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On January 20, we launched the “Show Up!” campaign with a District Signing Day to encourage students, faculty and staff to be present and engaged each and every day. Watch the program above!

During its regular monthly meeting on January 19, 2023, the Bibb County Board of Education elected its slate of officers for the 2023 calendar year. Juawn Jackson was elected to the role of President, with Myrtice C. Johnson set to serve as Vice President and Kristin Hanlon elected Treasurer. To read more, click here. To read bios for each Board member, click here.

Superintendent Dr. Dan A. Sims surprised middle school students around the district by letting them know they are REACH Scholars! Take a look at how that went with the video above.

A REACH Scholars Signing Day was held on January 30 for each new REACH Scholar and their parent to sign a commitment to the program. Congratulations to Darrell Bell Jr., Appling Middle School; Taleeyah McCrea, Ballard-Hudson Middle School; Yazmine Simms, Howard Middle School; Aiden Elise Redding, Miller Magnet Middle School; A'Miracle Stubbs, Rutland Middle School; and Montaevious Howard, Weaver Middle School!

The REACH Scholarship Program was launched in 2012 and is a needs-based mentorship and scholarship program designed to encourage students, starting in middle school, to persist in their educational pursuits. Students are provided with the academic, social and financial support needed to graduate from high school, attend college, achieve post-secondary success and be prepared for the 21st century workforce.

The REACH Foundation provides 75 percent of the funding for the scholarships and local school districts must raise the remainder. This means that upon their graduation from a Bibb County high school, each REACH Scholar will receive a $10,000 scholarship for college. Some partnering colleges and universities in Georgia will even match or double-match this amount for REACH Scholars.

The Bibb County School District’s Strategic Planning Design Team began working with Engage2Learn on Tuesday, January 24, and Wednesday, January 25. Design Team members represent various stakeholder groups, including parents, students, teachers, principals, assistant principals, district leadership, and community partners. During the next few months, the team will work together to develop a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that will help shape the future of Bibb County Schools. To read more, click here.

Union Elementary celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Bibb County School District with a FUN Dance Party on January 20. They enjoyed a perfect day to go outside and dance with friends, teachers, parents, principal, and even newly elected School Board President Juwan Jackson.

Veterans Elementary School students experienced social studies content through a traveling exhibit shared by Kennesaw State University! Students gained knowledge and experienced displays from a community partner in learning. The goal was to expose students to content through various modes of knowledge transmission. The standing exhibits covered the following topics:

• Beyond Rosie

• Never Forget: An Introduction to the Holocaust

• Tuskegee Airmen

• Tragedy of War: Japanese American Internment

• World War II: The War That Changed the World

Student leaders were there to offer more information about the exhibits as well!

Westside High School hosted a ribbon-cutting for the new tennis center on its campus. This center is home to six new courts, bleachers, sheltered areas and even pickleball markings on some of the courts.

"I know athletics saved me as a kid, and I'm just glad that we have this opportunity today," said Westside athletic director Dr. Candice Roberson. This project was completed by Sheridan Construction.

Matilda Hartley Elementary School held a ribbon cutting for the Little Free Library at the school! The Little Free Library allows students to borrow books to read at any time by simply walking up and choosing one from the shelves.

Community partners are invited to donate their favorite books to the library, which is part of the school’s selection for the Impact Library Award, which funded this Little Free Library.

The District officially opened the new barn for the agriculture departments at Rutland High School and Rutland Middle School. This barn was funded through the American Recovery Plan and will support an ongoing partnership with Newberry Dairy as well as other livestock initiatives.

"We're not just here to cut a ribbon on a building," said Rutland High Principal Dr. Wendy Pooler. "We're here to signify that an investment has been made for our students."

The agriculture programs at Rutland are a continuation of a sustained effort throughout the schools in the Lower Bibb County zone. The barn was designed and built by SP Design Group Architects & Engineers and ICB Construction Group.

January is National Mentor Month. The Mentor's Project of Bibb County held a news conference to recognize National Mentoring Month. With the support of Anita R. Howard, District Attorney, Macon Judicial Circuit and others, Director June O'Neal highlighted the importance of new mentors joining the cause. https://www.mentorsprojectbibb.org/ for more information.

