Today, Kingsport City Schools reaches the culminating event of the academic year as students and staff celebrate the seniors graduating from Dobyns-Bennett High School.  Through much hard work and dedication, these graduates have reached the pinnacle of their K-12 education and now prepare to embark on the next phase of their lives.

Graduation day is always a special time, as the entire KCS community comes together to mark this significant achievement.  One special aspect of D-B graduation is the annual participation of teachers and administrators from other KCS schools who take part in the ceremony.  By including staff from pre-k, elementary, middle schools, Cora Cox Academy, D-B EXCEL, and D-B, we signify that we are all vested in the education of KCS students and take district-wide ownership of supporting student success.  Though they may be graduating today from D-B, ALL KCS staff members have been instrumental in helping students reach their graduation day.

It’s quite a phenomenal group of young women and men!  This week, the Saturday Six celebrates this year’s graduates by sharing some of the fantastic accomplishments of the Class of 2017.

1. This year’s class contained four National Merit Semi-finalists, four National Merit Commended Students, and a Presidential Scholar finalist… one of the highest national honors attainable by a high school student!
2. Academically, this is one of the most successful classes to ever graduate from D-B.  There were 68 students with GPA over 4.0, 76 AP Scholars, and 110 Graduates with Distinction.
3. This year’s class reached unparalleled heights related to the ACT test.  There were 61 seniors with an ACT score of 30+.  61!!  Additionally, for the sixth consecutive year, a D-B student earned a perfect ACT score.  That’s incredible!
4. Success hasn’t just been limited to the classroom.  Graduates earned more than a dozen Career and Technical state-level titles and national qualifiers.  Athletes in this year’s class have earned over 60 conference, district, and regional athletic titles, with several state champions and dozens of state tournament participants.  In fact, several of today’s graduates will participate for TSSAA state titles in track, baseball, and tennis next week.
5. The Class of 2017 graduating band class has performed on some of the biggest stages in Tennessee and across the country while solidifying their place on the international stage for marching bands by becoming finalists at the esteemed Grand Nationals competition.  This year’s band class is recognized by many to have just completed one of, if not the most successful four year careers for a high school band.
6. Members of this year’s class helped earn the D-B Air Force Junior ROTC program, for the 10th consecutive year, the designation of Unit of Distinction.  Additionally, the year’s class contains four appointments to United States Service Academies, with several additional commitments to the US Armed Services.

And to top it all off, this year’s graduating class has currently been offered in excess of $15 million in scholarship funds, a record amount for a D-B class.  Congrats, Dobyns-Bennett Class of 2017!!

As hard as it is to believe, today marks the final Saturday Six for this school year.  Keep an eye out for the return of the Saturday Six next fall when we kick off the 2017-18 year!

This past week was a special one across Kingsport City Schools, as we stopped to recognize the fantastic educators that make such a positive impact on the students and families of KCS.  Each and every day, over 1,200 women and men step forward to make a difference in the lives of children.  Educator Appreciation Week is one small way our community can say “thank you” and show all employees of KCS how much we treasure what they do.

This week, the Saturday Six presents six(teen) recent images highlighting the phenomenal employees of Kingsport City Schools.  They are truly the backbone of what makes education in Kingsport world class!

Next week, the Saturday Six draws to a close for the 2016-17 school year with a special “D-B Graduation Day” edition!  Be on the lookout next weekend for a special celebration of this year’s KCS graduates!

As the 2016-17 school year draws to a close, it’s natural to take stock on the year and consider all that has been accomplished throughout Kingsport City Schools.  This week, the Saturday Six shines a spotlight on the KCS Maintenance and Custodial Services department, the group of outstanding men and women that work tirelessly to help ensure KCS accomplishes district Goal #3… Furnish safe, appropriate, and well-maintained facilities that support teaching and learning.

It has been year of great progress and service, as the Maintenance department has increased efficiencies and kept KCS facilities operating at an exemplary level.  Let’s take a look at six facts and figures that highlight the fantastic work that has been done this year!

1. The Maintenance and Custodial Services department is responsible for maintaining over 1.5 million square feet of facilities.  That includes preventative and operational maintenance of over 900 HVAC units and mowing 150 acres.  This year alone, they have responded t over 4,500 work orders!
2. While keeping schools safe and energy efficient, the department also strives to be environmentally conscious. They are constantly researching and testing the best cleaning products on the market, and have achieved a 95% Green level with the materials used.
3. As part of a long-term energy savings program, KCS continues to see cost and energy efficiencies due to conservation efforts and through the installation and use of efficient materials.  Now in year five of the program, KCS expects to see near $500,000 in energy savings this year alone!
4. The work to be responsible stewards of resources stretches all across the district, and through the efforts of the department, great results are taking place in MANY KCS schools.  In fact, eleven schools are Energy Star Certification Eligible this year!
5. In addition to the regular daily upkeep of KCS schools and facilities, the department also keeps an eye on both short and long-term needs.  Capital projects such as roofing and flooring are a focus, as well as unusual occurrences, such as plowing and salting parking lots and sidewalks during winter weather events.
6. —Upkeep and maintenance of KCS facilities is certainly not just an eight-to-five job.  Whether it is an early morning plowing parking lots, a regular school day supporting the work of student and staff, or late nights getting schools ready for the next day’s classes, the department is on the job at all hours of the day and night.  And that doesn’t even consider the many weekends spent supporting school events or dealing with unexpected needs that pop up!

Thanks to the men and women of the KCS Maintenance and Custodial Services department for their world-class work!

Don’t forget… Dobyns-Bennett graduation is just two weeks away.  We hope you will help us celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s graduating class on Saturday, May 20th at 9 a.m. in J. Fred Johnson Stadium!