Wow, what a busy and fun fall it’s been for students in our public schools!
Recognitions, sports both ending and kicking off, a high school homecoming complete with a parade and many other traditional activities were welcomed by students, families and faculty.

Nolan Elementary
Nolan Elementary students enjoyed activities related to its annual Arbor Day celebration. Poetry winners included Grace Haddock, Jack Sokohl, Indigo Harrison, and Gray Bearden. Poster winners were Sara Dowd, Gilley Jones, Elliana Wilke, and Madelyne Cronk.

Special thanks go to the Signal Mountain Tree Board and these sponsors who purchased trees for school playgrounds: Enterprise Holdings; Bussey Financial Group; and Southern Star Restaurant.

SMMHS
Congratulations go to Grace Williams as homecoming queen and Ajay Patel as the first homecoming king recognized at Signal Mountain Middle/High School.

Athletics
Congrats to Signal’s boys’ and girls’ high school cross country teams for both finishing as runners up at State! After winning state titles for several years, this was still a great feat because their division was reorganized to include some of the larger schools.

Kudos to our high school volleyball team, which won its region championship and sectional match to advance to the state tournament!

Hats off to the high school girls’ soccer team on a great season, finishing as region runner up, and winning the sectional tournament in a new, harder class this year before losing its quarterfinal game.

Kudos to our football team for making the playoffs at State, where it narrowly lost to Cannon County. This team had a winning record overall, and we look forward to a new season next fall.

Congratulations to our middle school tennis teams on their performances during the county tournament! Kudos to Brooke Martin, who placed first in singles; Savannah Cummins and Allie Smith who placed first in doubles; and Kate Gilbert, who placed second in singles!

As early fall sports programs ended, others started, including high school bowling and basketball, as well as middle school soccer and basketball, with wrestling just around the corner. Best wishes to all as they participate in holiday tournaments and resume regular season matches after the holidays.

Signal Mountain Band
Congratulations to the Signal Corps Marching Band on winning the Tennessee Division II State Marching Band Championship for the first time in school history!  It swept all categories in an incredible fashion, and Jake Stubblefield was also recognized as Best Soloist.
Merry Christmas, everyone!

by Melissa Barrett

Signal Mountain High School’s marching band introduced a musical train to football crowds this fall and kept chugging along, picking up more passengers (fans) as it added cars (props), and proudly pulled into the state roundhouse to prove one doesn’t have to be the biggest engine (aka band) to be the best.
​
Signal Corps Marching Band captured the Governor’s Challenge Cup in early November to win the Tennessee Division II High School Marching Band State Championship for the first time ever in school history!

Our band has consistently placed among the top five teams at State in recent years and was ranked third two years ago in a tight finish where only a few points separated the top three bands. COVID-19 prevented the event from being held last year.

Head Director Drew Buckner noted that not only was this our first State championship in program history but also the first from any school in the Chattanooga area since the state competition was introduced 40 years ago.

“We try to never talk with our kids about accomplishments, trophies or winning, because of how negative pride can be to the fun of marching band and the family it creates,” he said. “That makes it even sweeter that these students got to experience a reward for their hard work.”

He reminded band members after the state trophy presentation that they stand on the shoulders of 13 years of hard work by their predecessors to build the legacy of our program that brought them to that moment.

“I know the many years of Signal Mountain Band alumni are smiling at this year’s students being able to take those many years of hard work to a climax,” Buckner said.

Several of those former band families, and a few alumni, were in the crowd that came out to see the show and help send off Signal Corps to the prestigious Bands of America Grand Nationals Championship in Indianapolis.

Few bands of our size, 104 total with instrumentalists and color guard, enter a BOA regional competition, much less the Grand Nationals. Signal was among only 27 from across the country in its class.

Buckner knew this was the year for Signal Corps, with its blend of musicians and staff, which included the return of visual designer Jordan Pitner.

“I left Signal Mountain (a few years earlier) because life called me in a different direction,” Pitner said. “But my heart stayed here the whole time I was gone. Being back has been a dream.

“In some ways, it’s like I never left: The staff and students still work relentlessly; there’s still that selfless attitude and teamwork everywhere you look. But the team got even better in the years since I left. That’s what I love about being here: Everyone is a student of the game, and we never settle for ‘good enough.’”

Pitner noted that band students sacrifice much for the chance to chase greatness. Their spare time is filled with practices, football games, and 18- to 20-hour show days spent on buses and in stadium parking lots. They stay up late finishing homework and are asked to practice extra on their own.

“It’s a tremendous demand for anybody,” he said, “but they trust in the process and give it their all week in and week out.”

Buckner noted that while many things fell apart with COVID-19 last year, band members kept a “somewhat normal season,” just without competitions.

“That helped put them in such a great place to start this year,” he said, “without skills and motivation lost. The students this year took that to the next level, with such a unique fervor for excellence and family.”

They were thrilled to be recognized for the first time ever as champion of A Bradley Classic regional competition, beating larger bands early in the season. That gave them momentum to keep chugging along, even better and faster.

Many have referred to this year’s group of students, parent volunteers, and staff as a “dream team,” which Buckner and Pitner embrace. Mr. Pitner said, “We have a big vision for the future of Signal Corps, and I’m so glad we could start it off with a state title.”

That team also includes Matt Broom, percussion director, who’s been with the program since inception; Cody Thompson, color guard director; Holly Paxton, color guard instructor; Ian McNeese, front ensemble instructor; Alfredo Smith, battery instructor; Tyler Edrington, show designer and coordinator; and Shelby Walker, associate band director.

