Upcoming Events and Important Dates:

o April 22, Earth Day o April 23, Semester

Ends o May 4-6, Gateway

Exams o May 21, 6 PM,

Graduation

For those expecting to graduate in May, graduation will be on Friday, May 21 at 6 PM at the Woodmont Hills Family of God church on Franklin Pike. But, are you ready? Graduates will need to have a few things done before you walk across that stage and before we are allowed to issue you a diploma. 1. PASS ALL YOUR GATEWAYS. If you still need to pass a Gateway exam, make sure you are attending the Gateway Prep classes. 2. FINISH ALL YOUR COURSEWORK. Make sure you have completed all your required credits either through your coursework or finishing up in A+.

Graduation is on May 21. Are you ready?

3. ORDER YOUR CAP AND GOWN. Orders for caps and gowns go in April 15. If you have not got your order in, you need to see Dr. Eldridge immediately. 4. KNOW WHERE GRADUATION IS TAKING PLACE AND KNOW HOW TO GET

THERE. Please start preparing yourself and your family for graduation. Directions to Woodmont Hills Family of God Church are on the final page of this newsletter. Keep it and share that information with your family and friends that you are inviting.

April, 2010

ACT Testing Dates

June 12, 2010 * See Dr. Eldridge for registration materials and deadlines.

Fall, 2009 Graduation

First student to tell Mr. Flushman what famous book Rachel Carson wrote and what it was about gets a prize.

Gardening Jobs If you like, or are interested in, working in the garden you might want to think of a career in gardening. Below is a list of jobs for people that have an interest in gardens. Landscaping: preparing, designing, building, and creating gardens and vegetative spaces. Landscape Architecture: designing high-end gardens Master Gardening: giving advice on how, where, and what to plant in a garden Lawn care: maintenance of gardens and green spaces (mowing lawns, weeding, clipping, etc. Irrigation: installing irrigation (sprinkler) systems Landscape Lighting: designing and installing lighting systems for green spaces Landscape Construction: building structures for green spaces Equipment Rental and Repair: renting equipment, or repairing equipment used for green space care Farming: growing crops used for sale

Student Spotlight Jasmine Howell

Where were you born?

I was born in Nashville, Tennessee at Baptist. What is your favorite

food? My favorite is fried chicken and macaroni and cheese that my mom or grandma make. What is your favorite

thing to do? I like to chill with my best friends Poopoo, Quisha, Keisha...

Do you have a hobby?

Now, taking care of my child.

Tell us something interesting about

you. I’m a fun and outgoing person. I’m very outspoken and voice my opinion. I’m a beautiful person, at least that’s what my boyfriend says.

On April 1 of this year Mr. Tucker and Mr. Tribue made food for students and faculty. As a result, the students and faculty ate, got full, and enjoyed. Braving hot oil, grease, and MSG, the two experiences chefs put on quite a display of varying culinary techniques. Different rubs and spices were used on different pieces of the deep fried chicken that Mr. Tucker created. There were huge drumsticks and bite-sized chicken tenders, and each made the mouth water. As Calvin Tillman said, “It was good. It was off the chain.” The deep fried French fries fashioned by Mr. Tribue were no less impressive. Ms. Van Loon exclaimed, “The fries were absolutely delicious.” Talk about finger licking good… When this reporter arrived on the scene, not one French fry was left to sample.

Chefs invade Old Cockrill. Students get their fill.

All in all, the students and faculty enjoyed a wonderful meal together and both groups appreciated the effort by these two teachers immensely. On Friday, April 16, there will be another cookout accompanied by planting in the garden.

To request an accommodation, please contact your building principal or department head. (Interpreters for the deaf or hard of hearing must be requested forty-eight [48] hours prior to the event.) Questions or concerns may be referred to the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Customer Service Center, 615/259-4636. Si usted necesita información adicional o si usted tiene alguna pregunta, por favor llame o contacte al director de su escuela. The Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, color, age, and/or disability in admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, or activities. MNPS does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices

Underdog Butler loses in NCAA Championship Cinderella story Butler University men’s

basketball team lost to Duke University in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship game on April 5. The Bulldogs lost by just two points and almost pulled an incredible upset in the last second with a desperation three-point attempt.

