Both of Richmond Public Schools’ Performance Learning Center (PLC) program sites were honored at the National PLC Training Institute in July. The PLC housed at Adult Career and Development Center (ACDC) on Leigh Street won top honors for most improved student attendance, with each student averaging 21 fewer absences
after entering the program. The program housed at the Richmond Technical Center was recognized for having 98 percent (43/44) of its seniors graduate.

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A mass class reunion for the Maggie L. Walker High School classes of 1939-1979 has been set for November 28, 2009. For details, call (804)897-0990 or send an email to mlwreunion2009@verizon.net.

Application packets to attend Maggie Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies and Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology are now available at Richmond City middle schools. Applications are due to middle school guidance counselors by Dec. 1. Letters of acceptance will be mailed in March. For more information, contact Rodney Fout, coordinator of gifted programs, at 780-7805.

Chris Dovi takes a look at Kim Gray’s victory in the 2nd District school board election last week and, with Gray winning all 10 district precincts, calls it “one of the most stunning upsets of the local election”:

“I think if you look at it,” [Goldman] says, “Braxton didn’t run and [Dawson] didn’t win and Pantele is out on City Council and Mayor Wilder realized he didn’t have a chance to win.” He postulates that voters were fed up with politics as usual: “Voters got it. We wanted change.”

In what must be a response to Mark Warner’s endorsement of Kim Gray in her bid for the 2nd District school board seat, the incumbent Lisa Dawson has announced her endorsement by First Lady Anne Holton and Mark Emblidge, Chair of the State Board of Education.

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A 21st Century Community Learning Center grant will be used to continue an after-school and summer science academy for students at G.W. Carver Elementary School. The $194,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Education will fund the school’s DISCO (Discovery, Investigate, Study, Collaborate, Observe) Science Academy for students in grades three through five.

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Fall registration for the Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ After School Programs will take place Sept. 2 through Sept. 5 from school closing to 5:30 p.m. each day. Registration is held in the school cafeterias of the 21 Richmond elementary schools where the program is offered.

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According to a report issued this morning by the VA Dept. of Education, all of the neighborhood schools met the adequate yearly progress (AYP) standards of No Child Left Behind this year, in contrast to 75% statewide and 85% across the city.

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The RTD has a list of people who have already submitted papers with the city’s office of the general registrar indicating that they will run for office this November. Candidates have until June 10th to file. So far, Tyrone Bey is the only candidate for the 2nd District City Council seat being vacated by Pantele in his bid for mayor, and no challengers have stepped forth for 2nd District School Board Representative Lisa Dawson.

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Carver Elementary, along with Albert Hill Middle School, Armstrong High School and the Capital City Program, were the stops on a tour intended to highlight the strengths and successes of the system.

At Carver, the highlights were decidedly user-friendly. Among the many highlights Principal Iris Page touted was the “Reading is Fundamental” program. It encourages students to read more and backs up the challenge with books. In the past three years, students have taken home more than 10,000 free books. [via]

The Maggie Walker Governor’s School finished second in the nation in the recent Knowledge Master Open, a computer-based competition of 748 high schools from 49 states and 6 foreign countries. Out of 2,000 possible points, Maggie Walker’s team finished only 2 points behind the first place team, Bergen County Academies of New Jersey. The Maggie Walker team of 22 students was first for its size division (501-1000). Maggie Walker’s team members who are in the 9th grade competed in the Junior High Division of the KMO competition and finished first in the nation with a score of 1733 (in a field of 136 teams from 31 states and 3 foreign countries). [via]

VCU’s Commonwealth Times profiles the Carver Promise. The Carver Promise is still looking for students to volunteer as mentors for this year. If you can commit for a minimum of one school year and volunteer at least one hour a week, contact Casey Rogers at crogers@carverpromise.org.