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Communications Director Receives Service Award

Director of Communications Liz Copeland received the Jean Barbee Hale Award for Outstanding Service, presented annually at the year-end faculty luncheon to a member of the staff. Headmaster Pete Sanders commended Copeland for her unwavering commitment to excellence and her expert oversight of print and digital communications for the school. Ben Hale endowed this award in honor of his wife – a valued member of the staff for 24 years – upon her retirement in 1998. Ben's son Steve Hale '84 and granddaughter Lauren were on hand for the award presentation.

Counce Honored for 25 Years of Service

Upper School Assistant Principal Mark Counce ’77 was recognized at the year-end faculty luncheon for 25 years of service at MUS. As an alumnus, Counce has school connections that began some 10 years before his teaching tenure (1983-1993 and 2004 until today). He has taught math, coached basketball, overseen discipline, and raised three alumni (Stephen ’07, Robert ’09; and Andrew ’14). As a token of the school’s appreciation, Headmaster Pete Sanders presented him with an Honorary Master of Arts.

Hutchison and St. Mary’s Graduations

MUS will be closed Monday, May 20, as a school holiday. We wish the best to the Hutchison and St. Mary’s graduating classes celebrated that day!

Class of 2019 Launch Countdown

Graduation is Sunday at Second Presbyterian Church – Baccalaureate at 9:30 a.m. and Commencement at 3:30 p.m. Parents, you may review the details HERE.

To view the live-stream broadcasts, follow this link: https://www.2pc.org/worship/live-stream/. Please remind friends and relatives who wish to watch remotely that we are on Central Daylight Time.

We will provide each graduate with a complimentary flash-drive copy of the Commencement video. This is our gift to your family, and it will be mailed a few weeks after graduation. Kathy Daniel Patterson will be taking photos during graduation. We will email parents when the photos are available for viewing and purchase.

Interested in Music?

We are currently registering students for all 2019-20 music ensembles. If you have not spoken to a music teacher about your interest, please do so as soon as possible. Student schedules will be finalized very soon!

Peer Mentors Needed for 2019-20

Any current freshmen, sophomores, or juniors who are interested in being Peer Mentors for 2019-20 should complete an application and return it to Director of Counseling Joe Abrahams by the last day of school, May 24. Students may pick up an application on the desk outside Mr. Abraham’s office. Existing mentors are required to fill out a new application to serve next year.

Sell Selected Books: May 23-24

Book Buy Back will take place May 23-24 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Owl Room of the Sue H. Hyde Sports and Physical Education Center. We will pay cash for selected books in good condition that were purchased at MUS, provided they will be used again next year. Click HERE for a list of those books/prices or see the link in the calendar.

Arjun Puri Physics Olympian

Junior Arjun Puri earned a Gold Medal for his performance in the 2019 Physics Olympiad and has been named a USA Physics Olympiad finalist. Approximately 6,000 students participated in the first round of the competition hosted by the American Association of Physics Teachers in late January. Less than 7 percent of those students qualified as semifinalists, advancing to the next round in late March.

Check for Your Lost Items

Remember to check Lost and Found before the last day of school, May 24. See the Upper School or Lower School offices for glasses, electronics, or the key to the Lost and Found room. Items left after the end of May will be donated.

Lower School Football Team Sign Up

Rising eighth graders and incoming seventh graders: This is your invitation to play in the 2019-20 season. We will have two squads of combined grades, the Lower School Red and Lower School Blue. After the first week of evaluation in early August, players will be divided into two equal teams. We will send out evaluation dates and equipment information later this summer. Returning eighth graders: The equipment you have from last year will be fine for next season. Email Coach Bobby Alston with the candidate’s name and grade. If you have any questions about the process, feel free to send an email or call him at (901) 260-1372.

Owls Take Second in Regional Physics Bowl

Owls competed against the best physics students from 11 states in the annual Physics Bowl, taking second place in Division II for the fourth year in a row.

Order of the Owl, Latin Society Celebrated

Lower School Principal Loyal Murphy welcomed families as Order of the Owl and National Latin Honor Society inductees were celebrated Friday, May 10, 2019. Order of the Owl eligibility demands high academic performance and demonstrated excellent citizenship in accordance with the school Honor Code and Community Creed. In order to qualify for the NLHS, a student must be a member of Junior Classical League, must attend one of the Latin conventions during this school year, must maintain an A average, and must gain approval from his instructors.

Sowell Receives Distinguished Teaching Award

Department of Science Chair Analice Sowell was named the 2019 recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award. Established in 1990 through a generous bequest by former Lower School Principal John Murry Springfield, the award is given annually to a faculty member who demonstrates excellence both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities.

Springfield Scholars Induct 10

Ten eighth graders joined the Springfield Scholars May 9 in an evening filled with moving testimonials, proud parents, and crisp new ties. During the 13th annual dinner, Jack Blackwell, Vince Boberski, Jaxon Hammond, Frederick Huang, Varun Krishnamurthi, Kevin Ma, Jackson Oswalt, Alyaan Salman, Jack Zaptin, and Lou Zhou each received a commemorative tie, certificate, and lapel pin, and a favorite teacher spoke in his honor.

Salman Wins Trigon Tournament

Lower School students gathered in Thomas Amphitheater this morning for the grand spectacle of the 7th Annual Roman Trigon Tournament.

Blazer Drop-Off: May 23-24

If your son has outgrown his blazer, sell it and purchase a larger one at the Parents’ Association annual Blazer Consignment.

The final consignor drop-off will be Book Buy Back in the gym lobby. A form must be signed – so if you send the blazer with your son, we will trust he has your permission to sign off on the consignor process. The proceeds from your blazers are credited to your son’s 2019-20 school account.

