Knoxville Parent - April 2014 by Knoxville Parent

April 2014

Fr e e

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KNOXVILLE

A Message From the Publishers

April 2014 Volume III • Issue 4 Michael Kull and Eva Nations, Publishers Advisory Board

Contributing Writers

Sr. Mary Marta Abbott, RSM The Diocese of Knoxville

Jeffrey Eberting, D.M.D., M.S. Marcin Gornisiewicz, M.D. Audrey Madigan Aneisa McDonald, MS Jim McIntyre, Ph.D. Mike O’Hern Marek Pienkowski, M.D., Ph.D. Sedonna Prater Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. Michael K. Smith, Ph.D Liz Stucke Barry Van Over

Marie Alcorn United Way of Greater Knoxville Mike Bailey Small Business Representative Paul Parson East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Tracey Matthews Knox County Schools Family and Community Engagement Elizabeth Pooley Marketing Professional Lee Tramel Knox County Sheriff ’s Department

Dear Readers, This month is all about healthy living. We asked our experts to consider the following questions: What does it mean to be healthy today? How do we maintain good health? Why is it important to live a healthy life? How can we recognize when we are living an unhealthy life? How do healthy living habits affect our performance in life’s activities? Our writers responded by providing excellent information to help you and your family achieve healthy bodies, minds and spirits. In fact, they went well beyond the general scope of our questions and have offered some very specific and exciting news, such as new developments in medicine (see Dr. Pienkowski’s article on a new FDA approved treatment for hives); nutrition (see Liz Stucke’s article on battling obesity with water); and the Knox County Schools initiative to promote a healthy environment, so all students can succeed in school. As you read this issue, we invite you to learn, explore and enjoy!

Contributing Photographers

Stay healthy, Eva Nations and Michael Kull

Catholic Diocese of Knoxville Marcin Gornisiewicz, M.D. Knox County Schools

Liza Zenni The Arts and Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville

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Contents 3

A Letter From The Publishers

12 An Interview With The Superintendent

A Healthy Heart

15 Smiles Improve Your Health In More Ways Than

The Sweet Truth

Dine Out For A Good Cause On April 15

Healthy Choices: Families, Schools, Community

My Own Ten Rules for Healthy Living

You Know

16 No More Itching 18 Walking On Tiptoes 19 Children Need Specialists To Treat Bone, Joint Or

Muscle Problems

Stress Management: Not Just For Adults

20 The Law Of SAMEness

A Father’s Guide For Healthy Teens

22 The Power of Healthy Role Models

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014

A Healthy Heart

What it means to be healthy in spirit by Sedonna Prater, photo courtesy of Catholic Diocese of Knoxville

ave you ever heard the familiar phrase ‘healthy in mind, body and spirit’? There is certainly quite a bit of research conducted and presented on the lifestyle practices and factors that contribute to a healthy body in the physical sense. A healthy mind is one typically defined as having the cognitive capacity to function within society without deviant behavior that would impede or prevent successful, productive functioning. But, what does it mean to be healthy in spirit? What are the attributes of a spiritually fit person? How do we cultivate spiritual health in our children? To answer these questions, we have to go straight to the ‘heart’ of the matter. Sedonna Prater is the Developing a healthy spiritual ‘heart’ Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Diocese of begins with cultivating a habit of Knoxville Catholic Schools gratitude. A fit spirit is grateful for all things in life including those things that meet physical needs and comfort, as well as, those things that are intrinsically valuable such as love, kindness and mercy. Each and every day is a unique and special gift. It is a day given to us to enjoy and marvel at the beauty of creation. As it is a desire of the human spirit to seek beauty, harmony and unity, each day offers the promise of encountering and experiencing the beauty around us. When cultivating gratitude, it is important to open our hearts to contemplate, embrace and appreciate the beauty of nature, the ever-changing gifts of the seasons, the inspired beauty of civilization’s creations, and the beautiful faces of life. A healthy spiritual heart embraces each and every day as a day of opportunity to share with others the gift of living. A healthy heart requires diet and exercise. A disciplined diet for the spirit includes a healthy regimen of prayer, reflection and meditation. As childhood obesity is increasingly a health concern due to under stimulation and decreased activity of our young people, similarly, over stimulation from electronic technology, a rather passive activity can also have an adverse effect on spiritual fitness. Excessive stimulation through technology and media can leave little space for individual silence and reflection or the seeking of inner peace that comes from meditation or prayer. In addition, the development of integral listening and conversational skills can be greatly decreased because of lack of practice. However, dialogue and listening can be improved through another spiritually fit practice: the habit of participating in shared family rituals, values and beliefs such as belonging to a certain faith group, attending church together or having meals together. Sharing family values and beliefs through these activities provide the foundational structure for spiritual fitness. I fondly recall my childhood Sundays when we regularly attended church as a family and then went to my grandparents to have a Sunday meal in the company of my aunts, uncles and cousins. The meals were great, but the hours of sitting around the table talking and sharing are the most heart-warming recollections. Family rituals help us to establish a framework for our values and belief system. Exercising healthy hygiene and cleanliness promotes a healthy body, while exercising healthy virtues promotes a healthy spirit. Clean living in the spiritual sense is moral living. Modeling the virtues of faith, hope, love and charity helps instill in children the practices of kindness, generosity, honesty, compassion and empathy. Service to others builds a healthy heart while increasing the capacity of love for self and others. Encouraging and promoting

“Having a healthy heart offers the prospect of a healthy life, but having a healthy ‘heart’ in the spiritual sense promises a happiness and health beyond human measure.”

acts of kindness and charity through service activities help a child to learn and practice empathy, perseverance and humility. These activities encourage a child to move away from a self-centered focus to a global understanding and awareness of the needs of others. Service activities also promote a healthy self-esteem in young people, because they can learn to achieve a task or project successfully. Healthy living requires a balance of healthy habits and practices to maintain physical, social and emotional health, as well as, spiritual health. Having a healthy heart offers the prospect of a healthy life, but having a healthy ‘heart’ in the spiritual sense promises a happiness and health beyond human measure.

