Central Learning Community News
The Heart of Fulton County Schools
March 2014
Elementary Schools
Oak Knoll
Oak Knoll Elementary School held Student Academic Talks (SAT) with 3rd, 4th and 5th grade parents. Parents had an opportunity to review their students’ STAR Reading and Math Assessment data from this school year. They were able to see their students’ growth and discuss their progress and expectations for the remainder of the year.
Bring Your Parent to Math Class Day
Oak Knoll Elementary School hosted Bring Your Parent to Math Class Day! Parents participated in engaging and interactive math lessons alongside their children. They were able to ask questions for clarity and solve problems independently by the end of the lessons.
Woodland ES
Woodland Elementary School held its annual African American Wax Museum Walk on Thursday, February 28th as the culminating event for Black History Month. The theme of the walk this year was ‘determination’. Nelson Mandela and his determination served as a highlight for the 2013 – 2014 walk. Students, dressed up as prominent figures with props and other items that bring authenticity to the character, were scattered throughout the school. Each character depicted individuals from both the past and present who are important figures in African American history or who have made a positive impact in our world. Heroes including Abraham Lincoln, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Obama family were featured in our museum walk. Additionally, a STEM component of Scientists and Inventors was included.
Dunwoody
Ison Springs
How Do You Spend Your Saturday Mornings?
At Ison Springs, some 5th grade students are using their Saturdays to work on skills that will help them be successful in Middle School. Recently, they attended a Saturday Writer’s Workshop focused on improving and extending writing skills. Children were engaged in using skills taught during the regular school day to build fluency in writing through the use of graphic organizers and repeated exposure to the process of writing. In preparation for the 5th Grade Writing Assessment, students reviewed writing genres and strategies for in-depth development of ideas.
Since writing is one of our school goals, several teachers have also been developing their instructional writing strategies through a professional development course at Ison Springs entitled “Writing and Writer’s Workshop." The course was developed using Ralph Fletcher’s Writing Workshop-the Essential Guide and provided teachers with additional tools to make writing a creative, successful and empowering experience for children.
Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning!
Parklane
Read Across America Day Celebration at Parklane
Parklane Elem. School celebrated “Read Across America Day” on Monday, March 3rd with some very special guest readers! Members of the Tri-Cities High School Football Team and Cheerleaders visited each classroom and read stories to our highly excited students! To culminate the event, the TCHS cheerleaders performed several motivational “reading cheers” to inspire our students to read daily. It was a GREAT day for reading at Parklane!
High Point
High Point Puts on the “Jungle Book”
Students in grades 4 and 5 worked hard to put on the Jungle Book which was presented to the school and parents last week. The students were animated, enthusiastic, and so talented!!!! It was a great show!!!
Hapeville
Hapeville Elementary School students and parents join ESOL teacher, Ms. Suzanne Laisney, during the school's Spring Technology Fling. As a bonus, Time Out Teddy, sponsored by the Hapeville Exchange, discussed tips to keep students safe. Ms. Laisney is the 2014 Hapeville Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and an active member of the Vanguard Technology Team. The Spring Technology Fling showcased students and teachers as they shared their technology expertise with parents and community members. Members of the Hapeville Exchange, including Mr. Bill Whitlock, held a teddy bear raffle for parents during the event. The teddy bears serve as a symbol for Hapeville parents and students to take time out to stay safe.
Lake Forest
Lake Forest ES celebrated Read Across America Day on March 3rd as part of school-wide literacy initiatives this school year. Teachers incorporated reading strategies and text-evidence work throughout the day. Community volunteers came to school and read to students in Kindergarten through 2nd grades. For 3rd-5th grade students, the Media Specialist invited a local author to school to read and expose students to the career of writing/publishing. This event was truly a celebration of literacy and the love of reading.
Hamilton Holmes
Hamilton Holmes ES TAG students present “A Day at the Museum”.
“A Day at the Museum” was an in-school field trip created to bring to life the awareness and experiences of various African Americans in history.
Spalding Drive
The Spalding Dr. Charter Elementary School 4th and 5th grade choruses presented the musical “Alice In Wonderland Jr.” on March 6th and 7th, 2014, at 6:30 pm. The story is based on Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The students rehearsed during their chorus classes, and after school for the show. The musical includes several familiar songs: I’m Late!, How D’ye You do and Shake Hands, Painting the Roses Red, and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah to name a few. It includes such favorite characters as: the Cheshire Cat, the Tweedles, The White Rabbit, the Dodo Bird and the Rock Lobsters, Mad Hatter and March Hare, Queen of Hearts, King of Hearts, and the Royal Cardsmen. It is a show which delighted both young and old and is filled with nonsensical verse and zany fun.
