BCA October Newsletter
2018
The vision of the Collegiate Academy at Blackman High School is to create a challenging learning environment with a rigorous course of study where students can become well-rounded scholars who fulfill their potential as they transition from high school to post-secondary opportunities.
MTSU Senior Field Trip
The BCA Seniors traveled to MTSU on September 11th for an amazing field trip. Students attended sessions where professors presented on topics including aerospace, geosciences, agriculture, chemistry, MTeach, real estate, expository writing, foreign languages, advanced composition, concrete management, philosophy and religion, fine arts, engineering technology and many more areas of study. Students ate at the Student Union and enjoyed a day in the life of a college student!
2018 BCA Pinning Ceremony
The purpose of the BCA Pinning Ceremony is to acknowledge our BCA students who completed one full year or more in the BCA program. Along with being pinned, our senior BCA members presented their research topics.
Congratulations Keagan Hemsley!!!
Every October, about 1.6 million juniors across the country take the PSAT. Those who score in the top 1% achieve the distinction of National Merit Semifinalist. Being named a National Merit Semifinalist is a huge achievement along the path to college. We could not be more proud of our very own Keagan! Way to go!!!
Youth Leadership Rutherford
BCA Scholarship Opportunities!
Class of 2019 BCA students will have the opportunity to apply for two scholarships:
- BHS will award one $500 scholarship to an outstanding BCA student.
- MTSU will award one $500 scholarship to an outstanding BCA student enrolling in MTSU.
- Applications and deadlines: to be announced.
PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARD
AND THE WINNER IS...
Thank you Coach Bray for your support of BCA. Coach Bray is the winner of the Ed Sherran concert tickets!
MTSU Student ID
All BCA and DE students should have received their MTSU ID last week. Below are just a few advantages our students are granted with their new ID!
- Access to all campus events (performances, free admission to athletic events)
- Access to the MTSU Campus Recreation Center
- Access to the James E. Walker Library
- Discounts at various locations in Murfreesboro/Rutherford County
- Orientation for students taking courses on campus
- MTSU tutoring at http://www.mtsu.edu/studentsuccess/tutoring.php.
- Access to the MTSU Writing Center
- Access to The Albert Gore Sr. Research Center collections
BCA Parent Organization Corner
The BCAPO is a parent group whose goal is to support BCA students and teachers. It is free to join and all BCA parents are encouraged to check us out! We meet once a month and decide on ways we can support the BCA.
Please use this link or phone directions to become a member.
https://www.remind.com/join/3gbh2k
Send your name, student’s name and email address. You will then be added to the BCAPO member’s list where you will have opportunities to serve.
We will host a booth at Blaze Bash on Oct. 12th to raise scholarship money. Donations of Little Debbie Snack Cakes and Kool-Aid Bursts are needed! Please donate a box or two of your student’s favorite kind. We will sell them for $1 so keep that in mind when selecting the size. All flavors of Kool-Aid Bursts are needed.
A sign-up genius will be sent to BCAPO members for volunteers to work the booth as well as help with set-up and clean-up.
Donations can be dropped off anytime in the front office for Mr. Reed.
Our next meeting will be Oct. 8th at 6:30PM in the Media Center.
MEETING NOTICE...
Special Called Board Meetings on the Proposed Zoning for Rockvale High School and Rocky Fork Elementary School to be held at the following schools:
Blackman High School October 25, 2018 6:30 P.M.
Siegel High School November 8, 2018 6:30 P.M.
Stewarts Creek High School December 3, 2018 6:30 P.M.
PSAT: Oct. 24th
The PSAT will be given on Wednesday, Oct. 24th to freshmen, sophomores and juniors who sign up. Taking the PSAT as a junior is the only way to qualify to be a National Merit Finalist or Semi-finalist. The cost is $17. Payment can be made to Mrs. Sadler in the Counseling office starting Sept. 24th through October 17th (check or exact cash). Checks can be made out to Blackman High School. There are a limited number of PSAT testing slots available on a first come, first served basis, so be sure to make your payment as soon as possible.
Students can pick up study materials from Mrs. Sadler when they sign up and submit payment. A prep course will be offered before and/or after school before the test. Stay tuned for more details. All students who are taking the test are invited.
OCTOBER 16!!!
Sophomores/Juniors- will be taking a practice ACT. Feedback will be provided.
Freshman - will be taking a Career Interest/Aptitude Test. Feedback will be provided.
Tuesday, Oct 16, 2018, 08:15 AM
Blackman High School, Blaze Drive, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
ACT Dates
September 8, 2018
October 27, 2018
December 8, 2018
February 9, 2019
April 13, 2019
June 8, 2019
July 13, 2019
Register online at actstudent.org. The Blackman High School code is 431636.
A Conversation with Speaker Series...
