Education

Learning Way teachers found a way to stay in touch with their students — drive by greetings.

Bedford County School System is continuing its free breakfast and lunch program at six school sites. This is spring break, but many school officials are continuing to dedicate their time to make sure children do not go hungry during the time schools are closed...

Bedford County Board of Education received Tennessee School Board Association’s “Board of Distinction” award Tuesday night from TSBA’s South Central Director Pat Welsh of Tullahoma during its business meeting at the Central Office. The honor, which Bedford County will maintain for two years, recognizes boards for meeting specified requirements in planning, policy, promotion and board development. Currently, only 32 school boards in Tennessee are designated out of the 141 state school districts. From left, front, board members Michael Cook, Welsh, and BCBE chair Glenn Forsee. Back, left to right, board members John Boutwell, Nicole Cashion, Diane Neeley, Brian Crews, Andrea Anderson, Dan Reed, Bedford County Schools Superintendent Don Embry and board member David Brown.

More than 700 sophomores from the Bedford County school system participate in the 45th annual Rotary Career Day on March 11 at Motlow State Community College. Students from Shelbyville Central, Cascade and Community high schools spent the morning listening to four career speakers of their choice, who gave them insight on both high school preparation and any college preparation to enter into an occupational field...

Bedford County School System continues to feed students breakfast and lunch during spring break. School is officially closed until April 24 and many students depend on school meals. Sharon Butler, bus driver, and Sarah Mason, part of the nutrition staff, prepare for the day’s event earlier this week. This week had been the previously-scheduled official spring break.

The Student Congress on Policies in Education (SCOPE) conference-one which brings together high schoolers from across the state to discuss current topics in education-was held recently at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. Participants explored during the day-long event several education issues through mock school board meetings and group education. ...

For those of you around town who may know Shelbyville Central High School alumnus Brian Young, don’t get alarmed if you see him shopping this week; he hasn’t dropped out of Harvard. If it was up to him, he’d still be in Cambridge, Massachusetts studying medicine. However, most colleges around the country have locked their doors this week for an indefinite period...

The sight of students walking to East Side Elementary in the rain to get breakfast brought tears to the eyes of Janet Clarkson, Bedford County Schools nutrition supervisor, she said during Tuesday night’s abbreviated Bedford County Board of Education meeting...

As a health precaution aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus, Bedford County Schools are closed through March 31, according to a statement released Monday from Superintendent Don Embry. There were no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bedford County as of Monday...

Last week at Cascade, students and faculty were dropping like flies due to illness. The flu began its sweep across Cascade as dozens of people caled out sick. Teachers have started warning students about how to avoid getting sick, such as washing hands, cover coughing/sneezing, and avoiding close contact with others...

Keeping with tradition, 63 members of the Harris Middle School chapter of National Junior Honor Society stepped up recently to help those less fortunate at Nashville Rescue Mission campuses. For two weeks in February, the students rolled up their sleeves for what most consider the trip of a lifetime of experience. They plan to return if the opportunity arises...

It was a “Seussville” kind of day at Learning Way Elementary when staff and students observed what would have been the late children’s author Dr. Seuss’s 116th birthday during Read Across America Week. Dressed as the “Cat in the Hat” duo were kindergarten teacher and literacy leader Rebecca Bradshaw and student Rebecca Espejo Cruces.

Southside Elementary kindergarten teacher Macy Ray holds a sign to advertise the school’s April 3 spaghetti supper coming up during a kick-off rally. Students get the opportunity to take up donations to become king, queen, prince or princess of the school. The third through fifth grade boy and girl who bring in the most donations will be crowned King and Queen. The K-second grade boy and girl who bring in the most donations will be crowned Prince and Princess.

The SAT administration scheduled for Saturday at The Webb School is cancelled. Students registered at Webb may be asked by the College Board to report to a different testing center. Any students reassigned to other testing centers must reprint an updated version of their admission ticket with the new testing center’s information attached...

In honor of National School Breakfast Week and Read Across America observance, Thomas Magnet School received a special visit from Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn last Friday. Accompanying the education commissioner from Nashville were Assistant Commissioner Brian Stockton, No Kid Hungry - Breakfast Expansion Specialist Marissa Spady and Tennessee Director of School Nutrition Sandy Dawes...

The Webb School’s team recently won the 2020 State High School Mock Trial District II Competition, with Tiger Wang of Bell Buckle named Best Attorney and Louisa Greenberg of Murfreesboro named Best Witness. State competition will be in Nashville on March 20-21. ...

