This week, the Saturday Six turns its spotlight on a program of KCS that not only provides a unique learning opportunity for students, but is also a tremendous asset for the Kingsport community.

WCSK Radio can be found at 90.3 on your FM dial (and also streaming online here), and serves as the radio voice of Kingsport City Schools.  “Educational and eclectic,” listeners to WCSK will here a variety of music genres throughout the day in addition to the Dobyns-Bennett student voices from the D-B Radio Club each weekday afternoon.  The opportunity for students to learn more about radio broadcasting also extends to the athletic fields, as WCSK also broadcasts D-B sporting events such as football and basketball.  We talk about wanting to provide world-class opportunities for our students, and WCSK certainly fits the bill, giving kids a chance to develop skills most often not available until the college level.

Led by long-time radio veteran Jeff Hall, WCSK also provides the local community a unique information and entertainment source 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  What will you hear when you tune in?  Let’s look at six things you’ll hear when you stream online or turn your radio dial to 90.3 FM.

1.  A wide variety of music genres:  Depending on the time of day, you’ll hear an eclectic mix of music, including pop, classical, jazz, and even some classic rock.  It’s a perfect backdrop to the workday that never gets stale.  And the best part??  WCSK is the exclusive home of KCS school concerts and programs.  If a student group is performing across the district, chances are you’ll hear it broadcast on WCSK.
2. The D-B Radio Club:  As the school day winds down, a group of nearly 40 students takes over the airwaves to broadcast their favorite tunes, as well as learn the craft of radio broadcasting.  Starting at 3 p.m. each weekday afternoon, the station becomes a lab of creative music and talk under the guidance of station manager Jeff Hall.  It’s a great opportunity for our students to build confidence and develop public speaking skills, while also possibly finding a love for a future career choice.
3. Insights from educational and community stakeholders:  Each week, WCSK opens it’s microphones to have conversations with a wide variety of key individuals from our community.  You’ll hear from people like the KCS Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Lyle Ailshie, members of local government, and other individuals that are working to make a positive difference in our community.  You never know who might be the next interview subject, but odds are, it will be someone that is making a significant impact on Kingsport!
4. Information, information, and more information:  Want to know what is happening throughout KCS and the Kingsport community?  You’ll find out by listening to WCSK!  Whether is an upcoming local event or a way that you can be involved in our local happenings, WCSK will have you covered.  Keeping you informed on all things Kingsport is a key priority for Jeff Hall and the entire student broadcasting team at WCSK.
5. Educational Vignettes:  We like to say WCSK is “Educational and Eclectic,” and you will certainly learn some interesting information as you listen throughout the day.  Programs such as Pulse of the Planet, A Moment in Time, Science and the Sea, and Classics for Kids are aired throughout the day, providing a healthy dose of learning amid some great music.  The quality of these offerings adds yet another layer of enjoyment to the WCSK listening experience.
6. A weekend FULL of special entertainment:  Did we mention that WCSK is fresh 24/7?  Weekends are chock-full of interesting programming, from early in the morning to late at night.  You’ll hear programs such as Music and the Spoken Word, Old Time Radio, Footlight Parade, Dick Robinson’s American Standards by the Sea, and Bluegrass Breakdown… a mix of programs that will keep you tuned-in all weekend long.

Give it a listen!  At any point of the day or night, tune in to 90.3 WCSK, or listen online here.  We think you’ll be glad you did!

Are you currently a WCSK listener?  If so, what do you think about the station?  Leave your comment below.

Did you know that through extensive work and continual reflection over a long period of time, KCS has developed a set of beliefs, principals, and truths that both define our district’s focus and guide all work?  These are called the KCS Guiding Tenets, and they act as the foundation for all that happens throughout Kingsport City Schools.  This week, the Saturday Six looks at the Guiding Tenets and shares this important information with you!