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

The Sweet Truth

Extinguish obesity with WATER Article and photo by Liz Stucke, President of AdmissionsPrep.net & Board President of the TN Clean Water Network

hich beverage has more calories and more grams of sugar? A 12 ounce cola or 12 ounces of a leading brand’s 100% White Grape Juice targeted for babies and toddlers? I was shocked to find out that 12 ounces of the White Grape juice has 240 calories and 80 grams of sugar compared to the cola’s 150 calories and 41 grams of sugar. While most people know feeding soda to their young child is not healthy, who knew that a juice marketed for babies and toddlers is more sugary (still unhealthy, even though the sugars are naturally formed fruit sugars) and caloric than a can of soda? According to the 2012 CDC Diabetes Report Card, Tennessee has the fifth-highest rate of diabetes in the US, and the US has the highest diabetes rate in the developed world (for all sources not listed, please see http://www.tcwn.org/bringing-tap-back). Moreover, sugar-sweetened beverages are the single largest caloric contributor to diabetes. It seems clear: we need to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks…. but how? Attempts to Reduce Consumption of Sugary Drinks New York tried to solve this problem by attempting to limit the size of sugary drinks; others have suggested higher taxes on high sugar content drinks. According to the Huffington Post, Hawaii ran a campaign to reduce consumption of sugary drinks by “grossing teens out.” They ran ads and TV spots with images of teens drinking from soda bottles with what looks to be lard pouring into their mouths and over their

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“We are developing a mobile app to locate nearby drinking fountains and report upon their conditions.” faces. The tagline, “Don’t drink yourself fat. Choose water instead.” But choosing water is not always so simple. Public drinking fountains in the US were once about as pervasive as Starbucks shops are today. During the 1980s, however, sales of bottled water started to take off, increasing steadily, while public water fountains fell out of favor. TCWN’s “Bringing the Tap Back” The Tennessee Clean Water Network (TCWN) intends to bring back public water stations and increase the awareness of drinking tap water’s health benefits. With a grant from the TN Department of Health, TCWN has launched “Bringing Back the Tap” to help Tennesseans make healthy choices in cities across the state. According the program site, TCWN states “We are improving access to our safe, healthy, and free public drinking water while launching targeted educational campaigns to promote drinking water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages.” •

In the schools, we will install water bottle refill stations, provide reusable water bottles, and prepare an engaging and innovative curriculum to promote the benefits of drinking water.

•

In the universities, we are partnering with the offices of sustainability to improve access to drinking water, and we will support student-generated campaigns to promote their use.

•

For the general public, we are working with organizations and municipalities to install new water bottle refill stations with drinking fountains in the parks and public spaces. We are developing a mobile app to locate nearby drinking fountains and report upon their conditions. Finally, we will host six artist-designed water bottle refill station competitions in prominent public places across the state in order to improve access to drinking water while raising awareness.

But what about the taste of tap water? Doesn’t bottled water taste better? No, according to more and more blind taste tests. For example this past fall during TCWN’s Duncan-Williams Dragon Boat Race at Mud Island in Memphis, TCWN conducted a blind taste test. To many people’s pleasant surprise Memphis tap water was preferred over bottled water. With better taste, easier access, fewer plastic bottles, what’s not to like about “Bringing the Tap Back”? If you are still not convinced, consider this: If you were to drink just one can of sugar-sweetened beverage every day—and not cut back on calories elsewhere—you could gain up to 15 pounds in a year. 15 pounds! Check out the website http://www.tcwn.org/bringing-tap-back to find out more and take the online survey about your interests and experience with drinking water. Liz Stucke, President of Admissions Prep (www. AdmissionsPrep.net) counsels students through the College Selection and Application process. Email questions or set up a free consultation: Liz@AdmissionsPrep.net or call/text 865-951-0639.

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

Dine Out For A Good Cause On April 15 “Knox County will donate 10 percent of their proceeds from the day to the Knox County Schools.”

f April 15 will be a “taxing” day for you and your family, plan now to relax and dine out for a good cause! The Knox County Schools’ 11th annual Dine Out for Education will take place on Tuesday, April 15. That day, more than 30 area restaurants with close to 80 locations throughout Knox County will donate 10 percent of their proceeds from the day to the Knox County Schools. Participating restaurants will display the “Dine Out for Education” logo. Proceeds from Dine Out for Education support Partners in Education programs, such as the annual Knox County Schools Career Day, the Knox County Schools Coupon Book, Teacher Supply Depot, Schooled for Success, Barney Thompson Scholarships and teacher recognition programs. Partners in Education connects schools throughout Knox County with nearly 600 contributing organizations, businesses, civic clubs, churches, government agencies and individuals who want to make a difference in schools with their time, talent and resources. To date, Dine Out for Education participating restaurants, many with multiple locations, include the following: Aubrey’s Parkside Grill Bojangle’s Chicken n Biscuits Peerless Restaurant Bradley’s Chocolate Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza Pizza Hoss Register at www.utkidsu.com or Brown Bag Pizza Inn call 865-974-0150 for more information. Chandler’s Deli River Dog Bakery Specialty Pet Food CiCi’s Pizza Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina Coolato Gelato Scrumps Cupcakes Einstein Bros. Bagels Shoney’s Restaurant Gatti’s Pizza Shono’s Japanese Grill Gondolier Restaurant Snappy Tomato Pizza Jason’s Deli Sonny’s BBQ Kitts Café The Soup Kitchen Litton’s Restaurant Texas Roadhouse Mahogany’s at Crowne Plaza Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse Marco’s Pizza Ye Olde Steak House McAlister’s Deli

More restaurants are added frequently. For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit dofe.knoxschools.org. For more information on Partners in Education or to learn how your restaurant can participate in Dine Out for Education or other Partners in Education events, visit pie.knoxschools.org or call 865-594-1909.

