02.12 Weekly News Tip Sheet (Week of February 12, 2024)

 

ATLANTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Office of Communications and Public Engagement
130 Trinity Avenue SW | Atlanta, Georgia 30303

Seth Coleman, Director of Media

404-802-2891, office
404-345-8630, cell
seth.coleman@atlanta.k12.ga.us

 

Jasmine Mosley, Media Relations Manager

404-802-2888, office
404-937-0473, cell

jasmine.mosley@atlanta.k12.ga.us 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                
February 12, 2024

 Atlanta Public Schools Weekly News Tip Sheet
(February 12 - 17, 2024) 

Editors/Producers/Reporters: The following is a list of events, programs, accomplishments, and/or initiatives occurring in Atlanta Public Schools (APS) this week. Please use it as a guide as you develop your coverage plans.

Members of the media are invited to attend all events on the Weekly APS News Tip Sheet. If you have an interest in these stories, please contact Seth Coleman, Director, Media, or Jasmine Mosley, Media Relations Manager.

Thank you for your interest in Atlanta Public Schools! 

 

(Thursday) Atlanta Icon Andrew Young Talks History with Sutton Middle School Students

In honor of Black History Month, Sutton Middle School will host a fireside chat with students, featuring Civil Rights icon, former Atlanta mayor, and former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, Thursday.

 

Young will talk to students about his life experiences, being a part of, and a witness to significant moments in the history of our nation. He will entertain questions from students and speak with them about their role in shaping the country’s future. He will be joined on stage by Atlanta Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Danielle Battle and Sutton Principal Dr. Dominique Merriweather. 

 

WHAT: Sutton Middle School students’ fireside chat with Andrew Young.

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 15 | 11 a.m.

WHERE: Sutton Middle School Middle School (Main Campus) | 2875 Northside Drive

Interview Opportunities

• Andrew Young, Former Atlanta mayor and U.N. Ambassador

• Dr. Danielle Battle, Interim Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools

• Dr. Dominique Merriweather, Principal, Sutton Middle School 

• Sutton students

 

(Friday) Howard Middle School Celebrates 100 Years of Rich History

In honor of Black History Month, David T. Howard Middle School will host a centennial celebration to highlight the school’s 100-year presence in Atlanta Public Schools.

 

The event will feature the unveiling of a mural that pays tribute to the history of the school and the city of Atlanta, as well as tours of the school’s “museum classroom,” with equipment and furniture from a bygone era. 

 

Howard originally opened as an elementary school for African American students  for the 1923-1924 school year, before becoming the city’s second high school for African Americans in 1948. The school closed in 1976 and served primarily as an office building until it was refurbished and reopened as a middle school in 2020.

 

It was named after David T. Howard, a former slave who owned Atlanta's largest Black-owned funeral  business and founded its first African American owned bank. Howard was a noted philanthropist, particularly focused on educating children. He donated thousands of dollars to poor children to be educated and to Tuskegee University, and donated the 7.5 acre campus on John Wesley Dobbs Avenue that is now home to Howard Middle School. 

 

Notable alumni include Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, Basketball Hall of Famer Walk Frazier, real estate mogul Herman J. Russell, and Olympic gold medal winner Mildred McDaniel Singleton. 

 

WHAT: Centennial celebration for David T. Howard Middle School

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 15 | 1 p.m.

WHERE: David T. Howard Middle School | 551 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue, NE

 

More than Two Dozen APS Students Named Governor’s Honors Semifinalists

Thirty-four (34) Atlanta Public School students have been selected as semifinalists for the Governor’s Honors Program (GHP), a residential summer program for skilled, knowledgeable, and talented high school sophomores and juniors. 

 

GHP offers instruction that is significantly different from the typical high school classroom and is designed to provide students with academic, cultural, and social enrichment necessary to become the next generation of global critical thinkers, innovators, and leaders.

 

The students will take part in comprehensive interviews on the campus of Georgia Southern University on Feb. 28. Finalists will be named in May. 

 

The APS semifinalists are:

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midtown HS Freshman Sets Two State Records in Swimming

Midtown High School freshman Sarah Paisley Owen won two state championships, setting two state records in the process at last week’s Georgia High School Association State Swimming Championships Meet in the 50m and 100m freestyle events. Sarah’s performance led Midtown to a seventh place finish at the meet.

 

APS Students Advance to State Technology & Innovation Contest

Atlanta Public Schools is sending 54 projects (74 students) created by solo and two-member teams to the state technology competition, coordinated by the Georgia Educational Technology Consortium, Inc., Saturday, March 2, at the Academy for Advanced Studies in McDonough.

The students qualified for the state competition by winning first place in the APS Technology & Innovation Competition, held earlier this month. More than 300 students presented over 200 projects. Student projects in grades 3-12 were judged on originality, clarity, documentation, and design.

