Volume 8, issu1

Welcome Back!

This is your October 2011 edition of Innovative Edge Online.

We invite you to flip the pages, read the articles, and let us know what you think.

The Innovative Edge introduces Focused on Fitness - A Healthy Lifestyle Section.

We want you to enjoy Innovative Edge Online and to continue reading news about the good things happening at the Innovative and Charter schools.

Please take this opportunity to find out about the people, places, and things that make the Division of Innovative and Charter Schools a success.

Dr. Joris M. Ray, Director

Division of Innovative & Charter Schools

995 S. LauderdaleMemphis, TN 38126(901) 416-2200(901) 416-2212 (fax)

Division of Innovative and Charter Schools

Since 2003

Ebony Suggs, Editor

Renee Stewart, Ed.D.

Web Designer

News/Kudos

Educator of the Week

Focused on Fitness

Service Learning

Community Service

Honor Roll

Vol. 8, Issue 1

Division of Innovative and Charter SchoolsVol 8, Issue 1 Since 2003

Subscribe to Innovative Edge

Just click the newsletter logo to your left to type in your email address and submit. A message will be delivered to you when new content is posted. Your events/announcements will be posted immediately on our new weblog.

The new flipbook Innovative Edge will still launch every nine weeks after report cards are issued. You will continue to send news articles to Ebony Suggs, Editor. Send events, announcements, honor roll/perfect attendance, and photos to Renee Stewart, Ed.D., Webmaster.

Share the Innovative Edge with your students! Give your students the web address and give them extra credit for comments. All comments will be approved by the editor and/or webmaster before publishing. We also have a service learning poll where we would like students to vote on where they would like to serve in their community.

Send your announcements and news today!

mailto:[email protected]





http://innovativecharter.blogspot.com/2011/08/subscribe-to-your-innovative-edge.html


Congratulations to Ms. Marie Cobb (Language Arts Teacher at Southeast Success

Academy) for being selected as News Channel 3 Educator of the Week. Ms. Cobb

was spotlighted the week of September 25th, on News Channel 3. This award is

given to recognize educators and administrators who go above and beyond the call

of duty. News Channel 3 Meteorologist Todd Demers visited the school to present

Ms. Cobb with the award.

Southeast Success Academy

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWn0xEimljI/TntCDG1oD6I/AAAAAAAAAG0/CU05ZedDfcE/s1600/Educator+of+Week+005.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6vxTW-d1LY/TntB2kK402I/AAAAAAAAAGw/qiBnnM-eZwo/s1600/Educator+of+Week+003.jpg


Southeast Success Academy

VIDEO

http://www.wreg.com/videobeta/37620286-8e81-4361-a88b-70ff282b6f5f/News/Educator-of-the-Week-Cobb


Michael R. AlfordCertified Personal Trainer

Mr. Alford earned a B.S. degree in Health & Exercise Science from Northwestern State University of Louisiana. His boot-camp fitness program consists of 3 day weekly 45-minute sessions designed to improve overall health through stretching, core strength training, and cardiovascular exercise. He also provides meal plans tailored to meet individual needs and regular body measurement assessments to monitor improvements.

The division is grateful to have Mr. Alford as an academic and FITNESS expert who helps students as well as staff members reach their fullest potential!

~Philosophy~

I believe an active body is a healthy body, and a healthy body can help you be the best you can be. I also believe in being a role model for today’s youth. What they see, they know to be true, and seeing a strong role model with a healthy lifestyle is a wonderful message to pass on to our future generations. As a personal trainer/aerobic instructor, I welcome the opportunity to guide and motivate people at all fitness levels towards achieving their fitness and wellness goals.

I enjoy working with individuals of all levels of fitness. I want to motivate people to create and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I find it very exciting to work with individuals new to exercise, just returning, or looking for a challenge in their current program. I believe I can motivate and encourage all to reach and surpass individual goals.

Focused on FITNESSA Healthy Lifestyle Section


The Focused on Fitness section of the InnovativeEdge seeks to encourage all division staff andMCS employees to adopt healthy lifestylesthrough a variety of health and wellnessinformation. This section will also highlighthealth & fitness success stories of staff membersin the Innovative & Charter Schools family.

