Clayton County Schools District News News

CCPS students show dramatic improvement on Georgia Grade 5 Writing Assessment

5/4/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

May 4, 2011

CCPS students show dramatic improvement on

Georgia Grade 5 Writing Assessment

JONESBORO – Clayton County’s fifth grade students demonstrated a substantial improvement on the Georgia Grade 5 Writing Assessment. Overall, the district recorded a 9 percentage point increase in the number of students meeting or exceeding the standard. In 2010, 66 percent of students accomplished this feat. In 2011, that number grew to 75 percent.

Included in this improvement was an impressive increase in the performance of the district’s fifth-graders with special needs. Thirty percent of Clayton County’s special education students scored in the “meets standards” category. This represents an 8 percentage point increase in the percentage of special education students passing the test compared to 2010.

The district also narrowed the gap between itself and the state. In 2010, the county was seven percentage points behind the state numbers. That gap has been closed to four percentage points. It should also be noted that the district’s improvement outdistanced the state’s improvement by three percentage points. Eleven schools either equaled or exceeded the state result:

Arnold ES                                 88 percent

River’s Edge ES                      88 percent

Kilpatrick ES                            87 percent

Mount Zion ES                        87 percent

McGarrah ES                         84 percent

Oliver ES                                  84 percent

Jackson ES                               81 percent

Unidos Dual Language         81 percent

Lake City ES                            80 percent

Smith ES                                  80 percent

Marshall ES                             79 percent

In all, 27 of the district’s 34 tested elementary schools demonstrated an increase in students meeting or exceeding the standard. Church Street ES led the way with a 27 percentage point improvement. Other substantial increases were reported by Northcutt ES (26 percentage points) and Kemp ES (21 percentage points).

It should also be noted that an increase in student performance was noted among all student groups:

English Language Learners                +7 percentage points

Female Students                                  +9 percentage points

Males Students                                     +8 percentage points

Black Students                                       +8 percentage points

Hispanic Students                                 +9 percentage points

White Students                                    +14 percentage points

Pacific Asian Students                        +8 percentage points

Multi-Ethnic Students                          +5 percentage points

“I am pleased and encouraged with the results of this year’s fifth-grade writing assessment,” said Dr. Edmond Heatley, Superintendent. “I commend our students for keeping their focus on working hard and doing their best. I also commend our instructional staff for their effort and dedication to improving student academic achievement.”

“It is through this kind of commitment that we as a district will succeed in preparing our students to face the future,” he said. “These results validate our statement that GREAT things are happening in Clayton County Public Schools.”

About the test

This assessment is a test of students’ writing skills and consists of an evaluation of each student’s response to an assigned topic taken from a prompt bank representing three genres: narrative, informational, and persuasive. Students are allowed approximately 120 minutes to write their essay. The writing assessment is administered in one day with a make-up given the following day.

Trained independent evaluators at the Georgia Center for Assessment score each student’s writing to determine if the student “does not meet standards”, “meets standards” or “exceeds standards”. Students’ writing is assessed in four domains: ideas, organization, style, and conventions.

CCPS to participate in the Seamless Summer Meals program

5/4/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

May 4, 2011

CCPS to participate in the Seamless Summer Meals program

JONESBORO - Clayton County Public Schools will be participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Seamless Summer Meals program at Lake Ridge Elementary located at 7900 Lake Ridge Circle, Riverdale, GA, 30296. Neighborhood children between the ages of 4 and 18 will have an opportunity to receive free breakfast and lunch meals during the summer at Lake Ridge Elementary School. Meals will be provided Monday through Friday. Breakfast and lunch hours will be announced on the Clayton County Nutrition website in late May 2011.

Participants must enter the school through the side entrance of the building. If you are entering the school from Lake Ridge Parkway please make a left at the stop sign, and continue through the bus loop to the parking lot in the back of the building. Next participants should proceed to the sign-in table at the entrance of the cafeteria for a breakfast or lunch meal. Once the meal is completed participants should return to the sign-in table to sign out. Groups larger than eight people should complete the “Seamless Summer Outreach Program Interest Assessment” form. The form can be obtained from the program site or the district’s School Nutrition Office.

Participants over the ages of 18 can purchase meals at a nominal cost of $1.50 for breakfast and $2.50 for lunch. There is a possibility that meal prices may change on July 1, 2011.

The Seamless Summer Meals Program will begin Monday, June 6 and will conclude on Friday, July 1, 2011 at Lake Ridge Elementary.

Please contact the district’s School Nutrition Department at 678-479-0171 for information regarding meal times for breakfast and lunch.

"This institution is an equal opportunity provider."

CCPS to commence kindergarten registration process

5/3/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

May 3, 2011

CCPS to commence kindergarten registration process

First opportunity to register children scheduled for May 9

JONESBORO - Parents and/or guardians residing in Clayton County will be able to register their children who are eligible to attend kindergarten beginning Monday, May 9, 2011.

