Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones has begun meeting with his Student, Teacher and Parent Advisory Councils for the 2017-18 school year. These groups are intended to provide feedback and inform decision-making that will help all our students succeed.

Special thanks to Chick-fil-A on Tom Hill Sr. Boulevard for providing lunch for our students at their last meeting!

In June, Gillian Harvin and Chloe LaPratt represented Howard Middle School and the Bibb County School District at National HIstory Day in College Park, Maryland. This competition is the culmination of a series of local and state events.

Students begin their journey by presenting their projects in classrooms, schools, and districts around the world. The top two entries in every category at the state/affiliate level are then invited to the National Contest.

Our students joined nearly 3,000 students, teachers and family members at the University of Maryland for the week-long event. After spending months on project research and preparation, and competing at local and affiliate contests, students were eager to show their hard work at the National Contest.

Last year’s theme was Taking A Stand. Gillian and Chloe entered the documentary category. Their documentary was called "Perspectives on Integration of Schools in Bibb County," which tells the story of Hester Bivins.

The Men of Beulahland, a ministry of Beulahland Bible Church, greeted students at Ballard-Hudson Middle School earlier this month. Danny Boykin helped organize the event and said that the goal was to focus on the importance of education.

"It's important that we encourage our young people to enjoy the educational experience and make good choices," he said. "Without an education, you're going to have all kinds of issues."

Boykin added that the group will continue to support the school through volunteer efforts throughout the year. The District remains grateful for Beulahland and all of our community partners!

Congratulations to the Students of the Month for August at Vineville Academy of the Arts. These students received Panda Paws for representing self-discipline and responsibility:

• Cameron Goings
  
• Khyla Reese
• Mason Morton
  
• Jaxon Wright
  
• Kedrick Thomley
  
• Jason Turner
  
• Tanaiya Burns
  
• Gabrielle Burnette
  
• Jasmine Williams
  
• Hayden Williams
  
• Kaila Brown
  
• Jadee Palmer
  
• Madyson Torres
  
• Brooke Johnson
  
• Jaden Threatt
  
• Aaleyah Hubbard
  
• Ariane Degeneste
  
• Jacey McCall
  
• Kijuan Pryor
  
• Robert Le
  
• Ava Head
  
• Jordan Hobbs
  
• Khamani Davison
  
• Kimora Hollingshed
  

Way to go!

The Bibb County School District provides a web-based app that allows stakeholders and students to use their computer or smartphone to view the current location of their assigned school bus and its current “live” route status. The app is called “My Stop” and it is provided free of charge by the District.

To download the app, users should visit the app store for their mobile device and search for “Versatrans My Stop.” After installing and opening the app, users will be directed to a login page where they will enter the student’s identification number as their username and password. The data in the app updates approximately every 5 seconds, providing users with the most updated information about their bus’s location and expected arrival time.

Click here for more information about the "My Stop" app.

Part of the Physical Education Program Grant’s objective is to instruct students on staying fit and healthy eating. This summer during the elementary and middle school summer opportunity programs, Sherri Marks, P.E. teacher at Howard Middle, visited the students during their lunch time. She gave out jump ropes and pedometers to the students, and she instructed them on how to use them to get fit.

In July the Physical Education teachers from all over the county attended a 5 day Summer Institute held at Central High School. The objective of the institute was to give the teachers instruction in how to better serve their students through FitnessGram testing, FitStep Pro pedometer use, the Search Institute’s non-cognitive REACH design, lesson planning, best practices, and instruction in the use of new equipment using the SPARK curriculum.

During open houses this year, P.E. teachers set up fitness activities in their gyms. Parents, along with their students, were encouraged to visit the P.E. teacher and participate in the activities together. This was a great opportunity for the parents to be exposed to fitness activities they can do with their children at home.

Learn more about the Dual Enrollment program on Wednesday, Sept. 6, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Hutchings College and Career Academy. The school is located at 1780 Anthony Road.

Students, faculty and staff across the District had their eyes to the sky behind the safety of eclipse glasses on Aug. 21. Students were kept at school 45 minutes later than usual to accommodate the rare solar eclipse, which reached about 95 percent totality in Middle Georgia.

Students and employees were provided with NASA-approved glasses to view the eclipse and spent the week learning about the phenomenon. There were also indoor events available.

Springdale Elementary students are chosen for "Cookies With the Counselor" each month based on showing good character traits. This month, the highlighted trait was "Respect," and the following students were recognized:

• Hudson Harvey
• Ray Timmerman
• Navie Taylor
• Roxy Bearchell
• Annsley Lampkin
• Antwion Scott
• Nathan Ray
• Rebecca Greenbaum
• Amaya Knowles
• Ty Caffarelli
• Matthew Lampkin
• Camorie Searcy
• Savannah Wallace
• Khaidyn Howard
• Sree Rebba
• Andy Wang
• Julia Schillawski
• Josiah Douglas
• Jayshon Williams
• Sabastian Falduti
• Makayla Evans
• Ansley Frost
• Caylee Marlow
• Fatima Tiozang-Sappi
• Zachary Thompson
• Tyshawn Hogan

Congratulations to all these students for being respectful!

The Rev. David Stanley and Union Baptist Church donated $500 to Appling Middle School to support teachers and students. This fundraising effort and partnership began two years ago between the Eastside churches and Appling Middle School.

The following students from Lane Elementary School turned in summer reading logs and received a new book and an ice cream party:

• Davian Hicks
  
• Ty’Tianna Harris
  
• Jasmine Booker
  
• Trinity Harris
  
• Conner Enlow
  
• Markus Enlow
  
• Paige Middlebrooks
  
• Jerrell Clark, Jr.
  
• Jai Axom
  
• Jocelyn Harvey
  
• Adrian Jackson
  
• Aden Hall
  
• Adria Wilder
  
• Khylin May

Jasmine Booker, a fifth grade student, led the way with 1,060 reading minutes over the summer. Way to go!

A total of 52 students from Vineville Academy of the Arts were recognized for their commitment to the "Power of 100" summer reading program. These students read 100 minutes during the week and 100 minutes over the weekend all summer. Way to go!

Hartley Elementary School kicked off its "Professional Dress Tuesday" program for another year. District leaders and community members greeted the students and made sure everyone had a tie or pearls to wear.
“In building a community of leaders, the students of Hartley understand that you must dress for success, as well as prepare academically for success,” said Hartley Principal Dr. Carmalita Dillard.

Special thanks to the Business Education Partnership and Blake Sullivan for donating ties and pearls for the students.

Communities in Schools of Central Georgia donated a wheelchair for a Westside High School student in need of one. Such gifts for our students are always appreciated!

Vineville Academy of the Arts and Hutchings College and Career Academy partnered together to provide outdoor learning spaces for the students at Vineville Academy of the Arts. The students in the late Gary Faulkner’s Construction class crafted, sanded, constructed and delivered 10 outdoor picnic tables to be used for outdoor reading, classroom activities, lunches, science experiments and collaborative share time.

"Being able to share the love of learning in an open-air classroom expands the learning beyond four walls," said Vineville Academy Principal Kristy Graham.

As the school year begins, various athletic events, musical performances and other activities also get started. Check our District calendar as well as individual school websites to find out how you can come see our #VictoryInProgress!

After a year of service in the Bibb County School District, employees are given a VIP pin, which stands for "Victory In Progress." At the beginning of this school year, several faculty and staff members at various schools received these pins, and we appreciate their continued commitment to our students!

Keep track of your students' grades, attendance, schedule and other information through Infinite Campus. This tool for parents and students is available on the District website.

The better informed you are, the more involved you can be in your students' education.