Newspaper Page Text
10 - The Savannah Tribune • Wednesday, August 5, 2009
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY NEWS
Savannah-Chatham County Schools
Establish a New Record on AYP
Beach Institute Hosts Artist
Stacey Brown
A Stroll By Savannah Way, By Stacey Brown
Seventy-three percent,
or 35 of the 49 SCCPSS
schools made AYP
(Adequate Yearly
Progress), according to the
initial release of results by
the Georgia Department of
Education. That is an
increase of 24 points from
last year. The district
exceeded the state-assigned
comparison group of simi
lar districts, in which 70%
of schools met the AYP cri
teria, and also surpassed
the state's gain of 10
points.
The percentage of
elementary schools making
AYP on the initial release
increased by 30 points,
while middle schools
rose 10 points and high
schools rose 14 points.
Strong gains in students'
math scores were a major
factor contributing to
schools' improvements in
initial AYP status.
More good news—
Spencer Elementary was
removed from Needs
Improvement status as a
result of achieving AYP for
two consecutive years.
And while a total of five
schools will be added to the
Needs Improvement list, at
least three schools are
anticipated to be removed
once the summer retest
scores are amended in the
fall. Currently, a total of
19% of SCCPSS schools
are in Needs Improvement
status, versus 22% of the
comparison group and 15%
statewide.
Area high schools also saw
marked improvements in
overall test scores. The
district met the GHSGT
Math requirements for all
subgroups, and met all
remaining academic crite
ria in all but one subgroup.
The district also achieved
AYP in participation and
attendance in all areas, and
made sufficient gains to
meet the graduation rate
requirements for 3 out of 4
subgroups. The SCCPSS
initial graduation rate of
70.8% reflects an increase
of 7 points over last year's
final graduation rate, with
even more growth project
ed once summer graduates
are included in the amend
ed reports.
These achievements
within the Savannah-
Chatham County Public
School System show stu
dents and teachers are mak
ing great strides in keeping
with its mission of igniting,
and maintaining, a passion
for learning and teaching at
high levels. The results
show the district is exceed
ing the "norm", and is
poised to set new, positive
records in the future.
On Sunday, August 9,
2009, the Beach Institute con
cludes its series, Images of
Ourselves: A Contemporary
View with an exhibit of works
by Atlanta artist Stacey
Brown.
The solo exhibition of
twenty new Savannah inspired
works in cracked glass, col
lage and watercolor will be on
display through October 3,
2009.
The opening reception,
sponsored by the Savannah
Chapter of the Links, Inc., will
take place at 3pm in the West
Gallery of the Beach Institute
with a gallery talk by the artist.
Painting since the age of
ten, Brown uses acrylic paint
on glass and then breaks it into
fragments. He then meticu
lously reconstructs the frag
ments by hand, drawing on his
graphic design background to
create a strong composition
with unique attributes.
He pulls his inspiration
from daily scenes of the urban
experience, and engages audi
ences with some of the most
innovative expressions of life
in contemporary art today.
These particular works
will feature the eclectic daily
life of Savannah residents, as
well as the lush landscapes
and architecture that makes
Savannah unique.
Brown’s work has gar
nered popular attention as
shown by features in the
Atlanta Journal
Constitution, Decor
Magazine, and on BET’s hit
reality show College Hill.
In the Foundation’s con
tinuing efforts to expose the
young people in our commu
nity to the opportunities avail
able to them in the arts the
Beach Institute will host forty
children from the Boys and
Girls Club of Greater
Savannah for a workshop with
Stacey Brown.
In this workshop stu
dents will have the chance to
delve into the creative process
of the artist and try their hand
at watercolor under Mr.
Brown’s guidance.
This event is free and
open to the public. Funding
for this exhibit was provided
in part by the City of
Savannah’s Department of
Cultural Affairs. For addi
tional information, contact
(912) 234-8000 or visit
www.kingtisdell.org .
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IVIcdal....continued from page 1
actress, singer, and dancer;
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apartheid activist in South
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