December 2015
Fr e e
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
KNOXVILLE
December 2015 Volume IV • Issue XII Adam and Samantha Kalwas, Publishers Advisory Board
Contributing Writers
Sr. Mary Marta Abbott, RSM The Diocese of Knoxville
Jeff Ashin Jim McIntyre, Ph.D. Tracey Matthews Erin Nguyen Mike O’Hern Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.
Marie Alcorn United Way of Greater Knoxville Mike Bailey Small Business Representative
In This Issue... Dear Knox County Schools’ Families “Our teachers work extremely hard before, during and after school to nurture and care for our community’s children as they learn and grow.” PAGE 4
Has Social Media Replaced The “Gift” Of Time Is social media actually making us more anti-social? Is it time for a “digital detox?”
Contributing Photos By
PAGE 5
Young-Williams Animal Center
Paul Parson East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Tracey Matthews Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Elizabeth Pooley Marketing Professional Lee Tramel Knox County Sheriff ’s Department Liza Zenni The Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville
Reading Knoxville: The Tennessee Theater “The Tennessee Theatre is a theater icon with a thousand resonances...” PAGE 6
Contents 4 One Way To Break A Tie 5 Has Social Media Replaced The “Gift” Of Time 6 Reading Knoxville: The Tennessee Theater 7 Conversing With Jack Neely
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8 Holiday Calculations 9 Giving Pets As Gifts: Naughty Or Nice 10 10 Terrific Books: The Gift Of Books!
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Knoxville Parent Magazine 3
Knoxville Parent • December 2015
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
Dear Knox County Schools’ Families
G
ifts during the holiday season come in many shapes and sizes—some are expensive, some are priceless; some are store-bought, some are handmade—but the most important thing to focus on is giving meaningful, powerful gifts that will instill joy and positive memories for a lifetime. It makes me so proud and excited to think about the gifts we give students in the Knox County Schools every day in the form of time and education— these gifts help foster a life full of hope and opportunity. At several of the past community events I’ve attended, it is evident how much support the Knox County Schools receives from our community partners. Our district is more capable of preparing our students for a bright future when we benefit from the gifts, talents, resources, and support of our broader community and all the stakeholders within it. Every day, thousands of volunteers enter our schools to provide enrichment opportunities, read with students, assist in providing tutoring, help teachers, coach athletic teams, and chaperone field trips. Our teachers work extremely hard before, during and after school to nurture and care
“Our teachers work extremely hard before, during and after school to nurture and care for our community’s children as they learn and grow.” for our community’s children as they learn and grow. Our KCS team gives so much of their personal time to our students and schools, it is no wonder we are seeing such positive growth in so many areas. Beyond the traditional classroom instruction, the introduction of personalized learning through the use of technology has caused significant enhancements in the academic environment. Today, most trade or manufacturing jobs have a digital component and it is becoming increasingly more obvious education must go beyond memorizing facts and vocabulary words. We must teach students about thinking critically to solve complex problems while working as a team. Personalized learning through the use of technology prepares students for their futures in this increasingly digital world. But personalized learning is more than just technology. It is about focusing on the specific learning and support needs of each of our more than 58,000 students to ensure they are academically successful, college and career ready, economically competitive and personally fulfilled. Not only are we continuously working to provide the right academic tools for success to our students, we are constantly reminded of the need to focus on the whole child in order to ensure that success extends beyond the classroom. The Knox County Schools now has 12 Community Schools. These schools are used as a hub for organizing community resources to address the factors that influence community health and quality of life, such as educational attainment, economic vibrancy, crime, physical safety, social connectedness, and community involvement. Research indicates that the benefits of a Community School include improved student learning, health, and attendance; stronger family engagement; an improved school climate; and safer neighborhoods. Reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the next, I am thrilled that the Knox County Schools is positively affecting the larger community by engaging families, nurturing children and serving neighborhoods. Our continual focus is that every student will have the opportunity to successfully reach their highest potential, regardless of whatever challenging circumstances they may face. By giving of time, bringing personalized instruction to the classroom, and equipping children for bright and successful futures, we are making positive impacts on this and surrounding communities. The Knox County Schools is cultivating our greatest resource, our future leaders and decision makers, our future parents and stakeholders. The growth and benefits our community will see because of the success of students in the Knox County Schools is truly a gift that keeps on giving. Sincerely,
Jim McIntyre Superintendent
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
Has Social Media Replaced The “Gift” Of Time By Tracey Matthews Wynter, Supervisor of the Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department
T
