Blaze Bulletin
Edition 25 - Week of March 14th
Greetings...
Dear teachers,
Can I just say thank you!? You have been so supportive of each other, and it doesn't go unnoticed. The turnout for the sub-state basketball game was amazing - it was fun to see ALL of our clubs/sports/activities highlighted that night. Thank you, Barry Wortman, for wanting to share this moment with the whole school. We ARE Blackman! Also, the turnout for Freshman Orientation was outstanding. Your club/sport/activity tables were well done, and I heard many, many positive comments about how much we have going on. I know for a fact the class of '20 is excited to be coming to BHS!
Please have a restful weekend. Hopefully, we'll start our testing next week (pending the tests actually arriving??). Anyway, Joy Wilson is working on the pizza and cinnamon rolls and jean's week for your support of United Way, so we have something to look forward to soon (in addition to Spring Break)!
Dr. Leisa Justus
Principal, Blackman High School
615-904-3850
@bhsjustus
MARCH 15TH - NEW TO BHS TEACHER MEETING AT 7:45 AM IN THE MEDIA CENTER
Schoolstation
o All inservice hours must be submitted by May 13th. Remember to monitor your professional development report. Please notify the PD Center (ext. 22073) for inaccuracies.
o Your inservice FOCUS this year is the content area you teach in. You must complete a 2 hour session in your area: Elementary (CE), Middle (CM), and Secondary (CS).
o An Independent In service form must be completed for all in services not posted on
Schoolstation. The form can be found on the front page of Schoolstation at the bottom of the
purple scheduler box and needs to be completed 10 days before date of request.
o Register for in services below on Schoolstation. You can also check for alternate times and locations for titles below.
MUST READ.....
Early Release Day 4/7 - All teachers will be needed to help with the following activities:
Seniors – On My Own Program hosted by Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce (Main Gym and Aux Gym)
Juniors – Pre-code for the ACT and then take math & science sections of the practice ACT.
Sophomores – Practice ACT (math, science & reading sections) - for each section of the ACT, students will have an answer sheet. They will need to write the content teacher’s name at the top of each section’s answer sheet (For example: The student’s math answer sheet will need their math teacher’s name at the top). Answer sheets will be graded and returned that afternoon.
BCA sophomores will be on a field trip to MTSU.
Freshman – Practice ACT (math, science & reading sections) - for each section of the ACT, students will have an answer sheet. They will need to write the content teacher’s name at the top of each section’s answer sheet (For example: The student’s math answer sheet will need their math teacher’s name at the top). Answer sheets will be graded and returned that afternoon.
BHS ACT Test Day 4/19 – All teachers will be needed to help with the following activities:
Seniors – They have three options: Participate in a job shadow day (see Mrs. Noffsinger for details), take the ASVAB exam (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) or take the practice ACT.
Juniors – ACT at BHS (They will have the opportunity to leave school when the test is completed)
Sophomores – Practice ACT (math, science & reading sections) - for each section of the ACT, students will have an answer sheet. They will need to write the content teacher’s name at the top of each section’s answer sheet (For example: The student’s math answer sheet will need their math teacher’s name at the top). Answer sheets will be graded and returned that afternoon.
Freshman – Practice ACT/STEM Summit program hosted by Jr. Achievement (in the morning 1/2 half of the freshman class will attend the STEM program and the other half will take the practice ACT in the afternoon the groups will switch). The two groups will swap during 4th period. (This is subject to change)
Se-Ya Authors Event
Authors Colette Ballard (Running on Empty) , Helene Dunbar (These Gentle Wounds, and Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits) from the Se-Ya in the Boro Young Adult Book Fest came to speak (for Free!) to several classes and the Book Club on Thursday, March 10th. We also had a successful Books-A-Million Book Fair that sold over $2,000! These were amazing events, and events like these continue to create a positive culture in our school. Thank you to all of the teachers and staff who helped this week!
-Misti Jenkins & Brian Seadorf
Calling all talent....FACULTY TALENT SHOW!
The faculty talent show takes place during senior week, which will be the last week of April. The show includes a variety of musical, comedy, and dance acts that are performed in a show exclusively for the seniors. We have a lot of talent on this staff, but even if you don't have "talent," you can still be a part if you just want to be silly. :)
Start brainstorming and getting your acts together. The show is always a hoot! You don't want to miss being a part of this fun and memorable event. The seniors get such a kick out of seeing their teachers on stage!
Email me your ideas and tentative plans. If you would like to participate but don't have an idea or group. let me know and we'll find a spot for you.
Tech Minute
Watch this week's instructional technology minute highlighting Word 2013 Reference Tab. The References tab in Microsoft Word 2013 enables you to insert citations and create your Works Cited page in your documents.
Would you like to watch more Tech Minute videos? Go to your email > Click on the Waffle in the upper left hand corner > Video > Channels > Technology Minute.
Shut Down Computers Every Day
Please shut down all computers every day before you leave. If you don’t shut down your computer each day, you can temporarily lose access to network drives (teacher apps, your h drive, etc.) and network printers. If this happens, restart your computer. Thank you!
SPAM Alert--Never Give Anyone the Right to Have Remote Access to Your Computer
There have been spam emails being sent by people who intend to do harm to your computer or your account. If an email looks suspicious, move it to your Junk Email folder. You can also forward it to Holly Hunter if you would like. Do not reply to the email and never give anyone the right to have remote access to control your computer.