Edrington came up with the train show theme of “Crossing Signal,” which evolved to include two tunnels, a train track tarp, several crossing signals that light up, and simulated steam from an engine. The fast-paced show also includes a train whistle, conductor yelling “All Aboard,” synthesized train sounds, and drills that have musicians simulating train wheels and gears, as well as show tops, drum wraps, and flags that provide a steam punk look of gears and smoke.

“As a native of Chattanooga, I thought there was no other appropriate way to represent our city on the national stage than to create a train-themed show concept that highlights the history of our community,” said Edrington, who also is color guard caption supervisor for the prestigious Carolina Crown in the Drum Corps International circuit.

It was obvious the band kids had fun doing the show, and our football game crowds looked forward each game to seeing what new had been added to the halftime show.

Buckner credits student captains Will Marsden, Emma Wu, Trevor McGhie, Kolsten Keene, Claire Smiley, Jake Stubblefield and Kalissa Luttrell, as well as great section leaders and seniors as being instrumental in creating “an amazing family this year, as well as being an inspiration for excellence to those around them.”

He also praised an extraordinary music booster board for being “such positive problem solvers the entire season. They have truly made this operation happen for our students this year.”

This year’s booster executive board consists of Melissa Barrett, Christine Stubblefield, Kate Campbell, Allison Gord, and Kristin Robertson with bookkeeper (and former band parent) Sue Menke and current band parents Katrina Keene, Mitch Stubblefield, Mika Dapp, Kitty Castellanet, Jackie Benkert, and Jennifer Innes providing additional support in lead positions.

The band appreciates the Mountain Education Foundation providing scholarships to assist several of our students in making the trip to Indianapolis. The group also appreciates what Buckner described as “a unique support for the arts” from our principal, Dr. Shane Harwood, and two fellow band dads, Dr. Robert Sharpe and Marco Perez, who also are a learning community superintendent and school board member, respectively.

“It’s so great to have these three men in our students’ lane,” he said.
“I’m so proud of our kids and leaders and so thankful for all of our parents and others who support them,” Harwood said.

Sharpe had the pleasure of transporting the band’s 13 state trophies, which included a large division cup and 5-foot tall championship trophy, in his car from Smryna to the school.

That trip home in the wee morning hours culminated with an escort from the Signal Mountain police that excited the kids, since they’d never experienced that recognition that our police so graciously provide our state champions.

Author’s Note: As president of this year’s music boosters board, I can attest to the hard work and dedication given by this group of students and staff. It has been AMAZING to watch this show evolve and students mature and achieve excellence. Thanks to all those in our community who support the Signal Corps Marching Band.

by Melissa Barrett

Huge congratulations go to Thrasher Elementary for being recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2021 by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona! Thrasher is one of the nation’s Exemplary High Performing Schools and one of only six schools in Tennessee to earn 2021 National Blue Ribbon status.
“This is a testament to the good work our teachers do, the involvement, trust, and dedication from our parents, and especially to how your children, our students, do their best work at school and at play,” said Principal Jeff Paulson.

Thrasher and Nolan Elementary
Kudos also are extended to both Thrasher and Nolan elementary staff and students on earning a Level 5 Reward status from the Tennessee Department of Education for the 2020-21 school year! Level 5 is the highest level of academic growth a school can earn. Level 5 schools are those with significant evidence that their students exceeded the state growth standard. Reward schools are those that receive an overall high rating when measuring multiple areas, including student achievement and growth, across all students and student groups. Reward designation is the highest honor for school accountability measures in Tennessee.

SMMHS
Hats off to Signal Mountain Middle/High School seniors Rainey Campbell, Seth Fisher, Grace Elliott, and Cade Miller as commended students in the National Merit Scholarship Program! They are among the top 2.5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the College Board’s PSAT/NMSQT in the 2020-21 academic year. These students are being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for potential of exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their performance on this standardized test.

Cheers to the Signal Mountain High School Theatre Arts students for their amazing production of Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town” earlier this fall. Everyone is so glad to have live theatre back at school, even if it’s outside! The new stage in the school’s quad amphitheater provides a lovely setting.

Middle School Athletics
Congratulations to the Signal Mountain Middle School cross country teams on taking back the title of All County Champions.Kudos are also extended to our students who earned All County recognition among 18 teams composed of approximate 150 total students. These students claimed 11 of the top 15 places for boys and eight of the top 15 places for girls, including overall champions in both groups. Here’s the list of our medalists with their place listed first:

Boys Cross Country: Overall Champion, Murphy Self; third place, Luke Smiley; fourth place, Mitch Simmons; fifth place, Gavin McKenzie; sixth place, Dane McMillan; seventh place, Christian Davis; eighth place, Aaron Paul; ninth place, Will Campbell; 12th place, Reed Hampton; 14th place, David Glover; and 15th place, Sudan Rock.

Girls Cross Country: Overall Champion, Lilly Paxson; fourth place, Bess Innes; fifth place, Eliza Baker; seventh place, Naomi Malone; eighth place, Gillette Fisher; ninth place, Katie Brennan; 12th place, Marlo McMillan; and 13th place, Paige Hilvers.

Kudos also extended to the Signal Mountain Middle School boys tennis team, which placed first in its division and to the SMMS girls tennis team for being runner-up in its division! Our top players were scheduled to play in the county tournament as this column was submitted.

High School Athletics
Congrats to our Signal Mountain High School golf boys and girls team, which, after being recognized as District and Regional Champions, placed in the top five at State.

Our boys’ team came in third at State, while our girls’ team was fourth.

Cheers to Junior Peyton Ogle, who also placed third individually at State. In region play, Ogle was the top boys medalist, shooting a 5-under par (67) to tie the school record set by Ben Seay a few years ago. Kudos also got to Graham Barrett as regional runner up!

