Central Learning Community News
The Heart of Fulton County Schools
April 2014
Elementary Schools
Hapeville Elementary
Hapeville Elementary School enjoyed an artistic celebration of Black History through the decoration over 50 classroom doors. In order to showcase various contributions, each grade level was assigned a category. Kindergartners decorated their doors in honor of African American Jazz Musicians.
Heards Ferry
Mrs. Locke paired up Ms. Lee’s Kindergarteners to help each other begin to learn to use Destiny. Destiny is the on-line catalog system used in Fulton County. The children learn how to search for books by title and keyword. Once they have identified a book they would like, they must check to see that it is in, locate the call #, and go find it. Finding the book means looking in the right section! There is a lot to learn. It will take a lot of practice to be really good at using the library independently, but what a proud moment when a student searches for and locates the book of their choice all on their own! Even better, if they learn to use this library, they will know where to look in every library.
Woodland
Woodland Elementary School was recently awarded $198,000 from a grant via the Seed Fund which was established last year by the Georgia State Legislature. The monies that Woodland received from the grant will be used to support a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program.
As part of Woodland’s STEM initiative, an after school STEM club has been organized for students through additional grant funding provided by the Sandy Springs Education Force. In addition, Woodland Elementary held an Unforgettable Evening of Mystery that included a Silent Auction, dinner, and entertainment as guests worked with the Sandy Springs Police Department to solve a dognapping and murder mystery using forensics. All who attended had a great time and the school raised awareness about the ongoing STEM initiative.
Oak Knolls
March Madness
Oak Knoll Elementary School held a March Madness Basketball Event to encourage and celebrate student achievement. Students in K – 5th grade who passed their Reading and Math Common Assessments were able to participate in the basketball shot contest and earn prizes for their academic achievement and the number of shots that they made. This event is just one of many ways that Oak Knoll encourages students to do well academically throughout the school year.
Ison Springs
On March 28th, Ison Springs held our annual “Night of the Arts,” including both a student Art Show and Talent Show.
The Art Show, coordinated by our art teacher Mrs. Hopen, and the Artome Company, allowed each child in the school to see his or her work of art as framed masterpiece. The students’ work was inspired by famous artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Romero Britto, and Keith Haring. Parents were also given the option to purchase their child’s art and bring it home.
The Ison Springs Talent Show featured incredible performances from students in grade 1-5. Parents and families were thoroughly impressed by our young singers, dancers, hip hop stars and more. We even heard a mix from our very own student DJ!
Everyone who attended enjoyed celebrating the amazing talents of our Ison Springs Scholars.
Conley Hills
On Monday, March 24th, 4th grade students at Conley Hills ES celebrated the completion of the program the 21st Century SCANA HC program. Special guests, Falcons Defensive Tackle, Corey Peters, and Micki and Kristine, ATL Falcons Cheerleaders, came by to show their support. Each guest read books centering around the theme of “Discipline, Dedication, Determination, and Desire”. Students had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the impact of hard work and success!
Parklane
Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be energized by a CRCT/College Prep festival this Friday starting around 9 a.m. We will again welcome the cheerleaders and drum line from Tri-Cities HS to help jump-start our CRCT efforts.
Additionally, Parklane kicked off an early start to enhance reading achievement as a recipient of the Striving Readers Grant by collaborating with Oton Gillingham Reading Institute to provide 100% of our reading teachers with a two-day intense literacy training with presenter Brenda Fitzgerald on April 16 & 17, 2014. This effort will help prepare teachers to make a positive impact as we strive to increase reading achievement.
High Point
High Point Elementary has just wrapped up our “March Towards Success” program which gave students in grades 3, 4, and 5 CRCT reinforcement on Saturdays from 8:00 am – 11:00 am. Students were given extra support in the content areas of Reading and Math in order to help them be more successful on the CRCT. Students participated in many hands-on and engaging learning activities to strengthen their skills and knowledge. It was a very successful program!!!
Dunwoody Springs
Dunwoody Springs Elementary third and fourth grade TAG students participated in a Consumer Products Fair in March. This event was the culminating activity in their unit, Consumer Scientist. Students took an in depth look at marketing, packaging, and advertising of consumer goods. Then they analyzed several consumer experiments for validity, criteria and the steps of the scientific method. As a class they conducted a research project using various brands of graham crackers. They developed the criteria and steps to complete this process. We were all excited to know the Kroger brand was tops to consumers in taste, crunch, and sweetness as well as price when compared to other brands.
Students were then ready to decide on a product of their choice to present at the fair. Students chose brands of ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, chips, gum, popcorn, comparison of search engines, and there was even a dishwashing station to compare two kinds of dish soap!
Parents, teachers, and administrators enjoyed visiting each station to test and participate in the data collection. The consumers were asked to rate each product according to the criteria set out by our researchers. The researchers later compiled the data and drew conclusions about the products. Results were shared using Microsoft Excel Graphs and a written conclusion.
We now understand the choices and information used to be the next generation of wise consumers!
