One Million Bones Challenge at the South Atlanta Educational Complex

Led by Mr. Allen Lee, a history teacher at the School of Law and Social Justice at South Atlanta Educational Complex, students joined the global effort to raise awareness of the ongoing conflict in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On May 16^th, students in Mr. Lee’s classes and others throughout the building gathered to hear a presentation as part of the One Million Bones project led by Students Rebuild (http://studentsrebuild.org/educators) and make papier-mâché bones as a “visible petition against humanitarian crises”. Each bone will ensure that $1 is donated from the Bezos Family Foundation to support CARE’s humanitarian efforts in the conflict regions.

The bones will be collected and used to cover the National Mall in Washington D.C. on June 8^th, along with other bones made all over the world by other students and organizations. “Our efforts will go to provide food for nearly $400 students in Congo and/or Somalia, or essential work equipment for 40 students in these regions,” said a visibly proud Mr. Lee.

 

Students across the campus, staff and even Principal Peter Mcknight used old newspapers, glue, tape and other materials to make 1,194 bones, resulting in $1,194 raised for the effort. Students will continue to make bones for the effort until the end of the school year.

Anyone interested in the project can watch the installation live on a streaming webcast at gng.org.

Thank you.

 

written by Shanna Miles, Media Specialist at the South Atlanta Educational Complex

“The Boycott” performed at South Atlanta High School

The South Atlanta High School hosted a performance of the play “The Boycott” on February 28, 2013. The cast numbered over thirty actors, actresses, singers and dancers and the play highlighted events surrounding the bus boycott in Montgomery Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement.

“The Boycott” intermixed personal and group dynamics along with music, dance and monologues to illustrate the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a political and social protest campaign against the policy of racial segregation on the public transit system of Montgomery, Alabama. The campaign lasted from December 1, 1955 to December 20, 1956, when a federal ruling took effect and led to a United States Supreme Court decision that declared the Alabama and Montgomery laws requiring segregated buses to be unconstitutional.

“The Boycott” is an intergenerational play featuring the students of South Atlanta High School, the Harriet Daniel Senior Center Dancing Divas and other members of the community. South Atlanta Drama Instructor Tia Cowart and South Atlanta High extend a special thanks to Ms. Gwen Hubbard and Ms. Joyce Lewis for bringing this project to South Atlanta High School!

South Atlanta Hornets advance to the state AAAA Final Four

The South Atlanta Hornets are going on to the Final Four! Coach Reddick and his Hornets stood firm and rallied against Alexander High School for a 78-68 win for the Hornets, who advance to the Class AAAA semi finals on Saturday March 2 against Eagles Landing (26-5).

“We adjusted our defense at the end of the second quarter and it backfired on us,” Reddick said. “At halftime we told them that we just needed to calm down and stay focused and things would fall back into place for us. But that Alexander team is a scrappy bunch.”

The Alexander High School Cougars played the Hornets close the whole game. South Atlanta refocused at halftime and led by 10 late in the third quarter.  Alexander converted a crucial four-point play and trailed by six points, 57-51, going into the final period. Then the Cougars went on a 9-3 run to tie at 60 with five minutes left in the game.  The Hornets then went on a 10-0 burst to cap the game.

“Our kids are pretty resilient. By now, after the summer league games and fall leagues they’ve played almost 80 games together, like an NBA team,” Reddick said. “They are at a point where they don’t panic.”

Reddick said his team’s tough schedule prepared them for their present post-season trek, and this game was clear evidence of that.

“We played one of the toughest schedules in Class AAAA, if not the state,” Reddick said. “We played Marist, Grady and Columbia twice, and all of those teams have been ranked all season. That has helped us be mentally tough.”

Junior guard Costa Anderson led the Hornets and all scorers with 21 points.

“We’ve been here before, many times,” Anderson said. “Our coaches have prepared us and we’ve been in close games, so this was nothing new.”

Senior forward Kertiss Baisden stated that the Hornets’ extended, difficult schedule has helped the team as well.

“You can’t get tired,” said Baisden, who went for a double – double in scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. “We have too much to play for. We want a ring. That’s why we have a poster of the ring in the gym to keep us motivated and remind us of why we’re here: To win a championship.”

Congratulations to the South Atlanta High boys basketball team for a huge third round state AAAA basketball tournament win over Alexander High School by the score of 78-68. South Atlanta now advances to the Final Four, and will play Saturday night, March 2, 2013 at Fort Valley State College at 8:30 p.m. against Eagles Landing. Go Hornets!

South Atlanta’s Christina Wilkerson on NBC’s Education Nation

School of Computer Animation and Design at South Atlanta student Christina Wilkerson’s video entry on education innovations and reforms recently aired on a segment of MSNBC’s Education Nation 2012 Student Town Hall Meeting with Melissa Harris Perry.

