The MUS Lower School Blog

Lower School Owls Have Impressive Showing

The lower school wrestlers competed at the Dragon Invitational over the Thanksgiving break.  There were two impressive things about the team at the tournament.  The first impressive thing was that the team had a terrific turnout at the tournament.  The second thing that was impressive was the fact that MUS came home with eight medals.  Congratulations to the following boys for finishing in the top three in their respective weight classes:  Matthew Reid, Andrew Raves, Tate Lowrance, Andrew Renshaw, Dennis Parnell, John Estes, Sylvester Tate, and Zack Spisak.  The whole team is showing great signs of improvement.  Coach Knaff and Coach Hendricks are extremely pleased with the dedication and commitment that the lower school team has made so far this season.  The lower school team will be in action again at the St. George's Invitational on December 13th before closing out their season at the City Championships on December 20th.

Lower School Wrestling Practice

Lower school wrestlers will have practice on Wednesday, November 26th, from 3:00pm-4:00pm.  They will wrestle this weekend at Collierville High School beginning at 8:30am.  Which means everyone needs to be there by 8:00am to check in.  Coach Knaff has already turned in the roster for the tournament but any additions or removals should go through Coach Gehres (shaun.gehres@musowls.org).

Gotta love the Tennessean

I awoke to the sweet, slumbering sounds amidst my cozy holiday home with the desire to log on and read the Nashville paper following our thorough pole-whacking of the Brentwood Eagles. I particularly enjoyed the writer's comments who contributed his reaction to the story: How refreshing it is to see an academic school like MUS beat an "athletic factory" like Brentwood Academy. Maybe there is hope for this country after all.

The reason that we allowed those students who avoided the "D, F" progress report list to have priority seating for the Lower School bus is because we are a school who requires our academic work to be our first order of business. Therefore, those boys who took care of their business were rewarded... no announcement... no pomp and circumstance... just an unexpected acknowledgment by the faculty and administration that we appreciate their dedication and motivation.

I'm glad that some thoughtful bystander in Nashville recognizes what we attempt to accomplish down here at this boys' school in our little corner of the state.  

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

With the academic portion of Tuesday a bit truncated for the general citizenry, my two post players thought it would be a good time to head down to FedEx Forum and play in the street... post-game. I may be cheap, but not that cheap. Not that there's anything wrong with it.

ASAP to be in session for exams

By popular demand, the After School Academic Program will be in session for exam week, December 15-19. Sessions begin at 11:00 a.m. and end as late as 5:00 p.m.

Proctors Mr. Suddarth and Mr. Akin will oversee two three-hour sessions in the Dunavant Lecture Hall of the Hull Lower School. Any MUS student is welcome. The price is $10 for one session, $15 for those who stay both sessions. Friday's ASAP sessions are free. Given that parents will remain gainfully employed after student exams are completed December 19, we anticipate a need for students to remain here as parents finish their work day.

Teachers are encouraged to hold exam review sessions this semester, so you will hear more about that as exams draw near.

There is NO scheduled ASAP today due to the mass exodus for the state finals.

Exam review plans

Please download and print the appropriate exam review preparation calendar. Mrs. Schuhmacher created these in the hopes that the boys will be better prepared for this semester's exams than in previous first semester exams. We believe that the organization as outlined will be a significant aid toward a thorough exposure to the subject content.

Download 7th grade exam calendar

Download 8th grade Exam Schedule 2008 _2_

Lower School Wrestlers Endure Marathon Day

Congratulations to all of the lower school wrestlers that participated in the "Mayhem in Memphis" wrestling tournament over the weekend.  After some lengthy delays, wrestling finally got underway and the Owls turned in some great finishes.  The following boys finished in the top 3 in their weight division: Sylvester Tate, Grayson Lynn, Andrew Crosby, Fort Robinson, Zack Spisak, Andrew Renshaw, Anthony Horton, Jake Woodman, John Estes, Mitchell Clark, and Dennis Parnell.  Thank you to the parents for weathering the tournament and being a part of the first tournament of the year.  The lower school team will be in action over the Thanksgiving break when they travel to the Collierville Dragon Invitational on Saturday.  Go Owls!!!

Notes for bus list, Tuesday classes

The long-awaited final version of those riding the student bus is being assembled as I write. I'll post before lunch today. So far, the Lower School bus is full, including chaperons Mr. Batey and Mr. Matthews. Fifteen eighth-graders will be riding the Upper School bus now void of the cheerleaders (sorry) who vacated their spots in an effort to depart earlier Tuesday and arrive in enough time to get the mojo flowin'.

Boys are allowed to dress down for the day in anticipation for wearing what would be appropriate for an outdoor football game. It is not a "Grub Day," but we will allow blue jeans and school spirit clothing for all students, even those not attending.

All students are to take their books home at the end of the day today as they clean out their lockers in anticipation for exam organization. More on exam prep following Thanksgiving break.

Tuesday there are no regular classes scheduled for Lower School students. The eight-grade will participate in Facing History with Hutchison in the Lower School building for the entire morning.

The seventh-grade will assemble in the Wunderlich Auditorium for an exercise known as Insights Day. We will watch a film there while pausing at points to emphisize certain elements of citizenship, leadership, and character. Our hopes are to start a series of dialogues within the exercise that will help foster a sense of comrardie and respect among the grade, pointing to specific events of conflict this semester which can be avoided in the future.

Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. Busses depart at 12:45 p.m.

Time change for eighth-grade basketball

Tuesday, November 18, eighth-grade basketball practice originally scheduled at 5:30 p.m. moves to immediately after school in the Todd-Snowden Gymnasium. Please make a note.

Chess champs... again!

Chess sponsor Mr. Brian Vogt reports that several MUS lower school boys competed this weekend in the Memphis Grade-Level Chess Championships.  In this tournament, students compete with others of their grade level from around the Mid-South.  MUS achieved significant individual and team results.  In the 8th grade, a final playoff was held as White Station Middle School and MUS were tied for first.  The three strongest Spartan players were matched up with ours, and the Owls soared on to victory. Check mate.

MUS students participating:

7th Grade: Andy Sorenson - tied for 1st, lost tie break round

8th Grade: Nathan Vogt - 1st place; Pete Abston – 7th, and Amit Shah – 8th

9th Grade: former Lower Schooler Corey Clay – 9th place