On Thursday, September 20th, we had the opportunity to enjoy Mr. Seadorf and Emoni Wilkins talk about Emoni's journey! Emoni is a Chicago-born vocalist and has made a name for herself in Nashville as a singer who can deliver a wide range of styles and material. She is also a part of NBC's The Sing OFF Season 4 Alumni!
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
10:00AM-11:00AM
Jeff Zentner
Author "The Serpent King"
http://www.jeffzentnerbooks.com/
Our October 30th Speaker Series "A Conversation With..." guest will be author Jeff Zentner (This event will be occurring during Blaze Library's Books-A-Million Book Fair October 29-31).
Jeff Zentner is the author of New York Times Notable Book The Serpent King as well as Goodbye Days. His third book, Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee is forthcoming in February 2019. He is the winner of the William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award, the International Literacy Association Award, and the Westchester Fiction Award. His books have been nominated and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and he has been a finalist for the Indies Choice Award and the Southern Book Prize, and been named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start.
Jeff lives in Nashville, Tennessee. He came to writing through music, starting his creative life as a guitarist and eventually becoming a songwriter. He’s released five albums and appeared on recordings with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Warren Ellis, Thurston Moore, Debbie Harry, Mark Lanegan, and Lydia Lunch, among others.
He became interested in writing for young adults after volunteering at the Tennessee Teen Rock Camp and Southern Girls Rock Camp. As a kid, his parents would take him to the library and drop him off, where he would read until closing time. He worked at various bookstores through high school and college.
He speaks fluent Portuguese, having lived in the Amazon region of Brazil for two years.
Visit him at his website http://www.jeffzentnerbooks.com/
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
10:00AM-11:00AM
David Price
Boston Red Sox pitcher/Blackman High Alumnus
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
10:00AM-11:00AM
Lynda R. Williams
Professor - Criminal Justice Administration
Middle Tennessee State University
28 Year Veteran of the United States Secret Service
Thursday, March 21, 2019
10:00AM-11:00AM
David Cicotello
English Professor at Motlow State Community College
Survived 6 Days in remote Utah
http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=51454680&itype=cmsid
FAFSA Frenzy at BHS!
- Eric Farmer from Tennessee Student Assistance will be at Blackman Tuesday, January 15 from 9-1pm and 5-7pm to help our senior students and parents of seniors complete their FAFSA. The library computer lab has been reserved.
- FAFSA opens October 1, 2018 and closes February 1, 2019
The Capstone Symposium has been scheduled!
The Gallery Walk (now called the Capstone Symposium) will be February 7th at 6:00 in the High School cafeteria.
Parent Cluster Meeting!
SMYRNA Cluster Town Hall meeting for parents is schedule for October 22, 2018 at 5:30pm in the Smyrna High School Gym.
Director of Schools Bill Spurlock will host a Town Hall meeting for parents in the Smyrna cluster. The meeting is intended for those parents with children in Smyrna High School, Smyrna Middle School, Smyrna Elementary School, Smyrna Primary School, John Colemon Elementary School, Thurman Francis Arts Academy, Stewartsboro Elementary School and Smyrna West Alternative School. Director Spurlock will address several topics about education initiatives and needs in Rutherford County and gather feedback from parents. Director Spurlock is planning similar meetings for all school clusters this year.
Blackman Cluster - November 12, 2018
- Blackman High School
- Blackman Middle School
- Blackman Elementary School
- Brown's Chapel Elementary School
Siegel Cluster - December 10, 2018
- Siegel High School
- Siegel Middle School
- Walter Hill Elementary School
- Wilson Elementary School
Riverdale Cluster - January 2019
- Riverdale High School
- Barfield Elementary School
- Christiana Elementary School
- Christiana Middle School
- Buchanana Elementary School
- Whitworth-Buchanan School
Oakland Cluster - February 2019
- Oakland High School
- Oakland Middle School
- Kittrell Elementary School
- Lascassas Elementary School
Choice Schools - March 2019
- Central Magnet School
- Holloway High School
- Homer Pittard Campus School
- McFadden School of Excellence
- Daniel-McKee Alternative School
Rockvale Cluster - May 2019
- Rockvale High School
- Rockvale Middle School
- Rockvale Elementary School
- Eagleville School
Upcoming Yard Sign Fundraiser!
Fire Safety Announcement!
Life Experience
Students must complete 40 hours of real-life experience in the area of his/her major. The experience must be approved by the faculty board. This experience can be completed any year but must be completed by April of the senior year. The experience may or may not be a part of the student’s senior research project. The experience should be meaningful and provide insight into the field of study the student is interested in. If you have already completed one of these classes in school please circle it on the form and write what year you took it.
· Blaze Bank
· Sketch it Up
· Blaze Bookstore
· The greenhouse
· IT Clinical classes
· Film/TV station work
· Supervised Agriculture Experience
· Culinary Café
· Health Sciences clinical
· Pre-school work
· Work based learning
· School fine arts performances
· Yearbook
· Newspaper
· ROTC
Students can come by Mrs. Noffsinger's room in D-1 to get a form or print one off of the BCA website. Forms should be turned in to Mrs. Noffsinger in D-1 or put in her mailbox.