Details:

CAMWS Honors 26 Latin Owls

A total of 26 students earned recognition on the 2019 Classical Association of the Middle West and South Latin Translation Contest. Competing against 1,000 or more students from Virginia to Colorado, Owls earned cash, books, or certificates for their performances. Cash award winners scored in the top 2-3 percent in their grade level, book award winners scored in the top 5-6 percent, and certificates of commendation winners scored in the top 20 percent.

Student Leaders Honored

In chapel this week, the 2018-19 student leaders received medallions in appreciation for their service to the school. The 2019-20 leaders then were sworn in. See the list of 2019-20 leaders HERE.

Summer SLAM Program – Help Spread the Word

Help us spread the word about our summer SLAM program, and pass along the names of high-achieving middle-school boys who would be great candidates. Now in the 15th year, SLAM is a full-day program involving academics, leadership, and athletics for boys entering Grades 5-9.

57 Owls Medal in National Spanish Exams

Spanish students collected a ton of hardware for their performances on the 2019 National Spanish Examinations. Students scoring at or above the 95th percentile for their grade level nationally earned Gold; 94th-85th percentiles; Silver; and 84th-75th, Bronze. A 50th percentile score equals the national average.

Academic Calendar Reminders

These days race along a bit faster than the rest of the school year, so be sure to keep an eye on the Academic Calendar. Senior and Advanced Placement exams begin Monday, May 6. Underclassman exams begin Thursday, May 16. Baccalaureate and Graduation are Sunday, May 19.

Admissions Office Names New Ambassadors

Director of Admissions Buck Towner announced the biggest class of ambassadors to date this week: 30 sophomores will join the current 26 junior ambassadors as official school hosts for 2019-20, leading tours of campus for prospective families and representing MUS at a number of additional events throughout the year.

Economic Owls Take Third in Finance Challenge

Mr. John Knaff, instructor in economics, lead the team of seniors Sonny Charbonnet, Wood Davis, Alden Southerland, and junior Jack Fernandez in the Personal Finance Challenge in early April. The Owls took third place out of 127 teams in the Wild Card Division.

Latin Owls Win Title XII

Our Latin scholars won first place – for the 12th consecutive year – this weekend in the 63rd annual Tennessee Junior Classical League convention in Chattanooga. A total of 32 schools from across the state competed in the event. MUS fielded a delegation of 41 Upper School and Lower School scholars, all of whom contributed in some way to the 1,421 points scored by the team. University School of Nashville came in second.

Eagle Scouts Celebrated

Have you earned your Eagle rank this year? Let us know in THIS FORM so we can celebrate you in the summer issue of Inside MUS.

Duke’s TIP Recognizes 10 Owls

Seventh graders Gabe Chen, Bryan Ding, Evan Wu, and Jerry Xiao earned nationwide Grand Recognition in Duke University’s Talent Identification Program.

Senior Awards Honor Superlative Achievement

Seventeen seniors received the following special honors recognizing their academic, artistic, extracurricular, and community service efforts during their time at MUS. Opening the awards chapel ceremony today, Assistant Headmaster Barry Ray said, “This is a very nice honor for our young men who’ve worked awfully hard in a variety of areas.”

Awardees are as follows:

Sign Up for Summer Government Conference by July 1

MUS will co-host the Future Leaders in American Government conference with Rhodes College this summer. FLAG is a three-day, two-night political debate conference to be held at Rhodes from Friday, July 19, to Sunday, July 21. It is open to 2019-20 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors; tuition is $250. The deadline to register is July 1, 2019. For more information, visit musowls.org/flag.

“1776” Earns Eight Orpheum Nominations

Congratulations to the cast and crew of 1776 for earning the following nominations in the annual Orpheum High School Musical Theatre Awards:

Special Awards Night

Nine students received special honors and collegiate book awards this month at the annual Special Awards and Honor Society Induction. Faculty, alumni, and special guests presented the awards:

Athletes Sign College Commitments April 17

Family and friends gathered to celebrate these college decision makers today: Jalen Hollimon will play football for Millikin University, Warren Turner will swim for United States Naval Academy, Sellers Shy will play football for University of Mississippi, and Billy Weiss will join the lacrosse team for Loyola University Maryland.

Exam Study Sessions

Take advantage of our Exam Study Sessions, which began April 29, to finish the fourth quarter well and prepare for finals. You still have time to attend. The program meets at night in Hyde Library, providing a quiet, distraction-free setting in which students can study. The cost is $200, and the schedule is as follows:

Owls Soar in Chemist Challenge

Four eighth graders traveled with Mr. Garrett Smithson to Middle Tennessee State University Saturday, April 13, to participate in the You Be The Chemist Challenge. Aaron Barawid, Vince Boberski, Varun Krishnamurthi, and Nickolas Mathews earned a place at the competition by making the top four scores on the school placement test given in late March.

Yearbook Delivery, Orders

The 2018-19 yearbook will be distributed at the Book Sale in August 2019. Those who will not be on campus may request to have a yearbook shipped directly from the publisher.

Meet Mr. Johnson: April 23

Assistant Director of College Counseling Curtis Johnson will be on campus Tuesday, April 23, to meet with parents in Wiener Hospitality Room from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Drop by and say hello to our newest member of the team!

Owl Afternoon College Visits

We host colleges and receptions throughout the year in Morgan Foyer of Humphreys Hall. These opportunities offer students a valuable opportunity to learn more about the schools, and for the schools to learn more about our students. The next reception is Tuesday, April 16, at 3:15 p.m. Come meet representatives from University of Mississippi and The University of Alabama.

StuCo Results Are In!

