SRT-1 and SRT-4 N.W. cluster community stakeholders are invited to provide input and feedback on possible solutions to current changes in student enrollment. Independent demographers will present multiple scenarios for your consideration on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Douglass High School. See below a letter from superintendent Erroll Davis along with a list of schools in the SRT-1 and 4 cluster.
ATLANTA – Jasmine Davis, a senior at Frederick Douglass High School, has been named to State School Superintendent Dr. John D. Barge’s 2011-12 Student Advisory Council.
Davis is among fifty students from across the state appointed to the council, scheduled to meet twice throughout the school year to advise Dr. Barge and the Georgia Department of Education on how state policies are impacting the classroom.
More than 700 students applied to be members of the council by filling out an application and drafting a response to an essay question. Students were selected for the panel based on their responses, as well as their school and community involvement.
The first meeting of the council is Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at the Georgia Department of Education in Atlanta.
This summer Outward Bound Atlanta announced the second annual recipient of the John Webster 4 Pillars Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes one student in Atlanta Public Schools who embodies the Four Pillars of Outward Bound; physical fitness, craftsmanship, self-reliance, and compassion. Michael Johnson, a Senior from Carver Early College received the scholarship this year, giving him the opportunity to participate in a 21-day expedition that included hiking, rock climbing, and canoeing.
Through this experience, Michael said that he gained a sense of what it means to do something to the best of one’s ability. During the 21 days in the mountains of North Carolina, Michael faced many challenges; such as preparing food in the woods over camp stoves, setting up tarps to sleep under well enough that no one would get wet when it rained, belaying members of his group and helping them climb safely, and learning to paddle a canoe which Michael felt was the most difficult part of his experience. Michael shared with Outward Bound Atlanta instructors that when he did something as well as he could, the task became easier and the results were better than when he did not try his best. After returning from the trip, Michael shared this discovery, and since returning to school the concept of craftsmanship has been a topic that is constantly revealed in conversations and interactions with him.
The experience challenged him and gave Michael an opportunity to shine, sharing his strengths with the other members of his crew. As an athlete on campus Michael has demonstrated a commitment to physical fitness that he says paid off in the wilderness. The challenges of running 7 miles up and around a mountain and rock climbing were easy compared to the challenge he experienced while canoeing. Although paddling the canoe proved to be the most difficult of his physical and mental challenges, by the end of his week on the water, Michael had given the task his all and actually began to enjoy it!
After 21 days without a cell phone or computer, without fast food or soda, the first thing Michael asked for when OBA instructors picked him up from the Asheville Airport was fast food. He turned on his cell phone and began texting the entire way home. But, when asked if he would ever do it again or recommend it to others, Michael enthusiastically replied, “yes!” and asked if he could do another course.
Anyone interested in applying for this incredible scholarship opportunity should contact the Community Instructors with Outward Bound Atlanta at amartin@obatlanta.org or jraheem@obatlanta.org.
K. Bradley Rouse – team chef for the Atlanta Hawks serves up lunch to Mary Lin Elementary students during the 2010 Lunch Week
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CIS of Atlanta's Patty Pflum and Henry Coleman join Councilman Aaron Watson, Clifford the Big Red Dog and Benteen students.
Atlanta – Oct. 4, 2011 – Today, Atlanta City Councilman Aaron Watson was joined by Clifford the Big Red Dog and Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta Executive Director Patty Pflum at Benteen Elementary School for the Atlanta stop of the Be A Reader tour. Through this national partnership, Carl Buddig is donating $100,000 to Reading Is Fundamental’s to support children’s literacy programs.
Councilman Aaron Watson and Patty Pflum read, “Max for President” to a captive audience of third graders at Atlanta’s Benteen Elementary School. Beloved children’s book character, Clifford the Big Red Dog, was on hand to greet Benteen’s students and help with book selections. After an engaging question and answer session with Councilman Watson, each student selected a new book for their home libraries.
“Reading is so very important,” shared Watson, a graduate of Notre Dame and Duke universities. “I attribute my love of reading and learning with my success. I want to see each of you succeed in life too.”
Patty Pflum was happy to see that Benteen’s students enjoyed the event. “We are thrilled to be able to work with local schools to bring programs like Reading Is Fundamental to students,” said Patricia Pflum, Communities In Schools of Atlanta Executive Director. “Without RIF and committed partners like Buddig, many children in our community would not have books at home.”