weets, posts, tags, likes, pins, chats, PMs and snaps… just a few terms that describe how connected we have become in the 21st Century, but do we know how to disconnect in order to spend quality time with others? Is social media actually making us more anti-social? Is it time for a “digital detox?” Social media and networking sites are playing an increasingly important role in our lives, especially with young people. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that children age 13-17 spend at least two hours a day on social networking sites, and more than 60 percent of these teenagers have at least one “profile” on social media. Additionally, according to a recent Pew Research Center report, 57 percent of teenagers have met a new friend online. Social media and online gameplay are the most common digital venues for meeting friends. What happened to the good old days of sharing the “gift” of time with those with whom we are closest? I know, I know…everyone is incredibly busy these days. Considering how technology has made our lives more automated and fast, we should actually have more time today than we’ve ever had in the past. Take, for example, the concept of a “drive-thru.” Now, there are not only drive-thru restaurants, but drive-thru car washes, drive-thru markets, and even drive-thru zoos and wedding chapels. In Los Angeles, the Robert L. Adams Mortuary offers “drive-thru viewing” and displays the deceased in a glass window where loved ones can pay their respects from the street. The Kocian Law Group in Connecticut offers drive-thru legal advice, and in Houston, Texas the Succeed in Life Center offers advice and prayers from a drive-thru window! This phenomenon is happening in many places so clearly, time is not the issue. Making quality time for others, is. Personally Reconnecting With Those We Love • Step 1: List all optional activities in which you make time to enjoy (e.g., going to a movie theater, watching television, going out to dinner, surfing your social media pages or the Internet, reading for pleasure, listening to music, going shopping for fun, etc.). • Step 2: Next to that list, list the virtual “friends” with whom you would like to more personally connect or reconnect. • Step 3: Once a week, perhaps, intentionally plan to exchange one of your optional activities for personally connecting with a significant friend or loved one with whom you have primarily relied on social media to maintain your relationship. Alternatives to Social Media • Send an actual letter or card (rather than an e-card), and include phrases such as, “I made time for you. You are very important to me.” Send a few, and maybe start with those serving in the military. • Phone a friend - texting is great because we can go back and read messages as many times as we wish. However, hearing someone’s voice can be even more special. • Surprise friends by planning a personal visit or make arrangements to spend quality time together. • When friends are ill or in the hospital, actually go and visit them and take a card, flowers or crossword puzzles to show your concern. • Take a small batch of baked good to your friends and neighbors who are
not users of social media Take Inventory QualityTime is a relatively new app for Android smartphones that helps manage your “digital diet.” It allows the user to monitor and get real time reports on how much time is spent on your smartphone, whether it be social media or other favorite apps. It tracks total usage, screen unlocks and individual apps with hourly, daily and weekly summary reporting options. Users will have the ability to curb habits by setting up time restrictions such as alerts, the “take-a-break” function and scheduled breaks. Am I bashing social media networks? Not at all! Social media is one of the best connection tools we have on the planet. We should use social media to enhance the personal relationships we already have…not replace them. Please share your success stories, related tips, and/or topic suggestions for future articles by contacting Mrs. Tracey Matthews Wynter, Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Department Supervisor, 865594-9525, tracey.matthews@knoxchools.org. For more information and resources available to Knox County Schools’ students and families, please visit us online at knoxschools.org/fce.
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER’S RESOURCE OF THE MONTH: Coats for The Cold Coats for the Cold is an annual community drive to collect thousands of coats for those in need in our communities. The 2015 distribution date is Saturday, December 5 at Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) Stores Clearance Center, 4302 Asheville Highway (in the Holston Shopping Center). If you would like to “give back” after receiving a coat, KARM will need volunteers to help pack up the remaining coats on December 7th and 8th. Visit karm.org , select “Get Involved,” and then “Events,” for more details! For additional local resources, contact Mrs. Tamekia Jackson, Knox County Schools Family Resource Center Director, tamekia.jackson@knoxschools.org, 865594-1192. Happy Holidays!
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
Reading Knoxville: The Tennessee Theatre Book by Jack Neely, Reviewed by Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.
“I
grew up with the Tennessee Theatre,” writes Jack Neely in his magnificent book The Tennessee Theatre: A Grand Entertainment Palace. Covering not only his fifty years of experiences, this book also discusses the origins of the theatre in the 1920s, its heyday in the 1930s and 1940s, and the many declines and then subsequent renovations since the 1950s. The Tennessee Theatre is an entertaining exploration of Knoxville’s history. “The 1920s turned out to be the era of the Movie Palace,” Neely notes, especially as silent pictures were replaced with talking pictures. Opening October 1, 1928, the Tennessee Theatre design was influenced by a Moorish revival in architecture, with theaters built in the Arabian Nights Fantasy. This design, though, is not apparent from the outside. “But part of the Tennessee’s charm to the first-time visitor is the sudden transition, walking into an apparently conservative early 20th-century American building and finding oneself in something like an Eastern palace.”
