Science Hill High School Newsletter

Students and Families,

I want to start this newsletter with a huge “thank you” to all our students and staff who helped make our 3rd annual SHHS Trick or Treat a great success. We had our largest crowd ever, with well over 2,500 attendees. Forty-Seven SHHS organizations decorated tables and handed out candy to kids. This is such a great event for our school, our community, and our region. I am so proud of our students for how well they represented SHHS!

SHHS Teachers of the Year

Each year, SHHS elects six Teachers of the Year. These teachers are nominated and then voted on by their colleagues. One of these six will eventually be named as Johnson City Schools High School Teacher of the Year. The following are the 24-25 Teachers of the Year:

• Elizabeth Bennett, Science
• Victor Burk, Math
• Ben Davenport, Social Studies
• Brad Gentry, Career and Technical Education
• Gant Patteson, Special Education
• Suzanne Reaves, School Counseling

Football Friday Night

Our varsity Football Team plays Dobyns-Bennet tonight at ETSU. Tickets are available online on GoFan. Only SHHS students are allowed in the students section, and all students should bring their student IDs in order to access the student section. Per ETSU rules, only clear bags are allowed and no outside food or beverage. Please come out and support the Toppers.

Topper Fun Fact

Landon Knack (class of 2015) became just the second Hilltopper to ever play in the Major League Baseball World Series. Landon pitches for the LA Dodgers and appeared in Game 4 of the World Series. We are proud of Landon and congratulate him on being a World Series Champion.

Election Day

Reminder: There will be no school on Tuesday, November 5.

Go Toppers!

Josh Carter

SHHS Principal

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

Tuesday, November 5 is a Parent/Teacher Conference day for the district and Election Day for the country. There will be no school for students.

Several of our district's schools will serve as polling places, an important part in the election process! We hope our students go out and vote (if they're old enough) or, if they aren't old enough, go to the polls with their voting family members and see our democratic republic in action!

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

This week's Topper Trick or Treat was the biggest one yet! Tons of costumed kids came out to get some free candy, and our students and staff looked great and did a fantastic job! Here are just a few spooktacular photos:

In data just released by the state, Science Hill's 2023-24 graduation rate grew to 96.6%! That's the highest rate in at least five years and more than three points higher than the state average, at 92.1%!

A BIG congratulations to our six Teachers of the Year: Elizabeth Bennett, Victor Burk, Ben Davenport, Dr. Brad Gentry, Gant Patteson, and Suzanne Reaves!

They were chosen this year with stiff competition from all of our excellent teachers. Our Teachers of the Year deserve recognition for their outstanding work! Tell them congratulations and good luck when you see them. Next, they will be up for district-level Teacher of the Year spots.

The PTSA will treat Science Hill teachers and staff to a baked potato bar on Tuesday, November 12! They still need food and drink donations and a few volunteers to help. Pitch in on the PTSA's SignUp page for the event.

PTSA members also staffed a booth and passed out candy at Topper Trick or Treat. Their favorite student organization and club displays were Orchestra, Women in STEM, Volleyball and FCCLA! The winners received trophies.

BRIDGE has created an Amazon Wishlist of essential items for victims of Hurricane Helene that are 18 and under. The focus of this effort is local kids of families who have lost everything or close to it. Local schools will give the PTSA a list of affected kids, with sizes, to make the donations most meaningful. This is a way for family and friends who live far away to help, and it would be tax deductible for them.

SHHS PTSA is pleased to announce funding for several teacher grant requests. Laura Lifford (English) is receiving her full request of $375 and both STEM and JROTC are receiving $562.50 towards their requests. All grant requests must be for materials that are used in the classroom. We will be offering a second round of grant requests in the spring!

You can support and join Science Hill's PTSA by visiting https://sciencehill.givebacks.com/store and clicking "Memberships" in the navigation menu.

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 opens on December 1. If you have not scheduled a meeting with Holly Frye to help you with this, email her at hfrye@niswongerfoundation.org.
  

• The TN Promise deadline has been postponed to January 15 because of the impacts of Hurricane Helene.

• 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.

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.