JA Day at L.O.K!

L.O. Kimberly welcomed the JROTC students from Therrell High School as students at Kimberly participated in JA Day.  JA Day is a day designed for Junior Achievement members to support the community by volunteering to deliver the JA curriculum and share experiences with students.  The focus of the Junior Achievement organization is to educate all students about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy.  These concepts are taught by providing hands-on programs.  According to the Junior Achievement of Georgia’s website, JA programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace.  Students put these lessons into action, and they learned the value of contributing to their communities.

During JA Day at L.O.K, each grade level experienced a different lesson to inspire and prepare them for their own economic success.  Kindergarten students participated in activities and heard stories to develop personal economic concepts.  The first graders learned about the roles families have in the local economy, and second grade students examined responsibilities and economic opportunities in a community. 

When asked about the day with the JA volunteers, first grader Kelmonte W. said, “It was fun because they let us read.” 

Ann L., also a first grader, commented, “We got to decorate our own map of places where community helpers work.” 

The third grade students discussed local business and career opportunities, fourth grade students focused on state and regional economies, and fifth grade focused on business operations, job skills and economics on a national level.

“We learned about owning our own businesses,” explained Sa’Devion B., a third grader at Kimberly.  “I want to own my own bowling alley near where I live so kids and adults can have fun together in their own neighborhood.”

The experiences shared by the volunteers from Therrell High School were valuable experiences for our students at Kimberly.  The high school students enjoyed lunch with each class, and during this time, the elementary students were able to ask questions about high school and life beyond elementary school.  Kimberly’s counselor, Mrs. Harkless-Brown, helped to organize the event.  She was pleased with the “extra knowledge” gained by all of the students, and she looks forward to providing this program for students each year.

“The Land of the Free, and the Home of the Brave”

On Monday, November 5th the 3^rd grade chorus at Kimberly Elementary presented a patriotic program filled with great music and articulate U.S. history facts. In honor of Election Day 2012, students wore red, white and blue as they performed songs honoring our nation.

“Under the direction of our music teacher and teacher of the year, Mr. Richard Harris, the chorus presented a patriotic program filled with great music and important history,” explained Jennifer Saunders, a teacher at Kimberly.

Students also presented a brief history of the United States, beginning with Betsy Ross and ending with the 2008 election of President Barack Obama.

“This proved to be meaningful, not only for the participating students, but for the attentive audience members of students and parents,” Saunders said.

During the program, parents and guests were encouraged to exercise their right to vote in this year’s election. The program helped students understand the importance of Election Day and voting throughout the United States.

The 3rd Grade chorus at Kimberly Elementary celebrates patriotism through music.

Georgia State’s ‘Pounce’ Visits the Stingers!

Georgia State University and Kimberly Elementary School have had a long and meaningful relationship for several years.  Kimberly Elementary serves as a Professional Development School (PDS) for students enrolled in the College of Education.  The partnership has resulted in many former GA State education students joining the faculty of Kimberly.

“This relationship has benefitted not only the students at Kimberly, but the teachers as well. Each year, pre-service teachers spend their training hours working with the students and learning from the teachers at Kimberly,” said Jennifer Saunders, a teacher at Kimberly Elementary.

This year, with a focus on college and career readiness, GA State allowed their mascot, Pounce, as well as several GA State Cheerleaders to come and encourage the students to visit GA State during their kid-friendly homecoming weekend which takes place on October 20.  The students were able to see and experience some of the excitement college has to offer as it relates to extra-curricular activities.

First Lady Sandra Deal greeted with smiles, gifts and hugs by Pre-K students at four APS schools

Pre-K students at Connally Elementary enjoy a story ready by First Lady Deal.

Kimberly Elementary Pre-K students were excited about their story time as well.

The Beecher Bees at Beecher Hills Elementary were excellent listeners during storytime.

There were plenty of hugs during Continental Colony's storytime with First Lady Deal.

Click below to watch the video!

Watch the video!

On Friday, April 20, Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, the wife of Governor Nathan Deal, paid visits to four APS elementary schools and read to Pre-K students in their classrooms as part of her effort to emphasize the importance of literacy, reading and early learning.

Pre-K students at Connally Elementary School, Beecher Hills Elementary School, Kimberly Elementary School and Continental Colony Elementary School listed as the First Lady spoke to the children about the importance of making reading an important part of their everyday lives and becoming life-long readers.

It was a great day for reading! View the full photo gallery HERE.

Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal to visit four APS schools to read to Pre-K students, emphasize literacy

Earlier this school year, First Lady Deal visited and read to students at Cook Elementary School. Click the photo to view the entire gallery.

Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, the wife of Governor Nathan Deal, is scheduled to visit four APS elementary schools Friday, April 20, where she will read to Pre-K students in their classrooms as part of her effort to emphasize the importance of literacy, reading and early learning.

Mrs. Deal’s schools visit schedule includes stops at:

· Connally Elementary School, 1654 S. Alvarado Way, Atlanta 30311 at 9 a.m.

· Beecher Hills Elementary School, 2257 Bolingbrook Dr., Atlanta 30311 at 9:40 a.m.

· Kimberly Elementary School, 3090 McMurray Dr., Atlanta 30311 at 10:40 a.m.

· Continental Colony Elementary School, 3181 Hogan Rd., Atlanta 30331 at 11:45 a.m.

During each stop, Mrs. Deal will read to one or two classrooms of preschoolers, as well as talk to the children about the importance of making reading an important part of their everyday lives and becoming life-long readers.

Media representatives are invited to attend and cover these events. Note that since Mrs. Deal’s schedule includes a tight timeframe, it is important to arrive ahead of the scheduled arrival time at each location to be in position to cover the visits.

Kimberly Elementary welcomes male rodels to ‘Donuts for Dads’

It may not have been the Million Man March, but the feeling and mood of the experience was the same — “Donuts for Dads” at L.O. Kimberly Elementary! Donuts for Dads is an annual tradition held by the Kimberly male staff, to gather the male figures and their children together in a time of reflection and instruction.

The event offers the students and guardians the time to experience quality instruction and strategies taught at the school. The event also highlights tips for success in each academic area and grade. Each year the participation increases – so much, in fact, that organizers had moved the event into the gymnasium where they still had guests eager to get in.

This year’s Donuts for Dads’ focus was mathematics, particularly multiplication for the upper grades. The facilitators provided strategies to assist the students in multiplying all numbers. There were various fourth- and fifth-grade students assisting guardians with the multiplication examples. Kimberly Stingers are “Buzzing with Success!”

Kimberly Elementary students earn writing-contest awards

Pictured (from L-R): Adrion Walker, fifth-grade teacher; Kayla Paige; Darnell Fullum, AFCEMA; Quiana Bryant, fifth-grade teacher; Carolyn T. Hall, principal; Patrice Lisbon, leadership support specialist

Congratulations to our “Ready, Set, Go” Art and Essay Contest winners. Kimberly Elementary student Kayla Paige won first place and classmate Jessica Williams received an honorable mention. The contest was sponsored by the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of the contest was to get the word out to families and schools about being prepared for emergencies. Only Georgia fifth-graders were able to enter art projects and essays. Both of the Kimberly students entered the essay portion.

The students placed in the top five out of 400 entries submitted to GEMA. Atlanta-Fulton County Emergency Management Agency Director Darnell Fullum presented the certificates to Paige and Williams. You can review the website to view the contest results and essays here. Hat tip to Principal Hall for sharing the info!

Kimberly Elementary to benefit from grant awarded to Georgia State University

Kimberly Elementary School has been a partner with Georgia State University for more than eight years. Five years ago, GSU received a $6 million dollar grant and became a Professional Development School. Kimberly, Bunche Middle and the Therrell Educational Complex enjoyed the privilege of becoming Professional Development Schools.

Over the past five years, Kimberly has received numerous interns, student teachers helping to decrease the student-teacher ratio. GSU faculty provided staff development and math endorsements. “The school has received incredible support for its instructional program,” said Karen Ross, the instructional liaison specialist at Kimberly, adding that teachers from all three schools participated and received funds to receive master’s degrees in education. The school’s teachers have served as visiting instructors at GSU. As a result of our interaction with GSU, Kimberly has presented nationally five times at the National Professional Development Schools Conference.

Principal for a Day: Dunbar Elementary welcomes Dr. Gwen Benson

Georgia State's Dr. Gwen Benson and Dunbar Principal Betty Greene review performance standards.

Sometimes you really can go home again. As Dr. Gwen Benson of Georgia State University walked the halls of Dunbar Elementary, the former Atlanta Public Schools employee couldn’t help but note how far the district has come.
“It’s more inclusive of students with disabilities, and there’s more support for students and principals,” said Benson, who served as Principal for a Day. The associate dean of the GSU School of Community Partnerships also noted that, “professional development for principals is at a higher standard.”

Benson walked the halls with Betty Greene, Dunbar’s actual principal, and noticed walls covered with student projects that fulfilled academic standards in topics ranging from science to social studies.

“We don’t have blank walls,” Greene said. “[Students] are excited when they see their work up, and images of themselves on the walls.”