Registration will commence at 31 elementary schools, two primary schools, and one K-8 school throughout the district on that Monday. The only exceptions are Kemp Elementary and Mt. Zion Elementary schools which serves grades three through five. Daily registration will take place from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and from 12 noon to 2 p.m. each day through Wednesday May 18. Extended hours will be offered at all sites on Thursday, May 12, (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

A special family night event has been scheduled for May 12 beginning at 6 p.m. The “Kindergarten Kick-Off Family Night” will feature a PowerPoint presentation on kindergarten, informational flyers, and summer learning packets. Registration will continue, as needed, during the meeting.

To be eligible for kindergarten, children must be five years of age on or before September 1, 2011. Parents and/or guardians interested in registering their children for kindergarten at your child’s home school during this period should bring the following information:

¨ The child’s original certified birth certificate

¨ The child’s social security card or waiver

¨ A current ear, eye, and dental screening form (Form 3300)

¨ Current immunization records (Form 3231)

¨ Two proofs of residency (example: power bill, gas bill, mortgage book, current signed lease)

Parents and/or guardians needing to determine which school is their child’s home school may do so by going on the Internet to http://edulog.clayton.k12.ga.us/edulog/webquery/ or by calling 770-473-2700. Parents and/or guardians with questions pertaining to kindergarten registration may call 678-817-3103.

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CCPS Graduations set for May 23-24, 2011

4/29/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

April 29, 2011

CCPS Graduations set for May 23-24, 2011

Third year at the Georgia Dome

JONESBORO – Clayton County’s public high schools will conduct graduation exercises on Monday and Tuesday, May 23-24, 2011. For the third consecutive year graduation ceremonies will be held at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta. The schedule is as follows:

SCHOOL	DATE	TIME
Mount Zion High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	9:00 A.M.
North Clayton High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	12:00 P.M.
Morrow High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	3:00 P.M.
Forest Park High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	7:00 P.M.

Lovejoy High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	9:00 A.M.
Mundy’s Mill High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	12:00 P.M.
Riverdale High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	3:00 P.M.
Jonesboro High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	7:00 P.M.

More information about these ceremonies and the Georgia Dome is available at www.clayton.k12.ga.us.

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CCPS to broadcast graduation ceremonies again

4/29/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

April 29, 2011

CCPS to broadcast graduation ceremonies again

Exercises to be aired live on the district’s website

JONESBORO - For many graduating seniors throughout Clayton County with loved ones serving in the military, each deployment away from home brings the possibility of a missed opportunity for a true family celebration. It is also a fact that our economy may have caused some family members to leave their loved ones in our area in order to secure or continue employment elsewhere.

In an effort to help our families reconnect, Clayton County Public Schools is continuing a communications outreach by making each graduation ceremony available for live viewing.

This initiative, in its fifth year, will allow those who cannot make it to the ceremony an opportunity to watch their children, or their relatives, graduate through a live broadcast. The graduation exercises can be viewed via the school district’s website, www.clayton.k12.ga.us, May 23-24, 2011. The eight graduation ceremonies will be broadcast using a broadband high-speed streaming video, via the Internet.

To view the ceremony of choice

Simply go to www.clayton.k12.ga.us and click on the proper link on the home page. You will be able to watch an entire live broadcast of a graduation ceremony. Graduation ceremonies average about 1½ hours in length. All live broadcasts take place at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta and will begin at the time indicated below:

Monday, May 23, 2011

Mount Zion High School 9:00 a.m.
North Clayton High School 12:00 p.m.
Morrow High School 3:00 p.m.
Forest Park High School 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Lovejoy High School 9:00 a.m.
Mundy’s Mill High School 12:00 p.m.
Riverdale High School 3:00 p.m.
Jonesboro High School 7:00 p.m.

For more information, contact the Department of Communications, 770-473-2735, Ext 4.

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Charles White

CCPS students show improvement on Georgia Grade 8 Writing Assessment

3/18/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

March 18, 2011

CCPS students show improvement on

Georgia Grade 8 Writing Assessment

County passing rate surpasses state average for the first time in recent memory

JONESBORO – Clayton County’s eighth-grade students have demonstrated a substantial improvement on the Georgia Grade 8 Writing Assessment. Overall, the district recorded an eight-percentage point increase in the number of students meeting or exceeding the standard. In 2010, 77 percent of students accomplished this feat. In 2011 that number grew to 85 percent. The results continue a five-year growth in the county’s performance on this assessment.

It marks the first time in recent memory that the percentage of Clayton County students meeting or exceeding the standard on the Grade 8 Writing Assessment was higher than the percentage of students across Georgia achieving the same. Georgia’s percentage of students meeting or exceeding stands at 82 percent, compared to Clayton County’s 85 percent. Twelve of the district’s middle schools surpassed the state’s rate.

Each of district’s 16 middle schools exhibited an increase in student performance on the assessment from 2010 to 2011. Leading the way with largest increase was Jonesboro Middle School at +23 percent (66 percent in 2010 as compared to 89 percent in 2011).

Also shown in additional key findings is that the district’s English Language Learners (ELL) surpassed the performances of ELL students across the state. Fifty-seven percent of Clayton County ELL students passed the assessment as compared to the state’s rate of 50 percent. The 2011 pass rate for this group is seven-percentage points higher than in 2010 and continues a trend of improvement from 2008.

