Two Alabama School Systems Move Ahead

Pike County is adding new facilties and Baldwin County gives each student a new MacBook. Click on the links to read more: Baldwin County Schools Recognized by White House , Pike BOE Oks Capital Plan

Mann Takes Stand

Catlyn Mann, junior at Highland Home School, emailed me last week seeking assistance in bringing awareness to the Invisible Children Campaign, Kony 2012. She told me about warlord, Joseph Kony of Central Africa and directed me to the Kony 2012 video.  

She also told me about “Cover the Night” which is a part of the Invisible Children Campaign that helps bring global awareness to this horrible crisis. The worldwide “Cover the Night”  campaign is set for the night of April 20, 2012.   She further stated that people all over the world have formed groups scheduled to  assemble on this night and cover towns with posters, pictures, and/or anything pertaining to this event. She is asking Crenshaw County to participate; to help make a difference.

Catyln has asked me for access to a color printer, paper, and 15-20 large sized poster boards.  We are glad to oblige.

Catyln is a "teen leader," she has made it a point to set a positive example.  She believes, as stated in the "Kony 2012" video, "every person is brought into the world the same way" and that these children did not choose the path given to them, nor the situation or conflict they are forced to take part in.

We are proud of Catyln's stand and ask you to support her.  If interested, please contact her at  catlynelizabethmann@yahoo.com.  

EngineerGirl! Chosen from LHS 6th Grade

Congratulations to Echo Mann of LHS as she has been chosen to participate in the EngineerGirl! Girls’ Advisory Board.   She is one of approximately 150 girls on the board representing 30 different states.  Eleven years ago, the EngineerGirl! website (www.engineergirl.edu) was developed by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) with input and recommendations from a panel of girls living across the United States and Canada (The EngineerGirl! Girls Advisory Board).  The NAE is currently redesigning the EngineerGirl! website and reinstating the Girl’s Advisory Board to get input on making our site more effective and interactive.  Echo will take part in one to three web-based conference calls to examine the layout of the website and provide us with comments based on their preferences. Additionally, Echo may participate in events that are structured to give feedback about girls’ preferences and will provide her with opportunities to explore engineering careers (such as online chats with professional engineers).  Echo will receive special notice of engineering-related opportunities that may appeal to them and would be invited to continue to engage with the EngineerGirl! community throughout her high-school years. 
All students were directly nominated by their teachers as good candidates for the board.  They were chosen both for their leadership abilities as well as for the potential to benefit from interaction with girls across the country in discussions about engineering.

Engineer Girl Echo Mann

Charter School Bill Proposed

Yesterday, Governor Robert Bentley unveiled his charter school legislation.  Of most concern to us is the implications of "low performing" schools, the notion of federal and local dollars following the student, and funding of a second type of Alabama schools when we cannot afford to operate the one we have now.  For more read the  Montgomery Advertiser.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley details plans to offer local school systems more flexibility during a news conference in front of the old Cloverdale School, on the grounds of Huntingdon College, in Montgomery, Ala., on Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Bentley and Republican legislative leaders are offering a bill to legalize charter schools and give existing public schools the option to get waivers from state regulations in return for increased accountability. / LLOYD GALLMAN/ADVERTISER

HHS Wak Through

This past Monday, I went in the wrong direction and got to do walk-throughs on my own.  I am happy to report that HHS is still rocking and rolling along.  Here is what I saw:

• Mrs. Gayla Pierce administering one-to-one reading instruction and readying for the AAA.
• Mrs. Tara Bailey  differentiating reading instruction with small groups.  Special emphasis was given to silent sounds at the beginning of words such as in the words gnaw, kneel, knife, and wrinkle.  "Pen Pals" was the reading assignment for this particular group.  Finger tracking, read them like you know them and teacher echoing were strategies used.
• Mrs. Kim Best's class working with money.  "On Monday, the girls counted 14 pennies in their jar.  Can each girl get 1/2 of the pennies?"  Sure they can.
• Mrs. Gwen Jones's math class working with a/b, a/b/b, and a/a/b patterns.  
• Ms. Virginia Holladay differentiating reading instruction with small groups.  Outside of the small group, this  most functional environment consisted of  two students at a listening center, one working with a high school assistant, paraprofessional Helen Gamble working with a student, another student on the computer and one reading to himself.    The teacher bell then sounds and students rotate and other activities begin.  
• Mrs. Connie Jacobs working with counters and addition via the hovercam and dice.  Per the "Ten Turns" activity, students roll the dice and add each roll to the previous.  Counters are placed in rows of five.  Discussion then occurs in regards to placing counters in rows of ten and how students can best organize counters.
• Mrs. Bridget Worthington working in reading groups discussing words such as dwell, discover, resident and welcome.  Students discussed cause and effect using the reading the book entitled "Special Buildings."   (I thought the Chrysler Building was the Empire State Building...guess I need to get out a little more.)
• Mrs. Wanda Rogers was too working in small reading groups.  Again, there was much structure and organization as students were working at their desk, reading centers, and in smaller groups.  There was much emphasis given to "Read it over and over until you read it fluently."  I also observed good use of writing journals.   
• Mrs. Amanda Hughes was discussing following the rules with patterns and shapes.  "Does the pattern break the rule?   Does the whole side touch or do just the corners touch?"
• Mrs. Kasey White's reading students were working in groups via "Child's Life in Korea."  
• Ms. Leann Perdue's K4 students were watching sloth video and crayoning large murals.  
• Mrs. Melissa Phillips working students were discussing part of a whole---fractions. Tremendous mention was given to homework and parental involvement.  Her "Hello Letter" was most impressive.  
• Mrs. Sabrina May's students were finishing an assignment from last Friday. Students were organized into small groups and spread throughout the room.  Cups, magnifying glass, color coded cubes were disseminated. Students performed various tests on an unknown substance.
•  Mrs. Sandra Kilpatrick's class was preparing for the ARMT+.  Students were allocated 15 minutes  to complete 4 problems and one open ended question.  Emphasis was given to time allocated and working at an appropriate pace.
•  Mrs. Becky Richardson's class built a cheeseburger and listed descriptive words while listening to  Jimmy Buffet's "Cheeseburger in Paradise."  (Jimmy's sister LuLu makes a mean cheeseburger...hope to get one real soon!)

GOOD JOB HHS!

Zachary Shepherd and Charlie McVay in Mrs. Connie Jacob's Room

New Graduation Rate Effective This Year

Last year, all systems within Alabama benchmarked their graduation rate with a group of 9th graders who were set to graduate within 4 years and no later than the 2009-2010 school year.  It is imperative that all understand the means of acquiring the rate and sanctions of not meeting goal.

1. This year's cohort graduated last school year, 2010-2011.
2. Every child who began the 9th grade in 2006-2007 must be considered.
3. To count as a graduate for this cohort, each student must graduate within 4 years.
4. Credit is given for:
1. Honor and standard diplomas,
2. Credit based diplomas, and the
3. Alabama occupation diploma (this was not originally the case).
5. Students are removed from the cohort if:
1. they transfer to church or private schools or
2. transfer out-of-state.
6. Students that are not considered graduates are those who :
1. drop out,
2. withdrawn and whereabouts are unknown,
3. receive a certificate,
4. failed to complete all credit requirements,       
5. completed all required credits but failed to pass the required number of subject subtests of the AHSGE,
6. receive a GED, and are
7. no shows.

This information will, in the least, be used for:

1. Accountability and AYP,
2. An "apple to orange" comparison to charter schools,
3. An "apple to orange" comparison to private/parochial schools, and
4. media releases.

All of us must maintain our proactive status and implement preventative measures. Your principal will devise and implement a plan of action for obtaining and maintaing proficiency in this matter.

Senator Taylor Meets with Local Superintendents

This past Monday, local superintendents met with Senator Bryan Taylor to discuss upcoming legislative issues that might affect public schools.  Major agenda items were:  The Flexibility Act, charter schools, and the ETF Budget.  Senator Taylor was very receptive to our thoughts and ideas.  For more information, click on the  Troy Messenger.