MCPS News

Martin Luther King Jr Day, Monday, January 16 - No School
No school for students and Central Office is closed.

Board of Education January 17 Board Work session at HO Porter

Tuesday, January 17 at 6:00 pm
Watch the Live Video Feed | On-Demand Videos

Board of Education February 7 Regular Board Meeting at HO Porter

On-Demand Video | On-Demand Videos

Parent Teacher Conferences

Middle Schools: Monday, February 6, from 4 pm to 7 pm

Elementary / Unit Schools: Tuesday, February 7, from 4 pm to 7 pm

High Schools: Thursday, February 9, from 4 pm to 7 pm

Presidents Day, Monday, February 20 - No School
No school for students and Central Office is closed.

FAFSA Deadline - March 1

Senior parents and guardians, the deadline for high school seniors to complete the FAFSA is March 1, 2023. Even if your student is not planning on using the TN Promise scholarship, please complete the FAFSA process to keep eligibility just in case it is needed.
Bonus: Completing FAFSA and/or TN Promise will get seniors an entry for each for the 2023 Strive to Drive Car Giveaway!

In his first term as Columbia Mayor, Mayor Chaz Molder had a ceremonial swearing-in at McDowell Elementary. Mayor Molder wanted to continue this tradition and chose J. E. Woodard Elementary School for his second term.

Superintendent Lisa Ventura and Principal Carol Ann Jent, along with her team, supported the event, which was one that everyone who attended will remember for years to come. The Columbia Police Dept Color Guard did the Presentation of the Colors. The third-grade students of J. E. Woodard Elementary led the Pledge of Allegiance & National Anthem.

With community leaders and family guests in attendance, the honorable judge Bobby Sands commenced the oaths first for Columbia Vice Mayor Mr. Randy McBroom and then Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder.

J. E. Woodard Elementary School first-grade students sang "Grand Ole Flag," and the fourth-grade students sang "School House Rock - The Preamble." The Whitthorne Middle School Brass Quintet performed music as guests arrived and "My Country Tis of Thee" to conclude the event. Thank you to the City of Columbia, Columbia Fire & Rescue, and so many others for this amazing event. Below are photos from the event.

Credits: Mr. John T. Davis wrote this in 2021. It has been edited for sharing in today's MCPS News. John is the brother of Mrs. Amy Roberts, our Supervisor of CTE.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – The Beacon of Hope

On January 5, 2020, Rev. Raphael Warnock was elected as United States Senate for the state of Georgia. This was a historical win, because Rev. Warnock will be the first African American Senator to serve for Georgia. Blazing a trail is never easy, but that trail began with the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King was a tireless advocate for the fair treatment of all people. He firmly believed in Lincoln’s statement that all men are created equal. King knew that change had to start somewhere, and it would not come quickly, but then the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Dr. King took that first step as a beacon of hope and a desire for a world where all children could stand hand and hand and be judged solely on the content of their character.

In 1963 Dr. King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. 250,000 people gathered to listen to what would become one of the greatest oracles in the history of America. Few realize this speech was written at the United Auto Workers headquarters in Detroit. As Dr. King was preparing his “Walk to Freedom” march in Detroit, he worked in an office at Solidarity House provided by UAW President Walter Reuther. It was there the “I Have a Dream” speech was penned.

You have to wonder if Dr. King realized that so many years later, an African American would be elected president. Or that this country would have its first African American female Vice President or Georgia would elect its first African American Senator. Seldom do people plant a tree that will never grow tall enough to shade them. That is the true definition of caring to do something only others will benefit from. Dr. King once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”

As we remember Dr. King this week, we should take this quote to heart. The future belongs to the young, and every day we must ask ourselves are we taking the steps to benefit the end of the staircase? Dr. King took the stand, did the work and held true to the vision of the future.

You may say “I cannot make a difference” but you can in your community, in your church, in your workplace, and in your home. Not all victories have to be a Senate seat, because we also need victories in the hearts and the minds of the people around us. Dr. King said, “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”

Sometimes it is something as simple as a kind act, a smile, or taking a stand to support someone who needs it. Be that beacon of hope for someone else and keep the path open.

