Greetings Everyone and Happy New Year!

Selma City School System is joining all the public schools sys-

tems across the state in the celebration of School Board Member

Recognition Month. Join us in honoring local board members

for their commitment to the children of Selma.

It takes strong schools to build a strong community, and board members de-

vote countless hours to make sure our schools are working effectively to help

every student learn at a high level. They make tough decisions every month,

spend many hours of study, and participate in many hours of training on edu-

cational issues and regulations in order to provide the oversight and accounta-

bility our citizens expect.

Let us show our appreciation to school board members not only during the

month of January but throughout the year!

The key work of school boards is to raise student achievement by:

Supporting the shared vision and mission of the school system and making

student achievement a top priority

Creating a safe, orderly climate where students can learn and teachers can

teach

Ensuring progress is measured towards the achievement of school system

goals and students are learning at expected levels

Being accountable for their decisions and actions by continually tracking

and reporting results

Aligning the system’s resources—human and financial—around its im-

provement goals

Focusing efforts and attention on the need for continuous improvement.

Selma City School System Newsletter January 2016

Selma City School Board

Mr. Henry Hicks, Sr

President

Mrs. Brenda Randolph-Obomanu

District 2 /Vice President

Dr. Kirit Chapatwala

District 1

Mr. Frank Chestnut, Jr

District 3

Dr. Udo Ufomadu

District 4

TRANSFORMING LIVES

Dr. Angela Mangum, Superintendent

The members of the Selma City School System Board of Education are:

Henry Hicks, Sr., Board President 6 Years of Service

Brenda Randolph Obomanu, Vice President 6 Years of Service

Dr. Kirit D. Chapatwala 12 Years of Service

Frank Chestnut, Jr. 6 Years of Service

Dr. Udo Ufomadu 8 Years of Service

Improving the culture and climate in Selma City Schools

WE THANK OUR SELMA CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALL THEY DO TO HELP IMPROVE THE CLIMATE AND CULTURE IN SELMA CITY

DISTRICT 2 - BRENDA RANDOLPH-OBOMANU, VICE PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 3 - MR. FRANK CHESTNUT

MR. HENRY HICKS, PRESIDENT

DISTRICT 1 - DR. KIRIT CHAPATWALA

Mr. Henry Hicks, School Board President, was the inaugural speaker for the Village Voices

program at R. B. Hudson Middle School . He shared a “Thought for the Day” with students as

part of the Villages Voices Selma City Schools initiative. President Hicks shared with students

his motto for Selma City Schools: “aiming for excellence”.

Village Voices promotes community engagement in Selma Schools. Community leaders rec-

ord inspiring messages which are played throughout the month on the school intercom system during the morning

announcement. We appreciate President Hicks’ leadership. Thank you for all that you do!

Ms. Brenda Randolph-Obomanu is always seen supporting the athletes at Selma

High School and R. B. Hudson Middle School. She attended a wonderful Football

Banquet at R. B. Hudson that was sponsored by the parents.

The banquet had an awesome speaker, her son, Benjamin Obomanu. One of Mrs.

Obomanu’s favorite quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. states, “The function of

education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically”.

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Mrs. Obomanu feels honored to serve her commu-

nity as a school board member and other community service organizations

The Cougars of Cedar Park were delighted to have a Selma City School Board Member attend

their annual Fall Festival. Dr. Chapatwala visited the campus and participated in the Fall Festi-

val games such as Toss the Ring, BINGO, bowling, and many more.

While on campus, Dr. Chapatwala had the opportunity to reminiscence with a former student of

his, April Kimbrough. April Kimbrough is a fifth grade teacher at Cedar Park. Dr. Chapatwala

and Mrs. Kimbrough enjoyed reflecting on memories of the past and Dr. Chapatwala had the opportunity to meet

members of Mrs. Kimbrough's family. Cedar Park's Fall Festival was without a doubt a joyous occasion that allowed

for fellowship amongst students, faculty, family members and stakeholders of Selma City Schools. Goo Cougars Go!

District 3 board member Frank Chestnut, Jr. made a monetary donation to the stu-

dents of School of Discovery Genesis Center.

When asked, “Why SOD?”, Chestnut answered, “I wanted to contribute to a school

that serves all of our children and SOD meets that criterion.”

He later collaborated with SOD’s administrative team to discuss the most meaningful way to utilize the funds. After

analyzing current data, it was agreed that SOD’s discipline, in particular amongst the school’s male population, need-

ed to be, and will be intentionally targeted using a motivational incentive program. SOD is elated to have Chestnut’s

continued support.

The International Paper Riverdale Mill recently awarded

the Selma City School System and seven employees with

International Paper Foundation grants totaling over

$20,000.00 . Funding of the International Paper Foun-

dation grant must fall in one of the following categories:

Environmental Education, Literacy Education, Critical

Community Need or Employee Involvement. Grant recipients are:

Selma City Schools - General Operations - $2,500.00 Robin Hyche - Cedar Park Elementary School - $750.00 - "Garden in a

Tub" Reginald Glover - School of Discovery - $5,000.00 - "Read and Soar" Katrina Smith - Selma High School - $2,953.00 - "SMART Financial Lit-

eracy" Jennifer Hyche - Clark Elementary School - $3,000.00 - "Early Literacy" Krystal Dozier - Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School - $2,000.00 - "A

Night to Remember" Darla Day - Sophia P. Kingston Elementary School - $2,500.00 - "We Can

Read"

INTERNATIONAL PAPER GRANT RECIPIENTS

SUPER CITIZENS!

