Welcome to a new calendar year, 2020, and the continuation of the 2019-2020 School Year.

This new year has meant some new faces, systems, and structures for Vine.

We have instituted teams in 7th grades, and student schedules as well as teacher classroom locations changed. Our new 7th Grade Assistant Principal is Mrs. Jennifer Vacek, who has been a Golden Bear since January 2017.

I am excited about this 7th grade team, their leadership, and their desire to build community so that our students can optimize their learning.

We have also gained a new administrator in Mrs. Vacek's position, Mr. William (Casey) Cooper, who comes to us from Holston Middle School.

Although some things have changed, we will continue to strive to fulfill our Mission and Vision:

Vision: To Empower All Golden Bears be the Best Versions of Themselves.

Mission: Challenge, Connections, Community

You can help by participating in your students' education by asking them about their learning progress, checking grades and attendance with your student, and being involved in their activities, sports, and performances. Our new PTSA is also up and running and contributing greatly to our school community.

We also want you to be a part of the decision making at Vine. Our next round of Parent/Community focus groups with the principal are coming up. Please click the link below to sign up for a 9:45a or 5:30p slot on Wednesday, February 5th.

Thank you for helping us fulfill our Mission and Vision for your students.

Twelve Vine students participated in Knox County Honor Band on Thursday, 1/23 and Friday 1/24, an annual event that brings together the top 10% of Band students from each middle school in KCS to attend a two-day clinic, work with guest conductors and professional musicians, and prepare a large culminating concert.

On Thursday night students auditioned for chair placement, which determined whether they made the Blue Band or the Red Band. THREE of our kids made the Blue Band, and the others made high chairs in the Red Band.

Ms. Edmonds and the Vine community is so proud of how hard they worked and how well they represented Vine.

Blue Band

Leonard Weaver, 5th chair alto sax

Finley Rider, 4th chair percussion

James Overall, 19th chair clarinet

Red Band

Jaymee Walker, 3rd chair clarinet

Eli Holmes, 5th chair clarinet

Kailani Reynolds, 10th chair flute

Zora Freeman, 4th chair trumpet

Charles Winton, 5th chair trumpet

Benjamin Vachon, 2nd chair French horn

Kevin Dominguez-Arita, 7th chair French horn

Alicia Barrientos, 5th chair trombone

Leticia Armstrong, 2nd chair bass clarinet

Charleston Thomas, 4th chair percussion

The following partners will also be present:

Our PTSA will be selling t-shirts and baked goods; 100 Black Men; The Census; the SMART Institute; and Parent University will be sharing information about their respective programs.

With spring around the corner that means that spring sports are gearing up. If you have a student interested in spring sports please reach out to the following:

Track – Jerel Heyward – jerel.heyward@knoxschools.org

Soccer- Scott Stooksbury - scott.stooksbury@knoxschools.org

Baseball – Justin Lowe – justin.lowe@knoxschools.org