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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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Strong leaders equal strong schools
Today marks the conclusion of Birmingham City Schools' Aspire Academy. This academy consisted of a cohort of 23 leaders, teachers and administrators, who are "aspiring" to other leadership positions in education. This has been a nine-month process of studying best practices in educational leadership at the local, state and national levels. The group also reflected on their current roles in preparation for the next. Recognizing that it takes strong leadership to move schools to high levels, the Goodrich Foundation sponsored this cohort of Aspire program. I am excited for this group of leaders and appreciative of the support provided by the Goodrich and the Birmingham Education Foundations for their support of strong leadership in Birmingham City Schools. We know that the stronger the leadership, the stronger the opportunities and support for our students. Sincerely, Craig Witherspoon Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools |
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Jackson-Olin senior wins Gates Millennium Scholarship
JaMarcus McCall plans to attend Tuskegee University
JaMarcus McCall, a senior at Jackson-Olin High School, has been awarded the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship.  The Gates Millennium Scholars Program selects 1,000 talented students across the nation each year to receive a good-through-graduation scholarship to use at any college or university of their choice. JaMarcus plans to attend Tuskegee University and major in business administration. The son of Patsy McCall, he has a grade point average of 4.094. His extracurricular activities and honors include serving as president of the Student Government Association, being voted Mr. Jackson-Olin High School Homecoming 2012 and membership in Kappa Leadership and Development League and Jackson-Olin Male Leadership. He also is a member of the Jackson-Olin choir and marching and concert bands. His community service activities include Birmingham Museum of Art docent, Youth Serve Community Outreach, Birmingham Municipal Courthouse intern, teen prosecutor for Jefferson County Teen Court, Hands On Birmingham community service outreach and Ronald McDonald House. |
Legendary Ramsay dance teacher retiring
April 27 reception to honor Annie Lindsay
In her 50-plus years working for Birmingham City Schools, Annie Bell Howard Lindsey has taught more than 6,000 students. Now the legendary dance teacher at Ramsay High School is retiring. A retirement celebration and reception are set for 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at Ramsay, where she has spent 43 years.
A substitute teacher for several years, Linday began her full-time teaching career in 1966 as an English and science at Ullman High School . She was transferred to Ramsay to teach physical education when Ullman closed in 1970. Her love affair with dance blossomed later in life when she took her first dance class at the age of 36. Practically teaching herself to dance through classes at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Montevallo and workshops at the internationally known Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she has never looked back. At 82, Lindsay is thought to be the oldest working dance instructor. She has been highlighted by both local and national media.
The program and reception are open to all past and present students and faculty members, as well as other well-wishers.
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Dr. Alison Grizzle now in the state's "Final Four"
Jackson-Olin teacher is finalist for Alabama Teacher of the Year
Dr. Alison Grizzle got a call this week from State Superintendent Tommy Bice, who told her she is a finalist in the competition for the 2013-2014 Alabama Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Grizzle, who teaches math at Jackson-Olin High School, is one of two secondary teachers from across the state who are finalists. Two elementary teachers also are finalists. The Alabama Teacher of the Year and alternate will be selected from the four.
The Teacher of Year being will be announced at a ceremony May 8 in Montgomery.
"We are very proud of Dr. Grizzle," said Superintendent Craig Witherspoon. "She is a great teacher who exhibits the knowledge, skills and dedication that our students need."
"The educators nominated for this prestigious award nurture the character, intellect and talent of Alabama's students," said State Superintendent Tommy Bice. "The exemplify teaching at its best, and we are proud to have them teaching in our state."
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Ramsay and Wenonah win high school Academic Bowl rounds
Finals for elementary, middle and high set for May 2
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Ramsay's winning Academic Bowl team |
Ramsay High School came out the top winner in the preliminary rounds of the high school Academic Bowl competition April 24. Wenonah High School was the winner in the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament. The two teams will square off in the final round, which is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, at the McWane Science Center. Final rounds in the elementary and middle school divisions will be held at the same time. In the elementary division, Glen Iris Elementary School will play W.J. Christian K-8 School. in the middle school division, Jones Valley K-8 School will play W.J. Christian.  | |
Wenonah's winning Academic Bowl team |
An awards ceremony is set for 6:45 p.m., followed by a reception. |
Parker revitalizes National Honor Society
11 students surprised at tapping ceremony
It had been eight years since Parker High School's last tapping ceremony for the National Honor
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New members of the Parker High School National Honor Society were surprised to be inducted. |
Society. Principal Cedric Tatum did not know why the NHS had been inactive, but he and faculty members wanted to make it active again. They selected 11 students to be inducted into the Parker NHS and planned a tapping ceremony for April 25. The new members were surprised when their names were called during the event, Dr. Monique Witherspoon, president of Girls Inc. of Central Alabama, was gues speaker. Dr. Dannetta K. Thornton-Owens, a former Board of Education member for whom the Parker library is named, was facilitator for the ceremony. |
Carver receives CLAS Banner School honor
Award presented at Montgomery luncheon
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Carver Principal Darrell Hudson receives the CLAS Banner School Award. |
Carver High School has a new banner hanging in its building. Principal Darrell Hudson was in Montgomery April 24 to receive the Council for Leadership in Alabama Schools (CLAS) Banner School Award. The CLAS Banner School Award originated in 2001 with the purpose to identify, recognize and publicize schools and programs with outstanding educational programs that serve as models for schools across Alabama. |
Middle and high school math tournaments held
Students compete in subject-level contests
Middle and high school students competed in mathematics tournaments this week. The high school tournament was held April 23, and the middle school competition was held April 25.
