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
April 30, 2024
Atlanta Public Schools Weekly News Tip Sheet
(April 29 - May 4, 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!
(Wednesday, 1 PM) APS to Spotlight Start of Mental Health Awareness Month by SURPRISING Winners of Student Art Contest
Atlanta Public Schools will illustrate its commitment to addressing the mental health needs of its students when it kicks off National Mental Health Awareness Month (May) with a surprise visit to the classroom of one of the four winners of the district’s Mental Health Digital Art Contest, Wednesday.
More than 100 students participated in the contest, the theme of which was “Activate Compassion: Intentional Support for Self and Others.” Students were asked to illustrate compassion for others through their art and were divided into four divisions for the competition: Kindergarten through 2nd grade, 3rd through 5th grade, middle school, and high school.
On Wednesday, members of the Office of Social Work will surprise Sarah Smith Elementary School third grader Chandler Brown, for his winning video entry, “Sunflowers.” He wrote this narrative to accompany his entry:
“I am submitting a music video of me singing to everyone letting them know, we are never too much, or not enough because we are all Sunflowers. My video relates to the theme because sometimes kids can be harsh. Because they don’t understand that we are all different and unique. We don’t have to laugh and tease people because their hair is different, their clothes are different, they sound different when they talk, or they dress up and believe they can be Spider-Man. It’s cool to be different and be yourself because we are ALL Sunflowers. I hope you like the video.”
He and the other three winners will receive tickets to an upcoming Atlanta Dream game, one of the hottest tickets in town! The other winners will receive surprise visits as well.
The APS Social Work team will host several activities during the month of May to honor National Mental Health Awareness Month, including a Virtual Mental Health Fair on Wednesday, May 8.
WHAT: APS will launch National Mental Health Awareness Week with a surprise visit to the classroom of Sarah Smith Elementary third grader Chandler Barron, one of the four winners of the district’s Mental Health Digital Art Contest.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 1 | 1 PM
WHERE: Sarah Smith Elementary School | 4141 Wieuca Road, NE
APS Alum Qwan’Tez Stiggers Drafted into NFL Without Playing College Football
An Atlanta Public Schools alum had one of the most intriguing stories of last weekend’s NFL draft when he was selected in the fifth round without playing college football.
Qwan’tez Stiggers, a graduate of B.E.S.T. Academy, where he starred in football, basketball, and baseball, was set to play the 2020 season at Lane College, an NCAA Division II school in Jackson, TN. But just before the start of the season, Stiggers’ father was gravely injured in an auto accident and eventually succumbed to his injuries. This combined with the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the pandemic, sent Stiggers into a deep depression.
He worked various odd jobs for two years while fighting through his depression with the help of his mother, Kwanna, and girlfriend (now fiancée) Cheyenne McClain. Kwanna found a tryout for a professional indoor league in Atlanta, which Stiggers attended. He made the team and went on to be a stand-out performer in the league, which eventually led to a tryout for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League for the 2023 season.
Stiggers made the team, became the CFL Rookie of the Year, and garnered the attention of NFL scouts. He staged a workout at his alma mater, B.E.S.T. Academy, in March that was attended by all 32 NFL teams. He also worked out for several teams individually.
On the final day of the draft last Sunday, the New York Jets selected him in the fifth round, the 176th player chosen overall.
Here’s how he learned that he had been selected by the Jets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zaz-YwWItUc
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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.