Congratulations to these super citizens who were

honored at the Legacy Celebration.

Second Grade

Cedar Park Ms. Octavia McBride

Mrs. Judy Cole

Clark Mr. Miree

Mr. James Murphy Ms. Jackson

Mr. Michael Steele

Edgewood Ms. Barbara Caffey Ms. Mable McBride

Ms. Veronica Burton

Knox Mr. Ronald Lane

Ms. Valencia Bolton

Meadowview Mr. Terrence Venter Mr. DaRon Watters

Mr. Murphy Holbrook

Payne Mr. Michael Powell Pastor John Grayson

Mrs. Phyllis Jones

Kingston Ms. Hiawatha Hunter

Mr. Henry Allen Mr. Robert L. Carter

Fifth Grade Torch Team

Cedar Park

Mr Adrian Ware

Clark Ms. Diane Bell

Mr. Jessie Johnson Mr. Ed Miree

Edgewood

Ms. Jasmine Davis Ms. Mark Joe

Knox

Ms. Jacqueline Menifee

Meadowview Ms. Khadjah Ishaq

Ms. Rita L. Carmichael

Payne Mr. Chad McEachran

DISTRICT 4- DR. UDO UFAMADU

IMPROVING THE CULTURE AND CLIMATE IN SELMA CITY SCHOOLS

Dr. Ufomadu made surprise visits to R. B. Hudson and Knox

Elementary in order to reward the high academic achieve-

ment of R. B. Hudson students Aaliyah Carter and Travion

Johnson and Knox student Hannah Cottingham.

Students were presented with a monetary gift and an au-

tographed copy of Dr. Ufomadu’s latest book.

Aaliyah Carter has the highest grade point average in sev-

enth grade and Travion Johnson has the highest average in

eighth grade at R. B. Hudson Middle School. Knox’s highest achieving student, Han-

nah Cottingham, is in Ms. Bennett's fifth grade class.

Dr. Ufomadu also gave a donation for a trip to take the top 30 R. B. Hudson Acceler-

ated Readers to a Biscuit Baseball game in Montgomery in the spring. Thank you for

all that you do for Team Hudson and Knox Elementary!

8TH ANNUAL GEARING UP FOR COLLEGE WORKSHOP

Council President Corey D. Bowie is sponsoring the workshop

Monday, February 1, 2016 at the Carl Morgan Convention Center

at 6:00 p.m. to inform juniors, seniors, and parents about the enrollment process of

colleges. Career Link and military branches will be represented.

Questions: Ms. Temekia Sykes at 874-1234 or councilsecretary@selma-al.gov.

Byrd First Class Early Learning Center cele-brates the holiday by transforming into the Polar Express. “All Aboard!” ex-claimed Mr. English as students climbed on the Polar Express at Byrd First Class Early Learning Center Thurs-day, December 17th. The bells and whistles of a train echoed through the halls and students and staff came dressed in cozy pajam-as prepared for a day of fun. Train tickets were taken up by the con-ductor as students en-tered the library for a showing of the Polar Express movie. To top off the day the students enjoyed warm cocoa and cookies. The event was a great way to send students home for the holidays.

Selma City Schools, 2104 Broad Street, Selma, AL. 36701 - (334)874-1600

THE CEDAR PARK COUGARS hosted their first annual

Cedar Park Family day during December and it was a

HUGE success.

The faculty, staff and students invited members of their

families to join them for a delicious lunch and entertainment provided by Cedar

Park’s finest. Family and friends joined in the merriment as Christmas carols played

while savoring the delicious lunch provided by Mrs. Rena Kimbrough and staff.

The Cougars also held a ceremony to recognize the students’ accomplishments. Ce-

dar Park enjoyed celebrating success and parental involvement in Cougar Territory.

Gooo Cougars, Go! Ride with Pride!

ALL ABOARD!

PRINCIPAL BARUTI KAFELE SPEAKS ON ATTITUDE GAP

Principal Kafele is known for his candor and straight-to-the-

point talk. He spoke to Selma City School personnel about clos-

ing the “attitude gap.” His self proclaimed title gives indication

of his connection to culture and climate transformation. Along

with his positive and truthful story line of his own personal re-

demption, he passed the torch on to administrators for the next

leg of the race to close the “attitude gap.” In addition to that, he left an inspiring task

for all of us to embrace and emulate, so are you ready for the challenge Selma City?

MEADOWVIEW ELEMENTARY

Culture Exchange

Fifth grade students participated in a Culture

Exchange activity to learn about the im-

portance of other cultures.

Students brought food from various counties

and ate with the utensils according to their

culture.

KNOX STUDENT NEWSLETTER Students at Knox Elementary created a won-

derful student newsletter, The Tigers’ Den.

Included in the newsletter are excellent arti-

cles, a movie review, student-created games,

interviews, and creative writing pieces.

Well done Knox Elementary!