Last week at Cascade High School, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes held a Bible drive. The Bible drive was similar to that of the book drive held months prior. They ended up receiving at least 50 donated bibles. FCA then created a sign-up sheet that is available to everyone. ...

Community High School Smokestack Theatre senior Morgan Stepp has always admired the character Mother Abbess of "The Sound of Music." On March 13 and 14, she'll turn her role up a notch as the lead role in the musical production of "Mamma Mia!" Smokestack Theatre's spring production is coming up 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 13-14, in the Community High School auditorium. Admission is $5 per person...

As a part of Victory Baptist Academy's 45th anniversary, an alumni group known as Friends of VBA have planned a special night of food, gospel music and fun for Saturday, March 14, at their beloved Christian school on North Main Street. The fundraiser is the first of what organizers hope will become an annual event, according to one of the organizers and 1995 VBA graduate Margaret Petty...

In honor of The Webb School's 150th Anniversary, the Webb 150/Follin Series will continue hosting special guests throughout the 2019-2020 school year. Larry Price, physicist who retired from Columbia University and Argonne National Laboratory, will speak March 16 at 9:40 a.m. in the Follin Chapel on campus. His presentation is entitled "Standing on the Shoulders of a Giant: From Sawney Webb to 21st Century Scientific Discovery" and is free and open to the public...

Jiahua "Tiger" Wang, a graduating senior at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, has been named one of more than 4,500 candidates in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2020...

Community Lions Club president Mark Freidman presented Betsy Wheeler and the Bedford County Imagination Library a check for $1,000 at a recent monthly meeting.The Bedford County chapter of Imagination Library raises funds to purchase and mail books to all children from birth to 5 years old. ...

Last week at Cascade, National FFA Week was in full throttle. While many did not participate in the dress up days, it was still interesting to see what others came to school with. Monday was blue and gold day, which represents the FFA colors. Tuesday was redneck day, and it was not too far outside the norm. ...

MURFREESBORO -- J.W. Harper didn't plan on being the first African-American football player at Middle Tennessee State University. Destiny guided him there. He has gone into the history books with that designation. Earlier this month Harper, and seven other African American athletes, were honored as "True Blue" Pioneers...

A former educator is credited with coining the phrase, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." This phrase applies very well to what Thomas Magnet School's Robotic Tigers are learning through FIRST LEGO League competition. Most kids will agree that playing LEGOs is fun. ...

The Shelby Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held its annual Good Citizens Tea and Good Citizen Awards Ceremony on Sunday February 23 at First Christian Church. The meeting was called to order by Regent Muriel Robinson, who led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and The American's Creed...

Seventh grader Abigail Voorhes-Fontenot of Shelbyville, seen here, claimed first place in the annual spelling bee at The Webb School. Eighth grader Gray Hamilton of High Point, North Carolina, placed second, and sixth grader Alora Pearce of Tullahoma placed third. Daiva Berzinskas, International Program director, organized the spelling bee. English teacher Kevin Finn and English department chair Jacqueline Boyanton served as judges.

While Cascade High School has received accolades this school year for its athletics, marching band and new school design, there's another achievement which demonstrates the Champions are at the top of their game. That would be students achieving an average ACT score of 20.8...

To commemorate its 55th anniversary, Delta Dental of Tennessee has announced a new grant program to replace existing water fountains at 55 elementary schools across the state with Elkay bottle-filling stations. Providing access to drinking water throughout the school day gives students a healthy alternative to sugary beverages like soda and sports or juice drinks. ...

On Feb. 15, several students from the Cascade High School band performed in the 2020 Tennessee Wind Band Conference at the Middle Tennessee State University School of Music. From left: Emily Yates, Rylee Hooker, Chloe DeLease, Nadiana Jesch, Aubrea Curtis, Leonardo Avila Suarez, Hunter Harris, Connor Prim, Samuel Maddox and Cole McBee.

First of two parts Bedford County Board of Education followed assistant superintendent Karen Scoggins around a race track Tuesday night. The instructional supervisor used a race track model to explain a recent report by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education, or SCORE...

Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville held a local observance of National CTE Letter Of Intent Signing Day on Thursday. The event, sponsored nationally by the National Coalition of Certification Centers, aspires to draw attention to career and technical education (CTE) programs through a “signing day” ceremony similar to the ones held by colleges when they recruit star high school athletes...

Last week at Cascade, everyone seemed dull and sleepy from the long weekend, but things seemed to liven up the more the week went on. News reached the students Friday morning that National FFA Week would take place Feb. 22-29. National FFA Week is celebrated around the country as a time to call attention to the crucial roles that FFA takes part in. ...