Cheers to Sally Hogue as top girls region medalist, Caroline Burns as regional runner up, and Lyla Adkins for placing third. Burns also was the top local girls golfer at State, placing 15th with Hogue close behind in 17th place.

Signal Mountain’s volleyball team was district runner up heading into regionals at press time.

The Signal Mountain girls’ soccer team went undefeated in the district and was hosting district games at press time in its quest to snag another state title.

Our Signal Mountain Eagles football team was enjoying an overall successful season by mid October and was eager to return to the field after fall break. Its last two games at home also celebrated Homecoming and Senior Night.

Thanks to our Signal Mountain community for helping making the Homecoming parade possible again this year!

SMMHS Band
Hats off to the Signal Mountain High School marching band, which scored a first when it defeated other larger bands to be recognized as Overall Champion at the regional Bradley Classic competition in September!
Directors were tweaking the “Crossing Signal” show to make it even more competitive participating in a big regional Bands of America contest at East Tennessee State University in late October. Hopefully the team will shine at the Grand Nationals competition in Indianapolis in early November. Good Luck, Signal Corps!

by Melissa Barrett

​We made it to winter break! Yay! Hopefully, our students were able to participate in some fun holiday activities, as well as takesemester exams!
​
COVID-19 has definitely dampened the holidays, but gratitude and generosity have been plentiful.
A huge thanks to all families that donated items during various drives at our schools to fill Christmas baskets for families assisted by Signal Mountain Social Services!

Thanks to our Thrasher Elementary School students who made fall placemats again for Alexian Village residents! COVID-19 prevented hand-delivery this year, but residents appreciated those mats in their dining rooms.

Hats off to the 40-plus volunteers who came to Thrasher on a Saturday morning over Thanksgiving break to work on the school grounds! They finished the work on the outdoor tree stump classrooms by spreading mulch and adding landscape timbers as a boundary. These hardworking volunteers also repaired a gravel path near the vegetable garden by adding new landscape timbers and new gravel, built white boards in two outdoor pavilion classrooms, and cleaned the Rain Garden.

Thanks also to our parents and local businesses that provided outdoor holiday decorations at our public schools! We have a great community!

Academic Recognitions
Several Signal Mountain High School students participated in a virtual Model UN conference with a different group of schools than normal since the big regional conference that is usually held downtown was postponed until spring.

Congratulations to Kaitlyn Castellanet for recognition as Outstanding Security Council Member. Kudos also go to Cambria Ginther, Emma Wu, Grace Elliott, Grace Farrimond, and Mark Nashi as Outstanding Delegates; Emma Wu, Hannah Morton, and Grace Elliott for Outstanding Resolution; and to Will Crowder, who was elected as the 2021 Digital Press Social Media Director for this conference.

Hats off to SMMHS eighth-grader Aoife Davis, who competed and earned top awards in the National Science Bee and the U.S. Academic Bee! She finished first in Tennessee and in the top 13 in the Eastern Region, qualifying her for the National Science Bee to be held in December. Aoife finished second in Tennessee and also qualified for the National U.S. Academic Bee in December.

Kudos to SMMHS seventh-graders Reed Hampton and Lee Greeson for their accomplishments in the National History Bee, for which they qualified in February! Reed was the top finisher from Tennessee in their age group and placed in the Top 50 nationally. Lee was second in Tennessee and placed 55th overall in their age group.

Athletics
Congrats to Signal Mountain’s Middle School soccer boys’ and girls’ teams as regular season and district champions!

Signal Mountain’s high school basketball season kicked off with pre-season games during Thanksgiving week, with both our boys’ and girls’ teams scoring wins. Our boys’ team was sidelined due to COVID-19 at the time, but it was looking forward to more games at press time.

Signal Mountain’s high school wrestling season experienced a delayed start due to COVID-19 on opponents’ teams, and most competitions were cancelled starting out. The boys appreciated finally hitting the mats and won their first matches, and hope to complete the season.

Congrats to Signal’s high school bowling team, which finished the season as District Champs!  This is the first time since the 2013-2014 season that Signal Mountain Bowlers finished with an undefeated regular season district record, 10-0, and only the second time in the school’s bowling history to be undefeated in the district schedule.

Hats off to all who assisted with the installation of Pixellot cameras in the high school gym and football stadium so that home games can now be streamed on the NFHS network. This is especially helpful during the pandemic when attendance has been restricted, and some people prefer not to join crowds of any size.
Looking forward to a new year in so many ways! Enjoy the holidays and stay safe!

by Melissa Barrett

Three tries were all it took for Chase Post to earn a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT college entrance exam. With each attempt, he changed his focus.
Post scored a composite 25 when he first took the ACT as a seventh grade Gifted student at Signal Mountain Middle/High School. His score in science then was high enough to earn him recognition in Duke University’s Talent Identification Program.

In 10th grade, Post achieved a composite score of 34, with his highest scores in reading and English, which he thought misrepresented him. “I’ve always been a math and science type of person,” Post said.

So, when preparing to take the ACT again this past September, Post focused more on math because he wanted to score really well in that section to be competitive when applying to colleges for an engineering degree. He also studied reading a lot because he said, “I’ve never been really comfortable with it and didn’t want it to lower my grade.”

Post, who also is a National Merit Semi-Finalist, found online practice tests to be really helpful when studying for academic tests. He mainly practiced through Kahn Academy, which many math teachers use for homework assignments at all grade levels.

“Different people learn differently,” he said, so find what works best for you.

One tip he offered so others don’t get discouraged is rather than jumping right into timed practice tests, “Take one practice test, go through it completely and don’t time yourself. Go slow and make sure you understand the material well and know what you did wrong.”

“Be sure you understand how they’re asking the questions and the tricks they throw at you,” Post advised. “Then, once you’re comfortable with it, start adding the time pressure.”

The future engineer narrowed all that down to “quality over quantity.”

Teacher Influences
Post credits two SMMHS teachers for the greatest help preparing him for the ACT. He said math teacher Kathy McCormack made ACT practice a priority in her class. “She’s just a really great teacher,” he added, “and she makes math fun.”

McCormack said Post has “an excellent math mind and seeks to connect math to physics and business. He is a student who thinks outside the box. When Chase raises his hand, he often asks questions that challenge me to make more connections.”

English teacher Amanda Pettit-Shaheen was a huge help teaching basic mechanics and writing intricacies during AP Literature. He mentioned that writing essays and learning how to use semi colons to combine complex sentences was especially helpful.

“She really nailed down those basic mechanics,” he said, “and taught us how to read critically and how to write effectively.”

Pettit-Shaheen called Post “an amazing student.”

“Chase is thoughtful, inquisitive, and motivated, and he has a true desire to learn new things,” she said. “I look forward to seeing what great things he will accomplish in his future.”

Extracurriculars
Two extracurricular activities of which Post is proud are involvement in the school’s swimming and Leo clubs.
He started swimming at age 6 and has spent 10 years swimming competitively with the Signal Mountain Green Giants, Baylor Swim Club and Signal Mountain Swim and Dive Club.

After starting his freshman year of high school at the Baylor School because of its swimming program, Post transferred back to SMMHS.

Post says swimming requires a lot of focus because it’s not a sport that involves a lot of talking with others but instead mainly staring down at the bottom of a pool.

“It taught me how to focus and work really hard, even when you’re not really talented at something,” he said.

That paid off when Post qualified for Junior Nationals and made finals at State in the 100-yard breaststroke earlier in the year. He now serves as team captain of the Signal Mountain Swim Club and has received several awards relating to swimming talent, team spirit, and leadership.

In the Leo Club, Post is best known for leading the recycling program at home football games and organizing blood drives.

Post also helped program an Augmented Reality Sandbox for Nolan Elementary during fall break in 2019, continues to tutor other students in math, helped organize a talent show to raise money for the Mountain Education Foundation, he also has participated in the YMCA Youth in Government program, where he served as the white senate chief clerk and ran for governor back in the spring. He was also involved in TEAMS (Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics, and Science), Academic Quiz Bowl, the National Honor Society and Beta Club.

Leadership
Chase has two siblings. James attends UTC, and his sister, Hailey, is a junior at SMMHS. They are the children of Larry and Kathy Post, who are proud of their middle child’s recent achievement.
“It’s exciting to have all his hard work pay off,” mom said, “and especially to have it honored.”

SMMHS Principal Shane Harwood agreed. “Chase’s hard work and dedication have been instrumental in his recent ACT accomplishment and being recognized as a National Merit Semi-Finalist,” he said. “Chase serves as an example for other students in regards to academics, service, and character, and we are excited to see what his future holds!”

Post has explored several areas of interest in his quest for leadership skills to supplement studies in engineering.

Although he isn’t sure yet what specific area he plans to study, the top two contenders are electrical or industrial engineering.

Considering himself a natural leader, Post said he doesn’t want to just study design basics but wants to continue learning skills that he could apply to managing a factory or project team one day.

When interviewed after announcement as a National Merit Semifinalist, Post said, “I think the most important thing to remember is that it’s okay to make mistakes.

“When we make mistakes, we learn valuable lessons that may otherwise go unlearned,” he noted. “All you can do, no matter what happens, is keep working hard, pursue what makes you happy, and give to others whenever you can.”

by Melissa Barrett

Wow, it’s already November, and we’re quickly approaching the holiday season! As we get there, let’s take time to be thankful for some things in our Signal Mountain schools.

First, at the time of this writing, students were still able to attend school in person (as well as virtually at home) with masks, constant sanitizing and social distancing when possible. Schools were closed a day or two as needed to clean and disinfect when positive cases were identified, but they remained open.

Parents added more outdoor classrooms at Thrasher Elementary, and work on another outdoor learning pavilion has also begun, thanks to Charlie Spencer, who spearheaded creation of the first two with funding by TVA.

Thanks to former Thrasher student Zach Duncan for creating beautifully carved wooden signage for the school’s nature trail as his final work on updating and expanding (assisted by others) as his Eagle Scout project.

Nolan Kindergarten teacher Becky Cox is thankful to those who supported her Donors Choose grant project to provide flexible seating while allowing students to maintain social distance without table dividers and still keeping mask breaks. She still has a table for students to rotate for table time.

Congratulations to Senior Yoonie Yang for earning a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT college pre-entrance exam! She is the seventh student to achieve this at Signal Mountain Middle/High School. (see separate story on page 34)

Congrats also to seniors Madeline Bruce and Madeline Wyatt for being named Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship program. This means they both had PSAT scores in the top 4 percentile of more than 1.5 million students who took the assessment nationwide.

Kudos to SMMHS for having the highest graduation rate for 2020 in Hamilton County among non-magnet public schools!

Athletics
Hats off to Signal Mountain’s high school boys’ golf team for securing its third straight State Title! Members include Beck Lewis, Peyton Ogle, Benjamin Burns, Carson Johnson, Benjamin Burns, Anderson Lusk, and Graham Barrett. Kudos are also extended to Beck Lewis for placing third overall in the TSSAA Small Class division!

Sally Hogue and Caroline Burns placed 12th and 14th overall, respectively, in the girls’ division.
At the time of this writing, Signal’s cross country teams had earned several top placements and had only one more big meet before going to State in their quest for more consecutive state titles. Girls’ soccer was racking up major wins, too, and looking toward another state title. And, Signal Mountain’s volleyball team had just won a district semifinals game and was headed to the District championship game at the Mirror deadline.
On the middle school level, Signal Mountain’s cross county boys’ team is the new All County Champion, with Tynan Borders placing third overall in the county. The girls’ team was runner-up in Hamilton County, with Ada Boyd and Aubrey Lynch placing third and fifth overall, respectively, in the county.

