Emmett Elementary has implemented a student led Recycle/Garden Club named the Treehugger Club. The club was founded and organized February 2015.   Eight students started this club with the help of Mrs. Sierra Trentham, Emmett's interim librarian at the time.  Students have initiated an ink cartridge recycling program in which they have earned over $100 thus far.  After contacting Marvin Johnson of the Sullivan County Recycling Program, the students started collecting paper in the school with a paper pick up each Wednesday. In addition to collecting ink cartridges and paper, the club will be collecting aluminum cans each Wednesday from the school and community. The school will receive the proceeds from the aluminum can program. The club hopes to begin collecting plastics in the near future. This fall, the club plans to expand their membership.   Kathy Laudermilk of The Keep Bristol Beautiful Program through the Bristol Chamber of Commerce spoke with the club in regards to the program.  The Treehugger charter members are Abby Johnson, Cora Clark, Jacob Ragan, Josh Ragan, Luke Singleton, Sophie Johnson, Emily Pickel, and Shaylee Pullon.  Other teacher sponsors include Sherry Jackson and Cheryl Chandler.

Front Row (L to R): Luke Singleton, Jacob Ragan, Shaylee Pullon, Sophie Johnson, Emily Pickel

Back Row (L to R): Sherry Jackson, Josh Ragan, Abby Johnson, Cora Clark, Cheryl Chandler

Congratulations to Holston Elementary's 4th grade team for placing 2nd in the 4H Clover Bowl.  The team won 2 rounds and had the highest score of the night with 115 points in Round 2.  We are so proud of our team:  Sydney Holt, Lauren Miller (team captain), Hannah Hensley, Suzanne Amos, and Jordyn Townsend.  Go Eagles!

Holston Elementary 5th grade clover bowl participants are as follows:Savannah Vicars, Gracie Olinger, Bekah Bates, Maddy Hensley,and Abby Taylor.

Drill Sergeant Pugh from Fort Jackson South Carolina helped the third grade kick off their TCAP Bootcamp preparation. Drill Sergeant Pugh taught the third grade students about perseverance, motivation, believing in themselves, and the importance of teamwork. He led each company in drills such as saluting, marching, chants, and pivoting or turning as a company. He then led the students through a "boot camp" obstacle course where teams had to work together to complete each obstacle. Students left motivated and excited about the upcoming TCAPS. Students have been working on practice tests in class to earn Army rankings for correct answers.

Members of the Sullivan Central High School History Club collected items to send to members of the U.S. Military.  American Patriots and Pastime, Inc. will send these items in care packages to Special Forces members deployed in the Middle East.  

On Tuesday, April 14, 39 students from Sullivan Central High School went to Northeast State to compete in the 59th Annual Statewide High School Mathematics Contest. The subjects tested were Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Statistics, Precalculus, and Calculus.  Central was one of seven area high schools represented at the competition.  Students who's test scores ranked them in the top ten of their subject will continue on in the competition.  Their scores will be compared to all the other top ten scores in East Tennessee (Tri-Cities to Chattanooga). Pictured are Central's three top ten finishers (LTR):  Timothy Grizzel (Calculus), Kaitlyn Vanover (Precalculus), and Jordan Weakley (Statistics).  Congratulations to these Cougars and good luck as you continue on in the competition!

This past Saturday, members of Air Force JROTC at Sullivan South High School hosted the first Ferguson Bulldog Challenge.  Teams from Sullivan South, Sullivan North, and Dobyns-Bennett JROTC programs met up early that morning to compete in a physical fitness and teamwork competition.  Events included push-ups, sit-ups, a team march, obstacle course and a vehicle pull.  They came with varying degrees of ability; only a few true athletes. All, however, came with the desire to work hard and play harder.  And work hard they did!!

What made this morning extra special was that they were there to remember and honor their lost team mate, Dylan Ferguson.  Dylan was a South JROTC cadet who was killed earlier this year.  He had a passion for physical fitness and loved the military.  In fact, he was already signed up to enter the Marine Corps before his life was cut short.  Dylan was always trying to make himself better.  He often said he was trying to "Up his game."  The South cadets embraced this idea and have used it for motivation ever since.  A sign on the wall of their classroom says UP YOUR GAME; where it will always remain.

In the end, one team stood victorious, but in the minds of everyone there, all were winners.  Winners to have learned from Dylan.  Winners to have some fun on a clear Spring morning.  And winners to have somehow...upped their game.  Thank you Dylan.

In today's society, it is not unusual to see various types of technology especially in the classroom. What about a robot that teaches students various skills? On March 12, students at Holston Valley Middle School were able to witness this become a reality. Dr. Ray Heipp of Westminster Technologies located in Cleveland, Ohio, introduced the NAO robot to the special education classes. This robot has been very successful in assisting students with special needs, especially those with Autism.

NAO has the ability to teach students a wide range of skills including social, academic, and even in depth programming and application development. Students listened to the details needed to program a humanoid robot, and they were able to participate in the hands-on demonstrations, working on skills such as, learning a proper handshake and programming the robot to dance with verbal commands.

The students and faculty really enjoyed meeting NAO, and they hope to one day make this an addition to their classroom!