Latest news with #MariettaMiddleSchool
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A ban on cell phones in Georgia Schools heads to the governor's desk
A statewide ban on cell phones in the classroom for Georgia students will now head to the governor's desk for final approval. On Tuesday, House Bill 340 passed the Senate with overwhelming support. Sen. Jason Anavitarte, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, spoke with Channel 2's Richard Elliot just moments after the bill was passed. 'Simply put - phones need to put away and we must be sensitive to what parents and teachers want,' Anavitarte said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Marietta Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera, who helped spearhead the statewide effort after implementing a similar ban in the district's two middle schools, told Channel 2′s Brittany Kleinpeter that the positive impact was undeniable. 'For us we've got children telling us even though they don't like it, they need it,' Rivera said. RELATED STORIES: A bill banning cell phones in school for kids in K-8 is one step closer to becoming law Georgia student phone, tablet ban passes House vote, heads to state Senate Ban on student phones in Georgia public schools back up for review in House Education Committee Schools participating in cellphone lock-up pilot program says discipline issues are down The school superintendent adding that over the last year, 68% of the teachers at Marietta Middle School reported being less stressed and 22% of 8th grade students reported an increase in their ability to learn. 'The teacher could teach better, and they could learn better as a result of a phone-free classroom,' Rivera added. Marietta Middle School parents like Kayla Sargent told Channel 2 Action News that they've seen the positive impacts of a cell ban. 'My middle school's functioning academically and socially has improved greatly since the ban,' Sargent said. 'I know teachers really appreciate it as well, so I've been very enthusiastic about the tech progress the district has made.' However, some parents like Bryan Williams say they're apprehensive about the ban due to security concerns. 'I would want my kid to have their cell phone in school for those dangerous moments and those moments where they need me,' Williams said. The Distraction-Free Education Act prohibits public school students in grades kindergarten through eight from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day. That includes smartphones, headphones, tablets and smartwatches. School-issued electronic devices can still be used, and school districts also would have come up with policies on storing devices and consequences for violations. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
Marietta principal discipline issues are down since mentoring program started
Marietta middle schoolers are achieving success through a mentoring program with the Chi Gamma Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. 'This was born out of our African American advisory council. We noticed a trend with black male students coming from single parent households where only a mother was present and that's when Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated stepped in,' said Marietta Middle School Principal Diona Brown. Omega STEM, a program within the fraternity, meets students at Marietta Middle School twice a week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Channel 2 Cobb County Bureau Chief Michele Newell got an inside look at one of the visits. From the classroom to a hands on aviation engineering experience, students learned how to build airplanes, how to operate them and more. 'Omega STEM is focused on building capacity within the youth here in Cobb County,' said Aaron Love, an engineer and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. 'They mentor the students, they are a male presence in their lives now and that originated out of the African American Advisory Council,' said Marietta Middle School Principal Diona Brown. The African American Advisory Council is a group of Black individuals who monitor challenges they notice in the community of Marietta. They work collectively to solve those problems. Principal Brown said the mentoring program started out small and quickly began to grow. 'We have roughly 40 7th and 8th grade boys that participate,' said Brown. 'We are building again confidence and capabilities with the young men to aspire,' said Love. TRENDING STORIES: Young Thug wants back cars, cash and jewelry seized during YSL raid GA man sentenced for blowing up woman's house, threatening to feed her child to python Couple found shot to death in their own bed in Carroll County Students see success that is attainable and realize they can be an engineer like Love or make Black history like retired Captain Tony Holder, who is an award winner and hall of famer. Captain Holder is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated who mentors Marietta middle schoolers. 'One of my mentors was an original Tuskegee Airman and he always told me, 'Tony, just like I'm helping you, I want you to reach back to others,'' said Holder. 'What's been I think truly unique and amazing is we started with 20 and the students have actually recruited and brought in other students to join in the group,' Principal Brown said. She says she has noticed a new attitude in her students. They are more confident and encourage other students. 'Discipline referrals have gone down significantly for our Black male students,' she said. 'We've had some that have expressed interest in going into law enforcement as a result of some of the mentors. We've had some students that have expressed interest going into engineering. We've have others who are thinking about pursuing a career in aviation,' said Principal Brown. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