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014

Healthy Choices: Families, Schools, Community by Aneisa McDonald, MS

he foundation for a lifetime of good health is built Foundation, the current estimate of the amount of time early. Parents, schools, community organizations kids spend viewing some type of screen is 7.5 hours s and faith-based institutions have an incredible per day. That’s a lot of time devoted to a sedentary o opportunity to create an environment for young children activity instead of being physically active! Excessive r that supports healthy choices. Have you ever noticed screen time also can have an impact on the quality and h that children pay as much attention to what we do as length of sleep, and getting plenty of rest is critical for h much as what we say? Role modeling can be a powerful concentration and productivity. e tool to guide children toward healthy eating and Community organizations and initiatives also can be R active living. That includes eating more home-cooked resources to support families on their journey to better w healthy meals with your family and helping children health. One initiative that is gaining momentum in our learn healthy ways to create simple meals. Another community is Let’s Move! The Let’s Move! campaign is R opportunity for setting a good example is through a comprehensive effort, launched by First Lady Michelle e Families enjoy the fun at the 2013 Let’s h regular exercise. Children should be active for at least Obama, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood Move! Knoxville event. This year’s Let’s R 60 minutes every day, and families benefit—and a good obesity within a generation, so children born today Move! is set for May 3 at Victor Ashe Park. d example is set—when everyone gets involved. will grow up healthier and better able to pursue their c The Knox County Schools understands the importance of good health and dreams. Childhood obesity can lead to long-term health issues, such as Type 2 R believes in creating a healthy environment for children. Simply put, healthy diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma. f students are better prepared to learn and succeed in school. Students who are Knoxville and Knox County were officially designated as a Let’s Move! city R active, well nourished, rested and safe are more likely to attend school and stay and county in 2012 based on their commitment to early childhood nutrition m engaged in class, and healthy students also perform better on tests. Teamwork education, smart servings in schools, increased access to healthy foods, active is essential to ensuring students arrive at school ready to learn. Parents and kids at play and more. By 2013, Knoxville and Knox County were ranked No. 1 t s teachers together can remind kids to eat breakfast, stay physically active in the nation among 300 other Let’s Move! cities, towns and counties. and limit screen time. According to a 2013 report from the Kaiser Family Let’s Move! Knoxville is launched each year on the first Saturday in May (this R year, May 3) from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Victor Ashe Park. At the event, more than 75 physical activity and nutrition For more information, stations showcase local resources to prevent visit these resources: childhood obesity, and this year, families will http://csh.knoxschools.org/ have an opportunity to participate in recipe RE http://healthserv.knoxschools.org/ S & MO demonstrations, seed planting, sports, , MOV IE ’S D C , S http://fs.knoxschools.org/ K O games, rock climbing, the “Let’s Move! O USED B http://www.letsmoveknoxville.com/ Flash Mob” and more. Let May 3 be your http://www.choosemyplate.gov family’s kickoff to better health this year!

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014

My Own Ten Rules for Healthy Living by Michael K. Smith, Ph. D.

he humorist James Thurber once wrote a tongue-in-cheek essay entitled “My Own Ten Rules for a Happy Marriage.” Rule Two suggested, “A man should make an honest effort to get the names of his wife’s friends right.” Rule Six noted, “A husband should try to remember where things are around the house, so that he does not have to wait for his wife to get home from the hairdresser’s before he can put his hands on what he wants.” In the spirit of Thurber’s essay, I would like to list “My Own Ten Rules for Healthy Living.” Rule One: Never Eat Seconds. Most research suggests that the more we can moderate what we eat, the healthier we will be. Rule Two: Walk the Dog Every Day. Get off the couch and get some exercise. It does not take that long to walk around the block. If you do not have a dog, consider getting one. Rule Three: Break a Habit Every Week. At least once a week, do something different. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand. Sit somewhere besides your comfortable chair. Talk to your children. A little creativity helps those brain cells remain active. Rule Four: Stay Out Late with Friends. First, you need to make sure you have some friends. If you do, go out with them occasionally and have fun. Rule Five: Borrow Your Child’s iPOD. Admit it. You do not have a clue to what kind of music your children like. Borrow their iPOD for an hour some day, sneak away, and be surprised to learn how good some of the music sounds. Be sure to replace the iPOD carefully, to avoid suspicious questions from your children. Rule Six: Play a Game. You need to do something besides watching television. Find a

sport that you enjoy and get more exercise. Get together with friends and play cards. Playing Angry Birds on your iPhone does not count. Rule Seven: Go Fishing. I must admit that I hate fishing. However, I do like being alone for at least some time every month. Find a way to have some solitude. Rule Eight: Find a good hairdresser. Obviously, hair and clothing are superficial. However, you look at yourself every day in the mirror, and your loved ones have to see you too. It does not hurt to look presentable. Rule Nine: Write a Love Letter to Your Wife Every Month. Your spouse is one of the few people in the world that truly loves you, no matter what stupid things you do. Show your appreciation and your love. Rule Ten: Never Make Lists. More seriously, the best advice for healthy living is to eat moderately, exercise, enjoy friends, stay active, and love your family. (However, if you use your wife’s hairdresser, you can ask her where to find things while you are both at the salon.) Michael K. Smith, Ph.D., is owner of TESTPREP EXPERTS (www.testprepexperts.com ) which prepares students for standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT. He is also a consultant to Discovery Education Assessment. He can reached at mike@testprepexperts.com.

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014

Stress Management: Not Just For Adults by Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D.

ecently, the American Psychological Association (APA) released results of a survey on stress levels in America (see https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2013/stress-report.pdf to view the full report). According to the survey, adolescents reported stress levels during the school year that surpassed those of adults. The teens reported symptoms of stress including irritability, anger, anxiety, nervousness, and lying awake at night. School was cited as the most common source of stress, along with stress about getting into college or deciding what to do after high school, and stress related to their family’s financial circumstances. The teens who reported the most stress also reported eating more, sleeping less, and exercising less than teens who reported lower stress levels. The APA survey brought to light the difference between adults and teens in perception of the impact of stress. Adults tend to recognize the importance of coping with stress, although many report they don’t do an effective job of stress management. Adolescents, on the other hand, seem unaware of the negative impact of stress on their physical and mental health. Thus, parents appear to be in the position of ensuring their children learn about the nature of stress and acquire effective stress management strategies. These are three approaches that parents can utilize to assist children with stress management. Teach about the nature of stress. Educate your children about the negative impact of too much stress on physical and mental health. For instance, physically, too much stress can lead to headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension, fatigue, and illness. Emotionally, too much stress can result in irritability, anxiety, anger, withdrawal, and increased vulnerability to mental illness. While in some situations a certain amount of stress can enhance performance, it is often the case that stress erodes concentration and detracts from performance. Tell your children that even though stress is inevitable, it is possible to develop skills for coping with and managing the stress in their lives. Start with what has worked for you. Reflect on strategies you use to cope with stress and share them with your children. If you meet with a therapist each week while your children are at school, tell them this is one way you manage stress. Your children see you exercise but will not realize you do so for stress management unless you tell them. If you wake up early to meditate while your children are sleeping, tell them about your practice and why you do it. If you decided to change from one job to another to reduce stress, share the reasons for the change. You