Congratulations to the candidates for their excellent campaigns. We proudly announce the Student Council executives for 2019-20:

College T-Shirt Day: May 1

Senior College T-Shirt Day is May 1 with a photo in Thomas Amphitheater at 10:40 a.m. Seniors should wear T-shirts from the colleges they will attend in the fall, or they need to wear a solid white T-shirt. Can you believe we’re almost at the end of the school year?!

Student-Produced “The Fortune,” April 14-16

Something is amiss at the home of the world’s greatest fortune cookies. For years customers have flocked to the Dragon restaurant to enjoy delightful predictions with a knack for coming true. But now the fortunes have taken a sinister turn, foretelling disaster, and, one by one, customers are dropping dead.

Fencers Third-Consecutive State Champs

The fencing team traveled to the state championship in Nashville April 6, claiming their seventh overall trophy and their third-consecutive state championship.

Youth in Government Honors

Mrs. Jenny Pratt and Mr. Davis Smith took 46 students to the YMCA Youth in Government Conference April 4 in Nashville. The 8 officers and 38 delegates won four awards, two top-20 delegate recognitions, and seven 2020 leadership roles. Award winners:

Freshman Football Team Sign Up

Eighth graders, are you interested in playing football next year? Now is the time to sign up. Parents, check your email for a letter from Coach Bobby Alston with details and instructions.

New Summer K-4 Roundball Camp

Coach David Willson has just added a new camp for the little guys! Check out the listing HERE for Kindergarten through Grade 4 basketball, May 28-31. See a complete list of our summer programs HERE.

Bridge Builders Deadline April 12

Seventh graders through juniors: Apply by April 12 for Bridge Builders COLLABORATE 2019-2020! Bridge Builders brings together young people from across Greater Memphis for leadership and diversity training, community action, and fun!

Careers Available at the U

We are adding a few new people to our team! Job listings are posted on the school web page, Careers at MUS. We are interviewing for these newly created positions:

Language Fair Honors

Five Owls earned honors at the University of Memphis Foreign Language Fair March 30. Junior Rob McFadden won second place in Spanish Writing for juniors; sophomores Ahmad Alsafwah and Matthew Jones won first and second place, respectively, in Spanish Writing for their grade levels; and freshmen McRae Dickinson and Scott Ledbetter won second place for their poster “Les Pause-Cafes” – a contest that was open to all grades.

2019-20 Cheerleaders Announced

We appreciate all the talented athletes who participated in our cheerleading tryouts, and we proudly announce the 2019-20 squads by rising grade and school:

Spiegelman Named Honor Council President

Junior Ben Spiegelman has been elected president of the Honor Council for the 2019-20 school year. The Honor Council president is always the first leadership position elected for the coming school year. As Assistant Headmaster Barry Ray reminded students before the nominees’ speeches March 28, the Honor System – a basis of the school’s founding 125 years ago – is the most sacred tradition MUS has.

Agricenter College Fair: April 11

College representatives from over 100 of the country’s colleges and universities will assemble April 11, 6-8 p.m., at Agricenter International to meet with local high school students.

Get Ready to Dance: April 13

The MUS Spring Formal is Saturday, April 13, from 8-11 p.m. at The Great Hall and Conference Center in Germantown. The famous B.B. King’s All-Stars will provide music.

7th and 8th Graders Experience STEM at Lone Oaks

Seventh- and eighth-grade students enjoyed a beautiful day outside the classroom on their annual STEM field trip to the University of Tennessee’s Lone Oaks Farm in Middleton, TN. Guided by a team of UT’s educators, the boys calculated the slope of a field, used a compass and paper map (rather than a cell phone!) to find locations, improved their collaboration skills, and learned about the tremendous amount of science involved in cotton production and watershed restoration.

Free MUS Physicals: April 22

MUS will host free physicals during the evening of Monday, April 22, for all rising Upper School students. Current physicals (received after April 15, 2019) are required for participation in sports and physical education classes. Log in to the website and see details on the Health Records board under your Resources tab.

Golf Tryouts: June 11-12

Tryouts for the 2019-20 JV and varsity golf teams will be held June 11-12 at Windyke Country Club. Contact Coach Cliff Frisby for more information.

Students Promote Latin Appreciation

It's almost the month of April, which can only mean one thing . . . Latin Language Appreciation Month in the state of Tennessee.

National Honor Society Inducts 43

Congratulations to our 43 new National Honor Society inductees!

WordSmithing Owls Earn Awards

Owls competed in the 2019 WordSmith Writing Olympics in late February with four earning honors in their grade-level competitions. Seventh grader Jerry Xiao earned a school trophy and an individual Silver Medal for taking Second Place in the 400-Word Main Event and Third Place in the 80-Word Dash for his grade level.

Honor Roll Resource Board

Keepsake versions of the quarter and semester Honor Rolls are stored on the Honor Roll Resource Board under your login. Check them out under Resources when you are logged in to the website. Go, Honor Roll Owls!

Speaker Offers Tips on Raising Resilient Kids

Dave Verhaagen, Ph.D., author and founding partner of Southeast Psych in Nashville and Charlotte, NC, spoke to parents and faculty February 27 about “Raising Resilient Kids.” Although the internet-fueled, 24-hour news cycle feeds the perception that the world today is more dangerous than in times past, Verhaagen provided evidence that the opposite is true.

Summer Fun Starts Here!

MUS offers a wide variety of academic, athletic, arts, and leadership opportunities for boys entering Grades 1-12. We also offer several co-ed academic camps. Explore and plan your summer fun now!

David Willson '99 Named Basketball Coach

Mr. David A. Willson has been named head basketball coach at Memphis University School. Willson, a 1999 graduate of MUS, has served as head basketball coach at Emory & Henry College in Virginia since 2013. He takes over for Coach Matt Bakke, who is stepping down from coaching after 20 years with MUS basketball and seven years as head coach.

