We thought it would be fun this week to take a look at some of the many ways our students are giving back to the community.  Young and old, our children are not only striving to do their best academically, they are also growing into outstanding young women and men that understand what it means to have a heart for service.  Let’s celebrate some of the ways our elementary students are becoming fantastic citizens.  Warning… We couldn’t stop at just six!

1. Children at Jackson Elementary School have been participating in the “Stop Hunger Now” initiative.  Through a partnership with First Broad Street Methodist Church, students have been collecting coins to purchase bags of rice that are distributed throughout the world.  It’s amazing how they are learning that just a few cents can help share nutrition with folks in need all across the globe (Click here to learn more about Stop Hunger Now).
2. Johnson Elementary students are thinking about how to support those in need both in our community and around the world.  Working with Heifer International, funds were raised to purchase both a goat and a cow for a community in poverty.  This purchase allows families in a needy community to live a more sustainable lifestyle.  And right here at home, an incredible amount of canned food was collected for the KCS Homeless Education Program and the Family Resource Center.  What a reflection of how Johnson students give through their understanding that not everyone has a home with enough food.
3. Roosevelt Elementary students are also working with Heifer International, through their “Read to Feed” program.  By holding a read-a-thon on Read Across America Day, students collected sponsorship donations to raise $500, which was used to purchase livestock.  This effort started through conversations during counseling classes, which motivated students to provide support to an overseas community in need.
4. Lincoln Elementary students are also thinking globally, as they will be supporting the “Chalkboards for Sudan” project the week of April 11-14.  With the Palmer Center and Mafair United Methodist also joining as partners, money raised will be given to purchase chalkboards for new schools being built in Sudan.  Also, over $2,000 has been raised this year for “Jump Rope for Heart,” an American Heart Association program locally coordinated by Lincoln physical education teacher Mrs. Hyder-Hall.
5. Students at Jefferson Elementary School have been very busy this year, supporting projects such as the “Thirst Comes First” global project.  This initiative, in partnership with First Broad Street United Methodist Church, raised over $4,000 to build three short hand dug wells in South Sudan, Africa that will provide clean drinking water to communities in need.  Jefferson students also reached out to our friends at Rock Springs Elementary who lost a significant amount of books due to a recent library flood.  Over 700 books were donated in a fantastic show of local support!
6. Washington Elementary students are supporting area nursing homes and hospitals in a variety of ways.  Students are providing blankets to hospitals for cancer patients to use while they receive chemotherapy treatments.  And the “Positive Quotes for Kids” club hopes to empower students with responsibility, engage their compassion, and offer them a chance to affect the lives of others by making cards for those needing words of encouragement.  The cards are then delivered to various nursing homes throughout Kingsport.  What a great way to spread joy and care to others in a time of need!
7. Kennedy Elementary students have been busy giving of their time and talents in several ways.  In addition to working to improve their environment through efforts such as recycling and a Kennedy/Lynn Garden clean-up day, they have also been hard at work to help others outside of Kingsport.  Over $900 was raised for St. Jude Children’s Hospital and materials were recently prepared to provide shoes for over 70 children in Uganda!
8. At Adams Elementary, student-led service projects have become the norm!  Almost 100 “Blessing Bags” were compiled and donated to the KCS Homeless Education program and Family Resource Center.  These bags contained items like shampoo, lotion, deodorant, scarves, and socks.  The fantastic work being done by the Small Miracles program was supported by fundraisers that provided over $2,000 and several pounds of carrots, apples, and supplies for their operations.  And Adams students also contributed books for the Rock Springs library project.

The word “impressive” doesn’t even begin to describe our fantastic students and staff!!

As we wrap up the KCS Spring Break this weekend, we look back and celebrate the Dobyns-Bennett Baseball Program, which recently celebrated the 1,500th win in program history.  Did you know that D-B Baseball is the winningest high school baseball program in America?  More varsity wins than any high school in the country!!

Here are six things you may not have known about the Tribe:

1.  What a home field advantage… J. Fred Johnson Stadium.  We all know what a great venue J Fred is for football on Fridays nights in Kingsport.  But the baseball end of the stadium has witnessed some great baseball over the years.  Not only has J Fred been the home of Tribe baseball, but Major League Baseball greats like Ted Williams, Darryl Strawberry, Glen Hubbard, and Dale Murphy have all played on the diamond inside J Fred.  Have you seen the new additions to the stadium this year to honor the past and prepare for future success of Tribe Baseball?