“Also discourage a “victim mentality” by gently pointing out the options and choices available to your child at any given point.” can also tell your children the story of your “journey” in stress management. For example, tell them how you came to realize that walking three miles daily helps you maintain your equilibrium. Through explicit communication about your strategies for handling stress, you are transmitting your value of stress management and modeling healthy choices for your children. Help your child develop effective coping skills. Because your child may not recognize stress, help him or her develop awareness through observing “You seem stressed—what’s going on?” Invite your child to talk about sources of stress, listening without judgment. Offer to help your child develop an approach for coping with stress such as getting more sleep or regular exercise. Perhaps your child has taken on too many activities and would benefit from doing less. Teach the value of setting limits and saying “no” when to do so would result in greater equilibrium. Maybe your child has become myopic about a situation and would benefit from a broader perspective which you can provide. Discourage any inclinations to view having too much stress as a “status symbol” entitling your child to be self-absorbed and irritable. Also discourage a “victim mentality” by gently pointing out the options and choices available to your child at any given point. Remind your child no one is “perfect” in dealing with stress, but rather that we are all “works in progress” in this regard. As indicated by the APA survey results, stress is pervasive in modern life for adults and children alike. Even though we cannot eliminate the stress in our children’s lives, we can work to ensure they learn ways to manage stress while still living at home, thus equipping them with some of the skills necessary for living healthy lives. Kathryn Rea Smith, Ph.D. is a private practice psychologist specializing in psychological assessment and parenting consultation. Dr. Smith can be reached at kerea@aol.com.

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

A Father’s Guide For Healthy Teens By Mike O’Hern, Center Director of Mathnasium of West Knoxville

hen my kids were young, there seemed to be no shortage of people with older kids who would say, “Just wait until they’re teenagers – you’ll hate them.” I recoiled every time I heard it, and to this day, I simply don’t understand it. My kids were always respectful, did every chore cheerfully, never made bad decisions and were just all-around angels. Well, maybe not. But still, we did survive the teenage years without ever hating each other. I did have the advantage of having worked with youth for a number of years, though, and while it is often easier to deal with someone else’s kids than your own, there are some things that are virtually universal. Your teen wants to be heard. And that doesn’t mean “Okay, I heard you, now do what I said.” She wants to be understood, and her opinion or reasoning needs to be valued. If you’re having a conflict over something she doesn’t want to do, for example, she needs to understand why it is important for her to do it. This doesn’t mean that you’ll never have to pull out the old, “because I’m the mommy” line, but you might be surprised how often you can get buy-in when you’ve discussed things like two adults. Your teen wants to make his own decisions. This could require some planning and flexibility on your part, but I think it is well worth the effort. Okay, we all agree that everyone in the household needs to take some responsibility for its upkeep. Keep a list of who does what and give your teen some choice over when to get it done. He can go fishing in the early morning or go play ball in the late afternoon, but he gets to choose when to get the work done. If you start this early, it sets the stage for more important things in the later teens phase. “If this is the career you want, what steps will you need to take to get there? When and how will you take them?” Your teen wants to be respected. An idea or opinion doesn’t have to be right to

“The respect your teen sees from you has a great impact on her self-image as well as how she will interact with others in her life.” be respected. A person doesn’t have to be lovable at the moment to be respected. The respect your teen sees from you has a great impact on her self-image as well as how she will interact with others in her life. We can’t expect someone who is not shown respect to show it to others. Your teen wants to know that you love him unconditionally. When all else fails, when he has made bad decisions, when he’s having trouble – even of his own making – he needs to know that your love and grace is extended to him, unconditionally. Yes, even when that teen rage comes from his testosterone burst, you still love him. Your love and grace doesn’t mean there are no consequences for his actions, but above all, he must know that you love him. And that will go a very long way toward building his character and helping him see that, despite his mistakes, you will always be there for him. All of these things, of course, start before the teenage years hit, but it is often most difficult to hang in there once the teenage behaviors and attitudes begin. A word of encouragement: Don’t worry, you’ll get smarter as they get older. And once they reach their mid twenties, your intelligence will increase dramatically. Yes, you can actually enjoy your kids’ teens years! Encourage them, empower them, and enjoy watching them develop into the young adults you had envisioned before they were in their teens!

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

his month, Knoxville Parent sat down with Knox County Schools Superintendent, Jim McIntyre, to talk about the school system’s past and future strategic plans, the challenges to and opportunities for successful implementation of these plans, and how public education can be an effective spring board for knox County’s students, as they prepare for their futures. Knoxville Parent: The Knox County Schools is entering the fifth year of its five-year strategic plan, called Excellence for All Children. What would you say are successes over the past five years, and where will you continue to work?

Dr. McIntyre: I am proud that since the plan’s inception, we have utilized the document as our planning tool, resource allocation guide and “to do” list, and as we near the end of the five-year planning horizon addressed in 2009, I remain convinced that our strategic plan is an excellent roadmap for educational improvement and success in the Knox County Schools. I am extremely proud of our educators, staff and school leaders for the intensive effort that led to our school system earning straight ‘A’s in achievement on the state report card for the first time and achieving significant improvement in early literacy. Our five-year strategic plan guided us to enhance our science, technology, engineering and mathematics, often called STEM, and fine arts programs through varied enrichment opportunities, including robotics, math, outdoor