Included in these findings was an impressive increase in the performance of the district’s middle grades students with special needs. Forty-eight (48) percent of Clayton County’s special education students scored in the “meets standards” category. This represents a nine-percentage point increase in the special education students passing the test compared to 2010. Also, the county’s rate is the same as the state’s rate.

“I am extremely pleased by the results of this year’s grade eight writing assessment,” said Dr. Edmond Heatley, Superintendent. “I commend our students for their hard work and their commitment to doing their best. I also commend our instructional staff for their effort and dedication to improving student academic achievement.”

“These results truly demonstrate that great things are happening in the classrooms of our school district,” he added.

About the assessment

All eighth grade students are required to take the Georgia Writing Assessment. This assessment is a test of students’ writing skills and consists of an evaluation of each student’s response to an assigned topic taken from a prompt bank representing two genres: expository and persuasive. Students are allowed approximately 100 minutes to write their essay. The writing assessment is administered in one day with a make-up given the following day.

Trained independent evaluators at the Georgia Center for Assessment score each student’s writing to determine if the student “does not meet standards”, “meets standards” or “exceeds standards”. Students’ writing is assessed in four domains: ideas, organization, style, and conventions.

See chart below:

Georgia	79	82	+3
Clayton	77	85	+8
Adamson#	81	84	+3
Babb#	81	89	+8
Elite Scholars#	83	97	+14
Forest Park#	81	90	+9
Jonesboro#	66	89	+23
Kendrick#	74	84	+10
Lovejoy	68	81	+13
Morrow#	81	89	+8
Mundy's Mill#	72	86	+14
North Clayton	77	79	+2
Pointe South	73	82	+9
Rex Mill#	82	85	+3
Riverdale	79	81	+2
Roberts#	72	86	+14
Sequoyah#	81	85	+4
White K-8 Academy#	*	84	*

* - Did not test in 2010

# - Meets/Exceeds Standards results higher than state average

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Morrow ES Does It Again

2/4/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jacqueline Evans

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 473-2735

February 4, 2011

Morrow Elementary does it again!

School named “School of Excellence in Student Achievement”

JONESBORO – Morrow Elementary School has been selected as one of 22 schools by State Superintendent Dr. John Barge as a “2010 School of Excellence in Student Achievement.” The school received the award based on its continuous gains in student assessments for reading and math over the past three years.

This announcement comes just weeks after Morrow Elementary was named a platinum level Distinguished School under the Single Statewide Accountability System for achieving the greatest gains in students meeting or exceeding the standards.

“The success of Morrow Elementary School can be credited to a teaching and support staff that is totally committed to increasing student achievement,” said Principal Tim Foster. “The staff understands how important it is to take ownership of each individual student and to provide each of them with instruction that meets their specialized needs.”

“The district is extremely pleased with the achievement of these students and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Edmond Heatley. “I commend everyone associated with this accomplishment.”

“This is evidence that our commitment to increased rigor in our classrooms is working,” he continued. “We are committed to achieving this level of excellence for all of our students.”

This is the third award for the school since December 2010. The school was one of 34 schools in the district that received the distinction of 2010 Title I Distinguished School from the State of Georgia.

Morrow Elementary serves a culturally diverse population of about 500 students and is located at 6115 Reynolds Road in Morrow, Georgia.

About the Georgia Schools of Excellence Award

The Georgia Schools of Excellence are selected based on either their ranking in the top 10 percent in Georgia assessments or for demonstrating the greatest continuous gains in reading and math assessments for the past three years. Each of these schools will receive a $1,000 check from Georgia Natural Gas to be used however they wish.

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District's number of Distinguished Schools increases

1/20/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jacqueline Evans

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 473-2735

January 20, 2011

District increases number of Title I Distinguished Schools in 2010

Up from 27 to 34 schools earn title based on student achievement

JONESBORO – The District is strengthening its grasp on academic achievement. Georgia Department of Education named 34 district schools as Title I Distinguished Schools based on student performance for 2009-2010. District schools are recognized for making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for three or more consecutive years. Church Street Elementary and Morrow Elementary have earned this distinction since the recognition program began.

“Our district continues to move forward in providing quality instruction for children in Clayton County,” said Superintendent Edmond Heatley. “This recognition of the hard work of our students and staff, bolstered by the support of our parents and community partners is our encouragement to achieve excellence. We are very proud of the accomplishment of these schools and pledge a continued focus on earning this distinction for all of our schools.”

Eighty-two percent of district schools achieved AYP during 2009-2010. This translates to 50 campuses. The district serves 50,000 students in 70 campuses and programs.

The Board of Education will honor the 34 schools at its next regular board meeting on Monday, Feb. 7.The listing of schools and their consecutive years of AYP appears below.

