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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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Open house brings in community
As we bring to a close American Education Week, hundreds of parents and community members took part in our third annual district-wide open house on Wednesday.
The open house provided the public with an opportunity to visit any school and see what was happening inside. They found some great things.
At six high schools, they were able to visit our new career academies, where students are learning about career paths in specific fields like health care, finance and construction and design.
They were able to visit neighborhood schools and magnet programs across the district. Every school had examples of curriculum offerings and fine arts programs. Some classes had interesting presentations or science experiments, but -- for the most part -- it was business as usual in our schools.
I view the open house as a great way to increase community engagement and expand our outreach to the greater community simply by opening our doors and inviting everyone in to see teaching and learning in Birmingham City Schools.
Sincerely,
Craig Witherspoon Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools |
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Autism class at Carver has new orchestra program
Students perform for parents and staff Heather Rittscher, the orchestra teacher at Carver High School, is no stranger to working with special needs students. Last school year, hearing impaired students signed along with the orchestra. So it was a natural thing for her to suggest to Wanda Shorter, teacher for autistic students at Carver, that  | |
Carver students with autism perform on the violin |
an orchestra class for autistic students should be started. Music, after all, is good for all kinds of students. Shorter and Principal Darrell Hudson agreed, and Hudson worked with the two teacher's schedules to make sure the class could happen. When school started in August, 10 autistic students began learning to play the violin. Like any beginners, the students had to start by learning the parts of the violin and bow and which notes are on each string. They sometimes pluck the strings instead of using their bows but are playing with the bows as well. When the class had its annual Thanksgiving luncheon Nov. 15, the students had a treat for their parents and others who attended. Dressed all in black like members of a professional orchestra, the students entered single file and took their seats. Rittscher asked them to introduce themselves. The audience watched closely as the students played "The Switch" and "The Adams Family." As an encore, they played rhythms in a drum circle. "I am really proud of how much these students have learned," Hudson said. "When you put innovative minds together, this is what you get." Shorter, who tends to tear up when talking about her students' involvement in orchestra, said, "It has given the children a feeling of 'We can do it!' It is good when they feel that can do what the general population can do." |
April Williams elected board president
Brian Giattina wins vice president positition
The Birmingham Board of Education elected April Williams, who represents District 8, as its new president at the Nov. 13 board meeting. Brian Giattina, who represents District 3, was elected vice president. The officers will serve one-year terms. |
Bush Hills Academy has dedication ceremony
Ribbon cutting also held at school A dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting was held at Bush Hills Academy Nov. 14. Elected officials, community members, parents and partners in education were among those who gathered to celebrate the school.
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Bush Hills Academy pre-K students perform at the dedication program |
Bush Hills Academy is a consolidation of the former Wilson Elementary School and Glenn Middle School on the former Glenn campus. The old buildings were demolished to make way for the new school and athletic facilities. The school can accommodate up to 654 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. it features two computer labs and art, science, band and choral classrooms. The cafeteria seats up to 225 students, and the gymnasium seats 300. The outdoor facilities include a football field, track, amphitheater and walking trails. Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood were the architects, Blalock Building Co, was the general contractor. Volkert and Associates was the program manager. |
Phillips students go to Montgomery
Teacher posts YouTube video about trip Seventh-graders at Phillips Academy had a great time when they went on a field trip to Montgomery recently. They had been studying, researching and learning about governments at home and around the world, including Alabama's state government. The students were able to get a hands-on experience at the State Capitol Building, the state House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the state's Judicial Center. The trip also included special tours of the Rosa Parks Museum and the Civil Rights Memorial, where the students were challenged to stand up for the rights of all people. Teacher JohnMark Edwards produced a video about the trip and posted it on YouTube. To watch it, click here.
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Sun Valley students study Carver
Class combines reading, math and science
Patricia Kimber's second grade class at Sun Valley Elementary School has been studying the life of George Washington Carver.
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Students with science projects at Sun Valley |
The lesson has gone a lot further than what students could learn in a science book. The study coincides with their reading selection for the week," A Weed Is a Flower," by Aliki.
The students took a field trip to Birmingham Botanical Gardens and learned even more about peanuts and crop rotation in 3-D. They also did a variety of reading and math projects about George Washington Carver.
Everyone who walks down the hall near Kimber's classroom is astonished at the vast amount of information the students have learned, and all enjoy the science projects displayed outside the room. |
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Huffman football players lend a hand
Students help prepare boxes for 1,000 families
Football players from Huffman High School got a break from classes Nov. 15 -- but not to take it easy. In fact, the football team was at the Christian Service Mission working to pack 1,000 boxes of food for the needy.
They were working in partnership with The Worship Center Christian Church and the Christian Service Mission for the annul Thanksgiving turkey give away.
The players got some positive attention from the media as well.To watch the story CBS 42 did on the effort, click here. |
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Parent workshop set Nov. 20
Focus is on math
The Family Involvement Program will host a parent workshop entitled "Helping Your Child with Math!!" from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Lincoln Professional Development Center, 901 Ninth Ave. North.
The workshop will include an overview of the K-8 mathematics curriculum and details on the new math books, games to assist students in learning facts, online resources for parents and tips on helping students prepare for the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.
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Coming events
Schools and district offices will be closed Wednesday through Friday, Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, for Thanksgiving holidays.
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a work session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place. |
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