E-gadgets shape future of education in Williamson County
E-gadgets shape future of education in Williamson County http://tnne.ws/ydIRic via @Tennessean.
Interesting article from the TN regarding Williamson County Schools allowing students to bring their own smart phone, iPad, or tablet.
Lets “Blue” Out the gym tomorrow and support the FCA Basketball teams! Wear your Navy Blue colors and let’s make it loud and proud for the Falcons. See the times for the games tomorrow at our home gym at BUMC. All 4 teams will be playing so wear your colors. 
If you come to the game Mr. Harris will be giving out 1 free home work pass to be used at the discretion of your teacher.
Adults $5 and Students $1. If you haven’t been to a game you are missing out on great fun. Concessions stand provided.
Thurs 1/26- ALL HOME GAMES
BMS- vs Dickson Academy, 4p
GJV- vs Clarksville Christian, 5p
BJV- vs Clarksville Christian, 6p
GV- vs Holloway, 7:15p
How do we prepare our children for the next generation of jobs? STEM Them!
According to a NewsChanel5.com * article its estimated that in the next 6 years the state of TN will need to fill more that 100,000 jobs in the science and technology industry. That’s why STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) educational initiatives are so crucial and that’s why FCA is leading the way with its STEM program. 
The State of TN legislature has formed a caucus to develop information and strategies to help legislatures develop improved programs within the state.
Here are few things that FCA is pursuing in regards to our STEM Program. Jim Tannahill our math/science teacher at FCA & STEM coordinator is developing an exciting program for our students.
FCA STEM Initiatives:
Grants: we have received our first official STEM grant (see Sea Perch below). We are looking for grant ideas or leads. We need money for equipment, field trips and special projects, like the ability to bring in speakers for demonstrations or interactive learning events.
–FCA Science Fair
The first FCA Middle School Science Fair will be held on Friday morning, 24 Feb, from 9-12:30. Judges that have no students (guardian or relative) in the competition.
8th graders will be with their projects from 09:30-10:30, 7th graders from 10:30-11:30 and 5th/6th graders from 11:30-12:30. I will provide judges with a scoring rubric and some generic questions in two categories: science experiments and science demonstrations. You can judge for one grade or all three.
FCA would also like to give a prize to the top two projects in each grade and is looking for sponsors who are willing to donate gift cards, money or services for the Science Fair. Also, the 5-8th grade English teachers will be helping students write their abstracts and other supporting documents on the march to the fair!
-Middle School STEM Week Without Walls 12-16 March
Dawn Hoesel and I will be hosting STEM WWW with the 7th and 8th graders. We will be building Sea Perch Undersea Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) and testing them on Tuesday, 13 March. Thanks to a grant from the Office of Naval Research’s Sea Perch Program, twenty-two $125 ROV kits and two $200 tool kits were provided free of charge.
FCA will be the 4th Sea Perch Program in TN and the only school in the Nashville area. Two of the programs are at the college level (Univ of Memphis FEDEX Institute of Technology and TN Tech in Cookeville) and the only other middle-high school program in the state is an all girls private school in Memphis. Success with Sea Perch makes us unique in the Nashville area.
We will also take a trip to the NASA Center in Huntsville, build water bottle rockets/launchers, build bridges from noodles, conduct a LEGO Crash and Smash Car Rally and do some Crime Scene Investigation.
-5th and 6th grade STEM
The 5th and 6th graders will rebuild the Sea Perch’s (with the exception of the remote controls and waterproofing the motors) after Spring Break. This allows FCA to reuse the $125 kits, use some of the 7th and 8th graders to help teach the younger ones while taking the skill level required down a grade.
FCA STEM is pursuing a week-long STEM Camp in June 2012, using the remaining 7-8 Sea Perch’s we have. I have also petitioned the Franklin Special School District to participate in their Young Scholar’s Institute with the Sea Perch’s.
