Intown Academy Awarded $15,000 Grant from KaBOOM! and Dr. Pepper Snapple Group

Dr Pepper Snapple Group and national non-profit KaBOOM! awarded The Intown Academy a $15,000 Let’s Play Community Construction Grant as announced May 10, 2012.

The grant is part of the Let’s Play initiative introduced in November of 2010 – a $15 million, three-year commitment from Dr Pepper Snapple Group to KaBOOM!, the national non-profit saving play by ensuring there is a great place to play within walking distance of every child. Together through Let’s Play, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM! will build or fix up 2,000 playgrounds by the end of 2013, benefiting an estimated five million children across North America.

In March 2012, The Intown Academy submitted a grant application to Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM!. It is one of 36 organizations to receive a grant this year from a national pool of over a hundred applicants and was the only organization awarded from metro-Atlanta. The school is embarking on a capital campaign to raise the remaining $25,000 needed to build the playground by April 2013. When built, The Intown Academy will be the only school in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood with a playground.

“Physical fitness is as important an achievement as academic mastery,” says The Intown Academy’s principal, Lola Burse. “Having a playground at The Intown Academy within our fenced area means that students, especially those in grades kindergarten through second, can play in a safe, secure area within a few steps of our back door.”

Unstructured, child-directed play has been proven to help kids develop physically, socially and cognitively, yet today’s kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation. Via Let’s Play grants and projects in 2011, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM! built or improved 528 playgrounds, benefitting an estimated 1.3 million children during the lifetime of the playgrounds. People are encouraged to visit Let’s Play at http://www.LetsPlay.com to join the conversation and learn how to apply for the various available grants to make their communities more active and playful.

About The Intown Academy

The Intown Academy is a tuition-free, public, community-based charter school open to students in the Atlanta Public Schools district. The mission of The Intown Academy is to promote the high academic achievement and emotional and social growth of an inquiring, open, and supportive learning community. The Intown Academy opened with grades K-6 in 2010 and will grow to K-8 in the 2012-2013 school year. http://www.intownacademy.org; address: 386 Pine Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308.

About Dr Pepper Snapple Group

Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is the leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean. Our success is fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor. We have 6 of the top 10 non- cola soft drinks, and 9 of our 12 leading brands are No. 1 in their flavor categories. In addition to our flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands, our portfolio includes Sunkist soda, 7UP, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Mott’s, Squirt, Hawaiian Punch, Penafiel, Clamato, Schweppes, Venom Energy, Rose’s and Mr & Mrs T mixers. To learn more about our iconic brands and Plano, Texas- based company, please visit http://www.drpeppersnapple.com.About Let’s Play

Let’s Play is a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) to get kids and families active nationwide. The first Let’s Play initiative is a $15 million, three-year commitment to KaBOOM!, the national non-profit that’s saving play. Together, through Let’s Play, DPS and KaBOOM! will build or fix up 2,000 playgrounds by the end of 2013, benefiting an estimated five million children across North America. For more information, visit Let’s Play on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/letsplay or online at http://www.LetsPlay.com.

About KaBOOM!

KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to saving play. Children today spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation, a fact that is having disastrous consequences on their health, achievement levels, and overall well-being. To fight this play deficit, social entrepreneur Darell Hammond founded non-profit KaBOOM! in 1996 in Washington, D.C. with a vision of creating a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. Since then, KaBOOM! has mapped over 89,000 places to play, built more than 2,000 playgrounds, and successfully advocated for play policies in hundreds of cities across the country. KaBOOM! also provides communities with online tools to self-organize and take action to support play on both a local and national level. Hammond chronicles the founding of the organization and the importance of the cause of play in his The New York Times Best Seller KaBOOM!: How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play. The book details how businesses and communities can work together to save play for children across the country. All author proceeds support KaBOOM!. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., KaBOOM! also has offices in Chicago and San Mateo, Calif. For more information, visit http://www.kaboom.org.

Class of 2012 Graduation Photo Gallery and Audio Library Now Available

Congratulations to our 2012 graduates.  Links to photo galleries and audio files are now available below.

