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BCS News & Notes
A newsletter for parents, students, staff and community |
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P.O. Box 10007
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
(205) 231-4610
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International Baccalaureate in BCS
At Tuesday's board meeting, faculty members from Phillips Academy and Ramsay High School presented an update regarding our progress toward becoming International Baccalaureate or IB certified at the primary, middle and diploma levels. The schools are well on their way. As candidates, the schools have to demonstrate capacity, be involved with professional development and incorporate the IB's international mission into the schools' mission. According to IB, "international education" includes building and reinforcing students' sense of identity and cultural awareness, knowledge accordingly across a broad range of areas and providing international content while responding to local requirements and interests, among other criteria. We are excited to be adding this piece as a part of a "diverse portfolio of educational offerings" in the district. We encourage our students, parents and community to look for more programs and themes to be added in the future. Sincerely, Craig Witherspoon Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools |
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Reminder: Feb. 20 is a school day
Inclement weather makeup day required
Monday, Feb. 20, is on the school year calendar is being Presidents' Day and an inclement weather makeup day. Because schools were closed Tuesday, Sept. 6, in the aftermath of a tropical storm, it will be an inclement weather makeup day.
That means schools and district offices will be open. Twelve-month employees, who worked Sept. 6, will get Friday, April 20, off instead. |
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Wenonah invited to national competition
Team placed second in state We the People contest
 | | Wenonah High School's We the People team |
Seventeen AP U.S. history students from Wenonah High School will be busy the next few weeks raising money to attend the national We the People competition in Washington, D.C.. The Wenonah team placed second in the state contest Feb. 10 at Birmingham-Southern College and learned this week that it has been invited to compete in nationals.
We the People, is a mock congressional hearing competition with six units. Three students from each school must be prepared to answer any one of three questions in a unit, with three judges rating them. Students must demonstrate a sound understanding of the topic supported by historical facts and enhanced by relevant current events. This year's topic is the application of constitutional law.
The team sponsor is Sean Colosimo. The team members are Regina Baker, Khiref Boggan, Jasmine Broadnax, Jasmine Edmond, Christopher Griffin, Nicholas Grant, Brenda Hardy, Tia Jenkins, Ondre Johnson, Wil-lindra Jones, Kenneth McQueen, Elizabeth Miller, Timotheus Miller, Ashley Moore, Jakoria Phillips, Stephanie Ratcliff and Jacoyia Williamson.
The team needs approximately $28,000 to make the trip to the nationals, which will be April 27 to May 1.
A team of AP government/economics students from Huffman High School placed fourth in the state. |
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Pre-kindergarten lottery application time ends March 2
Parents must fill out form at schools
Parents who want to get their children into a Birmingham City School System pre-kindergarten class for the 2012-2013 school year have until March 2 to fill out a form for the lottery process that selects students for classes.
For more information, click here. |
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Business Monday a hit at Carver
Students don ties for the day
Carver High School Principal Darrell Hudson was looking for an opportunity to begin teaching his male students about respect, responsibility, leadership, success and dressing for success. Because looking the part helps students act the part, he has begun Business Monday. Male teachers and students are asked to wear ties on Mondays.
Knowing that some students did not own ties,
 | | Teacher George Walls assists a student with his tie |
the pastor and congregation of Olivet Monumental Baptist Church donated more than 200 ties. Male faculty members also gave some.
The first Business Monday, Feb. 13, began with an early morning session on how to properly knot a tie.
"Business Monday is the beginning of a culture change as we produce academic scholars whose end goal is success," Hudson said. He plans to add female students to Business Monday in the future.
Carver still needs ties for students. Anyone who would like to make a donation may call Menyorn Beachem at 231-3507. |
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Magnet programs taking applications until Feb. 29
Epic, Princeton, Christian and Phillips accepting forms
Epic and Princeton elementary schools, W.J. Christian K-8 School and Phillips Academy are accepting applications for admission for the 2012-2013 school year through Feb. 29.
Click here for more information.
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Sun Valley kindergarteners celebrate 100th day of school
Students count out 100 items to make snacks
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Milia Skanes, John Creed IV, Rodney Holt and Jakobi Burt with their snack mix |
All kindergarten students at Sun Valley Elementary School celebrated the 100th day of school recently by using the number 100. Students presented posters of 100 things or designed a poster out of 100 things. During math time, they picked food items -- popcorn, Chex cereal, M&Ms, Skittles, raisins, marshmallows and other favorites -- to make 10 groups of 10. When they had 100 pieces, they put them in plastic bags to make snack mix. |
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Board approves items on Feb. 14 agenda
Calendar for 2012-2013 school year included
The Birmingham Board of Education approved items on the agenda for its Feb. 14 agenda. Click here to read more.
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Parker student makes regional honor choir
Corderek Nunn to attend convention
Corderek Nunn, a junior at Parker High School, has made one of the highest achievements a high school choral student can attain. He has earned a spot in the Regional SATB High School Honor
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Corderek Nunn |
Choir.
Corderek will attend the American Choral Directors convention in Winston-Salem, N.C., Feb. 29 to March 3 as a result of his achievment. He is one of only two Alabama students and the only one from the Birmingham City Schools to make the regional choir this year.
His teacher, Charles Brown, will attend the convention as well.
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Promethean Bus visits two Birmingham schools
Students, teachers, parents get lessons about interactive techology
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A student is engrossed in a lesson on the Promethean Bus |
Students from Phillips Academy and Bush Middle School got a lesson about interactive technology this week when the Promethean Bus visited their schools.
Promethean boards, or interactive, Internet-connected white boards, are being installed in classrooms across the Birmingham City Schools. They replace the traditional chalk board and have the capability of showing websites, videos and television programs.
Parents were able to attend sessions as well, and faculty members were offered a session as well.
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Wenonah has Unity Breakfast
Stakeholders gather to support school
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Timotheus Miller leads a procession at the Unity Breakfast |
Hundreds of educators, elected officials, judges, ministers, community leaders and other stakeholders gathered at Wenonah High School Feb. 15 for the school's ninth annual Unity Breakfast.
Rev. Tommy Lewis was the keynote speaker. He said education is expensive. "If you think paying for education is expensive, try financing ignorance," he said.
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Coming events
The Policy Committee of the Birmingham Board of Education will meet at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the board room of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.
The District Growth and Student Population Stabilization Ad Hoc Committee of the Birmingham Board of Education will meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.
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