that coats your phone battery, is illegally mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is one of the most diverse areas in the world with several species calling it home, such as Chimpanzees and Gorillas! Between now and the end of April, L&N STEM Recycling/Energy Club will have boxes around the school for you to place your old, unwanted cell phones into so that they can be recycled!

·      The Recycling/Energy genius hour is teaming up with Young William's to do a washcloth drive in order to prepare for the influx of kittens during the Spring season. The washcloths are ideal for stimulating and keeping orphaned kittens warm. Be on the lookout for informational flyers and collection boxes around the school within the next couple of weeks.

·      Check the School Counseling website for a variety of  scholarship offerings and summer opportunities. Some deadlines are approaching!

·      AP Registration Window Opening Soon!  The Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Registration Window is January 28th-February 15th.  Students and parents can obtain the registration form digitally (see attached) or pick up a hard copy in the Guidance office.  Completed forms and payment must be submitted to the Guidance office.  Forms or payments submitted any other way may not make it to the appropriate staff member, resulting in students not being able to test! Do NOT submit to the main office! Remember: The deadline to register is Friday, February 15th! Please direct any questions to sarah.salerno@knoxschools.org.  More AP information can be found at https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/home

·      Interested in STEM and working with elementary students?  Apply as a mentor in the Gear Up STEM Camp. Eligible mentors can be in grades 9-11 with at least a 2.75 GPA. Receive a stipend, leadership skills, service hours.  The program is 4 separate weeks over the next year (2 in summer, spring break and fall break).  See more at http://bit.ly/GearUpSLM. Deadline 2/15/19.

Quote of the day from Winston Churchill:

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

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

L&N STEM Academy – TN’s First Apple School of Distinction, US News & World Report medalist , Newsweek’s Top 500 American High Schools, TN Reward School,  

TN STEM Designated School, AdvancED STEM Certified School