To watch the GHS Fire Science video, click on the photo below.

Westmoreland High School has been named a recipient of the highly competitive Perkins Reserve Grant totaling $175,000. The grant will be used to advance machining technology including the purchase of several new pieces of equipment that are being utilized in numerous manufacturing facilities across the nation and in Sumner County. Students will have the opportunity to learn advanced skills immediately transferrable to the workforce that should increase their likelihood to obtain gainful employment.

In addition, Sumner County Schools has created a partnership with TCAT-Hartsville to offer a dual enrollment course. The new collaboration will enable WHS machining students the opportunity to earn clock hours that can be used toward a certificate or diploma at TCAT. Also, the WHS machining program plans to offer OSHA-10 and/or NIMS certifications for the first time, along with creating workforce partnerships.

“This grant opens up a vast array of opportunities for Westmoreland High School students to grow academically and become even more competitive in their future educational and career pursuits,” Sumner County Schools Supervisor of CTE and STEM, Chase Moore said. “We’ve worked really hard to develop programs that allow students to earn certifications and credentials in a variety of fields before they even graduate. This grant will help continue to strengthen and develop our CTE and STEM programs.”

The US Department of Education approved the state’s plan, Strengthening Career and Technical Education in Tennessee, which will provide $110 million over four years in federal funds to implement CTE at the K-12 and postsecondary levels in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Education also announced more than $3 million in Perkins Reserve Grants to 44 school districts for the 2020-2021 school year.

"Every student deserves the opportunity to graduate with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful, whatever pathway they choose. Tennessee’s Perkins V Plan will help our districts and education leaders expand access to high quality learning experiences for more students, like work-based learning, STEM programming, and opportunities to earn certifications and credentials even before graduating,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “By strengthening CTE in Tennessee, we are not only investing in our students—we are preparing the future workforce of our state.”

In January 2021, Westmoreland High School plans to host a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate this new partnership.

Gallatin, TN—The Tennessee Department of Education announced $30,000 in additional grants that will be awarded to Sumner County Schools to fund science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and middle school career and technical education (CTE).

Funding is provided through Governor Lee’s Future Workforce Initiative, which is aimed at increasing access to CTE and STEM in the classroom. The Middle School STEM Start-Up and CTE Career Exploration Grants build upon Tennessee Department of Education’s Best for All strategic plan to support all students exploring career paths and having access to post-secondary opportunities. In the application process, Sumner County Schools demonstrated the ability to align courses from middle school to high school, provide career guidance and advisement for students, and expand upon employer partnerships to create pathways for students.

Congratulations to the following schools that will receive $10,000 each:

* Joe Shafer Middle School; Gallatin
* Knox Doss at Drakes Creek Middle School; Hendersonville
* T.W. Hunter Middle School; Hendersonville

“We are extremely excited to receive this grant from the TDOE to support, enrich and challenge students at Shafer Middle School,” Joe Shafer Middle School Principal Thomas Oglesby said. “As we continue to build our STEM program, we hope the early exposure throughout a student’s STEM experience will enhance their chances of success in a competitive workforce and in their post-secondary options. We are thankful to TDOE and Governor Lee for their continued support for STEM in middle schools and are looking forward to what our students will learn with this new equipment.”

Specific plans were mapped out by each school during the application process. The money will pay for the proposal that was created by the school. The funds will be utilized to purchase technology and equipment including codable drones, codable robots, and iPads. Additionally, 3D printers and Glowforge laser printers will be purchased to allow students enhanced engineering and marketing exposures.

"Ensuring our students have access to high-quality STEM and career and technical education is essential to building college and career readiness, and that work really begins before a student even enters high school,” said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. “Tennessee has worked diligently to align STEM and CTE coursework to provide students with clearer pathways when transitioning from middle to high school. This is such important work to helping all our students have access to post-secondary opportunities and be put on a pathway to success.”

This semester, nine Health Science teachers in SCS participated in online training with the Anatomy in Clay Learning System. Using clay and a skeleton, students can build all the systems of the human body. This hands-on learning provides students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the body's systems, which enhances their learning. More information about Anatomy in Clay is available at their website.

Portland Health Science students completed their unit on muscular system earlier this semester in Anatomy and Physiology. Instructor Heather Kirkham says, "Anatomy in Clay has been a game-changer with learning the muscles. I can’t wait to use our mannequins with the other body systems!"

Ron Bertram's STEM class recently experienced what it was like to be a residential architect. Students had a $ 300,000 dollar budget that allowed them to buy a small 1/4-acre lot here in Sumner County. After they purchased the lot, a set of plans was developed using CAD. Building permits were issued and construction began using 1/4" inch modeling foam core. The result was a home show where "Best in Design" received $50 dollars for their efforts. A local contractor participated in the evaluation process. Several of these students are already looking into architecture as a future career. The 2020 winner was Brenna Kingsolver. Congratulations Brenna!

On November 14, CTE students from Hendersonville High School competed in the Music City BEST Robotics Competition. This year's theme was "Outbreak: Adjusting to the Threat." HHS won 1st place in the Outbreak Competition, 2nd place for the BEST Award, and HHS teacher Jeff Wilkins received Teacher of the Year. A video of the winning run by HHS can be seen below.

Students from the Machining class at GHS helped create the logos placed on the gates at the new entrance to the GHS football stadium. Great work students!!

This year, GHS FCCLA hosted its 3rd annual Hopesgiving event. In the past FCCLA has provided a Thanksgiving dinner, games and toys for the foster children of Sumner County. Due to COVID, they were not able to hold a dinner, but instead gave gift baskets to 30 foster families (44 children in all). GHS FCCLA held a school-wide adopt a family competition through third block classes where it was suggested that each class donate a $50 supermarket gift card and an age-appropriate gift for the adopted family. The two top classes, who raised over $250 each, received a pizza party. GHS, as usual, went above and beyond. GHS FCCLA provided 30 food baskets, $3,325 in gift cards, and over 150 toys/items to the foster families of Sumner County.

FCCLA students at HHS created Thanksgiving cards for a group of medical workers at Skyline Medical Center.

Students in Ms. Vincent's Health Science class learning about different types of injuries and skin conditions and practicing moulage.

White House FFA members recently competed in a Sumner County horse judging contest held at Broken Spur Ranch in Cottontown. White House team A placed 1st, team C placed 2nd, and team B placed 8th. Ashley Staley captured top individual scorer while Mary Niblett placed 4th and Emma Atkinson placed 8th. Team A members were Ashley Staley, Mary Niblett, Kolvin Oaks, and Kenzie Lane. Team C members were Emma Atkinson, Joseph Thompson, Cain Michael, and Chase Singleton. Team B members were Baliegh McCabe, Allie Nelson, Jackson Sutton, and Jillian Haley. The contest required the contestants to rank five classes of Tennessee Walking Horses, Western Pleasure, and Hunter Under Saddle. The official judge for the event was Jeff Hester, Sumner County Extension Agent.

Pictured below with the White House FFA teams are hosts of the event, Chelsea Dowdy of Broken Spur Ranch and Jill Dowdy of Liberty Run Stables.

Mason Bradley, Anysa Dodson, Andrew Elrod, and Tyler Hodges all received their American FFA Degrees earlier this semester at the Virtual National FFA Convention.

Middle Technical College High School (MTCHS) is located in Portland and is open to all juniors and seniors in Sumner County Schools. Click on the picture below to watch a video on each of the programs at MTCHS. Thank you to Kristopher Freeman and White House BDP for producing the video.