The students and teams that have advanced to the state competition are:

Grades 3-4

3D Modeling Josephine Guevara, Skyla Rosser West Manor ES

Animation Beau Sipe E. Rivers ES

Audio Production Evie Price Springdale Park ES

Device Modification Austin Ziyad, Bryson Riggins West Manor ES

Digital Game Design Thomas Anderson Brandon ES

Digital Photo Production Kadija Barrie, Miracle Speigner Fickett ES

Graphic Design A'Riyuh Wiley Continental Colony ES

Multimedia Apps Zoe Park, Claire Hu Morningside ES

Productivity Design Charlotte Gilfedder and Anna Sanchez Jackson ES

Project Programming Kayden Meadows Deerwood Academy

Robotics Kyng Lewis, Jazarria Harris Kimberly ES

Video Production Sarah Nix, Evelyn Stewart Jackson ES

Grades 5-6

3D Modeling Andre Pryor Finch ES

Animation Janani Gandhi Howard MS

Audio Production Nowell Felder Usher-Collier ES

Device Modification Margaret Shields Springdale Park ES

Digital Game Design Herman Beckett, Robert Bennett Morningside ES

Digital Photo Production Grace Taylor Jackson ES

Graphic Design Cayla Holland, Anya Griggs Harper-Archer ES

Internet Applications Aadiv Bhardwaj Sarah Smith ES

Mobile Apps Alyvia Malone Finch ES

Multimedia Apps Luca Manganiello Toomer ES

Productivity Design Cayliana Campbell, Ela Thomson         Jackson ES

Project Programming Harper Cockrell Jackson ES

Robotics Mari Seet Jackson ES

Video Production Quinn Demars and Vera Greenwald Toomer ES

 

Grades 7-8

3D Modeling Antoine Everhart-Chappelle Jr. Centennial Academy 

Animation Shiloh Anderson Hollis Innovation

Audio Production Kaden Council B.E.S.T. Academy

Device Modification Oscar Hodgen Howard MS

Digital Game Design Sawyer Scofield Howard MS

Digital Photo Production Emanuel Rodriguez Solis B.E.S.T. Academy

Graphic Design Eric Council B.E.S.T. Academy

Mobile Apps Ni-Khole Golding and Nikoh Golding H.J. Russell

Multimedia Apps Mariana Huesca-Jimenez, Lamoney Martin John Lewis Invictus

 

Productivity Design Ford Ingram Howard MS

Robotics January James Howard MS

Video Production Sunday Smith, Akari Jackson Young MS

 

Grades 9-10

3D Modeling Cayden Corni Maynard Jackson HS

Animation Lily Glass Maynard Jackson HS

Audio Production Junius Brooks and London Williams Therrell HS

Digital Game Design Kayden Malone Therrell HS

Graphic Design Jose Escando-Hernandez ACCA HS

Multimedia Apps Jonathan Garcia and Sarai Garcia South Atlanta HS

Productivity Design Ralph Long and Bryant Sexton Mays HS

Project Programming Ava Adams CSK YWLA

Video Production Joshua Mortin, Mason Royal-Muhammed Therrell HS

 

Grades 11-12

Animation Anna Rapposelli and Alex Marshall Midtown HS

Audio Production Travone Epps-House Maynard Jackson HS

Device Modification Anders Hart, Wesley Tardelli Midtown HS

Digital Photo Production Jarrah Barrow Therrell HS

Graphic Design Shayla Willis Mays HS

Multimedia Apps Dorien Rhodes Mays HS

Video Production Favor Smith Mays HS

 

APS Budget Team Earns Top Industry Awards

The Atlanta Public Schools Budget Office has received high honors from two of the most respected organizations in the school finance industry.

 

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has presented the district with its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has awarded the district its Meritorious Budget Award (MBA).

 

The GFOA award reflects the district’s commitment to meeting the highest principals of governmental budgeting and budget presentation. The 

 

 

The Georgia Accreditation Commission (GAC) approved all 55 schools for Accreditation with Quality. GAC’s extensive evaluation process, which included on-site visits to observe procedures, policies, and teaching practices, examined each school’s finances, operations, personnel, programs of study, media services and organization. 

 

GAC highlighted as most impressive the district’s uniformity in expectations for every school while retaining the individuality of each school’s culture and community. 

 

According to a statement from GAC, “[APS] has seen significant growth since our last accreditation process. GAC commends the district, leaders, and teachers for their dedication to student success.”

 

Application Window for School Choice Extended Through February 16th, Windows for Charter Schools, Pre-K Lottery, Adult Education Still Open

It's application season in Atlanta Public Schools, the chance for parents to explore educational opportunities for their children, and the district is inviting parents to unlock a world of educational possibilities for their students!

 

School Choice Application: School Choice allows residents of the City of Atlanta to attend a public school outside of their zoned school if space is available. The application window has been extended through February 16. Apply here.

 

Charter Schools Application: Parents interested in enrolling their children in an APS charter school may apply here before the deadline on February 29.

 

Pre-K Lottery Application: Lay the foundation for success! Parents should apply to enroll their children in the district’s state-funded Pre-K, setting the path for a smooth transition to Kindergarten. Act now and visit www.enrollearlyatl.com to apply. The application period runs through March 1.

 

Adult Education Program: Never stop learning! Individuals ages 16 and up who did not graduate from high school are invited to join the free APS Adult Education Program for a chance to earn their Georgia High School Equivalency. Additionally, the Adult Ed program has opportunities to explore English as a Second Language and citizenship classes. Register for the APS Adult Ed program here.

 

Act now and submit your applications today!

        

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About Atlanta Public Schools

Atlanta Public Schools is one of the largest school districts in the state of Georgia, serving approximately 50,000 students across 87 learning sites, including 59 neighborhood schools, 5 partner schools, 19 charter schools, 2 citywide single-gender academies, and 2 alternative programs. To learn more about Atlanta Public Schools, follow us on social media – Twitter (@apsupdate), Facebook (Atlanta Public Schools), and Instagram (apsupdate) – or visit us online at www.atlantapublicschools.us.