Junior Rangers

Yesterday we had the opportunity to begin the Junior Ranger program at Bledsoe Creek State Park.  We are so excited to have this opportunity.  After a series of visits to the park as a group being led by a ranger on a variety of activities, our students will be sworn in as official Tennessee State Park Junior Rangers! 

 

Anyone can become a Junior Ranger.  For more information on how to complete the Junior Ranger program, click here!

 

PARENTS:  Please note the following time change:  The trek from Portland down to the park (in Gallatin) took a little longer in traffic than I originally calculated.  Therefore, we will be leaving school closer to 3:20 and returning between 5:30/40.  Thank you for understanding this adjustment.

Just a few photos...

Don't have a lot of time today, but I wanted to post a few pictures!

 

 

 

I had students put some of our favorite quotes on posters to put up in the chill out room.  Here are a few that I thought were really great!

Here are a couple of pictures of the kids making elephant toothpaste and doing some other experiments with yeast:

 



A visit from Miss Chattanooga!

Yesterday we had a guest speaker join us!  It was Miss Chattanooga herself, Jaclyn Torrento.  She was everything we had hoped for and more!  A senior at Belmont University and a Robertson County native, believe it or not, she competed in the Miss Chattanooga pageant to win the title that will allow her to compete in the Miss Tennessee pageant this summer.  

 

We didn't talk wardrobe and makeup while she was here.  It was community service that was the discussion and activity!  Her self-developed platform is "Hands to Larger Service" and as she walked our students through exactly what that meant, she helped them brainstorm ways to serve right here in Portland!  At the conclusion, our students were motivated to serve in our community and beyond and were loaded with community service project ideas!

 

Miss Chattanooga wasn't satisfied with just talking service.  Before she left, students made cards to be delivered to a nursing home.  Above you see Miss Torrento and the students that were remaining at the end of our day with some of their cards.  What a treat it was to have her come and speak!

 

To learn more about our speaker and her platform, visit:

www.handstolargerservice.com

SPOTLIGHT on Samantha

Better late than never!  I am finally posting our featured student art work!  I have had some technical difficulty with my computer and still can't get my images to turn the right direction.  Between the computer glitch and the snow days, I am just now getting this post up!

 

I first got to know Samantha last year and have admired her artwork since the first time I saw her drawing.  To say she is talented is an understatement!  She is an artist, musician, and all-around great gal!  We are so happy that she continues to be a part of our Unity program!

 

You can see for yourself what a great artist she is!



 

I saved my favorite picture for last!  My sister is a horse lover and used to draw horses.  The first time I saw Sam drawing a horse, I couldn't help but smile to myself.  So, of course, my personal favorite is...

 

...this horse!

 

Sam, thank you so much for sharing your talent with us!  You are a bright spot in my afternoon and I am so thankful that you are in the Unity program at West!