Beyond Reading, Writing and Math

Students experience a range of classes in addition to their academic core subjects. Special area classes are available on a rotating schedule. Each class has a comprehensive program that builds each year as students progress through Bright. Taught by specialized faculty, opportunities are provided for young learners to expand their horizons and experience a wide range of skills and expertise. Meaningful connections are formed between classroom content and the special areas experience through interdisciplinary projects.

Art

Fine Art is an integral part of the Bright learning experience. A fully-equipped art studio combined with gallery space to display student work provides the ideal setting for young, aspiring artists. Our program consists of three broad components: art history, media/material exploration, and technique/process instruction. Art history exposes students to different styles of art and introduces artists who demonstrate these styles. Sculpture, drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography are woven into grade level projects and are built upon each year. Through this cohesive approach, students develop a solid arts foundation which will continue to grow beyond Bright School. (Grades PK-5)

Thankful Davis

Art
Phone: 423-501-8931

Joined Bright faculty in 2014
B.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
M.Ed., Middle Tennessee State University

Library

When you enter the Bright library, there is a sense of warmth, joy and tradition. Our librarians promote reading, encourage investigation and assist in developing enthusiastic readers. Our students learn to enjoy reading and being read to, as well as browsing the shelves for great books to check out. On any given day, students eagerly walk through the library to return books or check out new ones. Each grade visits the library and benefits from instruction and a curriculum designed to teach students to access, evaluate, and interpret information from printed materials. Early childhood students participate in story time while lower grades study great authors and genres aligned with their classroom units of study. Our elementary students are introduced to the steps of research. Upper grades build upon the methods for interpreting information in order to graduate with the best possible training, so they can become life-long readers and skillful users of information in the 21st century. (Grades JPK-5)

Emily Henn

Library Media Specialist
Phone: 423-305-6465
Joined Bright faculty in 2022
B.A., University of Central Florida
B.S., University of Central Florida

Music

Our music program enables students to develop a kinesthetic and intellectual love of music through a hands-on approach. Students develop an appreciation for world music and our country’s heritage through folk songs and games.  Through folk songs and solfege, students lay the foundation for reading music. Students perform at our two school-wide programs, Thanksgiving and Grandparents’ and Special Persons’ Day. Our fourth and fifth grade students learn to play soprano and alto recorders and autoharps, and interested students may participate in a handbell choir. Within the walls of the music room, students have opportunities to sing, play instruments, learn to read music, and enjoy listening and understanding a large variety of music from classical to contemporary. (Grades JPK-5)

Julia Mayo

Music
Phone: 423-305-6490
Joined Bright faculty in 2021
B.A., Carson-Newman University
M.ME., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Physical Education

The P.E. program directs students toward a lifetime of physical fitness by creating an environment of age-appropriate child play that is motivating and fun. The curriculum is designed to communicate health and fitness knowledge, teach locomotor and non-locomotor physical skills, introduce sports skills, and create a positive attitude about life-long fitness. Appropriate health and physical activities are carefully designed for all ages allowing your child to build upon skills learned each year. From scooter races to parkour courses, each week in P.E. brings enthusiasm to our students about being healthy and staying fit for life. Who are we? Bright Fit! (Offered daily for grades K-5; rotating for JPK and PK)

Bobby Gendimenico

P.E.
Phone: 423-501-8930

Joined Bright faculty in 2019
B.A., Ithaca College
M.S., State University of New York at Cortland

Martha Hanzelik

P.E.
Phone: 423-501-8929
Joined Bright faculty in 2023
B.S., Middle Tennessee State University
M.S., Colorado State University

Science

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we have been taught.” This quote by Baba Dioum, an environmentalist and forestry engineer, is the foundation upon which the Bright School science program is built. The program strives to educate and inspire every child. From the budding, curious first grade student to the actively inquiring fifth grade student, the desire is to develop caring citizens ready and eager to tackle tomorrow’s issues. (Grades 1-5)

Early childhood students enjoy one day a week dedicated to outdoor learning, rain or shine. In addition, they have environmental science classes taught by our eco-literacy specialist.

D'Arcy Hughes

Science
Phone: 423-501-8933
Joined Bright faculty in 2021
B.A., Covenant College

Lynn Shelton

Eco-literacy Specialist
Phone: 423-501-8935

Bright alumna '87 
Joined Bright faculty in 2019
Master Gardener, University of Tennessee Insitute of Agriculture

Shop

Believing in acquired knowledge application, Bright's woodworking shop offers hands-on experiences literally! Each child has an opportunity to experience the process of taking raw wood and creating a work of art. Through this step-by-step process, students develop math skills and learn to use mechanical and spatial relationships. Students are introduced to shop in PK with basic, developmentally appropriate projects. As students grow and move from one grade to the next, their projects in shop also grow in degree of difficulty. There is strong integration between the shop projects and classroom curriculum. Through the projects they create in shop, they are building habits of attention, perseverance, patience, and self-control. (Grades PK-5)

Richard Parks

Shop
Phone: 423-501-8932

Joined Bright faculty in 2014
B.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
M.Ed., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Spanish

Envisioning our students as future global citizens, the Bright School Spanish experience provides vital foreign language exposure and experience at a young age. Our Spanish curriculum embraces a broad spectrum of communication skills. With rich curricular experiences, the program offers a vision of what students should know and be able to apply in all languages. The goal of the Spanish classroom experience is to develop positive attitudes and excitement toward learning the Spanish language. Through the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, students are able to broaden their awareness, acceptance, and understanding of Spanish and Hispanic culture.

Cindy Avendano

Spanish
Phone: 423-305-6491

Joined Bright faculty in 2016
B.A., Universidad de las Americas Puebla

Technology

Using the National Educational Technology Standards as our framework, Bright School’s technology curriculum builds a comprehensive set of computing skills for students and prepares them to use technology effectively in order to live, learn, and work in the 21st Century. Multimedia and Web 2.0 tools are used to engage students in creativity and collaboration. Basic keyboarding skills, software use, and research skills are practiced and complement the classroom curriculum. Students learn how to be responsible digital citizens as they evaluate information, cite online sources, respect copyright and fair use laws, and safely use the Internet. Technology empowers our students and facilitates the learning process at Bright School. While dedicated technology instruction occurs in grades K-5 in the computer lab, technology is integrated into the school’s curriculum through classroom activities and daily instruction. Interactive whiteboards are used in all classrooms to enhance learning. Students in fifth grade utilize netbooks to facilitate independent and cooperative learning. IPads for teachers and students in grades PK-4 are used for exploration and discovery in the classroom learning environment.

Renee' Kropff

Assistant Head of School, Operations, and Director of Technology
Phone: 423-305-6466

Joined Bright faculty in 1999
B.S., East Tennessee State University

Before School Music

Handbells

Grades 4 and 5 are invited to join Mrs. Karen Smith for handbells once a week.

Fourth graders will practice on Monday or Tuesday mornings before school, and fifth graders will practice Wednesday or Thursday mornings before school.

Beginners and all skill levels are welcome. Students perform several times a year.

 

Chorus

If you love to sing, this is the place for you!  The Bright School Chorus is made up of 3rd - 5th grade students and will meet weekly on Friday mornings from 7:20 - 7:50 in the music room.  


This will be a year-long commitment and will include a Christmas Performance and a Spring Choir Tour Field Trip along with other fun activities.  The cost is $10.00 and includes a shirt and allows for the purchase of music. 

For more information, contact Julia Mayo at [email protected].