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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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Tests demonstrate learning
The coming weeks will be some of the most important of the school year. Students, who have been learning since they entered classrooms last August, will be demonstrating what they have learned by taking various tests and assessments.
High school students, of course, will be preparing for final exams that count toward their grades for the semester.
High school students who are in Advanced Placement courses, will take tests that can result in them earning college credit for their high school work. Students who make a three out of five or better can receive college credit, which gives them a head start on higher education.
Then there are is the state accountability test known as ARMT, or the Alabama Reading and Math Test, which is taken by students in several elementary and middle school grades.
The ARMT plays a big part in overall school and school district performance. All students a school must be making a certain amount of growth in their academic performance.
But that is not the only reason why I am urging parents to make sure their children are ready for the ARMT, which begins May 7. It is also important that children do their best so that we can determine their strengths and weaknesses and make changes in our instruction as a result.
In this era when data is so important, educators examine not only how a school does but also how individual students do. We can use that data to target assistant to students who need it.
So I am asking parents to ensure that their children are ready for testing. For example, make sure they get a good night's sleep and have a good breakfast on testing days. As always, encourage them to do their best.
Sincerely, Craig Witherspoon Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools |
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Students win cash prizes in Spring Challenge
Online games taught financial literacy
Six students from high schools in the Birmingham City School System got big checks -literally and figuratively - at an awards ceremony April 17. They were the winners in the Spring Challenge financial literacy program.
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Winners of the Spring Challenge took home cash prizes. |
High school students across the system were able to play online financial literacy games and win cash and prizes. The effort, sponsored by Regions Bank and Doorways 2 Dream, ran from Feb. 27 to March 20. Students could play three video games designed by Doorways 2 Dream.The games -- FarmBlitz, GrooveNation and Celebrity Calamity - taught participants practical financial lessons while they competed for points and prizes. Doorways 2 Dream was founded by former Harvard economist Peter Tufano. Financial topics covered in the games included uses and pitfalls of debt, budgeting and savings. The students with the top three highest combined scores on all three games were awarded cash prizes. The grand prize winner was Joseph Long of Wenonah High School, who won $500. Angelica Gantt of Huffman High School took second place and won $400. Ramsay High School's Autumn Massey won $300 for third place. Ramsay was the winning school, with 84 students playing the game.Huffman and Wenonah each had 48 students who played. |
Monday, April 22, is early dismissal day
District offices will close early as well
All schools and offices in the Birmingham City School System will close early Monday, April 22.
Elementary, middle and K-8 schools will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.
High schools will dismiss at 1 p.m.
All schools and district offices will close at 1:30 p.m.
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Parker wins Golden Spoon Competition
Students compete in Iron Chef-like contest
A team of four students from Parker High School's culinary arts program showed they can take the heat. They won the second annual Golden Spoon Competition held at Culinard April 13.
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Ladarrion Wright, Kayla Robinson, Joshua McCammon and Kenya Hill with their teacher, Andrea Hopkins |
Teams from Parker, Wenonah and Jackson-Olin had two hours to prepare a meal in an Iron Chef-like competition using preselected ingredients and a secret ingredient that was given to the students at the competition. This year's secret ingredient was dark chocolate.
The Parker team of Ladarrion Wright, Kayla Robinson, Joshua McCammon and Kenya Hill prepared bruchetta, beef quesadillas and pound cake muffin topper with homemade strawberry ice cream and chocolate ganache.
Sponsored by Culinard, Golden Corral and Birmingham City Schools, the competition provides culinary arts students an opportunity to demonstrate, practice and apply culinary skills they have learned in the classroom.
Wenonah placed second, with Jackson-Olin coming in third.
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Teams set for elementary, middle Academic Bowl finals
Finals set for Thursday, May 2
The teams that will play in the finals of the elementary and middle school Academic Bowl  | |
Jones Valley's winning middle school Academic Bowl team |
competitions have been decided. Middle school teams competed in a double-elimination tournament April 16 and 17 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Jones Valley K-8 School is the overall winner in the winners bracket. W.J. Christian K-8 School is the overall winner in the losers bracket. The second winner in the elementary competition was decided Thursday. Glen Iris Elementary School is the overall winner in the losers bracket. Glen Iris will play W.J. Christian, which became the winners bracket overall winner last week, in the finals.  | |
Christian's winning middle school academic team |
Phillips Academy's teams came in third in both the elementary and middle school competitions. High school teams will have preliminary rounds Wednesday, April 24. The final round for each group will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the McWane Science Center. An awards ceremony is set for 6:45 p.m., followed by a reception.  | |
Glen Iris' winning elementary Academic Bowl team |
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Career academy students to be recognized
Advancement ceremony set for April 23
Students in career academies at six high schools in the Birmingham City School System have been trailblazers of sorts this school year. They are the first students in the district to participate in the academies, which were implemented in August. The 220 members of the inaugural group will be recognized in an advancement ceremony at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, at Boutwell Auditorium.