In our busy and hectic field of work it’s important to focus on FITNESS for 3 main reasons:

1) Physical activity boosts metabolism. The more activeyou are, the thinner you will be and the healthier you willbe. Also, when you exercise regularly (3-5 days weekly)and live an active lifestyle, you’ll be able to consume morecalories while still maintaining a healthy weight.

2) Physical fitness promotes mental and emotional fitness. When you’re physically active, your entire body, mind andemotional state reap the benefits. Not only do you have more energy, better balance, flexibility and strength, you alsoenjoy better concentration, a more positive mood, and better sleep.

3) Physical activity provides stress relief. Being physically fit also helps you reduce and manage stress better, whichhelps keep your weight down. Stress is a major contributor of stored belly fat, because higher levels of the hormonecortisol are released into your bloodstream when you feel stressed. That can cause a lot of unnecessary fat storage inyour midsection. Regular exercise kills two birds with one stone: 1) burning off any stored fat, and 2) helping yourelease stress so you don’t store more.

It helps long term to work towards getting FIT rather than just weight loss. You don’t have to be an athlete to be fit!Just include regular exercise in your routine several times a week. That alone goes a long way in helping you loseweight easier and provide a ton of other health-boosting benefits.


Fitness Class

Click to view ↓

http://animoto.com/play/9wxsTTplZ19u50sR0C0qUw


Our Staff Fitness ModelDr. James SuggsHamilton Success Academy, Site Administrator

A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

Dr. James Suggs involvement in the Healthy Church Challenge was not motivatedby weight loss. The 34-year old principal of Hamilton Success Academy admitsthat he initially had no goals for weight loss, but he was interested in the programbecause of the prizes.

He decided to see what the fuss was about and attended the first meeting at hischurch, Cummings Street Baptist Church. Suggs, who says his nemesis in weightloss is soft drinks or flavored liquids, quit cold turkey and drank only water for amonth. He lost a drastic 10 pounds. He continued drinking water only andstopped eating meals after 7 p.m. Again, the pounds began to shed. “I got thehang of it,” he says.

Dr. James Suggs - before

Dr. James Suggs - after

For the next three months, he made exercise a priority, either working out at 24 Hour Fitness or participating inactivities with church members through the Healthy Church Challenge. Dr. Suggs highest weight was 450pounds. He now weighs 358 pounds, but his goal is 350 pounds. He plans to do something special to celebratehis 100-pound loss mark.

Dr. Suggs was honored at the 2007 Sisterhood Showcase as the Healthy Church Challenge overall winner. He and his wife took their own trip to Las Vegas as a reward.

Dr. Suggs’ has greater expectations for himself. He plans to focus on weight training, instead of cardiovascularexercise. “This year I have a better take on it. It’s a little harder when you don’t see the pounds drop quickly.My goal is to lose strictly body fat.”

He adds with a laugh, “The pressure is on me because I’m the defending champ.”

It was not until a month later when a routine check-up turned into anambulance ride, that things became real for Suggs. He spent 12 hours in theemergency room for hypertension and was put on medication. “it wasn’tabout the prizes,” he says. “it was about changing my whole lifestyle around.”



Mrs. Myrna Gammon's World History class visited the Belz's Museum of Asian and Judaic

Art. The group continued their multicultural experience with lunch at Wang's Bistro. When

asked to review the fieldtrip, the students had the following statements:

Miss Maya Swift reported that her favorite part of the tour was viewing the ivory pagoda.

The pagoda was a school with many levels of rooms with each floor representing a higher

level of learning. Ms. Swift also stated that she wanted to return to the museum and view

more works of art.

Mr. Lawrence James stated that he enjoyed the museum and seeing sculptures made of

jade and ivory, but his favorite part was eating sweet’n’sour chicken at Wang’s for lunch.

Mr. Jay Dodson said that he thought the entire trip was fun, and he enjoyed learning about

the various Chinese dynasties and sampling the vast array of food available on the buffet.