“Over the next five years, we need to accelerate our progress in third-grade reading proficiency, increase our high school graduation rate and improve our ACT composite score.” and technology clubs and materials, and we opened L&N STEM Academy in 2010. We significantly bolstered our magnet schools program, which will soon include nine schools when Career Magnet Academy at Pellissippi State opens in August, by increasing the rigor of the programs and the number of students who apply for these schools from 390 in 2011-2012 to 570 last year. These accomplishments would not have been possible without our excellent teachers, and over the past two years, we’ve been able to increase teacher salaries by 4.5 percent. These and many other successes convince me that we are on the right path for our students, but we still have work to do. Over the next five years, we need to accelerate our progress in third-grade reading proficiency, increase our high school graduation rate and improve our ACT composite score. We need to undergird support for our teachers and administrators and communicate more robustly with our stakeholders. And, like most schools in America, we are experiencing unacceptable gaps in

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014

achievement that are defined by income, race, language or disability and must work to close those gaps. Our summer bridge programs for rising ninth graders has shown to close skill gaps, and last year, we piloted a bridge program for rising sixth graders. Early results from this program are promising. Our next five-year strategic plan will address these and other goals with one overarching mission in mind: To improve education for each and every one of our students. When we’ve helped every student be well prepared for his or her future and ensured that our educational gains are shared by every single student in our school system, we’ve done our jobs well. KP: You are embarking on a next iteration of a five-year strategic plan. What do you see as challenges to success in the next five years? What do you hope to accomplish?

Dr. McIntyre: For the past several months in a variety of ways, we actively sought input from stakeholders into our next five-year strategic plan, and we have received enthusiastic response. We held 10 community forums attended by close to 800 people, visited with 700 students, parents and community organization members in informal chatterbox sessions, received almost 1,200 online responses and 5,000 paper responses from a community survey, held several large and small teacher meetings and offered a teacher survey, to name a few. From this input-gathering process, we are seeing themes emerge for the next five years, including focusing on every student, investing in our people, partnering with our stakeholders and embracing a culture of excellence. Much of the feedback we received encourages us to maintain our rigorous academic standards but seek ways to individualize instruction and supports for each of our more than 56,000 children. Understanding that the work of professional educators is indeed more demanding, we need to help ensure our teachers feel valued, supported and are appropriately compensated for the enormously important work they do for children. To achieve all we can for our students, we all must share a vision for high expectations, outstanding instruction, continuous improvement, mutual accountability and a constant focus on student learning. For the past five years, we’ve worked toward achieving excellence for all children. I believe, however, that a more student-centered, personalized-learning effort will lead us over the next five years to reach excellence for every child. KP: You’ve often referred to the improved academic results of the Knox County Schools. How do scores on tests translate to student success in life? How well does a public education in Knox County prepare a student for the top colleges in the country?

Dr. McIntyre: A child’s future success depends on a variety of factors, including academic performance. Tests and assessments can help us understand how far a child has grown in learning, as well as how a child grasps and can apply what he or she is learning. With that understanding, we can continue to challenge the child or, if needed, provide interventions, to help him or her excel. The better we understand each of our students, the better we are able to prepare them to succeed in their future.

2014 SUMMER ART ACADEMY KMA’s Summer Art Academy classes will expand your child’s creativity. Classes begin Monday, June 2, and continue each week through August 1. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To sign up, call 865.525.6101 ext. 246 or e-mail education@knoxart.org. Scholarships available. www.knoxart.org

ACT/ SAT Get higher scores on the

KP: Knoxville Parent’s mission is to communicate with parents, so they have the best information in order to make good decisions for their children and family. What would you want to say to our readers, so they know they are in good hands when it comes to public education?

Dr. McIntyre: I believe deeply in the value and importance of high quality public education as a practical real-world tool to prepare our children for success in their future. I believe every child, regardless of circumstance, should have the opportunity for a successful and fulfilling life. I believe every day that we push ourselves and make difficult decisions that are, in the end, good for our children, we are creating opportunity for each and every young person to reach their full potential. As we look to the next five years, we will work to create these opportunities and achieve excellence for every child.

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014

Smiles Improve Your health In More Ways Than You Know By Jeffrey Eberting, D.M.D., M.S.

am sure that many of you have seen the advertisement campaign that the American Association of Orthodontists has been running on television over the past few years. “My Life, My Smile, My Orthodontist” is a consumer awareness program which aims to educate the public about the benefits of orthodontic treatment. So why all the hubbub? Why is it so important for us to have perfect smiles? Dentistry aims to promote and preserve healthy teeth and gums – we get this. Toothaches are no fun. Premature tooth loss due to gum disease is no spring stroll through the park. But straight teeth – what’s the big deal? Is a perfect smile THAT important? It turns out that smiles are more important to our health than we may realize. Many studies and polls have revealed that a person’s smile is one of the first things noticed when being introduced to him or her. Research has shown that people who smile frequently are perceived to be more in control, at ease and attractive than those who don’t. But a smile does not only “brighten a room” – it has been shown to have therapeutic effects on our own well being. Let us consider the following (and I borrow heavily from a blog post by NursingSchools.net): 1. Forcing yourself to smile can boost your mood: Psychologists have found that even if you’re in bad mood, you can instantly lift your spirits by forcing yourself to smile. 2. It boosts your immune system: Smiling really can improve your physical health, too. Your body is more relaxed when you smile, which contributes to good health and a stronger immune system. 3. Smiles are contagious: It’s not just a saying: smiling really is contagious, scientists say. In a study conducted in Sweden, people had difficulty frowning when they looked at other subjects who were smiling, and their muscles twitched into smiles all on their own. 4. Smiles relieve stress: Your body immediately releases endorphins when you smile, even when you force it. This sudden change in mood will help you feel better and release stress. 5. It’s easier to smile than to frown: Scientists have discovered that your body has to work harder and use more muscles to frown than it does to smile.

“Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” -- Mother Teresa

6. It’s a universal sign of happiness: While hand shakes, hugs, and bows all have varying meanings across cultures, smiling is known around the world and in all cultures as a sign of happiness and acceptance. 7. Babies are born with the ability to smile: Babies learn a lot of behaviors and sounds from watching the people around them, but scientists believe that all babies are born with the ability, since even blind babies smile. 8. Smiling helps you get promoted: Smiles make a person seem more attractive, sociable and confident, and people who smile more are more likely to get a promotion. 9. Smiles are the most easily recognizable facial expression: People can recognize smiles from up to 300 feet away, making it the most easily recognizable facial expression. 10. Smiles are more attractive than makeup: A research study conducted by Orbit Complete discovered that 69% of people find women more attractive when they smile than when they are wearing makeup. So, you see that there is a lot of truth in what Bert Healy was singing in the song “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile” from the musical “Annie”. Smiles are the easiest thing you can do to put a positive spin on the day, and their effects are contagious. To quote Charlie Chaplin: “You’ll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile.” Dr. Eberting holds degrees from Duke University and Temple University in General Dentistry and Orthodontics. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the TN Dental Association, the Second District Dental Society, the American Association of Orthodontists, the Southern Association of Orthodontists, and the TN Association of Orthodontists.

