The Atlanta Board of Education Welcome Back to Day One.
By Mariama Tyler Jenkins
Students at Dobbs Elementary filed off their busses and gathered in the gymnasium to meet their new teachers and classmates on Day One. Sitting “crisscross, applesauce,” students lined up, single file behind one another assembled in neat rows by grade level. For some students it is a reunion after a long summer, others are a little shy and apprehensive. Class by class, Dr. West, the principal, announced teachers’ names and the roster of students assigned to each class.
Dobbs Art Teacher Ms. MacNintch hugs first-grade student David Malcolm.
Some returning students like little David Malcolm and Saniya Washington, who sported a bright pink bookbag she received at the APS Back-to-School Bash just a week prior, had to be reminded that they had been promoted a grade—no longer in kindergarten, but rather first graders now.
When asked what he was looking forward to this school year, David answered, “I’m looking forward to visiting the museum. The one with the dinosaurs!” he exclaimed excitedly referring to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. “Yes, the one with the huge dinosaur, and they have a playground in the back,” he added.
David Malcolm and Saniya Washington sitting in line waiting to meet their new first-grade teachers.
Ms. MacNintch, the school’s art teacher, noticed the two children were in the wrong line and helped the youngsters line up with other new first graders, but not before she greeted David enthusiastically. While picking him up in her arms to give him a big hug, she shared: “David is the most interesting kid in the world.” Knowing how much he loves dinosaurs, Ms. MacNintch went on to tell David that over the summer, she picked up a book on dinosaurs and could not wait to give it to him.
“I have the best job in the world.” she said referring to her unique opportunity to interact with every student at Dobbs. “I get all of them, and just have to love on them.”
Imani Bailey (left), first grade, is escorted to her new class by Mahogany Earley, third grade.
One student, Imani Bailey, remained seated after all the names of the registered first graders had been called. Dr. West invited Imani to sit near her and become her helper—assigning her to hold the pink clip board that held the roster of students. Once all the student names had been called, Dr. West determined Imani’s classroom, and asked third grader Mahogany Earley to escort Imani to her new class. The girls held hands as they walked out the gym and down the hall.
As one teacher started to escort her newly assigned students out the gym through the left side of the double doors, Dr. West asked the teacher to “practice taking the students through the right side of the doors from the first day.” Every moment is a teachable moment, for students and adults alike. With that lesson, teaching and learning began on Day One.
by Kimberly Willis Green
At APS’ Slater Elementary School and Price Middle School, students were immersed in instruction on Day One, starting out with social and emotional learning, followed by math, social studies and “Instagrammar!”
Price Middle School Principal Duane Hale greets his students on their way to class.
Follow the Paws to Price Middle School
Upon arriving to Price Middle School, Principal Duane Hale greeting his students after breakfast and watched each one follow the “paws” to their classrooms.
At Price, “Math is Dog-Gone Fun” in Makarios Etheridge’s class. The former graduation coach and new math teacher opened his lesson with a “snowball” social emotional exercise. Social and emotional learning (SEL) involves the processes through which children, adolescents and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills in five areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Students wrote about themselves on a piece of paper, balled it up and threw it against the wall. Then each of them picked up a different snowball to read about their classmate to get to each another.
Makarios Etheridge’s math class at Price Middle School learns about SEL’s snowball effect.
The district has partnered with the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to implement a districtwide evidenced-based social and emotional learning initiative that will enhance instructional models, integrating SEL into the core curriculum, and establish a caring, inclusive culture school-wide, supported by strong home-school-community partnerships. This year, district is piloting the program in all middle schools and the Carver cluster schools. “SEL allows us to meet the social and emotional needs of our students in the Carver community,” said Hale, who also added how excited his team was to implement the initiative at Price.
Price Middle School Principal Duane Martin makes his daily morning announcements.
Later that morning, Mr. Hale made morning announcements informing his students and staff that “We are getting back to basics” and the importance of having mutual respect for one another.
Slater Elementary SWAG
The theme Slater Elementary School this year is “Because of Slater, We Can!” Principal Eunice Payne stood in the front office and welcomed her new and returning students and assisted their parents with completing enrollment for their students. Slater has the cutest sibling students around!
Slater Elementary School siblings groups are ready to learn on Day One!
The first class I visited made me wish I had Mrs. Darlene Dobbs for history and social studies back in my day.
