Finalists were drawn from a large pool of applicants that included many schools that have earned recognition as National Blue Ribbon Schools, National Title I Distinguished Schools and winners of many other state and national awards.

 

"The finalists have attained a level of achievement more typically seen in schools that serve very affluent communities," said Joseph F. Johnson, Jr., executive director of the NCUST.

 

"They've demonstrated evidence of effectiveness among all of the student populations they serve, including English learners and students with disabilities. They prove that our nation's urban schools can be wonderful centers of learning that change children's lives," Johnson said. "As a nation, we should be seeking out opportunities to applaud and support these schools while we provide systematic, substantive assistance to other schools seeking to attain similar results."

 

All finalists received on-site visits during the months of January and February. The sixteen wining schools demonstrated the greatest evidence of rigorous content, engaging instruction, and positive relationships among students, teachers, parents, and administrators.

  

  

 

 

 

Several Birmingham City School System students brought home awards from the recent Central Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Competition was stiff among the entrants, who already had competed in school and district fairs.

  

BCS winners were:

• Mariah Cobbin, an eighth-grader at W.J. Christian K-8 School, placed second in biology in the junior division for her project, "Don't Do Da Dew!"
• Derrin Wilson, a sixth-grader at Christian, took second place in environmental and earth sciences in the junior division, for "Does Vitamin C Lead to Plant Growing Spree and the Effect of Vitamin D on Plant Growth."
• Dasia Primus, who is in eighth grade at Phillips Academy, placed third in chemistry in the junior division for her project, "How Sweet!"
• JaMarcus Ellison and Jarian Lee, who are in eighth grade at Christian, took third place in medical and health sciences in the junior division for their project, entitled "Sniff This."
• Alexandria Hawkins, a junior at Woodlawn High School, earned an honorable mention in chemistry in the senior division for her project, "Flavor That Food!"
• Also earning an honorable mention, in environmental and earth sciences in the junior division were Cameron Brown, Nicholas Adams and Myranda Bell, who are in sixth grade at Christian, for their project, "Plant Hard Grow Hard."

  

  

 

This year's theme was: "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and The March on Washington." She  received a certificate and a check for $300.

 

Dasia is a back-to-back winner, having won first place in 2012 as well.

  

Randolph Pettway, director of the extended day program at North Roebuck Elementary School, was named the Alabama Community Education Association Extended Day Director of the Year at the group's annual seminar recently.

 

Although he is only 21 and a full time elementary education student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Pettway infuses his knowledge and leadership to successfully direct and manage the North Roebuck program. He provides inspiration, leadership, motivation and guidance to make the program an outstanding, cornerstone student learning community.

 

Pettway employs digital learning to provide hands-on reading, science, technology, social studies and math learning experiences. These original and innovative tutoring initiatives assure that students participate in educational and recreational workshops that provide culturally relevant after school activities.

 

Pettway also has served as the camp director for Camp Birmingham at Smith Middle School. He planned, organized, staffed, reported, budgeted, and directed 18 counselors and youth leaders to provide exceptional student development and educational discovery opportunities to enthusiastic young learners during the summer of 2012.  

  

Spring break is March 25 to March 29. Schools and district offices will be closed.

  

The Birmingham Board of Education will have a work session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place.