8:40 a.m – D-B and KCS staff are lining up for the entry. Getting close now!



8:35 a.m. – The graduates-to-be are ready to go! 25 minutes to entry. 

8:26 a.m. – The award-winning DBAFJROTC is hard at work getting ready to present the colors! 

8:20 a.m. – Welcome to the We Are KCS live blog from D-B Graduation! The excitement is building here in the Dome, as family and friends are beginning to arrive. Stay tuned here for updates throughout the morning!

What an exciting day!  Today marks the biggest academic day in the Kingsport City Schools academic calendar, as the class of 2016 will graduate from Dobyns-Bennett High School.  This year’s class is an extraordinary group, with a tremendous list of accomplishments that rival some of the greatest classes in D-B history.

Today, let’s look at some of the accolades received by this phenomenal group of students.  They truly reflect what we mean when we use the term “World Class!”

1. This year’s class contained 8 National Merit Semi-finalists, 6 National Merit Commended Students, and 3 Presidential Scholar semifinalists.
2. 70 of this year’s graduates earned a GPA over 4.0.
3. There were 102 AP Scholars in the Class of 2016.
4. Graduating today will be 114 graduates with distinction (roughly 1/4 of the senior class).
5. The class of 2016 has been offered in excess 11 million dollars in scholarship money… and still counting!
6. This year’s graduates have been a part of one of the most successful years in the history of D-B.  For instance…

• This was the 10^th consecutive year the D-B AFJROTC program has been named a unit of distinction, which is exactly how long they have been in existence at D-B.
• More than a dozen Career and Technical state-level competition winners and national qualifiers occurred this year.
• In 2015-16, D-B had over 50 conference, district, and regional athletic titles, including several state champions and state tournament participants.
• This year’s graduating band class has performed on some of the biggest stages in Tennessee and across the country, while entertaining dignitaries from the mayor to the governor and even the President of the United States. They are recognized by many to have just completed the most successful four-year career for a high school band.
• Two D-B students earned a perfect score on the ACT this year.
• D-B has been named in the top 5% of all high schools in the country by Newsweek Magazine and US News and World Report and one recognized as of the most rigorous high schools in the nation by the Washington Post.

Wow, what a successful year for the students and staff of Kingsport City Schools!

Like our students, starting today, the KCS Saturday Six goes on summer vacation.  Be on the lookout for other We Are KCS blog entries over the summer, as well as the return of the Saturday Six next fall.  Have a great summer!

The 2016 Dobyns-Bennett graduation rehearsal is underway! Looking for a way to stay connected tomorrow? There are many ways that you can be a part of graduation day, even if you can’t make it to the Buck Van Huss Dome Saturday at 9 a.m. 

• Graduation will be live streamed, with links located on both the KCS and D-B homepage. Head to www.k12k.com or dbhs.k12k.com for all the action!
• We’ll be live blogging during graduation, right here at WeAreKCS.com. Updates and photos will posted throughout the morning. 
• Also follow along on all the KCS social media sites during the morning. We’ll be posting all types of news and info to keep you informed. 

It’s the biggest day of the KCS academic year. We hope you’ll follow along with us!

In this week’s Saturday Six, we give a special shout-out to our fantastic school nurses!  All across KCS, our health professionals do so much to care for our students and staff, while addressing urgent needs and also promoting healthy lifestyles.  This Wednesday was National School Nurse Day, an opportunity to say “Thank you!” to the staff that gives so much so that we can stay healthy:

• Suzanne Folkner, Adams School Nurse
• Carla Testerman, Jackson School Nurse
• Laura Jennings, Jefferson School Nurse
• Michelle Olinger, Jefferson Health Assistant
• Allison Shuppert, Johnson School Nurse
• Melinda Combest, Johnson Health Assistant
• Angie Lundy, Kennedy School Nurse
• Brandy Steffey, Lincoln School Nurse
• Cheryl Weston, Roosevelt School Nurse
• Angie Fowler,  Roosevelt Health Assistant
• Renee Blevins, Washington School Nurse
• Traci Bowen, RNR School Nurse
• Lorraine Chastain, RNR Health Assistant
• Joni Murphy, Sevier School Nurse
• Melissa Caldwell, D-B School Nurse
• Audra Bevins, D-B Health Assistant
• Crystal Hood, D-B EXCEL/Cora Cox Academy Health Assistant
• Tracy Dayton, Palmer Health Assistant
• Jana Messer, Palmer Health Assistant
• Susan Ausband, System-Wide School Nurse
• Vicki Johnston, KCS Nursing Supervisor

Did you know there are six key ways that school nurses can benefit the school culture?

