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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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New graduates inspire audience
As we close out another academic year, I want to take this opportunity to again congratulate the Senior Class of 2013. Birmingham City Schools graduated more than 1,100 students this week. The commencement exercises were shared by thousands of proud parents, family and friends who came from near and far to witness and celebrate this milestone.
Those in attendance heard profound speeches from the schools' respective valedictorians and salutatorians. They offered words of thanks and gratitude, stories of triumph over adversity and, most importantly, the belief that they and their classmates have the ability to accomplish whatever they set their minds to accomplish through preparation and hard work. While each of our high schools had its particular memories and experiences, sentiments rang true throughout.
As superintendent, I often speak about our core business - teaching and learning. It is gratifying to see the work of staff, students, parents and stakeholders come together to produce students who are ready to face the challenges and opportunities that the future has to offer.
Again, congratulations to the Class of 2013!
Sincerely,
Craig Witherspoon
Superintendent Birmingham City Schools |
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Hudson K-8 chosen for state School Showcase
School will present at annual Mega Conference
Hudson K-8 School has been chosen to participate in the School Showcase at the Alabama State Department of Education's annual Mega Conference in July. Hudson was chosen because of the progress it has made in recent years. It achieved all of its adequate yearly progress goals in 2012. A committee from the state visited Hudson May 10 to interview Principal Jesse Daniel about things that are being implemented to change the school culture and dramatically improve academically. The committee also observed several classes from kindergarten through eighth grade. Hudson was selected for the showcase because of its positive climate that is conducive to learning, innovative teaching strategies and increased test scores over the last five years. In 2011-2012, 92 percent of third-graders, 96 percent of fourth-graders and 98 percent of fifth-graders met or exceeded state standards. The school also has used innovative scheduling for the sixth through eighth grades to allow teachers to teach more and assess students on a daily basis. The fourth and fifth grades have been departmentalized to allow teachers to focus on areas of their greatest strengths. Hudson makes maximum use of technology and uses a reward program to encourage student success. |
Volunteers do projects at South Hampton Bookshelves and murals are part of the work
South Hampton Elementary School students saw a lot of strangers wearing blue T-shirts in their school this week. The people wearing the T-shirts were employees
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Volunteers and students work on project at South Hampton Elementary |
of Belk and volunteers from Hands On Birmingham who were at the school to participate in projects.
The volunteers, part of Belk's "125 Days of Service" campaign celebrating the department store's 125th anniversary, put together bookcases for classrooms and picnic tables for the school courtyard. They brought books for the media center.
Fifth-grade students worked with the volunteers to create murals that will be displayed throughout the school.
Faculty and staff members will get a treat May 28 when Belk representatives come to the school and provide makeovers.
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Meeting set for employees affected by reduction in force
Information and assistance will be provided A meeting has been scheduled to provide information and assistance to employees who are being affected by the reduction in force. It will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, in the cafeteria of Hayes K-8 School.
Click here to see a flyer about the meeting. |
Wenonah faculty and staff support Oklahoma victims
Cases of bottled water donated for tornado survivors
The devastating tornado in Moore, Okla., occurred only days before the last day of classes in Birmingham City Schools. But that did not stop the faculty and staff of Wenonah High School from providing support for the survivors.
Each department was challenged to donate cases of bottled water, which was being collected through drives in the Birmingham area.
""Wenonah High School, which is known for its rich history of charitable giving, felt compelled to support the cause,' said Principal Regina Carr-Hope. "We just join together when tragedy occurs."
The drive collected three trucks of water, or approximately 70 cases. |
Glen Iris principal swims in school pond
Dip rewarded students for reading books
Glen Iris Elementary School Principal Michael Wilson took went for a swim in the pond that is part of |
Michael Wilson plunges into the school pond |
the school's outdoor classroom this week. He took a dip to reward students for reading books all year. Wilson allows his students to select an activity for him every year that he does if they read thousands of books during the year. He has been slimed, been hit with plates of whipped cream and been dunked in a dunking booth in the past few years. The students were excited to learn that they had read a total of 49,245 books. |
Robinson wins first in HEAL competition
Program teaches children about healthy living Robinson Elementary School physical education teacher Peggy Keebler worked with students in the fifth grade this year to teach them about healthy living through the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) program.
HEAL is a multifaceted physical education curriculum. The program gives an annual HEAL Hero School Award to the school that embraced the HEAL curriculum and served as a flagship example for the entire state. Robinson is the 2013 first-place winner for Alabama. Students significantly improved their health scores, shared HEAL methods with their families and wrote inspiring essays. The school will receive a $500 award for its physical education department. |
Christian student places in competition
Architecture contest had more than 800 entries Jeremiah Billups, a student at W.J. Christian K-8 School, won third place in the first grade division of the Dream Architecture Competition.
Sponsored by the Birmingham chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the competition drew more than 800 entries. Only 33 students won awards. This year's competition asked students to design a dream park. |
Girls Inc. offers summer camp for teens
STEM camp begins in July Girls Inc. of Central Alabama is offering a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) camp for girls who are entering the eighth and ninth grades. The Eureka! Teen Achievement Program camp is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 8 to Aug, 2 in the business and engineering complex on the UAB campus. The application deadline is June 25. There is a fee of $325. June 25 deadline. rising eighth and ninth-graders. Click here for more information. |
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Coming events
The Birmingham Board of Education will have a regularly scheduled work session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, in the auditorium of the Administration Building, 2015 Park Place. Click here to view the agenda. |
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