From Principal Lauri McKain’s “Bloggin’ Bulldog” blog…

Georgia State School Superintendent Dr. John D. Barge announced AP Honor Schools, which included Decatur High School.

“Georgia continues to see positive trends in Advanced Placement – not only in the number of students taking the courses, but in the number of students having success,” Barge said. “Much of the progress we’re seeing in Georgia can be attributed to our AP Honor Schools.”

Decatur High School was named an AP Challenge School and an AP Stem Achievement School for its success last school year.

Advanced Placement Challenge Schools are schools with fewer than 900 students with students testing in the four core areas of English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. Advanced Placement Stem Achievement Schools are schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses, and at least 40 percent of the exam scores on AP math and AP science exams are 3 or higher.

h/t: Dwellings via Twitter

MARTA is designing new 30th anniversary maps and posters for all the avid MARTA fans out there.  Above is just one of six entries being considered for wider distribution.  Check out all six options on their Facebook page.

The Decatur Education Foundation sends along this alert…

Online registration for Tour deCatur is now OPEN!

It’s time. Time to register for the 9th annual Tour deCatur Road Race! This year we are thrilled to have Mizuno as our presenting sponsor. Visit our newly launched website www.decatureducationfoundation.org for info and online registration. New this year, register a team of 6 and compete for special team prizes. Every dollar raised helps provide opportunities for the children of our community. See you there!

Also new this year, we are excited to be part of the inaugural year of Decatur’s Grand Slam Fitness Challenge that encourages Decatur community members to walk/run year round. In September, the City formed Team Decatur to participate in the annual Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk and received the Most Fit City award! Decatur Active Living wants to keep the city fit and has offered a new challenge to both runners and walkers. Register for and participate in four out of six upcoming Decatur-based races (Tour deCatur qualifies) in 2011, and hit a “Grand Slam.” For more information about how Tour deCatur will help you achieve a GRAND SLAM in fitness, visit http://beactivedecatur.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/grand-slam-fitness-challenge.

I inquired with the City of Decatur yesterday if the Decatur Diner had been issued a Certificate of Occupancy yet – the final legal hurdle before an establishment can open.  I was told that the Diner only had to install their alarm system and receive final approval from the Fire Marshall and Health Department and they would be issued their CO.  This is leagues closer than the last time I asked about a month ago, when I was told that most of the final inspections hadn’t even been requested yet.

And then there’s this comment posted last night from someone claiming to be the Diner’s chef, promising to give us his recipes if they don’t open by February 18th.

So throw this report on the pile and take it for what it’s worth!

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not discussed here over the past week.

Comments close on Monday.