The competition is divided into subject levels for high schools and grade levels for middle schools. High school winners included: Algebra I individual -- Mayra Escalera, Huffman, first; Shakayla Henderson, Jackson-Olin, second; Byron Carter, Huffman, third Algebra I team -- Huffman, first; Jackson-Olin, second; Wenonah, third Geometry individual -- Monterrious Taylor, Huffman, first; Willie C. Miles, Huffman, second; Natasha Burrell, Ramsay, third Geometry team -- Huffman, first; Ramsay, second; Wenonah, third Algebra II individual -- Kimberly Marroquin, Carver, first; Keairra Edwards, Jackson-Olin, second; Tiffany Willis,Ramsay, third Algebra II team -- Jackson-Olin, first; Ramsay, second; Wenonah, third Comprehensive individual -- Michael Wallace, Wenonah, first; Robin Cameron, Ramsay, second; Zoe Dancer, Ramsay, third Comprehensive team -- Ramsay, first; Wenonah, second; Parker, third Middle school winners included: Sixth grade individual -- MayKayla Cole, W.J. Christian, first; Silas Davis, Arrington, second; Tavaris Beal; W.J. Christian, third Sixth grade team -- Phillips Academy, first; W.J. Christian, second; Bush Hills Academy, third Seventh grade individual -- Caleb Humphrey, Phillips, first; Ian Knapp, W.J. Christian, second; Jaylin Hubbert, Phillips, third Seventh grade team -- Phillips, first; W.J. Christian, second; Wilkerson, third Eighth grade algebra I individual -- Rayshard Thompson, Jones Valley, first; Kobe Green, Martha Gaskins, second; Taelor Allen, W.J. Christian, third Eighth grade algebra I team -- W.J. Christian, first; Martha Gaskins, second, Wilkerson, third |
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Pinning ceremony held for first career academy cohort
Students from six schools participate in event
Students from career academies at Carver, Huffman, Jackson-Olin, Parker, Wenonah and Woodlawn high schools participated in a pinning ceremony April 23 at Boutwell Auditorium.
The students filed into the exhibition hall wearing career academy shirts, led by faculty members carrying banners.
After a program that included a motivational speech from Dr. Eric Cooper, president and founder of the National Urban Alliance, each academy's students pinned academy pins on their lapels. Students paired up to put the pins on classmates' shirts.
The students who are in the academies this year are the first in the Birmingham City School System to participate in career academies.
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Huffman Middle students win second place in competition
Team competed in eCYBERMISSION
A team of students from Huffman Middle School has placed second in the statewide eCYBERMISSION competition.
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Huffman Middle's eCYBERMISSION team |
eCYBERMISSION is a web-based science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition free for students in grades six through nine. Teams can compete for state, regional and national awards while working to solve problems in their community
The Huffman students demonstrated a strong understanding of STEM subjects, applying what they have learned in the classroom to a real-life problem in their community.
Nequedria McConico, who was captain, Joshua Jenkins, Allyn Richardson and Taria Porter conducted a technology-based project sponsored by the U. S. Army. Donna Jones is their teacher.
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Putnam offering summer programs
Transition academy for sixth-graders included
Students at Putnam Middle School will have several special academic opportunities this summer. Rising seventh-graders will be able to attend Reading All Stars from 8 a.m. to noon June 4 to June 27. The program will provide intense reading-writing intervention with field experiences. Math in Motion and Action is a program for rising seventh- and eighth-graders. Students will participate in hands-on math experiences also from 8 a.m. to noon June 4 to June 27. Parents will receive information from Putnam on those programs. A three-day transition academy for incoming sixth-graders is planned for July 29 to July 31. The program will focus on academics and will give students experience in following the middle school schedule, doing project-based assessments and other changes they will face in middle school. The third day of the program will include a seminar for parents on navigating through sixth grade. The program will be open to students who are zoned for Putnam. Parents can pick up an enrollment form at the school. It also will be posted on the school website. |
Coming events
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a special called work session at 5:30 p.m Tuesday, April 30, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place. Click here to see the agenda.
A teacher recognition ceremony that was canceled April 11 because of inclement weather has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at the Birmingham Museum of Art. |
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