From the Superintendent
I want to thank everyone with our P.T.F. organization who worked so hard to organize the pancake breakfast last Saturday. Approximately 150 tickets were sold. Our P.T.F. president, Mrs. Angela Ramsey, along with everyone else involved, are to be commended. I also want to thank everyone who donated food and items for the auction.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend an orientation session about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. The I.B. Diploma is an internationally recognized diploma. It has all the rigor of the Advanced Placement curriculum, but also has additional requirements such as a community service requirement and an extended essay. Unlike most A.P. courses, I.P. courses may be taken at the standard level or at a higher level. Currently, there are only eight high schools in the state of Tennessee that offer the diploma, with Cookeville and Oakland being the closest to McMinnville.
Another area of difference between the I.B. and A.P. is that in the I.B., courses are interrelated. Rather than taking multiple choice exams, which may seem more interested in determining what a student does not know, I.B. exams require lengthy written responses which give students the opportunity to expound on what they actually do know. Students in I.B. classes are, however, prepared for A.P. exams if they choose to take them. There is also much more staff development and supervision required. Teachers’ assignments and grading procedures are evaluated by the I.B. office. No school may offer the I.B. without completing a rigorous, two year authorization process which culminates in an accreditation visit. Unlike the A.P., the I.B. office mandates that I.B. teachers must go through training.
The I.B. Diploma is rapidly gaining in acceptance in American colleges and universities. More and more universities are actively recruiting I.B. students. The Texas state legislature recently
passed legislation requiring Texas state colleges and universities to give at least 24 semester hours of credit to incoming students with the I.B. diploma. And in Florida, state universities not only give advanced standing to students with the I.B., if the student is a Florida resident they are entitled to attend a state university free of charge! Tennessee colleges and universities are also starting to recognize the benefit of the I.B. We are in the process of investigating the feasibility of offering the I.B. here at Boyd.
Another upgrade to our academic program which we are considering for next year is the expansion of our Spanish program. This year we have added twelve weeks of Spanish to each middle school grade. We are considering adding Spanish to our elementary classes next year. In addition, we are looking at the feasibility of offering Spanish III or A.P. Spanish in the high school. While we have not yet made a final decision, we are very optimistic that we will be able to implement these programs next year.
No School February 13 and February 16.
Upcoming Events
February 6-11...Interact Valentine Sale
February 12...Interact Valentine Delivery
February 13, 16...No School
February 21...Booster Club Pancake Breakfast
February 27...Veteran’s Day Program Grades K-8
March 3...Spring Photos
March 6...Grades K-2 Field Trip
March 6-8...Interact Convention
March 28...Spring Banquet with Gene Stallings, McMinnville Civic Center, 6:00
April 3-9...Book Fair
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Lunch Menu for February 10-16
Tuesday... Chicken Nuggets
Wednesday… Sausage and Biscuit
Thursday… Chicken Quesadilla
Friday... No School
Monday...No School
Grades 3-4-5 to visit Raintree Manor
Our students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will visit Raintree Manor Wednesday, February 11. Afterwards, those students who have made their AR goals will eat lunch and go bowling. Please contact Ms. Farless, Mrs, Vandagriff, or Mr. Burks for more information.
Middle School Soccer Starting at Boyd
We have had enough students sign up so that we can proceed with our middle school soccer team. The team will be coed, so both boys and girls are encouraged to play. The team is open to students in grades 5-8. If your middle school is interested and has not yet signed up, please have them come see Mrs. Terry Stubblefield in the office.
Upcoming Sports Events
2/10...HS Basketball @ Mt. Juliet Christian, 6:00
2/13...Girls HS District Basketball vs. MTCS @
Eagleville HS.
2/14...Boys HS District Basketball vs. Eagleville,
@ Eagleville H.S.
