The MUS Lower School Blog

For those going to tonight's game

It's going to be cold tonight in Cookeville, Tennessee (check the weather with this link). My experience with our students, bright and precious as they are, tells me that they can sometimes underestimate the realities associated with a road trip football game in December. I know, I know, call me crazy. Just to humor me, please break all the rules just this one time, and consider bringing Junior a good cold gear repertoire, with enough cash to procure some hot coco. He'll say that he doesn't want to look "uncool," in more or less words, but feeling warm trumps potential adolescent ignoramus fashion sense. He'll thank you later.

XBox Tournament a success

Consequent to winning the First Annual Lower School Civic Service XBox Tournament, teammates Conor Dowling and Luke Stallings have earned a Grub Day and front-of-lunchline pass for today. Alex Creson and Keegan Jones were defeated in the finals, but remain enrolled in school and displaying sound mind.

Special thanks to President Ettingoff and Sr. VP John Valentine for orchestrating the activity, displaying quality leadership in their creativity and follow-through. The event raised $115 for charity and involved 14 teams.

Spelling Bee results

Yesterday's finishers were:

1.  Andrew ELSAKR

2.  Zack SPISAK

3.  Alex CARTER

The winning words were acquittal and extraneous.

This trio will join the previous three winners--Michael CARTER, Marshall SULLIVAN, and Baty DANIEL--in the Spell-off on December 3.

Coffee Thursday morning

Seventh-grade parents, please plan to attend our Come As U Are Coffee at the home of Susan Madden this Thursday, November 12. Stop by from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. after carpool for a cup of coffee and an informal Q & A with Clay Smythe and Catherine Schuhmacher. Now is a great time to get your questions answered as we wrap up the semester and approach exams. Susan’s home is conveniently located near MUS at 492 Sweetbriar Road. If you would like to volunteer to bring an easy breakfast item, please call (767-6028) or e-mail (maddenjoseph@bellsouth.net) Susan. Carpool attire!

Mrs. Perkins steps into our ranks

A note from Mr. Haguewood: We remain deeply grateful to Sue Perkins (pictured here surrounded by some of her geography fellas) for teaching Tommy Harrison’s seventh-grade geography classes for the rest of the semester. Sue is an excellent teacher, a veteran of four decades in the classroom--first at St. Paul Catholic School, then Memphis Catholic High School, and then for many years at St. Agnes Academy. Sue is a graduate of Florida State University, and she is married to our Doug Perkins. 

Open House this Sunday

Please consider inviting a potential MUS applicant and their family whom you know to Sunday's Open House. It's a great way for people to see the entire campus and program in an economical two hours, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Seventh grade game postponed today

We play Tuesday, October 27 at 5:45 p.m. in Stokes Stadium.

Hearing and vision screenings follow-up

Seventh grade students who had their hearing and/or vision tested on Monday will bring home their screening reports on Friday. If you have any questions regarding the report, please call 416-8960. 

Memphis Leaders speaker series features Iraq and Afganistan vet

U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Steve Bragorgas, uncle of PDS sixth grader, Nick Bragorgos (green shirt), is pictured here among some seventh grade fellas who, along with the full Lower School assembly, asked great questions this morning. He came as the featured assembly speaker before visiting with Mr. Rutledge’s World History class. Steve, as he insisted we call him, presented a fascinating program of his personal PowerPoint slides with candid commentary from his most recent deployment as a battalion commander in Afghanistan. Previously, Steve worked intelligence in Iraq. 

The Collierville native and now Illinois resident painted a powerful picture of the complex social realities at play when Western culture meets multi-tribal Afghan cultures. His emphasis upon an unwavering and universal basic human desire for family and peace framed his anecdotes with reference to a ruthless Taliban regime which seeks technology and financing to further their exploitation of an otherwise peaceful people.

Hearing and Vision screenings on Monday

Memphis City Schools – Division of Exceptional Children will be on campus Monday, October 19 to offer hearing and vision screenings for all seventh graders. Parents must sign the green and the yellow consent forms for their sons to be evaluated. Your son will have his permission slips  taped to the back of his Assignment Book. These permission slips must be returned by Monday morning.