Bedford County School Superintendent Don Embry, right, was the speaker for Wednesday’s meeting of Shelbyville Rotary Club. He’s welcomed by Rotarian Ivan Jones.

Celebration City Car Club donates to several organizations each year, including Shelbyville Central High School’s National Honor Society. Roger Huffman of the car club presented a check to NHS representatives Fritzi Solis, Chris Hernandez, Karley Simmons and Cindy Solis.

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has announced that Jason Sparks has been promoted to serve as Fire Program Director for the Tennessee Fire Service and Codes Enforcement Academy (TFACA) on Unionville Deason Road which is part of the State Fire Marshal's Office...

Area residents who attended an informational event organized by Middle Tennessee State University's University College are a few steps closer to finishing their degree. At the Finish Your Degree Q&A on Feb. 6 in Tullahoma, adults could talk to degree counselors, advisors and other representatives from both MTSU and Motlow State Community College about getting readmitted, registered for classes, and what options are available to them so they can finish faster and get a degree that will advance their careers.. ...

Adelia Stanley and Tiger Wang, seniors at The Webb School in Bell Buckle, were recently named National Merit Scholarship Finalists. Stanley, of McMinnville, and Wang, of Bell Buckle, were among the top 1 percent of 2020 U.S. high school seniors to achieve semifinalist distinction in September 2019. ...

Have you ever walked into your child’s school office and suddenly felt like someone opened the cafeteria freezer door? Or, perhaps you walked into your child’s school one morning and office personnel immediately greeted you with open arms? Whether they ignore you, love you or disrespect you, Tennessee Department of Education wants to know about school climates — which is why an optional survey is available for the taking through this month. ...

Last week at Cascade, the students were overwhelmed with the number of fundraisers and support-based events crowding the week. A few fundraisers were the previously introduced HOSA shirt and bracelet sale to support the American Heart Association, and the NEHS bake sale for the school library. Both were highly successful as students strode around the halls with their lovely shirts and delicious goods...

Arrowhead Boys Ranch will hold its annual 5K Run for the Ranch fundraiser. The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, March 14, beginning at 8 a.m. at 239 Cortner Mill Road in Normandy. Runners can register online at arrowheadranchtn.net. The registration fee is $20 through March 9 and $25 after that. ...

The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club Inc. will accept applications from local high school seniors through March 31 for its annual scholarship program. Scholarship candidates must possess a GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale, be a U.S. citizen and complete the application process, which includes a 300 word typed essay on the topic “Making An I.M.P.A.C.T. In Our Communities.”...

The Motlow College Foundation will host the 28th annual Motlow Gala on Saturday, Mar. 7, at the Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center. Festivities will begin with a champagne social hour at 5:30 p.m., during which guests can peruse donated silent auction items; dinner will be served at 6:30...

Bedford County Schools federal projects supervisor Chad Fletcher recently advised school board members while there's a good deal of quality intervention in place for local students performing below grade level, the community also has within the transient sector a fair share enrolling with academic challenges...

Last week was cut short at Cascade and not for anything pleasant either. Nearly a quarter of Cascade had been out of school due to various types of sickness. Fevers, flu, nausea, and running noses flowed to numerous students, causing them to drop like flies. Thursday and Friday were generously given by administration to allow students to recover over a four-day weekend. However, it has affected other things besides studies...

A total of 12,050 students enrolled during the 2019 fall semester at The University of Alabama were named to the Dean's List with an academic record of 3.5 or above or the President's List with an academic record of 4.0 (all A's). The UA Dean's and President's lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or to undergraduate students who take less than a full course load...

Liberty School counselor Jordan Tatom was selected as the 2020 Tennessee Counselor of the Year. He was recently recognized in Washington, D.C. The Times-Gazette ran an article on Tatom in 2018, when he also won the honor. Jordan said he believes one of the largest contributing factors to him being chosen as top public school counselor is his student advocacy methods. He’s been counselor for Liberty the last five years; he previously worked at Richland School in Lynnville and in the Columbia and Nashville areas.

The Shelbyville Central High School Criminal Justice Student Organization competed last weekend in Gatlinburg Tennessee at Winterfest. The students competed in numerous events such as rappelling, tactical fitness, unknown call response, conducting field sobriety, moot court and others. This was the organization’s second year to compete at the event. “I am extremely proud of these students,” said sponsor Chris Hobbs.

MURFREESBORO – Most people fear to go where few, or no one, has gone before. J.W. Harper is not most people. When the former Shelbyville athlete chose to attend Middle Tennessee State in 1968, he became the first African American football player at the school...