Mays High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GRAD_Mays2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/Mays2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

Crim Open Campus

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GRAD_CRIMoc2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/Crim2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

Douglass High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/Grad_Doug2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/Douglass2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

The New Schools at Carver

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/Grad_Carver2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/Carver2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

North Atlanta High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GRAD_NA2012/index.html

Audio

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/NA2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

South Atlanta High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GRAD_SA2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/SA2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

Jackson High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GRAD_Jackson2012/index.html

Audio

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/Jackson2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

Grady High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/Grad_Grady2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/Grady2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

Washington High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GRAD_BTW2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/BTW2012_AUDIO.mp3

 

Therrell High School

Photo

http://www.apsk12.org/media/Photo_Gallerys/GRAD_Therrell2012/index.html

Audio
http://www.apsk12.org/media/Audio_Media/GRADUATION2012/Therrell2012_AUDIO.mp3

Fickett Elementary 4th Graders Play to Win in the Stock Market Game

Congratulations to APS’ Fickett Elementary 4th graders who recently placed first in the Stock Market Game.  The students outranked 99 other teams, including middle and high schools, across the metro Atlanta area.

The students on the winning team are Ojochiliemi Okoka, Clayton Gaines, Grant Maxey, and Willie Stiggers.

The game is designed by the Georgia Council on Economic Education and helps students develop an understanding of how private enterprise works. Each team works with a hypothetical portfolio of $100,000 and at the end of ten weeks, the team with the highest portfolio value wins.  According to the Council’s website, “The Stock Market Game™ shows students how the laws of economics unfold in the real world. With equity markets as the model, students see the raw and unfettered forces of private enterprise and market economics play out. Unlike real equity markets, the Stock Market Game™ offers students a safe and pain-free place to learn that the lessons of market economics can sometimes be costly.”

CLICK HERE to learn more about how your school can participate in The Stock Market Game!

2012 Georgia Student Media Festival Winners

Congratulations to the 19 2012 Georgia Student Media Festival (GSMF) winners listed below.  These projects are now eligible to proceed to the International Student Media Festival (ISMF.)  To our media specialists, teachers and parents, thank you very much for all your hard work helping the students create and submit their projects this year.

	School	Sponsor	Title	Student   Producer(s)
1.	Bolton   Academy ES	Monica   Veiga	Rock   Cycle	Class   Project
2.	Bolton   Academy ES	Francois   Emmanuel	My   Story About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr	Malik   High
3.	Bolton   Academy ES	Francois   Emmanuel	Making   Papier Mache	Class   Project
4.	Crawford   Long MS	S.   P. Fayson	Waves	Lazhon   Thomas
5.	DH   Stanton ES	Brenda   Street	Hand-y   Health Tips	Johnathan   Combs,Weldon Freeman, Emeliy Lainez, Savanchi Smith
6.	DH   Stanton ES	Brenda   Street	Good   Friends, Good books	Kylonn   Freeman, Niya Haggins, Zariyah Jones
7.	DH   Stanton ES	Kelley   Young	Texting   While Driving	Omar   Reyes, Marquiez Brown
8.	DH   Stanton ES	Brenda   Street	Figurative   Language- Its’s a Piece of Cake	Jarquavious   Brown, Ramon Frazier, Tamya Hardeman, Jennifer Lee, Trinity Lucas, Jaylen   Nelson
9.	Ed   Cook ES	Carolyn   Anderson	The   ABCs of Pushes and Pulls	Class   Project
10.	Harper-Archer   MS	Keisha   Robinson	Math   Millionaires: Test Your Skills	Corey   Booker
11.	Humphries   ES	Oreta   Taylor	Then   and Now: Comparing Life in the Early Twentieth Century to Life in the Early   21st Century	Jerome   Jenkins
12.	Maynard   Jackson HS	Henderson   Maddox	Toxic   Waste	Carmyn   Bryant
13.	South   Atlanta HS-CAD	Tokie   Rome	A   Fools Day Afternoon	Rodney   Jordan, Bianca Harris, Richard McGee, Cameron Johnigan
14.	South   Atlanta HS-CAD	Tokie   Rome	Short   Necked Giraffe	Clunis   Davis
15.	South   Atlanta HS-CAD	Tokie   Rome	Sky   the Mole Terminator	Jerrell   Colvin
16.	South   Atlanta HS-CAD	Tokie   Rome	A   Work in Progress	Larry   Hall, Divante Brunson
17.	Springdale   Park ES	Brianne   Turgeon	Reingold   Gliere – Website	Nikkel   Krishna
18.	WT   Jackson ES	Theresa   King	Kerpoof:   GHOST Crab	Eli   Carson
19.	WT   Jackson ES	Theresa   King	Static   Electricity	Kate   Lindgren

 

APS Policy Changes Available for Public Comment

The Atlanta Board of Education accepted the following policies for first reading at the May 14, 2012 legislative meeting. These policy changes will be considered for final approval at the June 4, 2012 regular legislative meeting of the Atlanta Board of Education.