1. Student Health – Identifying and treating accidents and injuries, managing students with chronic conditions such as diabetes and seizures to allow them to stay in class, significantly decreasing the amount of days missed due to asthma (a leading cause of school absenteeism), and counseling students about physical and emotional issues.
2. Student Attendance – School nurses improve attendance through health promotion, disease prevention and disease management.  Studies show that students with a full-time school nurse have about half the student illness- or injury-related early releases from school than where no school nurse is present.
3. Improved Academics – Improved attendance means a healthy student is in the classroom and ready to learn. School Nurses enable better performance, which also contributes to reducing drop-out rates.
4. Time – School nurses save time for principals, teachers and staff.  A school nurse in the building saves principals, teachers, and staff a considerable amount of time that they would have spent addressing health concerns of students.
5. Staff Wellness – School nurses improve the general health of staff.  According to studies, principals, teachers, and clerical staff are very satisfied with having school nurses in their schools so that teachers can focus on teaching, staff can spend less time calling parents and sending students home, and also because a healthy staff means increased attendance and productivity.
6. Accountability – School nurses help schools stay accountable by promoting compliance with federal and state laws, and by preparing for emergencies in order to saves lives and property.

Thank you to our awesome KCS health professionals!

DON’T FORGET!  The Saturday Six will be live-blogging from the D-B graduation next Saturday morning.  “Tune in” to WeAreKCS.com and the KCS social media feeds starting at 8:30 a.m. for a behind the scenes look at the graduation celebration.  It should be fun!

You’ll forgive us if the Saturday Six deviates a little from the norm today.  You see, this week marked the celebration of Employee Appreciation Week in Kingsport City Schools.  All across KCS, we stopped to thank the women and men that give so much to support the children of Kingsport.  All KCS employees are educators and support the vision of providing a student focused and world class education to students.

Join us this week as the Saturday Six stops to highlight and say “Thank you” to the many employees of KCS!  Warning:  Don’t count too closely… We won’t stop at just six.  🙂

Don’t ever forget… Educators, you make a difference every day.  Because of you, our students do great things!  Check out this great video that describes just how we feel about you.   Do you have something to share about a great KCS educator?  Add it in the comments below!

Preview:  Next week, we’ll highlight another great group of KCS employees, as we celebrate School Nurses Day.  Be on the lookout next Saturday for info on how our nurses work to positively affect the health and well-being of our students.

And finally, something special will come your way on May 21, as the final Saturday Six blogs LIVE from D-B graduation.  Make plans to attend in-person or virtually!

Though it’s hard to believe, the lifespan of the 2015-16 Saturday Six is running short!  After this week, there will be just three editions before we go on summer vacation.  Be on the lookout for  the big Saturday Six finale on May 21, coming to you straight from Dobyns-Bennett graduation!

Even though there are still three weeks of school left, it’s not too soon to start thinking about summer!  Did you know there are a wide variety of camps and experiences to keep students involved once school lets out?  Here are six things to have on your radar as you start making summer plans.

1.  KCS will host three hands-on, highly engaging STREAM camps this summer (click on the individual links for info and registration).  Rising 2nd – 6th graders can take part in Summer STREAM Camp the weeks of June 13-17 and June 20-24, hosted at Sevier Middle School.  Rising 7th – 9th graders will have an X-STREAM Summer Program at D-B those same weeks.  And rising 10th – 12th graders can take part in an X-STREAM  Summer Design Program from June 13-17.  That’s some serious high-tech learning!
2. Need to burn some energy and hone those athletic skills over the summer?  D-B will be hosting a wide variety of sports camps over the summer, focusing on everything from basketball, baseball, football, soccer, softball, swimming, track, and volleyball.  There’s something for everyone!  Click here to view the full slate of athletic camps being offered.
3. Do you have a student starting middle school in the fall?  The innovative KCS Jump Start programs will help introduce new 6th graders to all things middle school, including how to navigate a new school building, understanding the academic expectations and schedules, and even learning how to unlock a locker!  John Sevier Middle School will hold Jump Start programs on June 1-3 and June 6-8, and Ross N. Robinson Middle School will hold Jump Start on May 31-June 2 and June 7-9.  Contact your child’s school for more information.
4. Need assistance with meals this summer?  KCS offers a “Free Meals for Kids” summer program from May 23 – July 21.  From 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. each weekday, any child under the age of 18 can come to Sevier Middle School to receive a lunch, free of charge.  For additional information, you may contact Mrs. Andria Ball at 378-2113.
5. There are many summer reading programs throughout the community to help students keep their literacy skills sharp.  Two such examples are the Kingsport Public Library, which hosts a variety of reading activities for children of all ages throughout the summer.  The United Way of Greater Kingsport’s groundbreaking “United We Read” initiative will hold a Summer Book Club Kick-off at the Riverview Splashpad on June 7th at 9 a.m.  Click here for more information and to register!
6. Looking for an all-inclusive list of programs and activities for the summer?  Just click here to view the full listing of both KCS and community camps, activities, and programs that are available.  This list will be updated as new opportunities develop, so check back often!