Signal’s Middle School football team ended up second in league, while the JV team ended its season undefeated.

Clearly there is lots of talent both academically and athletically in our public schools!

Special Presentations
Speaking of talent, COVID-19 has prevented the usual schoolwide, sit-down assemblies at our elementary schools, so Thrasher is hosting those virtually and inviting students to send short videos of themselves engaged in a talent or interest.

Through these online assemblies, Thrasher students have enjoyed seeing classmates perform a variety of activities. Charlie Wheeler shared a talent for riding horses. Phin Walker showed off monkey bar skills, and Amelie Wolbers showed what she learned in tae kwon do. Lucy Hallman performed a cartwheel, while Mena Pillai shared her handstand-walking abilities. Leah Burgess demonstrated her gymnastics prowess, while Patrick McMahon threw and caught a model plane, and Mathilda Koffron provided some impromptu storytelling.

Nolan third graders also got meet and hear a cool presentation by student Liam Badeaux’s father, Brent, who is a retired Marine meteorologist. He talked to students in one of the school’s outdoor classrooms so that at home learners could also enjoy the special lesson.

Badeaux not only shared super cool info about weather systems and how they are formed, but he also shared a story about a sandstorm he experienced in the Middle East while on tour there … a story quoted in the National Geographic magazine.

SMMHS Homecoming
Pandemic precautions canceled this fall’s annual Homecoming parade, but organizers hope to have a spring parade. A positive COVID-19 case on the Eagles’ football team also canceled the Homecoming game in mid September, so that and all related activities were postponed until the October 30 game.

Congratulations to these seniors who were voted by their peers as Homecoming Queen candidates: Audrey Coterel, Lila Edwards, Ella Gordon, Edie Hansen, Francie Hunt, Ellie Meyer, and Julia Stong.

Congrats are also in order for these grade-level representatives for Homecoming Court: ninth grade, Aida Abello; 10th grade, Winter Ervin; and 11th grade, Kelsey Hewitt.

Thrasher Staff Changes
A belated welcome to a few new staff members at Thrasher. Cindy Abello, a former educational assistant, replaced Teresa Bishop, who retired as school secretary. Lindsay Alsobrook, Mark Walker, Desi Driscoll and Karen Leonard are new educational assistants, and Lauren Ray is working in literacy education.

Long-time fourth grade teacher Raquel Newton also stepped into the role of assistant principal when Fannie Moore was tapped to lead CSAS. Heidi Mies, a previous STEM lab teacher, is now an instructional coach for the district but remains based at Thrasher.

Again, there are many blessings among our schools to be thankful for in this extended season of COVID-19.
Thanks to all of you who support our Signal Mountain schools!
​
by Melissa Barrett

Remember your last few weeks of high school: fun times with friends; the school play; concerts; senior prom; sports playoffs; and finally, graduation. Members of the Signal Mountain High School Class of 2020 won’t have those memories.

Instead, they will recall the initial surprise of schools closing in mid March due to the COVID-19 Pandemic along with the shock when they remained closed for weeks, likely never to reopen before their last year in high school ends.

Several seniors at Signal Mountain High School shared reactions about their world being turned upside down within a matter of days.

Caroline Cornett said, “The Thursday and Friday before we got out certainly felt surreal as the coronavirus grew in scale, but I could not have anticipated how much it would affect us.”

Many seniors spent the first few days in denial about the whole situation. Emma Smith said, “But as time has gone on, we’re coming to realize that our high school experience is over.”

Ethan Fell admitted, “It was shocking, to say the least. To be completely honest, it seemed like such a distant reality that none of us truly took it seriously at first. I hate to say it now, but many of us were joking about it until the days leading up to the closure. We came from a point of privilege and felt like we would never be impacted, so when schools finally shut down, it was a very sobering moment for all of us.”

Maggie Meller agreed, saying, “It all happened so suddenly, and that’s the craziest thing. I never anticipated this happening, and I certainly never anticipated it affecting prom, graduation, and my last day of high school.”

Still in disbelief, Devin Kodsi said, that when students were briefed that last Friday, “I had a feeling that we would be out for much longer than I had previously anticipated.”

Cornett’s first reaction was “actually just worrying about when I would turn in assignments and how I would study for the (IB) exams this May.”

That’s why Sophia Fowler’s first reaction was relief. “I felt like I had so much work to do and the break would give me some more time to do it,” she said. “All of my friends were saying ‘HAGS’ (have a great summer), and I thought that was a little ridiculous - surely [school] wouldn’t close for the entire rest of the school year. But here we are ...”

In wonderment, Stella Sherrill said, “I never thought this situation would spiral the way it has now.”
Michael Lancaster had hoped schools would be closed only for the two weeks initially announced. “I was worried about my track season,” he said, “and finishing all of my requirements remaining for the IB diploma.”

Learning Adjustments
Completing year-end work was a concern for all students, but especially for those enrolled in the full International Baccalaureate or Diploma Programme.

The global organization cancelled IB exams worldwide due to the pandemic, which meant DP students lost that opportunity to generate extra points. So, their focus shifted from studying for exams to finishing Internal Assessments (IAs) since those would now play a larger role in determining final IB scores.

“Finishing IB assignments was an unexpected, but brutal challenge,” Fell said. “For chemistry students, in particular, some of us couldn’t even start our mandatory research project until the last day before school closed. I remember getting an email from my teacher at 8 a.m. that Friday, letting me know that I only had until the end of the school day to finish my lab work. I ended up having to miss several classes that afternoon just so I could get my initial data,” he said, “and even then, I didn’t have enough time to finish the project.”