Crump Plans Student Travel Endowment

The man responsible for much of the architectural look of the MUS campus, Met Crump ’60, spoke in chapel February 22 about his life and work. The Crump Firm Architects, which he founded in 1970, is responsible for the design of the Sue H. Hyde Sports and Physical Education Center, Dunavant Upper School, Campus Center, Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Center, Field House, and Stokes Stadium.

CSO Volunteers Fight Hunger

More than 21,000 meals will be sent to hungry people all over the world, thanks to 117 volunteers who filled the Dining Hall Saturday to support Rise Against Hunger, a partner in the Civic Service Organization’s Students vs. Hunger project this year. The mission of Rise Against Hunger is to end hunger “by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable and creating a global commitment to mobilize the necessary resources.”

Hiltonsmith Portrait Unveiled

John Hiltonsmith, music instructor from 1984 until his passing in 2014, was memorialized with speeches and music as his portrait was unveiled in the Dining Hall February 21. The painting is the 14th in the Alumni Executive Board’s Faculty Portrait Series. Family and friends shed a few tears listening to touching – and amusing – remembrances and to the a cappella choir he founded, Beg To Differ, led by Director of Music Matt Tutor ’91. Tutor described how his former teacher convinced him, fatefully, to stay with music in college, rather than changing his major.

Two Owls Advance as National Merit Finalists

Of the three Semifinalists recognized by the 2018-19 National Merit Scholarship Program, two seniors have advanced as National Merit Finalists: Ethan Hurst and Hudson Miller. Assistant Headmaster Barry Ray congratulated the Finalists during chapel assembly Tuesday, February 19.

Cum Laude Inducts 20 Members

Family and faculty celebrated 20 juniors and seniors during the school’s annual Cum Laude Society induction ceremony February 15, 2019. An organization modeled on Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude represents the highest academic honor students in a secondary school can achieve.

National Classical Etymology Exam Medalists

Bubones have risen to the challenge of the National Classical Etymology Exam with 12 students earning medals during the November portion of the competition. The exam tests a student’s ability to handle Latin and Greek derivatives and their usage in the English language.

College Counseling Tea, Feb. 12

Our college counselors host regular College Chats where parents can ask questions about topics related to the college-selection process. Join us for the next session Tuesday, February 12, at 5:30 p.m. in the Upper School Conference Room by registering HERE. We look forward to seeing you!

Honor Your Owl with a Book

Want to recognize your student with a commemorative book sponsorship? Follow these easy steps. The library team will select a book appropriate for your student’s grade level and interests and affix a bookplate commemorating your Owl's milestone. The book will be displayed in the library foyer for a few weeks and made available for students to check out. The honoree will receive a note informing him of this gift given in his honor.

Seven Owls Commit to Colleges Feb. 6

Faculty, family, and friends celebrated the school's first National Letter of Intent signing day of the year with these seven seniors: Walker Crosby will golf for Furman University, JoJo Fogarty will play lacrosse for Sewanee: The University of the South, Maurice Hampton will play baseball and football for Louisiana State University, Dorian Hopkins will play football for The University of Tulsa, Bailey Keel will play football for Washington and Lee University, Ev Nichol will swim for Williams College, and Matthew Rhodes will play football for The University of Memphis. Download photos from the event HERE.

All-West Music Owls

Sixteen students earned chairs in an All-West Tennessee band or orchestra and will perform at the All-West Tennessee Music Convention February 14-16 at the Cannon Center. Participating musicians are:

Owls Soar on AMC-8

The American Mathematics Competition honored AMC-8 mathletes at the end of December, and four Owls achieved notable scores nationally. Seventh grader Bryan Ding and eighth grader Varun Krishnamurthi ranked in the top 1 percent in the nation, and eighth graders Reid Chauhan and Henry Yu ranked in the top 5 percent. Pictured, from left, are Chauhan, Ding, Krishnamurthi, and Yu.

Mathletes Take 3rd at Collierville

Math instructors Mrs. Leigh Packard, Mrs. Nancy Gates, and Ms. Heather Davis took two four-man teams to the 7th Annual Collierville Math Bowl January 26. The A Team, from left, eighth grader Henry Yu, seventh graders Jerry Xiao and Gabe Chen, and sophomore Arjun Puri took third place after battling 19 other teams in the competition. Also pictured are Collierville High School instructor Dr. Matthew Holmes, far right, and the competition reader, Alex Zhang, a CHS sophomore.

LS Tennis Tryouts: Feb. 25-27

Tryouts for the Lower School tennis team will take place February 25-27, 3:30-5 p.m. each day. Contact Coach Jay Horne if you have questions or want to sign up.

Lower School Baseball Tryouts: Feb. 13

Lower School baseball tryouts are tentatively scheduled for February 13 at 5:30 p.m. on Thorn Field. Because Lower School basketball ends February 7, roundballers will be able to try out. If your son would like to play baseball this year, please contact baseball Head Coach John Jarnagin or Mrs. Beth Taylor no later than February 4.

Meal Plan Options

Spring meal plans are available, and can be added throughout the entire month of January.

“But the meal plan is a semester plan, and the semester has already begun,” you say.

You are correct! Mr. David Neuses, director of Sodexo services in our Dining Hall, will credit your son’s U Card accordingly!

Practice ACT Saturday: Jan. 26

Did you miss the practice ACT in September? You have another opportunity to take the same practice exam Saturday morning, January 26. Come to the Wunderlich at 9 a.m. and take the ACT for free. We highly recommend this low-stress opportunity to experience the test for the first time. Register HERE.

2019-20 Calendar At-a-Glance

The printable 2019-20 academic calendar is now available on the resource boards for at-a-glance planning. As always, you'll find the most detail on the calendar tab available when you're logged in to the school website. This option gives you the opportunity to filter by topic. You'll find all events listed there.

