We had a chance to videotape some of the speeches delivered by the valedictorians, salutatorians and “STAR” students who were honored this week at the annual breakfast featuring Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall and hosted by Georgia Power. Here we get to watch in on Paul Harris, Jr. (valedictorian and “STAR” student of Carver Early College) and Edward Furman Mosely, III (salutatorian of Douglass High) speak during the segment “Fulfilling the Dream.” Enjoy!
Atlanta Public Schools students improved their performance by four percentage points and eliminated the achievement gap between the district and students around the state on the new Georgia Grade 8 Writing Assessment in 2011. Also, 83 percent of APS eighth-graders scored at “meets” or “exceeds” standards levels.
The results indicate steady improvement by APS students to the point where they are on par with their counterparts throughout the state, who also averaged 83 percent meeting or exceeding standards on the 2011 writing assessment.
A total of 3,093 APS students took the state writing test. The results indicate that APS students improved their performance from 79 percent meeting or exceeding standards last year to 83 percent scoring in those categories on the 2011 results.
The new Georgia Grade 8 Writing Assessment was administered for the first time in 2007. The purpose of the assessment is to assess student achievement on the Georgia Performance Standards in writing and to improve writing and writing instruction. Students are required to respond to writing prompts on either an expository or persuasive writing topic.
“Consistent, incremental improvement over time constitutes positive proof that our reform programs implemented over the past decade are effective in escalating student academic performance,” said Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall. “I congratulate our teachers and school-based staff and administrators for their dedication and hard work to achieve these very positive results.”
UPDATES: Check out the photo gallery here. Watch speech by Carver Early College’s Paul Harris, Jr., and Douglass’ Edward Furman Mosley, III, here. Watch speech by Carver Early College teacher Matt Westmoreland here.
Atlanta Public Schools‘ valedictorians, salutatorians and “STAR” students were honored Wednesday morning with a breakfast hosted by Georgia Power and featuring Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall.
“This celebration is one of my favorite events – for two very good reasons. First, it kicks off graduation season in Atlanta Public Schools. And second, this event represents the school district’s collective opportunity to publicly and proudly acknowledge the work of our valedictorians, salutatorians, STAR students, and STAR teachers,” Dr. Hall told the gathering.”
Dr. Hall went on to acknowledge sponsor Georgia Power, APS Associate Superintendent of High Schools Randolph Bynum, and the school principals, staff members, teachers and counselors. Dr. Hall also singled out the STAR teachers and students, the latter of whom scored the highest on their college entrance exams. The STAR student then selects the teacher who they believe made the difference in their education.
“STAR teachers were chosen for their significant contribution to students’ scholastic development,” Dr. Hall said. “Through their talent and passion, these teachers have left an indelible mark on their students’ lives – and for that, again, we thank them.”
First Lady Michelle Obama marked the first anniversary of her Let’s Move initiative with a visit to Burgess-Peterson Academy on Wednesday afternoon. The school is one of the leaders in Atlanta Public Schools when it comes to health, wellness and nutrition efforts thanks to hard work among faculty, staff, students, parents and its network of community partners. (Check out a mini-photo gallery above, or the big one here.)
Principal Robin Robbins led the first lady on a tour of the school, which included a visit to Megan Kiser‘s second-grade class, munching on blueberries — the snack of the day. Students and master gardeners Adam Waterson and Michelle Rice — just some of the school’s community partners — took her on a tour of the outdoor garden the school built with support from Georgia Organics. “Coach” Betty Jackson, the school’s physical education instructor, has been instrumental in helping lead these efforts, and was excited about the visit.
Warren T. Jackson Elementary School is one of only 22 schools in the state to be recognized as a 2010 Georgia Schools of Excellence in Student Achievement award winner. Jackson earned the recognition for being among the top 10 percent of schools in Georgia, as determined by the results of state standardized tests in reading and mathematics.
“I am extremely proud of the students, teachers, principal and staff at Jackson Elementary School for their performance that resulted in this very special recognition from the state,” said APS Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall. “To be one of only 22 schools in the state to be singled out is a tremendous achievement and is something everyone should celebrate.”
To be considered for the recognition, schools must also meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for a minimum of three consecutive years; meet or exceed state testing scores in science and social studies; and be established for five or more years.
Each school will receive $1,000 from Georgia Natural Gas.
Fifteen APS schools earned Title 1 Distinguished Schools awards and $43,598 in award money from the Georgia Department of Education for their academic performance during the 2009-2010 school year.