2. The “K”…  We are Dobyns-Bennett.  But make no mistake about it, we are Kingsport’s high school.  The K symbolizes our pride in our great city and also helps keep alive the tradition of past Tribe baseball teams.

3. We strive for excellence on the field, but it’s more than just working for the next win.  The program is also about developing great citizens and students.  The Tribe baseball team takes pride in community service.  The team helps with the Komen Race for the Cure each October and also supports the Santa Train at Christmas time each year.

4. 1500 and counting!  The Tribe has more varsity wins than any other high school in America, tallying its 1,500th W in a thrilling come from behind win against Science Hill.

5. Success in high school and beyond… There are 18 former Tribe baseball members currently playing baseball in college.

6.  We celebrate the “current,” while not forgetting our past.  Each year, the team holds a Tribe Baseball preseason banquet.  The proceeds help fund the Johnny Whited Scholarship, which is given to a senior each year.  Players from the 1950’s through current players attended this year.

Congratulations to Head Coach Ryan Wagner, the staff, and the players of Tribe Baseball on win #1,500.  World Class!!

Think that since Spring Break is upon us, all with Kingsport City Schools comes to a halt?  Not so!  This week, the Saturday Six peeks behind the curtain to reveal a variety of things that will be going on while students and (some) staff are on break.

1. There are many KCS students and staff members that have very busy schedules this week.  For instance, the Dobyns-Bennett “Cyber Tribe” team will be competing in two major robotics competitions over break.  This weekend, the team travels to Huntsville, Alabama for the FIRST Robotics Rocket City Regional.  Then next weekend, they are back on the road, this time to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville for the Smoky Mountains Regional.  Live streaming will be available, so even if you can’t attend, you can virtually support our students!  #RollCyberTribe
2. The KCS Early Childhood staff will be hard at work serving parents and children, preparing for the 2016-17 school year.  Pre-K screenings and placements will take place next week to help get our future students ready for next school year.  It is an exciting time for both parents and children, as they begin to start the transition to school!
3. The KCS Human Resources department is starting to hit high gear!  The recruitment and hiring process never really stops, but especially at this time of year, things are beginning to ramp up for what is an extremely busy season.  HR will be hiring and processing new employees, and with an eye on the 16-17 school year, beginning work on making sure the district’s goal of “providing committed and innovative educators” is being met.
4. The KCS Technology department never sleeps!  While many students and staff are on break next week, tech services will be hard at work continuing to move the district technology vision forward.  Staff will take advantage of lower network traffic to complete maintenance and numerous system upgrades, including work on the wireless network, servers, and security cameras.
5. Do you (or someone you know) need assistance with a zoning or tuition issue for 2016-17?  Spring Break is a great time to submit that request!  The KCS Student Services department is accepting zoning and tuition applications for next year, which can be submitted online here. Remember, even if you are attending a KCS school this year through a zoning or tuition situation, a request must be made annually.  The Student Services department will be happy to accept that request next week.
6. There may not be students to feed this week, but the KCS School Nutrition Services staff is hard at work.  SNS will spend much of next week gathering documentation for their yearly State review that is coming up in April, as well as making preparations for the Summer Feeding Program.  It’s hard to believe, but summer will be here before you know it!
7. Speaking of summer… A bonus item!  The KCS Communications staff will spend time next week in preparation for the release of the 2016 Summer Activities calendar.  This one-stop shop for academic camps, sports camps, and summer activities will be  published just after spring break.  Having seen the initial list, it’s certainly going to be a busy and fun summer!!

And don’t forget… 90.3 FM WCSK, the voice of Kingsport City Schools, never sleeps!  Let it be the 24/7 soundtrack of your Spring Break.  🙂

**Coming soon:  Did you notice that this past week, the D-B baseball team recorded the 1,500th win in school history?  This is the most wins by a high school varsity baseball team in America!!  In the coming weeks, look for a special Saturday Six that will share six interesting facts about the D-B baseball program.  Well done, Tribe!

Something a bit different for the Saturday Six this week, as you analyze whether your bracket is officially busted or not…

Here are the top six photos and images from KCS this week!

