Sevier County Parents,
It is with great excitement about the upcoming school year that I write to you from this position for the first time! Since this is a prime time for tourist visitation here in our district, I know that balancing work and recreation is tough during a Sevier County summer. Regardless, I hope all Sevier County families have enjoyed summer break, celebrated Independence Day, and taken some time for rest and relaxation. As the new school year approaches, I wanted to share a few critical pieces of information with you.
Most of our schools are going to offer online registration for students who have already been enrolled in our district prior to this year. This excludes pre-K students, as all Kindergarten parents will have to complete traditional registration packets. For all other returning students, this should save a great deal of time and paperwork for the parents of returning students. To be eligible for online registration, it is critical that the individual who serves as the primary custodial parent/guardian or the preferred parent for registration/school contact have the most up-to-date contact information including email address and phone number listed with your child’s school. If this is not the case, we urge you to reach out and provide this information as soon as possible. Further information is forthcoming as the first day of school approaches.
In an unfortunate bit of news, I must share with you that due to the rising expenses associated with meal service, we will not be able to offer free meals for all students beginning in October as we have the past few years. For this reason, it is critical that those parents who believe their students may qualify for free or reduced meals complete the online application as soon as possible to prevent charges from accruing. We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause, and we encourage parents to take advantage of the free and reduced meals program to offset family costs.
All students will be utilizing BusRight this fall as school begins to provide an added layer of safety as we transport students to and from school. The cards and stickers that they carry will be scanned as they enter and exit buses and used to log their presence, provide drivers with route info, and eventually, to update parents regarding route times and delays.
The first day for students is Friday, August 7. As you prepare students for the date, I encourage you to visit school websites for orientation and open house times, materials lists, and other useful information. Enjoy your last few weeks of summer, and know that we look forward to seeing your students soon!
Warmest regards,
Wendy Patterson
Interim Director of Sevier County Schools
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Spotlight on Excellence
We want to extend a massive thank you to all the incredible educators who generously dedicated their time and expertise at the 2026 Administrative Retreat. Your commitment to refining collaborative team protocols and best practices to strengthen each school's capacity for continuous improvement is truly commendable and deeply appreciated.
Teacher Spotlight
Teachers attending the Solution Tree Conference during summer break
Several teachers from around the district traveled to Charlotte, NC this summer to attend the Solution Tree’s PLC at Work Conference. These teachers are learning new ways to strengthen their culture, collaborate more effectively as high-performing teams, all with one purpose in mind: to give every student the very best opportunity to succeed.
Student Spotlight
Joanna Mcnabb - 2nd grader at Sevierville Elementary
"What's something super exciting you're looking forward to at school this year? (Like seeing your friends, playing outside, or learning something new!)"
Field trips!
"What's your favorite thing to do in class? (Maybe drawing, building blocks, or listening to stories!)"
I like to read.
"If you could eat one snack every day, what would it be?"
Nutella & Go!
"What's something kind you can do for a friend at school?"
I can draw pictures for them.
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Keys to Your Child's School Success!
We know you want the very best for your child, and we do too! Here are a few simple yet powerful ways you can support their learning journey and help them thrive at school:
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Sweet Dreams for Big Achievements! Did you know that 8 or more hours of sleep is absolutely crucial for your child's success? When they're well-rested, their brains are ready to learn, focus, and take on new challenges with enthusiasm. Let's help them get those Zzz's so they can shine bright!
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Fueling Up for Fantastic Days! A nutritious breakfast is like rocket fuel for young minds! Whether it's a quick bite at home or a tasty meal in the school cafeteria, making sure your child eats breakfast sets them up for a day of energetic learning and strong concentration.
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Every Day Counts! We truly believe that attendance is key to success. Each day at school is packed with exciting lessons, connections with friends, and opportunities to grow. Regular attendance ensures your child doesn't miss out on any of these vital building blocks for their future!