The winning schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in terms of their student academic performance as measured by standardized tests for at least three consecutive years. Those achieving AYP for four consecutive years receive a monetary award, funded by the federal government.
The APS Title 1 Distinguished School award winners are:
Burgess-Peterson Academy — $7,384
Continental Colony ES — $7,384
Sylvan Hills MS — $7,384
Bunche MS — $7,384
Garden Hills ES — $7,384
Brown MS – Certificate
South Atlanta HS School of Health and Medical Science – Certificate
Centennial Place ES — $1,113
Inman MS — $742
KIPP West Atlanta Young Scholars — $742
Charles Drew Charter — $742
Atlanta Charter MS — $742
Early College High School at Carver — $742
Sutton MS — $742
E. Rivers ES — $1,113
Title 1 schools have a significant number of students who are economically disadvantaged, according to federal standards.
“I congratulate the students, teachers, principals and staffs for their hard work and commitment to excellence in earning this special recognition from the state,” said Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall. “This level of achievement underscores the effectiveness of urban school reform initiatives put in place over the past decade that have escalated student academic achievement consistently over time.”
A total of 868 schools across the state earned the Georgia Title 1 Distinguished Schools awards this year.
The annual APS Awards honored those schools that made their district targets in a ceremony held Nov. 2 at Douglass High School. APS Superintendent Dr. Beverly L. Hall gave out the awards. She noted the tremendous advances made at APS thanks to its reform efforts, including increased scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test, a doubling of scholarship money offered students, increased graduation rates, improved performance on state exams, improved financial stewardship, and more effective wellness programs. Hall expressed pride at all of these achievements:
I want you to know that, together, we remain on a solid journey to excellence. To paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, if we are going to continue to lift students up – that is, to raise achievement – then we, ourselves, can only do so by standing on higher ground. Please stay focused on the collective high standards you’ve demonstrated throughout the past several years. As we carry on our important work, let’s remember that we absolutely have something to celebrate. At the same time, we still have much more to do.
Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy sixth-grader Taylor Garlington provided the welcome for guests, while the Douglass high NJROTC (under direction of Commander Leroy Washington) presented the colors. Morris Brandon Elementary fifth-grader Mason Wright led the Pledge of Allegiance, while Cleveland Avenue Elementary music teacher Alonzo Taylor sang the national anthem.
A group of seven British educators finished up their week observing elementary and middle schools APS with a “high tea” at the Center for Learning and Leadership, sharing notes from their trip before preparing their return to the United Kingdom. The teachers shared their experiences with APS administrators Joyce McCloud (Office of the Superintendent), Dr. Susan Dyer (Curriculum & Instruction) and Dr. Eric Rosser (Project GRAD) over tea and snacks.
“I believe that the exchange of ideas and best practices would enhance the educational environment of students both here in APS and students back in the United Kingdom,” Dyer said. “It’s really instructive having somebody externally let us know that we’re on the right track, and that what we do is important enough for them to come from England to sit down and talk to our principals and teachers and ask, ‘What are the best practices APS is using to support and improve academic performance of our students? We can take back these skills to the British Isles.'”
Judge Glenda Hatchett dares APS students to bring their ‘A game’ during annual Lowery Lecture Series
UPDATE: Watch photo gallery here.
You would be hard-pressed to find an Atlanta Public Schools student, teacher, administrator or board member who wasn’t moved and inspired by the double-barreled blast of inspiration they enjoyed on Monday morning. After enjoying a rousing speech by the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery at the lecture series that bears his name, the audience at Douglass High School received the challenge of a lifetime from guest speaker Judge Glenda Hatchett: “Bring your A game” to life.
UPDATE: View photo gallery here. Watch video here.
The second annual Neighborhood Celebration provided Atlanta Public Schools to showcase the schools in the southeast Atlanta neighborhoods that feed into host school Maynard H. Jackson High School, on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. The school halls were filled with representatives from the participating schools as well as community partners and supporters. The celebration touted the accomplishments of and programs at Benteen, Burgess-Peterson, Cook, East Lake, Hope-Hill, Parkside, Toomer and Whitefoord elementary schools; Coan and King middle schools; Jackson High; and the charter schools of Imagine Wesley Academy, Intown Academy, Neighborhood Charter, Atlanta Charter Middle, Drew Charter and Tech High.
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