Also listed are a series of proposed administrative regulations related to these policies under review for approval by the superintendent.  *Note: Regulations BBF-R and BH-R will be approved by the board.

All are available for public comment via the options listed below.

Policies

BBF Advisory Committees

BC Board Meetings

BH Board Code of Ethics

BH-E Board Code of Ethics

BHA Board Member Conflict of Interest

DCC Budget Preparation Procedures

DJEA Purchasing Authority

ED Student Transportation Management

EGAA Workers’ Compensation

EGAC Health Insurance

GARH Leaves and Absences

GBR Professional Personnel Working Conditions

GBRA Professional Personnel Health Examinations

GBRC Professional Personnel Work Loads

GBRH Professional Personnel Leaves and Absences

GBRI Professional Personnel Personal Leaves and Absences

GBRIA Professional Personnel Emergency and Legal Leaves and Absences

GBRIB Professional Personnel Sick Leave

GBRID Professional Personnel Military Leave

GBRIF Professional Personnel Bereavement Leave

GBRIG Federal Family and Medical Leave Act

GBRK Professional Personnel Vacations

JAA Equal Educational Opportunities

Regulations

BBF-R Advisory Committees: Audit Committee

BH-R (1) Board Code of Ethics: Organization of Ethics Commission

ED-R Student Transportation Management

GARA-R (1) Employee Health Examinations: Fitness for Duty

GARA-R (2) Employee Health Examinations: Reasonable Accommodations

GARH-R (1) Employee Leaves and Absences: Sick Leave

GARH-R (3) Employee Leaves and Absences: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

GARH-R (4) Employee Leaves and Absences: Bereavement Leave

GARH-R (5) Employee Leaves and Absences: Government and Military Service Leave

GARH-R (6) Employee Leaves and Absences: Jury Duty and Legal Leave

GARH-R (8) Employee Leaves and Absences: Educational Leave

GARH-R (9) Employee Leaves and Absences: Personal and Annual Leave

Click here to submit a public comment on-line.

You may also submit a public comment by contacting Rebecca Kaye at:

e-mail: rkaye@atlantapublicschools.us

telephone: 404.802.2897

fax: 404.802.1807

mail/in-person:

Rebecca Kaye

Atlanta Public Schools

130 Trinity Ave, SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

Current policies of the Atlanta Board of Education are available in the Online Policy Manual.

View the proposed policy changes on the APS Website:  http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Page/216

Board of Education Public Information Session – Wednesday, May 30, 2012

NOTICE

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

The members of the Atlanta Board of Education will convene a public information session from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, for the purpose of receiving additional information from The Charles R. Drew Charter School representatives regarding their request to have their existing charter amended.

The session will take place from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Center for Learning and Leadership Auditorium.

130 TRINITY AVE, 2nd Floor

ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303

*This session is for an informational purpose only, a quorum of the board is not necessary and action will not be taken.

Toomer Elementary Hosts Open House for New East Lake and Whitefoord Families

Dr. Nicole Evans Jones, Toomer principal, children and families planting elm tree donated by Trees Atlanta.

Transition and bonding events are taking place throughout APS to welcome new families redistricted recently following the 2011-2012 Demographic and Capacity Study.  Particular attention was given recently by the parents and staff at Fred Armon Toomer Elementary to new students from East Lake and Whitefoord Elementary.

Ebony Henry, mother of Braelen Dory, rising 2nd grader from East Lake said, “Happiness is about loving what you have and three communities coming together will result in an awesome school.” The Open House and Family Fun Day on May 17th hosted by Toomer Elementary for new families from East Lake and Whitefoord was well organized and exciting for all. Toomer’s principal, Dr. Nicole Evans Jones and East Lake’s interim principal, Mary Benton, began the Open House welcoming the children and their families. Toomer’s teachers guided the famileis on a school tour, followed by visiting the classroom of their upcoming grade level.

