Orchard Knob Elementary celebrates Chemistry Day
Fifth-grade students at Orchard Knob Elementary School got to make slime on Oct. 4 through the BASF Kids' Lab.
BASF employee volunteers visited the school for "Chemistry Day" and provided interactive demonstrations to the students.
The Kids' Lab program is an international program designed for children ages 6-12 and provides hands-on learning experiences for children, teachers and caregivers to engage them in the dynamic world of chemistry, according to a news release.
The students got to explore chemistry through fun experiments.
Third annual Harvest Moon Storyland Maze on Nov. 3
Read 20, in partnership with Early Matters Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Basics, will host the third annual Harvest Moon Storyland Maze from 1-4 pm on Saturday, Nov. 3 at the Tennessee Riverpark.
The maze is mean to spark a love for reading - Read20's primary mission - in young participants.
The event is geared toward families with young children, and attendees are invited to dress in costume.
The maze is built out of straw bales and will feature storybook characters acting out and reading their stories aloud. There also will be activities for young children and their families centered on The Chattanooga Basics, which are five fun, simple ways every family can give their child a great start in life
A few of the exciting activities families can expect to see are the Creative Discovery Museum bus, storybook characters in costume, and an obstacle course. All children who attend the maze event will receive free books courtesy of Read 20.
Georgia to expand resources for rural school districts
The Georgia Department of Education has launched an initiative to expand the resources available to public school districts in rural Georgia, called the Partnership for Rural Growth.
"More and more Georgians are recognizing the importance of a 'rural renaissance' to the future of our state - and K-12 education must be a driver of that," said state School Superintendent Richard Woods in a news release. "As a longtime resident of rural Georgia, and a former South Georgia principal and teacher, I want to make sure every single student – in every part of our state – has access to opportunities that will prepare them for a successful future. Through the Partnership for Rural Growth, we're working to eliminate the resource gaps our rural schools and districts often face, and to make sure K-12 education is spurring renewal in rural Georgia."
Major components of the program will include: $10,000 grants to 35 districts to establish or expand fine arts programs, establishing STEM and STEAM coordinators in Southwest and Southeast Georgia, workshops to increase access to AP, dual enrollment, and gifted coursework, up to 40 grants of $11,000 each to help schools teach entrepreneurship and a network for school improvement for school and district leaders in rural Georgia.
Hamilton County kicks off learning communities
Each of Hamilton County Schools' new learning communities will host kick-off events in the coming weeks.
The four learning communities launched this spring by Superintendent Bryan Johnson join the Opportunity Zone to help organize the district into smaller communities.
Families and community members are invited to a night of interactive fun for the entire family. Hear from community leaders on the direction of your learning community and connect with the local businesses and organizations that serve our schools, according to a Facebook post by Hamilton County Schools.
> North River Learning Community Kick-Off is from 5-6:30 p.m. on Nov. 5 at Loftis Middle School
> Missionary Ridge Learning Community Kick-Off is from 6-7:30 p.m. on Nov. 6 at East Ridge Elementary School
> Harrison Bay Learning Community Kick-Off is from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Nov. 8 at Ooltewah Elementary School
> Rock Point Learning Community Kick-Off is from 5:30-7:00 p.m. on Nov. 19 at The Gallery, 3918 Dayton Blvd.
For more information about which learning community your school belongs to, visit www.hcde.org/departments/our_learning_communities.
Chattanooga State hosts TN Reconnect info sessions, open house
Adults ages 24 and older are invited to attend one of three upcoming hour-long TN Reconnect information sessions during Chattanooga State Community College's Fall Open House on Saturday, Nov. 3.
The open house is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the main campus at 4501 Amnicola Hwy, Chattanooga in IMC-124 (the library building). The TN Reconnect sessions will occur at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon.
As a part of Governor Haslam's Drive to 55 initiative, the Tennessee Reconnect program seeks to locate and re-engage adults who have not earned an associate or bachelor's degree to attend eligible institutions, like Chattanooga State, free of tuition and mandatory fees while attending at least part time.
This fall, more than 1,000 adult students took advantage of the opportunity by enrolling at Chattanooga State, according to a news release.
Reconnect students may apply at any time. Students who qualify may begin classes during the spring, summer or fall semesters.
To register for a session or find out more information, visit www.chattanoogastate.edu/tnreconnect or call 423-697-3346.