Connie Smith from the UT Extension Office speaks with Mr. Hale and Mrs. Collette's business students about training, money management and careers.  After the classroom session, students take part in an "On My Own" simulation where these teachings and skills are applied.  Representatives from all aspects of the industry, including Eastman Credit Union, Remax Realtors, Farm Bureau Insurance, Wolfe Development Johnson City Power Board, Mountain States Health Alliance, Washington County Department of Health, etc., assist the students throughout the simulation and decision making process.

The annual Karaoke Contest was held on Friday, November 16th. First prize of $100.00 went to The Starling Brothers performing Tim McGraw's "I Like It, I Love It...". Second place of $75.00 went to Makayla Adams singing Beyonce's "Why Don't You Love Me?". Third place of $50.00 went to Destiny Clemmons doing Pat Benetar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot".

$2152 was raised.  The money will be used to support families with need at Christmas.

THANKS ALL!!!

November 1, 2012

ThinkFast®  Interactive presented to the sophomore class and all Driver's Education students at David Crockett High School thanks to the Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Governor's Highway Safety Office .

ThinkFast® was developed in 1997 as a program that would non-intrusively expose participants to, and educate them about, important information about the custom topic (e.g. consequences of underage drinking, drug use, bullying, traffic safety, distracted driving, etc.) while simultaneously entertaining them in a safe, relaxed and fun environment.

October 26, 2012

DCHS Naval Junior ROTC unit hosted the Appalachian Rifle Match.  19 teams from 10 schools competed in the event.  The Crockett team was not scored because they were the host team.

October 25, 2012

Freshmen students at David Crockett were introduced to Mr. MOJO and his Operation MOJO Tour.

"Students Taking a Stand Against Bullying" will change the culture in your school forever! Mr. Mojo's inspiring message will reveal the untold truth about how often most of us bully or allow bullying to happen around us each day.

For more information, click here.

Johnson City Press
November 14, 2012
By JEFF BIRCHF1ELD
Press Sports Writer jbirchfield@johnsoncitypress.com

The 23rd annual Hardee's Classic basketball tournament at David Crockett High School will have a little different look, although many of the participating coaches believe there could be a familiar ending.

Sullivan East, which beat Unicoi County in last season's title game to become the tournament's first four-time champion, enters as the favorite. The Patriots open their defense of the Hardee's crown against Greeneville, which returns to the tournament after a few years absence.

"We've got a tough first-round game in Greeneville. That will be interesting to say the least," East head coach John Dyer said at Tuesday's press conference at the DCHS Library. " But, we love the Hardee's Classic. We feel fortunate to be the only team besides David Crockett to participate in it all 23 years. It's a great way to start the season, a tournament which is very competitive and where everybody has a chance."

If the Patriots get by the Greene Devils and through the semifinals, Dyer wouldn't be surprised to see another matchup with three-time Hardee's champion Unicoi County. The Three Rivers Conference rivals have met in the championship game three times, each contest marked by its high intensity.

"We've had some real battles here, including last year," Dyer said. "Even before the Three Rivers was formed, we played them in the championship. We know when we play them, it's going to be good."

Six of the eight teams from last year's field return with Greeneville and Happy Valley filling spots left vacant by Daniel Boone and Cherokee. David Crockett head coach Richard Tarlton, who also serves as the tournament director, believes the new additions are "Greeneville and Happy Valley are new teams for this year, but not new to the tournament," Tarlton said. "Both should bring good, quality exciting teams to the tournament this year. We have Happy Valley in the first round and it should be a good first-round matchup for both of us."

The tournament features teams from all classifications Tarlton, in his role as tournament director, mixes up the teams so those from the same conference don't face off in the opening round.

Unaka, from the Class A ranks, pulled off the biggest surprise of the tournament last season, defeating Cherokee 61-56 in first-round action. This year, the Rangers will meet another Class AAA school, Sullivan South, in the opening game of the tournament.

