District Dispatch w/ Kimberly Wright

Welcome aboard the District Dispatch, where we navigate the currents of education each week, spotlighting the stories, challenges, and triumphs shaping our school district.

Let’s get into it!

The Muscogee County School District (MCSD) values its partnerships with various community organizations, all committed to empowering students through resources and encouragement. MCSD deeply appreciates the support of these community partners in fostering student success.

The Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2024 Partners in Education (PIE)  Awards last week, and MCSD celebrates four of our award-winning schools:

• Aaron Cohn Middle School – Project of the Year: “Moon Pi Night”
• Fox Elementary School – Partnership of the Year Runner-Up

Partners: The Mill District, Brookstone School, Burger King, and The Food Mill.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School – Partnership of the Year

Partners: United Way, Aflac, Oxbow Meadows, Parent Volunteers, The Mission Continues, CSU Math Collaborative, and the Coca-Cola Space Science Museum.

• South Columbus Elementary School – Project of the Year Runner Up “Reader’s First” Project

DID YOU KNOW?

MCSD has an award-winning Culinary Team! Yes, the Muscogee County Nutrition Association Culinary team won first place in all three categories at the MSNA Culinary Competition and the 3rd District Culinary Competition in March.

1st Place Lunch Entrée’- Shirley Hicks (Aaron Cohn Middle)

1st Place Lunch Vegetable Side Dish- Cynthia Snowden (Hardaway High)

1st Place Dessert- Dale Allen (Waddell Elementary)

I will definitely be making my rounds to these schools to taste some of these award-winning lunch entrées! They look yummy!

On another note, beginning in August 2024, MCSD will join the remaining school districts in the state of Georgia to implement academic screening to identify students with characteristics of dyslexia and other reading difficulties in kindergarten through 3rd grade, as required by Georgia Senate Bill 48. The purpose of dyslexia screening is to provide appropriate instructional support to students showing signs of reading difficulty as early as possible to help them become successful readers. 

Be on the lookout for more information this summer about this state-wide initiative.

Let’s talk about our outstanding student achievement this week!

A BIG shoutout to Downtown Elementary students who represented in the “POSITIVELY” Phenix City Gobling Rally race. Out of 15 teams, Downtown made it to the top 10 with excellence! GO, Downtown Challengers!

Six of Spencer High School’s JROTC Cadets had an amazing experience participating in the Georgia Service Academy Day. They got a chance to meet Senators Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and Representative Rich McCormick. They took their first steps to a possible nomination to one of the five Service Academies (West Point, Annapolis, the Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, and the Merchant Marine Academy). This is only the beginning; you guys can and will achieve your chosen paths. Keep going, never stop!

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Student Services hosted its yearly 180-Degree Awards Program, a fantastic initiative spearheaded by Dr. Angela Vickers-Ward, our Chief of Student Services, in collaboration with one of our community partners, Dr. Gail Burgos, CEO of Girls, Inc. The aim is to acknowledge and motivate students who have made a remarkable turnaround in their academic journey.

180-Degree Award of the Year

Elementary

• Troy Em’Markus Tubbs – J. D. Davis Elementary – 5th grade
• Jadarius Marquez Anderson – Lonnie Jackson Elementary – 5th grade

Middle

• Maliyah Deshanti Ford – Eddy Middle – 8th grade

High 

• Samuel Richard Lowery – Shaw High – 12th grade

Let’s continue supporting and empowering our students on their journey, celebrating every milestone along the way. Their future accomplishments hold endless possibilities, and seeing how they’ll flourish and make their mark on the world is exciting!

Big shoutout to my alma mater, Kendrick High School, as they celebrated the ribbon cutting of their brand new school store, “Cherokee Corner”! Calling all Kendrick alumni, let’s show our support for Cherokee Corner by dropping by to snag some awesome Cherokee gear!

Attention Parents!!!!

Remember, Online Registration is ongoing! Register TODAY!

Also, you will also have to register for transportation, so stay tuned for more information! 

Thank you for checking out this week’s District Dispatch! We hope you found our insights informative and inspiring. We’ll be back next week with more insightful stories and updates from the heart of education. See you next week!

– Kimberly Wright