Central Learning Community News
The Heart of Fulton County Schools
May 2014
Elementary Schools
Conley Hills
On May 8, 2014, art students at Conley Hills ES presented a unique fashion show: Trash to Fashion. The fashion show featured original student designs made from items that would have been labeled as “trash”. The goal of this show was to excite the audience about recycling and eliminating waste by reusing items that would normally be thrown away.
Hamilton E. Holmes
On Friday, April 18th, 2014, Fulton County Chairman John Eaves Children’s Book Drive along with KPMG and First Book volunteers surprised each student at H.E. Holmes with a personalized book. All the First Grade students met in the Media Center for story time with the Chairman himself. The students were also greeted with a special visit from the Cat and the Hat. H.E. Holmes Beta Club students escorted volunteers to each teacher’s class to deliver and read a snap shot of their new book. This was a very exciting and memorable event for the students as well as the faculty and staff.
Dunwoody Springs
1st graders tackled the challenge to create an exhibit as well. Theirs entitled, “From Seed to Table” gave visitors a glimpse into what the students had learned as they incorporated science, social studies, health and language arts standards. Excited 1st grade student docents guided guests through each exhibit. Impressive student writing from all genres were represented throughout the exhibit along with student created products. One parent commented, “I had to read every piece of writing and could not believe that first graders could write so well! Along with the art and music, it was a full sensory experience!” The “seed to table” exhibit began with singing and dancing student flowers that taught us all the parts of the flower. It ended with a four-student smoothie demonstration fit for the Food Network! Students along the way discussed plants, farming, various methods of transporting produce and the benefits of healthy eating. Most importantly, our 1st Graders were beaming with pride about all they had learned and their amazing finished product!
Hapeville
Hapeville Elementary School students joined many of their business partners (the Hapeville Parks & Recreation Department, Restoration Church, Hapeville Exchange Club, and the Hapeville Economic Development Department) to celebrate Earth Day. Students created Earth Day banners to decorate the school’s football stadium, which was the focus of a beautification project. The stadium area was improved by the planting of shrubs and flowers and an official dedication ceremony celebrated the event.
Heards Ferry
All three Heards Ferry Second Grade groups who produced photo stories on the Creek Indians placed Superior in the State Media Festival. To achieve a superior rating you must have a score of 96 to 100. The Media Festival is all about using technology in the learning process.
As the students were studying in the classroom about the Creek Indians they worked with their teachers, Ms. Knight, Ms. Youel, Mrs. Tolliver, and Media Specialist Mrs. Locke in the media center learning to research on Galileo for extra information and photo images. They worked in groups writing a narrative to go along with drawings depicting the lifestyle and culture of the Creeks in Georgia. We are so proud of their great work.
High Point
High Point Elementary wrapped up their annual Science Day which was held the Friday before Spring Break. This was a fun-filled day of learning sponsored by Northside Hospital. All of the students in grades Pre-K through 5th grade rotated between classes to conduct various hands-on experiments such as Launching Water Bottle Rockets, Completing Electrical Circuits, Constructing a Spaghetti Tower, and much more! We appreciate everyone for coming out to support our Science Day!
Spalding Drive
Fourth and Fifth grade Spalding Drive Charter Elementary School English learners see stars this week as they study the broadcast news industry. Atlanta Univision TV news director and anchor Gianncarlo Cifuentes shared his adventures in the industry with students on Wednesday, Apr. 30. The visit was part of the students' exploration into various career options. Cifuentes encouraged students to study, apply themselves, and to set challenging goals for themselves. His role at the Spanish TV station, he stated, did not come from luck, but from hard work, collegiate study, and dedication. On Friday, May 2, the students will tour CNN to get a first-hand look at the various careers available in the news industry.
Woodland
April is National Poetry Month. Fourth grade students at Woodland Elementary School used PicCollage on iPads to write acrostic poetry. An acrostic is a poem in which the first letters of each line spell out a word or phrase. The students created autobiographical poems using dictionaries and thesauruses to help them with vocabulary choices.
Students pictured are from Robyn Bernstein’s 4th grade class.
Oak Knoll
STAR Celebration
Oak Knoll’s students who made more than a year’s gain on STAR Reading and/or Math Assessments celebrated their success with a dance party. Kudos to all of the students and staff members that worked diligently to make this progress a reality.
Career Day
A large number of professionals came to speak to Oak Knoll’s students and expose them to various careers such as a pilot, meteorologist, radiologist and postman. Students had an opportunity to learn about careers in the community as well as some that that they do not get to see every day first hand. Students left very excited about future possibilities because of this event.