Slater Elementary School Social Studies teacher Darlene Dobbs helps her students locate different continents on a beach ball globe.
Her students were divided by team and were quizzed on geography around the globe! “Who can tell me the continent surrounded by a body of water?” Students were engaged, excited and encouraging to Mrs. Dobbs who declared to one student, “I can tell I’m going to have fun with this class this year!”
As I walked down the hall, one particular board caught my eye – Slater Elementary English and Language Arts teachers are all about that “Instagrammar!” The instagram-themed board displayed posters about nouns, verbs and prepositional phrases that would make any ELA lesson interesting!
Slater Elementary’s ‘Instagrammar” board features information about nouns, verbs and prepositional phrases.
Upstairs in the third grade hallway, all four third grade teachers at Slater combined their classes for a lesson on social and emotional learning.
During a social and emotional learning session, all third grade teachers brought their students together for a family-style conversation about expectations for the new school year.
Similar to a family meeting, each teacher took turns and spoke to the class about expectations for the school year, writing and plagiarism, and emergency procedures for inclement weather or crises in the school community. What a great way for students to get to know their third grade peers!
Overall, Price Middle School and Slater Elementary were definitely ready for Day One and instruction was evident throughout both schools. Stay tuned to how social and emotional learning will be making an impact within the Carver cluster during the 2015-16 school year!
ATLANTA – Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is helping families prepare for the 2015-16 school year at its first APS Back-to-School Bash. The districtwide APS Back-to-School Bash will be held Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Atlanta Metropolitan State College Easley Conference Center located at 1630 Metropolitan Pkwy., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.
The Bash is a one-stop shop for all incoming and returning APS students and their families to learn about everything students will need for the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 5.
With over 70 exhibitors, this free event will offer health screenings, on-site enrollment and registration, APS programs and services, community and afterschool resources, fun activities for children, and a free backpack stuffed with school supplies (while supplies last). Upon arrival, APS families will receive a passport to help them navigate through the various booths to receive a free backpack for students in grades PreK-12. The Bash will also provide raffle contests, prize giveaways, a Sodexo Food truck to sample school menu offerings, the Braves Around Town, and the Fox5 StormChaser. Premiere sponsors for the event include Georgia Power, UPS, Google, Georgia Natural Gas, and Atlanta Metropolitan State College.
Admission is free for all APS families. Free shuttle bus transportation will be provided to and from the Bash at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. from the Oakland City MARTA Station, located at 1400 Lee St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310 and the following APS schools:
- Sutton Middle School, 2875 Northside Dr., NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
- Carver High School, 55 McDonough Blvd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30315
- Grady High School, 929 Charles Allen Dr., NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
- Jackson High School, 801 Glenwood Ave., SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
- Douglass High School, 225 Hamilton E. Holmes Dr., NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
- Mays High School, 3450 Benjamin E. Mays Dr., SW, Atlanta, GA 30331
- Therrell High School, 3099 Panther Tr., SW, Atlanta, GA 30311
- Washington High School, 45 Whitehouse Dr., NW, Atlanta, GA 30314
- South Atlanta High School, 800 Hutchens Rd., SE, Atlanta, GA 30354
Current APS students who require special needs transportation to and from the APS Bash can call 404-802-5513 to schedule a pick-up time and location.
For more information about the Bash, visit www.apsbacktoschool.com
Boyd, Centennial Place and Hutchinson elementary school students headed back to classes at 8 am on Monday, July 15 as Atlanta Public Schools kicks off “Day One APS” for year-round schools. The students were energetic and eager to learn as they familiarized themselves with new classes and teachers.
“We have seven new teachers who have come on board this year, and they are really excited,” says Principal Keisha Gibbons at Boyd Elementary School.
Teachers introduce themselves to their students, and outline their classroom expectations. “My style of teaching is all about showing passion and excitement in the subjects,” says Thomas Bussey, Third Grade Teacher at Centennial Place Elementary School. “If I am excited about what they’re learning, then the kids will be excited too.”
Year-round parents, please note that students who did not register for school by June 28 and are eligible for APS transportation will need to locate the nearest bus stop until bus routes for year-round schools are updated on July 26. For more information about transportation changes, visit http://www.atlantapublicschools.us/domain/5364.