Schools with Three to four Consecutive Years AYP

Adamson Middle School 3

Brown Elementary School 3

Forest Park Middle School 3

Haynie Elementary School 3

Huie Elementary School 3

M. D. Roberts Middle School 3

Morrow Middle School 3

Riverdale Elementary School 3

West Clayton Elementary School 3

Babb Middle School 4

Kilpatrick Elementary School 4

Rex Mill Middle School 4

Unidos Dual Language Charter School 4

Schools with Five to Seven Consecutive Years AYP

Kemp Elementary School 5

Harper Elementary School 6

Thurgood Marshall Elementary School 6

Fountain Elementary School 7

James Jackson Elementary School 7

Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School 7

Schools with Eight Consecutive Years AYP

Anderson Elementary School

Arnold Elementary School

Callaway Elementary School

Edmonds Elementary School

Hendrix Drive Elementary School

Kemp Primary School

Lake City Elementary School

Mount Zion Elementary School

Northcutt Elementary School

Oliver Elementary School

Pointe South Elementary School

River's Edge Elementary School

William M. McGarrah Elementary School

Schools with Ten Consecutive Years AYP

Church Street Elementary School

Morrow Elementary School

For more information call 770-473-2735.

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Morrow Elementary goes platinum!

1/20/2011 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jacqueline Evans

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 473-2735

January 20, 2011

Morrow Elementary goes platinum!

CCPS schools recognized for greatest gains in student achievement

JONESBORO – Morrow Elementary School has gone platinum! Having achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for ten years, the school has now been named a Distinguished School with a platinum level award for making the greatest gains in students meeting or exceeding standards.

Five other district schools are recognized by the Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) as Distinguished Schools with bronze level awards. These schools are Anderson Elementary, Fountain Elementary, Lee Street Elementary, Lovejoy High School, and Mount Zion Elementary School.

“Our schools continue to prove that excellence in education is achievable and sustainable in this district,” said Superintendent Dr. Edmond Heatley. “With the support of our parents and community partners, we pledge to work towards achieving this kind of distinction for all of our schools.”

Awards are based on the results of the most recent two years of standardized tests (Criterion Referenced Competency Test or Georgia High School Graduation Test) in core subjects for full academic year students. Platinum awards are given to schools whose gains meet the highest ranking in a formula established by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.

About the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement

The Office of Student Achievement provides accountability reporting for all of Georgia’s education system from preschool through college to drive improvement in student achievement and school completion. To learn more about the agency, including the SSAS awards, please visit www.gaosa.org.

For more information call 770-473-2735.

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District to observe Semester Break

12/17/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

December 17, 2010

District to observe Semester Break

JONESBORO – The first semester for Clayton County Public Schools will end Friday, December 17, 2010. The system will observe Semester Break beginning Monday, December 20, continuing through Friday, December 31, 2010. All schools and offices will be closed during the two-week Semester Break period.

The district’s schools and offices will resume a normal schedule on Monday, January 3, 2010, which is considered a Professional Development Day – students will not report.

Students will return to school for the start of the second semester on Tuesday, January 4, 2010.

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District's Class of 2012 scores well on writing test

12/8/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jacqueline Evans

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 473-2735

December 8, 2010

District’s Class of 2012 scores well on writing test

11^th grade first-time test takers make significant gains

JONESBORO – Clayton County’s students demonstrated a five-point increase over results from 2009 in the Georgia High School Writing Test (GHSWT). Ninety-four (94) percent of eleventh-grade first-time test takers met or exceeded standards compared to 89 percent in 2009.

“While the state saw an increase in student performance with a four percentage point gain from 91 percent to 95 percent, our students’ performance narrowed the gap this year between the district’s pass rate and the statewide pass rate to one percentage point,” said Diana Carry, Chief Academic Officer.

“More than half of district high schools matched or exceeded the state percentage of first-time eleventh-grade test takers’ performance on the writing test this year,” she added. Lovejoy and Morrow high schools had the highest gains, while Mount Zion and North Clayton high schools exceeded the state percentage with 96 percent of first-time test takers passing the test. This was the first year for eleventh-grade students at Charles R. Drew High School.

	First time GHSWT test takers % Meeting and Exceeding Standard
	2009	2010	+/(-)
Georgia	91	95	+4
Clayton	89	94	+5
Drew	-	95	-
Forest Park	89	94	+5
Jonesboro	88	92	+4
Lovejoy	87	95	+8
Morrow	86	93	+7
Mount Zion	91	96	+5
Mundy’s Mill	92	93	+1
North Clayton	93	96	+3
Riverdale	90	95	+5

Included in this report was a continued improvement in the performance of the district’s high school students with special needs. Sixty-nine (69) percent of Clayton County’s special education students scored in the “meets standards” category in 2010. This represents a ten-percentage point increase in the percent of students with special needs passing the test compared to 2009. The pass rate for CCPS special needs students was equivalent to the pass rate for the state’s special education test takers.

The pass rate of 93 percent for local black students taking the GHSWT was higher than their counterparts across the state who demonstrated a pass rate of 91 percent.

“I am extremely pleased and excited with the results of this year’s high school writing test,” said Dr. Edmond Heatley, Superintendent. “I commend our students for keeping their focus on working toward excellence. I also commend our instructional staff for their effort and dedication to improving student academic achievement.”