Computer Labs
Take advantage of the new laptop lab or the new computers in our computer labs. Sign up by emailing Holly. You can view the lab calendar by going to the BHS website > Teacher Resources > Computer Lab Calendar. Or, click herehttp://www.bhs.rcschools.net/bhs/html/labs.html
Save the Date: Teach Ready Conference May 31-June 1
The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and Rutherford Works program is once again hosting a conference this summer to help teachers utilize technology and STEM in the classroom. The 2016 Teach Ready Conference will be held May 31-June 1 at Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro. This conference will take the place of the RCS Tech Academy this year. Teachers will earn in-service hours for successfully completing the conference.
SAVE THE DATE....
April 29th, 2016
MTSU Grand Ballroom8:00 P.M. to Midnight
Junior/Senior sponsors will be asked to chaperone in small increments.
All teachers should sign-up for either Prom or Graduation
Surprise Disaster Drill Week...
WEEK OF APRIL 4TH
Teacher Spotlight....Misti Jenkins
I'm not from Murfreesboro, but I am from Middle Tennessee! I was raised in Joelton, the small town just north of Nashville that is the reason Metro closes for snow on snow days. I graduated from Hume-Fogg in 1999 and went to college at Free Will Baptist Bible College (now called Welch College) in Nashville. I graduated with a BS in Bible and English Education. I received my Master's in Library and Information Sciences from Trevecca in 2005. I taught English I and II at Overton High School (Metro) for six years before working as a librarian there for five years. I came to BHS two years ago. I made the switch to Rutherford County after having different breaks and snow days than my children during their year of kindergarten; it has been a great move for me!
My husband, Gene, works at Mars Petcare in Franklin. (Did you know Mars and Nestle are the two largest competitors in dog food? Weird!) My twin sons are seven years old and attend BES. We just moved to the Berkshire neighborhood at Thanksgiving. My mother died two years ago, so we bought a larger house so my dad could move in with us. It is going well so far!
I like reading books by Jane Austen, going on walks around the neighborhood (with Christine Bryan), watching hockey (with Joy Wilson), and laughing loudly in the library (with Brian Seadorf, Holly Hunter, Michelle Villarreal, and others who swing by on occasion). I am currently very busy working for Tennessee's school librarians as the President-Elect/Conference Chair of the Tennessee Association of School Librarians. I may also lose my mind being the Team Mom for the 7/8 Royals of the Smyrna Baseball League this season.
Teacher Spotlight....Gerald Patton
BHS Choral Director / General Music Instructor
Hometown Lebanon TN
Oldest child of three (one deceased)
B.Mus. Middle TN State University
M.Mus. Austin Peay State University
18th year teaching
Taught at Walter Hill Elem for 2 years
Came to Blackman in 2000 when school opened
Hobbies: music, playing cards, travelling
Also: a worship leader at a church in Lebanon, for past 10 summers artistic director for a summer arts camp for at risk students
2016-2018 choral chair for the state of TN
Secret addiction: I am addicted to toothpicks. Sometimes I forget to spit it out before I start teaching!
Teacher Spotlight....Joy Wilson
Joy Wilson, graduated with a BS in Mathematics from Harding University. I also have a MS in Science in Mathematics from MTSU. I am a huge sports fan who loves to read everything I can get my hands on with a particular love of epic fantasy and biographies. I have been a Cubs fan forever and am a season ticket holder for the Predators. I cross-stitch and play video games in my small amounts of free time. I have studied abroad while in college and was able to see the original Dream Team at the Barcelona olympics during the summer I spent in Europe. I was a chaperone on a senior trip getting off the bus to enter the Capitol building on 9/11. We drove past the pentagon while it was burning and I will remember that mental picture forever. Both of my parents are Dr. Wilson. My dad is a professor of chemistry and does many research grants for NASA. My mom is recently retired from being the FCS department chair at Harding (she has done that job for 39 years). We take a 2-3 week family vacation driving all over the US every summer. I read for AP Physics currently and have taught all the AP math and physics courses off and on for the last 14 years. I used to coach basketball and softball and although I miss it, my teaching comes first at this point. I love teaching and working with young people.
Picture Date & Location
April 13 - Junior Orientation with Loveless - Auditorium - Prime Time
SOMETHING TO SHARE....
SAVE THE DATES...
Graduation Practice - May 18, Wednesday, 9-11 am
Graduation - May 21, Saturday, 10 am
All teachers should sign-up for either Prom or Graduation
Congratulations Ms. McDowell & Ms. Brewer....Staff of the Month
Invitation from Carson-Newman University
Information Meetings:
Pittard Elementary
745 DeJarnette Lane, Murfreesboro
Wednesday, 3/16/2016 at 3:30 PM or 4:30 PM
- OR -
Coffee County Schools Central Office
1343 McArthur Street, Manchester
Thursday, 3/17/2016 at 3:30 PM or 4:30 PM
To RSVP or for more information, please call (800) 956-8903 or email mjohnson@graduateprogram.org.
Programs Offered:
- Principal License w/ Master's
- Curriculum & Instruction Master's
- Reading Specialist w/ Master's
- Special Education Master's
- Coaching (Athletics) Master's
- Teaching English as a Second Language Master's
- Educational Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) (online only - begins August 2016)
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) (online only - begins August 2016)
Coordinator, Off-Campus Programs
Carson-Newman University
Spa Day Sessions at BHS!
An act of kindness.....
BLACKMAN VOICE....
SEND US YOUR NEWS!!!
March Birthdays
March 12th – Chef Pinnix
March 14th - Ms. Holl - Mr. Rehnborg - Ms. Windham