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

No More Itching

Recent FDA approval signals relief for hives sufferers by Marek M. Pienkowski, M.D., Ph.D.

veryone experiences at some point in life episodes of itching, swelling and redness on the skin, also known as “hives” or “urticaria.” For those with persistent urticaria, there is now new hope – Xolair. Hives can occur as a result of the body’s reaction to certain allergens such as pollens, animals and dust mites. Hives can also occur as the result of the consumption of foods or medications, such as aspirin or morphine (or their derivatives), or ACE inhibitors (which Hives (or urticaria) can appear as small This condition can be quite debilitating and typically red wheals or patches surrounded by lower blood pressure). In some people, hives can also requires medical evaluation to determine the etiology of a red flare and can be very itchy. be precipitated by strenuous exercise, exposure to cold the condition. Typically, this evaluation is done by an temperatures or by an autoimmune condition. allergy and immunology physician who performs a battery of tests including, Hives (or “urticaria”) can last a few minutes to several hours and can be but not limited to, blood tests (to address conditions such as hepatitis, confined to any part of the body and sometimes coalesce together. They can lupus or thyroid disease) and allergy skin tests (to find specific triggers). On appear as small red wheals or patches with many shapes, surrounded by a red occasion, it will be necessary to perform skin biopsy to rule out conditions flare and can be very itchy. such as vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels). In the majority of cases, hives disappear spontaneously within hours One of the most critical components of the evaluation by the physician without any treatment. However, in some individuals, they can persist for is an in-depth medical history of the presentation of the recurrent hives weeks or months. This is known as “chronic hives” or “chronic urticaria.” associated with activities, diet, medications, etc, followed by a thorough physical examination. Medical treatments for individuals with chronic urticaria include first generation oral antihistamines like Benadryl and second generation antihistamines like fexofenadine, levocetirizine or desloratadine. If the problem still does not resolve, the physician will consider an H2receptor antagonist like Tagamet, which blocks the action of histamines; oral steroids like prednisone; leukotriene modifiers like Singulair, which inhibit compounds that cause inflammation; or immunosuppressants like Cyclosporine. Unfortunately, all medications can be associated with multiple side effects. Also, sometimes despite all efforts, some individuals still continue to have recurrent episodes of the severe chronic hives. In the last week, the FDA released approval for the medication: Omalizumab (also known as Xolair) to help adults and adolescents (above the age of 12) with chronic idiopathic (unknown source) urticaria. Previously, Xolair has been used to treat severe and persistent allergic asthma with excellent results. New research has demonstrated that Xolair is also very effective in treating chronic urticaria. This treatment involves just once per month subcutaneous injection of the medication. Although very safe, there is still risk of anaphylaxis, and so the treatment is limited to use only by specialized physicians.

“In the majority of cases, hives disappear spontaneously within hours without any treatment. However, in some individuals, they can persist for weeks or months.”

Marek M. Pienkowski, M.D., Ph.D. was educated in clinical immunology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore and internal medicine at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Dr. Pienkowski has been serving patients in East Tennessee with allergies, asthma and immunological disorders for nearly 30 years through Allergic Diseases, Asthma & Immunology Clinic, P.C.. Active both in biomedical research and academia, he has published more than sixty scientific papers as well as two books.

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014 Jessica’s New Future Walking On Tiptoes

A few years ago, Jessica byDemby Marcin Gornisiewicz, M.D. was struggling. After graduating from high school Jessica tried y 13 year old son is an avid soccer player. He plays for college, but soon realized it wasn’t his school team. He is in Knoxville Football Club, and with the beginning of spring, the number of training for her. Jessica did not know sessions and games have increased. He is very fit and sporty, what to do and felt she had has run suffered no obvious injury, so it took me by surprise out of options. All she knew when was he recently started complaining of pain in both of his heels during and shortly after soccer sessions. The more that living at home and making he played, the more he struggled. Eventually, he came to a minimum wage was run nottowhat she point where he couldn’t keep up with other players, and his soccer skills suffered. There wanted. hasn’t been any swelling or bruising, and he wears decent quality cleats. So, why is he in pain? Is

this a potentially serious problem? Should he continue playing?

Now, in less thanmytwo years she’s It turns out that son has Sever’s disease, also known as calcaneal apophysitis. The name doubled herfrightening, salary, has and holidays, andpain is truly enjoying her might sound butpaid this isvacations the most common cause of heel in children, especially thoseevery who play sports on a regular basis. Yes, it can be painful, but it is only a temporary work day.

