The serve thousands of meals each day and are a key component in the effort to support a healthy learning environment for all KCS students.  Today, the Saturday Six shines a spotlight on the KCS School Nutrition Services (SNS)!

KCS School Nutrition works hard serve a wide range healthy foods so that students are primed and ready to learn.  While meeting USDA regulations (including offering lower sodium and saturated fat food items), the menus offer daily fresh fruits and vegetables and 100% whole grain breads and starches.  In addition, all snacks and beverages offered are USDA smart snack compliant.  All the while, food offerings are sought and selected to best appeal to student taste and satisfaction.  Items such as the middle and high school daily garden fresh salad bar provide healthy food alternatives,  and the alternative breakfast program gives students the opportunity to eat the most important meal of the day after the bell rings.

Let’s look at six things you may not know about the KCS School Nutrition program!

1. Kingsport SNS staff serves more than 5,000 meals each day.  Over the course of a school year, that totals approximately 1 million meals served.  Wow!
2. At only $1.5o for breakfast and $2.25 (elementary) or $2.50 (middle & high) for lunch for students, a KCS school meal is one of the best deals in town!
3. As great as those prices are, starting in 2016, KCS is participating in a new Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.  This program allows high-poverty schools to offer breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students.  CEP is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) and supports students at Jackson Elementary School, Johnson Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, Roosevelt Elementary School and Sevier Middle School.
4. Did you know that through an innovative online portal, parents can place funds in their child’s meal account electronically?  Using the MyPaymentsPlus program, families can avoid having to send cash or check with their child to school for meal purchases.  Click here to find out more about this online option.
5. Speaking of online, the KCS website keeps an up-to-date listing of breakfast and lunch menu calendars.  You’ll never again wonder what’s for lunch at school!  Click here to view the complete meal menus.
6. The SNS program is completely self-supporting.  Through the purchase of food items and federal meal reimbursements, SNS expenses are funded without the use of KCS general purpose funding.

And here is a bonus fact… KCS cafeterias are inspected twice each year by the Tennessee Department of Health.  Did you know that during the past year, all KCS cafeterias received a perfect score of 100 on a health inspection?  That’s pretty impressive!

The next time you have the opportunity, have a meal in a KCS school cafeteria.  You’ll be glad you did!

This weekend kicks off National School Counseling Week in the U.S. and Kingsport City Schools is blessed to have an outstanding team of school counselors supporting the development of our students.  This year’s theme is “School Counseling:  Helping Students Realize Their Potential.”  But did you ever stop to consider exactly what our school counselors do and how they help our students maximize their potential?

In this week’s Saturday Six, let’s explore six ways that KCS school counselors help Kingsport students pursue world class!

1. School counselors work with ALL students.  They meet students where they are emotionally, academically and socially and help guide them to the next stage in their personal development path.
2. School counselors work with students on three domains of development: Academic, career, and social/personal.  By focusing on these domains, they help students become successful and well-rounded adults and problem-solvers.
3. The role of the school counselor changes as students mature and move through different developmental stages.  The elementary school counselor’s job is much different than that of the high school counselor, but still focuses on supporting student growth and development among the three domains.
4. School counselors collaborate with teachers, administrators, parents and community agencies to ensure that they are meeting the needs of our students.  In many occasions, school counselors are a vital link between schools and outside agencies.  This ensures continuity of care and resources for both the student and family.
5. School counselors support student academic growth by helping to uncover possible blocks that might be hindering progress.  These blocks might include grief issues, family concerns, study skills and organizational issues, and friendship issues, among other things.
6. School counselors CARE for students!  They provide a safe and supportive place for students to solve problems and move forward in their development.

At its core, school counselors as helpers … they help students … they help teachers … they help families … they help our community.  Thank you, school counselors, for making our students and our world a better place!  You consistently show what happens when a healthy dose of idealism is paired with action in a caring environment… Positive change is the result!

Across Tennessee this week, schools and communities are celebrating “Board of Education Appreciation Week,” thanking the women and men that provide leadership to their local school systems.  In Kingsport, we are fortunate to have a Board that is passionate about children, academic and social achievement, and ensuring that Kingsport City Schools continues to help make Kingsport a world-class location to live and work.

In this week’s Saturday Six, we highlight the Kingsport BOE so that you can be aware of the great trustees that give so much to support our children and community!