Alston in Football Coaches Hall of Fame

Head Football Coach and Director of Athletics Bobby Alston was inducted into the Tennessee Football Coaches Association fifth Hall of Fame class December 1 in Cookeville, TN.

Science Students Tour Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Science Department Chair Analice Sowell and Lower School Principal Loyal Murphy took Sowell’s Materials Science class to visit Oak Ridge National Laboratory this week. For the past four years, this annual field trip has provided our science students the opportunity to see firsthand how the best minds in STEM fields are working at world-class facilities - right here in Tennessee - to tackle some of the nation’s most compelling challenges in nuclear energy, advanced materials, national security, and supercomputing.

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of a school closing or change to school hours because of weather conditions, MUS will use Owls Alerts to notify you via email, phone message, and text. In addition, we will post pertinent information on our website, in our social media, and through local news stations. Coaches will text information to their teams about practices and games.

MUS Social Media Policy

Have you read the MUS Social Media and Publishing Policies on page 69 of the student handbook? The Communications Office must approve any online use of the school's identity or logos (formal or informal, in name or imagery), including social media profiles and handles, online account names and URLs, and any other form of public representation. Most important, student online conduct must be in keeping with the school's ideals, philosophy, and mission. Violation of the social media policy is a disciplinary issue. Contact the Communications Office if you have questions.

Questions about Standardized Testing?

College Counseling has prepared a letter, beneficial to all – but critical for juniors – answering questions about standardized testing. Preparing for ACT or SAT exams can be confusing, so check out this letter on the College Counseling Resource Board for help.

Three Owls Honored at TAIS Biennial Awards

The Tennessee Association of Independent Schools honored three MUS educators during the biennial awards dinner Sunday, November 4, at the Hilton Memphis. The Sawney Webb Award, honoring administrators who have made outstanding contributions to independent-school education, was presented to Headmaster Emeritus Ellis Haguewood and the Hubert Smothers Award, presented to teachers who have evidenced excellence and a deep commitment to the teaching profession, was given to Hyde Library Director Bonnie Barnes and Instructor in Latin Ryan Sellers.

Hurst Named School Heisman Winner

Senior Ethan Hurst, a varsity swimmer, has been named a Wendy’s High School Heisman winner for MUS. Applicants must be athletes in one of the 47 school-sponsored sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games or by the National Federation of State High School Associations. In addition, they must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or greater, and they also must be proven leaders and role models within their school and community.

Ma Wins First Bee Battle

Last week Mrs. Michelle Crews and Mr. Dax Torrey officiated the first school spelling bee for the year. Approximately 20 students participated, and many competed valiantly, but the final three from this round were eighth grader Kevin Ma, first place; seventh grader Qasim Akbar, second place; and eighth grader Varun Krishnamurthi. Ma took the day by spelling voltaic and munificent. The next round will take place November 14, so stay tuned for updates!

MUS-CBHS Rivalry Cup

The MUS-CBHS football rivalry goes back to 1894, when the Owls beat the Brothers 20-0. Now the regular-season record is tied – 26-26-3. Both teams are hoping to break that tie this Friday, when they meet at Tom Nix Stadium at CBHS. A new trophy, The Rivalry Cup, will also be at stake. The trophy, engraved with the win-loss record, will be presented to the winning team at a school assembly after the game. It bears this inscription: “The Rivalry Cup was established to encourage service and leadership in honor of legendary hall of fame coaches Tom Nix and Jake Rudolph, all of the players, coaches, students, alumni, and fans of MUS and CBHS, and these two great institutions that have competed with dignity and respect since 1894.” Each year the host team will take donations at the game to contribute to a local charity, this year St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Pictured above, MUS seniors Lee Linkous and J.J. Johnson and CBHS juniors Will Fracchia and Jackson Herring show off the new Rivalry Cup.

TMTA Recognizes 7 Owls

Results from last year's Tennessee Mathematics Teachers Association contest have arrived, and seven Owls placed in the Top-10 List for the state: From the Class of 2018 Jackson Moody and Chang Yu; junior Arjun Puri; freshmen Forest Rudd, George Zhang, and Kerry Zhao; and eighth grader Lou Zhou.

Latin Composition Contest Results

Seniors Jack Dabov, Call Ford, Ben Gilliland, Bailey Keel, and William Quinlen recently participated in the 2018 SCRIBO Latin Composition Contest, an international creative-writing contest sponsored by the Ascanius Youth Classics Institute. Keel earned a medal for scoring in the top-20 percent of all students in the competition and the Fabula Optima ribbon for having the highest-scoring composition for all Owls.

To learn more about the contest, go to their website HERE.

Meet French Instructor Elizabeth Howorth

Mrs. Elizabeth Pounders Howorth joins the faculty as interim instructor in French. During Mrs. Rebecca Keel’s maternity leave, Howorth will teach Honors Accelerated French I, Honors and Honors Accelerated French III, and AP French IV.

Mrs. Howorth received a bachelor’s degree in French language and literature from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Vanderbilt. She taught French at St. Mary’s from 1997-2002, she served as a Good Morning America consumer trends associate and a media marketing manager for Reuters News, and she was a senior global communications, marketing, and sales advisor for FedEx. Since 2012 she has owned and operated ep communications.

Lt. Terrence Cole ’11 Offers Encouraging Message

Air Force Lt. Terrence Cole ’11 said he did not want to leave Cordova Middle School to come to MUS, but his mother insisted. Now, he says, “it was the best decision of my life.”

A senior systems operator based in Wyoming overseeing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and crew members, Cole spoke to Lower School students during a recent visit. He said he had a rocky start at MUS – three Fs and an Honor Code violation – but his mother supported the system, and the teachers worked with him to get him where he needed to be.