1. It was a full house in the D-B Culinary Arts room on Thursday, as lots of good friends gathered for the annual Retired Teachers Brunch.  What a great job by the D-B students that prepared a fabulous meal!
2. The D-B Air Force JROTC unit exemplifies the term “world class” as they support the Retired Teachers Brunch.
3. What great role models!  The D-B YES! club continues to shine, mentoring students at Roosevelt Elementary.
4. It’s almost concert season!  Students at Lincoln Elementary get ready for their big moment.
5. Beauty and grace… The D-B Winter Guard continues to shine through their competition season.
6. Don’t forget!  2016-17 Pre-K Screenings and Kindergarten Registration is coming up this week.

This week, the Saturday Six highlights six KCS events that need to be on your radar in the coming weeks.  Make plans now!

1. It may not happen until summer, but registration is already underway!  The 2016 KCS Summer STREAM Camp is now accepting applications for rising 2nd through 6th grade students.  The two week camp runs from June 13-24 at Sevier Middle School and is designed to spark interest in STREAM subjects through hands-on, project-based learning in the areas of Chemistry, Digital Media, Engineering, Environmental Exploration, and the Arts.  Click here for more information!
2. Do you have or know of a young child that is ready to start pre-k or kindergarten?  Now is the time to start preparing for this fall!  KCS will hold Pre-Kindergarten Screenings for the 2016-2017 school year on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., located at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium.  On that same day, all KCS elementary schools will hold open registration for rising kindergarteners from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.  What an exciting time for our newest students and families!
3. The next generation of D-B Band and Orchestra students is about to take flight!  Current 5th grade students that will be attending Robinson Middle School this fall should have Saturday, March 19 on their radar.  That will be the day of the RNR Instrument Placement, beginning at 9 a.m. at Robinson.  Current 5th graders that will be attending Sevier Middle School this fall should keep the morning of Saturday, April 9 free for their instrument placement.  JSMS will begin at 9 a.m., as well.
4. With warmer temperatures upon us, it’s time to notice that spring concert season is right around the corner.  Once we hit April, students all across Kingsport will begin to showcase their musical talents during a wide variety of evening events.  Check out the KCS Activities Calendar here for the full listing, and make plans to celebrate the season!
5. Blink twice, and graduation will be upon us.  It’s never too early to start planning for the celebration that is KCS and D-B Graduation!  Saturday, May 21 at 9 a.m. in J. Fred Johnson Stadium is the time and place.  Trust us… You’ll want to be there!
6. And coming up soon, don’t forget that Spring Break starts a bit early this year.  The KCS Spring Break will begin on Friday, March 25, and continue through the following week.  Students will return from break on Monday, April 4, 2016.

Did you happen to notice the banner weekend that just happened at D-B?  If you didn’t, it certainly needs repeating…

Thanks to Dr. Chris Hampton for helping recap this incredible weekend!

1. It may have come to a close one step short of the state tournament, but congrats to the Lady Indians basketball program for an outstanding season.  They finished the year with 25 wins, the second most in school history!
2. The D-B Chamber Singers and Concert Choir received a Superior rating at the J.B. Lyle District Choral Festival over the weekend.  Both Chamber and Concert choirs will be heading to the State Choral Festival Friday, April 22nd.
3. Mu Alpha Theta had a very successful math competition. They brought home five awards, including 1st place individual and 2nd place overall in the math bowl!
4. Several D-B Student Council members were recognized at the Tennessee Student Council Leadership Conference this weekend.  Michael Bennett won the Leadership Essay Contest, Student Council President Sarah Tanner was named the 2016 Tennessee Association of Student Council Student of the Year and Chandler Shoemaker received the 2016 Award for Going Above and Beyond in the name of student council.
5. The middle, JV, and Varsity Winterguards all won first at the CIPA Guard Showcase over the weekend.

I’d say it was a particularly “World Class” kind of weekend!

