After two years of hoping, dreaming, fund-raising and garnering support, construction was begun July 18 on an outdoor classroom at Glen Iris Elementary School.

The groundbreaking was scheduled for 7 a.m. because volunteers were lined up and construction equipment was on its way to the site. Several architects and companies had volunteered their services, and parents and volunteers from the Glen Iris Neighborhood Association were ready to get their hands dirty.

The plan called for completion of the outdoor classroom by July 19, but a stormy day on July 18 caused a delay.

Principal Michael Wilson said volunteers were prepared to work July 20 and 21, with some planting taking place July 23. "It will be finished by Monday," he said.

Wilson said the project, which will include garden areas for each grade level, "has just been a great collaborative effort. It just shows that, when you go out into the community and ask, there are people willing to help." 

  

Congratulations are in order for Parker High School, its Athletic Director Tyus Moss, Wenonah High School  and its Athletic Director Henry Pope. The two school won the 2012 Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Star Sportsmanship Award at arecent awards luncheon during the state's AHSAA All Star Week.  The award is given to high schools throughout the state who have not received any ejections or fines for the entire school year.

 

Parker and Wenonah were among 97 schools across the state who were honored.

 

Parker also won a scholarship check in the amount of $1,000 from al.com for doing an outstanding job with building character development through athletics.  Parker High School was one out of eight schools  in the state to be recognized for this award.

 

School athletic directors, coaches, principals and student athletes all deserve credit for doing such a great job.  

Fifty students from 13 elementary schools in the Birmingham City School System are having fun at the same time they are learning in a program being offered by Summer Advantage USA, a non-profit organization that provides accelerated academic and enrichment opportunities over the summer months.

 

The program for rising third- and fourth-graders is being piloted at Phillips Academy. Children are experiencing a rich array of academics and enrichment. It also  connects children with experienced educators and caring adult mentors and engages parents more deeply in the education of their children.

 

Summer Advantage scholars are receiving 160 hours of learning time over the course of the five-week program that will end Aug. 3. Mornings are dedicated to academics using Summer Success, a research-based curriculum. This is followed by a one hour lunch and active recess and then two hours of enrichment in the afternoon.

 

The enrichment classes offered this summer include Cooking 101, drama, science investigation and music/art. In addition, hands-on science lessons are provided weekly in connection with the McWane Science Center.

 

To gauge academic growth in math and reading, scholars take a pre and post assessment. Weekly benchmark/interventions called "brain challenges" are administered as well. The resulting data is used to develop weekly academic goals for each scholar.

 

The Summer Advantage staff is composed of teachers Angelia Groves and Robert Abernathy, teacher assistants Rhonda Shaheed-Conan and Tracey Dunlap-Weaver and Travae Donald, who is both a certified nurse and certified teacher. Phillips Assistant Principal Brenda G. Dial is the program manager.

 

Scholars from the Summer Advantage USA program are also exposed to field experiences, which have included visits to Birmingham-Southern College, the McWane Science Center and the Birmingham Zoo. Also embedded in the program are character and community development opportunities as well as a community service project. For their community service project, the scholars have chosen to focus  on Jessie's Place, a women's and children's shelter.

 

 

The Birmingham Board of Education will have a regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, in the auditorium of Carver High School, 3900 24th St. North.