Get On The Bus!

I’m kicking off the first day of school with a bus ride to Bethune Elementary School.

I am so excited that I was finally able to visit Bethune Elementary School. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary is a part of the Vine City community, located near the Atlanta University Center and across from the Georgia World Congress Center. 

Last school year, Bethune partnered with radio personality Derrick Boazman, who brought the REAL Men Read program to the school.  More than 40 successful men from the Atlanta community visited Bethune to read and mentor students.  The mentors shared details about their careers in architecture, engineering, law, professional boxing and transportation with students.

This year, for the first day of school, we partnered with the Georgia Aquarium and Deepo (who looks exactly like Dora from Finding Nemo) and Captain Planet from the Captain Planet Foundation to welcome the students and their families as students entered the school. Attendance is very important all over the district and Bethune is a school where we need to dramatically increase attendance here at the beginning of the school year. Please promote good attendance every day!!!

I was able to interview the new Bethune principal,  Ms. Burnette, in the spring and recommend her. She is also very excited to join the Bethune team.  Did you know that before she became a teacher and principal, she served in the United States Airforce?  Thank you for your service to our country and welcome to Bethune Principal Burnette!

Thank you to all of the school board members who worked hard with us to get this school year off to a good start. While I know it was really hard to do, some were able to postpone the start of their day to help us at Bethune. It was great to see Board Chair English and Board Members Esteves, Briscoe-Brown and Amos there this morning!

Fast Facts:  Bethune has 550 students and their mascot is the Eagle. I was able to read the Eagle Pledge with Principal Burnette at the start of the school day.

Fun Fact:  The earliest residents of Vine City were immigrants from France, Germany and Ireland.  In 1967, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family moved to Vine City at 234 Sunset Ave.   

I will keep checking in with Bethune as we work with the school community to further promote attendance.

Finally, as a reminder to all parents, caregivers  and visitors to school today, please do not block the parking and streets or leave your cars unattended. It is important that our buses stay on time today.

Off to Price Middle School – Home of the Wildcats!

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