Owl Afternoon College Visits

We host colleges and universities as they visit our campus and meet one-on-one with our students. Receptions are held in Morgan Foyer of Humphreys Hall after school. The next visits are:

Wednesday, October 31, 2:15 p.m.

Eckerd College
Illinois Wesleyan University
Saint Louis University
St. Lawrence University

Mid-South Chess Day at MUS Oct. 13

Mid-South Chess is holding three tournaments in our Campus Center Saturday, October 13, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tournament A is from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Tournament B is 1-3 p.m., and Tournament C is 3-5 p.m. Registration for each is 30 minutes before start time. Register online HERE. For prices and more information click HERE or call (901) 276-4663.

PSAT Testing Oct. 10

Students in Grades 9-11 will take the PSAT test Wednesday, October 10. They should be well rested and have a good breakfast. The senior class will be in a program with College Counseling during the test period.

Teen Read Week Oct. 9-12

MUS will celebrate Teen Read Week in the Hyde Library the week of October 9-12. Students are encouraged to check out a book and come by the library for cookies and snacks after lunch on Tuesday and Thursday. Lower School students are encouraged to enter the Battle of the Books contest!

Reading widely and deeply is a highly effective way to prepare for college and life, so encourage your son to read!

National Merit Commended Owls

The National Merit Scholarship Program has honored eight Owls with the designation of National Merit Commended Student. Seniors James Blatchford, Call Ford, Kyle Gan, Ben Gilliland, Ethan Lam, Ev Nichol, William Quinlen, and Brandan Roachell are among 34,000 U.S. students honored for their outstanding academic performance on the PSAT.

Owls Named National Merit Semifinalists

Seniors Eddie Feild, Ethan Hurst, and Hudson Miller have been named Semifinalists in the 64th National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among 16,000 U.S. students honored as Semifinalists for their outstanding academic promise, now competing for some 7,500 scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and about half of those will win Merit Scholar titles and financial awards.

Founders Day at MUS

In celebrating the 125th anniversary of the founding of Memphis University School, we designate September 13 as Founders Day to commemorate the opening day of the original school in 1893 and to honor the two teachers whose vision brought it to life, James White Sheffey Rhea and Edwin Sidney Werts.

Rhea, a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, and Werts, a graduate of the University of Virginia, were experienced young teachers who had become friends and colleagues as instructors at the Knoxville Classical School. Keen to open a prep school of their own, they were advised by an exceptional educational mentor, President of the University of Tennessee Dr. Charles W. Dabney, to consider Memphis as the location.

An advertisement that appeared May 14, 1893, in the Memphis Appeal-Avalanche announced their school would open in September with the goal being “to prepare boys and young men for Yale, Harvard, Princeton, University of Virginia, and other colleges and universities.”

Spring Formal Save the Date

The 2019 Spring Formal will be held on April 13, 2019, from 8-11 p.m. at The Great Hall and Conference Center in Germantown. All Upper School students are invited to attend with a guest or date. More information will be available later in the school year. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Judd Peters at judd.peters@musowls.org.

Library Test Prep Help

The library invites students to check out a test prep book for the PSAT, ACT, or SAT. The school also subscribes to two online test prep sites. Students can learn more by visiting the library welcome desk.

Library Birthday Books

The Hyde Library has updated the Birthday Book Program, which allows you to celebrate your son’s special day by adding a book in his honor to the library collection. Here’s how it works: You may donate at any time, and we select a new book in a topic of interest to the honoree and add a bookplate inscribed with the names of the donor(s). The Development Office records the gift and issues a receipt for tax purposes. During your son’s birthday month, we send him a card indicating your gift and display the book in the library foyer, where it can be checked out. You may choose the amount of your gift (the average cost of a hardback book is about $30). For your convenience, we have streamlined this process on our library website. Feel free to share this link with friends or family members who might also like to give a birthday book.

Writing Center and Study/Help Labs

The Upper School Writing Center is open Monday-Wednesday from 8:15 a.m. until classes end each day. The center provides support for all types of writing endeavors, so take advantage of this new resource. Upper School math and science labs are listed HERE. Both Upper School resources are located in the Counseling Center.

The schedule for the Lower School English and Math labs is posted in numerous locations throughout the Lower School and HERE.

Board Chair Recalls Time-Tested Lessons

“What stands the test of time?” To Diversified Trust CEO and MUS Board of Trustees Chair Sam Graham ’80, one answer to this question is easy: his MUS experience.

“A lot about me was formed in these hallways,” Graham said during a chapel presentation August 17.

Course Change Requests Due Aug. 20

The deadline for requesting course schedule changes for first semester is Monday, August 20, at 3:20 p.m. Change request forms are available in the Upper School Office.

Sophomore College Counseling Info Night

College information night for sophomores and their parents is Tuesday, August 21, at 7 p.m. in Hyde Chapel. The College Counseling team is excited about sharing this time with students and their families, and we intend to use Tuesday as a launching point for several elements of the college process. This is a required event, and roll will be taken.

Celebrating Our 125th

Happy Quasquicentennial! This year we mark the 125th anniversary of the school's founding in 1893. We’ve decorated campus to recognize this historic milestone, and we hope you will join us this year as we celebrate our legacy in Memphis and tradition of excellence in education for boys. Go, Owls!

Bookstore Hours

If you missed Book Sale this week, Schaeffer Bookstore will be open Monday, August 13, from noon - 2 p.m. for purchasing books, spirit wear, and supplies. After Monday, the bookstore will begin regular hours:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday at 8-9:30 a.m.