Since students couldn’t bring chemicals home to work with them, Fell and other students continued to work individually with their teacher to solve issue. “It’s incredibly difficult,” Fell said, “to take a process that would usually be worked out in a classroom and adjust it to work online.”

Cornett admitted, “I definitely had to challenge myself to understand topics in some science classes, especially as we have moved into new units.”

Sherrill said, “The biggest adjustment for me was definitely maintaining my school schedule in my home environment, and I certainly had to adjust to the lack of face-to-face contact with my teachers.”

The school’s administration team worked with lead teachers on a schedule of when video conferences for specific classes could be conducted, which made things go much smoother for Week No. 2 and beyond.

Cornett said “classes that typically have a lot of discussion, like English and foreign language, have certainly felt a bit different when we can’t all talk through our interpretations of the texts we read.” She complimented teachers for scheduling Zoom video conferences “so we can still connect and discuss content as a group.”

Meller agreed distance learning was a challenge. “It’s difficult enough to focus on schoolwork when we’re in school,” she said. “When you take away the physical building and so much of the interaction with peers and teachers, it’s exponentially more difficult to focus and get stuff done.”

Self-motivation was a challenge for many. “With IB exams being cancelled, it’s even more difficult to work for classes in which I won’t be tested,” Kodsi said. “However, I continue to remind myself that our growth as learners is never-ending, and that, despite the cancellation of exams, I will continue to work to further my learning-based development.”

Social Adjustments
Senior students had to make other adjustments as quarantines were enacted to prevent interaction, as much as possible, with people outside your own family.

All admitted to spending more time on online social platforms than usual to connect with friends.

“Our generation has grown up communicating online, so the social distancing thing is really not that inaccessible for us,” Fowler said. “We can Face Time, Snap Chat, DM (Direct Message), or text message each other as we always have.” She said the biggest impact on her socially was not being able to go anywhere, like out to eat or to a movie or to the beach for spring break.

Sherrill found it difficult to adjust to “not being able to see my friends, other seniors, or my teachers at school.”

“It’s definitely been odd not being able to hop in the car and go somewhere whenever I feel like hanging out with someone,” Fell said.

While they appreciated seeing some classmates on video conferences, Kodsi noted, “It’s not the same experience as going to school every day and truly being there learning alongside others.”

In addition to using social media platforms, Cornett also enjoyed seeing people “out and about on errands or while working out to stay in shape. The biggest difference, she said, “has been in losing the sense of community you get from talking to people in class or in the hallways, because missing the shared experience of day-to-day school routines and challenges really has made me realize how much interaction we find in those little moments.”

Smith grieves missed opportunities.

“I’ve come to realize that the worst thing about missing out on these last weeks of high school is that I’m missing the last opportunities I’ll ever have to spend time with my school friends,” she said. “I’ve got plenty of close friends who I’ll keep in touch with throughout my life, but what about the ones whose company I really enjoy in school, but who I never got close to,” she pondered. “None of us had time to adjust to the idea that we won’t be seeing much of those people anymore, so that’s the worst part to me.”

Sherrill expressed similar sentiments.

“Mostly, I miss the ability to make those in-person memories with my fellow seniors in our last year of high school,” she said. “I miss having the closure that a senior feels on the last day they walk through the school where, for some of us, we have spent the last seven years of our lives.”

Foster Wood agreed.

“We miss seeing each other and experiencing the last goodbyes to our teachers and all the friends we made,” he said. “Those last few months as a high schooler to spend time with your childhood friends has slipped away.”

Wood is able to finish high school as a member of the golf team that snagged its third consecutive State Title last fall. However, students playing spring sports were barely able to start their season before it was all shut down.

“Without any doubt, I miss my cross country and track teammates the most,” Lancaster said. “I was so excited for my last track season ever, especially after our cross country state championship win in the fall.”
Our high school track teams were set to run their first Invitational the weekend that schools closed. “We were all excited at first [about school closings] because we thought we would only miss one or two races,” Lancaster said, “but now that this has progressed, I regret ever being excited for the cancellation.”

Students in all sports have continued to follow training schedules to the best of their abilities, even though some have noted it’s not as fun to do alone.

“I believe it’s because we are all holding onto the little bit of structure that we can still control in our lives right now,” Lancaster said. “I would do anything to have another practice with my teammates before the spring season ends.”

Soccer player Enrique Garcia agrees. “I miss being out in the fields with my friends and teammates,” he said. “It [stinks] that the sports have been cancelled,” Garcia said. “Some are more accepting than others, but the seniors in general are more disappointed. Most of us didn’t expect the last game or practice to be our last so soon.”

All are grateful for the very few soccer, tennis, and lacrosse matches, baseball and softball games, and indoor track meets held before schools closed. While many hope for a miracle so that they can compete again as a team before they leave high school, most have given up.

“To the young ones, I can say that there will be another year and season and to keep grinding,” Garcia said. “To the seniors, I can say that it was fun while it lasted, but that it’s probably over now. The only thing we can do is to go out with a positive mindset instead of a negative one.”

New Hobbies
Several seniors noted that lack of commitments to extracurricular activities has given them time to explore new things. “I’ve been able to focus on myself in ways that I haven’t been able to for years,” Meller said.
“I’ve found myself trying out new things, like baking, and I’m able to engage in more physical activity, journal more, and try out new creative outlets that I’ve been pushing aside for a long time.”

Cornett has appreciated extra time to read and discover new interests through TV, where she’s been really interested in the “Great British Bake Off.”

