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BCS News & Notes

A newsletter for parents, students, staff and community

July 6, 2012
 
In This Issue
Whatley wins grant
Donors give to music program
Quick Links
Alabama State Department of Education, www.alsde.edu

P.O. Box 10007
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
(205) 231-4610
Camp Birmingham is important

Educators all are concerned when it comes to what is in children's heads in the summer time. We want our students to have a good time, but it also worries us that many children spend the summer without reading books or doing other academic activities.

 

That's just one reason why programs such as Camp Birmingham are important. This summer, 650 children are having fun and learning things at the day camp operated by the Birmingham City Schools Community Education Department.

 

This is the 24th year of Camp Birmingham, which serves children ages 5 to 13. It also provides summer jobs for 70 high school and college students who act as counselors for the program. Programs are located at Hemphill Elementary School, Parker High School, Smith Middle School, South Hampton Elementary School and Woodlawn High School this year.

 

Derrell Morrison, lead coordinator for the Community Education Department, describes the day at Smith as a kind of moveable feast. After roll call at 8 a.m., groups of campers rotate through various activities - character education, arts and crafts, computer activities and fun and games - throughout the day. Because there is a city pool across the street from Smith, one group of children gets to swim each afternoon.

 

As a reward for exemplary behavior, campers are allowed to visit the camp game room, which includes video games, a basketball arcade-type game and an air hockey table.

 

That doesn't sound like school at all, but children are still learning.

In fact, about 100 campers competed last month in the annual Camp Birmingham Academic Bowl, which was very much like an academic competition held during the school year.

 

Earlier this week, all 650 campers took part in the Camp Birmingham Olympics held at Jackson-Olin High School. They did everything from traditional track and field events to three-legged races and tug of war.

 

We really appreciate those who provide funding for six-week Camp Birmingham, including the City of Birmingham, neighborhood associations and Rotary Club all help. We couldn't do it without them, and it is our young people who benefit.

 

Sincerely,
 
Craig Witherspoon

Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools

District receives federal grant for Whatley
$3.5 million will be used to improve school


 The Birmingham City School System will receive a $3.5 million federal School Improvement Grant for Whatley K-8 School. The money is part of a total of $15.8 million awarded to the Alabama State Department of Education by the U.S. Department of Education. Six school systems are receiving money.

 

The grant application identified three areas of school reform: improving students' academic performance on standards-based assessments, addressing the social and emotional needs of students and their families and recruitment and retention of a highly qualified instructional staff.

 

The goal of the grant is to improve student learning by organizing staff and other resources so that appropriate conditions are in place to enable all students to achieve at high levels. To that end, improvement efforts will focus on increasing teacher and school leader effectiveness as well as increasing learning time for students.

 

Also, extended learning opportunities will serve to ensure academic success for all students. Before and after school programs will be in place to provide additional learning opportunities for the students and Saturday Learning Academies will be designed to extend and engage students in innovative and creative learning projects.

 

Technology will be embedded in many of the academic activities afforded the students. Emphasis will also focus on creating a community-oriented school. Increasing parental involvement and providing family wraparound services through social and medical support will serve to support families in their efforts to support student learning. Support from local colleges, universities and social agencies will also assist these efforts.

 

As part of the school improvement efforts, BCS is furthering its partnership with JBHM Education Group and Renaissance Learning. The purpose of the partnership is to support the staff and administration at the school by creating an alignment matrix to show how all new and existing interventions will work together to create a comprehensive model for transformation so that all students will be engaged in meaningful and appropriate learning activities that will prepare these students for high school and beyond.

 

Whatley will be consolidated with Gibson Elementary School in the new Hayes K-8 School that opens in August.


 

Donors give to music program
Central Park will get new keyboards

Central Park students play keyboards
Students at Central Park Elementary School who want to take the school's popular music technology class will have a better chance of getting in this fall, thanks to donors who gave money through the website DonorsChoose.org.

Teacher Karen Garrett posted information on the website, asking for money to buy four additional keyboards for her program. She has been teaching 230 students a week, eight at a time, and wanted more keyboards so she could expand her classes.

Donors on the website came through, giving $1,047, which is actually more than Ms. Garrett requested.

The music technology teaches children instrumental music without parents having to buy instruments. Students move at their own pace and, eventually, learn to read, write, compose and perform music. They even record their own CDs.

"Students love the class, and many more have asked to join as spaces open. This class has been important for students with 'special needs' also. These students, normally not able to handle band or other instruments, have been able to find success in exploring sounds and music through playing keyboards," Ms. Garrett wrote. "The students in our school thrive on music-making and the joy that it brings them in life."
 

To read more, click here.

Coming events 
 
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a regularly scheduled meeting at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 10, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.

There will be no BCS News & Notes Friday, July 13.
 
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a special called meeting at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place. 
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