Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Turner Broadcasting on hand today to celebrate Springdale Park Elementary – a LEED School

Springdale Park Elementary 4th grader Kedar Veeraswamy, and 5th grader Molly Edlein with Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.

Georgia Lt. Governor Casey Cagle was greeted by students this morning at Springdale Park Elementary School (SPARK) as he arrived for the Turner Broadcasting taping of the ”High Performance, Healthy School” video in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council.  SPARK was selected to be highlighted as an exemplary example of a LEED school.

To ascertain LEED certification, the school had to meet certain prerequisites and benchmarks related to sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor air quality.  Springdale Park is currently awaiting the final designation for LEED silver-level certification. To achieve this level of certification, the school set goals which included;

• Building classrooms that are acoustically designed to limit noise from the outside and to reduce noise between spaces so teachers can better teach and students can effectively hear and communicate.

• Reducing water use by 20 percent (over current typical water use design) by using high-efficiency fixtures such as low-flow toilets and faucets.

• Reducing energy usage by 24 percent or more over standard building practices by using energy-efficient mechanical systems and increased use of day lighting.

• Obtaining 10 percent of materials from within a 500-mile radius of the school, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts of transportation.   

Springdale Park opened for the 2009-2010 school year and is APS’s first LEED-certified school.  

SPARK’s principal, Yolonda C. Brown, is dedicated to green learning principles. She, the teachers, and the Springdale Park Parent-Teacher Organization have integrated green concepts such as organic gardening, recycling, and composting into the curriculum. The school has a rooftop garden in addition to a land-based garden and has implemented a Farm to School program in which food that is grown in the garden is used in the cafeteria.

“I am thrilled for the children to be able to learn about their environment and how the design of this building enhances their every day learning experiences. For kids who have asthma or other health conditions, SpringdaleParkis a very healthy place to learn,” says Brown. ”They are breathing much cleaner air. And for us to serve as a model for other APS schools and schools nationwide who want to go green is very exciting.”

Atlanta Public Schools is Hiring: Online Teacher Job Fair Ends Today, September 30th

 Atlanta Public Schools
Online Job Fair
for
Elementary & Middle School Core Content Teachers
**Application Period ends on Friday, September 30, 2011**

Atlanta Public Schools is looking for several self motivated teachers for the current school year with the ability to ensure student success through differentiated instruction. The candidate must be able to create and maintain a climate that promotes respect, tolerance and peaceful problem solving for all students.

Atlanta Public Schools has an immediate need for highly qualified individuals who are professionally certified or have passed the appropriate GACE tests for certification in the subject areas listed below.  The district is seeking to hire teachers who are innovative, enthusiastic, and looking for the opportunity to prepare students for a successful future.   This event is for Georgia certified teachers, out-of-state certified teachers, and student teachers (GA & out-of-state) who have completed their teacher preparation program in the Spring or Summer of 2011.

SUBJECT AREAS
Early Childhood Education
Middle School Language Arts
Middle School Mathematics
Middle School Reading
Middle School Science
Middle School Social Science

Interested individuals, who meet the requirements listed above, must complete an online application in order to be considered for a teaching position.  No phone calls please.  CLICK HERE for the online application or visit http://www.apsk12.org/HRS/hrs_taleo.aspx .  Additional documentation is required via the online application.

CERTIFICATION:

• Minimum of Level T4 Certification in Early Childhood Education or a Middle School core content area (English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Reading, or Science); OR
• Passing scores for the GACE Basic Skills Assessment (or Basic Skills exemption eligibility) AND the GACE in Early Childhood Education or a Middle School core content area listed above

Weekly Athletic Schedule 9/26 – 10/1

Atlanta Public Schools Weekly Athletic Schedule

Qotisha Haugabrook, a student from South Atlanta Computer Animation & Design, shows her school spirit!