Report Extra-Curricular Activity Hours Online
BCA Courses
- Freshmen: Honors English I, Honors Biology, and Honors World History or AP Human Geography (must be enrolled in at least 2)
- Sophomores: Honors English II, Honors Algebra II or Advanced Honors Geometry, and Honors Chemistry (must be enrolled in at least 2)
- Juniors: AP English III, AP U.S. History or Dual Enrollment U.S. History, and Speech or Critical Thinking (These are recommendations but not required. Speech and critical thinking are highly recommended junior year before capstone.)
- Seniors: Speech or Critical Thinking (if not already taken) and Capstone
Blackman Collegiate Academy Standards
Blackman Collegiate Academy Academic Standards
All Collegiate Academy students are expected to lead the BHS student body in academics. Any student whose grade falls below a C or whose GPA falls below a 3.0 will be placed on Academic Watch for a semester. During this time, students are expected to raise their grades accordingly. If students do not follow through with the academic expectations, the student will be placed on Academic Probation. At the end of the probationary semester, your membership will be reassessed. If the reason for the probation has been corrected, you will be reinstated as a member in good standing. If the reason for the probation has not been corrected, you will be dismissed from the Collegiate Academy. If you are on probation more than once or in more than one area (academics, extra-curricular, discipline) then you will be dismissed from the Collegiate Academy.
Blackman Collegiate Academy Behavior Standards
Students in the Collegiate Academy are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with Blackman High School’s Student Code of Conduct. Violations of the Code of Conduct, in which disciplinary action is taken by BHS administration, will result in a minimum of one semester of Disciplinary Probation. This includes violations of dress code and cell phone use which receive ISS. At the end of the probationary semester, your membership will be reassessed by the faculty Discipline Council. If there have not been any additional violations of the Student Code of Conduct resulting in disciplinary action, you will be reinstated as a member in good standing. If additional violations of the Student Code of Conduct resulting in disciplinary action have occurred, you will be dismissed from the Collegiate Academy.
Blackman Collegiate Academy Extra Curricular Standards
Students in the Collegiate Academy are expected to complete 20 extra-curricular hours each year. These can be acquired through clubs, athletics, and/or community service here at Blackman High School. Five out of the twenty required hours may be obtained from off-campus sources (church, volunteer organizations, non-profits, etc.) with approval from Mr. Green. If a student fails to meet the extra-curricular expectations, he or she will be placed on one semester of Probation. At the end of the probationary semester, your membership will be reassessed. If there have not been any additional violations and the extra-curricular requirements have been satisfied, you will be reinstated as a member in good standing. If the extra-curricular requirements have not been met, you will be dismissed from the Collegiate Academy. Seniors should have their hours completed, reported and inserted into their Capstone Portfolio by the due date of the last portfolio check (Fall Semester).
Blackman Collegiate Academy Events Attendance Standards
Students in the Collegiate Academy are expected to attend the following:
- 4 Speaker Series per year. These are held during Impact once a month.
- BCA Day at MTSU – These are throughout the school year. Dates for each grade level will be posted in the BCA Newsletter.
- Attend 2 of the following events-
- BCA Kickoff Cookout which is held one week before school resumes.
- BCA Pinning Ceremony is held in the fall and mandatory for Seniors and Sophomores.
- BCA Capstone Symposium – showcase of Senior BCA projects. Mandatory for Seniors and Juniors.
If a student fails to meet the events attendance expectations, he or she will be placed on one semester of probation. At the end of the probationary semester, your membership will be reassessed. If there have not been any additional violations and the events requirements have been satisfied, you will be reinstated as a member in good standing. If the events requirements have not been met, you will be dismissed from the Collegiate Academy.
Any student placed on probation will receive a written notice of probation, and parents will be notified. If the probation is caused by a disciplinary infraction, the student will have a disciplinary hearing to assess the infraction and the appropriate consequence.
Do You Have News?
Do you have BCA questions? Here’s who to contact:
- Extra Curricular - Mr. Green: greenk@rcschools.net
- Life-Experience - Mrs. Noffsinger: noffsingerj@rcschools.net
- Research - Mrs. Jones: jonesre@rcschools.net
- Speaker Series - Mr. Seadorf: seadorfb@rcschools.net
- Academics - Mrs. Waite waitej@rcschools.net
- Communications - Mrs. Clawson: clawsons@rcschools.net
- Events/recognition - Mrs. Dabney: dabneyh@rcschools.net
- Capstone - Mrs. Baumann - baumannk@rcschools.net
- Dual Enrollment - Mrs. Barber - barbers@rcschools.net
- Admissions- Ms. Bryan - bryanc@rcschools.net
- Parent Organization - Kristie Farrington - farringtonk@rcschools.net
- General information - Mr. Reed: reedk@rcschools.net