Lake Forest
We have been busy at Lake Forest! From Career Day to the spring Carnival the learning and fun never ends! We recently had our K9 kids celebration where each 1st grader posed with their reading dog and received a free book. K9 kids in education had increased fluency and made our 1st graders better readers. on May 2nd we had Career Day. Over 70 presenters spoke with our students about the importance of staying in school and being prepared for college and the workforce. Professions ranged from local news anchors to local restaurant owners. Later that evening we had our Spring Carnival to celebrate student success! The following week we celebrated GA Stem Day and had architects and engineers at our school for the day filling the forest with science, technology, and science experiments! Also on STEM day we partnered with the women from the NCJW as they hosted a Mother's Day shop for our students. The members of the NCJW collected jewelry over the last year to donate so that each of our students were given the opportunity to pick out a special gift for their mom's in honor of Mother's Day. Our staff was treated to great professional development through playing games with author Teresa Furgeson who dropped in for a visit. It has been a full month and all of the fun is yet to come! Our 5th graders are getting ready for their annual trip to Raccoon Mountain Caverns in Chattanooga as a culminating activity and our kindergartners will head to Disney on Ice to connect fairly tales and science. It has certainly been a year filled with great memories and the love of learning!
Middle Schools
Sandy Springs MS
SSCMS students participated in the STEM DAY initiative. 7th grade Science teacher Nicole Schechter spearheaded the events and teachers created activities that had a project centered approach. Students were visibly excited and totally engaged in the activities.
Paul D. West
Paul D. West Middle School was honored to be chosen as the only school in Fulton County that is working with “Operation Hope”. This organization is sponsoring a program entitled “Banking On Our Future” that addresses financial literacy among today’s youth. The program had an initial launch at Paul D. West in March by presenting to all 7th grade students. As a result of this program, two 7th grade students were selected to participate in a national campaign of Project 5117. This project is a global initiative that involves eradicating global poverty, empowering students and parents to think about their financial future through financial literacy and dignity.
Picture: Left to Right (Mr. Terence Amos, PDW AA; Jordan Flowers, 7th; Alexia Guyton, 7th; Ms. Tonjie Clark, PDW Parent Liaison)
Woodland
Woodland Middle School’s staff was treated to a week of surprises and gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week. A hot breakfast served up by the principal, a catered lunch, chocolate lollipops created by our own teacher, Dionne Johnson, and the best gift, a 10 minute chair massage for each member of the Woodland staff which left smiles on everyone’s face. We appreciate the work and effort our teachers and staff give our children every single day.
Attached: Ms. G. Scott and Ms. A. Newlon-Adams.
Ridgeview
Ridgeview Charter School celebrated Georgia STEM day with an eLearning Showcase that featured 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students as teachers. And who were the learners? Ms. Lisa Hastey, Mr. Hoke Wilcox, Ms. Mindy Ramon, and many other community members and parents were the students for the day. They took virtual trips to the World Cup, they viewed movie trailers and public service announcements, as well as played student created review games for mastering the standards. But that is not all! While the eLearning Showcase hosted a live student teaching event with iPads and computers, math and science students throughout the school competed in exciting STEM related experiments. What can students create with 7,000 toothpicks, 1000 popsicle sticks, 13 dozen eggs, 24 stretchy hose, 50 marbles, 100 spoons, cardboard, and so much more? You would be pleasantly surprised!
High Schools
TriCities
Tri-Cities High School rules at Hensley Awards!!
Tri Cities High School was quite victorious at the recent 2014 Shuler Hensley Awards (also known as the Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards) at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. TCHS won 13 trophies out of 15 for its production of “Dreamgirls,” which is unprecedented for the Shuler Hensley Awards. TCHS captured the coveted best musical and best director awards, among others. The musical was phenomenal and sold out every performance. Also, in the audience for one of the performances was one of the original Dreamgirls, singer Jennifer Holiday. WSB/Channel 2 plans a special broadcast of the awards to be aired this summer (date still to be announced). Information: www.shulerawrds.org.
Way to go bulldogs!!!!
McClarin
Comcast Cares Career and College Day at McClarin Success Academy
What do you want to do when you graduate? That was the statement being repeated by College recruiters and business executives in the College Park area to the students of McClarin. The students of McClarin Success Academy had the opportunity to meet college recruiters from the various colleges in the state of Georgia. The students completed college applications, gave the recruiters their transcripts in hopes that they would be accepted to college of their choice. Resumes were exchanged and first level interviews were conducted with the various business leaders in the community. The day ended with students having a plan for their future.
North Springs
North Springs welcomes Chinese delegation!
Government officials from Taicang, China, visited North Springs Charter High School recently to discuss a second cultural exchange between North Springs students and high school students in Taicang. The delegates, including Vice Mayor, Lu Yan, enjoyed touring the school, visiting teacher Jiaxing Weng's Chinese class, talking with Spartans who visited Taicang in 2012 and meeting with Dr. Ruiz and others about NSCHS' trip planned for spring break 2015!
Riverwood
Riverwood Parent Liaison Mrs. Olivia Gonzalez has been named as the 2014 School Professional of the Year for the entire District! Congratulations to Mrs. Gonzalez and thanks for all of your hard work (Picture attached)
Once again, Riverwood has been named to US News & World Report's Annual List of America's Best High Schools
The Central Learning Community
Email: griffind1@fultonschools.org
Website: www.fultonschools.org
Location: 786 Cleveland Ave. SW Atlanta, GA
Phone: 404-763-6804