“Our brand has been nourishing young minds for more than 100 years, and we believe that reading and literacy go hand-in-hand with good nutrition to support a lifelong love of learning,” said Tom Buddig, executive vice president marketing, Carl Buddig & Company. “We’re thrilled to be sponsoring the Be A Reader tour and proud to be part of the work that RIF is doing in local communities across the nation.”
“Now more than ever, RIF is counting on strong corporate partners like Carl Buddig & Company to fulfill its mission of motivating children to become lifelong readers, prepared to achieve in school and life,” said Carol H. Rasco, president and CEO of RIF.
The Be A Reader campaign extends through May of 2012 and encourages families to enjoy reading time together through activities, special promotions, and community outreach. Now through Oct. 30, families can also participate in the Sandwich and A Story sweepstakes (www.Buddig.com/SandwichAndAStory) for a chance to win a Scholastic book library and a Buddig lunchpack filled with school supplies.
To learn more about the Buddig Be A Reader campaign, visit www.buddig.com.To make a donation to RIF, visit www.rif.org/donate. To learn more about Communities In Schools of Atlanta, visit www.cisatlanta.org.
Councilman Aaron Watson reads to Benteen's students.
About Carl Buddig & Company:
Carl Buddig & Company, based in Homewood, Ill., has been nourishing young minds for more than 100 years with the very best in taste, variety and convenience. Now Buddig is nourishing young minds as a proud supporter of Reading is Fundamental (RIF). Carl Buddig & Company is a family owned, privately held company managed by the third generation of the original founder. The Buddig family business got its start as a butcher shop on Chicago’s south side in the 1880s. Since 1940 Carl Buddig & Company has offered thin-sliced lean meats for sandwiches, snacks and special recipes. Visit www.buddig.com for more information about Carl Buddig products.
About Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF)
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), founded in 1966, motivates children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. RIF’s highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8. Through community volunteers in every state and U.S. territory, RIF provided 4 million children with 15 million new, free books and literacy resources last year. For more information and to access reading resources, visit RIF’s website at www.rif.org.
About Communities In Schools of Atlanta
Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta, founded in 1972, surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Through partnerships with Atlanta Public Schools and the DeKalb County School System, CIS of Atlanta impacts the lives of more than 45,000 students annually. CIS of Atlanta’s award-winning dropout prevention programs focus on improving student attendance and behavior, increasing parental engagement and bring critical resources to students and families. CIS of Atlanta operates one of the largest Reading Is Fundamental programs in Georgia. Visit www.cisatlanta.org for more information.
ATLANTA – The 11thAnnual Joseph E. Lowery Lecture Series on Civic Engagement took place on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at D. M. Therrell School of Law, Government and Public Policy, 3099 Panther Trail, SW, Atlanta, GA 30311. Seniors from all APS schools were invited to hear from civic leaders during this once in a lifetime event.
Among those participating were Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who served as the keynote speaker, Atlanta Board of Education Chair Brenda J. Muhammad, APS Superintendent Erroll B. Davis, Jr. and Therrell Principal Esmie Gaynor alongside high school students from several APS schools.
This year’s annual event coincided with the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery’s 90th birthday. Rev. Lowery is one of the nation’s strongest and most consistent advocates for racial justice, human rights and world peace. On January 20, 2009, he delivered the benediction for the inauguration of President Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. In August 2009, Rev. Lowery received the nation’s highest civilian award – the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The most poignant moments of the day came during the question and answer session between Lowery, Reed and students. When speaking about the importance of voting, civil rights and his friend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Lowery said “Martin represented the soul of a nation.”
Please click on the link above to view photos and hear audio from this stellar event.
On Thursday, September 22, 2011 at Whiteford Elementary, Board of Education member Cecily Harsh-Kinnane hosted a district 3 community meeting featuring a question and answer session with superintendent Erroll Davis.
Below is the third in a series of questions and answers addressed at that meeting.
Q: Mr. Johnson said something that concerns me – that parents should hold the board’s feet to the fire. Does the board have a mission statement and a system of accountability?
Mr. Davis: Yes, the system does have a mission statement. The board just went through a complete reorganization of its governance structure. And a key part of board meetings is time set aside for community input, which we value. Feedback from parents and community members helps inform our policies and ensure accountability. Parental involvement is so important that our remediation plan has been designed not only to work with the child, but also the parents. For example, we want parents to know that homework is there for a reason. It is not called home play; it’s homework. Working together, we can get important messages across to students.
(Both Mr. Johnson and Ms. Harsch-Kinnane added that they’d like parents to understand and to help educate others on the role of board members. It is not to engage in the day-to-day administration of the school system.)