• On Monday, January 16th the Maury County branch of the NAACP will have an MLK Day march at the Maury County Courthouse at 9 a.m. A church service will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the Mt. Calvary Annex Bldg at 903 South Glade Street. More Information: Facebook
• On Wednesday, January 18th there will be a Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Program at 6:30 p.m. at the Cherry Theater (Waymon L. Hickman Bldg) at Columbia State Community College. This program will feature speakers and live music. There is no admission fee.

TDOE Recognizes 67 Best for All Districts for Strategic Spending on Student Achievement

Recognized for significantly investing federal COVID-19 stimulus funding to drive student achievement and improving academic outcomes, 67 school districts across Tennessee are Best for All Districts.

On Friday, February 11th 2022, the department celebrated these districts on #BestforAllDay through a statewide livestream event. Access the recording here.

Best for All Districts will receive financial, operational, celebratory, and resource benefits in appreciation for districts' planned investments to spend their share of the $3.58 billion in federal COVID-19 relief and stimulus funding directly on services, resources and supports that will help students achieve academically. Each Best for All district was awarded grant funds from the department’s ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) funds, with the full grant funding for Best for All Districts totaling more than $15 million. The department understands the importance of rewarding investments in mission-critical initiatives that are most likely to benefit students.

Additionally, the celebratory benefits include promotion of all 67 Best for All Districts on the department’s social media platforms. In addition to social media promotion throughout the year, each #BestforAllDistrict will be featured for a full week on the department’s social media pages.

Access the full list of Best for All Districts here and the list of individual grant allocations here. Learn more here.

A huge burst of gratitude to the Rotary Club, along with Tony Sowell and Eddie Ables, for their generous donation of a dictionary for each of the 3rd graders! We can feel the vocabulary increasing!

Thank you, Senator Joey Hensley and Co-Founder of the Tenn. Ctr. Family Business Mr. Greg Lewis for visiting Mt Pleasant Elementary School and handing out dictionaries for our third graders. They were very excited to have their very own dictionary!
Principal Julie Tidwell

There will be over 30 teams from around TN competing at this state championship qualifying event. The Challenge at the Mount will run from approximately 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. The best time for spectators is any time after 10:00 am, except a lunch break from 12:30 PM TO 1:30 pm.

Check out a the video explaining the game the robots will be playing below or use this link:

https://youtu.be/vF3I8FscrKo

Congratulations to Coach Pickle on being inducted into the Tennessee Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame! We appreciate all you have done for Maury County Public Schools athletics and Columbia Central Baseball!

The Tennessee Governor's Schools provide eleven challenging and high-intensity programs for rising 11th and 12th-grade students nominated by high school faculty. Each school offers a unique learning environment for students interested in the arts, humanities, agriculture science, STEM programs, advanced mathematics, physics, leadership, international studies, Tennessee history, or potential teaching careers. Students interested in participating in a Governor's School should obtain the application from a high school administrator, school counselor, or other faculty member. Applications, submission information, and critical deadlines will be posted on the webpages of each individual Governor’s Schools site.
https://www.tn.gov/education/instruction/tdoe-governors-schools.html

Are you in a crisis? Call 988 or text TALK to 741741.

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This dialing code is available to everyone across the United States as of July 16, 2022.

It’s a new year, which means it’s the perfect time to go a little WILD! Bring the Zoo to your school, daycare or community organization with ZooVentures, presented by Middle Tennessee Honda Dealers!

These ed-zoo-cational outreach programs are great for all ages and inspire compassion for wildlife and wild places.

ZooVentures offers both in-person and virtual options on topics such as--

Wildlife (Learn about a typical day in the life of some of our animal ambassadors)

STEAM (Learn how the Zoo uses STEAM principles to design animal habitats)

Careers (Learn about the many career paths in a zoo and how to obtain one)

…and more!

Don’t see the topic you’re looking for? No worries—we can customize programs upon request!

Learn more & share this link with any other educators you know.

ZooVentures | Community Outreach & Classroom Programs (nashvillezoo.org)

Its time for another Education Day at Vanderbilt for their Men’s Basketball game against Auburn on February 18th! A great way to see the game at a discounted price for both educators and students.

- Discounted ticket cost

- In-game recognition

- Video Board messages

- Seats next to other educators and families

- Chance to win a photo on the court

- Chance to be a part of in-game promotions

- And more

https://fevo.me/educatorappday

Listen live starting at 5:30 PM this Friday on 101.7 FM

In partnership with Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), the department opened up an opportunity for parents to order free at-home reading resources this winter for any of their children in grades K-2.