1.  It was a week full of reading all across KCS!  The celebration of Theodor Seuss Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss’) birthday on Wednesday, March 2 may have marked the 2016 edition of Read Across America Day, but KCS students spent the entire week focusing on the joy of reading.  Thank you to the many teachers, staff, parents, and volunteers that helped support this special week.  It is a great reminder that in a culture full of activities, hustle and bustle, you just can’t beat curling up with a good book!
2. We thought about trying to post pictures from KCS Read Across America Day/Week activities here, but there are just WAAAAAAAY too many.  You owe it to yourself to check out the KCS Facebook page here to see the fun, creative ways that our teachers, staff, and students celebrated reading this week.  It’s worth your time!!
3. It’s pretty cool when reading and technology come together… Keep an eye out for a new and exciting literacy project just underway, being initiated by Johnson Elementary’s Rebecca Thomasson. It blends reading, video, and the opportunity to share good books via the internet.  Check out the KCS YouTube channel here to watch the first books in this initiative, one of which is read by KCS Superintendent Dr. Lyle Ailshie.
4. Congratulations to John Adams Elementary for a very deserving award!  Adams has been awarded the inaugural Governor’s Award for Excellence in Early Foundations – Excellence in Promoting Physical Activity Award by the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet, in recognition for their Morning Mile program.  The program engages staff, volunteers, and students in an active running/walking program before school.  Adams is the first school ever to receive this award.  Awesome!
5. It was a busy week regarding leadership announcements for KCS.   Congratulations to Dr. Carmen Bryant, who has been named Assistant Superintendent – Instruction.  Formerly the Chief Academic Officer overseeing KCS secondary schools, Dr. Bryant will now oversee all instructional programs for the district, replacing the recently retired Dory Creech.  Also, Andy True as been named Assistant Superintendent – Administration, responsible for district administrative oversight.  But contrary to popular rumor,  he will still be that voice that wakes you up so very early on those cold, snowy mornings!
6. An update on the D-B Girls Basketball Team, that just keeps rolling along.  The Lady Indians have advanced to the final 16 in Class AAA.  Sweet!  They’ll play at Oak Ridge tonight for the opportunity to move on to the state tournament.  Best of luck to Coach Bill Francis and our ladies.  Roll Tribe!!

To provide you some key information and possibly bust some myths that may still be out there, the Saturday Six focuses on the KCS D-B EXCEL program this week.  D-B EXCEL (DBE) is a program that provides high school students a unique and innovative way to achieve high school credit (and a Dobyns-Bennett diploma) through a blended-learning approach, utilizing both technology and face-to-face instruction.

1.  D-B EXCEL is not the alternative school!  DBE provides students of all types a unique way to earn D-B credits.  There is no “typical” DBE student… They are students that seek a smaller learning environment; students that for whatever reason desire a flexible high school schedule; students from the main D-B campus that want to take a class online in order to free up schedule space for additional coursework at D-B.  The DBE student is one that seeks a different path than the traditional high school environment.  Myth:  DBE is a location for students that are remanded to an alternative location for behavior reasons.  Fact:  There are students at D-B EXCEL for a wide variety of reasons, depending on their own specific circumstances or desires.
2. D-B EXCEL offers a variety of scheduling options.  Students at DBE can take courses in the environment that best suits their individual needs.  Full-time blended-learning students take their classes online at the DBE facility, but with the ongoing support and “shoulder-to-shoulder” guidance of a teacher in the classroom.  Some students are full-time virtual, taking all of their courses online, either at the DBE facility or at home.  Other students are part-time blended/part-time virtual, depending on the level of support and scheduling flexibility that is needed.  It all depends on the individual needs of the student… This truly is an individualized approach to learning!
3. It’s not just the physical learning environment that is individualized.  By providing a learning platform that is specifically unique to each child, students even have the flexibility to speed up or slow down the learning process.  The pace of learning depends on the needs of the individual student… meaning the student can work quickly through content that is already known and spend longer on items where more support is needed.
4. Many students from the main D-B campus are taking advantage of D-B EXCEL course offerings.  D-B students are now able to take a wide variety of classes online, which then frees up a slot within the student’s existing schedule. This flexibility provides students the ability to take additional D-B classes of their choosing (which they otherwise would not have the ability to take), as well as obtain additional high school credits.
5. Learning and opportunities do not stop with the “academic” coursework.  Through partnerships in the local business community, DBE students can participate in the “Earn and Learn” program.  This unique opportunity provides valuable work and vocational skills training that will support the growth of the learner.  The opportunity to gain valuable work experience while in high school is a key component of D-B EXCEL’s learning program.
6. D-B EXCEL is growing!  Along with a steep increase in enrollment, academic supports have continued to expand.  Currently, the staff at DBE includes two math teachers, two English teachers, a science teacher, a social studies teacher, two part-time special education teachers, and a college & career liaison.  The staff is able to provide a deep level of instruction and support to DBE students, both in-person and online.  And with the growth in enrollment comes a need for additional space!  D-B EXCEL is current working toward transitioning to a new state-of-the-art physical facility to support this unique program, with the goal of relocating during the fall/winter of 2016.

Want to learn more about D-B EXCEL?  Is it right for your family?  Find out more by contacting Principal Mrs. Shanna Hensley at shensley@k12k.com.

It started with ice and snow and ended with 60 degree sunshine.  Yep… That sounds about right for a crazy February week in East Tennessee!

1.  A tip of the cap to the students and staff at Jefferson Elementary for reaching out to neighbors in need.  Recently, the library at Rock Springs Elementary was damaged due to a water leak, resulting in a loss of many books.  The students at Jefferson stepped forward and collected over 700 books to donate to our friends in Sullivan County and also coordinated with Scholastic to obtain a financial donation.  Way to go Jefferson Jaguars!  You set a great example for us all.
2. The John Sevier Middle School Sequoyah Scribe is at it again!  This week, the Sevier student newspaper learned they were a finalist in six different award categories by the Tennessee High School Press Association.  Pretty impressive stuff, considering they are competing against high school student newspapers from across Tennessee.
3. This past Wednesday, students all across KCS took part in celebrating Digital Learning Day.  This event highlights the many ways that technology is transforming teaching and learning in our schools.  It’s not just using technology because it’s cool and new… It’s using new and engaging tools to connect students to higher levels of learning.  The day featured a variety of events and activities that used cutting edge tools to bring excitement and engagement into classrooms all across the district.  What a great time to be a part of KCS!
4. Do you or someone you know need to apply for zoning or tuition for the 2016-17 school year?  Applications are now being accepted for next year, and may be completed by clicking here.  Remember… Even if you were enrolled through tuition or a special zoning situation this year, you must complete the application again to request accommodation again next year.
5. Did you happen to notice that we missed another day for inclement weather this week?  As a bit of information, with Monday’s dismissal, KCS has now missed five days this year due to weather.  When the calendar was originally approved, our Board authorized four days for such a purpose, using the 30 minutes of extra classroom time our students attend each day beyond State minimums.  At this week’s Work Session, the Board indicated that since the banked time actually provides for additional days beyond the four days originally approved, they do not anticipate adding additional student attendance makeup days to the 2015-16 Calendar at this time.
6. Tonight, the Dobyns-Bennett Girls Basketball Team will have a chance to make history and win their first district championship.  Let’s turn out big to support the Lady Indians in their quest for the title.  See you at Volunteer High School tonight… Game time is at 6 p.m.

Well that sure was an interesting week…

1. After a week of wacky winter weather, it sure would be nice if Spring would hurry up and arrive.  This past week featured a snow day, a 2-hour delay, and an early dismissal… a trifecta of inclement weather situations!  HUGE compliments go out to the students, staff, and families of KCS for keeping a focus on teaching and learning during such a crazy week.  It’s always dangerous when you start complimenting specific groups, because you often unintentionally leave someone out,  but we also have to mention…
2. What a terrific job by the KCS Transportation staff this week!  The drivers, led by Director of Transportation Tommy Starnes, were absolute rock stars this week.  Often facing challenging conditions, their performance was exemplary and displayed a tremendous amount of cooperation, flexibility, teamwork, and skill.
3. The KCS Maintenance and Custodial Staff continued to shine.  As winter weather consistently threw challenges toward our facilities, the KCS staff worked long hours to clear, prep, and ensure students and staff had the best environment to teach and learn.  These are unsung heroes that keep our facilities in tip-top shape, and we thank them for their tremendous efforts!
4. Did your child eat two meals at school on Friday?  It may not immediately pop to mind, but unusual weather and schedule changes can wreak havoc on the School Nutrition Services staff that works so hard to prep and serve two meals a day to thousands of KCS students.  Our staff rolled with the punches and made sure that every child that needed a healthy meal was able to receive one, with a fantastic level of professionalism and skill.  Thank you to our SNS workers!
5. Online TNReady and TCAP assessments were also part of this unusual week.  Due to technical issues on Monday at Measurement, Inc. (the company tasked with implementing the Tennessee Department of Education’s online student assessments this year), all online testing for 2016 that was underway was halted and will now be replaced by paper/pencil assessments.  KCS students had not yet started testing when the issues occurred, though students, teachers, and staff had done great work to be prepared (both educationally and technically) for this year’s tests.  They will now have a chance to show off all that great learning with pencil in hand, when the new testing window opens in late February.  KCS will distribute final revised testing dates in the coming days.
6. One final weather-related item of business, regarding the KCS Junior Band and Orchestra Clinics.  Due to the inclement weather on Friday, 2/12/16, both the Band and Orchestra Junior Clinics were postponed.  They will now take place on Friday, February 19 and Saturday, February 20.