All of the students and the chaperones agreed that the trip was a success, and they are

eager to explore more educational learning opportunities available in Memphis.

NWPA Visits Belz’s Museum of Asian and Judaic Art


at Hamilton SuccessHamilton Success wishes to welcome each of you back to another greatyear! Our students have really been communicating well with eachother. We have had an entire nine weeks without any fights at ourschool! Our students have been rewarded for keeping their environmentfight-free, flowing with positive behaviors, and good attendance with a“Dress Down” day. Way to go, Hamilton Success!!!

We celebrated our 1st 20 days of being Fight Free, Friday, September 9, withpizza, chips, drinks, and a cake. We are very grateful to our students for all oftheir effort to peacefully resolve any conflict they might have without itresulting in fighting. Thanks Southeast Success Academy students and staff.

Southeast Success Academy is still moving forward with Student of theWeek. It is wonderful to have such wonderful students who work hardbehaviorally and academically to be successful. Congratulations to allstudents who have won.

at Southeast Success

at Northside AcademyNorthside Innovative AcademyCelebrates 20 Days Fight Free

(Left: Darnesha Catron, DaJhun Stamps, Melisa Henderson, and Elexis Anderson)

Fight-Free Schools


Alabama A&M University Ladies Volleyball Team Visits MLK

The Ladies Volleyball Team from Alabama A&M University paid a visit to the Martin

Luther King, Jr. Academy. Coach Nedra Brown is a family friend of MLK Principal, Mr. C.

R. Daniel. Mr. Daniel organized the visit, which took place prior to a game against the

University of Memphis. Coach Brown, who is from Memphis originally, formerly coached

volleyball at both Hillcrest High School and LeMoyne Owen College. She is responsible

for leading multiple teams to championships and is a strong voice for students. While at

MLK, students watched the team warm up and practice. Some of our students were

given the opportunity to play with the team members on the volleyball court. In

preparation for this event, MLK students researched the history of both volleyball and

Alabama A&M University. Students learned the rules of the game, as many had never

been exposed to volleyball. Monterrio Beasley, Andrew Burnside, and Keenan Karim-

Jones were rewarded with a free school shirt for their level of participation. Thank you

Mr. Daniel and Coach Brown for coordinating this event!

Martin Luther King Transition Center


1st Quarter College Visit at MLK

Several colleges throughout the Mid South visited MLK Academy during the

first grading quarter in an effort to recruit potential graduates. Students were

provided information about each college/university and given the opportunity

to apply. Information provided included the history of the college/university,

major offered, admissions requirements, and costs. Visits were provided by

LeMoyne Owen College, Lane College, and The University of Memphis.

Additionally, Felicia Orr from the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation

(TSAC) visited MLK potential graduates as well. Dr. Jeffrey Taylor,

Professional School Counselor, organized the visit in an effort to be

proactive in preparing students for the costs associated with attending post-

secondary institutions and placing students in position to obtain as much

financial aid as possible. Felicia Orr, who represents TSAC for West

Tennessee, presented and will be back in December for another

presentation. The two presentations are designed to prepare students for

the 2012-13 school year. Students were informed that they need to

complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid between January 1,

2012 and February 1, 2012 in order to receive the maximum amount of state

and federal aid. Stay tuned for future TSAC meeting dates at MLK!


http://www.tn.gov/tsac/index.shtml


Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals

The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals visited MLK Academy.

The purpose of their visit was to encourage young people of color to pursue a

career in the field of Aerospace. Tony Holder, Jason Farmer, Craig Greer, and

Carol Gentry were the presenters. All have a background in some Aerospace

field. A power point and video were shown to entice our visual learners and

students were awarded the opportunity to ask questions. Perhaps some will

have the opportunity to attend a summer camp related to the Aerospace field!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Counselor Attends Conference in Indianapolis

Dr. Jeffrey Taylor, Professional School Counselor at MLK Academy, recently

attended a conference sponsored by the National Council on Educating Black

Children. The purpose of the conference was to discuss best practices for

educating African American Males. The conference consisted of a panel

discussion and the panel consisted of Dr. Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of