Date	Teams	Time	Location
	Varsity Football
26-Sep	Marist @ Carver	7:00PM	Grady Stadium
27-Sep	Tucker @ Douglass	5:30PM	Grady Stadium
29-Sep	Therrell @ South Atlanta	7:30PM	Grady Stadium
30-Sep	BEST Academy @ St. Francis	7:30PM	St. Francis
30-Sep	Lovett @ Maynard Jackson	5:30PM	Grady Stadium
30-Sep	Washington @ Grady	8:00PM	Grady Stadium
1-Oct	Druid Hills @ North Atlanta	4:00PM	Grady Stadium
	Junior Varsity Football
9/28/2011	Mays @ North Atlanta	5:30PM	North Atlanta High
9/28/2011	Douglass @ Grady	5:15PM	Grady Stadium
9/29/2011	Carver @ Newton	5:30PM	Newton
	Middle School Football
10/1/2011	BEST @ Freedom	10:30AM	Hallford Stadium
10/1/2011	Coan @ Kennedy	9:00AM	Grady Stadium
10/1/2011	King @ Long	10:45AM	Grady Stadium
10/1/2011	Young @ Price	12:30PM	Grady Stadium
10/1/2011	Bunche @ Harper-Archer	10:00AM	S. Atlanta High
10/1/2011	Sutton @ Inman	10:00AM	N. Atlanta High
	Volleyball
9/27/2011	St. Francis @ S. Atlanta	5:00PM	S. Atlanta
9/27/2011	Douglass/ Mays/ Whitewater	5:00PM	Douglass
9/27/2011	Grady/ Sandy Creek/ McNair	5:00PM	Sandy Creek
9/27/2011	N. Atlanta/ Druid Hills/ Towers	5:00PM	Druid Hills
9/27/2011	Jackson/ELCA/ Greenforest	5:00PM	ELCA
9/29/2011	Jackson/ Grady/ S. Atlanta	5:00PM	Grady
9/29/2011	North Atlanta @ North Springs	5:00PM	North Springs
9/29/2011	Creekside/ Therrell/ Washington	5:00PM	Creekside
	Softball
9/26/2011	N. Atlanta @ Mays	5:00PM	Mays Field
9/26/2011	S. Atlanta @ Carver	5:00PM	Carver
9/27/2011	Carver @ Mays	5:00PM	Mays Field
9/27/2011	Douglass @ Miller Grove	5:00PM	Miller Grove
9/27/2011	St. Pius X @ Washington	5:00PM	Washington
9/27/2011	Grady @ North Springs	5:00PM	North Springs
9/28/2011	S. Atlanta @ GAC	5:45PM	GAC
9/29/2011	Carver @ S. Atlanta	5:00PM	S. Atlanta
9/29/2011	Douglass @ Grady	5:00PM	Crim
9/29/2011	N. Atlanta @ Washington	5:00PM	Washington
	Middle School Softball
9/27/2011	Long @ Harper-Archer	5:00PM	Southside 2
9/27/2011	Inman @ Bunche	5:00PM	Southside 3
9/27/2011	Young @ Sutton	5:00PM	Southside 1
9/29/2011	CSK @ Sylvan	5:00PM	Southside 2
9/29/2011	Brown @ Price	5:00PM	Southside 4
9/29/2011	Kennedy @ King	5:00PM	Southside 3
	Cross Country
9/28/2011	Washington/ Jackson/ Therrell	5:00PM	Grant Park
9/28/2011	Mays/ S. Atlanta/ Douglass	5:00PM	Grant Park
9/28/2011	CSK/N. Atlanta/ Grady/ Carver	5:00PM	Grant Park

Final Day of SACS on-site visit with Atlanta Public Schools

Officials from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) will meet with Atlanta Public Schools’ (APS) senior management team, board members and community supporters Monday and Tuesday of this week.

The two-day on-site visit is the final step required to remove the district’s “accredited probation” status and return APS to good standing as defined by the accreditation agency.

According to Board of Education Chair Brenda Muhammad, “The SACS interviewing team is visiting the CLL building today.  Scheduled are half hour sessions with APS board members & stakeholders, including parents and  Mayor Kasim Reed.”

The final progress report was submitted to AdvanceED C.E.O. Mark Elgart on September 12, by Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr. SACS is an accreditation division of AdvancED.

View the final report here: Final SACS Progress Report  or (http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/page/310)

Background:

Accreditation status
On January 18, SACS placed the district’s accreditation of high schools on probation, pending the resolution by the Atlanta Board of Education of six Required Actions by September 30, 2011. APS high schools remain fully accredited, meaning that students are eligible to apply to colleges and universities of their choice and receive HOPE and other scholarships.  APS elementary and middle schools are not impacted.

Six required actions
In its report to the district, SACS outlined the following six action items that the Atlanta Board of Education must complete prior to the Sept. 30 deadline:

1. Develop and implement a long-term plan to communicate with and engage stakeholders in the work of the district to achieve the Board’s mission for educating the students of Atlanta Public Schools (APS). The plan should focus on efforts that will regain stakeholders’ trust and confidence in the governance and leadership of Atlanta Public Schools.  (Download High-Level Action Plan1)

2. Secure and actively use the services of a trained, impartial professional mediator who will work with the Board members to resolve communication, operational and personal issues impeding the effectiveness of the governing body.  (Download High-Level Action Plan2)

3. Ensure that the actions and behavior of all board members are aligned with board policies, especially those related to ethics and chain of command, and AdvancED/SACS CASI Accreditation Standards and policies.  (Download High-Level Action Plan3)

4. Review and refine policies to promote the processes that are needed to achieve the Board’s Mission in the education of the Atlanta Public School students. The board members shall provide evidence that they have refocused all of their energies on improving the teaching and learning processes for all their students.  (Download High-Level Action Plan4)

5. Develop and implement a process for selecting a superintendent that is transparent during all phases, engages public participation, and demonstrates integrity throughout the process. It is strongly suggested that the final selection of the superintendent should be determined by more than a simple majority vote of approval by the Board.  (Download High-Level Action Plan5)

6. Work directly with the State of Georgia to address the inconsistencies in the Atlanta Independent School System.  (Download High-Level Action Plan6)