Education

Beth Keele’s first graders at Thomas Magnet School attended the live musical play “The Magic School Bus Lost in Space” on Wednesday at Tucker Theatre on the Middle Tennessee State University campus. The play is promoted by the state to improve literacy. MTSU Women’s Basketball Coach Rick Insell, former Shelbyville Central High School Eaglette head coach, and staff helped out by allowing students to eat lunch in Murphy Center. The coaching staff gave each first grader a T-shirt and MTSU basketball team posters and introduced the students to an MTSU player. Teachers said a wonderful time was had by all, including Insell’s granddaughter, Caroline Insell. (Submitted photo)

Bedford County Board of Education held a study session Monday night at the Central Office board room to review and discuss updates to the school system's 2013-2018 Strategic Plan. The school board's initiative is to develop, update and quickly move forward -- all with academic fruitfulness. The next study session is planned for 5 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Central Office board room...

A new agreement between Motlow State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville will make it easier for students in TCAT's administrative office technology program to transfer their credits to Motlow in pursuit of an associate's degree...

Cascade Elementary School has announced its Titan Transfer Students of the Month for October. Each grade, related arts, and special education classes chooses a student each month who exemplifies the school’s values. Front row, from left: Jayden Zarate Naranjo, Avarie Davis, Katelyn Sanborn, Malaki Tyre, Aiden Gipson. Back row: assistant principal Robin Ayers, Anne Marie Beard, Rylee Belfield, Jacob Floyd, and Donna Mooney of Titan Transfer. (Submitted photo)

Samantha Skinner, a student at Community Middle School, is one of more than 500 elementary, junior high and high school cheerleaders and dancers who will represent Varsity Spirit in the Thanksgiving Day Parade at Walt Disney World resort in Florida...

The pop culture stereotype of high school involves various cliques -- athletes, top students, the "cool kids" and various scattered outsiders. But a new program at Shelbyville Central High School aims to change the school's culture with a message of unity and inclusiveness, one which participants hope will lead to greater success for each individual student...

There were no cell phones or radios in buses 37 years ago when Freda Alford began driving special needs children to school. The pay was low. Winter mornings were vicious...

Family Academic Support Team (FAST) held its first meeting in September at Eakin Elementary School, with 75 percent of kindergarten parents attending. "We were just ecstatic . . proud," said Connie Banks, literacy coordinator and organizer of the recent meeting...

The Tennessee State University National Alumni Association will hold a holiday luncheon 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center, 147 Hospitality Blvd. in Manchester. James Shaw Jr., hailed as a hero for disarming the gunman at the Waffle House shooting in Antioch in April, will be the guest speaker...

The Shining Stars program made a donation to Bedford County Schools vision teacher Pam Feldhaus, third from left, to assist students with vision problems in Bedford County. Making the presentation are Shining Stars volunteers Evie Winfrey, Mary-Alice Shavers and Seth Countess. (Submitted photo)

Twenty-five years ago this January, Community High School's Smokestack Theatre Group produced its first show, Frederick Knott's thriller, Wait Until Dark. To celebrate the milestone, the group will revive the show Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the school. Admission is $5 at the door...

Community School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) held a "Socktober" drive last month for Clothe Our Kids of Bedford County. The club collected more than 400 pair of socks for distribution by Clothe Our Kids, a ministry originally founded by Shiloh United Methodist Church. ...

Cascade High School Marching Band, under the direction of David Lucich, capped off a hugely-successful competition season by placing third overall at the Division 1 State Championship on Saturday. (Submitted photo)

Cal Turner Jr., former CEO and chairman of Dollar General Corp. and author of "My Father's Business: The Small Town Values That Built Dollar General Into a Billion Dollar Company," will be the next guest in the 2018-2019 Follin Speaker Series at The Webb School. The presentation is set for 2:20 p.m. Monday in the Follin Chapel. The event is free and open to the public...

There is a painted mural with handprints outside Community Elementary School Principal Whitney Yoes' office. She says it keeps her grounded. If that's not enough, there's the following quote behind her desk: "The kids who need the most love will ask for it in the most unloving ways."...

Principal's List: A Honor Roll Fifth Grade, Ella R. Allen, Laura J. Bennett, Carlie Jo L. Comstock, Caroline L. Cook, Robert A. Cook, Allison G. Farris, Trenton A. Giel, Daniela L. Jara, Tanner W. Johnson, Adelyn E. Jones, Wyatt J. Petelle, Chere' N. Potts, Caleb M. Smith, Henry G. Stone, Tristan L. Whitley, Kaegan L. Young...

The Webb School recently announced its A and B honor rolls for the first quarter of the 2018-2019 school year. An independent college preparatory day/boarding school for grades 6-12, The Webb School is the oldest continuously operating school of its kind in the South. The school has a dual emphasis on academic excellence and character development...

As a part of the federally funded Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Bedford County School System is re-forming the concept of family engagement through its projects. "There are a lot of good things going on in Bedford County . . . taking everybody to do it," said Connie Boutwell, Bedford County federal projects supervisor...

Public schools conduct various emergency drills each year to ensure that they will be able to react properly and effectively in the case of a real emergency. On Wednesday, Learning Way Elementary conducted a full-scale evacuation drill — which looked a little different than most such drills, because it was Halloween, and some of the teachers helping to lead the drill were in costume. Bedford County Emergency Management Agency director Scott Johnson said the assessment team praised the school’s response. “The team observed that they quickly and effectively cleared and evacuated the school, moved to their evacuation rally point several blocks away, and accounted for all students and staff,” said Johnson. (Submitted photo)

Bedford County Imagination Library was presented with a $1,000 donation by Community Lions Club at the club’s October meeting in Unionville. Helen Dennis, right, of the club makes the presentation to Betsy Wheeler, chair of Bedford County Imagination Library. The donation will pay for 1,000 books for preschool children in Bedford County. Bedford County Imagination Library currently mails books each month to 68 percent of children in Bedford County from birth to age 5. That means the program mails out approximately 2,400 books each month. (Submitted photo)

Community High School Class of 1998 held its 20-year reunion Oct. 20 at the Fly Arts Center. The band Double Shot provided the entertainment for the evening. The Class of 1998 was the first to graduate from the facility on 41A that is now Community Middle School. Front row, from left: Amanda Allen McCullough, Amanda Jones Salters, Julie Armstrong Smith. Middle row: Jim White, Christy Gobble Morris, Rose Heath Brewer, Brad Blackburn. Back row: Wade Campbell, Jon Martin, Josh Hamilton, David King, Josh Miller, Lance Smith, Dereck Layne. (Submitted photo)

A Holocaust survivor told an audience at Middle Tennessee State University that she found the Oct. 27 massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue "very, very eye-opening." Eva Moses Kor, who, along with her identical twin sister Miriam, was a victim of grotesque scientific experiments in the notorious Auschwitz death camp during World War II, spoke Tuesday, Oct. 30, in the Student Union Ballroom to an audience that included both college students and students from local K-12 schools...

Community Elementary was the beneficiary of this year’s Community School Alumni Association $4,000 donation. The group annually rotates its donations between the elementary, middle and high school. From left, Susan Huff, Community Elementary assistant principal; Whitney Yoes, principal; association board members Aimee Miller Luna; Renee Adcock Yoes and Patsy Barber Lynch. The donation will be used for technology, Principal Yoes noted. (T-G Photo by Dawn Hankins)

With 70 percent of construction complete, Cascade High School students are getting closer to moving into their new $23 million dollar facility, architect John Davis recently told Bedford County Board of Education. "We're getting there," he advised. "They're about to get the roof buttoned up."...

The Cascade High School marching band participated in the Mid-South Marching Invitational at Austin Peay State University on Saturday and took first place visual, first place music and first place overall in Class AAA in the preliminaries, and eighth overall in the finals. Pictured are Cascade seniors and alumni (starting at top left): Lucas McBee, Katyrina Jesch, Melonie Schmiede, Alex Martinez, Anabel Baty, Harrison Engle, Noah Smith, Hunter Bucka, Cole Jackson, Mary Frances Barnett, Lauren Taylor Nash, Luke Murillo, Emalee Rhodes, Band Director, David Lucich, and Jacey Parker. (Submitted photo)

The Webb School Theatre will present "The Merchant of Venice" in the Black Box Theatre on Nov. 8-10 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. The production is open to the public. Admission is $10 with no charge for children under 10. Reservations are required. Please visit http://events.webbschool.com/theatre to reserve your tickets. For more information, call 931-389-5703...

What kid hasn’t used the directive “Stop it!” in some form or fashion? Run those words together and you’ve got new school technology aimed at averting issues such as bullying. STOPit is designed for students, because life can be difficult. It’s not always easy for students to speak up about cyberbullying or even self-harm...

Shelbyville Central High School sophomore Jake Thompson passed the CompTIA IT Fundamentals Certification exam on Sept. 24. Thompson is the first student at SCHS to pass this exam and is currently in his second year enrolled in the information technology Cluster at SCHS’s CTE Annex. The cost of the exam was paid for by a grant obtained by the Bedford County Schools. This certification will give Thompson more opportunities to obtain a job in the computer industry. From left: Kelly North, Sarah Beth Spray, Larry Shelton, Jake Thompson, John Dochety and Michael McCoin. (Submitted photo)

The bid process for an addition to Learning Way Elementary School was approved last Tuesday by Bedford County Board of Education. Eight new classrooms are planned for the Shelbyville school as officials hope to avert more overcrowding. Learning Way opened as a K-5 facility in August 2009. The elementary school was designed to house 500 but is nearing an enrollment of 550...

"Been there, done that, and got the T-shirt!" I am sure everyone has heard this phrase before, maybe even said it a time or two. Some people may say it because they have already done something and don't want to have to do it again. I say this phrase in 4-H because I literally have gotten the T-shirt! My T-shirts are piling up and I am loving every minute of it...

While Bedford County students enjoy a mini fall break through Monday, the maintenance department will be working to save taxpayer dollars. “We like to say we’re the mortar between the bricks,” Daniel Kleindienst, director of school maintenance, said during Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting of Bedford County Board of Education...