Education; Marcus Robinson, CEO of EdPower; Dr. Eugene Sanders, former

Superintendent of Cleveland Public Schools and CEO of American Consulting

Services LLC; Dr. Ivory Toldson, Associate Professor of Educational

Psychology at Howard University, College of Education, and Antwan Wilson,

Assistant Superintendent of Denver Public Schools. From the conference

came two great ideas which may be applied at MLK in the near future: 1) An

adult literacy project, and 2) A service learning project which pairs alzhemers

patients with youth for the purpose of memory retention. Stay tuned for more

details on both potential projects!



MLK Students Learn to Drive

Keeping with the districts requirement for

all students who entered 9th grade during

the 2009-10 school year, and all

subsequent years, many MLK students

were enrolled in online driver’s education.

Teachers Donna Wright and Mr. Person

were assigned as the driving teachers.

The students enjoyed learning the rules of

the road. Most were committed to

completing their hours behind the wheel,

despite having to remain after school to do

so. We are proud of our student drivers at

MLK Academy!


Top: Marquavius Lurks and teacher Donna Wright

Bottom: Marcus Walker


ACT Testing

MLK Academy participates in a number of ACT tests. All 10th graders

participated in the ACT Plan, which measures skills tested on the

actual ACT and shows students where their strengths and

weaknesses lie. All 8th graders participated in the ACT Explore, which

basically does the same thing that the ACT Plan does, but at the 8th

grade level. Dr. Taylor provided parents and students with an

orientation to explain the purpose of the test. Scores will be explained

by the professional school counselor once they arrive. Additionally,

most 12th graders have been registered for the ACT Test. Registration

for the ACT Test will continue as the 2012 school year progresses

and will be given to all MLK 11th Graders in March. Stay tuned for

more information and encourage all high school students to get a

state identification card or drivers license, as a photo I.D. is required

in order to be admitted to an ACT Testing Center!


http://www.actstudent.org/index.html


Hope Academy

Thanks goes out to our professional school counselor, Dr. Kimberly Dillihunt, for putting this Career Day together.

Career DayOctober 25, 2011

9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.12:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Hope Academy held its first Career Day on the 2nd floor inside Juvenile Court located at 616 Adams. Some of the employers were airline pilots, aircraft mechanics, lawyers, barbers, welders, music producers, auto-mechanics etc.

The Division of Innovative and Charter Schools will play a part in helping Susan G. Komen for the Cure® end breast cancer forever. We're counting on every faculty and staff member to donate to this worthy cause. We also ask that each visitor to our team page to act today with a meaningful donation to this fight. Remember that your donation will make a difference in our community.

You can make a donation to TEAM INNOVATORS by clicking logo:

Thank you for taking this step today for Komen Race for the Cure!

Your Team Captain is Faye Tolbert


2011 Memphis- Midsouth Race for the Cure

Please join the division’s team, “TEAM INNOVATORS”, in helping to end the fight against breast cancer. We are encouraging all Innovative Staff to join in on the fun and help support this worthy cause. This year’s Walk is Saturday, October 29, 2011 and will be held at The Shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown.

On day of the race …7:30 am – Warm up & Stretch8:00 am – 5K Co-ed Run/Walk

Together we are making an IMPACT!

For more information on how to help or get involved,Please contact

Cheryl Cathey or Faye Tolbert416-2200

SERVICE ON SATURDAY

http://memphis.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/MEM_Memphis-MidsouthAffiliate/626353222?pg=team&fr_id=2245&team_id=174306

http://memphis.info-komen.org/site/TR/RacefortheCure/MEM_Memphis-MidsouthAffiliate/626353222?pg=team&fr_id=2245&team_id=174306


“Family & Community Health Day”

ActivitiesGeneral Health Screenings, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol,

Blood Sugar Screening, & Golf Mini-Training Sessions

Saturday, October 22, 201110:00 am – 12:00 pm

919 Alice AvenueMemphis, TN

Students earned community service hours for this project.Community Partners: Christ Community Health Center & Pine Hill Golf Course

