Parks Middle students work to record Pittsburgh neighborhood’s history

Walter L. Parks Middle School students are currently participating in a Community History Project titled “Sankofa.” This is an educational collaboration between the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. This creative project will train the Parks students on how to research, document, and record via digital/video camera the Pittsburgh community. Students through using the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture will locate newspaper articles and artifacts to be included in the final documentary piece. Through Parks students participating in the Sankofa project students will also be afforded with the opportunity to make generational connections through listening to the life stories and experiences of the Pittsburgh elders.  

Parks students have been participating in biweekly workshop and training with Auburn Avenue Research Library program directors Morris Gardner and Amani Robinson. The two directors have aided the students with information on how to collect and research data, interviewing techniques, computer programming, and basic camera training. Additionally, Parks teacher Jocelyn Johnson has been assisting the students with journal writing, gathering artifacts and creating a family tree.

Garden Hills Elementary’s International Festival spans the globe

A trip around the world in one stop? The Garden Hills International Festival held on Saturday, Nov. 21, is a wonderful community tradition. It celebrates the special and unique cultural diversity at the school that,through the years, has served students from well over 100 countries.

This year’s event, organized by GHES parent liaison Claudia Lopez, with the help of the staff and dozens of parent volunteers, was a wonderful success. The festival centers around food, music, and dance typical of the countries with several participants in traditional dress characteristic of their country.

Holiday message from Dr. Beverly L. Hall to All APS family members

As we come together to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, it is my sincere wish that each and every one of you will be able to spend quality time with your family and friends during this period.

I appreciate all that you do for our students throughout the year. Now is the time to relax and enjoy an all too short respite from the work that keeps us all engaged on behalf of the children.

Wishing each and every one of you a happy, safe and fulfilled Thanksgiving holiday.

Sincerely,

Dr. Beverly L. Hall
Superintendent

CLL Thanksgiving Can-A-Thon collects more than 4,000 food items

This year’s Center for Learning and Leadership’s Holiday Can-A-Thon campaign netted more than 4,000 cans of nonperishable food items for local needy individuals and families.  The food, which was donated by APS employees assigned to the CLL building, was delivered to the Atlanta Community Food Bank on Tuesday afternoon for distribution to those in need over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanks to all employees who donated!

King Middle School receives state honors

Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School continues its commitment to improving teaching and learning. Just recently, State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox announced the winners of the second annual Superintendent’s Distinguished Achievement Awards. These awards honor schools for high achievement and the greatest improvement on state curriculum tests.

“We are honoring schools that showed the greatest improvement and highest achievement on our state tests,” said  Cox. “These awards are just a small way of saying ‘thank you’ for the hard work put in by our teachers, students and school communities.”

Morningside Elementary hosts One Academic Fair

Once again, Morningside Elementary hosted the annual One Academic Fair, on Tuesday. The “One Fair,” as it is called, encourages students to extend their understanding of high-interest concepts by completing a formal project.

Kindergarten-through-second grade students have the process modeled for them with the completion of classroom projects. Upper-grade students (third through fifth grades) complete projects individually, in pairs, or in a trio. Project topics come from three general content areas: science, social studies and math.

Once completed, the projects are set up in the auditorium for judging. Judges are invited from within and outside of the district. Using a common scoring sheet, participants are interviewed by a pair of judges, who each score the project. The project’s final score is an average of the judges’ individual scores.

Congratulations to all the winners …

Full house for first Community Fireside Chat of 2009-10

More than 300 parents, community members and APS employees packed the gymnasium of Inman Middle School on Monday to hear Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall’s report on SRT-3 schools. Atlanta Board of Education members Emmett D. Johnson, Cecily Harsch-Kinnane (vice chair), Brenda Muhammad and Mark Riley were present.

The superintendent talked about the district’s work to position students on their journey to college, and she answered questions on topics ranging from testing to school closures. In addition, Dr. Hall shared SRT-3’s academic highlights, some of which are listed below: 

Thanksgiving Break

Beginning Thursday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 29, all APS administrative offices and facilities will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Our offices and facilities will reopen and classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 30. For information about Atlanta Public Schools, please visit our Web site at www.atlantapublicschools.us.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity grantees visit Burgess-Peterson Academy

The Student Wellness Ambassadors (SWA) from Burgess-Peterson Academy excitedly greeted the visitors from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity on Nov.  17 as they entered the school. The visitors were in town to attend their annual convention and signed up for a tour of a local school that including gardening in the curriculum. The guests were introduced to Dr. Marilyn Hughes, director of nutrition for Atlanta Public Schools, BPA Wellness Committee, the SWA as well as the Master Gardener, Fred Clay, and chefs Todd Richards and Reggie Washington from Rolling Bones.

Also in the Fall issue of The Atlanta Educator: The sweet swing of Tyler Lawrence

She wields her “Big Bertha” clubs about as well as any other Georgia teen. She’s been to Scotland, the cradle of golf. She’s shot an 81 to take first place in the GHSA regional tournament. And she’s been within an approach shot of Tiger Woods. She’s Tyler Lawrence, a Grady High senior and one of Georgia’s top golfers whose performance on the greens is matched only by her performance in the classroom. Read more about Lawrence and her trip to Scotland in the Fall issue of The Atlanta Educator, which arrives at school and district-office newsstands this week — just in time for the Thanksgiving break!