Sports Passes Go Digital

The days of “Where’s my sports pass?” are gone! They’ve gone digital and mobile! This year you can purchase individual game tickets or an all-sports season pass online, and your ticket/pass will be accessible on your mobile phone. Simply show your phone pass when you get to the gate, and the gate worker will activate your pass for entry. Click here to purchase a sports pass for $80 or individual game tickets at $7 each. The season sports pass provides admission to regular-season home games for all sports. Students are admitted to all regular-season home games with their U Card. TSSAA playoff games are not included.

Naviance Portal has New Link

Beginning August 1 Naviance, a resource used in College Counseling, will have a new interface for students and parents. The login credentials will remain the same, and the link has been updated on our website and the College Counseling Resource Board. Students and families will use the following address going forward: student.naviance.com/mus.

State Representative Daniel Visits Campus

State Assembly Representative Martin Daniel ’75 visited the campus Monday, July 30. Pictured, from left, Assistant Headmaster Barry Ray, Daniel, Headmaster Pete Sanders, and Academic Dean Flip Eikner ’77.

PSAT/SAT Prep Open to Owls and Non-Owls

The College Counseling Office has negotiated with Princeton Review to offer a discounted PSAT/SAT prep course. It is open to MUS Upper School students as well as high school students from other schools. (Note: Many options exist for test preparation, and we do not endorse any company as the best fit for all students.) The course includes 15 hours of instruction and 4 practice tests over the course of two weeks, July 23-August 3, at the cost of $250 per student (compare that to the $900 regular price for this class).

To make this happen, we need to know how many students are interested by July 2. The class is capped at 35 students and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to MUS students. Feel free to share this with other students and families.

Click here for the proposed schedule for the course. If you have any questions, please contact Associate Director of College Counseling Steven Johanson at steven.johanson@musowls.org.

Excited about this opportunity and ready to sign up? Click here to register and learn about how to submit your payments! Registration and payment must be submitted by July 2.

Owls Medal in National Spanish Exams

Spanish students collected hardware for their performance on the 2018 National Spanish Examinations.

Blazer Consignment Collection

Representatives will be at Book Buy Back May 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. to accept blazers for consignment. Book Buy Back will be in Owl Room in the Sue H. Hyde Sports and Physical Education Center. The consignment sale will be in August – after the summer growth spurt! Blazers should be in good condition with no rips or tears, must have all buttons, and should be on a hanger. Proceeds from your sold blazers will go toward your 2018-19 school account. Remind your sons to check lost and found for their blazers. Any uncollected items left after school is out will be sold "as-is" by the Parents' Association.

All-Sports Banquet Photos

The Jake Rudolph All-Sports Banquet was April 30 in the Dining Hall. Coaches awarded letters to varsity players and congratulated their teams for the season. In addition, the school presented the top four student-athlete awards. Congratulations to the following recipients:

Lee Murray Spirit Award: Daniel Black
Al Wright Christian Character Award: Charlie Evans
Paul Trowbridge Gillespie Scholar Athlete: Bobby Wade
James R. Haygood III Best All-Around Athlete: Buchanan Dunavant

You may view some of the photos here, and all shots from the event may be purchased here soon.

Robert Fudge Wins Distinguished Teaching Award

Headmaster Pete Sanders has recognized Technical Director of Theater Robert Fudge as the 2018 Distinguished Teaching Award recipient.

The Distinguished Teaching Award is given annually to a faculty member who demonstrates excellence both in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. Considered one of the most knowledgeable theater technical directors in the city, Mr. Fudge joined the staff in 2010 and has established a standard of excellence that is manifested every year in the school’s elaborate and beautifully designed stage productions. Known for his quiet professionalism and willingness to go the extra mile, he has also overseen independent study projects, guided students in producing the past three TEDxMemphis events, and expertly managed school and special events held in Hyde Chapel.

Library News

Students are encouraged to use the free test preparation sites offered by MUS and the Tennessee Electronic Library. Go to http://musowls.libguides.com/onlinelearning for all the choices we offer. From 7:45 to 8:15 a.m. each morning of Underclassman Exams, the Hyde Library will serve breakfast food and drinks to students.

Auditions for Fall Musical, May 8-10

Auditions for the fall musical, 1776, will be held in Hyde Chapel May 8-10. Attendance is required at one of these opportunities: Tuesday or Thursday, 6-8 p.m., or Wednesday, 3-5 p.m. In this treatment of a Tony Award-winning classic, casting and approach will be Hamilton-esque. Girls from locals schools are strongly encouraged to audition. Students do not need to prepare songs for auditions, just be ready to sing and read scenes on stage. Don't miss your chance to gain independence! For more information email the director, Mr. Ted Fockler '10 at ted.fockler@musowls.org.

Ray Named Assistant Headmaster

Headmaster Pete Sanders has announced that Barry Ray will assume a new role as assistant headmaster in the fall. Continuing as Upper School principal, Ray will work closely with Sanders on a variety of responsibilities, including school policy, planning, calendars, and day-to-day operations.

Ray, who earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of the South, came to MUS in 1978 as a Lower School social studies teacher and coach. In 1987 he earned his master’s degree in education administration from the University of Memphis. At various times he coached football, wrestling, track, and baseball, and for nearly two decades, he has provided radio color commentary during Owl football games.

Movie Time at MUS

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." – Ferris Bueller

The CSO is hosting a free movie night Friday, April 27, 7:30-9:45 p.m. in the Campus Center. The feature flick will be "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Per licensing rules, entrance is free; however, we will sell concessions and collect donations for Books From Birth. The event is open to everyone – so show up, bring friends and family, enjoy a cult classic, and donate wildly.

