Renfroe Middle School is getting in on the gardening craze.

Barrett writes in that the Decatur school with host “Renfroe Volunteer Garden Day” on March 27th at 10am, behind the old gym, to cultivate the beginnings of a new garden on school property.

According to Barrett, “The project is a collaboration between Renfroe, Project R.E.A.L., and the Oakhurst Community Garden. Project R.E.A.L. is the after-school program at Renfroe which is run by the City of Decatur.”

Photo above: Renfroe students planting seeds that will be transferred to the garden in April. (courtesy of Barrett)

Decatur edTV is reporting Renfroe Middle School Principal Bruce Roaden announced last night to the Renfroe Student Leadership Team that he has been tapped as the school system’s new Community Relations & School Leadership Team Director.

Writes Andrea at edTV…

Roaden will continue to be the RMS principal until 12 noon each day and then head over to his new job based at the CSD’s District office at Westchester.

…CSD Board Chair Valarie Wilson says Roaden has done a wonderful job increasing student achievement and earning the respect of teachers and staff during his three-year tenure at Renfroe. “This new position will expand his leadership role in our community,” Wilson told Decatur EDtv, “as he interacts with the public on behalf of the City Schools of Decatur.”

Welcome to the wonderful world of school communication Bruce!

Renfroe just keeps racking up the awards.

In mid-December, Renfroe Principal Bruce Roaden received a letter from the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement that Renfroe Middle School had received a 2009 Single Statewide Accountability System Platinum Award “for making great gains in student achievement.”  It was one of only nine middle schools in the state of Georgia to receive the top award handed out by SSAS.

According to the letter, schools must meet three criteria in order to receive an “impressive” platinum award.

1. Make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 3 consecutive years
2. Demonstrate that at least 35% of students exceed standards in all test areas as measured by state assessments
3. Place 98th percentile or higher statewide in greatest student achievement gains.

Renfroe will receive a “recognition banner” to display at the school.

Thanks to Middle School Physics Teacher Kris Webb for sending along the note and congrats to Principal Roaden and all Renfroe teachers, staff and students on their growing pile accolades!

Just released by CSD’s Maria Lewis…

Decatur, GA (2009) – State School Superintendent Kathy Cox recently recognized 27 schools from across the state as Georgia Schools of Excellence for the 2009 school year. Among these schools, Carl G. Renfroe Middle School was honored as one of 13 schools that have exhibited the greatest gains in student achievement over the past 5 years. Student achievement was measured through assessments in the areas of reading and mathematics.

“I am so incredibly proud of the teachers, staff and students of Renfroe Middle School for their good hard work that gave us the opportunity to be named a Georgia School of Excellence!,” said Renfroe Principal Bruce Roaden. “Only eight middle schools in the state were awarded with this honor. I am so pleased that the things we do on behalf of our students every day have been recognized.”

Georgia Schools of Excellence winners are honored in two categories, “Greatest Gains” and “Top 10%”. All of the 2009 Georgia Schools of Excellence will be honored at a banquet on February 5th at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park.

UPDATE: Here’s a report from Asst. Superintendent Thomas van Soelen…

A person entered the building and after repeated requests to leave, would not. Police needed to help the person leave the premises. Students were safely dismissed at that time.

Laura forwards this note from the CSD website…

On Wednesday afternoon, Renfroe Middle School was placed on temporary lockdown while police addressed a disruptive adult on the school premises who subsequently required medical attention for an injured foot. At no time during the lockdown were students in any danger. Students were dismissed at 4:00 p.m.

Um…OK.  I’m trying to get more detail from CSD and DPD.

Pic Courtesy of GA Conservancy

According to the AJC, a group of students at Renfroe Middle School took first place in the Georgia Conservancy’s annual Youth Environmental Symposium, claiming an $1,000 prize.

From the Georgia Conservancy’s website…

Renfroe Middle School in Decatur, Ga., took top prize in this year’s Youth Environmental Symposium, held on Feb. 27, 2009. For their environmental project, Renfroe students hosted a 2nd Annual Global Warming Action Conference to create awareness in the community of the effects of climate change. They also created infomercials, experiment demonstrations and carbon footprint calculations. Congratulations to Renfroe Middle School!

Renfroe beat out second-place Druid Hills High School for the award.  Get that?  Our MIDDLE school beat out the neighboring HIGH school.

Nice work kids!

Trolling the CSD agenda website – which can be kind of confusing to the uninitiated, but has lots of great info – I found this letter that the superintendent recently wrote to Rep. Hank Johnson soliciting a portion of any future federal infrastructure money to renovate Renfroe and 5th Avenue Elementary.

As many of us are already aware, the Renfroe renovation would be used to build a new 4th/5th wing and renovate much of the current structure. According to the letter, 5th Avenue Elementary would be used as a “combination building which would house a Career Tech Academy and an Early Childhood Learning Center.”

UPDATE: Click here to view the conceptual plans for the Renfroe expansion and the conceptual plan for 5th Ave.