“It is through this kind of commitment that the district will succeed in creating and maintaining an instructional program that will successfully prepare our students for a future in the global economy,” he added.

About the test

All students are required to take the Georgia High School Writing Test. The purpose of the test is to assess student achievement in the Georgia Performance Standards objectives in writing, to provide information to assist schools and school systems in improving writing instruction, and to identify students who may need additional instruction in skills considered essential for a high school diploma. The test is administered in the fall to all first-time eleventh grade students as well as to students who have failed previous attempts at the test. Having a passing score on the GHSWT is required for students to be awarded a diploma.

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CCPS graduations set for May 23-24, 2011

11/18/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

November 18, 2010

CCPS graduations set for May 23-24, 2011

Third year at the Georgia Dome

JONESBORO – Clayton County’s public high schools will conduct graduation exercises on Monday and Tuesday, May 23-24, 2011. For the third consecutive year, graduation ceremonies will be held at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta. The schedule is as follows:

SCHOOL	DATE	TIME
Mt. Zion High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	9:00 A.M.
North Clayton High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	12:00 P.M.
Morrow High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	3:00 P.M.
Forest Park High School	Monday, May 23, 2011	7:00 P.M.

Lovejoy High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	9:00 A.M.
Mundy's Mill High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	12:00 P.M.
Riverdale High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	3:00 P.M.
Jonesboro High School	Tuesday, May 24, 2011	7:00 P.M.

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Charles White

Department of Communications

770-472-8437 (o)

770-652-3725 (c)

770-473-2706 (f)

CCPS observes the 2010 Thanksgiving Holiday

11/16/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

November 16, 2010

CCPS observes the 2010 Thanksgiving Holiday

All schools and offices of Clayton County Public Schools will be closed Monday-Friday, November 22-26, in observance of the 2010 Thanksgiving Holidays. The district will resume its normal schedule on Monday, November 29.

__________

MEDIA NOTE: The Clayton County Board of Education will meet in regular session on Monday, December 6. The meeting, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., will be held at the district’s Administration Complex, 1058 Fifth Avenue in Jonesboro. An agenda for the meeting will be released in the near future.

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Charles White

Department of Communications

770-472-8437 (o)

770-652-3725 (c)

770-473-2706 (f)

King Elementary earns national recognition

11/16/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

November 16, 2010

King Elementary earns national recognition

Clayton County school named National Title I Distinguished School

JONESBORO – Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in College Park has earned recognition as a National Title I Distinguished School. The honor was made public at a State Board of Education meeting earlier this month.

King Elementary received the award for outstanding performance in one of two categories:

Schools that exceeded Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two or more years
Schools that significantly closed the Achievement gap between student groups

Only one school per state can be named in each category. King ES is only one of two Georgia schools to be so honored in 2010.

“We are so excited to have earned this honor,” said Dr. Machelle Matthews, principal of King Elementary. “Our success has been built through meaningful contributions by our students and their parents/guardians, our staff members, and our community partners.”

“I applaud the King Elementary family for this tremendous recognition,” said Superintendent Edmond T. Heatley. “Being named a National Title I Distinguished School validates the commitment to academic excellence being exhibited daily by the school’s students and staff members.”

“This national designation is truly indicative of the great things that are happening in our district,” he added.

In addition to being formally recognized at the 2011 National Title I Conference (held in Tampa, Fla. this February), the school will receive the following:

A National Title I Distinguished School certificate
A National Title I Distinguished School banner
Inclusion in national press releases concerning this program
A DVD featuring a slide show of all 2010 Distinguished Schools
A commemorative book highlighting the National Title I Distinguished Schools

The recognition is sponsored by the National Title I Association, a national association of state Title I directors.

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Charles White

Department of Communications

770-472-8437 (o)

770-652-3725 (c)

770-473-2706 (f)

District releases online newsletter

11/3/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jacqueline Evans

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 473-2735

November 3, 2010

District releases ‘CCPS Net’ online

Fall 2010 newsletter includes links to information

JONESBORO – Good news is easy to find in Clayton County Public Schools. The district’s newsletter for parents and the community is now online with links to information about achievement and district plans. The newsletter can be found at www.clayton.k12.ga.us under “Announcements.”

“The online release of the newsletter is part of the district’s effort to reduce paper use,” said Charles White, director of Communications. “Digital newsletters also allow us to update information much faster than printed materials can reach our community.” The Department of Communications also releases information through its telephone notification system and The Daily View, an award winning e-mail newsletter sent to subscribers.

Parents/guardians, who may not have access to the Internet, may view the newsletter at schools by contacting the school’s parent liaison or by visiting their local library.

For more information, contact the Department of Communications at 770-473-2735.

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Schools closed on Tuesday, November 2

10/29/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

October 29, 2010

Schools closed on Tuesday, November 2

CCPS schedules day off for students in observance of Election Day

JONESBORO – Students enrolled in Clayton County schools will get a break from the classroom on Tuesday, November 2. The district calendar identifies this date as a staff development day. Employees are expected to report to work on their normal schedule. (Employees who will not report for work on Tuesday are security guards, school nutrition workers and their managers, health care workers, and bus drivers.)

