APS middle-schoolers state their case in CIS Atlanta’s inaugural moot court competition

UPDATE: Check out Scott King’s photo gallery here.

Debate-team students representing all four of APS’ School Reform Teams squared off Wednesday at Communities in Schools Atlanta‘s First Annual Middle School Moot Court by presenting their oral arguments for a select issue that affects Georgia students. The competition featured presentations by Kennedy (SRT-1) vs. Parks (SRT-2) and King vs. B.E.S.T. Academy in an argument of whether to overturn a recent Georgia law raising the compulsory school attendance age to 18 from 16. (King and Parks argued for keeping the age at 18.)

The competition was held at the Fulton County Government’s Assembly Hall, and the students were really put the test in presenting their arguments to a panel led by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Carol W. Hunstein. Students made about a five-minute argument and then fielded questions from the panel. The winning team will be announced as an awards ceremony on May 11.

Gideons Elementary students give ‘Pennies for Patients’

In just under a month, students at Gideons Elementary School raised $1,800 to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Pennies for Patients” program. Gideons’ students in all grades donated their pennies and encouraged family, loved ones and friends to do the same. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers schoolchildren in more than 3,000 schools around the country the chance to help children battling leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma by collecting spare change. Six Gideons’ classes collected more than $100 for the Society. Top-fundraising honors go to teacher Bernadine Macon’s fifth-grade class, which raised a whopping $540.03. The second-highest fundraising class was pre-kindergarten, raking in $447 by hosting an art auction.

“Our students were excited to participate in this fundraising initiative,” says Principal Armstead Salters. “In doing so, they learned compassion for others and shared in the spirit of selfless giving. I am so proud of their accomplishments.”