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BCS News & Notes

A newsletter for parents, students, staff and community

March 16, 2012
 
In This Issue
Community Education wins awards
Special events set for spring break
Board approves agenda items
Quick Links
Alabama State Department of Education, www.alsde.edu

P.O. Box 10007
Birmingham, Alabama 35202
(205) 231-4610
Top teachers express love for students

Last week, we recognized our two teachers of the year, Dr. Beth Howard, a kindergarten teacher at Glen Iris Elementary School, and Delilah Stitt, an English teacher at Jackson-Olin High School. We also recognized nine new National Board Certified Teachers. Again, I want to say congratulations to all of the honorees.

When our teachers of the year spoke about their experiences, leading to recognition, both talked about their love for students, passion for education and the act of reflecting on their practices as a teaching professional. They emphasized the need to continuously ask the question: Am I making an impact on the teaching and learning process?

This is truly the heart of the teaching profession -- the reflective practice of educating students. On behalf of the students of the Birmingham City Schools, we appreciate your efforts and positive impact on the future.
 

Sincerely,
 
Craig Witherspoon

Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools

 

Community Education wins awards 

State association recognizes individuals, board

 

The Birmingham City Schools Community Education Department got lots of recognition at the Alabama Community Education Association conference earlier this month.

 

The Birmingham Rotary Club received the highest award given by the organization, the Charles Stewart Mott Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the overall purpose of the organization and to the furtherance of community education. This award was presented to the Birmingham Rotary Club for sponsoring a summer camp at South Hampton Elementary in 2011. Parker Community School submitted this nomination.

 

South Hampton Principal Johnnie Finkley was named Principal of the Year. That award is given to the principal who has shown dedication to community education and has initiated or implemented activities that promote the concept of community education. Parker Community School submitted this nomination.

 

State Sen. Rodger Smitherman received the Outstanding Benefactor Award, which is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to community education. Parker Community School submitted this nomination.

 

Derrell Morrison, lead community education coordinator for BCS, also received an Outstanding Benefactor Award. ACEA State President, Sallie Chastain, submitted this nomination

 

The BCS Community Education Advisory Council was the only advisory council in the state to receive the Gold Star Advisory Council Award. This award is presented annually to each advisory council that complies with the 10 standards as adopted by the association's board of directors. 

 

City, Museum of Art, McWane Center plan activities
Special events set for spring break

Several entities, including the city of Birmingham, Birmingham Museum of Art and the McWane Science Center, have special programs for spring break week.
 
The city of Birmingham will have three-on-three basketball, music, movies and other activities in Linn Park at dusk each day.The city also is offering a free child's admission to the Birmingham Zoo, Vulcan Park and the McWane Science Center with a paid adult admission. Click here for information.
 
Children will be able to participate in the Doodle 4 Google 2012 competition at the museum Tuesday, March 20. Doodle 4 Google is one of several efforts by Google to by asking students to create their own Google doodle. The theme this year is "If I could travel in time, I'd visit..."

 

After all doodles have been submitted to Google, a team of Googlers and then celebrity judges will help choose the top doodles. The public will be allowed to vote in May to pick a winner in each grade group. The first prize winner will be announced May 17, and the winner's doodle will be on the google.com May 18.

 

The best of the Alabama doodles will be displayed at the BMA from July 1-August 26.

 

Click here for more information on spring break activities at the museum.

 

The McWane Science Center is having Brain Awareness Week, which gives students a chance to dissect a sheep brain or cow eye and to do other activities.  For more information, click here.

 

 


Sun Valley has Math Night

Students and parents enjoy math games
Students Danuel Sanders, Dorian Carter, Caleb Etheridge, Justin Etheridge and Dorian Moss participated in Math Night with teacher Janeka Juett and grandmother Eartha Smith
 
Sometimes the best way to learn something is to make a game out of it. That was a reason behind Sun Valley Elementary School's recent Math Game Night, organized by the school's math coordinator, Valencia Reese.
 
The PTA provided a hot dog supper, and everyone who attended a session that included a demonstration of math games.
 
Then teachers provided fun games in their classrooms that can be played at home. Some of the games can be played with a deck of playing cards. Another game involved using M&M candies to work with estimation and comparing fractions and ratios.
 
Families were given math packets and instructions to the games and sample math problems for students to prepare for the upcoming Alabama Reading and Math Test.

Board approves items on agenda
Items include technology purchases

 

The Birmingham Board of Education approved all items on the agenda for its March 13 meeting.

 

The items included several technology purchases. To read more, click here.

 
Carver girls join boys in Business Mondays
Students wear business clothing to school

Carver teachers talk to senior Jasmine Pope about dressing for success

Carver High School recently initiated a program called Dress for Success with male students, who now wear dress shirts and ties to school on Mondays. Now female students have been added to the program. Girls can be seen on Mondays wearing outfits that are appropriate for the business environment.

 

Carver High female faculty members had a private session with the CHS girls, sharing with them thoughts on being a lady and succeeding as a student.. The teachers encouraged them to do better and to seek better. The female students enjoyed a skit put on by the female faculty showing them what not to do if they are going to be a lady of class and style.

 

Student feedback has been wonderful on their meeting, as they begin to focus on success and their future.

 

 

 

Coming events 
 
The week of March 19-23 is spring break for the Birmingham City Schools. That means there will be no BCS News & Notes March 23.

The Birmingham Board of Education will have a regularly scheduled meeting at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.
 
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