TCAT McMinnville Holds National Signing Day Recognition for 19 Seniors at DCHS

April 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Nineteen seniors at DeKalb County High School participated Friday in an NC3 National Signing Day declaring their intention to pursue a technical career pathway at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) McMinnville.

NC3 Signing Day mirrors the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes who commit to play sports in college, but instead of athletes, NC3’s Signing Day is designed to honor students who are entering a technical field.

“These students have signed their intent in order to go on to do their post-secondary at the TCAT in McMinnville and we are really proud of them for their commitment,” said Brad Leach CTE Director at DCHS.

“Having completed the dual enrollment in all of their specific programs, these students will be able to take with them the credits they have earned here (DCHS) to TCAT McMinnville which gives them a leg up in furthering their careers,” said Leach.

Michele Chamberlain, grants and special projects specialist at TCAT McMinnville said this is an exciting moment for these students.

“It’s the start of their future,” said Chamberlain. “They have worked really hard in high school and now they are taking the next step going to college. With our programs, they might be in their program for a year, 16 months, or 20 months and then be ready to go out into the workforce to have a career in a high demand job,” she said.

2023-24 TCAT- DCHS participants by program who signed letters of intent with TCAT McMinnville and were recognized Friday are as follows:

Automotive Technology: Trinten Summers, Samuel Gasper, and Landon Speaks (not present)

Computer Information Technology: Jared Hernandez Balderas and Samuel Moore

Cosmetology: Kilah Terry, Kayleigh Overstreet, Rashelle Miller, Sarah Boner, Emily Satterfield, and Madison Dawson

Industrial Maintenance: Aaron Hatfield

Licensed Practical Nursing: Laura Good

Massage Therapy: Serenity Patterson

RCIE Industrial Electricity: Westin Wright, Brandon Palomo, and Pacey Ballew

Welding: Kholton Melton and Erick Soto.

April 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

Members of Center Hill Masonic Lodge #77 presented a $200 check to DeKalb Middle School Friday in support of its student garden program.

Making the presentation were Lodge Master Don Adamson, Senior Warden Dustin Estes, Junior Warden Danny Pirtle, and member Mike Conley. Receiving the donation were Suzette Barnes, DMS Positive Behavior Support Teacher, along with Principal Caleb Shehane and Assistant Principal Teresa Jones.

The DMS garden program began last school year as a way to show sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students, especially those who have never been exposed to a garden, how to grow fruits and vegetables.

“We really appreciate this donation from Center Hill Masonic Lodge #77,” said Ms. Barnes. “This money will go into the school garden account, and we will use it to buy seeds, vegetable plants, and other things we need to teach the students how to garden. We mainly do this through our special education department for students within the positive behavior support and CDC classrooms. They get to do more hands on with the garden because of scheduling but we also involve students who attend summer school or the STEAM program to give them an opportunity to participate. They get to plant and tend the garden and when the produce starts coming in the students have an opportunity to take it home with them. Last year we didn’t have any raised beds. We had a community member come out and till the land for us and we did a small in-ground garden and grew things like squash, cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables but students wanted to add more things so this year we plan to have five raised beds,” said Ms. Barnes.

April 5, 2024
By: Dwayne Page

The annual Walk Across Tennessee event locally begins Monday, April 8 and you are invited to participate.

“Walk across Tennessee is an 8-week team competition to see who can log the most miles exercising,” said April Martin of the UT-TSU Extension Office.

“You are not literally walking across Tennessee. Your team is exercising for 8 weeks, and the goal is to accumulate the equivalent of 500 miles which is the length of the state of Tennessee. It’s a fun friendly competition and what better way to get fit,” explained Martin.

“We have over 200 people in the county and some from outside the county who are joining in this event. There are more than 23 teams,” Martin continued.

“Anyone can be on a team including youth, adults, coworkers, friends, family, etc. and there is no fee. You can have up to 8 people on your team. Each team has a captain and team members report to their captain each week on how many miles they have walked,” said Martin. “You don’t have to just walk. You can do other exercises. For example, the weight training class I am teaching can count as well as bicycling, even gardening, housecleaning, or other daily activities considered exercising. You can count that. We have a conversion chart for that. All this is an effort to get everybody more motivated and to get them outside and more active because the more physically active you are you’re going to lose weight, feel better, build stronger bones, and it helps with fall prevention. There are just so many benefits from walking or exercising,” said Martin.

How to participate?

1. Come up with up to 8 team members

2. Choose a Team Captain and a Team Name

3. Team Captain download the captain’s packet at https://dekalb.tennessee.edu/ and have each team member complete the individual registration. Packets are available outside the office of the UT UT – TSU Extension- DeKalb County located inside the DeKalb County Complex Building.

4. Attend the Kickoff and root for your team on Monday, April 8th at Greenbrook Park.

5. Exercise for 8 weeks. Any exercise counts. We have a conversion chart you can use. Exercise must be purposeful and last at least 10 minutes to count. I.E. Not wearing pedometers/fitness watches and counting all the steps accumulated throughout the day.

Call the office if you have any questions at 615-597-4945.