Through this partnership, the department and GELF want to encourage at-home reading practice to help young learners become stronger readers outside of the classroom. Based on if a child is in kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade, they will receive seven At-Home Decodable Book Series, which contain 20+ exciting stories full of sounds and words to practice, and age-appropriate, high-quality books from Scholastic.

All Tennessee families can order one booklet pack for each of their kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students using this site: https://readingresources.mybrightsites.com/.

The Final Deadline For Free Books For Read Across America Day is February 11th, 2023.

The Literacy Empowerment Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, invites your school or other literacy project to apply for FREE books for Read Across America Day. During the past year, LEF has distributed over 3,000,000 books to schools all across the country for Read Across America Day and other literacy projects.

Resources are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Orders must be received by February 11th, 2023.
Please share this information with your fellow educators!
Free Books for Read Across America Day: Order Form at https://www.lefbooks.org

LEF
1311 West Chester Pike
West Chester, PA 19382

Phone: 610-719-6448
Web site: https://www.lefbooks.org
E-mail: info@lefbooks.org

*Maury County Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented below. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.

*Maury County Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented below. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.

Love the dress does not financially discriminate as we understand that financially difficult times come in many forms and at various inopportune times. We are here to serve our community and lift the spirits of girls that need help for their special formal evening. All ladies welcome.

Mission Statement

Love the Dress TN wants to provide teen girls and their families an opportunity to receive an affordable prom gown and accessories. Our mission is to demonstrate the strength of wholesome beauty through fashion.

*Maury County Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented below. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.

If you would like to be on the Big Yellow School Bus podcast and radio show, email Jack Cobb with your request and details that you would like to share on the show. The radio show airs on 101.7 FM WKOM Wednesdays at 4 pm. Podcasts are published after the radio broadcast. Listen to the podcast on www.frontporchradiotn.com.

Upcoming Community Events and Services

• Maury County’s UT Extension Agent, Starla Hardin, is offering the CDC’s Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Program again in 2023. This year-long lifestyle change program is evidence-based and focuses on healthful eating and physical activity. For now, she is able to provide this program free to Employees Only; thanks to a grant from the department of health. Weekly classes will last one hour and will be held on Zoom, so people at different locations can participate. Participants will record weight and physical activity minutes throughout the year. In 2022, their group consisted of mostly Columbia City employees and the group of eight people lost 122 pounds during the year, and all improved their exercise and eating habits. Starla will be having an information session about the program on January 25 at 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the program should try to attend this session. Classes will start February 1 and will be held after school, if there is enough interest.

• For those who have set a resolution to quit using nicotine Maury Regional is hosting free nicotine cessation classes starting January 17th. Attached is a flyer for the program.

• January 16, 2023, Helping Hands Ministry, 870 Mooresville Pike 10 am – 1 pm

• February 11, 2023, One Generation Away Mobile Food Pantry at CSCC at 8:30 am

• Food Pantries – Keep this list handy – these are ongoing! We will continue to update this, so keep an eye on future newsletters for additions!

Trinity Family Church - Leah Circle, Columbia - Sun. 12-1:30 pm. Wed. 5:30-6:30 pm

The Family Center - 921 S. Beckett, Columbia - Tues.-Fri. 9am-4pm

Maury Hills Church - 101 Unity Drive, Columbia (931)548-6688

Grace Church of Nazarene - 2302 Highland Ave., Columbia (931) 388-4788

Pleasant Heights Baptist Church Food Distribution Center - 2712 Trotwood Ave., Columbia - Thursday 10am-1pm, 6-9pm

Harvest Share - 419 W 9th St Columbia, (931) 381-4285

The Well - 5622 Main St., Spring Hill (615) 302-9355

The People’s Table - 222 W 7th St. First United Methodist Church, Columbia - Meal: Tues 6pm and Fri 11:30 am.