Ellen Buettner, mother of Sophia Buettner, rising Toomer 3rd grader said, “The open house was so well organized. I think the students liked being able to go off to visit the classrooms by themselves. They were a little shy at first with the teachers, but most warmed up pretty quickly. It’s going to be a great school year at Toomer with all these great families!”

Engaging, hands-on activities facilitated by Toomer’s teachers allowed the children to get a sneak peek into the grade level curriculum of their upcoming school year. Make-and-take projects were created to provide the children with souvenirs from their inaugural visit to Toomer Elementary.

Highlighting the conclusion of the event was a tree planting ceremony to commemorate the new family of Toomer Elementary, which combines Toomer Elementary, East Lake, and a portion of Whitefoord Elemetary school families. Trees Atlanta donated an elm tree planted on the playground by the children and Toomer’s principal. “It will grow to over 30 feet tall and provide shade as kids play and learn, which symbolizes the growing family we are beginning,” said Jones. The children were so enthusiastic to help Toomer’s principal plant the tree and play in the dirt!

Via Smith, mother of Kelvin Simmons, rising 4th grader from East Lake Elementary said, “Transition is defined as the process of changing from one state to another. After tonight, I feel the transition from East Lake to Toomer will be a smooth one.”

To further the bond and strengthen the new school community of Toomer Elementary School, the open house was followed by two weekend events. The students and families from all schools were invited on Saturday to attend the annual Kirkwood Spring Fling, sponsored by the Kirkwood Neighborhood Organization, and on Sunday, the East Lake Schools Coalition hosted an ice cream social at the East Lake Community Learning Garden.

New to Toomer Elementary?  Returning student?
View the 2012-2013 School Supply List posted on the school’s website.

 

Project GRAD Announces Dates and Locations for Summer Institute 2012

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2012 PROJECT GRAD SUMMER INSTITUTE

SUMMER INSTITUTE OVERVIEW

APS offers an extended learning college preparatory summer experience to students attending Project GRAD high schools.  Project GRAD Summer Institutes are designed to support the college going culture by providing students with opportunities to engage in enrichment courses on Georgia college campuses.

The Project GRAD Summer Institute focuses on developing the life and academic skills of rising 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grade students in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, and College Readiness.  Students have opportunities to engage in a three-week residential experience or four-week commuter experience.

DATES

June 4-29, 2012 for Commuter Summer Institute

June 3-23, 2012 for Residential Summer Institute

COMMUTER SUMMER INSTITUTE

The Commuter Summer Institute is a four-week summer experience designed for rising 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grade students who have an interest in continuing their education after high school in a postsecondary institution.  The program offers an enriching experience designed to simulate a first hand view of life on a college campus.  Our 2012 Summer Institute Commuter Sites are: Atlanta Metropolitan College, Atlanta Technical College, Emory University, Georgia State University, and Morehouse College.

COMMUTER SITE DIRECTIONS

Project GRAD 2012 Summer Institute at Atlanta Metropolitan College

All students traveling to Atlanta Metropolitan College will take MARTA to Metropolitan Parkway.  They will enter the campus and begin the program at the Student Center.  Staff will be there to greet them.

Project GRAD 2012 Summer Institute at Atlanta Technical College

All students traveling to Atlanta Technical College will take MARTA to Metropolitan Parkway.  They will enter the campus and enter the Administration building where the flag poles are located.  Staff will be there to greet them.

Project GRAD 2012 Summer Institute at Emory University

All students traveling to Emory University will be picked up by APS bus daily at the Lakewood Train Station departing at 7:30am and returning to Lakewood Train Station.  Chaperones will be traveling on the bus with students.  If students are arriving by car, they can be dropped off at the Emory Center for Science Education.

Project GRAD 2012 Summer Institute at Georgia State University (Library South)

All students traveling to Georgia State University (Library South) will take MARTA to the Georgia State MARTA Station on Piedmont Avenue.  Once exited, students will make a right on Piedmont Avenue and walk down to Gilmer Street, which will be the 2^nd light.  At Gilmer Street students will make a left and walk up to Courtland Street, which is the next light (bridge with the Georgia State logo). At the light students will make an immediate right into campus.  Library North will be immediately facing students on the left.  The student will need to pass Library North and continue walking until they see the fountains.  At the fountains the students will make a left and walk straight until they enter Library South. There will be Project GRAD staff waiting at the Georgia State and Little Five Points MARTA Stations to escort all students.

