2019 Blaze Bulletin
Week of April 22nd - Edition 58
Dear teachers/staff,
As we get to the end of the year, and especially this Teacher Appreciation Week, my reflections focus on teachers.
Great teachers are kind and compassionate. They show this to students, parents, and colleagues. They love all the children - and especially the ones that are hard to love. They are willing to have tough conversations with people - out of love and concern. They take the time to teach more than content - they teach values and character. They are willing to "not be heard" but forge ahead anyway.
You are great teachers. It's my privilege to work among you.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.
Go Blaze!
#weloveournursed
-lj
BLACKMAN PRISON
In the fall of 2000 Blackman High School opened with great anticipation under the leadership of Dr. Gary Nixon. Blackman was going to be the first new high school in Murfreesboro since the splitting of Murfreesboro Central High school into Oakland and Riverdale, and students and parents were eagerly awaiting the opening.
Many students were given the option to attend the new school with lots of others being zoned and required to attend Blackman. So, you had a student body with many mixed feelings about the new school. Administration wanted to set guidelines quickly and show what made the new “Blackman” High School different. Setting standards and rules are a big part of any school, but many of its new student body saw it as “overbearing” and “jail-like”. Tension could be felt throughout the beginning of the year as students and teachers were getting used to their new surroundings. Students hated the rules so much they made senior shirts in orange with Blackman Penitentiary on them.
During a football pep rally administration offered the new student body an olive branch in the form of faculty t-shirts. As student entered the gym to begin the pep rally students couldn’t see the shirts the faculty was wearing. The faculty came out to the floor for their dance and pulled off their shirts to show navy blue tees with only two words in orange on the back. “Correctional Officer”. The students LOVED it! They saw it as the faculty acknowledging the “jail-like” atmosphere and the faculty thought of it as a “yeah, we are tough, but it will make you better” message. With the student body now in a frenzy over the faculty shirts, attention was then given to Dr. Nixon as he walked out on the gym floor wearing a jacket. With a quick removal of the jacket, Dr. Nixon revealed his shirt with the words “Warden” on the back. No matter what school they had attended in the past, they knew at that point we were all “BLACKMAN”.
--as submitted by Kevin Meadows (with help from Cortney Meadows)
BHS DIVERSIFIED DEBUT!
A SWEET SENIOR SEND-OFF FROM OUR BHS CAFETERIA STAFF
A TEACHER LUNCHEON BY BHS CULINARY
A TEACHER TREAT FROM NEW VISION
CHAIR MASSAGES - COURTESY OF GEORGIA CAREER INSTITUTE
DONUT DELIVERY FROM THE ARMY
Happy Nurse's Week to Nurse D.
A SPECIAL LUNCHEON FOR OUR BHS CUSTODIANS
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Counselor Corner
A-D Counselor: Mrs. Charlie Borel, E-K Counselor: Ms. Christine Bryan, L-R Counselor: Mrs. Shannon Barber, S-Z Interim Counselor: Mrs. Elaine Allen, College and Crisis Counselor: Mrs. JoJo Breiner, Graduation Coach: Mrs. Kim Garrott, Counseling Secretary/Registrar: Mrs. Marina Sadler, Counseling Clerk: Mrs. Carole Kasbee
*Please let us know about any seniors you’re concerned about.
*Note from our Graduation Coach, Kim Garrott - Teachers, this is the time of the year where we must have hard conversations about student failing for the year and sometimes seniors possibly not graduating. Just a reminder—the first call home about a student failing your class needs to come from you. During this call, please let them know what they need to make during this last quarter and semester to pass for the year. This is especially important for our seniors! Once you’ve made the call, please let that student’s counselor and me (the Grad Coach) know that you’ve made contact. Thank you for much for what you do and how hard you work!
*The deadline to apply for the Dual Enrollment grant is May 15!
*We have Summer School forms in Counseling Office. Registration Dates for Summer School are: May 28, 4-7pm and May 29, 1-4pm. Students are welcome to come see their counselor for a registration form.
We are so thankful to be part of this team! Go Blaze!
SPED TIPS
Summer 2019: Special Education Mini-Conferences - 7/26/19 Nashville
The SPED department is offering regional mini-conferences in summer 2019 that will provide participants with an overview of various special education related topics. Topic strands for each mini-conference were chosen based on regional feedback. You may choose any three sessions throughout the day and do not have to stick to a particular strand. The mini-conferences are expected to reach capacity, so please register at your earliest convenience!
Contact Blake.Shearer@tn.gov with questions.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
As of May 10, SchoolStation will no longer be the program the district uses for professional development sign-ups, records, etc. The new program, Performance Matters, will launch Monday, May 13.
As a result, we all need to complete a brief training session during the week of exams. We'll meet in the Library Research Computer Lab during your planning period on May 21-24. It will take 15 minutes at the most. In the meantime, if you need to register for a PD session and need help logging in, feel free to contact Mr. Smith or Mrs. Price. We'll be glad to help!
ESL TIDBITS
Article Submitted by: Evelyn Heckman and Anoulom Phimphivong
EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS
- May 29 (2 hour day)
Please keep in mind that if you are absent on an early dismissal day, you will only require a sub until 12:00 pm., but your absence will be for a whole day!
CONGRATS TO OUR GRADS!!!
THE FIRST GAME ON THE OUR NEW BLAZE FOOTBALL FIELD
THE FIRST TOUCH-DOWN ON OUR NEW BLAZE FOOTBALL FIELD
FILLING THE INFERNO FOR OUR FIRST GAME ON OUR NEW FIELD
BE A PART OF BLACKMAN'S HISTORY AND FUTURE...
REMINDER ABOUT WORK ORDERS...
Send maintenance work orders to BHSMAINT@rcschools.net
BHS SPIRIT SHOPPING
Blackman High School Spirit Wear website has a direct link available on the BHS home page.
Shop to support our school and enjoy a an amazing discount this month!
GO BLAZE!!
COURTNEY MEADOWS GUESSED IT...THIS LITTLE ONE IS KELLI BREWER!!!
Let's play who is that? HIGH SCHOOL YEARS REVISITED....
Send Mrs. Brewer a high school or younger days picture (teacher & staff) to be featured in the bulletin. Be the first to email your answer and win a prize!!!! brewerk@rcschools.net
In the know....
Follow Dr. Justus on Twitter @bhsjustus
Sign up for Remind by texting @ljustus to 81010
SEND US YOUR NEWS!!!
MAY BIRTHDAYS
May 01 - Justin Cunningham
May 08 - Amy Griffin
May 12 - Lori Brown
May 15 - Alex Trakas
May 15 - Dana Fessler
May 15 - Kari Bills- Sneed
May 21 - Kim Garrott
May 21 - Chelsey Case
May 22 - Shelley DelaCruz
May 26 - Jennifer Stockard
May 28 - Brenda Monson
May 28 - Callie Smith