"This is a great early-season tournament, a real measuring stick where you get to see where your team is right off the bat," Unaka head coach Aaron Dugger said. "It's going to be a challenge every game you play over here. We had some success at this tournament last year and were able to build off of it."

For a pair of coaches - Michael Smith of Unicoi County and Chuck Babb of Happy Valley - this year will mean they have participated in the tournament as players, assis- tant coaches and now head coaches. In addition, David Crockett principal Andy Hare, who provided the opening remarks for Tuesday's press conference, has participated in Hardee's Classic as a player, coach and administrator. Hare, a former Sullivan East player, remembered Babb rejecting a shot of his at an early Classic and sending the ball flying upstairs at a radio broadcast table.
Babb, who grinned as Hare recounted the story, added it's special the Hardee's Classic is his first tournament as the Warriors head coach after taking over from the legendary Charlie Bayless.

"I've come full circle," Babb said. "When I pulled in the gate, Dale Scott was the security guard out there. He used to referee my games as a little boy and he told me how he was glad for me. It's almost surreal for me. It's awesome to come back to a place where you started your varsity career, at this tournament. It's a good thing."

The final game of the opening round pits University High against Unicoi County. Twice in recent years, the teams have battled to the wire at the tournament
The Hardee's Classic serves two major purposes for the David Crockett program. For the basketball team, it's an opportunity to compete for a championship, while preparing for the conference season. It's also a major fundraiser for the Pioneers athletic program.

"For our basketball team, it's a great honor to compete in this tournament," Tarlton said. "It has a long tradition and it lets you know early in the year where you stand with some of the local competition. For the program, it's a great fund- raiser. We appreciate all that Hardee's for all they do for us. It allows us to do different things throughout the year"

October 12, 2012

At Crockett, the Wellness/PE Classes and Lesley Allen's English classes have been working on the "Move Your Body" dance, which is part of the Let's Move Campaign. The Let's Move Campaign, developed by First Lady Michelle Obama, is a program to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. Schools across the nation are participating in flash mobs to bring awareness to physical activity and show that it can be fun.

This generation is the first generation in the history of mankind to have a shorter predicted lifespan than the previous generation. This is solely because of obesity, which often leads to Type II Diabetes and all the other serious ailments that accompany it. At this time, only 1/3 of American adults are at a healthy weight, with 2/3s of all adult Americans either overweight or obese. This dance was to encourage students to have fun while exercising their way to a healthy weight.

Click to read Johnson City Press article.

October 13, 2012

The Crockett Congregation, Opus Show Choir and Madrigal Singers perform "All Because of Jesus" in the DCHS Little Theatre.  Visit the Choral Department web page for more information (or maybe to order a DVD of the performance!).

Terry Caffey shares his incredible story with DCHS students, challenging them to carefully consider the consequences of their choices.  For more on his story, click here.

Design Camp Makes Math Fun for Crockett Freshmen 

August 1, 2012 - Johnson City Press
By MADISON MATHEWS 
Press Staff Writer 
 
 "When am I going to use this?" If there's ever a question math teachers the world over have heard time and time again, it's that one.

For many students, the world of algebra, geometry or calculus can be a scary place. Instead of worrying about whether to carry the one or invoke the power of pi, incoming freshmen at David Crockett High School were learning not to be intimidated by math with Design Camp. 

Click Here to Read More

David Crockett faculty members get taste of boot camp
Updated July 24, 2012 10:12 AM
By Nick Shepherd - Press Staff Writer

(View the article at Johnson City Press website.)

The recruits were getting pushed to their limits. After running sprints, the sergeant in charge told them to hit the ground and give him 10 pushups. After they were done, they ran again.

Teachers at David Crockett High School have been getting a taste of boot camp over the last week. The staff at Crockett has partnered with the U.S. Army for a "faculty boot camp" starting last week and continuing through the rest of this week.