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condition without causing any long-term damage. It just tells us that the kids are growing. What did she do? There is a growth plate (epiphyseal plate) at the end of developing bones in children. The growth enrolled plate determines the future length and shape mature bone. Sometime during Jessica in the Dental Staff School, run of bythe Janet Waldron and her husband, when practicing growth is complete, growth plate closesStaff and becomes bone. Until Dr.adolescence, Jon Waldron, dentist.the Today, the Dental School solid offers students then, it is the weakest area of the growing skeleton and vulnerable to injuries. The growth plate the same great opportunity to build a career Jessica has enjoyed. In just ten weeks, in the heel bone (calcaneal apophysis) is where the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia attach. students learn professional assisting a real-ofﬁ ce setting. During the growth spurt that dental can begin anytime in between the ages 8 and 13 for girls and 10 and 15 forSaturday, boys, bones often growhosts faster the thancurrent musclesclass and tendons, and the footoffers is onestate-of-the of the first Each the school of students and partsequipment to grow to full As a result, the muscles tendonson become veryto tight and artbody dental forsize. students’ lessons. Fromand working models practicing overstretched. Repetitive stress on already tight Achilles tendons can damage the growth plate with the dentists and fellow students, Jessica really enjoyed the hands-on learning. causing inflammation, tenderness, and pain. “It wasn’t she says, was abetween whole lot of fun!” Sever’s boring,” disease usually affects“it children 9 and 15 years of age who in running and jumping sports, especially Dental Staffparticipate School (www.DentalStaffSchool.com) is a ten-week dental assisting those in that take place hard surfaces, such as soccer, gymnastics school Pelham, AL;on Marietta, GA; Knoxville, TN and Franklin, TN. Classes are held on and basketball. It often goes undiagnosed and is more common in Saturdays at local working dental ofﬁces. The program is accredited through National boys than girls, probably because boys are generally more active Accreditation forpain Colleges Schools, Postsecondary Commission in at that age. The is usuallyand described like aNon-public bruise, but there is Georgia, and the Alabama and Tennessee Higher Education Commission. rarely swelling and no visible bruising. The pain is located at the back of the heel, usually on both legs, often extending to the sides and bottom of the heel. If you squeeze on both sides or dorsiflex the ankle, the heel may hurt. You may observe an unusual walk with Contact the Dental Staff School: a slight limp, or your child may walk on tiptoes to avoid putting pressure on819-3919 the heel. (678) or by email at janet@dentalstaffschool. The diagnosis is clinical and rather straightforward. X-rays or other tests are usually unnecessary, but they may be used to rule out other problems. Kids as with a pronated feet (they roll in at the ankle com, and start your new future dental professional upon walking) or with flat feet or feet with high arches have higher chances of developing Sever’s disease. There are other conditions causingtoday! heel pain, like inflammation of the Achilles tendon, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, stress fractures or infection. These are rare in kids, but if the pain is significant, even at rest, there is swelling and/or redness, or a reduction in range of motion at the ankle joint, then you should contact your doctor. That’s right, my son has Sever’s disease, so what are my options? I know time will cure it. He will eventually pass through the growth cycles, mature, and the pain will go away. It may take weeks or months. The easiest solution would be to cut down or even stop his sport activities for a while, but he is in the middle of the season, and I can’t just tell him to stop playing soccer and start swimming. Fortunately, there are things we can do. First of all, talk to your kids and explain the problem. Have them get involved in the process. Warming up before and stretching after practice is important. Invest in good quality shoes with a slight heel and a cushioned sole. Adding heel pads and heel lifts into cleats are helpful. Protect the heel, and avoid waking with bare feet. Dr. Marcin Gornisiewicz graduated with an MD degree from the Medical School of Warsaw in Warsaw, Poland. He completed residency training in internal medicine at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. He completed fellowship training in rheumatology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama. He joined Rheumatology Consultants, PLLC (rheumatologyconsultants.org) in 2002. He is board certified in Rheumatology.

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Knoxville Parent • April 2014

Children Need Specialists To Treat Bone, Joint Or Muscle Problems by Audrey Madigan, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

eing active is part of being a child. From the moment children learn to take their first steps, they are in motion. They are climbing, running, swinging, tumbling, jumping in school, sports, gymnastics, cheerleading, karate and a multitude of other activities. Activity is great for children, but as we all know, it can also cause injuries. The medical field that deals with the diagnosis, correction and treatment of the body’s musculoskeletal system—our bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves that allow our bodies to move—is called orthopedics. The doctors who specialize in this field are orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons. As parents, we know that children are not small adults, and we can’t treat them that way. Medically, children shouldn’t be treated as adults either. Children are still growing, and their bodies’ reactions to injuries, deformities and infections can be different from adults. For example, children frequently break bones, and fractures have the potential of causing injury to the growth centers of a child’s skeleton. A child’s growth can even cause certain problems in bones and joints, such as toes turning inward, issues adults don’t have to deal with. And even when a child does experience the same problem as an adult, the assessment and treatment of that problem is usually quite different than for an adult. Not only are children’s bodies different than adults’, children also vary in their ability to answer medical questions or to be cooperative when a doctor tries to determine what is wrong. Sometimes communication with young patients can be difficult, because they are either too young to speak or so frightened that they choose not to talk. As a result, they are not able to say what is bothering them nor can they help identify problems. Fortunately, pediatric orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons are trained to examine and treat children in ways that will help them relax and work with the doctor to achieve the most accurate diagnosis. Not only are they trained to connect with anxious children, they are also trained to communicate with worried family members. Pediatric orthopedists and orthopedic surgeons are doctors who are trained to properly identify and treat bone, joint or muscle problems in children who are still growing from newborn to teenagers. They have chosen to make children’s care the primary focus of their medical practice. As a result, they are educated and trained to deal exclusively with children’s

issues. They know children, and they know what children need. Pediatric orthopedic doctors care for children with broken bones, but also with a wide range of other congenital, developmental and traumatic conditions such as: • Torn tendons and dislocations • Scoliosis (an abnormal curving of the spine) • Overuse and sports injuries • Leg and arm length differences • Neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida • Orthopedic trauma • Hereditary conditions such as club feet • Hand injuries • Hip deformation or misalignment • Bone and joint infections In treating children, the pediatric orthopedic doctors at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital apply many methods including observing a child’s growth, physical therapy, braces and splints and surgery. In some cases, they will work in partnership with other experts to ensure a child receives the best possible care. At Children’s Hospital, our goal is to ensure children have the finest treatment available to keep them running, swinging, tumbling and jumping. OCOEE-Big Book Ad 2014.eps @ 66.7% (CMYK/8)

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

The Law Of SAMEness

By Mike O’Hern, Center Director of Mathnasium of West Knoxville

ast month we talked a bit about the beginnings of fractions, starting with halves, then moving stealthily into fractions (aka “portions” in that article). But that was just a start, and eventually we have to get into the nitty-gritty, which includes some concepts and terminology that may not come that easily to every student. But it should come a bit more easily to your student, because you have this month’s article! It starts with what we call “the law of SAMEness.” It’s simple, really. The law of SAMEness simply states that we can only add and subtract things with the same name. We can add two cats with two cats and we’ll have four cats. But we can’t add two cats and two dogs to have four cogs. No, we can only add two cats and two dogs if we give them the same name: two pets plus two pets are four pets. Or animals. Or mammals. In fact, it can be any number of names, so long as the name applies to both of the things we are adding together. Every thing has a quantity and a name, and fractions follow this basic

