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2025 APS Winter Card Showcase

by Allison M. Slocum
written by Allison M. Slocum

The Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Winter Card Showcase is a joyful celebration of student creativity, bringing together imaginative artwork from across the district inspired by the spirit of the season.

Every APS student is invited to design a winter-themed piece that shares universal messages of community, unity, and peace. The student designs were showcased at the December Atlanta Board of Education meeting.

Atlanta Public Schools invites you to enjoy the video featuring the 2025 submissions and wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.

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Atlanta R&B Group 112 Announces Comeback Album with Week’s Worth of Activities at South Atlanta High School

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

112 at South Atlanta HS

Award-winning R&B group 112 announced the release of its comeback album, Monday at South Atlanta High School. The group also announced the establishment of an annual scholarship for aspiring performers. All four members of the group graduated from what was then George High School in the late 1990s.

Twenty years ago, legendary super producer Diddy introduced a hot new R&B act, consisting of four aspiring vocal artists from then-George High School, with the vocal ability to dominate rhythm and blues while simultaneously complimenting hip hop. The group consisted of Quinnes Parker, Michael Keith, Marvin “Slim” Scandrick and Daron Jones also known as 112.

Now after six years of touring and performing their classic hits, 112 has released its first album in nearly 20 years! The quartet announced their comeback album – titled “Q Mike Slim Daron” – and their intention to give back to the school and the community that raised them, with a press conference on Monday at what is now South Atlanta High School.

“It is very important for us to give back,” Parker said. “The difference between you succeeding and failing can be knowing that someone believes in you and somebody cares. People here believed in us and cared about us, and so we hope our commitment shows the students here that we support you, we believe in you and we want to contribute to your success.”

WATCH a video greeting from the group!

During the press conference, 112 announced the inaugural 112 Foundation Music Scholarship – two, $1,000 scholarships to be awarded each year to two South Atlanta graduating seniors who plan on pursuing a career in music and majoring in one of the music industry disciplines at a four-year or two-year college, or a certified program. (Details on applying for the scholarship will be available soon.)

“This scholarship means so many things,” said South Atlanta Principal Dr. Patricia Ford. “It means books, it means tuition assistance, it can even mean the difference between attending college or not. It is going to give our kids an opportunity to do great things. The true testament to your character is if you succeed and then give back to your fellow man. These young men are doing that.”

To further give back to the community and to promote the new album, the group proclaimed this week as “112 Takeover Week,” with several planned activities, including:

— Monday’s press conference and 112 Foundation Music Scholarship announcement.

— A meet-and-greet event Tuesday, hosted by Comcast, at the Battery Park store, located in Battery Park.

— An exclusive “Magic Master Class” Thursday, presented by Majic 107.5/97.5, focused on music with the students at South Atlanta high school.  Thursday evening will serve as a fan celebration of the new project with a cover and album release party sponsored by the Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment, Rolling Out magazine and Urban One’s Majic 107.6/97.5 at Club Alibi.

— The official physical and digital worldwide release of the new album on Friday.

— A community fair and free concert at South Atlanta on Saturday.

— A celebratory brunch and soul session Sunday evening at Opium.

 

 

 

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Young Middle School Students Learn About the Blues

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

Blues in the Schools at JCYMS (1)

Students at Young Middle School listen to a blues band led by Carlos Capote (dressed in all black) during a visit from the Atlanta Blues Society’s “Blues in the Schools” program, Wednesday.

About 200 students at Jean Childs Young Middle School received an unexpected but interesting history lesson on Wednesday, through the use of music.

The Atlanta Blues Society’s “Blues in the Schools” program paid a visit to the southwest Atlanta school, and provided students with some historical perspective on how blues music influences many of today’s popular artists in R&B and hip hop.

“If you ask an artist today who he or she was influenced by, and then ask that artist who influenced them, and follow that trail back 100 years, eventually you will end up in the Mississippi Delta where the blues was born,” said Rich L’Hommedieu, a musician and Atlanta Blues Society member.

