Overton Newsletter

Monday, Nov. 27 is a B Day!

(Blue= A Day, Yellow= B Day)

Upcoming dates to remember:

Dec. 15-20: Exams

Dec. 21-Jan. 7: Winter Break

Congratulations to Katie Michael, Overton's Teacher of the Year! Ms. Michael works with EL students and makes it a goal to "encourage a strengths-based approach to students’ identity development by inviting students to reflect on their own strengths and points of pride, along with the strength of their friends, families, and communities."

Freshman Academy - Wayne Randolph

Engineering - Gaby Galloway

Health Sciences - Ava Kissner

Interdisciplinary Research - Lorelys Criollo Lobo

Information Technology - Scarlet Dominguez Peralta

Congratulations to the following students for making the Gold Mid-State Band:

Jenny Clasgens – 1st chair horn

Princess Nwozo – 9th chair flute

Nathan Wells – 7th chair clarinet

Talitha Winningham – 11th chair trumpet

Congratulations to the following students for making the Silver Mid-State Band:

Jackson Boeskool – 6th chair percussion

Maddie Clements – 1st alternate oboe

Corio Concepcion Ruiz – 2nd chair flute AND 8th chair horn

Ian McNab – 15th chair clarinet

Luke Mercado – 5th chair trombone

Congratulations to the following students for making the Mid-State Orchestra:

Jenny Clasgens – 1st chair horn

Joseph Gárate – 15th chair violin

For the first time in over a decade, John Overton had a student get selected into the Mid-State Jazz Band:

Congratulations to Luke Mercado for placing 4th trombone in the Gold Mid-State Jazz Band.

Let’s give a special shoutout to the following students for scoring so high that they will be participating in the Tennessee All-State Band. This means that they are one of the best players on their instrument IN THE STATE!

Jenny Clasgens – horn

Nathan Wells – clarinet

The Overton Debate Team won big at their first tournament on Saturday! Senior Aubrey Patton debated maverick (without a partner) for four rounds in the Varsity division and brought home a Second Place Speaker trophy. Juniors Lawson Morel and Luis Padilla debated in the Novice Division and won Second Place overall. Congrats Aubrey, Luis, and Lawson!

This past weekend, nine JOHS students attended the three-day Model United Nations conference in Murfreesboro. Our students got to experience what it’s like to be a delegate in the United Nations. With only one of these JOHS Youth in Government students having attended this conference before, these inexperienced Bobcats didn’t let that be an issue. Two of three resolutions got through Committee and into the General Assembly where delegates Aliza Avelar, Landon Murphy and Hanna Nguyen were successful in getting their resolution passed and JOHS YIG members Aubrey Stevens and Aliza Avelar won the coveted “Outstanding Delegate Award”. Special thanks go out to club president Amelia Lewis for helping to get our members get prepped for a positive weekend. Her leadership and experience were integral to our success at MUN ’23.

Thank you to Dr. Hagengruber and her amazing SGA for planning and putting on such an incredible Fall Festival! So much time, effort and hard work goes into these events and we greatly appreciate it. This is what makes the Overton cluster great! Thank you Dr. H and SGA!!

Did you miss School Picture Day or want a retake?

The Make-Up Day is Thursday, November 30.

Please fill out this PICTURE FORM to sign up

to get your picture retaken!

HOSA is sponsoring a food drive to support Second Harvest Food Bank. You can start bringing in food item this week. The second period with the highest percentage of items brought in will win a pizza party!! The second and third place classes will also win a prize. We will update you on the top classes weekly.

HOW this works: You bring in food items, during second period a representative from your class will bring donated cans to the Health Science Lab, 252

When: NOW until December 8th

All canned items accepted but most needed are peanut butter, canned chicken, canned tuna, canned vegetables, Canned fruit, pasta and cereal.

Mr. Thompson, the Family Engagement Specialist would like to borrow a few minutes of your time to take a 3-question survey to gauge the needs of our families. You may access the survey by clicking the link below. Your participation is greatly appreciated!

https://forms.office.com/r/eJKW6XX27F

Chicago will be opening on Dec. 7th and run through the weekend.

You can get tickets on GOFAN the week of the show.