"Our students make career academies special," said Spencer Horn, career academy coordinator. "We applaud our students for making a commitment to join career academies and for advancing through the program," says Horn.
Eric Cooper, executive director of the National Urban Alliance will speak at the ceremony. National Urban Alliance provides school systems with professional development to help transform and improve schools. Cooper will challenge the students with the idea that continuing to persevere through obstacles is the only way to achieve success.
High schools offering career academies are Woodlawn, Huffman, Parker, Wenonah, Jackson-Olin and Carver.
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Carver senior's achievements pile up
Winner of essay contest also selected for summer job 
Carver High School senior Cinnamon Callins continues to pile up the honors and achievements. She already has cemented plans to attend Berea College in the fall. Now her summer is filled as well. She has been selected in the Fox 6 Kids and Jobs draft and will spend her summer interning with the Ball Law Group. Since her goal is to become a patent attorney, interning with the Ball Law Group will give a great jump start to her future plans. This week, she was awarded the Birmingham Bar Association Community Education Award for her Essay in the "Fight for Your Right..." essay contest. She was awarded $1,500 forher winning essay. |
Hayes student runs away with records
Jayla Kirkland has fast future ahead
Jayla Kirkland has been running away with track records lately. An eighth-grader at Haye s K-8 School, she had a phenomenal meet the Mountain Brook Invitational for Middle Schools April 13.
Jayla finished first in the 100-meter dash with a meet record time of 12.50 seconds. She also took first in the long jump with a mark of 15 feet, 7.5 inches.
Earlier this track season at the Vestavia Hills King of the Mountain Track meet, she finished first in the 200-meter dash with a meet record time 26.75 seconds and first in the long jump, tying the meet record with a mark of 14 feet,10 inches. |
Students win Birmingham Pledge Poster Contest
Cash prizes awarded to winners The Birmingham Pledge Poster Contest is open to all sixth- through eighth-graders in Birmingham City Schools and offers students a chance to win cash prizes. This year's winners were announced recently. Rasheira Golston of Bush Hills Academy won first place and a $250 prize. Dezmon Debro and Jacobie Bass of Smith Middle School were awarded second place and a $150 prize. Jose Delgado of Bush Hills Academy placed third and received $100. Honorable mentions were awarded to Brooklyn Albert of Martha Gaskins Middle School and Jamyan Usher and Kendra Marshall of Daniel Payne Middle School. |
Lewis students learn about bullying
Links chapter present three sessions
The National Health and Services facet of the Birmingham Chapter of the Links presented a series of three sessions on the topic of bullying for students at Lewis Elementary School. In the month of January, students learned about the four types of bullying -- relational, verbal, physical and cyber bullying -- from Alabama State Department of Education Area 4 Board Member Yvette Richardson.
In addition, the students learned about the ABCs of good decision making from Birmingham Municipal Court Presiding Judge Andra Sparks.
In month of February, students engaged in character building exercises lead by Gabe McCool of Highlands Day School.
In the final session was held on April 2, the students watched a fun yet informative performance from the City of Birmingham Mayor's Office Division of Youth Services (DYS) 411 crew. The anti-bullying play, "KNOWBULL" was a fitting conclusion because it highlighted how to apply positive choices to difficult situations.DYS Executive Director Cedric Sparks also addressed the students. |
Twins sign letters of intent
Ramsay seniors will play baseball for Tuskegee High school seniors across the city - and nation - signed letters of intent to play college sports this week on National Signing Day.  | |
Clayton and Clinton Crews sign their letters of intent. |
While the day was special for all signees and their families, it was doubly delightful for one family at Ramsay High School. Twins Clayton and Clinton Crews, who are honor students and athletes, both signed to play baseball at Tuskegee University. Both had been recruited by Tuskegee, Claflin University in South Carolina and Lemoyne-Owens College in Memphis. Both also received multiple academic scholarships and plan to major in engineering. At Ramsay, Clayton has been pitcher, third baseman and shortstop. Clinton is catcher. Clayton is a member of the National Honor Society, marching band, concert band, jazz band and orchestra. Clayton also runs track and ended the indoor season sixth in the state in the 60 meters. |
Lacrosse games set for Saturday at Parker
Admission is free to four-game event
Lacrosse fans will have a chance get their fill at Lacrosse Day set for Saturday, April 20, at the Parker High School athletic complex. The Birmingham Magic, a club team featuring players from several high schools in the Birmingham City Schools, is sponsoring the event, which will feature four games. Princeton will play Mountain Brook at 10 a.m. Phillips Academy will play Mountain Brook at 11:30 a.m. The Birmingham Lady Magic will take on Spain Park at 1 p.m. The Birmingham Magic Boys will play Auburn at 2:30 p.m . During the event, four Magic players will sign letters intent to play lacrosse for colleges. The event is free and open the public. |
Coming events
The Birmingham Board of Education will havea specia called meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, in the auditorium of the Administration Buildng, 2015 Park Place. The regularly scheduled work session will begin immedately after the called meetng ends. Click here to view the agendas. |
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