“We scheduled a staff development day to eliminate any safety risk to our students and staff members on Election Day,” said Charles White, director of communications. “This is a mid-term Election Day with a number of national, state and local races of interest.”

“The county has located polling places at about two-thirds of our campuses,” he added. “Our decision served as an attempt to minimize confusion that a substantial voter turnout could create at our schools.”

Students will return to school on Wednesday, November 3.

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Charles White

Department of Communications

770-472-8437 (o)

770-652-3725 (c)

770-473-2706 (f)

CCPS Department of Business Services receives honor

10/28/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

October 28, 2010

CCPS Department of Business Services receives honor

District recognized for excellence in financial reporting

JONESBORO – The Department of Business Services for Clayton County Public Schools has earned the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence. The district received the honor for its comprehensive financial report through the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).

This is the first recognition from the GFOA earned by Clayton County schools. The district has earned the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting as sponsored by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) for three consecutive years.

“We are proud to accept this prestigious award,” said Ramona Thurman, Director of Budgets and Grants. “This honor is indicative of the exemplary manner in which our team of fiscal professionals conducts the district’s business on a daily basis.”

“A comprehensive annual financial report requires a dedicated, focused effort,” said Edmond T. Heatley, Superintendent. “To compile a report that qualifies for this recognition is phenomenal. I commend the members of the Business Services staff for their continued commitment to fiscal excellence.”

The GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Earning this award represents a significant accomplishment by a government agency and its management.

For more information, contact 770-472-8437.

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Charles White

Department of Communications

770-472-8437 (o)

770-652-3725 (c)

770-473-2706 (f)

Eight CCPS students earn top honors in international festival

10/25/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Jacqueline Evans

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 473-2735

October 25, 2010

Eight CCPS students earn top honors in international festival

Three projects are ‘Judges’ Favorites’ at the International Student Media Festival

JONESBORO – Eight CCPS students won awards for five outstanding media projects at the International Student Media Festival (ISMF) in Anaheim (Calif.) in earlier this month. This was the first time that CCPS students participated in this awards process.

“A student’s knowledge and effective use of different elements of technology is an important key to future success,” said Dr. Edmond Heatley, Superintendent. “We commend these young people and their teachers for this impressive showing on the global stage. Their performance is an accurate indication that our instruction engages and successfully prepares.”

Three projects earned the “Judges’ Favorites” recognition which placed the projects in the top ten percent according to ISMF Coordinator Ronna Papesh.

These three projects were produced by students from two schools –

Riverdale High School in the category of live action:

Joseph Mom, Adam Bowens, and Luqman Muhammed for “You’re Not Alone,” and
Raven Hathcock, Rosie Nguyen, Mai Dinh, and Joseph Mom for “The Tech Lab.”

M.D. Roberts Middle School in the category of Web page:

Darielle McCray for “Kidsofforeclosure.com.”

Two projects earned “Excellence in Media Production” recognitions:

· Jonesboro High School student Aleisha Donald created a podcast titled “13 Reasons Why,” and

· Riverdale High School student Rosie Nguyen submitted an electronic photographic essay entitled “What Family Means to Me.”

The students will each receive a plaque and student certificate from the ISMF later this year.

Media Specialist Tracy Larson, Arnold Elementary, coordinated the district’s first Regional Media Festival last March with 19 out of 44 CCPS projects continuing to the Georgia Media Festival. At this statewide competition, six projects were judged worthy of continuing to the ISMF.

The International Student Media Festival celebrates outstanding classroom media projects such as live action video, website design, animation, and photography. Each student media project is evaluated on its own merit by judges who use a detailed rubric for each type of media.

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District Communications earn gold, silver again

10/21/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770 472-8437

October 21, 2010

CCPS Communications earn gold, silver again

Department of Transportation adds bronze

Jonesboro – Clayton County Public Schools received gold and silver awards for the second year from the Georgia School Public Relations Association (GSPRA) for its publications and programs. The awards were presented at the 2010 Annual Conference held in Atlanta on October 17-18 at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. All five submissions to the statewide competition earned awards: two gold, two silver, and one bronze award.

Jacqueline Evans, communications assistant also earned a special “Best in Category” award presented for the newsletters category. Evans produced one page E-briefs filled with pictures and stories about best practice activities used to support instruction.

“For more than a year, the Communications Department’s focus on ‘telling our story, our way’ has resulted in the creation of excellent publications, campaigns, and activities,” said Charles White, director of communications. “It is gratifying to know that other public information professionals recognize the quality of the work created by this staff.”

The district’s “500 Men Standing in the Gap” marketing campaign also earned a gold award. The initiative is a collaboration between the district and the Clayton Collaborative. Rhonda Burnough, community relations liaison, coordinates the communication of program activities and volunteer information for the male mentoring program.

