MNPS Schools Awarded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant

Thank you Councilman Duane Dominy for your leadership and support of this very important health and wellness inititative for our children.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2009-694
A resolution in support of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Healthier Children Program.
WHEREAS, the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program was initiated in 2008 and with funding slated to increase annually the program is available for each eligible school in Tennessee grades pre-K to 8th-grade of which 97 Metro Nashville Public Schools are eligible for grants to purchase, prepare and distribute fresh fruits and vegetables; and
WHEREAS, it is encouraging each Metropolitan Nashville Public School eligible to apply for these grants which help provide funds to buy fresh fruits and vegetables as this program is an important catalyst for change in our efforts to combat childhood obesity by helping children learn more healthy eating habits and to introduce Nashville’s children to healthier snack choices in schools; and
WHEREAS, introducing fresh fruits and vegetables to the students through the schools is one way to provide some nutrition which they may otherwise not get; and expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience which will make a difference in children’s diets to impact their present and future health; and
WHEREAS, children need good nutrition to help them stay alert and learn at school. Nourished children who are not hungry make fewer trips to the school nurse’s office and have better school attendance and less tardiness. Fruits and vegetables are a big part of good nutrition and this program enables children to benefit who may have limited access to nutritious foods outside of school because of financial constraints at home; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council expresses their support for the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program created by the 2008 farm bill for Healthier Children Program and its desire that all eligible Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools submit an application.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record in support of the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for Healthier Children Program.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Sponsored by: Duane Dominy

Introduced:
April 7, 2009
Adopted:
April 7, 2009
Approved:
April 9, 2009
By: Karl F. Dean
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MNPS Schools Awarded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grant
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 26, 2009) – Eight MNPS schools will work to make students healthier in the 2009-2010 school year thanks to more than $169,000 in funding from the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).
The following elementary schools will receive funds to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for students:
Hattie Cotton Elementary $27,154
Glenview Elementary $31,313
Haywood Elementary $33,417
Hermitage Elementary $12,174
KIPP Academy $7,315
Murrell School $3,206
Shwab Elementary $15,130
Una Elementary $40,030
In all, Metro Schools will receive $169,739 from the state program. Schools principals will work with their cafeteria managers to coordinate the purchase and distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables. These healthy snacks will be free for all students. During the 2008-2009 school year, H.G. Hill Middle and Haynes Design Center participated in the program. Over the course of the year, students were provided more than $18,000 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables. About FFVPThe Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program was created by the 2008 farm bill. Its primary goals are to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, to expand the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience, to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumptions, and to make a difference in children’s diets to impact their present and future health. This program is an important component in combating childhood obesity and has been made a permanent program under the National School Lunch Act. Metro Nashville Public Schools provide a range of educational opportunities to more than 75,000 students in Nashville and Davidson County . The governing body for MNPS is the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Board of Public Education, a nine-member group elected by residents of Metropolitan Nashville. For more information, please visit http://www.mnps.org/. # # #

Panel Discussion for Teach for America New Corps Members

Thursday, June 4, 2009

SCORE Executive Director Brad Smith Participates in Panel Discussion for Teach for America New Corps Members

Time: 3:30pm

Location: Nashville, TN

All events are open to the public and all times are local.

http://www.tennesseescore.org/

Free Summer Program at Hamilton Creek in Antioch

Click on image to enlarge

Hamilton Creek Summer Program

Weekdays 9 am - 12 pm June 1-July 11th

A free six week summer program for youth ages 6-12

Providing a fun creative learning environment in which kids can explore a variety of arts and studies. The six week period is divided into three sessions to provide a balance of enrichment activities.

Session I Arts and Crafts June 1-12

Session II Music and Drama June 15-26

Session III Math and Science June 29-July 11

Classes will be held in the clubhouse at

Hamilton Creek Apartments

3140 Hamilton Church Road, Antioch, TN 37013

Space is Limited!

Call 615-833-9580

Editorial: President Obama and Performance Based Pay

Editorial: Performance pay can help fix worst schools (Tennessean)
It was one of the more important and compelling addresses of President Barack Obama's four months in office, but its impact was diminished by a louder debate over financial institutions and by members of the president's own party who were surprised by the message. On March 10, Obama gave a speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in which he spoke of the urgency of improving the nation's educational system. And while he did take Republicans to task for failing to support early childhood education, he caught Democratic loyalists off-guard with a strong call for performance-based pay for teachers. Teacher unions have opposed merit pay for the most part because they argue that it distracts educators from their main focus: the welfare of their students; also, that it concentrates funding that should be evenly distributed to help all teachers.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090527/OPINION01/905270387/Editorial++Performance+pay+can+help+fix+worst+schools

