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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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Exciting things ahead for new school year
If you think nothing goes on in schools during the summer, aside from summer programs, you might be surprised to learn about all the planning and preparation that occurs. It is because of the hard work of employees in our schools that classes will start Monday, Aug. 20, as previously planned. State officials had recommended that the first day be delayed three or more days but, after visiting schools, agreed that was not necessary. An exiting year is ahead for the Birmingham City School System, as new programs begin and new schools open. District staff spent the last school year planning career academies for Carver, Huffman, Jackson-Olin, Parker, Wenonah and Woodlawn high schools. The academies "graduated," or got final go ahead from the National Academy Foundation, this week. Students will enter the academies in August. Freshmen at Ramsay High School will begin taking International Baccalaureate classes as Ramsay continues in the candidacy stage for the IB program. Phillips Academy also is beginning its second year of IB candidacy. It is always exciting when new schools open, and there are three that will welcome students Aug. 20. Hayes K-8 School, which will combine the students who formerly attended Whatley K-8 School and Gibson Elementary School, was built on the site of the former Hayes High School. The old Brown Elementary School was torn down to make way for the new school. Brown was temporarily relocated to the former Tuxedo Elementary School during the process. Students at Huffman High School will begin the school year in a new building that has been built near the old facility. The original buildings will be demolished, and a stadium and other athletic facilities will be constructed in the next year. These are just a few of the good things that lie ahead for BCS students this year. It will be a great year! Sincerely, Craig Witherspoon Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools |
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Four new principals named
Ramsay, Hayes, Putnam and Green Acres get new leaders Four new principals were named at the July 24 Board of Education meeting. Evelyn Nettles is the new principal of Ramsay High School. Denise Mitchell is principal at the new Hayes K-8 School. Brenda Dial is the new principal of Putnam Middle School. Etheldia Reynolds is the new principal at Green Acres Middle School. Click here to read more. New principals had been named earlier for three additional schools. Jeanette Watters is the new principal at Norwood Elementary School. Tavis Sloan is the new principal at Jackson Elementary School. Damita Pitts is the new principal at Ossie Ware Mitchell Middle School.
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Cadets attend STEM camp
Carver student named Outstanding Cadet
About 240 selected JROTC cadets from high schools in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana recently went to a different kind of summer camp. The cadets and 16 JROTC instructors attended STEM Camp at Mississippi State University. Twenty-two students from the Birmingham City School System were among the participants. Charles Yarbrough of Carver High School was named Outstanding Cadet of the Cycle, which included a $250 prize. The five-day program introduced the cadets to career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They also got direct exposure to the college atmosphere, STEM curriculum and STEM-related work sites. The ultimate goals are to inspire cadets to strive for excellence in all areas, continue their education beyond high school and pursue STEM-related career opportunities. Participants all were rising sophomores, juniors or seniors with a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. The cadets also had to be of strong moral and ethical character, in good standing in JROTC, physically fit and recommended by the senior army instructor. The following cadets participated and graduated from the camp: - Carver -- Charles Yarbrough, and Alex Mays
- Huffman -- Kayla Cunningham, Demira Herring and Kandejah Porter
- Jackson-Olin -- Ashley Littlepage, DeMarcus Morrow, Terrinisha Prichard, Courteney Thompson and Aaron Wilbanks
- Parker -- Janisha Norman and Roniqua Smith
- Ramsay -- Kelsei Coleman, Evan Holloway, Ivan Holloway, Erin James, Ashauna Jeff, Jalesa Latham and Samethia Robinson
- Woodlawn -- Justin Brown, Jashaan Jackson and Brittany Ikner
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Jackson-Olin plans Introduction to High School 101
Program will introduce freshmen to high school
School will start Aug. 20, but Dr. Janice Drake, principal of Jackson-Olin High School, is hoping incoming freshmen at her school will come three weeks early. That's because JO is offering a five-day camp called Introduction to High School 101. The program is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, July 30, through Friday, Aug. 3. There is no charge, and snacks and lunch will be provided. Students will learn what to expect and become familiar with the school. They also will participate in enriching activities. A mandatory parent meeting is set for 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 1.
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Coming events
Registration will be held in all schools Monday, Aug. 6, through Friday, Aug. 10. Parents may register students in kindergarten through eighth grade from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. High school registration is from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a work session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.
The first day of school is Monday, Aug. 20. |
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