SERVICE ON SATURDAY


SERVICE ON SATURDAY

Students and family members from Northwest Prep Academy, NorthsideAcademy and Humes Academy attended the Innovative Schools annual FamilyHealth Day event at the Pine Hill Golf Course. Once again Mr. Bobby Towns,Northwest Prep Caseworker, shared his skills and talents as a Certified GolfInstructor and provided mini golf sessions for students and families. Mr. Townsstates that golf is a healthy sport which can also assist persons in behavioral areassuch as mental focus and discipline. We continued our partnership with ChristCommunity Health Services which provided health services for the public whichincluded blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar screenings. This was thethird year of partnership with the Pine Hill Golf Course and Christ CommunityClinic to expose Innovative School families and the community to healthy choiceactivities and opportunities to receive free health services. It was also the firstopportunity for some of our students and parents to be exposed to the popularsport of golf.

Students in attendance to Service on Saturday activities earn credit towardsvolunteer hours required during Innovative School enrollment. Congratulationsto the students and staff at Humes Academy, Northside Academy and NorthwestPrep Academy for their excellent participation in this service activity!

Pine Hill Golf Club Healthy Families DaySaturday, Oct. 22

10-12pmPine Hill Golf Course

1005 Alice Ave.


SERVICE ON SATURDAYPine Hill Golf Club Healthy Families Day

From Left to Right: Keonte Walton, Northside Academy; Jalen Newson, NorthwestPrep Caseworker; Millico Farris, Humes Academy; LaQueshia Tabor, NorthwestPrep; Kennedy Jones, daughter of Trudi-Hill Jones; Trudi Hill-Jones, NorthwestPrep Guidance Counselor


Humes ‘ parent, Sherburn Blackmon, takes opportunity to get free health screenings.



Innovative Schools Golf Pro Bobby Towns with LaQueshia Tobar, Northwest Prepand Millico Farris, Humes Academy



Humes Academy Student Jarrell Williams and mother, Mrs. Sherburn Blackmon



Christ Community Clinic staff member and Mr. Charles Hudson, Pine Hill Golf club Manager.



Northwest Prep Student, Jalen Newson, gets a finger stick for health



Ida B. Wells AcademyDistinguished Honor RollMarReasha JonesArian LoganSarina MayesTretarius McCainSabria McNeilDantonio WashingtonHonor RollKeirra AllenDamesha BooneDonaleya BrownCornesha ButtsBriana CorneliousAlura DavisAubrey DavisCharles DawsonJennifer FitzgeraldChasity GoinsSachel HollowayDestiny HolmesJevonte JohnsonTempsett McGheeJina Smith-MooreTyram MooreTaquirah OnryLavesha ParishaDianeash SmithRashard SpringfieldLatasha StandardFelicia TaylorRaquone ThomasLoren TownesAshley Triplett

Adolescent Parenting ProgramDistinguished Honor RollDonisha EatomonTomasa FloresCandace SmithJasmine JollyHonor RollMonique BriggsDanetra LomaxUrsela TomasAsia ClaybornMarquetta BoydShantoniqua HayesLaQuita PerryAlyssa PoindexterShenterrial SmithKierra WashingtonKeona BradfordYanelly JuarezJulia LeeAngel Wallace

Hollywood SuccessNya Henderson Jernell Bonds Antavious Hodges

HONOR ROLL STUDENTS


Southwest PrepPrincipal's ListTrinies BoboJavin BondsTranice PayneHonor RollLaquita Barner Arneisha Banks Justin DavisTimisha FieldsJarracha GillespieVidale JohnsonTierra PratcherTerry RobinsonTanesha ShieldsBrianna SmithCrystal TaylorTomera White

Westhaven SuccessElijah MurrayEdward MoodyTony Street

Southeast SuccessDistinguished Honor RollMarq'uell Dailey - 6thRenardo Townsend - 7th

Hamilton SuccessCharles IvyMaya SeldonJerome DickersonTadarious FergusonKevion HollinsJonathan D. SmithCalvinisha MasseyStephanie MurrayPricilla Tyler

Northside AcademyElexis Anerderson D'Monte McNeil Zakiyah Dowell Cameron WaycasterBrynesha White Rodney Fletcher Anthony OwensChazmond Collins

Southeast Prep Harris, RhemaShelton, JerricaHartman, Joneshia

HONOR ROLL STUDENTS


MLK Transition CenterRico BarberJared BurnsAndrew BurnsideHarry “LJ” CrutcherOctavius FlemingDeAnthony FletcherJoshua GuyLaDurius HareMarvis HunterKeenan KarimMarquavius LurksMontreal MooreJohnna PruittKeshun RenfroeMarlondes RogersDominique ThompsonRonald Thompson

Northwest PrepDemetrius ConklinJulia SwiftMonterio HenryTavarius TaylorShelby CampbellJalen NewsonBreonna Stanley

HumesAndrienna BaxterDeidra FinleyJarrell Williams

Northeast PrepDistinguished Honor RollBrown, Ria ADavidson, Tyreona DThomas, Vijay D

Northeast Prep - ContinuedHeard, Benjamin WDeshay, Janisha NJohnson, Rashad DemonsTraywicks, Kimberly MichellHardin, Chelsea ETurner, KeondreDodson, James EricCarter, KalondriaMorris, Comedria MFahey, Jennifer NaomiGarcia, Tania

Honor RollRainer, Aiyannah RalexusMoore, Sametra DWilliams, Divin RomeroParker, Teairean DJones, Demetri DFerguson, Kelsey ReneeThurmond, Crystal LMabone, Toran LCalvin, Kim ShanicoLamar, Christopher OTodd, Danielle MoniqueMarch, Joshua RaShadByars, Dacorean LOsby, QuamekaWise, CaterriosWells, Maria S.Garner, William AllenSherrod, Bryan StoneHodges, Charlise MAl Husseini, Ahmed J

HONOR ROLL STUDENTS

Ida B. Wells AcademyDestarrio AbrahamMalcom BellAlisicia BenniefieldDamesha BooneJayla BuchananAlura Davis’Arian LoganMichelle MaboneRamario MartinTempsett McGheeLadasha McNeilLandarius McNeilSabria McNeilOtisa McQueenDeterricka MillerJuMarcial MontgomeryDestiny PeguesShavetria RichardsonLashonda ShippFelicia TaylorRaquone ThomasArini Triplett Ashley TriplettMartavius WeaverMarkyla WilliamsAntoine Williford

Hollywood SuccessAmonique Franklin Gustava Gwance Clifton Graves Curtis Price Trayvious Butler Antavious Hodges Napoleon Baptist Nya Henderson Kaija McDaniel Shiloh Weaver Carlos Ross

Northwest PrepCarmen Edwards

Nicola SparksMaya Swift

Nikara TaylorKamaal Taylor

MLK Transition CenterHarry Crutcher

Joshua GuyMarcus Walker


congratulations

Division of Innovative and Charter SchoolsSince 2003Vol 8, Issue 1

Innovative Schools Charter Schools

Hollywood Success Circles of Success Learning Academy

Westhaven Success Promise Academy

Humes Alternative Center Memphis College Prep

Southeast Success Omni Prep-North Pointe Lower and Middle School

Hamilton Success Southern Avenue Charter School

Northside Alternative Center STAR Academy

CHOICE SCHOOLS City University School of Liberal Arts

Ida B. Wells Academy City University School Boys Preparatory

Adolescent Parenting Program Freedom Preparatory Academy

TRANSITION SCHOOLS KIPP Memphis Collegiate Elementary/Middle/High

MLK Transition Center Memphis Academy for Health Sciences

(Middle and High)

Hope Academy Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering

Memphis Business Academy Elementary/Middle/High

Charter Schools Memphis School of Excellence

MCS PREP ACADEMIES New Consortium of Law and Business

Northeast Prep Power Center Academy

Southwest Prep Southern Avenue Middle School

Northwest Prep The Soulsville Charter School

Southeast Prep

Veritas College Prep

Documents

Volume 8, issu1