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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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School year off to a good start
One of the pleasures of being superintendent is getting to visit schools and observe the teaching and learning that happens in our schools on a daily basis. I was happy to see that instruction was going on even the first day of school as I stopped by numerous campuses.
Things even went well at the three new schools that opened their doors to students Monday -- Huffman High, Hayes K-8 and Brown Elementary. Students and faculty all were excited to be in new, state-of-the-art buildings.
Career academies, from health professions to engineering and construction, kicked into full swing at six high schools. The International Baccalaureate curriculum began at Ramsay High and Phillips K-8, which are in their second year of IB candidacy.
I saw teachers comforting new kindergartners, principals greeting and encouraging students and children with brand new sneakers walking down shiny clean hallways. I witnessed teachers already busy at interactive white boards and explaining classroom rules.
It was a good beginning, and a sign that the 2012-2013 school year will be a great one.
Classrooms had more students overall than they did the first day of the 2011-2012 school year. The Ready Day One campaign appears to have paid off, with 1,276 more students attending the first day of classes than last year. The number of students attending grew daily through the rest of the week.
This is a time of great expectation in Birmingham City Schools. With your support, we can help our students achieve their dreams. Sincerely, Craig Witherspoon
Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools |
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Superintendent sends letter to parents
Letter explains accreditation situation Superintendent Craig Witherspoon has sent a letter to parents about the accreditation situation facing the district. Click here to read the letter. |
Parent workshop scheduled Aug. 30
"All the things you need to know about Birmingham City Schools"
The Family Involvement Program will have its first parent workshop of the 2012-2013 school year Thursday, Aug. 30.
Entitled "All the things you need to know about Birmingham City Schools," the workshop is set for 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Davis Center, 417 29th St. South. A continental breakfast will be served from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Parents will get information on a wide variety of programs and departments, including child nutrition,
child health, curriculum, career academies, federal programs, special education, student support services, career-technical program and attendance.
For information, call Mechelle Rice-Fields, 231-7965. |
The Leaning Tower of . . . Spaghetti?
Wenonah employees build structures
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Wenonah High School employees Darvia Treadwell, Lynn Jacobs, Antoinette Hartley, Patrick Fuller and Joycelyn Whatley make towers out of uncooked spaghetti and mini marshmallows. The school started the year off with professional development activities geared to strengthen Professional Learning Communities. Teams of two competed to build the tallest tower that would stand on its own. Jackie Rodgers and Shalandra Cheatham won with a structure of 22 inches. |
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Members needed for advisory committees
Parents, ministers can volunteer to serve
Superintendent Craig Witherspoon is restarting several advisory committees for the 2012-2013 school year. He specifically needs ministers and parents to volunteer to serve.
Each committee will meet quarterly and have face-to-face communication with the superintendent. The goals are: - To maintain open communication by providing a forum for input, advice, and guidance
- To share and promote best practices
- To offer suggestions for new programs which may be implemented in the district or ideas for improvement of existing programs
- To discuss issues/challenges of district-wide significance and brainstorm possible solutions
Witherspoon would like to have a committee of parents of special education students in addition to a committee of parents of typical children if there is sufficient interest. Anyone who is interested in service should email Adrienne Mitchell at amitchell2@bhm.k12.al.us. |
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UniverSoul Circus performs preview at Glen Iris
Four men called on to do balancing trick
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Four men -- three of them teachers -- do a balancing trick as part of a UniverSoul Circus preview at Glen Iris Elementary School this week. The men started off sitting in chairs in a square formation. The clown has the men lean back and rest on each other's knees. He then removed the chairs and left them suspended in the air balancing on each other's knees. |
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Coming events
The Birmingham Board of Education Ad Hoc Committee on District Growth and Student Population Stabilization will meet at 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place. The Birmingham Board of Education will have a work session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.
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