New Feature

A new community forum is available at The Jefferson Park Hub. 

Across the new top of the blog is a link to this new feature, called "What's on your mind." Using the sign in from either Facebook or other social media sites, a community of people can chat, post questions, offer helpful answers. 

I've started one question about the upcoming Taste of the Tri-Cities. Add your two cents.

High school happenings

Looking for something new, different tonight, wander to the Tri-Cities High School on Harris Street.

Tonight is the International Taste Festival: A TCHS Extravaganza. 

It runs from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Main Street Academy gets state OK, opens in the fall

There will be a new education option for Tri-City parents with school age youngsters

The state Board of Education Thursday, March 11, gave its approval to the charter school that will serve the East Point, Hapeville and College Park. 

Organizers announced:

State Approval

We are now official...today, The Main Street Academy charter petition has been approved by the State Department of Education!
With approximately 4 years in the making, countless hours of hard work and several obstacles along the way, The Main Street Academy will finally open its doors this Fall.  This is only the beginning of our journey together.  We need all of you (parents, community leaders and concerned citizens) to join in and help our school succeed. 
Thanks to all of you who have participated in our events and fundraisers, volunteered your time and shared your ideas.  All of these things have helped to get us where we are and are critical elements to ensuring a bright future for TMSA.
Pre-Enrolled families will be contacted soon with enrollment information and timing, and we will post the enrollment period on our website.  Please stay tuned.
Thank you for your continued support of TMSA!

See the Web site for more information: http://www.tricitiescharter.com

New starts in East Point--UPDATE

UPDATE -- Jan 8:  Things are looking up at Tri-Cities High School.
The AJC profiled its principal Eldrick Horton. 

The 1,800-student school this year met federal testing goals; SAT scores have increased 72 points over the last two years. From the Horton-instituted "welcome desk" out front -- where no visitor waits more than five minutes to get an answer -- to newly organized teacher, parent and student resource rooms, the man spends 12 or more hours a day on campus and says he wouldn't trade it for the world.

Read more here.



--
East Point news owned the front page of the Metro section of Monday's AJC.

On the politics beat, Mayor-elect Earnestine Pittman comes out with a take-no-prisoner's stance:

"A new mayor and new direction for East Point begins Monday night in East Point.
Candidate Earnestine Pittman was openly critical of the financial recovery plan touted by then-mayor Joe Macon and city Manager Crandall O. Jones.
As mayor, Pittman is expected to touch on her doubts about the success of that plan – which city officials last week showed would put the city in the black for 2009 – following a swearing-in ceremony tonight.
“I really do not have faith in the financial reports that are being given,” the 63-year-old former math teacher said. “I am waiting for the reports from outside auditors to get a real idea of what is going on.”

To keep your finger on the pulse of city politics news, read the rest here.

The new city council and mayor take the oath of office and hold its first meeting today at 6:30 p.m. at Tri-Cities High School.

On the education beat, there is a new attitude at the high school in the neighborhood's backyard. There is a profile of the principal of Tri-Cities High, Eldrick H. Horton. The school has recently seen an upswing in SAT scores and improved morale among parents, faculty and students. (I'll post the link when if it goes online.)

Winter concert at Tri-Cities

"Believe in the Miracles of the Holiday Season" by the Tri-Cities High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program.

Tonight at 7 p.m.

Holiday sounds to uplift and inspire, touch and warm your soul.

Featuring Tri-Cities High School's:

• Advanced Mixed Chorus
• Women's Chorus
• Women's Chamber Ensemble with performances by Tri-Stars 
• Repertory Dance Ensemble
• Concert Band
• Wind Ensemble
  

$3 for students and $5 for adults

Tri-Cities High School Fine Arts Theatre
2575 Harris Street East Point, GA 30344

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybrooks/ / CC BY-NC 2.0

Bulldogs update, .500 season

  

The Bulldogs of Tri-Cities High School won big on Friday.

The beat Fayette Counties Tigers 41-27.

The team has a .500 season, winning four of its last five games.  

Tri Cities Bulldogs lost a close one Friday, ending a two-game winning streak.

At the end of four quarters, the scoreboard showed Bulldogs 20 - Douglas County Tigers 21. 

The loss puts the Bulldogs m at 3 - 5 for the season.  The final game of the regular season is Friday.

Photo credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vox_efx/ / CC BY 2.0

Tri-Cities Bulldogs make it 2 wins in a row

The Bulldogs owned the 'Dog Pound' Friday, beating Alexander High School 23-0.

It is the second week in a row the football team has earned a win.  

Overall, the team is 3-4. In the region, they are 2-2, putting them in third place.

The team has two more scheduled games in the season. The final home game is Oct. 30 against a very good and undefeated Villa Rica team.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vox_efx/ / CC BY 2.0

Photo Friday

The Tri-Cities High School marching band makes its way into the stadium before Friday's home football game.
The football team lost a close one, 25-28, against Mays High School.  

Tri-Cities Bulldogs prep for first home game

The Tri-Cities Bulldogs return to their home field after losing the first two games of the season.

Averaging just less than 10 points a game, the Bulldogs face off against the Starr's Mill Panthers on Friday.

Last season, the Bulldogs pulled off a win against their next opponent in a nail biter, 14-13.  

The Bulldogs return to their 'dog pound' after a 4-6 season last fall.

Tri-Cities schedule
Bulldogs - Red, Black & Silver
8/28	At Creekside:  6-18
9/3	At Carver, Columbus(CM): 13-39
9/11	Starr's Mill
9/25	At Banneker
10/2	Mays
10/9	At Lithia Springs
10/16	Alexander
10/23	At Douglas County
10/30	Villa Rica
11/6	At Region Play-In

Students perform at the Tri-Cities High School arts center dedication

Students in the performing arts magnet program at Tri-Cities High School entertained the hundreds of parents, faculty and visitors at the dedication of the new arts center Saturday.


View New arts center in a larger map

The Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program started with some 20 students in the 1990s and is now recognized as one of the most successful arts education programs in the Southeast. Students here have consistently won awards at competitions. (For more information about the school, see Thursday's post.)

Viola Turner, the director emeritus of the arts program, was honored at the dedication when the theater was renamed for her. It was in recognition for her work in laying the foundation for the program.


Scenes from the dedication:

School bus sighted

A big yellow school bus rumbling up Jefferson Avenue early this morning signals the end of summer break.

Tri-Cities High School, like all Fulton County schools, opens its doors for students on Monday, August 10.

The big news for the school this fall is the opening of its Performing Arts Building. An open house is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, at 10 a.m.