DVDs and photos from each ceremony are available on the District website. There are also photo galleries from each graduation on the District Facebook page. Congratulations to all our graduates!

Communities In Schools of Central Georgia held its annual Volunteer in Public Schools Recognition and Awards Breakfast. Volunteers from across the District were recognized, and we appreciate all the work these volunteers do.

Dawn Singletary of Riley Elementary School was the top volunteer in the District with 1,780 hours this year, and Jane Ferguson of Howard Middle School was the top GREAT (Grantparents/Retirees Excited About Tutoring) volunteer with 1,740 hours. Heard Elementary School was honored for its total of 11,496 volunteer hours this year, and Porter Elementary School had the highest number of GREAT volunteers. Finally Howard High School volunteer Lisa Mayfield and the United Way of Central Georgia Read United program received Shining Star Awards.

May 30 marked the official groundbreaking for the new Northeast Health Science Magnet High School and Appling Middle School combined campus. This campus is located on the site of the current Northeast High School on Upper River Road.

"Today is our day, and we celebrate this day," said Ella Carter, former Eastside principal and the area's school board representative. "For the unrelenting efforts of those responsible, we celebrate."

Carter was given a commemorative "first brick" from the project for her commitment to the community.

The Northeast portion of the building will be open for students in August 2019, with the Appling portion being completed for the following school year. Trey Wood with W2MA Architects said the project was something the Eastside community would be proud of and was the result of successful 1-cent sales tax efforts.

"This is what ESPLOST looks like as it manifests itself," Wood said.

The CMGARedCross Hometown Heroes Breakfast was held recently, and several District students, faculty and staff were recognized. These individuals have displayed heroism and community service in their daily lives, and we're so proud of them!

- Allyson Maffett, Southfield Elementary

- Jason Wang, Howard Middle School

- Arienne Moore, William S. Hutchings College and Career Academy and Georgia Academy For The Blind

- Krupa Patel, Rutland High School

- Aubrey Bloodworth, Academy for Classical Education

- Nigel Wilmore, Southwest High School

- David and Michelle Gowan, Central Office and Academy for Classical Education

Special thanks to the students and faculty in Hutchings' Culinary Pathway for catering the meal and to strings performers from Central High School for musical accompaniment.

On May 2, second-grade students from Bruce Elementary visited Mercer University. The highlight of their trip was meeting coach Susie Gardner and members of the Mercer Women's Basketball team. Coach Gardner and the players talked about the importance of reading, and then Gardner read the students the book she authored, "1,2,3 Team!" The students and the school all received a copy of the book, autographed by Gardner.

"The opportunity for them to come was for them to make a connection with the author and with Mercer," said Bruce Principal Dr. Angela James, who noted that meeting a local author was also key. "And it also reinforces teamwork and reading because it lets them know that if they continue reading and stay on track, there are opportunities for them at every level."

The visit, organized through the United Way of Central Georgia's Read United program, also included a Mercer tour. This included the students touring the team's locker room and film study area. Thanks, Mercer and United Way!

"We are very excited about this opportunity to continue to enhance our efforts in implementing our district literacy initiative," said Dr. Tanzy Kilcrease, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. "This is just another example of how we are partnering with the community to enhance student achievement."

State Superintendent Richard Woods visited Heritage Elementary to deliver the banner recognizing the grant. Bibb County was one of just 38 districts statewide chosen for L4GA this year.

The Cox Communications Inspirational Heroes Awards are given to students nominated by their schools. These students have overcome personal, physical and educational obstacles to succeed, and are a true inspiration to their peers, teachers and the District as a whole!

This year's recipients include: Donovan Pas, Alexander II; Zorriah Kendrick, Ballard-Hudson; Armia Flythe, Brookdale; Raechel Wilburn, Bruce; Adam Moore, Sonny Carter; Zakia Pitts, Central; Amber Shine, Hartley; Alyssa Bateman, Heard; David Garnett, Heritage; James Griffin Orr, Howard High; Dimitri Chambers, Howard Middle; Nashia Womack, Ingram-Pye; Alana Andrews, MLK; Harmoney Williams, McKibben Lane; Jordan Harrell, Miller; Gabriel Miles, Northeast; Skye Byrd, Porter; Savannah Gardner, Riley; Mya Hodges, Rosa Taylor; Rowan Sandy, Rutland High; Deayne Person, Rutland Middle; Derricka Edward, SOAR Academy; James Walters, Southfield; Joshua Randolph, Springdale; Alliyah Dancy, Vineville Academy; Ja'cayla Spry, Weaver; Ike'Kerryah Hightower, Williams.

There will be a Bibb County Summer Opportunity Program for students in third, fifth and eighth grades who are not successful on the Georgia Milestones test. All students who do not pass third grade reading / fifth and eighth grades reading and math Georgia Milestones requirements must attend the Bibb County Summer Opportunity Program to be considered for promotion or administrative placement. The program will run June 4-28.

Students will be retested on the Georgia Milestones at the end of the Summer Opportunity Program on June 25-28. Students must attend the Summer Opportunity Program to take the Milestones Re-Test. If a student receives a passing score on the Milestones Re-Test, he or she will be promoted. Successful completion of the Summer Opportunity Program will result in consideration for administrative placement.

There will also be a Summer Opportunity Program for high school students.

Click here for more information, including bus routes to program sites.