Kodsi feels “much more mentally stable” with 8 1/2 hours of sleep and discovered that he enjoys running outside in his neighborhood, which he said provides a nice break from school work and helps him feel less secluded at home.

Gracie Bradford was devastated when schools closed because she had been on medical homebound school since Christmas break for foot and ankle surgery and was excited about returning to school after spring break. “I mostly miss spending time with my teachers and my friends,” she said, “especially my marching band family!”

To help with the latter and to fill time, Bradford taught herself to sew and quilt, enjoying fond memories of her grandmother creating beautiful garments and blankets.

“I decided to make a keepsake of all of my high school marching band memories so I sewed all of my band shirts and pants into a blanket,” said Bradford, who also has sewn masks to donate to local healthcare facilities.

After commiserating with classmates about what they’re missing, Meller, as Student Body President, encouraged seniors in a letter to “Reach out to a neighbor (from a safe six feet). Learn a new craft, and use it to put good out into the world. Make blankets for a children’s hospital. Take an online class in something outside of what you’re required to learn. Do something other than sitting around. Make the most of your moment,” she said, “and you will do amazing things.”

In like fashion, Bradford said, “I strongly urge everyone to find a hobby that brings them joy; lend the world your light as you shine in the dark places.”

Graduation – Yes/No?
While it would be nice to have a late prom or some kind of dance or social gathering, the big question on seniors’ minds is graduation.

“I hope that, if all else fails, graduation will be postponed to a later date,” Sherrill said, “so that we can still experience the closure that we’ve worked for nearly all of our lives.”

Lancaster agreed. “Having watched two older sisters graduate before me, I feel a little entitled to having my own graduation ceremony,” he said. “Naturally, this could only happen if stay-at-home orders have been lifted. I am willing to skip graduation if it helps the entire population,” he said, “but I would love to walk across the stage if I had that option.”

Fowler agreed. “It would just be gratifying,” she said, “to walk across the stage and hear my name called to receive a diploma that I’ve been working for so diligently.”

Kodsi concurred, but only if the threat of the virus has drastically decreased.

At the Mirror’s press time, Hamilton County Schools had postponed all graduations and hoped to reschedule or offer an alternative.

Principal Shane Harwood encouraged seniors, saying, “Hang in there! Know that you are in the thoughts of your teachers and school family every day, and that we are so sorry that your senior year is being affected.

“Our hope is that we can get back together soon to experience some of your senior memories together in person,” he said, “but if the circumstances and timelines do not allow, know that we are doing all we can to plan creative ways to still make those memories.”

Senior teacher sponsors introduced a SMMHS Seniors Soar project in early April to spotlight each student individually on the school’s social media and were considering yard signs, as well.

Senior parents and others are committed to providing our seniors some kind of event to give closure to their high school years.

It wouldn’t have to be a formal affair, said Fell, who serves on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee, which will be consulted regarding any rescheduled proms or graduations.“I think everyone would just appreciate the opportunity to get together one final time and dance, see each other, and celebrate all of our accomplishments,” he said. “In the end, these events were always about being together.”

Senior mom and SMMHS teacher Julie Perez agreed as she complimented her son, Keegan, for handling changes with honesty, grace, and optimism amid the loss of treasured times with friends during this “precious season of life.”

“These seniors have lost a lot, but they have also been given an amazing gift,” Perez said. “The loss they have experienced has taught them to treasure their moments and their friendships; it has taught them to be resilient; it has taught them to be okay with being sad, even while they hope and plan for better things ahead; it has taught them that the decisions they make have an impact on others; it has taught them that the journey toward the goal is worthwhile, even if the end doesn’t look as was expected.”

Looking Forward
So, how will the COVID-19 pandemic impact the lives of our seniors going forward?

“First and foremost, I think this pandemic will definitely make us appreciate our world’s teachers more,” Kodsi said. “They applied to be a teacher to help kids learn in an academic setting, not via technology, but the virus has completely shifted their jobs as educators,” he noted. “These teachers are having to travel through uncharted waters in order to ensure the continuation of learning despite the mess in which we find ourselves, and I believe that their efforts during these times will not go unnoticed.”

Both Kodsi and Fell expect COVID-19 to also impact their freshman year of college, either as an extension of the current pandemic or as a potential second wave in the fall.

Fowler believes the pandemic will “make people, a least for a minute, a bit more cautious about germs and how readily they spread. I have been a germophobe my whole life,” she said, “but I think it might be helpful for everyone to be a bit of one.”

Wood joked that we could all become “well sanitized extroverts for a while.”

On a more serious note, he hopes the pandemic will result “in an increase in sustainable and independent living techniques among the population of the United States, as well as an increase in personal accountability and acknowledgement of the larger impacts of our actions.”

Cornett believes that, “Going forward, I think life as we know it will be a little different. “Many technological services have seen an enormous increase in usage, and this new state of connectivity could change how we work, take classes, and connect with out-of-state friends and family on a regular basis.

“In terms of the economy,” Cornett continued, “my grade will be entering the professional workforce in just a few years, and there will likely be many new jobs relating to working closely with technology and global health.

“I have also read online,” she said, “that the pandemic could reshape domestic vs. international supply chains and affect the general state of how we produce and consume a lot of essential products, which could be interesting.”

All agree that being in a class born as our country was reeling from 9/11 and leaving high school during a pandemic and starting college in its aftermath will give them a unique perspective on life and a good story to tell their children and grandchildren.

Bradford hopes “the world learns to be grateful for everything good in life, share with the less fortunate, and show kindness to each other.”
​
by Melissa Barrett

Congratulations to all our Teachers of the Year, especially Michelle Bailey from Thrasher, who was selected as Hamilton County’s Teacher of the Year for its elementary grades division. Bailey tied at the local school level with music teacher Betty Julian at Thrasher.

