Sullivan North High School and Sullivan Central High School Key Clubs participated in the Kentucky-Tennessee Key Club District Convention in Lexington, Kentucky March 20 - 22. Both clubs earned outstanding recognition for their service and leadership throughout the 2014-2015 school year.

The convention was hosted by 2014-2015 K-T District Governor, Maddie Potter, a senior at Sullivan Central High School.

Maddie was awarded the K-T District Matching Scholarship as well as the Jim Boodry Award for outstanding accomplishments and service to the K-T District throughout her term as governor.

Sullivan North senior Gage Ball was awarded Outstanding Club President Honorable Mention.

Sullivan Central junior Kara White was installed as the 2015-2016 Lieutenant Governor for K-T Division 7. In addition, Kara was awarded K-T District Best-All-Around Key Clubber Award.

Sullivan Central senior Whitney Roller was recognized for being chosen Most Outstanding Key Clubber of Division 7.

Sullivan North High School Key Club received the following awards:

Distinguished Club Award

1st Place Annual Achievement - Silver Division

1st Place Single Service - Silver Division

2nd Place Major Emphasis Project

Bronze Level Ronald McDonald House Award (raised $150 or more)

Bronze Level Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Award (raised $150 or more)

Dues on Time Award

Sullivan Central High School Key Club received the following awards:

Most Outstanding Club in Division 7

1st Place Single Service Award - Gold Division

1st Place Major Emphasis Project Award

3rd Place Annual Achievement Award - Gold Division

Silver Level Ronald McDonald House Award (raised $500 or more)

3rd Place Ronald McDonald House Fundraising Award

1st Place Club Video Contest

1st Place Club Scrapbook Contest

3rd Place Poster Contest    

Dues on Time Award

In September South High School's Jacob Thompson earned the distinction of being the only Sullivan County School District student to be named a 2015 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. Jacob has now advanced to the high honor of being the only Sullivan County National Merit Scholarship Finalist and is, therefore, eligible for a National Merit Scholarship. When considering his accomplishments and activities, it is easy to understand how he has reached this pinnacle.

Jacob has competed in the Tennessee Mathematics Teacher Association (TMTA) competition each year of his high school career (Algebra 2, Geometry and Pre-Calculus) earning two second place awards and one first place award. He also placed in the top three in regional Future Business Leads of America and Science Bowl competitions.

He earned the Sullivan South Outstanding Student Award in Honors Biology 1, Honors Algebra 1, Honors Algebra 2, Honors Geometry, Statistics, Honors Pre-Calculus, Honors English 2, Chemistry 1, and Spanish 2. Instrumental music is another fact of Jacob's many talents. He is the trombone section leader and serves as Vice-President of the Band Students Leaders.

Jacob's participation in school and community athletics includes soccer, cross country track, triathlon, and competitive bike rides. Other extracurricular activities include FBLA (member 4 years, president 2 years), Spanish Club (member 3 years, president 1 year), Student Council (4 years), National Technical Honors Society (vice-president), National Honor Society, Beta Club (president), Calculus Club, Science Bowl team, and President of the Class of 2015.

In addition, Jacob has attended many summer enrichment experiences such as the Duke Talent Program for four years (Engineering Problem Solving, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, and Psychology of Decision Making), the Governor's School of Engineering at UT Knoxville, the S.H.O.U.T. Youth Leadership Program, and the Advanced Manufacturing and Processes Camp. Moreover, he willingly volunteers his time and abilities to many community support activities such as church hand bell quartet, Kingsport Ultimate Frisbee League (founder, recruiter, and coordinator), volunteering for the Greenbelt clean-up, the Wellmont Foundation, the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Remington House Nursing Home, the Eastman Road Race, and tutoring in mathematics and in programming & logic.

Jacob will soon graduate from Sullivan South High School with Honors and Distinction and pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering at a university in the southeast. CONGRATULATIONS to an outstanding student and an impressive young man with a bright future. 

Charlie McCann and Tanner Shivley have been selected by faculty vote to represent Sullivan South High School at the Tennessee American Legion Boys State to be held May 24 - 30  on the campus of Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. 

American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction and citizenship training for high school students. It is a participatory program where each young man becomes a part of the operation of his local, county, and state government.  At American Legion Boys State participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and non-partisan.

While at Boys State they will participate in the actual problems of government as it operates in Tennessee.  All 600 participants, representing every county in Tennessee, will put into practice the theories of government through participation in city, county, and state governments which are operated by the students elected to the various offices.  Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus, and recreational and athletic programs.  All delegates are eligible to receive up to four (4) fully transferable college credit hours.

A big "thank you" goes out to the Kingsport American Legion Hammond Post #3 for sponsoring, paying the fees, and providing transportation to and from TTU.  CONGRATULATIONS to Charlie and Tanner for attaining this high honor.

Caleb was also on All Conference and All Region teams.

One of the challenges of teaching history at any level is bringing the subject matter to life for students through more authentic learning. Taking students on field trips every day and experiencing "hands-on" learning is impossible. How then to demonstrate the folly of the British Army marching through America's green forest and through the backcountry in their proper, bright "Redcoats"? In Mr. Littleton's 8th Grade U.S. History class, at Bluff City Middle School, students are getting the opportunity, first-hand, of wearing a British Redcoat. This is demonstrating to other students what inviting targets these made in both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. As expected, the latest in "Redcoat" fashions are also on display. In any event, students witnessed first-hand the idea of an army wearing bright red against a background of green.

Students at Bluff City Elementary enjoy spending their Grizzly Paw tickets, which is part of our school-wide-positive-behavior system. These students "bought" cookie decorating coupons and popsicles! 

Second and Fourth grade students at Sullivan Gardens K-8 participate in planting vegetables for their school garden. This summer, students will participate in a camp where they will build more raised beds, plant seeds, and learn more about gardening skills. The garden is made possible through a grant funded by State Farm.

Support staff at Ketron were recently honored for all of their hard work and time given at Ketron Elementary School. Principals and teachers cooked a lasagna meal and served dinner to support staff at a formal evening dinner. Teachers dressed in formal attire with ties and also provided skits as entertainment. Ketron values and appreciates all the support staff does for our school.

Key figures from the late 1700's were recently seen roaming the hallways and classrooms of Miller Perry.  As fourth graders concluded their study of the American Revolution, they were asked to chose a famous person and write a report about him or her including facts, details, and one piece of "Wow!" information.  Many chose to dress as their character while they presented their reports to the fourth grade.