Hamilton Holmes
First Lady of Georgia, Mrs. Deal visited H.E Holmes Elementary to read to students in PreK and Kindergarten in honor of Teach for America Week.
Victoria Bell and Jesus Villanueva recently won first place at the State Technology Fair for their Case Modification entry .
Spalding Drive
The Spring Art Show at Spalding Drive Charter showcased over 400 works created by its students. This year, Art teacher, Laura Kim, chose to have each grade level create a piece of art focused on the theme of cityscapes. Kindergarten and 1st grade worked with printmaking as their medium, stamping a variety of found objects to build their work. 2nd grade also worked with printmaking, but in a more experimental method known as monoprinting to create their cityscape reflections. 3rd graders learned about the Swiss artist, Paul Klee and drew imaginary cities inspired by his work, Castle and Sun. Illustrative black and white cityscapes were drawn by 4th graders while 5th graders worked with atmospheric perspective and brick walls covered with graffiti names.
Lake Forest
Over the past month, Lake Forest has had several visitors coming to help support literacy and curriculum initiatives. The Assistant to the Commissioner for Bright from the Start, Donna Pettigrew-Jackson, came to speak to the PreK students about their future and making positive choices. She also read to the students and presented each class with a new book for their classroom libraries. Teachers at Lake Forest also invited the Mayor of Sandy Springs, Rusty Paul, to come and speak to the 2nd and 3rd grade students. He spoke about preparing for the future and about civic responsibility and local government. These types of experiences help connect Lake Forest students to the community, support literacy initiatives, and allows for students to experience real-life connections to the curriculum.
Middle Schools
Woodland MS
The Broad Foundation came to Woodland Middle School to speak with people from around the district. Woodland Middle School’s students served as escorts to principals, teachers and parents. The students wore Woodland uniforms and represented both Woodland MS and the Central Learning Community in spectacular fashion.
Paul D. West
On March 21, we recognized our local school board member, Catherine Maddox. She was acknowledged for her contributions and support to the community of East Point. The students, staff, and community members honored Ms. Maddox with words of inspiration, musical selections from the chorus, and small tokens of appreciation.
Sandy Springs
The eighth grade Savannah trip was a great success. Our teachers and students were handling snakes and alligators at the Okefenokee Swamp, acting out scenes at Fort Jackson, and touring Savannah Sites. Please congratulate our track team who on March 29th dominated the Fulton County Middle School Track and Field competition. Highlights are in the newsletter on page seven. Our stallions did a fantastic job! We won 1st place for the girls! Congratulations Ben Miller for winning the Optimist Oratorical Contest! Kudos!!
Ridgeview
Ridgeview Charter School was thrilled to host 24 Japanese students and their teachers during a student exchange with Chienken High School from Saga, Japan. As part of the Kakehashi Project, Ms. Tomomi Davis and Dr. Kathleen McCaffrey accompanied 20 Riverwood International Charter School students to Japan in the summer of 2013, and as promised, they then returned the hospitality by hosting 27 Japanese visitors as part of a valuable exchange. Ridgeview teachers found the hosting of visiting faculty a life changing event, and truly the mainstay of the Kakehashi Project which is based on building cultural bridges to tomorrow! Special guests included the Consulate General of Japan and the World Language director from the Georgia Department of Education. Arigato!
High Schools
McClarin
McClain was honored with a presentation from Tim Jennings, a Superbowl Champion with the Chicago Bears. The male students at McClarin were engaged in Real Talk with Mr. Jennings during the weekly advisory session. Mr. Jennings spoke to the males of McClarin about how the decisions that they make in life affect their future. The students were very receptive to Mr. Jennings and excited to meet a professional football player.
TriCities
The Army partnered with Tri-Cities to bring an amazing interactive experience to the students of Tri-Cities. Young minds got the opportunity to hear about careers in the Army, simulate the operation of tanks and helicopters, and to learn about the technological advances in the armed services. Students walked away with a renewed interest towards increased post-secondary options.
Riverwood
Here are some general highlights: Students had a chance to tour two local businesses in Denmark. They worked on international teams (six case studies in all) and provided feedback to the business owners. We had a chance to visit a Danish classroom in Copenhagen. However, they referred to their classrooms as innovation labs. You can see in the photos that they have no desks, no books, etc. Rather, they have working spaces for the students to complete projects. Remy and I took some time to visit the Copenhagen International School. CIS is one of the IB Schools in Denmark that was near the school we were visiting.
North Springs
North Springs Spartans Give Back!
North Springs Beta Club and National Honor Society members fill goodie bags with hygiene items for the homeless during North Springs Clubs in Community Day on March 28th. This was the 6th year in a row that all Spartans, through their clubs, activities and classes spent the day volunteering- helping community organizations and working to beautify the school's building and grounds.
The Central Learning Community
Email: griffind1@fultonschools.org
Website: www.fultonschools.org
Location: 786 Cleveland Ave. SW Atlanta, GA
Phone: 404-763-6804