“The law of SAMEness simply states that we can only add and subtract things with the same name. We can add two cats with two cats and we’ll have four cats. But we can’t add two cats and two dogs to have four cogs.” rule. The fraction two-fifths has a quantity, two, and a name, fifth. This is why we can add two-fifths to one-fifth and have three-fifths. Or, in math shorthand we would write 2/5 + 1/5 = 3/5. So now for the fancy names: with fractions we call the quantity the numerator (think “NUMBERator”) and the name we call the denominator (think “the-NAME-enator”). In fact, the Latin nom means name. So, we simply write the quantity first (on the left or on top) and the name second (on the right or the bottom). One more quick note on the name of the fraction. The name is simply how many equal pieces make up one whole. “Sixth” simply means that we’re dividing the whole into six equal parts.

So, if we want to add 1/2 to 1/4, we can’t until we change them so that their names are the same. (Do you mind a little rant here? I mean, really. Why do we make everything so difficult for ourselves? That problem would be read “one-half plus one-fourth,” right? Why not “one-second plus one-fourth?” Wouldn’t that fit the rest of the thirds, fourths, fifths… pattern? I may have to write an article on these little bothersome inconsistencies one day…) In any event, we like to start with 1/2 + 1/4, because it can be fairly easily shown with a quick drawing that if you cut 1/2 in half, you’ll have 1/4, so you can see that 1/2 can be renamed to be 2/4. Now you can add: 2/4 + 1/4 = 3/4.

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

“No, we can only add two cats and two dogs if we give them the same name: two pets plus two pets are four pets. Or animals. Or mammals.”

Try it on the figure above – shade in half of the candy bar and you’ll see that one half is the same as two-fourths. Then shade in the other fourth and you’ll have three-fourths shaded in (leaving the last fourth for Eva, of course). I know that changing names from one-half to two-fourths is relatively simple, while dealing with 1/3 and 1/5 might be a bit more challenging. But we’ve run out of space, so maybe we can get into that the next time. But maybe you’ll see that learning and teaching math is best done interactively, so we’ll just have to see if I can figure out how to make this clear in writing…

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As owner and director at Mathnasium (a math learning center with locations in West Knoxville and Chattanooga (www.mathnasium.com/westknoxville) for the past five years, Mike has extensive experience teaching children and young adults the foundations of math concepts that are crucial to building their confidence and engagement with math throughout life.

STEMology

WHEN: June 17th- June 20th, 1pm- 5pm WHERE: The Muse Knoxville Coed AGES 9-14 DAY CAMP COST: $60 Discovering the world around us through serious play! We will be having FUN with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Barnett at 865-243-8057.

Knoxville Parent • April 2014

The Power of Healthy Role Models By Barry Van Over, President of Premier Martial Arts International

uiding your child in finding positive role models can be very helpful in that child’s development. Children often don’t have inner instructions to go by, and sometimes they internalize information gathered from the world around them in order to thrive in society. Healthy role models can have a powerful influence on children by helping them realize their potential. Have you ever stopped and asked yourself where your child picked up certain behavioral traits? The influence could be you, your child’s siblings, friends, teachers and even the characters they follow on television. Every one of these influences is a role model for your child. Parents are instrumental in building a child’s orientation to the world around them. Parents form a “miniature world” for their children and directly influence behaviors and decisions, and because of this, parents need to be observant about how children emulate and absorb the behavioral characteristics of others. Healthy role models are so important, because they can increase a child’s confidence, help to build a moral compass, teach strategies to set attainable goals, and provide direction in achieving goals. Children will easily relate to certain characteristics of their role models. They will try to identify with them, so we should make sure that they choose their role models wisely. The choice of role models has evolved with time, possibly due to the changing face of social media. Even though a child’s curiosity may lead him or her towards a particular role model, there are emotional, behavioral and

psychological aspects involved in the process. If there is a conscious effort and channeled observation from the parent, children can safely explore these intricacies while picking a role model, which helps in learning to exercise judgment in the long run. Children can gain knowledge and experience through identifying with and emulating a role model, because children learn what they live. They watch, listen and follow. As long as these role models stick to good values and morals, they can bring consistency and encourage children to be persistent in life. For these reasons, having a healthy role model can be a help in a child’s personality development. At Premier Martial Arts, our Instructors are the definition of healthy role models. To learn more about our instructors and how they strive to be positive role models and an effective back up for parents, contact or stop by one of our locations to witness the interactions between our instructors and students. You may just find a great role model for your child. Barry Van Over is the owner and president of Premier Martial Arts International, of which there are currently over 80 location nationwide. Mr. Van Over has two locations in the West Knoxville area and been empowering families lives through the martial arts in the Knoxville community for over 20 years. Mr. Van Over and his local studios can be reached at www.premiermartialarts.com.

JOIN in the FUN this SUMMER! The Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Knoxville will be keeping their doors open this summer! Our summer camps are open to the community and provide a safe environment to explore new interests or improve skills. Please contact us to learn more about our camp programs and schedules. Art, Baseball, Dance, Robotics, Football, Writing Workshops, Volleyball, Algebra BootCamp, and More!

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Contact: Cissy West (423)622-1481 cwest@catholicweb.com Notre Dame High School (423)624-4618 myndhs.com/student-life/ summercamp.cfm St. Dominic, Kingsport Contact: Carolyn Henry (423)446-0069 Carolyn.sweetpea@yahoo.com

Knoxville Catholic High School (865)560-0313 camps@knoxvillecatholic.com knoxvillecatholic.com/news-events/ summer-camps/ Sacred Heart Cathedral School Contact: Scott Barron Cell: (865)300-6078 sbarron@shcknox.org Saint John Neumann School Contact: Janet Harrigan (865)777-0077 jharrigan@sjncs-knox.org

Saint Joseph School Contact: Kathy Rankin (865)689-3424 krankin@sjsknox.org Saint Mary, Oak Ridge Contact: Kim Bellofatto (865)766-8563 kbellofatto@stmarysoakridge.org

dioknox.org/schools

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS of the DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE