Science Hill High School Newsletter

Students and Families,

Welcome back to a new year and semester! This means a fresh start, so I hope our students are focusing on settling in to their new classes, getting to know their teachers and classmates, and meeting goals they’ve set for themselves in the new year.

As the semester goes on, if you have any questions about your child’s courses or find your child needs additional help in any class, please reach out to the teacher or a school counselor. We have many student supports available to assist them with staying or getting back on track.

Parent and teacher conferences are set for mid-term of this quarter on Thursday, February 6, from 3 to 6 p.m. We encourage you to drop in to meet your child’s teacher, see the classroom, and discuss their progress in the course.

Also, we encourage your child to seek out opportunities to be involved in school beyond the school day during spring semester. Spring sports opportunities are listed on the SHHS Athletics web page, and students can join most clubs at any time. For a full list of clubs see the SHHS Clubs web page. We look forward to a continued partnership with our students and families as we make this semester as successful as possible!

Josh Carter

SHHS Principal

There will be no school on Monday, January 20, in observance of the federal holiday honoring civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. King was an instrumental activist in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s against widespread racial discrimination.

Though he was jailed several times, beaten and received threats to himself and his family, King continued to fight against injustice and advocate for an end to legalized racial segregation, discrimination and disenfranchisement. He was killed by an assassin's bullet on April 4, 1968, at a Memphis motel.

King's actual birthday was January 15, but the holiday recognizing his life and contributions to the country's discourse on race falls on the third Monday of January each year.

The Johnson City Schools Board of Education will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. in the board room at Central Office, 100 E. Maple St., Johnson City. Board meetings are streamed on the district's YouTube channel.

February 6 is Parent/Teacher Conference Day. On Parent/Teacher conference days, no appointment is necessary. Teachers and counselors will be available in their rooms to meet with parents from 3 to 6 p.m.

Take a look at our online calendars to stay up to date with what's going on at Science Hill:

Looking to socialize? Exercise your creativity? Tell collaborative stories? Go on adventures? Slay all day? Leave it all up to a roll of the dice? Maybe Dungeons and Dragons Club is for you! Join the campaign each Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Science Hill library.

Students can join any of the dozens of active clubs at Science Hill. Participation in an extracurricular activity can help a student's well-being, improve academic performance and create relationships that last a lifetime! Find the right club for you on the list of clubs on Science Hill's website and get involved.

Science Hill High School has updated the 2025-2026 Program of Studies. The Program includes all of the available courses for the coming year as well as information regarding course selection and required courses.

The majority of the changes were made to keep the high school program in line with recent changes in state board guidance around mathematics, course substitutions and Career and Technical Education programs at Science Hill.

The most notable change involves high school students and math requirements. According to changes made by the State Board of Education, students in Tennessee are still required to take four math classes throughout high school. However, they are no longer required to take a math class during each year of high school but rather take a math course for at least three of the four high school years. Science Hill school counselors will help guide students through our implementation of these changes.

The program of study and the changes can be viewed on the school's website.

The PTSA Hospitality team will hold a popcorn snack day for the school's faculty and staff on February 7! Please consider signing up on our list to bring in popcorn and water flavoring packets. Donations should be dropped off by 3 p.m. on February 5. Volunteer slots are available for February 7 from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Everyone needs a little advice and support at times. Our dedicated counselors are always ready to help! Check out the SHHS Counseling page, or email a counselor directly below:

• Joe McPherson (last names A-Carp) mcphersonj@jcschools.org
• Kim Thompson (Carr-E) thompsonk@jcschools.org
• Dr. Stacey Philbrick (F-Hon) philbricks@jcschools.org
• Ryan Goines (Hoo-Maq) goinesr@jcschools.org
• Suzanne Reaves (Mar-Pa) reavess@jcschools.org
• Seth Douglas (Pe-Sti) douglass@jcschools.org
• Eva Price (Sto-Z) pricee@jcschools.org
• Josh Jarnigan (Career Counseling) jarniganj@jcschools.org
• Chad Plaisted (Topper Academy) plaistedc@jcschools.org

• Seniors should be finished or almost finished with their college applications and should now be looking for scholarships. There are several scholarships listed on the Financial Aid/Scholarships page. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your counselor.

• FAFSA is now open. If you have not scheduled a meeting with Holly Frye to help you with this, email her at hfrye@niswongerfoundation.org. There is one remaining workshop to help with the application on Thursday, February 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. See your counselor for details.

• Make sure that you have an updated resume ready to go, whether you are going to school, military or straight to the workforce. You WILL need one.

Northeast State Community College and East Tennessee State University dual enrollment students will start January 21.

Daily Announcements
Check out our announcements page that are updated daily on the website! This is where you can find more information about detailed events, student opportunities, club meetings and more! Follow the link above or press the button on the website's main page that can be found by scrolling halfway down.

Social Media

Social Media can be a great communication tool to push out important events and information in a fun and entertaining way. Both our official Instagram (handle: sciencehill_jcs) and Facebook (ScienceHillJCS) are used to showcase what's going on at the hill both academically and athletically while keeping both families and students informed with the most updated information

All student and parent forms can be found in our Main Office in two main places: on a grid on the wall by the main entrance or on our counters.

On Wall in the Main Office

PTA Forms - How to sign up and be informed with PTA events and news.

JCS Communication Tools - Information on how to stay connected with Johnson City Schools.

Gradebook Portal Request Form - To request access to PowerSchool parent account.

DMV Form - Needed to obtain their learner's permit. It must be filled out and signed before taking it to the DMV.

Community Service Hours Form - Log form for students' community service hours. Must be signed by a the volunteer supervisor.

Transit Request Forms - Must be filled out, approved, and on file before students can use the school bus system.

Medicine Administration Permission Form - Must be filled out and turned into the nurse if students have medicine that needs to be taken during the school day.

Parent Observer Request Form - To request access to Canvas parent account.

On the counter in the Main Office

Lunch Form - For more information about our lunch program. There is a QR code that will direct on how to fill out forms regarding free and reduced lunch.

School Map - For a layout of the school so that students are able to locate their classes.

Drop-Off/Pick Up Map - For car drop off and pick up locations.