* Newschannel 5 article:
http://www.newschannel5.com/story/16583307/stem-legislative-committee-meets-on-capitol-hill
Hiking Trip to Charit Creek Lodge in Big South Fork
Just returned from one of 5 “Hike In” lodges in the US – Charit Creek Lodge in the Big South Fork Natl, Forest. There is no electricity at the lodge & no cell service. Perfect. The “lodge” is a combination hostel & group cabins with the Honeymoon “Corn Crib” Cabin with the only single unit for those special get away trips for couples.
Larry McMillan and the crew serve up a great meat n three that hits the spot if you have been out hiking the trails. We had green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, pork loins steaks, fresh baked bread, & cherry cobbler in the oil lantern lit dinning hall. The next morning we had the classic country breakfast of eggs, sausage, & freshly baked rolls. Check out their website http://www.charitcreeklodge.com/.
The cabins have wood burning stoves, double bunk beds, & gas lantern lighting. Linens are provided but if you are there during the winter months a sleeping bag is nice to have. Charit has horseback riding available there at the lodge for those who want to ride the many trails in the Big South Fork.
We took at quick trip to the Twin Arches on Saturday afternoon after we hiked in the short .8 mile trail in to the lodge. The Arches are a really beautiful setting and are only a 2.2 mile round trip from the Lodge.
On Saturday we tool a long 11.3 mile hike on the Hatfield Ridge Loop that included the Overlook point & our second encounter with a nice sized black bear. Picture on the left.
Don’t miss out on this gem of a lodge only 2.5 hours from Franklin.
Christmas FL Style
We are headed to Gainesville/Micanopy to spend Christmas with JoJo & the Harris family. Extra traveler this time – old man Skeeter.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia (the Holy Wisdom of God) was commissioned by Justinian in 532 & was considered the greatest basilica in the Christian world until it was converted to a Mosque after Mehmet II overthrew Constanople in the 15th century.
Back in Florida
Back in Gainesville, FL to help JoJo (that’s Mom for the uninformed). She’s close to being back to normal & ready to be at home. Going grocery shopping & eating lunch @ the famous “Coffee N Cream” restaurant in Micanopy. Hollywood Harris’ eatery. You can’t beat Aunt Sherry’s Chicken Salad.
Tennessee requires students to take Personal Finance class – finally TN is catching up to what FCA has been doing for years!
FCA has been requiring a personal finance class for our graduating seniors for a number of years. According to this article by David Carroll of WCRB TV the state is just now beginning to require this course for public school students. The state only requires a 9 week course however FCA requires a semester of personal finance and then a semester of economics.
See the story here:
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/15335267/tennessee-requires-students-to-take-personal-finance-class
Our personal finance class is being taught this year by our new Dean of Students Drew Robison who has a business degree from Rhodes College and utilizes an outstanding curriculum from Dave Ramsey (@DaveRamsey) and the Financial Peace folks. One of the best parts about that course is that Dave Ramsey’s company donated the complete curriculum (videos, textbooks, & workbooks) to FCA. Our students are learning sound financial principles from a Biblical model that makes great business sense.
About
Headmaster, Franklin Christian Academy. 1978 Baylor Univ. BBA, 08 M.Ed TSU
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Recent
- FCA training for Music City 1/2 Marathon Begins!
- On the train headed to Zurich from Salzburg.
- “The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music.”
- Dachau-a visit to horror past. Moving experience & prompting questions.
- Tour of Disney inspired castle, Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria & other sites of Munich
- We made it to Munich & Pension Lindner
- Can you sleep on an international overnight flight? Here’s what I do.
- A long walk home as a 3rd grader in Waco, TX. 50 yrs ago today.
- On our way! Early flight to NY & then on to Munich, Germany
- AdvancED (SACS) Accreditation Conference
- A hike in the Grand Tetons is well… Grand! Cascade Canyon was spectacular.
- 9 Mile Hike to Fairy Falls and a visit to the Grand Prismatic Spring. It was HOT!
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