We'd like to give a big, BIG thanks to Papa John's and Michael Griffin of the Tennessee Titans for a sizable donation given to Hunters Lane High School this week.



Michael came by Hunters Lane with a check for more than $8,500 to be used for healthy snacks and fresh food for students.



The money was raised through a pizza promotion done at Papa John's restaurants. Both Michael Griffin and executives from Papa John's were proud to particiapte, saying how important it is to be involved in the community and to give help young people who need it.



Thank you for the donation!

Tennessee Titan Michael Griffin with Hunters Lane principal Susan Kessler & assistant principal Andrew Davis.

Friday, Sept. 21, McGavock High School and Cane Ridge football teams will battle it out in the 2012 Wall Ball - an intense rivalry given the respective principals are husband and wife! McGavock Principal Robin Wall will root for his Raiders while Cane Ridge Principal Michel Wall pulls for her Ravens.

The 2012-13 Nashville Prevention Partnership series is looking for on-air talent, and MNPS high school students are invited to audition. Production is set to begin in late August.

According to Nashville Prevention Partnership, those interested should be able to spend at least four hours in production every week, including some weekends. Experience with video concepts and editing is preferred but not required.

Nashville Prevention Partnership is a coalition that brings individuals and organizations together to reduce substance abuse in Nashville. The organization hopes to create awareness of the issues related to youth addiction and use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. They have created several public service announcements, video projects and developed the Rep Your Voice website (www.repyourvoice.com).

In this audition, Nashville Prevention Partnership is looking to find:


1) Teens who are not afraid to be in front of the camera and conduct interviews (with peers and adults)


2) Teens who would like to learn how to work on a production set


3) Teens who can read from a script or teleprompter


4) Teens who are not using alcohol or drugs

***You will be responsible for transportation to and from the Youth Opportunity Center located on 1704 Charlotte Ave.

If you are interested, auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an audition or receive more information, contact Angela Gonzales, at aallen@npponline.org or 615-983-6823.
The deadline for auditions is August 31st

Frank L., 11th grader at Hume-Fogg Magnet High School, was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship and the opportunity to attend the Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journal Conference at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. this summer!



The scholarship is given to rising seniors interested in pursuing a career in journalism and who demonstrate qualities of a “free spirit.” Frank and other students will take an all-expense paid trip the conference where they will learn the vital role of the First Amendment as a cornerstone of democracy and how to inspire students to pursue journalism careers.



Frank earned the honor for strong writing in both his essays and collected works from the school newspaper, The Knightly News.



Congratulations, Frank!

Daniel C., a senior at Nashville Big Picture High School, has been name a top 20 finalist in the Regent University “Reel Dreams” Film Competition.  Monday, March 5, the top 7 films will be announced, and Saturday, March 31, the winner will be named at a live event. Daniel’s video, “Free”, can be viewed on the Regents’ website here.

Daniel has been accepted to attend Regent University in the fall. If he should win the competition, he will receive a full scholarship.

Hannibal Myers, chief development officer of Shoney's; Oskar Groitzsch; Magdalene Kennedy; Angel Puryear; and Catherine Hite, general counsel of Shoney's.

Students from Hume-Fogg, McGavock and Stratford High Schools took home free iPads after winning big in the "My Future, My Way" essay contest from MNPS, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Shoney's.

The three's essays were among thousands turned in after the Career Exploration Fair in October. Of those thousands, one winner was chosen from each school, with three grand prize winners chosen by a panel of judges. Magdalene Kennedy, Angel Puryear, and Oskar Groitzsch wrote the three winning essays and each received an iPad as reward.

A full release from the Chamber of Commerce, including the list of all seventeen school-level winners, is below.

Nashville's business recognize leaders Metro Nashville Public Schools freshmen ssay contest winners receive prizes NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 7, 2011) – Seventeen ninth-grade Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) students were recognized by leaders in Nashville’s business community today as winners of the inaugural "My Future, My Way" Career Exploration Fair essay contest. More than 4,500 freshmen from 17 different MNPS schools attended the career exploration fair at the Nashville Convention Center on Oct. 27. As part of Shoney’s five-year sponsorship of the "My Future, My Way" Career Exploration Fair, students later wrote an essay about how the experience impacted their thoughts about school, college and an eventual career. Each of the 17 schools selected an essay winner, and a panel composed of judges from MNPS, Shoney’s and the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce selected three grand prize winners. The three grand prize winners read their essays at today’s CEO Champions meeting, and each received a new iPad. The remaining 14 winners will each receive a $100 Shoney’s gift card. “These students are already ahead, because they are exploring their interests and thinking about college and what they might want to do in life,” said David Davoudpour, chairman & CEO of Shoney’s. “Shoney’s Restaurants is investing in Nashville’s young people, because we feel it’s important to help develop America’s future leaders.” “This year’s fair was not only bigger than in the past, it was even more engaging and inspiring for our students,” said Dr. Jesse Register, director of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. “It is important for young people to broaden their horizons about the many careers that could be in their futures. The career fair not only introduces students to new career possibilities, it also helps them understand how they can prepare for those careers during high school and through higher education. We appreciate Shoney’s for making this experience possible.” "My Future, My Way" Career Exploration Fair essay contest winners Magdalene Kennedy, Hume Fogg Academic Magnet School (grand prize) Angel Puryear, McGavock High School (grand prize) Oskar Groitzsch, Stratford High School (grand prize) Kelcie Walden, Antioch High School Austin Hayes, Big Picture School Sandra Watson, Cane Ridge High School Stephanie Webb, East Literature Magnet School Aaron Davis, Glencliff High School Efrain Salazar, Hillsboro High School Matcie Sitze, Hillwood High School Cory Nelson, Hunters Lane High School Destiny Anderson, Maplewood High School Dheeraj Namburu, Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School Iris Engel, Nashville School for the Arts Niesha Everson, Pearl-Cohn High School Lilly Quach, Overton High School Tovia Williams, Whites Creek High School The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is Middle Tennessee’s largest business federation, representing more than 2,000 member companies. Belong, engage, lead, prosper embodies what the Chamber focuses on for its members. Together with its affiliates, the Nashville Chamber works to strengthen the region’s business climate and to enhance Nashville’s position as a desirable place to live, work and visit. For more information, visit www.nashvillechamber.com.