📚 The Power of Reading and Talking Together! 📚 (Contributed by Dr. Stacy Plemons)
One of the most powerful ways to support your child’s learning is also one of the simplest: reading and talking with them every day. Just 15–20 minutes of shared reading or conversation strengthens vocabulary, builds background knowledge, and deepens your child’s understanding of the world. Whether you’re exploring a storybook, talking about your day, or asking questions during reading time, these daily interactions help your child grow as a confident thinker, listener, and communicator.
This year, your child will be immersed in high-quality literacy instruction designed to build strong readers and writers:
✨ PreK–2nd Grade students will use Really Great Reading and CKLA Skills to develop foundational reading skills like phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, and word recognition. Developing strong foundational skills sets the stage for lifelong literacy.
📖 PreK–5th Grade will explore rich content through the Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) program. CKLA combines systematic reading instruction with knowledge-building units in science, history, and literature—helping students grow their skills while learning about the world.
📚 6th Grade students will dive into the Amplify ELA curriculum, which encourages critical thinking, evidence-based writing, and thoughtful discussions around compelling texts. It’s designed to challenge and inspire middle school readers.
With your partnership at home—through reading, talking, and asking questions—your child will be set up for success this school year and beyond. Thank you for all you do to support literacy at home!
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🧮 Starting the School Year Strong in Math (K–6)
A strong start sets the stage for a successful year of mathematics learning! During the first few weeks of school, our focus is on building a classroom community where students feel confident taking risks, explaining their thinking, and learning from one another.
Teachers will be intentionally:
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Building math routines that encourage problem solving, reasoning, and mathematical discussions.
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Using hands-on manipulatives and visual models to help students develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts before moving to abstract procedures.
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Reviewing and connecting prior learning to identify strengths and address unfinished learning.
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Establishing classroom expectations that promote productive struggle, perseverance, and a growth mindset.
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Engaging students in meaningful math tasks that require them to explain, justify, and compare their thinking.
Families Can Help Too!
You can support your child's mathematical thinking by:
- Asking, "How did you figure that out?" instead of just checking for the correct answer.
- Encouraging your child to explain their thinking using words, pictures, or objects.
- Looking for opportunities to use math in everyday life, such as cooking, shopping, measuring, or playing games.
- Celebrating effort, persistence, and learning from mistakes.
When students build strong mathematical habits early in the year, they develop the confidence and understanding needed for success throughout the school year. We look forward to an exciting year of learning together!
Important Elementary Calendar Dates
- *Be on the lookout for school-based Open House and Orientations
- August 7- First day of School
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Welcome to a New School Year!
Welcome back to a brand new school year! We are thrilled to have our students and families return. From our incoming 7th graders to our graduating seniors, we are dedicated to offering an engaging, top-tier education that prepares every student for both academic achievement and life beyond the classroom. We can't wait to see them thrive.
Academic Focus for 2026-2027
For the upcoming academic year, our instructional objectives are to:
- Foster deeper student involvement through relevant, standards-based coursework.
- Enhance literacy and analytical thinking across the entire curriculum.
- Ensure students are fully prepared for state assessments and post-graduation pathways.
Furthermore, we will sustain our investment in professional development and resources to empower our educators and promote classroom excellence.
Spotlight on Excellence
We are incredibly proud to highlight the dedication of several teachers and instructional coaches from across our district who recently participated in the state-level assessment review!
These educators were selected to review, evaluate, and refine questions for upcoming state assessments. By bringing their classroom expertise to the state level, they ensure that the tests our students take are fair, accurate, and rigorously aligned with academic standards.
Why this matters for our district:
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Firsthand Insight: Our educators gain invaluable knowledge about how state assessments are constructed, allowing them to better prepare our students.
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Leading by Example: They advocate for what is best for students across the entire state.
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Elevating Instruction: The insights they bring back directly support our district goals of strengthening standards-based instruction and increasing critical thinking.
Thank you to our teachers and coaches for going above and beyond to advocate for high-quality education and for bringing this exceptional leadership back to our district!
Starting Strong
The start of a new school year is the perfect opportunity to build great habits that will last all year long! Here are a few essential tips to help your student succeed:
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Prioritize Attendance: Being present every day is the foundation of academic success.
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Track Everything: Use a planner or digital calendar to stay on top of assignments, due dates, and school events.
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Build a Routine: Set personal goals and carve out dedicated, distraction-free time each day for homework and studying.
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Be an Active Learner: Stay engaged in class! Don't be afraid to ask questions and reach out for help the moment a concept gets confusing.
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Keep it Neat: Maintain an organized system for both physical class materials and digital files.
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Important Back-to-School Dates
Be sure to check your school’s website for important upcoming events, including open houses and schedule pickups! We are incredibly proud of our students and deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our families. By working together, we know this will be a fantastic year. Wishing everyone a wonderful and strong start to the school year!
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Before we begin a new school year in Sevier County, Health Services would like to remind you of a great opportunity that is offered by our school’s health clinics. Telemedicine is an excellent tool to help keep your child healthy and reduce their days out of school. Telemedicine utilizes state of the art technology to assist the school system in attending to the physical needs of students. The telemedicine connection is a secure, two-way video link with the child and the school nurse on one end, and a medical provider on the other.
During a telemedicine visit, a child can be screened, examined, diagnosed, treated, and monitored. Special equipment gives the medical provider the ability to examine the child's ears, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, etc. Assisted by a Sevier County School System registered nurse, a child can be seen through telemedicine for the following concerns: cuts/abrasions, rashes, pink eye, coughs/colds, strep, earaches, and flu-like symptoms. We also have the capability to run strep and flu tests in our clinics. This visit can provide a prescription if necessary as well as a doctor’s note for school.
A River Valley Health Systems pediatric or family nurse practitioner is available via telemedicine. Once the required paperwork is completed by parents, all students enrolled at the school sites are eligible to be seen at our clinics. For students with TennCare, CoverKids, or other insurance coverage, River Valley Health Systems will submit claims to the insurance provider. Standard copays will apply. For students without insurance coverage, services will be provided on a sliding scale based on income information.
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Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! It is such an exciting time for teachers and students; however, with the excitement, some also experience stress and anxiety.
Some helpful tips to alleviate some of this back to school anxiety:
- Take a tour of the school your child will be attending.
- Connect with friends before the beginning of school
- Listen and support your child when they tell you of their fears. Let them know it is normal and you are there as a parent to support them.
- Ease back into a routine of a school year schedule.
- Make a coping plan for when anxiety arises during day, such as keeping a stressball in backpack, writing down worries, checking in with school counselor.
- Check in with the school to find out supports that they have available for your child.
Conversation starters for you and your child:
- How are you feeling about going back to school?
- It’s ok if going back to school feels hard. It would be hard for me, too.
- What feels difficult about going back to school? What feels exciting? It’s normal about having different feelings about the same thing.
- I noticed you haven’t liked talking about going back to school. That’s ok. If you want to talk about it, I’m here.
- It’s ok to ask for help, and you can always ask me.
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What is Special Education?
Special Education is specialized instruction and support designed to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. Its purpose is to ensure students can participate in school, access the curriculum, and prepare for life after graduation.
Who Receives Special Education?
Students may receive special education if they are identified with a disability under federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The 13 disability categories are: Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Deafness, Developmental Delay, Emotional Disturbance, Hearing Impairment, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech and Language Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury
How Is Special Education Provided?
Services are individualized through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which is created by a team. Team members include: parents/guardian, district representative, general education teacher, special education teacher, LEA, and interpreter of evaluation results.
Where Does Special Education Happen?
Depending on each student’s needs, support may include small group instruction, speech/language therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy, and classroom accommodations. The goal is for students to learn in the least restrictive environment, meaning they are included with their peers to the greatest extent possible.
How are Parents and Families Important Team Members?
Families play a vital role in special education by meeting with the school to discuss an evaluation, attend IEP meetings and provide input to develop the IEP. Together, we work to ensure every child receives the tools and opportunities for personal success.
Quote of the Month: Fair isn’t everybody getting the same thing. Fair is everybody getting what they need in order to be successful.” - Rick Riordan
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