Guest columnist: Let's reward good teaching (Tennessean)
I have vivid memories of my high school teachers Virginia Aldridge and Dorothy O'Neal who taught history and English — two subjects I am passionate about to this day. When I read, I still think about what represents good and what represents evil, which is the way Ms. O'Neal personified every book. That's what good teachers do: They help students find their passions and get excited about learning. We've seen firsthand in Nashville what happens when students aren't engaged in school: They fail, and they drop out. Teachers are our greatest resource for helping students achieve. Gov. Phil Bredesen put it this way in his 2009 State of the State address: "In the end, it all comes down to the teacher in the classroom."
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090527/OPINION01/905270383

Guest columnist: No proof to back performance pay (Tennessean)
Historically, teacher salaries have been victims of political whim. Most teachers believe the pay they receive is neither commensurate with the tasks they are asked to perform nor the time they must dedicate to perform their jobs effectively. In fact, hardly a day goes by without a teacher somewhere pondering the possibility of leaving teaching for a more lucrative career in the business world. Boards of education, policymakers, think-tankers and teachers unions have discussed the challenges school districts face in attracting and retaining well-qualified teachers and often identify compensation as a major challenge. Before the 1940s, most teachers were paid based upon their "merit." Unfortunately, the key identifiers of merit in that era were male gender, marital status, fatherhood race and grade-level taught.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090527/OPINION01/905270384

Wishing All A Safe and Happy Memorial Day!

I just want to express sincere appreciation for all of our country's heroes serving with courage and sacrifice to preserve peace and freedom for all. Please continue to pray for our military personnel and their families.
God Bless Our Nation and God Bless Each of You!

Volunteer Today with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee

Thank you for your leadership Lowell Perry. Big Brothers Big Sisters mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of children in need and to assist them in achieving their highest potential by facilitating a professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships with a committed volunteer.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is helping change the way kids are growing up in Middle Tennessee by providing positive adult role models to children in need. Volunteers empower our kids with the tools, confidence, and guidance to make decisions that will affect their safety, their well-being, and their potential.Big Brothers Big Sisters is a social profit enterprise that requires the personal investment of all Middle Tennesseans – whether through giving of your time, talent, or treasure – to make a powerful community impact leading to better schools, safer neighborhoods, and healthier choices.To read a personal story about a child receiving services right here in Middle Tennessee, click here.
Wanting to make a secure online donation? click here.
If you'd like more information on becoming a volunteer with us, click here now!

Youth Life Summer Camp 09

Youth Life Learning Centers is a faith-based educational after school program currently serving 3 inner city Nashville neighborhoods. With a focus on character development and academics, YLLC offers hope to students who are considered “at-risk” and gives them the tools they need for success in school and in life. We are currently recruiting volunteers for the following:

Summer camp will run from June 1st through June 26th. at the Frederick Douglass Building at 214 N. 7th Street in east Nashville.

The theme for camp this year is, “Watch Us Shine” (Matt. 5:14-16). We have a lot of great activities planned for the students this summer and would love for you to be a part of it! Dress code is comfortable, casual and cool (but appropriate). We are seeking volunteers who have a love for children, a heart for inner city ministry and a few free hours this summer. If this sounds like you, please consider volunteering this summer at Youth Life! The camp hours are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. If you are available during any of these times and dates, please contact me for more information.

Police calls to Nashville schools

This includes public and private schools.
http://data.tennessean.com/DB/dbc/schoolcrime09.php
Click on link above to access database for individual schools

Commencement shooting problem of ‘community,’ not school

Last nights graduation for Pearl Cohn graduates went extremely well. Dr. Register, I and Ed Kindall participated in certifying and giving out diplomas. David Fox and I certified and gave out diplomas on Monday night at Hillsboro's graduation and it also went extremely well.
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Commencement shooting problem of ‘community,’ not school
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 12:00am
By Amy Griffith Graydon
A fatal shooting at a Maplewood High School graduation ceremony had more to do with the “community” than with the school, according to Ralph Thompson, assistant superintendent of student services for Metro schools.“We all know things like this take place in the malls. They take place in churches,” Thompson said Tuesday. “This was not a school issue. It was not a Tennessee State University issue. It was not a Maplewood issue. It was not a Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools issue. Clearly this was a community issue.”
On Monday night, 21-year-old Andreus Taylor was shot in the face and killed at a Maplewood commencement ceremony, held at TSU’s Gentry Center. In response to the shooting, security was stepped up at Tuesday night’s Pearl-Cohn High graduation, which also was held at Gentry Center.
The final MNPS graduation ceremony to take place at the facility this year, the commencement for White’s Creek High, will also include the ramped-up measures. Both the Pearl-Cohn and White’s Creek ceremonies were slated, as of Tuesday afternoon, to be patrolled by about 25 law enforcement officers, including TSU police and Metro plainclothes and flex-unit officers, Thompson said. All attendees at both ceremonies were slated to be searched with metal detectors and wands. A total of 12 on- and off-duty Metro Police and TSU officers were inside and outside the Gentry Center on Monday night, when the shooting took place.In addition to the measures at TSU, security will be heightened “to a degree” at all district ceremonies this year, Thompson said. Usually there are between eight and 10 officers, up to as many as 15, at Metro ceremonies.Though security will be increased, Thompson said there are no indications that anything bad will happen — and no connection between MNPS and the Monday shooting.
The victim in the shooting did have ties to gangs, according to both Thompson and Metro Police.“I think that from the information we’ve been gathering, this was kind of destined to happen, whether it was at a supermarket or a community center,” Thompson said. “It just happened to be at a graduation.”Metro Police are still pursuing “active leads” in identifying Taylor’s killer, according to a press release. A suspect police say matched the description of the gunman was apprehended Monday night, then later released after being found unconnected with the shooting.Taylor was shot at close range as he was exiting the building, according to Metro Police. A bystander was also shot in the arm and treated at a nearby hospital, and minor injuries were reported when the crowd scrambled after shots were fired.

