Technology Partnerships

The Annual Mabry Film Festival is the highlight of the school year, a time when students are bursting with the excitement of showing off their work and hoping to win an Apple iBook computer. About 1,000 people attend this formal-attire event replete with the spot lights in the sky and the red carpet entrance. Oscar-like trophies are awarded in categories like Best Picture, Best Cinematography, etc. Pre-event parties are held in the covered play area by each movie-making team.

We have been successful in keeping tickets for this event at a minimal charge so as many students as possible can attend this huge celebration. Help Mabry promote and support the Annual Mabry Film Festival event while also increasing student access to technology at school. Join one of the groups below. While membership has its privileges, your tax deductible contribution will benefit our students!

Actor’s Guild – Donations from $25

• Name printed as an Actor's Guild Contributor in this year's Film Festival program

Director's Chair -Donations from $100

• Name printed as a Director's Chair Contributor in this year's Film Festival program
• Complimentary DVD of last year's Film Festival (while supplies last)
• Certificate of Appreciation suitable for framing

Producer's Portfolio -Donations from $250

• Name in the ending credits of this year's Mabry Film Festival
• Name printed as a Producer's Portfolio Contributor in this year's Film Festival program
• Complimentary DVD of this year's Film Festival
• Invitation to attend next year's parent/student/teacher training for the Film Festival
• Producer's Portfolio Plaque

Critic's Choice -Donations from $500

• Name in the ending credits of this year's Mabry Film Festival
• Name included on this year's Mabry Film Festival DVD
• Name printed as a Critic's Choice Contributor in this year's Film Festival program
• Complimentary DVD of this year's Mabry Film Festival
• Invitation to attend next year's parent/student/teacher training for the Film Festival
• Critic's Choice Plaque
• Receive an invitation to this year's VIP Pre-Oscar Party

Mabry iMovie Academy -Donations from $1000

• Name in the ending credits of this year's Mabry Film Festival
• Name included on this year's Mabry Film Festival DVD
• Name printed as an iMovie Academy Contributor in this year's Film Festival program
• Complimentary DVD of this year's Mabry Film Festival
• Invitation to attend next year's parent/student/teacher training for the Film Festival
• Mabry iMovie Academy Plaque
• Receive an invitation to this year's VIP Pre-Oscar Party
• Receive your own personalized “Oscar” trophy*

*The same trophy facsimile awarded each category.

Mabry's Technology Wish List Items

• Canon GL2 Camera -for student use
• 3 Apple 15” iBooks - for student awards
• 3 Mini DV Cameras -for student awards
• DV tapes -for student use
• DVD printer
• 2 Fresnel lights and stands -for the stage
• Training from an actual producer
• Spotlight (Klieg Light) rental
• 2 Wireless Mics -for student use

posted on: June 17, 2005

Present Partners

Mabry has numerous "unofficial" business partnerships. However, the businesses listed below have gone through the "official" Partners in Education signing ceremony with Dr. Tyson.

Apple Computer

Kroger

Knowledge Points

Southern Polytechnic State University

The Education Technology Center at Kennesaw State University

We value our business partners both "official" and informal.

posted on: June 17, 2005

Partners in Education

Truly, it takes a village to raise a child. The entire community must come together to provide the best resources from a diverse community of interests to meet the challenges the future holds by educating our children today. Certainly the future isn't what it used to be.

The Cobb County Chamber of Commerce understood this and started the Partners in Education program many years ago. The program connects public schools in the county with business partners. The partnership is designed to promote the mutual goals shared by the schools and the business community.

Additionally, Mabry has participated in the "Principal for a Day" program. Dr. Tyson has had the pleasure each year of hosting a business leader as his shadow for a day. This program affords our business community with the opportunity to see firsthand the wonderful things that go on at Mabry Middle School as well as the challenges we face with profoundly limited resources.

At Mabry we have enjoyed some significant and meaningful partnerships with our business community. Dr. Tyson has presented the Fish! employee motivation presentation for local businesses in the county. He has also presented about the educational programs in the Cobb County School District to East Cobb business leaders. Dr. Tyson was also the keynote speaker at Kennesaw State University's Georgia Movie Academy awards night.

Additionally, Mabry has promoted the reading of USAToday with our reading and research emphasis and held live internet video conferences with the editors of that paper in New York. Our students have performed at Apple's Atlanta Executive Offices. Mabry has provided the county technology integration specialists with training for the new laptop initiative. We have publicized any number of businesses, business people, and community organizations for their significant donations to our film festival. Our students have even made promotional DVDs for local real estate agents.

And certainly businesses have made significant contributions to Mabry Middle School. The Lindblad Expedition Company has made a substantial library of video footage of exotic habitats available to our students for their Life Science study. Apple has provided our staff, parents, and students with an invaluable amount of training in movie-making for instructional achievement. Dr. Michael Murphy, Dean of the College of Computer Sciences at Southern Polytechnic State University, has made a substantial contribution to Mabry's long-range technology plan. He has also been very active on our School Council through the years. Dr. Traci Redish, from the Education Technology Center at Kennesaw State University, another Partner in Education, has also served on our school council. A number of other local businesses have made contributions to our school.

The bottom line of the Partners in Education program: it can be what ever the school principal and business agree would be mutually beneficial. Everyone wins, especially the children in Cobb County. I invite you to consider partnering with Mabry Middle School. Feel free to contact Dr. Tyson to discuss any ideas you may have.

posted on: June 17, 2005

Support Our Students

This movie, produced in 2003, gives an excellent overview of the Mabry Annual Film Festival and how you can help support technology at Mabry Middle School.

High speed internet access required.
Quicktime required.

posted on: June 02, 2005