Other awards were as follows:

Silver - Clayton County Schools Today, monthly television show

Silver – District Highlights, brag sheet of student and staff achievement

Bronze – Bus Lines, Department of Transportation newsletter

Information about district publications can be found on the district website – www.clayton.k12.ga.us

About GSPRA

“The Georgia School Public Relations Association (GSPRA) is a professional organization for school communicators and school-community relations specialists. GSPRA is an affiliate of the National School Public Relations Association and has been designated a Blue Ribbon Chapter of NSPRA for the past twenty-five years. In 2010, GSPRA earned NSPRA's Mark of Distinction as an Exemplary Chapter. GSPRA members have also earned the prestigious Awards for Distinguished Service in both the single project and year-round project categories.” http://www.gspra.org/gspra/site/default.asp

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District releases updated AYP information

10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director, CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

October 15, 2010

District releases updated AYP information

Three high schools and two elementary schools are added to list of AYP schools

JONESBORO – Information released today by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) showed that five additional Clayton County schools achieved Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2009-10. The new additions to the district’s AYP list are Kemp and Northcutt elementary schools and Forest Park, Lovejoy, and Mount Zion high schools. The changes in designation resulted from appeals submitted by schools after a review of the initial data released earlier this year, as well as the inclusion of results from retests.

Based on state’s information 82 percent of Clayton County’s schools achieved AYP during 2009-10. This translates to 50 campuses. Earlier this year, the district announced that five schools emerged from needs improvement status: Kendrick Middle, Mundy’s Mill Middle, Sequoyah Middle, and Swint Elementary.

“We are pleased that these schools have achieved this distinction and have joined our growing list of schools earning the status of making Adequate Yearly Progress,” said Dr. Edmond Heatley, Superintendent. “Achieving this status is a tribute to each school’s students and staff members for their hard work and dedication to academic success.”

“It is gratifying to see that the district’s commitment to increased rigor for all students in each of our classrooms is producing results,” he added.

A list of CCPS schools achieving AYP is as follows (additional schools in bold):

Elementary (35)

Anderson

Arnold

Brown

Callaway

Church Street

East Clayton

Edmonds

Fountain

Harper

Haynie

Hendrix Drive

Huie

Jackson

Kemp Elementary

Kemp Primary

Kilpatrick

Lake City

Lee Street

Lewis Academy of Excellence

Martin Luther King, Jr.

McGarrah

Morrow

Mount Zion

Mount Zion Primary

Northcutt

Oliver

Pointe South

River’s Edge

Riverdale

Suder

Swint

Tara

Thurgood Marshall

Unidos Dual Language

West Clayton

Middle Schools (12)

Adamson

Babb

Elite Scholars Academy

Forest Park

Kendrick

M.D. Roberts

Morrow

Mundy’s Mill

Pointe South

Rex Mill

Riverdale

Sequoyah

High Schools (3)

Forest Park

Lovejoy

Mount Zion

__________________________

AYP is the formula used to determine if schools are meeting expectations under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. It consists of three parts -- test participation, academic achievement and another statistic, called a "second indicator." The academic goals continue to rise every few years toward a goal of 100 percent proficiency for all students by 2014. All students at a school, as well as any qualifying subgroup of students, must meet goals in all three categories in order to "make AYP."

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It's Time to Recognize School Bus Safety

10/15/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Clayton County Public Schools

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

October 15, 2010

It’s Time to Recognize School Bus Safety

JONESBORO - Clayton County Public Schools is celebrating National School Bus Safety Week, October 18-22, 2010. The week is designated to promote the protection of our students by encouraging motorists to use extra caution around school buses, school bus stops, and school zones.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Clayton County Public Schools Transportation Department is also collaborating with the Clayton County Police Department to stress the importance of school bus safety. Motorists should expect to see police enforcing traffic laws in and around school zones and school bus stops.

The Transportation Department is also providing refreshments during the week to show appreciation to all team members for safely transporting Clayton County Public Schools students. So whether it’s a school bus monitor, school bus driver, fleet maintenance mechanic, or office staff member, please show your support by saying ‘thanks’ for a job well done!

The CCPS Transportation Department provides safe transportation to more than 32,000 students to and from school and extracurricular events daily. The key to its success is attributed to its professional, dedicated, and committed staff. The CCPS Transportation Department is one of the safest and most efficient in Georgia with 440 buses and 500 team members.

McGarrah's Lockhart announced as Clayton County's 2011 Teacher of the Year

10/1/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Clayton County Public Schools

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

October 1, 2010

McGarrah’s Lockhart announced as

Clayton County’s 2011 Teacher of the Year

JONESBORO – It was a morning full of excitement and surprise as Clayton County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year patrol made its last final stop of the selection season, visiting the classroom of the 2011 district wide honoree, Fareedah Wright Lockhart of McGarrah Elementary School.

Accompanied by members of the selection committee, school system administrators, an assortment of cameras, and bearing gifts, Bobbi Ford, a former district and state Teacher of the Year and coordinator of the process, congratulated Lockhart on being selected.

A fifth grade teacher with nine years of experience, Lockhart has been teaching at McGarrah since the beginning of the 2007-8 school year. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Alabama A&M University, a master’s degree from Central Michigan University, and a specialist’s degree from Mercer University.