New Day Community Church - 1131 Mapleash Ave., Columbia – Blessing Box

Craft Memorial United Methodist Church - 907 Hatcher Lane, Columbia – Blessing Box

Cumberland Presbyterian Church - 504 Florida Avenue, Mt. Pleasant – Blessing Box

This week we are highlighting….7 Things That Can Happen to Your Body When You Eat Too Much Salt

• You feel puffy and bloated. When you eat a large amount of salt (causing blood sodium levels to rise), the kidneys compensate by retaining fluid to balance and normalize levels.
• You can't quench your thirst. Any high-salt meal can trigger an intense thirst. Sensing an increase in blood sodium, receptors in the kidneys and brain trigger the thirst sensation. The body uses thirst as a protective mechanism, so you'll be driven to hydrate and lower your sodium concentration.
• You get headaches. Eating salt triggers an almost immediate rise in blood pressure in some people, and headaches are a common symptom of high blood pressure.
• You're more prone to eczema. Excess salt triggers inflammation, aggravating eczema like how allergens and irritants in the diet do.
• Your risk of stomach cancer may increase. There's some research that this risk may primarily stem from meats that are cured or seafood and vegetables salted and fermented for preservation.
• You may be more likely to get kidney stones. This is because excess salt increases the amount of calcium in urine. Kidney stones form when calcium combines with oxalates or uric acid in urine and begin to form crystals. As these crystals get bigger, they become stones that can travel to the urinary tract and get stuck.
• You may increase your risk of dementia. High levels of salt appear to increase levels of an inflammatory compound in the brain which leads to oxidative damage and begins to hinder blood flow.

How to Cut Back on Salt Intake

Eat at home as much as possible. Restaurant meals are laden with sodium, and cooking at home helps you to control how much salt goes into your food. Try using onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and herbs to flavor foods instead of salt. And, if you do go out to eat, ask for your entree without salt (add it yourself at the table, if you'd like). You can also ask for your sauce or dressing on the side and dip your fork into it rather than pouring it over your food. To help save on sodium, opt for grilled proteins rather than fried and choose veggies or salad as your side dish.

The Bottom Line

Salt is an extremely important component of flavor, so some is okay. Just choose whole foods more often and add salt yourself (when you can) to better control how much goes into each meal. Herbs and spices also go a long way in amping-up the flavor of foods, without the need for excess salt. And lastly, get your blood pressure checked by your physician to make sure it's in a healthy range.

*Maury County Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented below. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.

*Maury County Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented below. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.

School Menu Prices 2022-2023

Lunch:

Pre-K thru 4 - $2.50
5 thru 12 - $2.75
Adults - $3.75

Breakfast:
K thru 12 - $2.00
Adults - $2.75

Due to USDA regulations, if a student does not get the proper food components to make a lunch, then each item on the tray must be charged at a la carte pricing.

A la Carte Items are sold at each school. Please contact your school’s café for a complete listing. Items and prices are varied, please check with your child’s café manager.

Elementary Schools: 8:15 am to 3:15 pm

Middle and High Schools: 7:45 am to 2:45 pm

All Mt. Pleasant Schools: 7:45 am to 2:45 pm.

Culleoka Unit School: 7:45 am to 2:45 pm
Hampshire Unit School: 7:45 am to 2:45 pm

Santa Fe Unit School: 7:45 am to 2:45 pm

Please be careful in school zones!

Visit here to view all past issues of the MCPS News!

If you would like to share your story, success, shout-out, event or news in the MCPS News, email Jack Cobb at jcobb@mauryk12.org. To subscribe to the MCPS News visit our website https://www.mauryk12.org/mcpsnews, fill out the form and submit it. This edition is full of great stories and pictures from around our district. Please share with friends, family, colleagues, or anyone you think might enjoy reading about Maury County Public Schools.

Maury County Public Schools (MCPS) is a pre-K through 12 school district in Southern Middle Tennessee operating 21 schools, one virtual academy, one non-traditional high school, and one alternative program. MCPS employs more than 900 teachers and 500 staff members who serve over 13,000 students. We will provide the educational instruction, tools, and environment for every child to succeed in LIFE as Life-long Learners, Independent Thinkers, Fearless Innovators, and Exemplary Citizens. Our vision: Educating every child for LIFE!

If you would like to submit an article for the MCPS News, please email here!

Email: jcobb@mauryk12.org
Website: https://www.mauryk12.org
Location: 501 West 8th Street, Columbia, TN 38401, USA
Phone: 931-388-8403

Twitter: @MauryCoSchools
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maurycopublicschools/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maurycopublicschools/