MLK Week “teach-ins” rescheduled for this week

MLK Week “teach-ins” around the district, originally scheduled for Jan. 10-14, have been rescheduled to this week.

“These ‘teach-in’ lecturers will deliver Dr. King’s principles of non-violence to schoolchildren by teaching them to make critical connections to real-world issues, thus equipping them with the tools necessary to champion social change issues in the 21st century,” said Samuel E. Prater, the 2011 M.L. King March Committee representative.

Here’s the schedule:
MLK Week January 31-February 04, 2011
“Teach-Ins” Schedule

DATE	SCHOOL	SETTING	CONTACT
Monday, 9 a.m.	Scott ES	School Assembly	Bonnie V. Starr 404-802-7024 bvstarr@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Monday, 12:30 p.m.	Usher-Collier Heights ES	School Assembly	Betty Barcliff 404-802-5700 ebarcliff@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Tuesday,12:30 p.m.	Miles ES	School Assembly	Joyce Hayward 404-802-5750 jhayward@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Wednesday, 9 a.m.	Grove Park ES	School Assembly	Caitlin Sims 404-802-7750 clsims@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.	Hope-Hill ES	School Assembly	Orlando Jennings 404-802-7450 ojennings@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Thursday, 9 a.m.	Peyton Forest ES	School Assembly	Dr. Jacquelyn F. Poindexter 404-802-7108 jpoindexter@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Thursday, 12:30 p.m.	Boyd ES	School Assembly	Tiffany Hollis 404-802-8150 thollis@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Friday, 9 a.m.	Burgess-Peterson	School Assembly	Holloway-Brown 404-802-3400 nana49@bellsouth.net
Friday, 12:30 p.m.	Connally ES	School Assembly	Wanda Williams 404-802-8450 wmwilliams@atlanta.k12.ga.us

APS basketball team earns runner-up honors at Special Olympics’ Indoor Winter Games

Atlanta Public Schools’ Warriors basketball team earned second place and a silver medal during the recent Special Olympics’ State Indoor Winter Games in Marietta. With only seven players on the roster, the Warriors didn’t have much time to rest, and yet they made it to the final round.

In that final game, against a team from DeKalb County, APS trailed by only two points for most of the game, and ended up short, 26-22. ”It was very exciting!” said Regina Gennaro, APS’ liaison for the Special Olympics out of the Program for Exceptional Children. “This was only our second year participating in a state event where we finished very quickly last year. We made a huge improvement this year!”

The APS team consists of North Atlanta High students Kirby Broughton, Carrie Crayton (the team’s only female), Travis Greene, Robert Perdue, Jermaine Russell and Aquinas Tolan, and Joe Woodward from The New Schools at Carver. (Another North Atlanta student, Mike Hightower, missed the game due to an injury.) Coaches are North Atlanta’s Lisa Oglesby and Nic Hill.

Some interesting notes from the tournament, after the jump …

In School Mentoring program challenges Washington High students

Young men in the In School Mentoring program at Booker T. Washington High participated in an Gender Specific Empowerment Forum last week designed to challenge them to be their best and set the example for their peers. The event began with a viewing of actor-director director Mario Van Peebles‘ groundbreaking documentary “Bring Your ‘A’ Game.” 

The film details strategies that have improved the lives of urban youth, and underscores how essential educational achievement and high school graduation are to survival and success in today’s world.

After the viewing, students received guidance and “keys to success” from professional mentors in fields from education to finance: Nelson Render, Ennis Harvey, Kervance Ross and Mike Vinciquerra. The group engaged in a “man-to-man” open conversation in which students discussed challenges they faced, and received support from mentors and peers on how to overcome that challenge.

Grady High art student is driving force behind Atlanta Art Throwdown 2011

Is it Atlanta’s next great sporting event — or outstanding education? Judging from the response to the first-ever Atlanta Art Throwdown, the answer is both. Although the competition is serious, camaraderie, fun and learning from each other are the real winners. The brainchild of Grady High senior Perrin Turner, the Art Throwdown brings students from high schools across Atlanta to engage in a different kind of art competition.

Similar to a competitive reality show on television, each young artist is faced with a challenge: drawing when you can’t see your hands or the paper; drawing from live models; and working with a group of artists to construct a sculpture in 30 minutes or less. Student artists worked in front of an appreciative audience for the entire evening. Nationally recognized Atlanta artist Fahamu Pecou served as the official Art Throwdown judge.

APS student-athletes welcome Atlanta Braves for ‘Caravan’ stop at The New Schools at Carver

Several schools from APS were in the audience at The New Schools at Carver as players from the Atlanta Braves players fielded questions about life in the Major Leagues. Pitchers Peter Moylan and Scott Linebrink were joined by center fielder Jordan Schafer, with WXIA/11Alive sports anchor Sam Crenshaw serving as moderator. (Crenshaw is a familiar face around APS, previously serving as keynote speaker at the 2009 Monk Jones Lecture Series.)

APS was selected as one of the sites for the annual “Braves Caravan.” Students asked questions such as the difference between playing and baseball in high school and the Major Leagues. The players also stressed the importance of being professional and consistent with everything they do.