- Abby Strickland

Have a comment or question? Write us at news@theveritasonline.com.

Mrs. Joan Cawood, Tennessee Christian Preparatory School neighbor.

By Addie Ann Dowdy

As you are coming into the school, you may have noticed a little white house on the left. For the past two years I have always wondered who lived there. Recently I got a chance to meet her and get to know her just a little bit.

As we were walking down to meet TCPS’s closest neighbor, sophomore Katie O’Malley said, “Why don’t you ask her if she is Christian?” I didn’t feel comfortable about talking about her personal faith until I noticed she had two Bibles sitting on her couch. I soon found out that our neighbor, Joan Cawood, attends Tasso Wesley Methodist Church and doesn’t let a day go by without reading her Bible.

Mrs. Cawood has lived here for about 40 years. They have two sons and she has three grandchildren. She and her late husband lived in Riceville and Philadelphia, Tennessee, and moved to Cleveland for work while there.

For more than 20 years, Mrs. Cawood worked at the American Uniform. Her favorite job while working there was the embroidery department.

Today, Mrs. Cawood loves the school because it makes her feel safe.  She is never bothered by any school functions and loves seeing the children play on the playground.

Having lived in the same house 40 years, she has seen the school campus undergo major changes. When the Cawoods first moved into the house this school was an orphanage. Since then, this property has been a college and now is Tennessee Christian Preparatory School.

By Katie O’Malley

On August 24, Tennessee Christian Preparatory School was given a calf to dissect. It had died the day before from starvation. The dissection was open to the majority of the Upper School, and most  teachers allowed their students to participate.

Different teachers and students gave us their opinion on the cow-cutting event. “I thought it was nasty, and that it stunk really bad,” freshman Carly Powell said.

In the lab, things were much different. “It was exciting to see how the students would act.” “The people you would expect to be freaked out, they turned out to enjoy it the most” said science teacher Angie Kesley.

Other teachers who are not part of the science department thought it was an amazing experience as well. “We talked about it in class,” English teacher Tawnie Locklear said. “But it still was a fantastic opportunity to get something like that at a private school.”

Keeping the cow in a good enough condition for all the classes to enjoy did not happen. “Mr. Long did a pretty good job at hammering the thing to pieces.” said Jordan Lewis.

But everyone can agree, no matter how gory or smelly, this was something everyone would like to do again. Well, almost everyone.

Unfortunately, we at The Veritas don’t feel comfortable including your requests on our school website.

First, no one wants to buy a human heart online – even if it comes with a kidney for free.

Second, we did our research and found out that there is no Wrestlemania scheduled on the TCPS campus any time in the next 50 years.

We are very grateful for your e-mails and your desire to be part of our school paper, and we hope you understand why we have excluded your comments.

Sincerely,

The Veritas

1. A working digital camera that has a USB wire to connect to the computer.

2. A working digital recorder that connects to the computer via USB.

If you have either of these, you may give it to Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Harper, Dr. Balzano, Mr. Brantley or anyone in journalism.

The other day, dad was driving me to school and we came across a car accident. I told him he should stop to check on everyone involved, but he said if we did that we would be late. What do you think we should have done?

(W)Recklessly Yours

Well, (W)Reckless, I wouldn’t care if i was going to be late for school. After all, I would hope someone would be late for me if I were in a car wreck. I would stop because you never know if they need you or not, and the school would completely understand.

That’s what we are called to do – help others, because God has helped us in many different ways.

- Addie Ann

Want to Ask Addie? E-mail your question to askaddie@theveritasonline.com.

I just got my first warning for a dress code violation and I’m totally bummed. All my friends say it’s nothing to worry about, but I’ve avoided getting in trouble since preschool, when I got caught eating the last piece of salami my mom was saving for a special occasion.

I’ve thought about meeting with Mrs. Douglas to tell her how sorry I am, but I don’t want to go overboard. What should I do? Should I be worried?

Sincerely,

Improperly Dressed

Dear Improperly Dressed,

I think that you should just let it go. It is not something to worry about, especially if it was just a warning. But if you feel the need to apologize, apologize. Mrs. Douglas will see how mature you are, and she will appreciate your honesty. Still, continue to stay out of trouble!

Just think – if you violate the dress code once, that doesn’t mean that you will become some rocker chick!

And next time, stay away from the salami!

Yours truly,

Katie

Need to Question Katie? E-mail questionkatie@theveritasonline.com.

The previous elementary principal is moving on up to the high school. Kathi Douglas has set her goals for this school year, personally, professionally and for this school.

Personally, Mrs. Douglas would like to spend more family time and be more organized. Professionally, she would like to start her doctorate of education. Her goal for TCPS is to have 200 students K-12 by the end of this academic year. Finally Mrs. Douglas would like to apply and be rewarded the blue ribbon of school of excellence this year.

A graduate of Lee University with her master‘s of education (M.Ed.) from Lincoln Memorial, Mrs. Douglas has been teaching six years. She was a teacher at Cohutta Elementary and Hamilton Christian School before becoming principal at TCPS.

Mrs. Douglas realized she wanted to teach in the third grade and met her husband years later at Lee. The couple now has five children.

“I firmly believe in the middle and high school program,” Mrs. Douglas said. “I want to make this program stronger and better so that more people will come and that more people will come to know about this school.”