Each year, students participate in various competitions and exhibitions as part of the Career, Technical and Agricultural Education program. In honor of the upcoming celebrations of February as National CTAE Month, at this time, we’d like you to view this highlight video prepared by CTAE students and instructors, which features our FFA students.

Administration of school athletic departments requires more work than most people realize. Beyond coaching duties, athletic directors are tasked with making sure protocols are being followed with regard to rosters, practices and more. Recently, Southwest High School athletic director and football coach Joseph Dupree Jr. was recognized as the Region 2-AA Athletic Director of the Year for his leadership with the Patriots’ athletic program.

The Georgia Association of Conservation Districts hosts an annual poster contest to provide students the opportunity to have their artwork displayed as part of a national initiative. This year’s theme was “Healthy Soil, Healthy Life.” Vineville Academy of the Arts third grader Aji Wright was selected as the statewide winner in the second- and third-grade category. Aji’s work reflected the specific role that quality soil plays in the life cycle for plants and humans as an extension.

National Beta provides opportunities for students to be enriched and recognized for their academic achievement. This effort requires adult leadership at every level, from local school chapters all the way up to the national organization. Recently, Bernd Elementary School academic coach Christi Williford was installed as a Georgia Junior Beta State Sponsor. This role will require her to help host the state convention over the next two years, as well as presiding over meetings and other duties.

Additionally, Jr. Beta students from District schools compete in a variety of disciplines against students from across the state as part of state Jr. Beta Convention. This year, several students from Bernd and Springdale elementary schools placed high enough in these competitions to qualify for national competition in Louisville, Kentucky, this June. These students participated in the state convention, located in Savannah, both in person and virtually.

BERND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Ben Shoultz, Naomi Pope, Allanah Ware, Passion Solomon - Musicology, Third Place

Ben Shoultz, Messiah Brown, Grace Sinyard, Passion Solomon - Quiz Bowl, Fourth Place

Naomi Pope - Spelling Bee, Fourth Place, Bernd

SPRINGDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Addie May, Lorelai Wall, Siler Hall - Book Battle, First Place

Siler Hall - Fifth Grade Language Arts, Second Place

Ashley Ouyang - Onsite Art Painting, Second Place

Corbin Pendergrass - Performing Arts Vocalist, First Place

Addie May, Lorelai Wall, Piper Reynolds, Ethan Spann - Quiz Bowl, Second Place

Tucker Gilbert - Fourth Grade Science, Fifth Place

Ray Timmerman - Fourth Grade Social Studies, Third Place

Proper implementation of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports initiative has been a central part of what we do as a District. Each year, schools are recognized by PBIS for various levels of achievement, with Distinguished School being the highest honor. This year, 18 Bibb County schools were honored as PBIS Distinguished Schools, which reflects exemplary PBIS implementation, as exemplified through data review, school visits and more. Additionally, three of just seven high schools that received this honor statewide are located in Bibb County.

Alexander II Magnet School

Bruce Elementary School

Carter Elementary School

Central High School

Elam Alexander Academy at Burke

Elam Alexander Academy at Southwest

Hartley Elementary School

Ingram-Pye Elementary School

John R. Lewis Elementary School

Taylor Elementary School

Rutland High School

Skyview Elementary School

SOAR Academy

Southwest High School

Union Elementary School

Veterans Elementary School

Vineville Academy of the Arts

W.S. Hutchings College and Career Academy

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School hosted its Leadership Day for Leader in Me. This was an excellent opportunity for District leaders, administrators from other schools, parents and community partners to use their “Passport Around the World” to see what “Adventure Awaits” at MLK!

VISION: Each student will demonstrate strength of character and will be college or career ready.

MISSION: The Bibb County School District develops a highly trained staff and an engaged community dedicated to educating each student for a 21st century global society.

COMMUNICATE WITH US: Send us a message or question through Let's Talk!

Website: www.bcsdk12.net
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Twitter: @bibbschools