Based on attendance, academic work and their free and reduced lunch program North Birmingham Elementary has earned both state and national honors. Due to their hard work, the neighborhood association presented both students and staff a surprise on Friday.
From moonwalks, to bean bag and relay races... this fun day for these North Birmingham Elementary students - is a reward.
Khalid Cox/5TH GRADER said, "I was so proud and excited, I was like whoa."
Sierra Hall/5TH GRADER said, "All they told us, just wait outside, we have a big surprise."
This fun day is thanks to the North Birmingham Neighborhood Association which collected donations from area companies for prizes and food and then put this whole day together.
Sandra Brown/NORTH BIRMINGHAM NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION said, "We wanted to award the children, as well as the faculty to let them know we appreciate what all they've done for the children."
Nationally, the school has earned the National Center for Urban School Transformation award. One of it's criteria is academic achievement. The school has also been nominated to be an Alabama Torchbearer school. They are high-poverty schools, that become high-performing.
The school’s principal wouldn't say if the awards were bittersweet due to the school closing in a few years - just that the staff learned something invaluable about their students.
Jesse Watts, Jr/NORTH BIRMINGHAM ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL said, "We thought that if we continued to do well, that we could possibly influence that decision to be changed, in the process we found out that even if we didn't stay open that our kids could really do the work."
As students enjoy this 'fun day' the principal looks towards the future, and greater achievements for his kids. Principal Watts told me North Birmingham Elementary is scheduled to close at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.
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