Faculty Focus 1/23/12

Autrey Mill Faculty Focus        

January 23, 2012

“When written in Chinese, the word “crisis” is composed of two characters-one represents danger, and other represents opportunity.”

  Saul David Alinsky

News/Timelines/Due Dates

WE ARE GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

·         The Single Statewide Accountability System (SSAS) recognition program awarded 38 Fulton County schools – an increase from the previous year’s 34 schools – in two categories, Greatest Gains and Highest Performance.  Those in the Highest Performance category demonstrated the highest achievement on the CRCT or GHSGT. Awards are granted in four levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.  Autrey Mill received the gold designation this year!

·         Congratulations to our three finalists for teacher of the year.  They are  Gemma DeVita, Marian Edmonds, and Marisa Wesker.

·         Buck Greene, principal at Johns Creek sent the following thank you. In January’s Atlanta Magazine, the annual list of Metro-Atlanta’s 50 Best Public High Schools is featured.  Johns Creek High School is in the Top Ten List at number 8.   “Thank you for the hard work done by all at your schools daily.  These rankings and titles are always a cluster effort!  Please share our pride in everyone at Dolvin, Medlock Bridge, Wilson Creek, Barnwell, River Trail and Autrey Mill for their part in the cluster effort that resulted in the placement in the rankings.  KUDOS! “

·         PRIDE - This week in PRIDE we will continue silent reading in conjunction with test talks.  Remind your students to bring a silent reading book next week as well.  Please make sure all students are participating in silent reading only.  They should not be playing games or any other activities.

·         I will be in Savannah on Friday and Saturday to hear Bel Canto and the orchestra at the GMEA conference.  It is quite an honor for them to be selected to perform and I am very excited to be there to hear them perform.

·         Congratulations to our Academic Bowl Team who finished fifth out of 150 teams and the state semi-finals this past week.  Special thanks to Erin and Rob for the many hours they have spent with our team.

A mighty roar!

·         To Gemma DeVita and the rest of the multicultural night committee for a very fun night on Thursday.  Kudos to Beatriz Gyori  for her outstanding job as MC!

 Where is Livingston?    Wendy Milstead states “This week I am passing Livingston to Ped Hunt.  Ped is such an important member of our school and helps all of us with our technology needs each and every day.  I believe the first time I met Ped was through a to-do list of technology needs for mini-camp and he completed each item with ease and right on time.  Since then, Ped is always willing to lend a hand, track down software, set up a presentation, change out toner, or work on a computer until everything is just right.  His availability, willingness to help (even at a moment’s notice), and patience are greatly appreciated.  We are a technologically active school and Ped has done a great job becoming part of the Autrey Mill team making him deserving of this honor.  Congratulations and thanks for all your help Ped!

We agree! What deserving staff member will he visit next?

Happy Birthday

Diane Merdinger  1/23

Marion Edmonds  1/25

Nasim Kapadia  1/26

Kenny Ludlow 1/27

Ashley Baer 1/28

Barbara Paulson 1/29

Lisa Gasser 1/29