Nolan’s Teachers of the Year are fifth-grade math teacher Lesley Hyde and third grade teacher Becky Leary.

Kudos also are extended to Thrasher STEM teacher Heidi Mies and Signal Mountain Middle High School English teacher Kristin Robertson (last year’s Hamilton County Teacher of the Year and finalist at State) for being among 20 Hamilton County teachers selected to be on the superintendent’s new Teacher Cabinet. This group will work with Dr. Bryan Johnson to provide teacher input on current and projected procedures and programs.   

Hats off to Caroline Cornett and Devin Kodsi for being Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the SMMHS Class of 2020. These seniors have been active in many facets of their school and have attained several awards and recognitions over the years, supported by wonderful teachers and loving parents.

Congrats to our SMMHS team for coming in Runner Up at the Volunteer State Middle School Science Bowl! Members are Logan Dapp, Mark Nashi, Milo Newton, Aoife Davis, and Bindi Patel.

Kudos to Thrasher’s Chess teams for placing first and third at the Tennessee State Regional Chess competition. Both teams qualified for the State tournament in February. First place teammates are Will Hammontree, Hannah Harris, Dahra Karimian and Asher Cone. Third place members are Hudson Brown, Paul Mann, and Carly Stewart. Thanks to Bill Cheal and Joe Kodsi for their continued commitment to our school chess teams!

Congrats to Nolan third graders Jace Ogg and Katie Beth Woodlief for winning the “One of a Kind” contest for Scholastic’s Storyworks Junior.

Hats off to the 33 students who performed in Nolan’s annual Talent Show. The audience enjoyed all musicians, dancers, singers, gymnasts, actors, and comedians.

Kudos to SMMHS junior Chase Post for recognition as a finalist among Tennessee’s top youth volunteers by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. He organized a recycling effort at home football games that was initiated by his membership in the school’s Leo Club.

Arts Recognitions
Congrats to Signal Mountain High School Band and Strings students who qualified to perform in All East Honor ensembles earlier this spring! A record number qualified this year, with SMHS sending the second largest delegation from the East Tennessee region that stretches from the state’s Kentucky-Virginia border to Georgia.

Concert Band members include: Emma Wu, Meredith Stafford, Keegan Perez, Matthew Ashline, Hannah Massey, Autumn Cadieux, Daniel Miranda, Alex Headrick, Jake Stubblefield, Nicholas Barrett, Trevor McGhie, Ross Brown, Grady Sharpe, Oliver Bradley Shoup, Lindsey Coppel, Devin Kodsi, Will Marsden, Hudson Leko, Kolsten Keene, and Hannah Parker.    

Jazz Band members include: Devin Kodsi, Hannah Massey, Will Marsden, and Keegan Perez.
Strings members include: Eli Parsley, Madeline Wyatt, Alexia Apablaza, Rylan Stone, and Josh Dulin.

Kudos to Hannah Massey, Matthew Ashline, Keegan Perez, and Eli Parsley for also making Tennessee All State!

Hats off to these SMMHS thespians for earning awards during this year’s esteemed “Senior Scenes:” Best Actress: Yoonie Yang and Gracie Thomason (tie); Best Actor: Aaron Neilsen; Bronze: Ethan Fell for “Company”; Silver: Olivia Speek for “Chicago”; and the Gold Gnomie Winner was Sophia Fowler for “Love Sick.”

History Bee
Kudos to SMMHS teams on earning top honors at the 2020 Chattanooga History Bee and Bowl!
The high school team placed first in the varsity division and qualified for the National History Bee and Bowl competition in Chicago this summer. Team members are Max Sewell, Olivia Glover, Nicholas Yeager, Nathan Yeager, and Jack Gibby.

The two middle school teams placed first and second in the JV Division and also qualified to go to Nationals.
First place middle school team members were New Wang, Mark Nashi, Logan Dapp, and Milo Newton. Second place middle school team members were Aoife Davis, Tate Harrison, Carter Downs, and Carver Snyder.

Students who earned Individual History Bee honors include New Wang, first place in Individual Bee for JV, while Carter Downs was second. Nathan Yeager placed second in the Individual Bee for varsity and qualified for Nationals Individual competition.

Youth in Government
Kudos to SMMHS students who earned honors at the YMCA Chattanooga Area Middle School Youth in Government Conference. Best Statesperson in House: Jake Edmondson, Will Harwood, Nathan Johnson, Mark Nashi, Angela Teramonin.

Best Statesperson in Senate: Logan Dapp, Nick Gibson; Best Bills in House: Annalise Perez and Michael Campbell plus Aida Abella and Aleia Opengart; Best Bills in Senate: Ashlyn Rock, Lauren Williams and Lauren Lisowski; Riley Barford and Kate Ottley also passed their bill in both the House and the Senate.

Sports
Congratulations to the SMHS Wrestling team on being Regional Champs for a third consecutive year before heading to State Duals and individual tournaments.

Kudos to these six SMMHS students who qualified to compete in the TN State High School Championships in mid February: swimmers Megan Hanson, Chase Post, Audrey Rackel, and Amelia Wills, and divers Grace Hogue, and Ryan Riese.

Four of those students finished in the Top-16 of various events to score points. Grace Hogue made it to the diving finals and came home with 7th place overall. Fellow diver Ryan Riese made it to the diving semifinals and placed 18th overall. Audrey Rackel placed 10th in the 50yd Freestyle and 15th in the 100yd Freestyle. Chase Post placed 13th in the 100yd Breaststroke achieving a Junior Nationals cut.

At press time, high school basketball and track teams were ending regular seasons, while baseball, softball, boys soccer, tennis, and lacrosse were gearing up for spring sport seasons.
​
by Melissa Barrett