1. Mr. Eric Hyche, Board President – Mr. Hyche was appointed to the BOE in 2014 to complete a one-year term of service due to a Board member resignation. He was elected to the Board in 2015 for his first two-year term ending in 2017. Eric was elected President in July 2016.

   Mr. Hyche is a native of Kingsport, graduating as the valedictorian of Sullivan Central High School in 1983.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Tech University, where he was the 1987 Derryberry Award winner.

   After completing his undergraduate degree, Mr. Hyche married Angie Duncan, another Kingsport native, and relocated to Atlanta, GA, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Tech, and worked for NCR and Iterated Systems. In 1998, Mr. and Mrs. Hyche moved back to Kingsport and began working remotely for Seattle-based RealNetworks. In April 2013, he joined the technical staff at Groupon, where he currently develops software for their iPhone and iPad apps. Mr. Hyche is also a past president of the Preston Forest Community Association. He enjoys writing software for personal projects, reading, bicycling, and history.

   Mr. Hyche and his wife have two daughters, both of whom attended Kingsport City Schools and who are now in college.

    

2. Mrs. Susan Lodal, Board Vice President – Mrs. Lodal was first elected to the BOE in 2003 and is currently serving in her fourth four-year term on the Board.

   Mrs. Lodal is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Purdue University.

   While serving on the Board, Mrs. Lodal has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2014 Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) Scholars Circle Award, 2013 Ambassadors for Education Certified, Master, Diamond and Platinum Level Awards, and is a past President of the TSBA (Treasurer 2012, Vice-President 2013, President-Elect 2014, President 2015).  She received the National School Boards Association Distinguished Service Award (2007, 2010, 2012), the 2010 C. Hal Henard Distinguished Service Award, and was named to the All Tennessee School Board by the TSBA in 2010.

   She has served as the chairperson of the Tennessee Legislative Network and member-at-large of the TSBA Board of Directors (2007-2008) as well as being a member of the Legislative Affairs Committee of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Lodal is a Master (Level V) School Board Member, the highest designation bestowed by the TSBA.

   Mrs. Lodal continues to volunteer as a tutor in two elementary schools after being involved in PTA for 16 years while her children were attending school. Prior to running for the Bard, she was the Director of Children’s Ministry at Waverly Road Presbyterian Church for 13 years, where she now serves as an Elder and in a leadership position of their food pantry. Mrs. Lodal is a new member of the Health, Safety & Stability Vision Council of the United Way of Greater Kingsport and the French horn section of the First Broad Street United Methodist Church Orchestra.

   Mrs. Lodal and her husband, Peter, have lived in Kingsport since 1977. They have three grown children, all graduates of Kingsport City Schools. Susan and Peter are also the proud grandparents of eight grandchildren.

    

3. Mr. Todd Golden, Board Member – Mr.Golden was appointed to the BOE in 2014 to complete a one-year term of service due to a Board member resignation. He was elected to the Board in 2015 for his first four-year term ending in 2019.

    

   Mr. Golden has called Kingsport home for 20 years.  A native of Albany, Georgia, he attended Brigham Young University – Idaho, studying business and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technical Sales from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

   After completing college, Mr. Golden worked for Hewlett-Packard in the Bay Area of California as a territory sales manager and was promoted to be the corporate trainer for the southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico.  It was during this time that he elected to move to Kingsport, TN.  He has been an integral part in establishing and executing the annual Day of Service in Kingsport, taught classes at the Kingsport Renaissance Center on business development and Spanish, served as a volunteer in various community roles, is a member of Healthy Kingsport, a member of the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, served as a full-time Christian missionary in Colombia for two years, and speaks fluent Spanish.

   Mr. Golden and his wife Melissa have five children, two pre-schoolers and three of that attend Kingsport City Schools.

4. Dr. Karen Reed-Wright, Board Member – Dr. Reed-Wright was elected to the BOE in 2015 and is serving in her first four-year term on the Board.  She is a lifelong resident of Kingsport and a product of Kingsport City Schools. Karen attended ETSU, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education majoring in history. She returned to college to add an elementary certification and to earn a Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist. Later, she returned to ETSU again to earn her Doctorate degree in Leadership and Policy Analysis. These degrees built the foundation for her career with Kingsport City Schools and later as an associate professor at Virginia Intermont College.

    

   During her years with Kingsport City Schools, Karen was an elementary and middle school teacher, a peer evaluator, a staff development coordinator, a reading coach, and served as an interim principal. For eight years she worked as the Literacy Coordinator and was a communications coordinator when the new Washington Elementary was first opened. During this time, Karen also traveled within and outside the state as a consultant providing workshops in both reading and mathematics. She also served as a member of the Tennessee Reading Panel, selecting guidelines for reading and language arts for school systems across the state.

   While a classroom teacher, Karen achieved Career Ladder III distinction and in 2000, at the White House, President Clinton presented her with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics and Science. Karen is a National Board Certified Teacher (1999) and was selected as a YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Field of Education (2007).

   Karen and her husband, Jim Wright, have a daughter, Peyton. They are members of First Presbyterian Church, Bays Mountain Park Association, Friends of Allandale, and Netherland Inn/Exchange Place. Karen worked as a volunteer for Fun Fest for several years and was the Chairman of Fun Fest 1990 and is a current board member of the Sullivan County Children’s Advocacy Center.

   Dr. Reed-Wright enjoys reading, walking, attending sporting events, and traveling to Massachusetts to visit her daughter and son-in-law.

    

5. Mrs. Carrie Updshaw, Immediate Board Past President – Mrs. Upshaw was first elected to the BOE in 2009 and is currently serving in her second four-year term on the Board.  She was elected to her first term as Board president in 2013. She was recently appointed to the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA) All Tennessee School Board. She is a Level IV board member and actively participates in conferences and advocacy at both the state and national level.

    

   Mrs. Upshaw has lived in the Tri-Cities area most of her life, graduating from Sullivan East High School and earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

   She worked as a contract engineer until 1990.  Following the birth of her children, she became active as a community volunteer and held many PTSA offices, including President at Washington Elementary School and John Sevier Middle School.

   Mrs. Upshaw is the Senior Adult Director at First Baptist Church in Kingsport where she is also the pianist.

   Mrs. Upshaw and her husband Mike have two grown children, both of whom attended Kingsport City Schools from kindergarten through graduation. Mrs. Upshaw remains an active volunteer in several programs.

    

6. Mrs. Vivian Altizer, Board Executive Assistant – We certainly can’t leave out the outstanding BOE executive assistant, Mrs. Vivian Altizer.  A tireless worker who does so much to support our Board and KCS, Mrs. Altizer is a long-time KCS employee who coordinates and supports the activities of the Board.  Mrs. Altizer has served as president to the Tennessee School Boards Association’s Tennessee Association of Board Secretaries (TABS).  She has been a member of TABS since 2009, also serving as vice-president from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

An exciting and spirit-filled week at Dobyns-Bennett concluded on Friday with Basketball Homecoming in the Buck Van Huss Dome. Let’s take a look at some of the top sights and sounds from this special night in this week’s Saturday Six. Roll Tribe!
1. Coach Bill Francis keeps a close eye on the action in the girls game, as the Lady Indians topped the David Crockett Lady Pioneers 60-36. 

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3. The award-winning D-B Air Force JROTC squad, looking sharp as always as they present the colors. 

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5. Congratulations to the 2017 Basketball Homecoming King and Queen! This year’s honor goes to Chandler Woods and Kensley Henry. 

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Here are some bonus photos from tonight’s Homecoming action!

The start of a new year also brings the opening of nominations for the Kingsport City Schools Hall of Fame.  The Hall serves as the keystone award for former KCS employees that have significantly impacted the children and educational community of Kingsport.  Now in it’s third year, KCS is seeking outstanding nominees to be recognized.

Were you positively impacted by an outstanding educator while you were a KCS student?  Was your child’s life touched by a wonderful bus driver, cafeteria worker, assistant, or custodian?  Did you see how an effective administrator made a difference in a child’s future?  The KCS Hall of Fame serves to honor ALL employee types, and you can help nominate these worthy employees!

Click here to learn all about the Hall and to nominate a deserving employee for this year’s class.  Please consider who you might want to bring forward for this great honor.  Nominations for this year’s class will be taken online or by mail through May 1, 2017.

Who has already been inducted into the KCS Hall of Fame?  This week, the Saturday Six (plus 1!) looks at the wonderful inductees from the first two HOF classes.

1. Mrs. Virgealia (Jill) Ellis (2015) – Modern Era Category (Retired post-1990)
   • Mrs. Ellis retired from KCS in 1992 after 38 years of service at Douglass High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, and Kingsport Adult Education.  During her tenure, she served as a teacher, guidance counselor, and as a district Career Ladder program evaluator.  A pillar in the community, Mrs. Ellis was recognized for her positivity, humility, and service as a role model.
2. Mr. Charles (Charlie) Herron (2105) – Modern Era Category (Retired post-1990)
   • Serving as the Ross N. Robinson Middle School Band Director for 34 years, Charlie Herron retired from Kingsport City Schools in 2008.  Mr. Herron is widely recognized as being a key figure in the development and excellence of the KCS band program.  Known for his skill as a music educator, Herron emphasized commitment to musicianship and a willingness to work together to achieve excellence.
3. Mrs. Wanda McJunkin – Tradition Era Category (Retired 1960-1990)
   • Affectionately known by her students as “Mrs. Mac,” Mrs. McJunkin joined KCS in 1949, retiring after 33 years of service at Jackson Elementary and John Sevier Middle School.  McJunkin worked as a long-time physical education and health instructor, as well as the sponsor of the cheerleading squad.  Known for the positive connections she made with students, Mrs. McJunkin was widely regarded as an outstanding classroom teacher, encourager, and motivator.
4. Mrs. Margaret Bays -Modern Era Category (Retired post-1990)
   • Mrs. Bays retired from KCS in 2010 after more than 58 years in education, 30+ of those years with Kingsport City Schools. During her tenure, Mrs. Bays taught music to thousands of students at Johnson Elementary School. In retirement, she has continued to be involved with music activities at many schools, including volunteering her time and attending district meetings or workshops. Widely known in the field of music education, Mrs. Bays is recognized for her dedication in teaching music, appreciation for its art and skill, and application of musical knowledge to life outside the classroom.
5. Ms. Elizabeth “Lib” Dudney -Tradition Era Category (Retired 1960-1990)
   • Ms. Dudney retired from KCS in 1985 after serving as a science teacher at both Sevier Junior High and Dobyns-Bennett High School. She also served as sponsor for many clubs and coached girls’ athletic teams. Identified by her students as a creative teacher who made science “a wonderland of curiosity and adventure,” Ms. Dudney was zealous about offering students the best opportunities available to expand their horizons. In her retirement, she was elected to the Kingsport Board of Education, serving in leadership roles as both vice president and president. She also led fundraising efforts to build the D-B Alumni Fieldhouse, a $3 million venture.
6. Mr. William “Bill” Hull -Modern Era Category (Retired post-1990)
   1. Serving as a teacher of English, Bible literature, and journalism, Mr. Hull also coached football and Scholars Bowl teams, retiring in 2009. Thirty-nine years of his 42 years as an educator were spent at Dobyns-Bennett High School. In 2004, Hull received the Excellence Award from the National Council of Teachers of English for his service at KCS. Hull was widely recognized as an educator who truly cared for his students, who believed in their ability to achieve, and who inspired all students to “keep working and moving forward.”
7. Mr. Cecil Puckett – Tradition Era Category (Retired 1960-1990)
   • Mr. Cecil “Coach” Puckett joined KCS in 1957 after coaching in other districts and serving in the Armed Forces. Coach Puckett taught and coached at Sevier and Robinson Junior Highs, as well as Dobyns-Bennett High School. In addition, he served as KCS Activities Director for a number of years and coached little league baseball and softball through Eastman’s summer program. A gifted athlete and decorated D-B graduate, Coach Puckett instilled in each student the values of integrity, perseverance, and giving ones’ personal best in all endeavors. He is known as a man who set high moral standards for students and peers to follow, and one who quietly taught and led by example.

Welcome to a snowy start to 2017!  This week, the Saturday Six thought it would be interesting to share six things that happen behind the scenes on wintry mornings when weather conditions make a KCS schedule change a possibility.  A lot goes into that final decision, always made with student and staff safety in mind!

1. The KCS inclement weather procedures actually start days before a potential schedule change.  During the winter months, KCS staff continually monitors long-term weather forecasts to be on the lookout for potential weather issues.  In most occasions, staff will be anticipating potential issues up to 5-7 days in advance.
2. The day before any potential schedule change due to weather, KCS staff, including the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent – Administration, Chief Student Services Officer, and Transportation Director will communicate about the current forecast.  If conditions warrant, a decision regarding a schedule change for the next day may be made the evening before.  If not, communication will continue throughout the evening, including consultation with local meteorologists, sources such as the National Weather Service in Morristown, and the City of Kingsport Public Works department.
3. The day starts very early when a schedule change is being considered.  A review of current road and weather conditions starts before 4 a.m. Once again, multiple weather sources are consulted to determine the most accurate forecasts, and city road crews are keeping an eye on roads throughout Kingsport.  In addition, the KCS team is also on the roads by 4 a.m., checking out conditions as well.  Getting that first-hand look in our neighborhoods and community is a vital step in making sure the best and safest decision is made.
4. Around 5 a.m., KCS staff will again communicate to review road conditions and monitor current radar and weather forecasts.  At this time, administration works to make a final decision, based on a combination of the best available information at that time.
5. If at all possible, staff works to make a final decision regarding any potential schedule change between 5 and 5:30 a.m.  This is necessary for a variety of reasons… KCS transportation, school nutrition, and custodial staff are beginning the process of reporting to work in this timeframe.  Bus transportation begins around 6 a.m., and by that time, school nutrition staff is already beginning the process of preparing breakfasts and custodial staff is working hard to prep schools across KCS.  If a change is to be made to the schedule, it is important that these folks are aware.
6. Additionally, families and students certainly need to know of any schedule change as soon as possible.  If a change is to be made, the KCS communications staff begins to do its work immediately, posting the information to KCS social media, contacting local TV and radio stations, broadcasting the change on WCSK, 90.3 FM, posting the information on the district website at http://www.k12k.com, and sending out a phone call, email, and text message.  The goal is for all communication processes to be complete by 6 a.m., so that the entire Kingsport community is aware of any changes in a timely manner.

Any schedule change affects the entire Kingsport community, and it’s certainly not taken lightly.  However, it is sometime necessary due to important safety concerns.  Decisions are made given the very best information possible at the time, unfortunately without the benefit of hindsight… experience tells us that forecasts and conditions often change quickly during the winter here in northeast Tennessee.  However, we are fortunate to have highly qualified weather experts, a fantastic City Public Works staff, and a world-class KCS custodial staff that support the safety of Kingsport City Schools students and staff.

Have a question about the KCS inclement weather processes?  Leave a question in the comment section, and we’ll do our best to answer it here!

With the publishing of this weekend’s Saturday Six, Kingsport City Schools is now officially on Winter Vacation!  Students won’t return to class until Wednesday, January 4, 2017, which will hopefully give our families time to enjoy a wonderful break.  The Saturday Six will also be taking a couple of weeks off, returning after school begins again in 2017.

How will you spend the next two weeks?  For many folks, this is a perfect time to cozy up by the fire with some hot chocolate and a great book.  Looking for some good book ideas?  This week, with the help of KCS Coordinator of Literacy Programs Emily Helphinstine, the Saturday Six offers six book suggestions to help you complete your winter reading list.  Enjoy these possibilities!

1.    The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown – “…An irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times,”  tells the Depression-era tale of nine working-class boys from the University of Washington who fielded a crew team and shocked the world by defeating Hitler’s German team in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
2.   Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepetys – A “masterful work of historical fiction”  that proves that humanity and love can prevail, even in the darkest times.  Ten thousand people, who discover that neither country nor culture nor status truly matters,  find themselves struggling for survival in this tale inspired by the real-life sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, considered to be the greatest maritime disaster in history.
3.   Echo, by Pam Munoz Ryan – Echo tells the tale of Otto who finds himself lost and alone in a forbidden forest.  When he meets three mysterious sisters, Otto finds himself entwined in a puzzling quest involving a prophecy, a promise, and a harmonica.
4.   The Quiltmaker’s Gift, by Jeff Brumbeau – When a generous quiltmaker agrees to make a quilt for a greedy king, but only under certain circumstances, she causes the king to undergo a change of heart.  Each page of The Quiltmaker’s Gift highlights a different quilt block pattern whose name relates to the unfolding story.
5.   The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce – Named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry tells about retired Englishman Harold Fry’s six hundred mile journey on foot to deliver a  message to a woman he hadn’t heard from in twenty years until her good-bye letter arrived at his home.  Full of charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we bury deep in our hearts, this novel introduces Joyce as a “wise – and utterly irresistible – storyteller.”
6.   The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, by Jonas Jonasson – In The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, we find the tale of a reluctant centenarian, Allan Karlsson, who decides it’s never too late to start over. To avoid life in a nursing home, Karlsson climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and unexpected journey that involves a suitcase stuffed with cash, some unpleasant criminals, a friendly hot dog stand operator, and an elephant.