As we wrap up this week, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge all those fantastic individuals that keep our district humming along so smoothly… Wednesday was Administrative Professionals Day, a time to recognize how special our employees are as they support the students, families, and staff of KCS.  In schools, the KCS Administrative Support Center, and other locations across Kingsport, THANK YOU TO OUR FANTASTIC ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS!  You give so much of yourselves to make KCS great!!

Today in the Saturday Six, we take a look at some key events that occurred during an incredibly important week for KCS… It was “Graduation and Beyond Week” throughout KCS, where elementary students and staff focused on school, college, and career opportunities that exist for ALL of our students.  It was exciting to see the passion and excitement that this focused week created in our schools.  The possibilities for all our students are endless!  Thanks to our KCS elementary counselors for planning and sponsoring this week.

1. The week started with “My School Monday,” where students dressed in their school spirit wear.  Monday focused on celebrating the academic and social successes taking place at each student’s home school.
2. Tuesday was “Heading to Middle School Tuesday,” with student dressing in the colors or spirit wear of their future middle school.  This day was about students looking ahead to the next step in their academic careers, focusing on how to get there and all the exciting opportunities that are available in middle school.
3. Hump day was “Heading to High School Wednesday.”  Students dressed in D-B colors or spirit gear to consider how high school will help shape their future opportunities in life.
4. Thursday was “College Wear Thursday.”  On this day, students dressed in their favorite college gear to think about life after high school and how higher education can prepare them for success as adults.
5. The week concluded with “Dress for success Friday.”  Students across the district donned the attire of their desired career, considering all the dreams that are inside them as young children.  What a terrific week of activities to keep our students thinking not only about where they are today, but what the road to an exciting future can look like!
6. Are these efforts paying off?  Two accolades were received this week that point to the fact that KCS students have access to some phenomenal, nationally-ranked environments.  The annual U.S. News and World Report ranking has identified D-B as one of the top high schools in America, and the Washington Post honored D-B as one of the most challenging high schools in Tennessee.  These are two key measures that indicate that KCS is on the right track in not only providing a world-class academic environment, but also in supporting students to very high levels of success.  Congrats to the students and staff that have worked so hard to reach these levels of success!

This week, we celebrate National Assistant and Associate Principals Week in the KCS Saturday Six!  KCS is blessed to have a team of fantastic administrators that provide educational and administrative support in schools across the district.  Thank you to these incredible assistant and associate principals!

1.  The Assistant Principal team at Dobyns-Bennett brings decades of experience to the table and is a critical piece to the school’s success, overseeing individual subject areas and segments of the D-B student “alphabet.”  Thank you to Richard Brown, Dr. Randy Watts, Dr. Brian Tate, Beth Cohen, Eric Lyons, Dee Olterman, and Cary Daniels!
2. Both KCS middle schools have an assistant and an associate principal who seamlessly support the academic and administrative work taking place.  On any given day, you might see them leading instructional teams, taking care of administrative duties, building student relationships, or working with parents and community stakeholders.  At John Sevier Middle School, Nick Roebke and Jim Wernke complete a great admin team, as do Julie Malone and Kelli Seymour at Robinson Middle!
3. We would also be remiss if we didn’t mention a retired KCS administrator that continues to serve the students of Kingsport, even in his retirement.  Longtime admin Mr. Randy Quillin has been graciously willing to return to the district on multiple occasions, serving as an interim assistant principal when needed.  Mr. Quillin is currently filling in as the interim AP at Robinson Middle School.  Thank you Mr. Quillin for you service and dedication!
4. Did you know that each KCS elementary school has an associate principal on staff to support the work of the schools?  Not only do these positions provide valuable support to the school culture, they also serve as a key component to the district’s leadership development plan.  Any healthy organization works to actively grow leadership from within, and KCS is no different!  A majority of KCS district and school leaders are “home-grown,” and have served as associate principals in the past!
5. At our elementary schools, associate principals can be found doing a wide variety of work, such as helping to lead our professional learning communities, taking care of school administrative duties, and assisting with teacher evaluations.  The team includes Phillip Wright at Adams Elementary, Dr. Kelli Cate at Jackson Elementary, Janice Irvin at Jefferson Elementary,  Vicky Treadway at Johnson Elementary, Lori Smith at Kennedy Elementary, Kyle Loudermilk at Lincoln Elementary, Val Love at Roosevelt Elementary, and Amy Doran at Washington Elementary.
6. Thank you to the fantastic assistant and associate principals of Kingsport City Schools!  You do outstanding work that leads directly to the success of our students and staff.  As a community, we are fortunate to have such a dedicated, talented, and committed group of leaders serving our schools.  #WorldClass