Project GRAD 2012 Summer Institute at Morehouse College

All students traveling to Morehouse College will take MARTA to the West End Train Station and walk to the campus to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue and security desk.  Staff will be there to greet them.   

COMMUTER INSTITUTE TRANSPORTATION

Each participant will be responsible for transportation to their assigned Commuter Site on June 4, 2012 only.  Upon reporting to their assigned Commuter Site, participants will be provided with a MARTA card each week to ensure they are in attendance and on time every day of the Summer Institute. 

COMMUTER SITE ASSIGNMENT CHANGE FOR MALE STUDENTS PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED TO ATLANTA METROPOLITAN COLLEGE

We are excited to continue our partnership with Morehouse College as a commuter site for rising 12^th grade male students. As a result, male students previously assigned to Atlanta Metropolitan College have been selected to participate in the Summer Institute Commuter Site at Morehouse College.  Please call our office at (404) 802-2315 to confirm your participation in the Summer Institute Commuter Site at Morehouse College.

Our daily schedule begins at 8:00am and ends at 1:00pm on Monday through Friday of each week.  On June 4, 2012, male students traveling to Morehouse College will take MARTA to the West End Train Station and walk to the campus to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue and security desk.  Staff will be there to greet you.  You will be responsible for transportation to Morehouse College on June 4, 2012 only.  Upon reporting to Morehouse College, you will be provided with a MARTA card each week to ensure you are in attendance and on time every day of the Summer Institute.

RESIDENTIAL SUMMER INSTITUTE

The Residential Summer Institute is a three-week college residential program designed for rising 10^th and 11^th grade students who have an interest in continuing their education after high school in a postsecondary institution.  The program offers an enriching experience designed to simulate a first hand view of life on a college campus.  Project GRAD recognizes that living on campus offers a significant contribution to the total educational development of resident students as they learn from individuals of varied backgrounds and experience.  The residence hall experience is an extension of, and supplement to, the education obtained in the classroom.  Our 2012 Residential Summer Institute sites are Oglethorpe University and the University of West Georgia. 

RESIDENTIAL SITE ASSIGNMENT CHANGE FOR STUDENTS PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED TO UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

Unfortunately, we will not offer a 2012 Summer Institute Residential Site experience for rising 11^th grade students at the University of Georgia. As a result, the rising 11^th grade students previously assigned to the Summer Institute Residential Site at University of Georgia are invited to participate in the Summer Institute Commuter Site at Atlanta Metropolitan College.  Please call our office at (404) 802-2315 to confirm your participation in the Summer Institute Commuter Site at Atlanta Metropolitan College.

Our daily schedule begins at 8:00am and ends at 1:00pm on Monday through Friday of each week.  On June 4, 2012, students traveling to Atlanta Metropolitan College will take MARTA to Metropolitan Parkway.  You will enter the campus and begin the program at the Student Center.  Staff will be there to greet you.   You will be responsible for transportation to Morehouse College on June 4, 2012 only.  Upon reporting to Atlanta Metropolitan College, you will be provided with a MARTA card each week to ensure you are in attendance and on time every day of the Summer Institute.

RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTE TRANSPORTATION 

The departure location for Residential Institutes will be The New Schools at Carver located at 55 McDonough Boulevard, Atlanta, Georgia 30315.

Check-In and Registration on June 3, 2012

UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA students/parents will depart from Carver at 9:00 AM and parents will return at approximately 2:00 PM.

OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY students/parents will depart from Carver at 10:00 AM and parents will return at approximately 2:00 PM.

Residential Closing Program and Check-Out on June 23, 2012

UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA parents will depart from Carver at 9:00 AM and students/parents will return at approximately 2:00 PM.

OGLETHORPE UNIVERSITY parents will depart from Carver at 10:00 AM and students/parents will return at approximately 2:00 PM.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Isaac Sparks Jr., Project Administrator (404) 802-2307 or isparks@atlantapublicschools.us.

D. M. Therrell High School Class of 2012

Congratulations Therrell High class of 2012.  Look for a full photo gallery on Tuesday from our hardworking APS photographer, Scott King.

Maynard H. Jackson Class of 2012

Enjoy the photos from Jackson High School.  Audio and a larger gallery will be available next week.