Free-For-All Friday 8/25/17
Decatur Metro | August 25, 2017 | 12:32 pmFeel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local issues not yet discussed here over the past week.
7.62 x 39
Oakhurst Porchfest
Oakhurst Porchfest
Phoenix Biking
TOK
The Luggage
Oakhurst Porchfest
The Luggage
Steve
Scott
Steve
Curious
Do anyone’s kids go to McLendon Elementary? I’ve seen discrepancy in the ratings from real estate sites so wanted to see what it was like.
Test scores are fine and I love the neighborhood. I plan to send my son to McLendon.
Interesting. Everywhere else recently rated it at a 1/5. Now some real estate sites are showing it as a 6/10.
The quality of schools is so heavily influenced by perception. Even in Decatur, there’s a sizable achievement gap. I walk by McLendon every day. The kids look happy and the teachers look engaged. I’ve talked to some parents and no one has told me a bad thing about McLendon. One mom I spoke to moved several miles away but was able to let her child finish at McLendon so that’s what she did. I personally think our neighborhood is the best kept secret in DeKalb. No one wants us in a city – too many Democrats, I suspect – and we’re just down the street from Suburban Plaza and Decatur Crossing. There are folks in the neighborhood who flat refuse to send their kids to McLendon based on what its reputation has been in the past, but I get the sense that more and more are moving here because it’s a nice neighborhood with a school you can walk to. Hard to put a price on being able to hold my son’s hand and walk from our house to his class on the first day of Kindergarten.
I seriously know nothing about the reputation or democrats or anything like that. I’ve only driven by it a few times and saw the recent real estate listings show a higher rating than before.
Intown is doing well in general these days.
Two of the sites show 6/10. Two others show 2/10. Just interesting!
In 2017 mclendon students only scored 22% proficiency on math and language arts in ga milestones testing. This was a drop from 2016 scores.
Hoping this will improve. Milestones testing is still kind of new (they change the measuring stick every few years, it seems) and I think half of McLendon’s school population is comprised of English language learners meaning its harder for some lessons taught in English to be reinforced at home. Based on what I’ve seen, the overall trend for the school has been up over the last few years. https://schoolgrades.georgia.gov/mclendon-elementary-school
I am very optimistic about McLendon’s future.
Good points, Dan. While test scores shouldn’t be dismissed entirely, we should keep in mind that they probably reflect more on the economic situation of the children in the schools rather than the quality of the education and the teachers. Over the past 15 years, Decatur school scores have risen and the schools have become overcrowded as people moved into the city and Oakhurst gentrified. But I imagine that the learning experience may have been better for the kids 15 years ago before all the hype, with smaller class sizes and many of the same, great teachers.
As someone who enjoyed smaller CSD schools with lower scores and now is experiencing more crowded CSD schools with more stress, less connectedness, less diversity, and higher scores, I totally prefer the former.
Where do you find this information?
Hey all. Anyone know any fun family activities around and about this weekend? I actually have some free time with the kids and am woefully behind on achieving my goal of becoming a better plan-ahead dad. Many thanks!
Grant Park Summer Shade festival
I don’t have anything for this weekend, but next weekend offers a rare opportunity to see a professionally sung, staged, and beautifully costumed production of Rossini’s “Cinderella” sung in English with subtitles to further enhance understanding. The information is below:
A Tale of Enchantment
In search of a kind woman to be his bride, Prince Ramiro and his valet swap identities to pay a visit to Don Magnifico and his three daughters, Clorinda, Tisbe, and Angelina (Cinderella). Ramiro, disguised as his valet, is enchanted by the beautiful Angelina, who is mistreated by Don Magnifico and her sisters. Later at the Prince’s ball, a gorgeous stranger arrives, horrifying Clorinda and Tisbe who had hoped the Prince would choose one of them to be his wife. Upon leaving the ball early, the lovely stranger leaves the Prince a bracelet with which he can use to later find her. Searching his kingdom, the Prince discovers the identity of the lovely stranger in the most unlikely of places. Gioachino Rossini’s Cinderella, a variation on the classic peasant-girl-becomes-princess love story, combines lively comedy with a poignant tale of the triumph of kindness. This opera is suitable for children, so parents and grandparents bring your little princes and princesses.
Location:
Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Bldg. CF
Perimeter College at Georgia State University – Clarkston campus
3735 Memorial College Ave.
Clarkston, GA 30021
When:
September 10, 2017
Sunday afternoon at 3:00PM (Pre-opera talk at 2:00PM)
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.peachstateopera.org or call Peach State Opera at 678-775-8445. Group rates for 10 or more are $10 plus ticketing fee on ticketing site Xorbia, or on PSO website where you click donate. Tickets will be held at Will Call under group name.
About PSO: Peach State Opera is a touring company that serves small communities in Georgia and surrounding states. The company produces condensed, family-friendly versions of classic operas in English.
Calling all creatives: logo design contest with hyperlocal prize!
Please see http://www.medlockpark.org/2017/07/mana-logo-contest.html
Can anyone recommend an electronics repair shop in the area? Have a broken stereo that I love and need to have fixed.
http://www.neiusa.com/
We just got out much loved and fairly elderly receiver fixed at Audio Lab.
Does anyone know how to reach the baker who used to supply Sawicki’s with those amazing cookies? We really miss the cookies and hope to find out that they are still available through another business or directly from the baker.
I don’t, but I would recommend Jimella’s Bakery as a substitute. Homemade cookie Decatur business, and the cookies are out of this world. You can find them at the Decatur Famer’s Market on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
A Tale of Enchantment
In search of a kind woman to be his bride, Prince Ramiro and his valet swap identities to pay a visit to Don Magnifico and his three daughters, Clorinda, Tisbe, and Angelina (Cinderella). Ramiro, disguised as his valet, is enchanted by the beautiful Angelina, who is mistreated by Don Magnifico and her sisters. Later at the Prince’s ball, a gorgeous stranger arrives, horrifying Clorinda and Tisbe who had hoped the Prince would choose one of them to be his wife. Upon leaving the ball early, the lovely stranger leaves the Prince a bracelet with which he can use to later find her. Searching his kingdom, the Prince discovers the identity of the lovely stranger in the most unlikely of places. Gioachino Rossini’s Cinderella, a variation on the classic peasant-girl-becomes-princess love story, combines lively comedy with a poignant tale of the triumph of kindness. This opera is suitable for children, so parents and grandparents bring your little princes and princesses.
Location:
Cole Auditorium, Fine Arts Bldg. CF
Perimeter College at Georgia State University – Clarkston campus
3735 Memorial College Ave.
Clarkston, GA 30021
When:
September 10, 2017
Sunday afternoon at 3:00PM (Pre-opera talk at 2:00PM)
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.peachstateopera.org or call Peach State Opera at 678-775-8445. Group rates for 10 or more are $10 plus ticketing fee on ticketing site Xorbia, or on PSO website where you click donate. Tickets will be held at Will Call under group name.
About PSO: Peach State Opera is a touring company that serves small communities in Georgia and surrounding states. The company produces condensed, family-friendly versions of classic operas in English.
Does anyone know if the city police department has the “Safe Zone” spots for Craigslist meetups? I normally wouldn’t care but this is a pricier item. Thanks!
Yes, the Police station is designated for this purpose.
You could call 404-373-6551 and let them know you’re coming. In addition to the parking lot, there is a conference room in the lobby.