Adventure Science Center Selected to Partner on National Science Foundation Grant

The Adventure Science Center was selected through a competitive process to partner with Alignment Nashville in the implementation of a recently awarded National Science Foundation grant.
The project, Art to STEM, is designed to promote the interests, skills, and abilities of middle school girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) so that they consider enrolling in STEM career academies in high school.
The activities will show the girls how their current interests, particularly in arts and entertainment, can be utilized within the context of STEM-related careers. School-based clubs will be developed at eight middle schools in the fall of 2009 and then expanded to five high schools next school year.
The Adventure Science Center brings a strong history of providing educational programming in informal settings that challenges youth to consider STEM careers. Their existing programs and facilities will offer a wonderful backdrop to support the grant's goals.
The Adventure Science Center will partner with multiple programs at Tennessee State University (TSU), Vanderbilt Students Volunteering for Science, and Big Brothers Big Sisters to assist in recruiting adult mentors who will implement the after-school clubs for the students. They also will partner with TSU to offer a one-week summer camp on the college campus. The new partners join a diverse collaboration through Alignment Nashville that includes PENCIL, MNPS, Girl Scouts, TSU, and Tennessee Tech University.

MNPS Graduations

Congratulations to all of our Students/Graduates! A significant milestone achieved.
All 19 MNPS high schools will celebrate graduation. Listed below are the 2009 graduation locations, dates and times.
May 15, Antioch High School, Municipal Auditorium, 7 p.m.
May 18, East Literature Magnet, Belmont University Curb Center, 7 p.m.
May 17, Glencliff High School, Grande Ole Opry House, 4 p.m.
May 18, Hillsboro High School, David Lipscomb Allen Arena, 6 p.m.
May 19, Hillwood High School, David Lipscomb Allen Arena, 6 p.m.
May 19, Hume-Fogg High Academic Magnet, Sommett Center, 7 p.m.
May 18, Hunters Lane High School, Municipal Auditorium, 7 p.m.
May 20, Martin Luther King Jr., Grande Ole Opry House, 6 p. m.
May 18, Maplewood High School, Tennessee State University Gentry Complex, 6 p.m.
May 17, McGavock High School, Municipal Auditorium, 3 p.m.
May 18, MNPS Middle College High, Cohn Adult Auditorium, 7 p.m.
May 18, Nashville School of the Arts, Grande Ole Opry House, 7 p.m.
May 19, Overton High School, Belmont University Curb Center, 7 p.m.
May 19, Pearl-Cohn High School, Tennessee State University Gentry Complex, 6 p.m.
May 17, Stratford High School, Tennessee State University Gentry Complex, 6 p.m.
May 23, Whites Creek High School, Tennessee State University Gentry Complex, 10 a.m.
May 18, Cohn Adult High School, Cohn Adult Auditorium, 4 p.m.
For more information contact the Customer Service Center at 615-259-INFO (4636) or the school.

Join in a Conversation with Dr. Register at Harper's Restaurant!

Please click on image to enlarge

Meet & Greet

A conversation with

Dr. Jesse Register, Director of Metro Nashville Public Schools

"The Way Forward"

Monday, May 11, 2009

6:00-7:30 p.m

Hosted by

Harpers Restaurant

2610 Jefferson Street

Nashville, TN 37204

615-329-1909

All in Nashville are invited to attend!

Summer Day Camp offered by Antioch Together

Please click on image to enlarge.
Summer Daycamp & Leadership Program
located at
Antioch United Methodist Church
41 Tusculum Rd., Antioch, TN 37013


for children ages 7 - 16
May 25 - August 10


Cost: $80 per week
Scholarships available


for more information visit
www.antiochtogether.com
or call (615) 366-0665