Here’s to the APS Class of 2010, which earned its ticket to graduation!

Throughout this week, students throughout Atlanta Public Schools will take their ticket to ride through graduation and beyond, and we couldn’t be prouder. This graduation class already has distinguished itself as the one to earn the most Gates Millennium Scholarships in the nation with 29, and also features the second graduating class from a newly transformed high school (The New Schools at Carver). Our graduates are living, breathing examples of how APS is making a difference in students’ lives, and we’d like to take this moment to congratulate everyone for a very good year, and for their hard work. Here’s your ticket. Enjoy the ride!

Lil’ Jimmy leads Dunbar Elementary line dance

UPDATE: Check out the photo gallery here.

We just couldn’t resist sharing this video of Lil’ Jimmy, an up-and-coming character who works with area children, leading a line dance at Dunbar Elementary‘s Field Day as the 2009-10 school year winds down. The Lil’ Jimmy character is based on an Atlanta youth who overcomes adversity to provide a positive role model for other youths. (In fact, his partner is DJ Pozitivity.) And needless to say, the Dunbar students enjoyed his presence — especially when it came to leading this line dance. Enjoy! (And for more on the Field Day, see the video here.)

The stories behind the Venetian Hills Elementary KaBOOM! playground

UPDATE: See photo gallery here.

We had an amazing time out at the playground build at Venetian Hills Elementary, which included an appearance by Ludacris. (See video in previous post below, and here.) We also have a few videos of Venetian Hills staff discussing how it all came to be and why it means so much to the school as it closes its 2009-10 school year. Here we have Principal Clarietta M. Davis and Media Specialist Sheila Johnson talk about their new playground. For more on how it all came to be, check out Sheila Johnson’s speech at the ribbon-cutting ceremony here.) Thanks again to KaBOOM! and United Healthcare.

Emily Boatright joins the club: Inman Middle’s Master Teachers*

* UPDATE: Sixth-grade English/language arts teacher Wendy Baker, featured recently in Talk Up APS, learned she’s been named a Master Teacher!

Inman Middle School eighth-grade teacher Emily Boatright would like to say she’s joining a select company, but when it comes to Inman, Master Teachers almost seem like the rule and not the exception. Just as the 2009-10 school year winds to a close, Boatright learned that she was named a Master Teacher, which is mainly based on her students’ consistent ability to make gains on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCTs).