Burdell-Hunt first-grade teacher Michele Whitten got a great Valentine's Day surprise! Her son Justin returned after six months of serving in the Army in Afghanistan and showed up unannounced in her classroom.
She said she wasn't worried that her family hadn't brought her flowers or a balloon, just her 24-year-old son.
"No, this was enough," she said. "That was sweet."

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School's "Live Like King" Club created Valentine's Day cards for children at The Children's Hospital, Navicent Health, as one of their service projects for the month of February. The group seeks to honor the legacy of the school's namesake.

National School Counseling Week took place Feb. 6-10, and Westside High School took the opportunity to show its appreciation with a cake for its counselors. The Bibb County School District would like to thank all counselors for the work they do!

On Feb. 7, Springdale Elementary students participated in an interactive assembly called “Drumming Up Character” where the children were invited to play drums, shakers and wood instruments. While playing the instruments, students learned chants about caring, responsibility, fairness and respect. The school was excited to have Dancing Drum come into the school to help reinforce character education and to jump start their school-wide PBIS program.

In recognition of Black History Month, teachers and students at Hartley Elementary School put on a "Live Wax Museum" on Feb. 17. The event was intended to provide a unique opportunity to educate students about key figures in black history.

"It was well-received by our kids, and the teachers enjoyed it," said principal Dr. Carmalita Dillard.

Included in the exhibit were national figures like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, as well as local icons like Hester Bivins, mother of current Bibb County Board of Education Vice President Dr. Thelma Dillard.

Fifth grade students at Veterans Elementary got to experience a drone first-hand as an activity geared toward their science, technology, engineering and math learning. Led by Wayne Carley of STEM Magazine, the students got to watch the drone in action and even fly it themselves!

Southwest High School's Zaquan Baldwin and Stacey Ivey signed with Fort Valley State University to play football. They participated in National Signing Day on Feb. 1 and are pictured with coach Joe Dupree. Baldwin is a linebacker and is also listed as a fullback, while Ivey plays on the line.

Business Education and Marketing students at Central participated in Mock Interviews recently. Business Education teacher Cassaundra Thrasher organized and planned the interviews, which were intended to get the students ready for college or career.

At the recent Georgia Compensatory Educational Leaders Inc. conference held in Savannah, District Family Engagement Specialist Makeba Davis Rogers (second from right in the photo above) was elected as the Area II representative for a two-year term. GCEL works to support programs like Title I and special education that are directed at disadvantaged students of all types.

The district held its annual Teacher Recruitment Fair at Howard High School on Feb. 18. Using the hashtags #WeAreBibb and #BibbHasSoul as a theme, the Human Resources Department sought to find highly qualified candidates for openings across the district.

"We accomplished our goals," said Mallori Gattis, from Human Resources. "Everything went really well."

As usual, the schools showed their pride with unique decorations at their stations throughout the school.

Several contingency contracts were awarded on the spot at the event, which drew about 150 candidates. Spots will continue to be filled, including those at Northeast High School, which has $6,000 signing bonuses available due to a School Improvement Grant (SIG) from the Georgia Department of Education.

Schools also set up a good number of second interviews and had a "steady stream" of qualified candidates throughout the day, Gattis said.

"A couple schools had to put chairs out in the hallway because they were interviewing so many people," she said.

Northeast High School recently celebrated PBIS success with a Valentine's Day event. Students with no tardies were allowed to come to the school's gym and listen to music while also getting professional photographs taken.

Heard Elementary School held a similar event last month. Students who had perfect attendance for the month of December got to attend a dance at the school.

Ingram-Pye Elementary School celebrated Black History Month with an outstanding performance from the Hayiya Dance Theatre and also heard a motivational speech "Dream Again" by Willie Raines. Raines did some amazing things, including breaking a wooden bat behind his back as an example that although bad habits are hard to break, nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it; it takes focus, discipline and hard work.

As part of National School Counseling Week, Dr. Beverly Stewart, the District's Counselor Coordinator, got to visit Governor Deal at the State Capitol. Along with other counselors from across the state, Stewart got to discuss issues related to CTAE counseling and other concerns.

Several District schools had students qualify for the National History Bee, which will take place in June. Springdale had Sofia Ali, Nathan Haskell and Griffin Moore make it to the next round, Alexander II had Henry Blankenship and Onna Riley qualify and Miller Magnet had Wilson Bridges qualify.

The following students also participated in the regional bee: Aidan Longacre, Ulric Bellaire, Morgan Daniel, Carmen Duncan, Jadon Harp, Jayla Jackson, Daniel Stanley, Linda Cotton, Amauri Cotton, Nova Harmon, Sidavion Hicks, Darrell Gordon, Altanese Palmer, Anaya Patterson, Jasmine Martin, Deahmya Rumph, Charmicka Wynes, Julia Byron, Allie Emory, Lilly Hayes, Gabriel Howard, Hunter Massey, Dallas Mundy, Joshua Williams, Syriah Daniels, Gabriella Dennis, Amari Fannin, Trey Yancey, Shannon Lundy and Dyami Wilson.

Congratulations to all who participated!

Southfield Elementary School’s Math Lab Teacher, Amaris Hawkins-Smith, was awarded the Georgia Aquarium Sea Sponsorship. As a result, she got to take 30 students to visit the aquarium and experience an up close and personal view of aquatic life.

Union Elementary School recently recognized gains made by its students in reading. Students in kindergarten through second grade that raised their Lexile scores by 100 points since the start of school received a certificate and a crown. Also, students that met the Classworks Growth goal received a certificate. Students in third through fifth grades received a certificate and an "I love to Read" bracelet.

Last month, Seychelle Hercules spoke at Hartley Elementary School. Recently named Miss Columbus, Hercules is a Wesleyan College student and United Way reading tutor at Hartley. We appreciate her and all of our volunteers!

Bernd Elementary School recognized the following Students of the Month for January for being engaged in learning: Nadia Hollings, SaDora Roberts, Zakarria Williams, Na’riah Dennis, Jonathan Mahone, Madison Williams, Azaela Wilson, Camden Mann, Kanila Jolley, Dana Thomas, Jayvion Fergerson, Kayla Lee, Calaiya Mann, Breyant King, Amera Gattis, Amari Edmond, Malachi Hancock, Deundre Dennis, Jaylnn Bradley and Angel Hale.

The following students were recognized as Character Students of the Month for January at Vineville Academy for displaying consideration and justice: Travis Harvey, Chloe Girard, Nylah Curry, Kennedy Phillips, Amaya Davis, Dallas Govner, Hayden Williams, Raniyah Foster, Tro’Terrian Rutland, Jaron Battle, Kadence Woodard, Di’vya Iverson, Tyler Johnson, Kimberly Nelson, Saniyah Howard, Justin Prince, Kaitlin Grose and Bryson Gordon

McKibben Lane Elementary third grader Cylys Milline was visited by the Lane Accelerated Reader prize patrol. Cylys earned 178 accelerated reader points for the second 9 weeks of school.

Members of the Macon Mayhem hockey team visited Skyview Elementary recently. They talked to the students and taught a few basics of the game.

Bibb County schools participated in PBIS Booster Training sessions in January and February 2017, facilitated by the Georgia Department of Education, Middle Georgia RESA and Bibb's PBIS Coordinator. In the trainings, schools learned strategies for further implementing PBIS with fidelity. PBIS is one of our Districts non-negotiables to help with increasing school climate.

Recently, Brookdale Elementary School students who consistently followed school PAWS expectations were able to attend a PBIS celebration. There were several engaging stations that students could choose from: Movie room, Arts and Crafts room, the PAWS Wifi cafe, computer lab, playground and Tae Kwon Do with Han's Tae Kwon Do.