During the winter of 1963-1964, there was tremendous snowfall in Unionville. The snow was so heavy that its weight on the little barn-like gymnasium at Community School was permanently damaged. The County Court, as the county commission was called then, and County Judge Mac Farrar issued a $100,000 capital bond to begin construction on a new gym at Community. It was going to take the efforts of the community to build a new structure that would provide greater opportunities for its students...

Leadership is a word that has been respected by millions for thousands of years. Leadership is a word that is rich history and meaning. In literal terms leadership means leading a group of people or an organization. Leaders are all around us; just one example is President Donald Trump. While we are surrounded by leaders true leadership is lacking in our future generation...

I've been in 4-H for five years and have enjoyed every bit of it. My project is Line and Design. Line and Design is a project group that includes crafting, sewing for the home, interior design and decorating, sketching, painting, and more. There are many opportunities in that project group such as fashion shows, fashion camps, crafting camps, and academic conference...

Bedford County Board of Education unanimously approved a request from Deery Eakin Elementary to rename its library the Betty G. Wooten Memorial Library at Tuesday's meeting. "She was instrumental in creating the first library at Eakin. She also worked to develop the book collection, which we're probably still using," Dulcie Davis, Eakin principal, said of Wooten,...

Cascade High School Band participated in the Middle Tennessee Small Band Competition at Forrest High School on Saturday. They won first place color guard in 4A; first place band in 4A; Best of the Best band; Division 1 champion; and Grand Champion. (Submitted photo)

A state panel has nixed a proposal that would have transferred Valparaiso University's law school to Middle Tennessee State University. The Tennessee Higher Education Commission voted 8-5 on Monday to deny the proposal to move the law school to MTSU's Murfreesboro campus. If approved, MTSU's program would have been the closest law school to Shelbyville...

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, in Murfreesboro, will present a free "Leap into Science" Balance Workshop for families and children Pre-K through 5th grade Friday, Oct. 19, at Shelbyville-Bedford County Public Library. Table top activities integrate open-ended science activities with children's books for children and families to explore together...

Middle Tennessee State University's pending acquisition of the Valparaiso University law school, if approved by the state, would make MTSU the closest law school to Shelbyville. The governing boards of both MTSU and Valparaiso announced Wednesday that they have approved the transfer -- Valparaiso's board approved a transfer agreement last week, and MTSU's Board of Trustees approved it on Wednesday. The transfer must now be approved by Tennessee Higher Education Commission...

Motlow State Community College will observe Fall Break Oct. 12 -- 16, according to college officials. Offices will remain open on their regular schedule, but no classes will be held during the break. This applies to the Moore County, Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna campuses as well as the Sparta site...

Modern day heroes come from all walks of life and perform all types of heroic deeds. A hero, by definition, is one who demonstrates exceptional courage. Such is the case with Motlow State Community College Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) graduate Jared Williams from Smyrna...

Shelbyville Central High School classes of 1945, 1946, 1947 and 1948 held a luncheon Oct. 5 at Legends on North Main Street. Seated, from left: Parky Landers, Christine Rogers, Naomi Thompson, Honey Lou Glasscock, Exie Landers, Jean Stimpson, Doyle Caffey, Grady McGee. Standing: Ray Rowland, Billie Crowell, Imogene Payne, Roy Rowland, Dot Rowland, Frances Rowland, Betty Self, Polly Frazier, Walter Martin, Judy Martin. (Submitted photo)

Area students are invited to get creative when they participate in The Webb School's activities being sponsored in conjunction with the second annual Tennessee STEAM Festival. The statewide festival, spearheaded by The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in Murfreesboro, focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) and is part of the national Science Festival Alliance network. ...

Motlow State Community College will observe Fall Break Oct. 12 -- 16, according to college officials. Offices will remain open on their regular schedule, but no classes will be held during the break. This applies to the Moore County, Fayetteville, McMinnville and Smyrna campuses as well as the Sparta site...

Rock For Human Rights, founded in 2011 to educate the public about human rights, will perform 2:20 p.m. Monday at The Webb School in Bell Buckle as one of 30 stops on its national tour. The performance will take place in the Follin Chapel on campus and is free and open to the public. Donations to the organization can be made at the performance...

The suspect in sending a threatening message who attempted to elude police Friday afternoon sped through a school zone at 70 miles per hour before he and his "5,000-pound weapon" were immobilized by a kick, according to the report filed by Lt. James Wilkerson of the Shelbyville Police Department...

A senior at The Webb School, Alex Reavis, has been named as a National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist. Senior Carol Zhou received a National Merit Scholarship Program Letter of Commendation. This year is the 64th year of the National Merit Scholarship Program...

Community High School School Resource Officer Tracey Harvey challenged student council to raise at least $1,500 this fall for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Wiping the pie from her face recently, she said it was tasty. For the third year in a row, the student council conducted this week-long fundraiser. With a few additions and tweaks, the event was even better, netting $1,726 for the Memphis pediatric facility...

Thomas Magnet School Student Council is collecting socks for the homeless as part of the nationwide "Socktober" drive. The school's goal is to collect at least 1,000 pair of socks. They can be new or gently used, and all sizes are welcome, from infant to adult...