Mr. Filson is organizing a trip with Global Travel Alliance to Yellowstone National Park next Fall Break, Oct. 5-10, 2024. He is having an informational meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 6pm in his classroom 191. For more information, see attached flyer or email john.filson@mnps.org

Ms. Fitz is organizing a 5-day trip to New York City and Washington D.C. that will take place at the end of May 2024! We will be visiting all the sites—Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, and much more! Click here to enroll! Email kristin.fitzgerald@mnps.org with all questions and for more details.

We’re going to Costa Rica in Summer 2025, and you’re invited! On Tuesday, Dec. 5th at 6pm in the Library Garage, we're holding and informational meeting to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for this info session to be considered for this opportunity: https://bit.ly/3u2TekO

Those who register for the meeting will be eligible to receive a $200 tour scholarship and be eligible for Risk-Free Enrollment if they enroll on our tour! As a reminder for those with questions about this opportunity: all questions will be answered at the meeting. Registration for the meeting is mandatory, so do not wait. There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity! For more info contact Dr. Levy at anna.levy@mnps.org

Students from any school can now visit hfamualphatheta.com to request free, high-quality, one-on-one tutoring in any subject they need help in at a time they choose themselves. Once on the website, click “Find a Tutor” and fill out some basic information such as name and phone number, etc. Then, a tutor will reach out to the student and arrange a Teams or Zoom meeting during the appointed time. Our tutors are trained in everything from basic algebra to multivariable calculus and the ACT math section.

Each week Granbery Elementary opens a free pantry to our families in need of clothing, food, diapers, and household supplies. They serve about 25 families each week on Wednesday from 3:30-4:30. They are in need of volunteers who are fluent in English and Spanish to help translate for families who come. Sign up here TRANSLATOR. They also need volunteers who can come and help organize clothing and unpack food donations on Nov. 28, 30 and Dec. 11. Hours that students may need for graduation requirements will be verified. Please email emily.kajihara@mnps.org for more information.

Save the date for the next PAC meeting on November 27, 2023 from 6-7pm at Tusculum Elementary School. Everyone is welcome!!

The weather is getting chilly! When you dig out those winter coats, be sure to send any that no longer fit your student in to school. We’ll fill our in-school closet to share with another student here or send to our friends @unicycle.nashville to be shared with a @mnps_hero student, or to fill another school’s closet. We’ll take “outgrown, not worn out” coats of any size. Let’s share the warmth with our MNPS family! Please bring all coats to room 238!

If you are looking to support your Overton community then The International Student Center is looking for you! We need ambassadors to help us support new students for the remainder of the school year. If you speak Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Kurdish, Persian, Swahili, Uzbek, please contact Ms Morales (dayana.morales@mnps.org), Ms Chaparro (carol.chaparro@mnps.org) or Sr Montoya (samuel.montoya@mnps.org) in the International Student Center located in room 146. Submit your application HERE. There will be an info session on Monday, Nov. 20th in the library garage during the 4th block.

All students who plan on graduating in May should order their cap and gown from Josten’s at https://rb.gy/k2b7j by December 12. Orders must be placed online with Josten’s using the link provided. Your cap and gown set will include a black gown, black cap, tassel, and red stole. You only need to order a tassel separately if you would like an extra one as a keepsake. You will need to know your height and weight when you place the order. If you have questions or financial concerns that prevent you from ordering your cap and gown, please see Mrs. Spear in room 136. sally.spear@mnps.org

Here is a snapshot of the local scholarships specifically for MNPS students (Please click document link for all details). These Scholarships have a December 1st deadline.

MNPS Scholarships Flyer.docx

Civics Essay Contest

https://sos.tn.gov/civics-essay-contest

The Secretary of State’s office is conducting their annual student Essay Contest! Our goal is to encourage students to be actively engaged citizens by recognizing their important roles as citizens of the state of Tennessee. The theme of this year’s essay contest is “Why Your Civility Matters”. Student winners will receive a TNStars 529 Program College Savings scholarship of $100, $250, or $500 in addition to a trip to the State Capitol.

Essays should be typed, double spaced on 8 ½ x 11” paper. Essays exceeding the word limit will be automatically disqualified. Submit your essay HERE by Dec. 15th, 2023.

Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books launched their annual Creative Writing Awards program with a new Freedom of Expression Award. In their announcement, they write, “In the face of book bans and attacks on free expression on the rise in America, Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books celebrate the power of books and stories. Applicants to the new award will be asked to answer the prompt, “Tell us about one banned book that changed your life and why.”

The Creative Writing Award was founded in 1993 by PRH. We Need Diverse Books entered the partnership in 2019. The shared mission is to help elevate and support the next generation of writers. Over the years, the program has awarded more than $2.9 million to public high school students for original compositions across genres and formats. Categories include the Michelle Obama Award for Memoir, the Amanda Gorman Award for Poetry, the Maya Angelou Award for Spoken Word, and the Fiction/Drama Award. This year will include the inaugural Freedom of Expression Award. Submissions close on January 16, 2024. More information on the award can be found - https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/penguinrandomhouse/

If you are a 10th-12th grade student who is looking for a career aptitude exam; a student who would like the opportunity to earn a Ready Graduate Standard, or a student that is considering the military as an option post-graduation, please sign-up for the ASVAB today! If you have questions reach out to your College & Career Representative. beth.wilson@mnps.org

The 2024-25 FAFSA form will be released in December this year, not Oct. 1. Get ready for a revamped FAFSA experience and a smoother application process. Learn more about updates to the FAFSA form by clicking: DECEMBERFAFSA

Every Friday College & Career will host College Application & Scholarship assistance sessions through December. Come to the Library Garage during lunch to get help applying to college.

Our next basketball games will be on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1. To view the schedule, click: BASKETBALL SCHEDULE. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Hopson at john.hopson@mnps.org

Bowling season has begun. Their next match is Dec. 4. To view the entire schedule, click: BOWLING. For more information, contact Coach Carlson at christina.carlson@mnps.org

If you're interested in learning tennis with the possibility of making the team in the Spring, come join us at the courts on Tuesdays. 2:30-4:00. Open to all who are interested. Make sure you have your physical completed. See Coach Fabie (benjamin.fabie@mnps.org) in room 160, Coach Kiger (howard.kiger@mnps.org) in room 144 or Coach Erwin (brianna.erwin@mnps.org) in Room 130 if you have any questions.

The next wrestling matches are on Nov. 28, 30 and Dec. 2. Please see the pictures for the whole season's schedules. Any questions, please see coach Hardy in room 150 for details. leo.hardy@mnps.org

Parents and students can view club information at overtonclubs23-24. New clubs and updated information will continue to be added as sponsors determine their calendars. If you have a question about a club, please reach out to the sponsor using the contact information provided on the list.

All the info you need that was published in previous newsletters.

Questions about any of our academies? You can find the information here:

Academy Showcase and Academy One-Pagers

Metro Nashville Public Schools interviewed students and staff about the Academies of Nashville that we have at Overton, and then featured it on the district website. Click Overton Academies to read all about it!

John Overton High School provides students many opportunities to enroll in advanced coursework. Students are encouraged to challenge themselves academically and take advantage of advanced courses that best align with their postsecondary aspirations and goals. To learn more about advanced academic offerings available, please visit https://bit.ly/overtonaa

The 2023-24 academic calendar is available to download on the MNPS website.

District Calendar - Metro Nashville Public Schools (mnps.org)

Do you have questions about Overton? Click Overton FAQs to link to the answers of some of our mostly frequently asked questions.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. To receive more information and to apply for the plan, click: CONNECT

Attention Cambridge Parents and Students: The calendar for spring Cambridge exams can be found here – Cambridge Exam Calendar Spring 2024. Please mark these dates on your calendar, as these exams are required for students in AICE courses. Feel free to reach out to james.trotter@mnps.org, if you have any questions.

When students miss school, they miss out. Students who are in school learn more, achieve higher and are more likely to graduate. We all want the best for our students, and together we can make sure they’re reaching their full potential. Help us reach our attendance goal this year! Linked is the 2023 - 2024 Overton High School Attendance Expectations Letter. If you have additional questions, feel free to email julie.keeton@mnps.org any time throughout the school year.

This year, we are running on a five block day. Click the link BELL SCHEDULE to access this new schedule. In case of inclement weather where we would be on a delay, or half days, you can click ALTERNATE SCHEDULES to view.