Students Receive Special Awards

At the annual Special Awards and Honor Societies Induction, eight students received special honors and collegiate book awards in recognition of scholastic achievement, leadership, and community service, and 172 students joined honor societies. Faculty, MUS alumni, and special guests presented the awards. Special honorees were as follows:

Transitioning to College

Sewanee administrator Eric Hartman visited campus last week for a presentation to parents and seniors titled, “Managing What’s NOT on the College Tour.” Hartman, vice-president of risk management and institutional effectiveness at the university, offered valuable information and straight answers about the challenges students can face in college and ways parents can help prepare them.

Mock Trial Team Reaches State

After five months of hard work and challenging city finals, the Mock Trial Team placed eighth in state competition in Nashville in March. Serving as attorneys for both the plaintiff and defense sides were seniors William Miller and Stan Smythe and sophomore James Smythe. Performing witness roles for both sides were seniors Smith Duncan and Barry Klug and junior Henry Duncan.

“This team made all of us quite proud in four rounds of intense competition,” said team advisor and English Department Chair Elizabeth Crosby.

National Honor Society Inducts New Members

Current members of the National Honor Society tapped 32 junior and senior inductees in a schoolwide ceremony March 23 highlighting the organization’s emphasis on scholarship, leadership, character, and service. Four seniors spoke on these Honor Society characteristics.

MATHCOUNTS Champs

Coach Meredith McFarlin's team of eighth graders Alex Li, Samuel Lim, George Zhang, Forest Rudd, Mark Hieatt, and Kerry Zhao, and seventh graders Aaron Barawid and Parth Mishra won the regional MATHCOUNTS championship in early February at Southwest Tennessee Community College. The fearsome foursome of Hieatt, Rudd, Zhang, and Zhao then advanced to conquer the state competitions in March! The national championship in Washington, DC, will begin mid-May.

Challenged Literature Takes Center Stage

During a chapel program on banned and frequently challenged books, Chair of the English Department Elizabeth Crosby listed some surprising titles that have fallen into that category at one time or another – Where the Wild Things Are, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Winnie the Pooh, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Odyssey, The Canterbury Tales, The Red Pony, and many other classics.

Science Teachers Partner with Rhodes College

As partners for Rhodes College’s Collaborative Chemistry Communities course this semester, MUS science instructors are working with Rhodes college science majors and providing them the opportunity for experiential learning by giving them teaching time in our classrooms. The Rhodes students are getting invaluable experience in high school science pedagogy and the dynamics of different classroom environments, interacting with our students and drawing from our faculty members’ experience teaching boys.

Sowell Talks Science with Parents

Science Department Chair Analice Sowell recently spoke to Parents’ Association Board members about the school’s science program.

“MUS was doing STEM before STEM was cool,” Sowell said, describing the Science Department’s long tradition of preparing students to excel in science, technology, engineering, and math pathways in college and careers. “We don’t buy into a pre-packaged curriculum that does not meet the needs of our students. We design the curriculum for our boys,” she said. “The success of our alumni in college and STEM fields supports our curriculum.”

Upper School Class Registration

Registration for 2018-19 Upper School classes will begin in February. Each student in Grades 8-11 will receive a registration form that he should complete in consultation with a parent and bring back to school with a parent’s signature. Next, each student will meet with a registration counselor to discuss and finalize course requests. Registration should conclude in April.

Campus Speed Limit 15 mph

We know life is crazy, and there never seems to be enough time – but please drive slowly when you are on campus. Speedsters have frightened several groups of walkers and runners lately. Our campus is always jumping, so you must follow the speed limit – and stop at the stop signs – any time you are at MUS.

Thanksgiving Chapel

Instructor in English and Lacrosse Coach Chris Colbeck, sophomore Rob McFadden, and Headmaster Pete Sanders all spoke about gratitude and what they are thankful for in our annual Thanksgiving Chapel assembly. Our a cappella ensemble Beg To Differ performed The Star-Spangled Banner.

Mr. Colbeck shared his appreciation of music, MUS, and Memphis: “My profound thanks to all of you for welcoming me to Memphis – to a school with such a spirited English department, a proud lacrosse tradition, and above all else, a Hammond organ.”

Are you in the know or missing out?

There is a lot happening behind the login at musowls.org this year –news items posted by grade and by groups; practices, games, and other schedule notifications; teacher-page course content; campus-wide news, and much more. You control how you receive these communications – so turn on your notifications, or you’ll be missing essential information!

How? Review your notification settings. When you are logged in, select the dropdown button beside your name in the top menu, then click Settings, Notifications. Here you can review your settings for each communication tool. We recommend that you put a checkmark beside each “Type” under the E-mail column. This document will walk you through the entire process.

This process works for everyone who has an MUS login, so check it out today!

Policy on Absences from U Book

If a student is to get the most from his experience at MUS, he must attend class. Unexcused absences are major disciplinary offenses. A student may not participate in athletic practices, games, theater or music performances, or rehearsals if he has been absent during the course of the day. The principal determines any exception to this rule. Lower School adds an additional demerit penalty for any unexcused absence or tardiness. The policies are:

Safe Home Pledge

We encourage parents to sign the Safe Home Pledge. By signing this pledge, parents publicly promise that their sons’ parties and gatherings will be supervised, alcohol-free, drug-free, and tobacco-free, and that they will welcome inquiries from other parents about parties or gatherings. Your name will not appear until we update the list. Parents must sign the pledge every year for their names to appear.

You need help? We’ve got it!

We have a bounty of academic supports here at MUS, and our Counseling Department wanted everyone to know about them. So, we created a poster/brochure that highlights our support labs, study sessions, tutoring programs, NCAA eligibility counseling, and more. Check it out here – and help us spread the word!

Film Celebrates Ellis Haguewood

Temple Brown '81 created a film celebrating Ellis Haguewood’s service as teacher since 1969 and headmaster since 1995. Mr. Haguewood retires from MUS in June. Watch it here.

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