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“The Tennessee Theatre is a theater icon with a thousand resonances...” In its early years, the Tennessee Theatre played 100 films a year, with each film only staying at the theater for three days. Families had to plan their schedule around film dates. Each movie night was also a live show, with local talent, the organist (the Wurlitzer organ was purchased to accompany silent films but later became an attraction itself), and vaudeville style performers—singer, dancer, comic, magician, and an acrobat. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the Tennessee hosted lots of the nation’s talent: Tom Mix on stage in 1933, Fanny Brice and the Ziegfeld Follies in 1935, the April 1938 screening of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and the 1940s band performances of Glenn Miller and Desi Arnaz. World War II put an end to the live shows. The advent of the television era in the 1950s kept more families at home than in the theaters. The Civic Auditorium and Coliseum, constructed in 1961, became the home for concerts and variety shows. The Tennessee Theatre was remodeled in 1966 but closed in 1977. In the 1980s, though, with AC Entertainment using the theatre as a venue for live shows and the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation providing support, the theatre made a comeback. It was fully renovated in 2003 to its present state. This book is lavishly designed by Robin Easter and Whitney Hayden. The reader can indulge in photos of the theatre’s construction and renovation in various decades. Playbills and marquees announcements, lobby posters designed by Joe Parrott, photos of various performers, and historic letters such as the one addressed to children who joined Popeye Club from the 1930s tantalize the reader on almost every page. Jack Neely provides the best summary of the book’s appeal: “The Tennessee Theatre is a theater icon with a thousand resonances: of Roy Acuff ’s first performance, and Chet Atkins last; of Desi Arnaz, dancing the rumba with a local pharmacist, of screenings of most of the greatest movies ever made, of sham clairvoyants and regurgitation specialists; of massive war-bond drives; of hundreds of first dates that led to marriages; of major opera stars and instrumental virtuosos; of authors John Updike and Maya Angelou; of suave Glenn Miller and his polished band of live radio; of rock ‘n’ roll legends Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, and Lou Reed; of Tom Mix himself, and his talented horse, Tony.” Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., is owner of TESTPREP EXPERTS (www.testprepexperts.com ) which prepares students for standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT. He is also a consultant to Discovery Education Assessment. He can reached at mike@testprepexperts.com.
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
Conversing with Jack Neely By Michael K. Smith, Ph.D.
“I
a think the Knoxville Mercury is the model for journalism in the 21st century,” Jack Neely dtold me over drinks one evening at Union Jacks.
The Knoxville Mercury is a weekly independent newspaper started by Jack and his associates. “The Knoxville Mercury is an example of longform journalism,” he continued, explaining that the articles can examine topics in much more depth that features usually found in most city newspapers. Recent issues, for instance, have explored in-depth candidate positions for the Knoxville City elections. Jack Neely is a native Knoxvillian that has done as much as anyone to help local citizens discover their own history. He graduated from Webb High School in 1976, the same year that Bill Haslam was class president. After two years at Millsaps College, he transferred to the University of Tennessee and completed an undergraduate degree in history in 1981. He wrote freelance articles for the Knoxville News-Sentinel and then worked at Whittle Communications. He became a full-time writer for Metro Pulse in 1995. After the Metro Pulse closed last year, he co-founded the Knoxville Mercury in 2015. Jack has authored many books on Knoxville’s history. His history of the Tennessee Theatre is reviewed in this issue. Knoxville: This Obscure Prismatic City, published in 2009, contains many interesting vignettes. For example, William Blount, who founded and named Knoxville, was actually expelled from the United States Senate in 1797 for plotting to join the British in expelling the French from Louisiana. He fled to safety in Tennessee. George Washington Harris, the creator of Sut Lovingood’s Yarns, died mysteriously here in 1869. Hank Williams spent his last evening alive in the old Andrew Johnson hotel on New Year’s Eve 1952. Market Square: A History of the Most Democratic Place on Earth refers to a characterization of this area in 1900: “There the rich and the poor, the white and the black, jostle each other in perfect equality, and the scenes during the busy hours of the afternoon are always worth watching.” Currently, Jack is completing a history of the Old City, which started in the late 1880s as the center of the city’s railroad, business, and saloon industries. Jack is also Executive Director of The Knoxville History Project (KHP), “a new educational nonprofit whose mission is to research and promote the history of Knoxville.” The KHP website describes this mission in more detail: “Knoxville is home to other important historic organizations concerning regions or specific groups, but the KHP is the only organization devoted just to the particular history of the city of Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., is owner of TESTPREP EXPERTS (www.testprepexperts.com ) which prepares students for standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT. He is also a consultant to Discovery Education Assessment. He can reached at mike@testprepexperts.com.