Starting September 23 Overton High School will be participating in MNPS’ Enriching Scholars Program. This enrichment program will provide Reading and Math instruction and support two Saturdays a month throughout the school year. Enriching Scholars will be provided by MNPS teachers and staff. Transportation will be provided if needed, and students will be served breakfast and lunch. If you would like your child to participate, please sign up using the QR code on the Enriching Scholars flyer or click THIS LINK.

The Find My Bus Stop online tool provides families with the planned school bus route/stop information. Actual route/stop times could vary due to driver shortage route coverage, traffic or mechanical breakdowns. If your student’s bus is more than 15 minutes later than expected feel free to call (615) 259-INFO (4636).

To find your student's route and stop:

• Use the Find My Bus Stop online search tool.
• Enter your student's grade and your address for the result to generate.

Graduation will be held at Municipal Auditorium at 6:00 PM on Monday, May 20, 2024.

Rehearsal and details of the day will be released after Winter Break.

Free homework help and tutoring for students K to 12 is available from the Homework Hotline. It's a great resource and available Monday to Thursday 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 615-298-6636. We offer help in: English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Hindi, and Farsi. https://homeworkhotline.info

Campus Portal allows families to see real-time class and assignment grades, homework, test scores, upcoming due dates, attendance information, and discipline incidents.

To create your Campus Portal account, email Mr. Krech for your activation code: austin.krech@mnps.org. Once you have a Campus Portal account, you can receive notifications through the mobile app. For step by step instructions follow this link: Receiving Notifications.

Engaged parents and guardians are critical partners in student success. The more you know, the more you can be involved — and we want you to be fully involved!

MNPS Handbook

MNPS wants to encourage you to take full advantage of the resources and information provided in this ONLINE PARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOK.

Overton Handbook

Access the parent-student handbook specific to Overton by clicking: Overton Handbook

In January, the Lifetime Wellness Classes will begin the Family Life and Sexual Health Education curricular unit, which is part of the State's approved Lifetime Wellness standards. Students must give consent to participate, a form that can easily be filled out through the link: MNPS Permissions Portal which will allow a seamless completion of the form electronically. If you want a hard copy, print this consent form (translations available in Arabic, Burmese, English, Kurdish, Somali, Spanish, and Swahili). If you would like to view the content in this portion of the curriculum, there will be a copy available in the front office.

Have you checked yes on the permissions portal to allow for your child's picture to be taken? If not, please visit the MNPS Permissions Portal and check yes today!

Student work also can be reviewed in Schoology, the district's learning management system. Families can sign up to receive an update on student work via email from Schoology. To create your Schoology Parent account, email Lori Bervoets for your activation code: lwbervoets@mnps.org. If you’re having trouble with your account, Ms. Bervoets can contact the appropriate providers for help.

Parents can create an account by visiting the SchoolCash Online webpage on our website. They can then attach their student(s) to their profile.

Registration instructions

If you missed our Title 1 Meeting on August 30th, you can still get all the information by clicking here to read through the Title 1 PowerPoint Presentation. If you have questions after reading it or would like additional information, please contact lindsay.miller@mnps.org.

The yearbook is now on sale. Order here: BUY A YEARBOOK.

The Deadline to order a yearbook is February.

Under classmen School Pictures are Ready!

View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• JOHN OVERTON HIGH SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE287823
• Also Needed: Infinite Campus Unique Student ID (their 190#)

To translate the newsletter into another language, click anywhere on the newsletter so that it opens in a browser. At the top of the screen will be a "translate" dropdown box where you can choose which language and have it translated (see picture).

Para traducir el boletín a otro idioma, haga clic en cualquier parte del boletín para que se abra en un navegador. En la parte superior de la pantalla habrá un cuadro desplegable de "traducir" donde puede elegir qué idioma y traducirlo (ver imagen).

لترجمة النشرة الإخبارية إلى لغة أخرى ، انقر فوق أي مكان في الرسالة الإخبارية بحيث يتم فتحها في المستعرض. في الجزء العلوي من الشاشة سيكون مربع القائمة المنسدلة "ترجمة" حيث يمكنك اختيار اللغة وترجمتها (انظر الصورة).

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