In her application packet, Lockhart points to a lifelong desire to work with children as a key factor in her career choice. She also noted that her own teachers, those that pushed her to excellence and those who created obstacles, played prominent roles in her decision process. “Teachers have more power than they realize,” she wrote.

Lockhart now moves to the next level in the Teacher of the Year process. She must complete state application materials and await a decision by the state selection committee. The Georgia Teacher of the Year will be announced this spring.

Lockhart will be formally recognized as the 2011 Teacher of the Year by Clayton County Public Schools during a special program on November 18, 2010, at the Performing Arts Center at which time all 63 school-level Teachers of the Year will be honored.

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District students participate in Habitat for Humanity Build

9/28/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Clayton County Public Schools

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

September 28, 2010

District students participate in Habitat for Humanity Build

Official kick-off for the build set for Monday, October 4, at 8:30 a.m.

JONESBORO – It’s fall. This means that a number of Clayton County Public Schools students will soon be hard at work providing a new start for some deserving family.

As they have for the past six years, district students enrolled in Construction Education programs at different high schools will participate in a Habitat for Humanity building project. Since the start of this collaboration in 2003, CCPS students have assisted in building 11 homes throughout Clayton County.

“We are proud to partner with Habitat for Humanity in this worthy endeavor,” said Dr. Edmond Heatley, CCPS Superintendent. “This cooperative venture will reap great rewards for our participating students, enhancing both their skills and their sense of accomplishment, while at the same time improving our community.”

This fall’s project site is located in a subdivision on Iron Gate Road, just off Highway 19/41. The official kick-off for this project is scheduled for Monday, October 4, at 8:30 a.m. Local dignitaries are expected to be present to watch 20 students from four high schools begin building a future for an area family. Students will work on site each day during the week of October 4.

“Forest Park, Jonesboro, Lovejoy, and Morrow high schools will have students working on this build,” said Betty Jones, director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) for CCPS. “We look to this activity as a perfect example of what CTAE is all about.”

“The students who will report to the job site represent the top construction students from each participating school,” said Price Jacobs, construction education teacher from Lovejoy High School. Jacobs is coordinator of the project for the district. “Only third- and fourth-year students are allowed to take part.”

For the past three weeks, construction students at Forest Park High School have been busy building the interior walls for the house. Lovejoy High construction students have been constructing the exterior walls.

“Building the house’s walls in the schools’ classrooms provides a hands-on opportunity for students who will not be working at the site,” said Jacobs. “Once completed, the prefabricated walls will be carried to the build site by Habitat for Humanity personnel and will be raised by our students once they arrive on Monday.”

In addition to raising the walls, CCPS students will build a roof, shingle the roof, and install doors and windows.

For information, contact Betty Jones at 678-479-2657 or Price Jacobs at 770-473-2920.

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2011 CCPS Teacher of the Year announcement set for September 30

9/28/2010 12:00:00 AM

NEWS RELEASE

Clayton County Public Schools

Department of Communications

For Immediate Release

Contact: Charles White

Director

CCPS Communications

Telephone: (770) 472-8437

September 28, 2011

2011 CCPS Teacher of the Year announcement set for September 30

JONESBORO –Thursday, September 30, a special caravan of school administrators and community partners will visit one of six district campuses to recognize the overall winner of Teacher of the Year – 2011. The surprise visit to one of the six finalists still under consideration will highlight the formal release of the winner’s name. The six finalists were selected by the Teacher of the Year selection committee from 29 applications seeking the district wide honor.

Those still eligible for the title of 2011 Teacher of the Year are:

Samuel Wayne West is a teacher of middle grades at Rex Mill Middle School. He has 11 years of teaching experience and holds a bachelor’s degree from Fort Valley State University, a master’s degree from Strayer University, and a specialist’s degree from Liberty University.

Fareedah Wright Lockhart is a fifth grade teacher at McGarrah Elementary School. She has been teaching for nine years and holds a bachelor’s degree from Alabama A&M University, a master’s degree from Central Michigan University, and a specialist’s degree from Mercer University.

Natasha Clarke-Grant is a first grade teacher at Lake City Elementary School. She has eight years of teaching experience and holds a bachelor’s degree from Pace University and a master’s degree and a specialist’s degree from Cambridge College.

Natosha Williams is a Language Arts teacher at Lovejoy Middle School. She has 12 years of teaching experience and holds a bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan College and a master’s degree from Cambridge College.

Dr. Susan G. Messer is a teacher of Family and Consumer Science at Kendrick Middle School. She has 31 years of teaching experience and holds a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University, a master’s degree from Central Michigan University, and a specialist’s degree and educational doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

Kenji L. Bell is a teacher of Social Studies at Mundy’s Mill High School. He has seven years of teaching experience and holds a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University, a master’s degree from Alabama A&M University, and a specialist’s degree from Argosy University.

Each of these teachers received a plant and a special notice of their selection as a finalist during surprise visits in early September. Since then, the finalists have been observed and interviewed by members of the selection committee.

All 63 school-level Teachers of the Year will be recognized during a special program on November 18, 2011 at the Performing Arts Center.

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