Wednesday was the annual special needs prom for Rutherford County Schools. This year’s prom took place today at the Smyrna Event Center.
More than 100 students from eight schools – Blackman, LaVergne, Oakland, Riverdale, Siegel, Smyrna and Stewarts Creek – attended the 11th annual prom, which first began at Siegel High School in 2007. CONTINUE READING
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
PHOTO / JAMES EVANS Maintenance Director Kenneth Curlee says the goal of his department is to keep schools open so students have an opportunity to learn.
The maintenance department operates as part of the Rutherford County Schools’ Engineering and Construction office. The department is made up of approximately 60 personnel who are divided among four specialty teams: construction, warehouse, electrical and HVAC.
They do all types of jobs, ranging from building new walls in schools to create new learning spaces, to building ramps on portable classrooms, to repairing lights and gas leaks.
In fact, the maintenance staff completes 1,200 work orders per month on average. CONTINUE READING
David Youree kindergarten classes get S.M.A.R.T. in PE
Brenda Bailey isn’t a stereotypical physical education instructor.
In her class, it’s commonplace for Bailey to talk about the physiological and neurological connection to learning. She is also likely to talk about kinesthetic learning in which learning takes place by students carrying out physical activities.
“I’ve always been interested in the brain,” said Bailey, who first heard about the S.M.A.R.T. program during a PE in-service at Moore Elementary in nearby Franklin in 2006.
The acronym stands for Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training.
S.M.A.R.T. is a developmental approach to teaching that takes advantage of current brain research, according to a website for A Chance to Grow. The program was first developed in the 1990s and focuses on stimulation of the brain stem versus the brain cortex. CONTINUE READING
Coming Full Circle
Stewarts Creek grad returns to dedicate ‘Legacy Project,’ embrace family’s devotion to construction industry
PHOTO / JAMES EVANS
Stewarts Creek grad Hunter Bullock poses in front of the plaque that marks his family's leadership with the Legacy Project, a brick-paver courtyard created at the entrance to the school.
SMYRNA — Only a few short years ago, Hunter Bullock would have never imagined he would be standing in front of Stewarts Creek High School, dedicating the results of a construction project that he had overseen from beginning to end.
As a sophomore, Hunter approached the administration about building a brick-paver courtyard at the entrance of the school. Known as the “Legacy Project,” the courtyard would be comprised of pavers sold to students and supporters who wanted to add their names forever to the budding history of the new school, which opened in August 2012.
Riverdale mourns loss of ‘Little Warrior Princess’
PHOTO / JAMES EVANS
Over the past four years, Leah Smallwood, 9, became known as ‘the little Warrior princess.’ She passed away Sunday.
Riverdale High School and the Murfreesboro community is mourning the passing of Leah Smallwood.
Over the past four years, Smallwood, 9, became known as ‘the little Warrior princess.’
In February 2012, at the age of 4, she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. Smallwood braved the fight against childhood cancer, and in 2014, when the students at Riverdale first began their annual fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, she became the inspiration for the fundraising efforts of students and faculty members.
The Riverdale Lady Warriors were undefeated this season and won their second consecutive Class AAA girl’s state basketball title.
This past basketball season was a career-year for Anastasia Hayes.
However, to hear the Riverdale High School senior talk about the season that was, it had less to do with individual accolades and everything to do with her team’s accomplishments.
The Warriors were undefeated and won their second consecutive Class AAA girl’s state basketball title with a convincing 66-59 victory over Memphis Central.
They were 34-0 and Hayes wrapped up her career at Riverdale having won 42 consecutive games. CONTINUE READING
Oakland building-trades students benefit from generous donations from local Construction Council
With considerable help from the local Murfreesboro community, Oakland has developed one of the few carpentry and construction programs for high school students in Tennessee. CONTINUE READING
Blackman hosting first High School Hiring Fair April 6
When seniors from Blackman and Holloway high schools go to school April 6, they may come home with a new job.
Through a partnership with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, Blackman is hosting the county’s first “High School Hiring Fair,” and the event will feature multiple companies and local businesses who want to meet with graduating students from both schools. CONTINUE READING
Upcoming Important Dates
Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31: Spring Break (Schools closed)
Tuesday, April 11 – Thursday, April 13: Progress reports
Friday, April 14 – Good Friday (Schools closed)
Rutherford County Schools is an award-winning school district comprised of 46 schools and more than 43,000 students. The district's mission is to empower today's students to grasp tomorrow's opportunities. Got questions? Contact Communications and Community Relations Coordinator James Evans at [email protected].
PHOTO / JAMES EVANS