Heardsferry
All of Heards Ferry Elementary enjoyed celebrating
Dr. Seuss’ Read Across America Day. Teachers had special readers come to their classrooms throughout the day. They also worked on projects related to the stories. The Cat in the Hat, AKA, Media Specialist Dianna Locke, had students working on projects on Dr. Seuss books leading up to the big day. Kindergarten and first grade colored hats that were turned into flowers on the walls encouraging everyone to read for the “Places they will go!” Older grades made illustrations and cartoons. Many of these Mrs. Locke made into photo stories and broadcast on Heards Ferry Live. It is amazing how talented so many of our students are!
Middle Schools
Paul D. West
1ST SEMESTER
HONORS PROGRAM
Student recognition is an important component to any quality middle school program. At Paul D. West, we offer a variety of recognition opportunities for our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. On Friday, February 7, 2014 we recognized 186 students for their academic and attendance achievements for the 1st semester. These students were honored with medals, trophies, ribbons, and certificates.
Woodland
Triple plays are relatively rare in baseball, but Woodland Middle School scored one on Friday, February 28, 2014 by celebrating Black History Month and Read Across America Day, and preparing for the Reading CRCT. As a culminating Black History Month activity, students read works by and about African –Americans. They then took the associated Accelerated Reader tests as a part of the “Read the Most Coast to Coast” 3rd annual reading challenge sponsored by Renaissance Learning. Woodland students were among hundreds of thousands of students who took part in a one-day effort to beat the record for the number of Accelerated Reader Quizzes taken in one day. This year students nationwide set a new one-day record of 4,987,949 quizzes. Woodland students contributed 542 quizzes to that effort, shattering its old record of 238 quizzes taken in one day.
High Schools
Tri-Cities
The Tri-Cities Visual Arts program partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank for an amazing Art show on the topic of “Hunger." Students created original art pieces on the topic, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank provided statistical information on the issue of poverty in Metropolitan Atlanta. The event raised community awareness and allowed students to dig deeper into the social justice aspect of hunger through their chosen medium. As a result of the show, visitors were able to sign up for increased involvement with the work of the Bank.
McClarin
McClarin Success Academy – Now Has Transportation!!!!
McClarin Success Academy students have traditionally struggled with transportation to and from school. Thanks to the Student Improvement Grant (SIG) students no longer have to worry about transportation. The grant provides MARTA cards for students who live in the service area. Students who do not live in the service area can take advantage of two new bus routes that service the Creekside, Langston Hughes and Westlake clusters.
North Springs
North Springs Science Olympiad Teams headed to State!
Proudly displaying their winning trophy from the recent Regional Science Olympiad Tournament in Tifton, Georgia, these Spartans are headed to State - having won 19 medals in 15 of 23 events and placing 3rd and 5th overall. They will compete in the State Science Olympiad Tournament on March 22nd at Southern Polytechnic State University. Go Spartans!
Riverwood
Congratulations to Mrs. Young, Mrs. Urban, and the Science Olympiad team as they finished 4th
in competition over the weekend and will
advance to State!
The team includes: Pascal Acree, David Goldfarb,
Ananya Munjal, Guybriel Hawk, Anton Hsu, Erik Hsu, Alberendi Alvear, Albert Xiong, Aman Folami Reese, Kyana Rousell, Jordan Woodward, Joshua Vayle, Meghna Rao, Arya Rouzati, Annie Sullivan
The 2014 STEM Event, New Energy - New Thinking sponsored by the Sandy Springs Education Force and program partner Georgia Tech Research Institute was held at North Springs Charter High School
Dr. Gonzalo LaCava, Assistant FCS Superintendent, Dr. Eddie Ruiz, North Springs' Principal, Dr. Robert Avossa, Superintendent Fulton County Schools, Julia Bernath, FCS Board member, Dr. Scott Muri, Deputy Superintendent of Academics FCS and Dr. Rob Anderson, FCS Chief of Staff. Dr. Avossa spoke at the evening's VIP event.
Exhibitor Amanda Chodkowski with Evergreen Construction, a sustainable design and construction firm, and North Springs junior and dual magnet student Helena Weibel.
Julia Bernath, SSEF Board Chair and FCS board member with City of Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul.
The Central Learning Community
Email: griffind1@fultonschools.org
Website: www.fultonschools.org
Location: 786 Cleveland Ave. SW Atlanta, GA
Phone: 404-763-6804