Nashville School of the Arts’ alum William Wingfield will be teaching dance master classes Tuesday, Oct. 11, at NSA.  William was a finalist and fan favorite on Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance. He has also performed on Broadway, he danced with Celine Dion for three years, taught Alvin Ailey classes, danced on the Academy Awards, and, literally, danced around the world.

The Cambridge University American Studio Tour (CAST) is preparing to make its third visit to Nashville School of the Arts. The troupe will visit Friday, Sept. 23, with a special performance that evening at 7:30 p.m. While visiting, CAST will conduct workshops for students in Acting and Advanced Acting classes.

CAST’s version of the bard's tragedy about the Scottish king is inspired by modern dystopian fiction and is set in a barren futuristic landscape, complete with broken dreams and bloody ambitions.  

Tickets for the evening performance are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

It's here again - find the right college fit at College Night 2011!

With more than 100 colleges and universities represented, there's sure to be a school for everyone. Students and parents can learn about college life, academic choices, scholarships, admissions and so much more.

Big thanks are due to LP Field for hosting the event, along with all of the schools taking part. As always this event is 100% free of charge.

Parking will be available for free  at LP Field in lot S and portions of lots H, M, & G.

College Night 2011
Tuesday, September 27
 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
LP Field

Three McGavock students recently spent a week in Washington D.C., at the Constitutional Academy. During their trip, the students viewed the original Constitution and visited a number of national landmarks. Even more exciting, the students also earned three college credits from Ashland University.

Maplewood High School is off to a great start, with students, staff and parents pumped about the new school year. Under Principal Ron Woodard's leadership the key focus is to raise expectations, raise achievement and show students the opportunities that await after they graduate.

Antioch High School has something to cheer about! The school's Academy of Technology and Communications is now officially partnered with Nissan Americas. Check out the news release issued earlier this week by Pencil Foundation, who helped organize the partnership.

Katerine Hernandez, a rising senior at Glencliff High School, won a Gold Medal at the Family, Career, & Community Leaders of America National Conference in Anaheim, California!  Katerine competed with students from across the nation in the Nutrition and Wellness event and earned the top score in the Southern Region.

Clint Wilson, most recently the assistant principal of curriculum and instruction at Antioch High, will assume the executive principal role at Glencliff High. Previous administrative positions within the district include assistant principal at Wright Middle and Stratford High.

Wilson also spent two years as principal of Lebanon High School, during which time he increased the graduation rate by 7.4%, raised four of five TVAAS areas, and earned a $35,000 grant from AT&T for the school¹s freshman academy. He also served as a member of the implementation team for small learning communities in MNPS and is a graduate of the Principal¹s Leadership Academy of Nashville in 2005.

Other professional experience includes presenting at the national small learning communities conference this past June where he presented on designing an academy based master schedule, the implementation of effective professional learning communities, and the utilization of community support and resources. He has also led past professional development on data driven instruction, rigor in the classroom, and using common core standards to raise benchmark scores.

He plans on building on the many successes that Glencliff has experienced in the last several years and to bring a strong focus on transforming teaching and learning.

Stephanie Knight will lead Hillsboro High School International Baccalaureate program to new heights, starting immediately. Knight teaches IB and Advanced Placement Spanish at Hillsboro.

“I am honored to have been entrusted with the position of Diploma Programme Coordinator for Hillsboro Comprehensive High School,” Knight said. “This sense of honor is compounded when I consider the high level of talent within the school’s faculty. I am excited as I think about the upcoming school year and the responsibility of helping to perpetuate Hillsboro's legacy of student-centered academic achievement. Though challenges await, I am inspired by the potential that lies in all HHS students, and I am motivated to continue the work that the faculty and administration has already begun to grow participation in the Diploma Programme and to integrate Diploma Programme classes across all academies.”

Read the full release after the jump.

Unit TN-933 at Maplewood High School has been selected as one of 80 units to receive the 2010-2011 Air Force Junior ROTC Distinguished Unit Award. This award recognizes Air Force Junior ROTC units that have performed above normal expectations, and that have distinguished themselves through outstanding service to their school and community while meeting the Air Force Junior ROTC mission of producing better citizens for America.

Here in the MNPS Communications Office we don't play favorites. But we're quite fond of Overton High School teacher-innovator Adam Taylor.

Adam is a Teacher of the Year Finalist who never stops looking for ways to engage his students. Lucky for them, he's a self-professed technology nerd who has been using social media and mobile devices to increase class participation and even hold classes and lectures after school hours and on snow days!

Meri Kock, a school counselor from Hillsboro High School, has been named one of the top ten school counselors in America. Kock is one of more than 230 elementary, middle, and secondary school counselors nationwide who were nominated for the School Counselor of the Year award. The award, which is presented by the American School Counselor Association, honors the professionals who devote their careers to serving as advocates and often lifesavers for the nation’s students. Open publication - Free publishing - More mnps

Nine students, one parent, and one teacher at East Literature Magnet High School chopped off their ponytails before the Thanksgiving break. The hair was donated to Locks of Love, a nonprofit that weaves "real" wigs for cancer patients.