“Jack Neely is a native Knoxvillian that has done as much as anyone to help local citizens discover their own history. ” Knoxville. The educational nonprofit offers talks and tours to schools, museums, service groups, and other organizations. It offers consultation to developers and government organizations on projects concerning Knoxville’s history.” KHP is the official sponsor of the Knoxville Mercury. As we finished our drinks, Jack and I talked about our own personal histories. His daughter attended Sacred Heart and West High. One of my sons is currently at Sacred Heart and another at West High. We were both, at separate times, history majors at the University of Tennessee. Although I have lived here most of my life, I am constantly amazed about what I learn about Knoxville’s history from Jack’s writings and conversations. I hope to talk to him again soon.
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
Holiday Calculations
By Mike O’Hern, Center Director of Mathnasium of West Knoxville
W
ith the holidays coming soon, I naturally start thinking about math. No, not really. I start thinking about the birth of Christ, love and charity, family and friends, and Santa Claus, just like you. But in this space I’m all about the math, so let’s get to it. Like the twelve days of Christmas, for instance. How many gifts did I get from my true love? Remember, one gift on the first day, two gifts on the second, three on the third and so on, for twelve days. (I think I like this idea!) Well it’s easy enough to simply add them all up, but what if this went on for a lot longer than twelve days? We should have some way of figuring that out without having to simply add up all of those numbers. Imagine that, we do! Turns out that if you knew the average of all the numbers you could simply multiply that average by the number of numbers in your series and voila – the sum! Let’s try it. You go add up one through 12 while I figure out the average value. That would be
“Even more exciting is that this will work with any series of numbers, regardless of where it starts or even how big the steps are!” (12+1)/2, or 6 1/2 . Ah! Just add the first and last number and divide by two to get the average value. Now 6 1/2 x 12 gives us 78. Even more exciting is that this will work with any series of numbers, regardless of where it starts or even how big the steps are! You can have some fun with that! Or here’s another very useful bit of math for the holidays. You have a big crowd of friends and loved ones at the house and your dad proposes a toast. He says a few words (not even inappropriate this time!), everyone raises their glasses and clink! You, being the best host or hostess ever, want to make sure everyone feels welcome and loved and a part of the group, so you want to make sure everyone clinks their glass with everyone else. Here’s the question: how many clinks should you hear? Hard to believe, but we have a way to figure that out, too! In math we call it combinations, that is, how many different ways to do something. (No, don’t start squabbling about permutations – we’re keeping this simple.) Now if I were getting all mathy on you I would start talking about factorials and stuff, but I’m fairly certain that for now we can just boil it all down to one simple equation for this case. Multiply the total number of people in the group by that number minus one and divide that in two. So if there are ten people, we have (10 x 9)/2 = 45. Finally I want to make this as simple as possible so that you can do it in your head really quickly and impress your friends. Notice that since these are consecutive numbers, one of them will always be even. So you can cut the even one in half first, then multiply by the other one. In our previous example, half of 10 is 5, 5 x 9 = 45. Done. Say there are 9 people, so (9 x 8)/2 = 36, that is half of 8 is 4 and 4 x 9 = 36. So there you go! Go forth and make sure everyone feels welcome and loved and a part of the group this holiday season! As owner and director at Mathnasium (a math learning center in West Knoxville (www.mathnasium.com/westknoxville) for the past five years, Mike has extensive experience teaching children and young adults the foundations of math concepts that are crucial to building their confidence and engagement with math throughout life.
