From Ms. Lisa Gordon – Co President of Shamrock Middle Schools PTA (via Clairmont Heights Civic Association)…

There is a proposal to evaluate a name change for Shamrock Middle School (SMS) to change it to Druid Hills MS (DHMS) to acknowledge that in 2004 SMS became a single feeder to Druid Hills High School (DHHS) which significantly strengthened the relationship between the two schools in academics and athletics; that in 2008 SMS followed the lead of DHHS and became an International Baccalaureate school; that several SMS sports teams are already named after DHHS and wear red-and-black and part of the MS is already painted in DHHS colors such as the dugout behind the school; and that this follows the naming convention of 11 of the other 18 middle schools in the County which are named after their high schools. The proposed name change is expected to increase school spirit and enhance and clarify the relationship between the two schools .

More info about the proposed change can be found on the Clairmont Heights website.

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!

Photo Courtesy of the AJC

The AJC reports that this house, which abuts Druid Hills High School property on Westminister Way, has been bought up by the school as it plans a $21 million expansion.  This move has residents understandably worried about the school’s future plans for the site, but the school system isn’t saying much.

And just an item of clarification….The article states that the neighborhood is a National Register district, but that residents are worried that the school system is “exempt” and could tear the house down to build a road or tennis courts.  Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but a National Register district doesn’t physically protect anything in a district.  All it can do is throw up a whole lot of red tape around any project that receives federal funding.  Most often this applies to DOT.  If you want blanket physical protection from anyone, you have to be a local historic district.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this project (regardless of whether it happens or not) prompts the creation of a local district in this neighborhood posthaste.