1.  The KCS Mission explains what we hope to accomplish as a district, and that is to provide all students with a world-class and student-focused education that ensures college and career readiness.  Our Vision describes our desired future, which is to be “Student Focused … World Class.”
2. Six Core Values have been identified, which describe what we believe as a district.  We believe in:
   • Exemplary student learning.
   • A guaranteed and viable curriculum.
   • Collaborative professional learning communities.
   • Engaged families and the community.
   • Data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
   • A culture of shared leadership.
3. All of our work is centered on five Goals, which are the things we strive to achieve.  They are:
   • Goal One: Deliver world-class curriculum and instruction.
   • Goal Two: Provide committed and innovative educators.
   • Goal Three: Furnish safe, appropriate, and well-maintained facilities that support teaching and learning.
   • Goal Four: Ensure business operations effectively support teaching and learning.
   • Goal Five: Engage families and the community.
4. There are also a set of items called Core Competencies, which define who we are as a district.  We are a district that:
   • Promotes and supports exemplary leadership through programming and succession planning.
   • Offers a rigorous, comprehensive, and engaging curriculum.
   • Engages students in learning through the use of transformative tools and innovative instructional practices.
   • Provides personalized professional learning opportunities for all employees.
   • Actively engages and serves our families and community.
   • Supports and sustains the organization with a performance improvement system.
5. What do we do?  That is describe in our Key Practices.  We:
   • Plan, teach, assess, and evaluate to inform instructional practices through the use of the 4 critical questions (see below).
   • Incorporate problem-solving and innovation in teaching and learning.
   • Guide teaching and learning using internationally benchmarked standards.
   • Seek to understand and engage our families and community.
   • Recruit, retain, and develop highly competent educators.
   • Build leadership capacity within our educational community.
6. And finally, our teaching and learning philosophy is focused on Four Critical Questions:
   • What is it we expect our students to learn?
   • How will we know when our students have learned it?
   • How will we respond when our students do not learn?
   • How do we respond when our students have mastered the content?

These Guiding Tenets serve as the road map for what goes on throughout all of Kingsport City Schools!

Now at the end of the second week of school, things are in full swing across KCS when it comes to teaching, learning, and other events outside of class.  This week, we thought we’d update you on some of the key work and activities being done by our awesome students and staff… They have certainly hit the ground running!

1.  This past Friday, the streets of Kingsport were aglow as the Dobyns-Bennett Student Council hosted the first “Glow Tribe Glow” 3K Run/Walk.  The event served as a fantastic community collaboration as both young and old came together to support the D-B Student Council.  Thanks to all that made this inaugural fund raising event such a success!
   

   

   
2. Next week will be an exciting time for the students and staff at Jefferson Elementary, as Australian storyteller Paul Taylor will hold a 5-day residency at the school.  Taylor will work with students across the school to teach them more about Australian culture through music and storytelling.  What a great opportunity for the entire Jefferson community to experience new learning and cultures!  A huge thank you goes out to the Jefferson PTO for helping fund this project.
3. It’s about time to kick it off in Kingsport!  Can you believe the first D-B varsity football game of 2016 will take place next week?  We hope you’ll come out to J. Fred Johnson Stadium to support this year’s football squad, band, cheerleaders, spirit shakers, students, and all the adults that help coach and support.  The season will officially kick off at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday evening against Tennessee High.
4. Speaking of football, do you have your season tickets yet?  If not, all remaining season tickets will go on sale to the general public starting Monday morning at 8 a.m. at the D-B Athletics Office (in the dome lobby).  Get ’em while they’re hot!
5. Before you head out to J. Fred on Thursday, why not drop by Robinson Middle School for an inner-city volleyball rivalry!  The Sevier and Robinson volleyball teams will take to the court starting at 4:30 p.m.  Come support both of our squads as they give it their all!
6. And finally, you have a little time before the registration deadline, but we hope you’ll consider joining this year’s class of Insight KCS, a 6-session program during 2016-17 that will explore the full scope of education and operation of Kingsport City Schools.  The first class begins on September 30, but applications are now being accepted.  Click here for more information about Insight KCS!

Have a great weekend!!

We hope you’ll forgive us here at the Saturday Six this week… There were just too many great images from our first week of school to stop with just six.  Here are six (times two) of the best images from the first week of school this year.

Thanks to all the terrific students and staff of KCS.  We hope you had a great start to the year!