2.17 Weekly News Tip Sheet (Week of February 17, 2020)

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

Ian Smith, Executive Director
404-802-2855, office
404-603-6934, cell
ian.smith@atlanta.k12.ga.us

Seth Coleman, Media Relations Manager
404-802-2891, office
404-406-5570, cell
seth.coleman@atlanta.k12.ga.us

   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     

February 17, 2020

 

Atlanta Public Schools Weekly News Tip Sheet
(February 17 - 22)

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. Thank you for your interest in Atlanta Public Schools!

(Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.) Researchers of Titanic Wreckage Site to Visit with Sarah Smith Second Graders

A group of researchers from RMS Titanic, Inc., the company that owns the wreckage site of the Titanic, will talk to second grade students at Sarah Smith Elementary School (4141 Wieuca Road, NE) about the history of the Titanic and the research they are still doing on the wreckage. RMS Titanic, Inc. will conduct its ninth dive to the wreckage this summer, in an effort to recover a Marconi Wireless Telegraph machine, along with a handful of other artifacts.

As part of the visit to Sarah Smith, RMS Titanic, Inc. researchers will bring about 10 artifacts already recovered from the site, and conduct a science experiment with the students.


(Wednesday, 11 a.m.) APS to Launch New Initiative to Bolster College Success Among Male Students of Color

Atlanta Public Schools is launching a new initiative designed to increase the number of male students of color from the District who are accepted, attend and eventually graduate from college.

The Brotherhood for College Success will be introduced with an inaugural class of 100 ninth graders, who will participate in an induction ceremony at Therrell High School (3099 Panther Trail, SW). As part of the program, the students will meet frequently with their graduation coach on various college-related topics and participate in a week-long, pre-college residential program every summer. The District will add a new cohort of 100 ninth-grade students each year moving forward.


(Wednesday and Thursday, 6 p.m.) District Facilities Master Plan Regional Community Conversations Continue

Atlanta Public Schools is seeking feedback from the community as the District continues to create quality learning facilities.

This week there will be two Regional Community Conversations to discuss the District Facilities Master Plan, both at 6 p.m.: Wednesday at Dr. Martin Luther King Middle School (545 Hill Street, SE), and Thursday, at South Atlanta High School (800 Hutchens Road, SE).

 

In Other APS News

Burgess-Peterson Academy Earns International Baccalaureate Certification

Burgess-Peterson Academy has earned the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) World School designation, making it the first elementary school among the cluster of schools feeding Maynard Jackson High School to receive the honor.

The designation means that Burgess-Peterson is authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) as an IB World School, ensuring that students can move more smoothly into the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and then on to Maynard Jackson High School, which features the rigorous IB high school curriculum.

 

APS Journalism Teacher Among Nine Honored Nationally

Delbert Ellerton, journalism instructor at Grady High School, is among just nine journalism teachers and student media advisors in the nation to be honored by the prestigious Columbia School Press Association (CSPA).

Ellerton, advisor of the award-winning Grady High School Southerner newspaper, will receive the CSPA’s Special Recognition Advisor award for 2020 on March 19, at the National High School Journalism Teacher of the Year Awards program on the campus of Columbia University in New York.

 

APS GO Team Candidates Wanted, Deadline is February 28

Atlanta Public Schools is excited to announce that 2020 GO Team candidate declarations are now open!  As a part of its Charter System model with the state, every school in APS has its own Governance Team or GO Team.

GO Teams are nine-member governance teams at every school in the district that work in a collaborative fashion with each school principal. APS designed the GO Teams to serve as a vital part of our school improvement efforts across the district. These teams are responsible for establishing strategic plans for their schools, voting on innovative school-based solutions and approving the school’s budget. Additionally, these teams can review school data and provide input to the principal related to school improvement.

Those interested in running for a parent/guardian or non-supervisory instructional staff member seat for the 2020-2022 term can declare their candidacy until February 28, 2020. 

Parents and educators will be voting for two parent and instructional staff seats at each school. No experience is needed. Training and tools are provided.

Visit http://apsstrongschools.com/ to learn more and declare candidacy today. The deadline to declare is Friday, February 28.

 

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, Media Relations Manager.

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