Blues in the Schools at JCYMS (2)

For example, many students said their favorite artist today is rapper Kodak Black. He says he was influenced by, among many others, Notorious B.I.G., who lists Public Enemy as an influence on him. Public Enemy has said jazz trumpeter Miles Davis influenced them, while Davis said he was influenced by Louis Armstrong, who said Jelly Roll Morton – credited with creating the jazz blues genre – influenced him.

“We thought the kids deserve to be cultured in different aspects of music, especially one that is a piece of their heritage,” said Abraham Anthony, music coordinator at Young Middle. “[Blues in the Schools] contacted us at the beginning of the school year, and when we looked into what they offer, we thought this would be a great way to introduce our students to a historical genre of music that is different from what they normally listen to.”

And the students appeared to enjoy both the history lesson and the music, as they clapped and nodded their heads to a few songs performed live on stage by a band led by singer and harmonica player Carlos Capote.

When one student asked him if the band would record a ring tone for him to use, Capote said, “We would be glad to. And if you record a ringtone to one of our songs, I’ll call you every day!”

NOTE: The “Blues in the Schools” visit to Young Middle will be featured on an upcoming segment on WSB-TV.

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Bunche Middle School Treble Chorus Wins National Competition

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

Bunche MS Treble Chorus (2017)

The Ralph J. Bunche Middle School Treble Chorus won first place in the 2017 Southern Star Music Festival.

Atlanta Public Schools have won championships in a number of competitions this school year, from sports to science to debate. Now you can add the arts to the list.

The Ralph J. Bunche Middle School Treble Chorus took first place in the Choral Division for Middle and High Schools in 2017 Southern Star Music Festival, held last week in Atlanta at the Riverside Epic Center.  The judges consisted of a three-person panel made up of college music professors.

Performing “Sing for Joy!” by George F. Handel (arrangement by Linda Spevacek) and “Ain’t That Good News” by Moses Hogan, the Bunche Treble Chorus sang its way to a historic victory by outperforming more than 28 school choruses, bands and orchestra groups from seven different states. The group not only won its division but also was crowned the competition’s Sweepstake and Grand Champions.

2017 Ralph J. Bunche Middle School Treble Chorus
Eighth Graders:  Milon Daniel and Kaya Rossman

Seventh Graders:  Iaan Brown, Justice Carswell, Ja’Kobe Graham, Yasmine Moyer, Kashira Johnson, Rakelle Holland, Tiffani Rucker and Brianna Sellers

Sixth Graders:  Paris Battle, Kimora Butler, Kalia Cook, Revelations Deloney, Jasmine Farmer, Myra Gordan, Aline Serge, Rhyleigh Goss, Brianna Grant, Jazmyn Jackson, Makyia King, Winston McKenny, Zyniah Milner, Oscar Oquendo, T’Leah Raven, Courtney Vence, Eva Ware, DeAndrea West, JeQuan Wilburn, Zoe Winston

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Cultural Experience Program Kicks-off with APS and Partners

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

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On September 9th, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced the 9th year of the Cultural Experience Program as it kicked off at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Through this program, every APS student from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade has an opportunity to visit an arts or cultural venue during the school year that directly correlates with Common Core Georgia Performance Standards and curriculum goals, including plays, concerts, museums, and more.

Cultural-001The opening program featured sponsors and partners, City Council members, VIPS and dignitaries. Speakers included Candace Byrd, the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Chief of Staff, Kristina Christy, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Turner Broadcasting System, and Dr. Linda Anderson, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning at APS.

Screen Shot 2013-09-12 at 1.16.17 PMTurner Broadcasting System Inc., a partner that provides school buses for all of the Cultural Experience Project trips, was recognized for receiving this year’s Americans for the Arts BCA 10 Award (the first time an Atlanta company has received this prestigious award), as well as the Phoenix Award (the highest award given by the City of Atlanta).

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Cultural-023Approximately 1,500 APS kindergartners participated in “Kinder in the Garden,” where they explored diverse living collections, observed giant leaves in the Tropical Rotunda and small leaves in the Desert House, smelled fragrant orchids and viewed colorful Poison Dart Frogs. The Butterfly Maze in the Children’s Garden has been recently updated with new plantings, such as Loropetalim ‘Ever Red,’ a gorgeous cultivar with brilliant red blooms. In the Gnome Garden, various shade-loving plants peak children’s curiosity and imagination.