Christina’s video was chosen from among hundreds of entries from high school students across the country. Her chosen video featured her recounting her scholastic learning experiences as a student.

She also voiced her recommendations for making school curriculum more engaging to today’s multi tasking students and how interactive learning can make classroom lessons fun.

APS students invited to engage with state lawmakers at national conference

Students from Atlanta Public Schools were invited to engage with state lawmakers from around the country during the 34th Annual National Black Caucus of State Legislators Legislative Conference Youth Congress Day. Two concurrent sessions, a youth house and youth senate session allowed students to discuss, debate and pass a range of bills into law. Legislative topics included school bullying, youth driving privileges, student performance-based teacher salaries and a standardized HOPE Scholarship eligibility reporting system.

Following the youth house and senate sessions, students attended the Youth Congress Day luncheon with state law makers, motivational speaker Dennis Rahiim Watson, and actor Hosea Chanchez. During the luncheon, Raven Tukes of South Atlanta High, Dorrian Swinger and Shaundrika Baker of Therrell High, and Marquez Allen of Washington High were awarded $500 scholarships for their demonstrated commitment to their community.

South Atlanta’s Nick Jacobs discusses signing with the University of Alabama

We took a few minutes to interview South Atlanta High’s star center, Nick Jacobs, on National Signing Day, so he could discuss his decision to play for the University of Alabama. South Atlanta’s having a heck of a year and has a shot of returning to the state championship game if it keeps things up. Coach Michael Reddick joined in the discussion.

The Atlanta Educator‘s Winter 2010 edition hits the streets

The Winter 2010 issue of the award-winning Atlanta Educator, a product of the Atlanta Public Schools’ Office of Communications, hits the streets this week to celebrate the many business and community partnerships that help our students in their journey to excellence.

In this issue, read all about the collaboration with KaBOOM!, which helps schools and community partners build a playground in one memorable day. Read about author and former Atlanta Brave Brian Jordan’s commitment to the students of APS and his recent visit to Centennial Place Elementary. Walk with Karen Riggins-Taylor, middle school principal at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, as she tours Graphic Packaging International with CEO David Scheible. And you’ll visit Turkey with Bolton Academy kindergarten teacher Claudine Curry as she shares her experiences with the global social-media group ePals.

Save the date: ‘Domecoming 2010′ football games scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23

The “Domecoming 2010” event features five APS high school football teams scheduled to compete throughout the day, Saturday, Oct. 23, at the stadium where the Atlanta Falcons play their home games – the Georgia Dome. The public is invited to attend the games. Admission is $10 for tickets purchased in advance or $15 for tickets purchased at the stadium on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at all APS high schools and at Ticketmaster. Admission is restricted to ticketholders only.

Below is a schedule of the “Domecoming 2010” games for Saturday, Oct. 23:
11 a.m. – South Atlanta vs. Lovett
2 p.m. – Carver vs. Dunwoody
5 p.m. – Washington vs. Druid Hills
8 p.m. – Douglass vs. Mays

These are homecoming games for South Atlanta, Carver, Washington and Douglass high schools. APS invites everyone to come out and cheer for their favorite high school football teams, as the students always appreciate a large crowd cheering them on in the same stadium where the National Football League pros compete.

Grady Stadium reopens just in time for Friday Night Lights, APS style

UPDATE: Grady trounced McNair 33-6, while North Atlanta got past South Atlanta 13-6. Check out the photo gallery here.

Football season kicks off tonight in the newly renovated Grady Stadium between Atlanta Public Schools’ (APS) North Atlanta and South Atlanta high schools, which starts at 5:30 p.m., and McNair vs. Grady (APS) high schools, which starts at 8 p.m.  The stadium is one of two owned and managed by APS.  Built in 1948, it is the only high school stadium in Atlanta that is located on a high school campus. The stadium was used as a training site for athletes during the 1996 Olympic Games, and occasionally has hosted public practices for the Atlanta Falcons. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Grady Stadium reopening will take place later this fall.

For more information, contact: Jeff Beggs, APS Athletic Director, at 770-364-0816.

Kudos to South Atlanta grad Derrick Favors, the ACC Rookie of the Year

Yes, it’s official: Georgia Tech freshman and South Atlanta High grad Derrick Favors — a projected Top 5 pick in the NBA Draft — has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year! Favors, you may recall, was the AJC prep player of the year last year when he led South Atlanta to the Class AAA boys’ basketball title. Here’s the lowdown from the AJC on this year’s honor …

The 6-10 forward averaged 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds for the Yellow Jackets, who will play North Carolina at 7 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the ACC tournament in Greensboro. Favors has declined to say if he will be leaving Tech after the season for the NBA. He said last week that he will sit down after the season and make a decision.

Congrats, Derrick! You make South Atlanta and APS so proud!