The year-round school concept began several years ago as an alternative to the traditional school calendar. The goal was to provide some flexibility in scheduling and another way – along with summer school and enrichment programs – for students to retain more of what they learned throughout the school year. Centennial Place and Boyd elementary schools were the first APS schools to adopt the year-round schedule during the 1999-2000 school year. Hutchinson Elementary was added in 2004. The summer break, or intersession, began June 3 for year-round students.
Many APS schools are hosting open house events for parents, students and the community tomorrow, August 3 in advance of the first day of classes for the new school year on Monday, August 6.
The activities include registration and informational meetings, along with fun and engaging events and colorful displays.
Below is a partial list of APS schools hosting open house events tomorrow, August 3, along with the times of the activities at each school.
- Burgess-Peterson Academy, 480 Clifton St., SE, Atlanta, 30316 – 1 to 3 p.m.
- Coretta Scott King Academy Middle School, 1190 Northwest Dr., NW, Atlanta 30318 – 9 to 11 a.m.
- Dobbs Elementary School, 2025 Jonesboro Rd., SE Atlanta 30315 – 9 to 12 p.m.
- Inman Middle School, 774 Virginia Av., NE Atlanta 30306 – 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
- Toomer Elementary School, 65 Rogers St., NE Atlanta 30317 – 2 to 3:30 p.m.
- Parkside Elementary School, 685 Mercer St., Atlanta 30312 – 2 to 5:00 p.m.
News media representatives are invited to cover these open house events Friday in advance of the first day of classes for the new school year on Monday, August 6, 2012.
Is your school hosting an open house? Post the date and times in the comment section below.
Whitefoord Elementary parents can register their child and shop for school supplies at the same time. Thanks to a community partnership, Whitefoord parents have the convenience of shopping on site for affordable school supplies their children need for the entire school year.
The staff of Edgewood Church transform a classroom into the Whitefoord School Supply Store. Due to the ongoing state of the economy, the church works really hard to collect all the school supplies the children at Whitefoord Elementary need, and let their parents/guardians buy them at a very discounted price during student registration. Throughout the summer, residents, community organizations, and local stores donate all of the school supplies.
“For the past three years, we’ve done this school store as a way to support the school and involve the community in helping children prepare for the new school year,” says Carrie Dean, co-pastor of Edgewood Church.
“This store gives parents the opportunity to provide for their own children, and teachers a classroom of students ready to start the year, and the school a small “ministry” fund,” says Dean.
“We are grateful to partner with Edgewood Church and thank the entire Edgewood community for assisting our students with all of the supplies they need to be prepared for a successful school year,” says principal Tim Foster.”
Changes for new school year include boundaries, transportation
The first day of classes for the 2012-13 school year for most APS students is Monday, August 6, 2012. APS students who attend the district’s three year-round schools began classes for the new school year on July 10, 2012.
There are significant changes impacting students and parents for the new school year resulting from budget considerations and the district-wide redistricting initiative. These changes are detailed on the district Web site (www.atlantapublicschools.us) under the scrolling banner at to the top of the home page ’New at APS for the 2012-13 School Year’.
Beginning this school year, out-of-zone students enrolled in magnet programs at Douglass, Grady, Mays, North Atlanta and Washington high schools will no longer receive district pupil transportation to and from school. Students who reside outside of the attendance zones for these schools and meet certain qualification criteria will receive MARTA passes provided by the district.
Additionally, students attending Crim High School and West End Academy will no longer be provided district pupil transportation to and from these schools. MARTA passes will be provided by the district for students who attend these alternative schools and who meet certain qualification criteria. Also, students attending out-of-zone schools due to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) transfers will no longer be provided with district pupil transportation services. Georgia is one of a number of states that was provided a waiver from the NCLB requirements by the federal government.
The Atlanta Board of Education approved attendance zone changes and school closures as part of the district-wide redistricting initiative. APS schools slated for closure under the plan are Capitol View, Cook, East Lake, Herndon and White elementary schools, along with Kennedy and Parks middle schools. Parks and Kennedy middle schools will remain open during the 2012-13 school year.
The district has also reconfigured the schools into cluster configurations with specific elementary and middle schools feeding into designated high schools with an associated continuity of foreign language courses and academic programs.
The district’s two single-gender schools – Coretta School King Young Women’s Leadership Academy and B.E.S.T. Academy – are currently available for district-wide enrollment.
Parents may now access school zone interactive maps on the district website.
A number of other changes are being implemented for the 2012-13 school year. Students and parents are encouraged to visit the district’s Web site for details or contract their local schools.
Newer Posts