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
Giving Pets As Gifts: Naughty Or Nice
By Jeff Ashin, CEO, Young-Williams Animal Center. Photo by: Young-Williams Animal Center
child has been asking for a new puppy for lYour months. Now Christmas is coming and ‘new is at the top of her wish list for Santa. Images ,puppy’ of your child squealing with delight upon discovering a cuddly puppy under the tree dance through your ncute, head. As a parent you’d love nothing more than to make
her Christmas wish come true, but is it a good idea? The gift of a dog, cat, puppy, kitten or other pet can be an exciting Christmas surprise and is often a wonderful present. However, there are many things you need to consider for the wellbeing of both the pet and the new pet’s owner. First and foremost, adopt don’t shop. There are hundreds of homeless pets waiting to be adopted at shelters and rescue organizations in Knox and surrounding counties. Look for a pet from a shelter as opposed to supporting puppy mills and backyard breeders by purchasing a pet. By choosing to adopt, you are making a wise choice for your home and your community. For parents who want to adopt a pet to give to their child as a gift for Christmas, we encourage parents to come to the shelter. One of our adoption specialists will guide you through all the details to consider and help you select the perfect pet. Adding a new furry friend impacts a family’s finances, time and lifestyle. That is why most experts recommend giving pets as gifts only to your immediate family--husband, wife, kids or loved ones that reside in the same household. Giving a pet to a friend for Christmas may be more of a surprise than someone is expecting and is not recommended. Pets are loveable additions to life, yet not everyone has the time or desire to take care of a pet. If you are thinking about giving a pet as a gift to a friend, YoungWilliams Animal Center will ask you to purchase a gift certificate. Consider putting together a gift basket with food bowls, bedding, toys and other essentials for a new pet home. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, you can make an event of visiting the shelter together to find that very special pet. For the animal lovers on your gift list who don’t have room in their home for another furry friend, Young-Williams has plenty of other gift ideas. Pet enrichment toys such as Kongs and other slow-feeder puzzles make great gifts and are available from the shelter and many other retail centers. You can donate in special recognition of a person or pet family and honor them by helping our animals in need. We’ll send Jeff Ashin is the CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit animal welfare organization and the official shelter for Knoxville and Knox County. The center offers pet adoption at two locations and affordable spay/neuter solutions. For more information visit www.young-williams.org
“By choosing to adopt, you are making a wise choice for your home and your community.”
the designated recipients a notification card that a donation was made in their honor. On a final note, the holidays are a popular time for welcoming new furry friends to many families and Young-Williams Animal Center and the Humane Society of East Tennessee are working together to give the gift of life to many animals this holiday season. The two organizations are partnering for a “Home for the Holidays” adoption special, sponsored by Grayson Subaru. From Dec. 21-23, all pets, including puppies and kittens, at Young-Williams Animal Center and the Humane Society locations will be $25. With the adoption special, officials hope to provide a home for the holidays to every homeless pet. For more information about the special, visit www.young-williams.org/homeforholidays.
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
10 Terrific Books: The Gift Of Books! Compiled by Erin Nguyen
Children’s Department, Knox County Public Library
Wolfie the Bunny by Ame Dyckman PreK-2nd Dot the bunny is worried about her parents’ decision to adopt a baby wolf and raise it as part of the family, but then an unexpected event brings the new siblings together.
Return to Augie Hobble by Lane Smith 3rd-6th This unusual novel is a strange combination of humor, friendship, adventure, mystery, loss, and even the paranormal, and it all adds up to one great read.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena PreK-2nd As CJ and his grandmother journey across town on the bus, she teaches him to see the best in situations.
I Will Take a Nap by Mo Willems K-2nd Elephant and Piggie are back in this new story about Gerald Elephant’s attempt to take a nap that leads to an unusual journey into dreamland.
Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-thePooh by Sally M. Walker 1st-4th The true story of a remarkable bear who was adopted and raised by soldiers, given to the London Zoo during World War I, and inspired the Winnie-thePooh stories.
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting RIghts March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery 6th-10th Lowery tells the true story of her experience as one of the youngest participants in the Civil Rights Movement and the march from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.
The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein 4th-7th When twelve-year-old Billy and a new friend discover a strange island where books seem to be coming to life, their quiet summer on the lake becomes an adventure.
The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley 4th-7th Ada and her brother Jamie live a life of abuse in World War II-era London until they are evacuated to the English countryside and a whole new world opens up to them.
For library information in your area visit: www.knoxlib.org/
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson 8th-12th Young Nimona is a shapeshifter who volunteers as sidekick to the villainous Lord Blackheart as he attempts to take down his rival Sir Goldenloin in this funny, imaginative graphic novel.
Mosquitoland by David Arnold 9th-12th Sixteen-year-old Mim is living in Mississippi with her father and new stepmother until she hops a Greyhound bus and sets off on an eventful journey to reunite with her ailing mother in Ohio.
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015
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Knoxville Parent • December 2015