We made it official this morning. Duluth High School is this week’s Cool School. From cheerleaders and the drill team… to the school robot – everyone was there! We even ended the show with some body surfing!!
Check out all the cool stories here: www.cbsatlanta.com/coolschools
Check out all the Cool School pictures here: http://share.cbsatlanta.com/ChannelGallery.aspx?c=2429
I hope you were up today at 5 a.m. We checked out this week’s Cool School: Campbell High School in Cobb County! With a brand new (and very cool) principal, this school offers something for every student. It’s an IB school which means students can earn college credit while in high school. It also has a ton of AP courses and lots of different careers students can explore in its Career & Technology program.
I met this really cool student named Robert who wants to go into forensic science. Because of some challenges, Robert can’t be a police officer, but he can (and will) be an amazing part of any police department. Robert is a member of Spartans for Safety, a group of students who patrol the school and keep kids safe!
I also had the chance to meet the cadets in the AJROTC. They showed me how to tie a “Swiss Seat” and cross a bridge while hanging upside down. It was very cool.
Anyway, we have all the stories from today on our Cool Schools web page. You can check them out here: www.cbsatlanta.com/coolschools
This week’s Cool School will warm your heart! I visited the Georgia Academy for the Blind in Macon to learn how students who are blind and visually impaired go to school and prepare for the real world. 111 students attend and three-fourths live on the campus. The GAB is one of two schools under the direct supervision of the State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. In fact, Kathy’s sons donated two guinea pigs!
You’ll find some of the best technology available for special needs kids at the GAB. The very cool Mr. Cotton teaches his students how to access all kinds of technology to meet their needs. He does it without ever seeing their face. Mr. Cotton is blind.
But the one thing that stood out while visiting the school is the fact that even though there’s all this great equipment out there for blind students, many of them prefer the standard Perkins Brailler that’s been around for ever. Very Cool!
Please take a minute and check out these very cool kids! Also, a HUGE thanks to Dr. Arensman, the school director, for letting me interrupt classes to talk with the kids. I really had a great time!!
The Georgia Academy for the Blind
I’m very excited about this week’s Cool School.
The Georgia Academy for the Blind (GAB) provides educational programming for students who are blind, visually impaired, and for those who have multiple disabilities. For the past 2 years, this very “Cool School” has met Adequate Yearly Progress! Join us as we visit an elementary class learning to read using Braille. Then we’ll check out specially designed playground equipment and a music class! GAB high school students will teach us a thing or two about math when we visit their iPass Math Class! Finally, an introduction into the world of sports for those who are visually impaired when we meet swimming and track athletes who are very proud to represent GAB.
We’re headed to Macon on Tuesday to shoot all the stories for Friday’s Better Mornings Atlanta. Wake up and check ‘em out!!
Can you believe is already time for more Cool Schools?? All summer long I’ve been dropping weight and trying to get in shape. It’s tough being a couple of years older than these kids (ha ha).
Our first Cool School was Pope High School and the very cool Principal Beaulieu. We had more than 1,200 kids wake up and join us! Here’s a cool pic:
Then it was off to Riverdale High School, our 2nd Cool School! This time, Principal Young was able to entice more than 900 kids to join us! We danced, we sang, we even did a little “stepping.” Here’s a picture:
If you want to see all the stories we did, check out our Cool Schools page: www.cbsatlanta.com/coolschools
So who will it be next week? You’ll never, ever guess. No way. No how.
I’ll let you know on Monday.
Mike
It’s my last “free” Friday. My last day to leave work wearing the same clothes I walked in with. My mom would be really upset with that last sentence. She always said “don’t use a preposition to end a sentence with.”
Am I leaving? No.
Am I changing positions to become a producer? Heck no! I can’t focus like that.
Am I starting Cool Schools next Friday? You Bet! And boy are you in for some fun!!
This coming Friday, I’ll be “chillin” with hundreds of kids from a very cool Cobb County school! See how I used that word, chillin? Yeah, I’m trying to be cool… and hip… and jive. But no, it’s not working.
Anyway, the school is really going all out! I already have a list of the stories we’re going to be doing on Tuesday when I visit the campus. I also have a pep rally schedule for Friday morning!
So wake up early and get your groove on!
Just remember: you don’t have to be young… to be cool!
Nothing comes between man and his best friend (and by “man” I mean humans). We started Jen’s Animal House a few weeks ago and we’re getting all kinds of great pictures! It’s continually one of the most popular slide shows on our web site.
It’s so popular, my pet “Bob” wanted to be a part of Jen’s Animal House. He wanted to dress up and submit his picture, so I agreed to take one. I have to admit, “Bob” is a little odoriferous and sometimes hard to wak e up, but he’s my best friend. So here he is dressed up as a horse. ”Bob” also wanted his friend to take his shirt off, so Jen could count the abs!
If you have a “Bob” in your house who would like to be a part of Jen’s Animal House, follow this link. I’m sure you’re pet will love it as much as Bob does!
We’re all about Musical Theatre Camp this Friday on BMA! I had the opportunity to visit the Alliance Theatre’s summer program on Tuesday and meet the kids. Let me tell you that I was blown away with what the program is doing for kids. I taped 2 stories: 1) older kids performing a scene from Hairspray and 2) 2nd and 3rd graders performing to “Under The Sea.” You just can’t beat cute kids making funny faces!
If you’re up early, tune in and watch Better Mornings Atlanta. You won’t regret it!!
If you just can’t roll out of bed, you can watch the stories on the following link. We’ll get the stories posted after they air on TV: www.cbsatlanta.com/bettermornings
If you have kids who love to dance, I found a terrific camp I’m sure they’ll love. Did you know the Atlanta Ballet puts on summer programs that are among the best in the country?
I checked out some of the classes as part of our Cool Camps series. Let me tell you – there’s a dance class for kids of all sizes, ages, and skill levels. And yes, they’d even accept a klutz like me!
Wake up and tune in Better Mornings Atlanta on Friday. We’ll tell you all about the summer programs at the Atlanta Ballet!!
PS: I’d like to thank the Atlanta Ballet for letting me rummage through the wardrobe room. I’m dressed as Count von Rothbart from “The Nutcracker.”