"This came about working with sergeant first class Jesse Firster, who was doing a program with our students," said Andrew Hare, Crockett principal. "We were discussing it, and I thought this would be something good for our faculty as well. There's nothing better for a healthy mind than a healthy body."

The program was originally meant for students. Firster tried to start the program in January based off of President Obama's active lifestyle program. He put a lot of groundwork into the program, but it fell flat at the last minute.

Instead of letting the program vanish, Hare thought it would be good for the teachers to do. The two have been planning the boot camp for about three months.

"Hare's got a pretty good turnout with his staff," Firster said. "Everybody's having fun and they keep coming back, so it can't be too bad."

The boot camp is designed to increase physical activity among faculty and staff, improve self confidence and promote teamwork and cooperation.

The teachers do various exercises in the hour and a half they are there. They do pushups, sit ups, flutter kicks, running and various other exercises. The running is mostly short sprints because Firster didn't want to push them too hard.

The teachers were started slow with the exercises and have been gradually given harder exercises or have been going longer over the course of the boot camp. Although after the first day, some teachers didn't know if they could keep coming back.

"I couldn't move," said vocal music instructor Kelly Sams. "I had to will myself to get out of bed. Everything hurt, but it's one of those things where you couldn't just quit or you would die the next day if you didn't go back. Plus, if you could do it one day, you could do it two. It was really a neat thing."

Sams has been attending the boot camp every day. She has been pleasantly surprised with how far she can push herself. She also hopes to be able to continue the exercises when boot camp is over.

The boot camp is also designed to teach exercises teachers can do on their own after the camp is over. The camp is also designed to be a stress reliever that teachers can use during the busy and hectic school year, Hare said.

There have been 15 teachers participate in the boot camp. The camp averages about seven or eight teachers a day.

This is the first year of the program. Hare hopes to continue the program even though Firster will be moving to Wisconsin at the end of the month.

"This is the first time we've done it, and I've been very pleased with the results," Hare said. "We think the sky is the limit from here."

The new Pioneers get a chance to have fun with math through games, projects and other activities, like building a scale or participating in a measurement scavenger hunt on school grounds.  

As a self-professed "math geek," freshman Taylor Tester was excited about the opportunity to have fun with math alongside her new classmates. 

"Once classes start, we're trying to figure out where everything is and we're not really focused on the people around us," she said. "It's really fun because we're doing math, but we're also just hanging out, meeting new people and learning new things."  

Aside from getting the jump on algebra and other math lessons students can expect to see this year, the camp is also a way for the incoming freshmen to tour their new school and get a chance to meet their classmates before the school year begins Aug. 14. 

"It's real interesting to get to know people from different schools and see how they do everything since they have different teachers and everything. Everything's been fun so far," freshman Jesse Dykes said. 

Putting the fun back in math is all part of the camp, according to Crockett math teacher Deborah Bailey. 

"At the beginning a lot of kids have a hatred of math or a dislike of math, so we're trying to show them that there is a fun side to it and a more exciting side with how it's useful in real life," she said. 

With help from teachers like Bailey, Doug Harris and Guy McAmis, the students will build solar-powered cars, scale models of their bedrooms, and catapults, with everything culminating with an "Amazing Race"-like contest built around mathematical principles. 

"What's fun about it is a lot of the kids who hate math love working with their hands, and so you get them involved and working with their hands and showing how math can work with that," Bailey said. "They all the sudden become more interested in math and they start to like it a lot more." 

Professional development coordinator Ginger Christian said the camp will help with this year's common core curriculum, which is built on a more cross-curricular program. In doing that, the educators are able to apply math to the real world. 

"We're bringing the career and technical education side into the academic side, so that that work looks the same to the students. It's just demonstrated in different ways," she said. 

Treating math in this way could help students as they prepare to enter the workforce later on in their lives. 

"We're preparing them for jobs that weren't there 10 years ago," Bailey said. "We're preparing them for jobs that aren't there now. The way that this economy is going and the way technology is going, we're preparing for jobs that haven't been invented yet."