It’s beginning to look a lot like… KCS Holiday Concert season time!!

Last week, the Saturday Six provided a listing of upcoming holiday concert offerings across the district, along with an open invitation for you to attend.  Many of you took us up on this offer!  We hope you have enjoyed watching and listening to the awesome talents of our students and staff.  With a week of school left before break, there are still opportunities for you to join us (more on that later).

If you were not able to attend our holiday concerts last week, we have you covered!  Kingsport City Schools radio station WCSK (90.3 FM) is replaying concerts all season long.  Let WCSK be your soundtrack for the season with a wide ranging mix of holiday music… much of it student performed!  Broadcasting 24/7, WCSK is a fantastic listen.

Want to hear KCS holiday concerts right now?  WCSK is also online and on-demand!  Click here to access the WCSK homepage, where you can listen live.  Concert events are also available on the station “podcasts” page.  Want another shortcut?  Here are links to the audio of several recent KCS holiday concerts.

1. On November 29th, the Robinson Middle School Band helped kick off the season with their annual holiday concert.  Click here to listen.
2. On December 1st, the students of Roosevelt Elementary held their Lighting of the Tree ceremony and holiday concert.  Click here to listen.
3. On December 6th, the Sevier Middle School 6th grade orchestra, chorus, and band held their holiday concert.  Click here to listen.
4. On December 8th , the Dobyns-Bennett Varsity Choirs performed their annual Christmas Concert.  Click here to listen.
5. As the season continues, visit the WCSK podcast page by clicking here to listen to additional concerts as they continue to be posted for on-demand listening whenever you would like!
6. There is still time to catch a concert in-person!  Here is a listing of the KCS holiday concerts still to come:
   • Monday, December 12
     • 6 p.m.  John Adams Elementary Choir Concert (Adams Elementary)
   • Tuesday, December 13
     • 6 p.m.  Johnson Elementary 4th Grade Winter Concert (Johnson Elementary)
     • 6:30 p.m.  Johnson Elementary “Christmas Caroling in the Community” (various locations)
     • 7 p.m.  D-B Fine Arts Holiday Concert (Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center)
   • Thursday, December 15
     • 6:30 p.m.  Lincoln Elementary Carolers Christmas Performance (Mafair United Methodist Church)
     • 7 p.m.  Sevier Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Holiday Concert (Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  With the holiday season upon us, KCS students are busy spreading cheer for all of Kingsport to see and hear.  A multitude of concerts and activities are planned in the coming weeks and you are invited!  We hope you will consider spending part of your holiday with us… Our students and staff are eager to share their incredible talents with you!

Here is a look at six days of KCS holiday events!  Okay… There are really seven days, but we hope you won’t mind the bonus item this week.  🙂

1. Saturday, December 3
   • 6 p.m.  D-B’s A Cappella group ARMONIA performs at the Kingsport Christmas Tree Lighting (Church Circle)
   • 7 p.m.  D-B Orchestra Small Ensemble Concert (D-B Music Building)
2. Tuesday, December 6
   • 7 p.m.  Robinson Middle School Orchestra Holiday Concert (RNR Auditorium)
   • 7:30 p.m.  Sevier Middle School 6th Grade Holiday Concert (JSMS Auditorium)
3. Thursday, December 8
   • 6 p.m.  Robinson Middle School Chorus Concert (RNR Auditorium)
   • 7:30 p.m.  D-B Varsity Choirs Christmas Concert (First Baptist Church, Church Circle)
4. Monday, December 12
   • 6 p.m.  John Adams Elementary Choir Concert (Adams Elementary)
5. Tuesday, December 13
   • 6 p.m.  Johnson Elementary 4th Grade Winter Concert (Johnson Elementary)
   • 6:30 p.m.  Johnson Elementary “Christmas Caroling in the Community” (various locations)
   • 7 p.m.  D-B Fine Arts Holiday Concert (Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center)
6. Thursday, December 15
   • 6:30 p.m.  Lincoln Elementary Carolers Christmas Performance (Mafair United Methodist Church)
   • 7 p.m.  Sevier Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Holiday Concert (Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center)

Bonus Item!  On Tuesday, December 20, D-B will be holding an A Cappella Christmas performance at the Renaissance Center Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Please come and share the holiday season with us!