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Sponsors for this year’s Cultural Experience Project include the National Endowment for the Arts, The Zeist Foundation Inc., Turner Broadcasting Inc., The Charles Loridans Foundation, The Mark and Evelyn Trammell Foundation, The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, The High Museum Art Access Program, and The City of Atlanta.

Screen Shot 2013-09-12 at 1.16.40 PM“Atlanta Public Schools is excited to continue its partnership with the City of Atlanta’s Cultural Experience Project,” says Dr. Linda Anderson, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Atlanta Public Schools. “As a result of this ongoing partnership, our students have been able to participate in rich learning opportunities that introduce them to some of our city’s premier venues for the arts, while deepening their understanding and appreciation for the arts as well.”

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APS and the CEP providing cultural, artistic experiences and learning to Atlanta Public School students

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

The City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs created the Cultural Experience Project to give every Atlanta Public School student, from Pre-Kindergarten through the 12th Grade, the opportunity to experience the city’s premier arts and cultural venues. The vision is for every student in Atlanta Public Schools to have at least one on site experience at an arts and cultural venue each year. The goal is for the students to have an education enhancing encounter that directly ties to the Georgia Learning Performance Standards and curriculum goals.

The CEP provides field trips to APS students that are entirely funded by private donations from Turner Broadcasting, The Zeist Foundation, Loridans Foundation, Keneda Fund, The National Endowment for the Arts Shakespeare in American Communities program and other local businesses and partners. CEP was started under the administration of Mayor Shirley Franklin and has continued under Mayor Kasim Reed. Events are offered free of charge to all APS students and are administered by the APS Fine Arts Department.

“The Cultural Experience Project model ensures that all APS students can access Atlanta’s cultural assets regardless of family finances, where they live, or what school they attend,: said City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Director Camille Russell Love. “We want every child to have opportunities at no cost to them. Even transportation is funded through a generous grant from Turner Broadcasting.”

“The Cultural Experience Project provides powerful educational experiences for all Atlanta Public School students and provides real-world connections for classroom learning while opening students’ hearts and minds to new intellectual and aesthetic horizons. Many students would never otherwise experience the rich cultural life of the city, and because of this program, new generations of citizens will grow up knowing how to take full advantage of the cultural, civic and artistic wealth here in Atlanta, ” said Raymond Veon, Interim Director, Fine and Performing Arts Department, Teaching and Learning for Atlanta Public Schools.

In its first seven years, the Cultural Experience Project has provided over 233,000 cultural experiences that have enhanced classroom learning to the district’s elementary, middle and high school students. The City of Atlanta envisions the opportunity for 100% of its students to experience the wealth of Atlanta’s cultural venues as a part of a “best in class” education through the Atlanta Public Schools.

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Maynard H. Jackson High School dance students learn from a master teacher

by talkupaps
written by talkupaps

UPDATE: Check out Scott King’s photo gallery here.

To help her Maynard H. Jackson High students truly embrace their creative passion and the art of dance, teacher Tiffany Mingo-Davis called for reinforcements this week. Fortunately, her former teacher and mentor was available to answer the call.

Allyne Gartrell, company director of Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, delivered a bit of real-world experience to students who know him for his high energy and physically demanding jazz, ballet, and modern dance classes. He made sure that Mingo-Davis’ students walked away with a professional and rigorous dance experience. One they will never forget.

“It challenged me and pushed me to be more expressive,” said senior Ashley Shaffer. Eleventh-grade student  added, “The class was inspiring and I learned the value of being well trained in all dance styles.”

Gartrell, an Atlanta native, also had compliments for the students and the Fine Arts & Media Communications Academy at Jackson.

“The students are talented they are very privileged to have a free dance education,” he said. “It is their responsibility to take their training seriously.”

Under the direction of Mingo-Davis, APS Fine Arts Educator of the Year, look for Jackson’s dance students to reach new heights on a performance stage near you.

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