Orchard Knob Elementary students recently celebrated World Chemistry Day with BASF employees by making slime during an interactive experiment. Photo courtesy of BASF. Contributed Photo/Times Free PressGov. Lee encourages civic education programs in Tennessee schools
Last week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee launched the Governor’s Civics Seal and mini-grant program to provide support and recognize schools and districts that prioritize teaching our nation’s history and civic values.
“I am proud to launch this initiative to inspire our Tennessee students to be civicly engaged,” Lee said in a statement. “By providing strong civics programming in our schools, we are ensuring that future generations will build upon the incredible progress our state and country has made.”
Earlier this year, Lee allocated $500,000 for public schools and districts to implement civic education programs. A portion of these funds will be used for the Governor’s Civics Seal mini-grants, which will be awarded to schools and districts across the state.
“Instilling strong civic values in our students is important to ensuring they are life-long learners and active citizens. I look forward to working with Governor Lee to award mini-grants to schools and districts that champion this initiative and provide opportunities for students to learn about our government,” Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn said in a statement.
The Tennessee Department of Education will use the allocated funds in part to award the mini-grants to schools and districts. The mini-grants will be awarded to 20 rural and urban schools across Tennessee in amounts of $5,000 to $10,000.
For more information, visit the tn.gov/education.
Orchard Knob Elementary students celebrate World Chemistry Day
BASF employees visited Orchard Knob Elementary School recently to celebrate World Chemistry Day with fifth-grade students. The students participated in slime-making experiment with employee’s from BASF’s Chattanooga plant. The interactive experiment and chemistry lesson was a part of BASF’s Kids’ Lab curriculum – an international program that provides hands-on learning experiences for children and teachers, according to a press release. BASF also donated $500 to the school.
Collegiate High junior performs with National Youth Orchestra
Sasha Hitachi, a junior at Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State, was recently recognized for her accomplishments this summer, including performing with the National Youth Orchestra.
Hitachi, who plays the flute, performed at venues across the country including Carnegie Hall in New York City and the New World Symphony Center in Miami, Florida. She also spent a two-week residency at Purchase College in New York.
“While at Purchase, I averaged playing seven to eight hours a day, and had to be very focused on the orchestral music as well as my personal practice,” Hitachi said in a statement.
For the first performance, the National Youth Orchestra traveled to Miami, where the group rehearsed for another week and met with conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and guest artist and composer Gabriela Montero.
Hitachi was also recognized previously as one of only six musicians selected to play with renowned Swiss flutist Emmanuel Pahud at the University of Georgia in 2016.
Hitachi credits her enrollment in Collegiate High as instrumental in the pursuit of her musical passions. The flexibility of the faculty and her schedule has allowed her to travel, compete and practice, she said in press release.
Hamilton County Schools launches the Expect Excellence Fund
Recently, Hamilton County Schools announced the launch of the Expect Excellence Fund to provide an opportunity for the public to support expanding innovative programs, such as eLabs, robotics, project-based learning and more, in local schools, according to a press release.
The campaign is part of the district’s efforts to raise funds from community partners and donors interested in supporting local schools.
Earlier this year, Superintendent Bryan Johnson increased community interest in donating to the school district after he donated his $15,000 bonus – earned thanks to the district’s academic achievement and TVAAS scores last school year – toward student scholarships.
For more information, visit: fundforexcellence.org/110.18/expect-excellence-fund.
If you have news about local schools you’d like included in Class Notes, email Meghan Mangrum at mmangrum@timesfreepress.com.