The performance by Butler in this year’s tournament just goes to show that you can never count a team out. Just because their coach is just 33 years old and just because Butler’s enrollment is 4,000 students (Duke’s enrollment is 14,000) and just because they play in a league you’ve never heard of (The Horizon League) does not mean they couldn’t succeed. Butler showed the world that their desire, teamwork, and willingness to believe in themselves could make them competitors at the highest level of collegiate sports when no one else believed.

Butler University is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Earlier this month, students and faculty at The Academy at Old Cockrill “broke ground” on the garden. Having a school garden had been an idea that the faculty here has been discussing for months. However, words are

cheap. If not for the efforts of students and faculty, the garden would not be the reality it is today. Last week, on Wednesday, just about every member of the faculty and many student volunteers went outside to prepare the garden for planting. The day started out with faculty tilling the soil before school started. As students arrived, many came out to help prepare the soil by shoveling, picking rocks and trash out, putting in fertilizer, and unloading compost and mulch. Students who helped were: Anessia Frazier, Salim Elyas, Calvin Tillman, D’Juantez Ransom, Sergio Grajeda, Chris McKee, Zach Crunk, and Hope Renz. “Mr. Tucker taught me all about compost. I learned about how it’s made and it’s importance to

the soil,” said Anessia Frazier. Anessia went on the say that she is “excited about being able to say that I actually grew something with my own hands.” After getting the soil ready by tilling in the fertilizer and taking out trash and rocks, students helped with the construction of the garden boxes. With various faculty members barking out orders, the students measured, planned and constructed seven garden boxes where different flowers, vegetables, and herbs will grow. The students used lumber donated by Lowe’s and implemented a plethora of measuring and layout techniques that landscape architects use in their designs. Once the boxes were built, students took a rest for the night. However, the next day, faculty and students were right back at work preparing the garden. Mr. Tucker and Mr. Carter coached students

on how to create plants from seeds. As of this writing, flowers, sweet and hot peppers, and tomatoes are in the germination process upstairs in Ms. Van Loon’s class. Students seemed to be very excited about the garden and how it may be used. Zach Crunk said that he “liked getting out there and working with his hands.” When asked if working in the garden was useful, Zach declared, “It will help with the garden that I want to grow in my own home.” To cap it all off, Ms. Gibbs’ English class came up with an amazingly appropriate name for the garden: Graduation Garden.

Thank you to all the staff and students who have made and will continue to make Graduation Garden a reality.

Please note: If you would like to submit an article or write a letter to the editor, please email your submission to michael.flushman@mnps.org. Included with your submission must be your name and a title for your submission.

Graduation Garden is Here!

Note! If you have any questions about directions call the

school at 298-2294. Ms. Fahrner is begging you, DO NOT call the church for directions.

DIRECTIONS to Woodmont Hills Family of God Church

Coming From North of Nashville

Take Interstate 65 south through Nashville toward Huntsville. Exit on Harding Place (highway 255) and turn right. At the intersection of Harding Place and Franklin Pike (highway 31) turn right. Travel north 1.3 miles to 3710 Franklin Pike. The church building is located on the right side of the road.

Coming From the South on Interstate 65

Take Interstate 65 north toward Nashville. Exit south of downtown on Harding Place (highway 255) and turn left back across the inter-state. At the intersection of Hard-ing Place and Franklin Pike (high-way 31) turn right. Travel north 1.3 miles to 3710 Franklin Pike. The church building is located on the right side of the road.

Coming From the Southeast on Interstate 24 or From the East on Interstate 40

Take Interstate 24 or Interstate 40 to the I-440 interchange. Exit on I-440 toward Memphis. Exit from I-440 to Interstate 65 south toward Huntsville. Exit Interstate 65 at Harding Place (highway 255) and turn right. At the intersection of Harding Place and Franklin Pike (highway 31) turn right. Travel north 1.3 miles to 3710 Franklin Pike. The church building is located on the right side of the road.

Coming From the West on Interstate 40

Take Interstate 40 to the I-440 interchange. Exit on I-440 toward Knoxville. Exit from I-440 to Interstate 65 south toward Huntsville. Exit Interstate 65 at Harding Place (highway 255) and turn right. At the intersection of Harding Place and Franklin Pike (highway 31) turn right. Travel north 1.3 miles to 3710 Franklin Pike. The church building is located on the right side of the road.

GRADUATION IS May 21 at 6 PM.