Webb Bridge MS to Host Desktop Stores Seventh-graders at Webb Bridge Middle School (WBMS) have created unique products that will be for sale at the WBMS Desktop Stores live market December 12 as part of an interdisciplinary project. The project encourages creativity and entrepreneurism in students by requiring them to come up with a unique product, design/build/make the product, advertise it with a slogan, sell it at the live market, and produce a profit/loss statement. Students, faculty and staff, parents and members of the public are invited to shop the live market for their holiday gifts; the market will be open at 9:05-10:05 a.m., 11:40 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and 1:30-3:15 p.m., December 12.
Cambridge High School Chorus Participates in District V Honor Chorus Ten members of the Cambridge High School chorus participated in the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) District V Honor Chorus, held recently at Roswell United Methodist Church. Cambridge students singing in the honor chorus included: Courtney Bartlone, Caitlin Boyle, Gavin Lamb, Matthew Martin, Sakshie Rao, Shreya Visvanathan, Rebecca Waldorf, Adowa Walo, Kendall Warner, and Matthew Wynne. The Cambridge High School singers were among approximately 100 musicians selected from 17 high schools in Fulton County and Atlanta. William Caldwell, who has more than 30 years' experience teaching choral music at the middle school, high school and collegiate levels, served as guest conductor. The choir's repertoire included the premier performance of "I Loved You First," a choral work by Earlene Rentz as a birthday gift to Caldwell. Cambridge High School choral program has enjoyed the success and honor of having students placed in the District V Honor Choir and GMEA All State Chorus the past two years.
Reinhardt University Graduates First Master of Public Administration Class Reinhardt University will graduate its first group of students from the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program in December. The students will graduate after 16 months of coursework and study, compared to many institutions where the programs are two years. "Our first cohort to graduate with the MPA come from diverse personal and professional backgrounds," said Karen Owen, director of the MPA. "They have shown great determination in mastering the field and worked diligently to succeed in each endeavor of the program. Their commitment to the program, and to each other as a cohort, is remarkable and a true value to the University and faculty of the program." The MPA program at Reinhardt University provides a high-quality generalist, practice-oriented, research-based, and ethics-focused program to educate and prepare students for professional and leadership careers in public service. "Students who graduate with an MPA degree from Reinhardt are well-trained and versed in the field of Public Administration," said Owen. "These students are energetic about utilizing their new leadership and management skills to initiate and lead changes in public policy, as well as make an impact on individuals' lives and communities." The MPA is offered at Reinhardt's North Fulton Center on Old Milton Parkway in Alpharetta and is easily accessible to the Northern Arc law enforcement agencies, governmental entities, non-profits and businesses.
Middle School Students Sign Commitments for $10,000 Scholarships Four students from North Fulton middle schools signed commitments recently to graduate high school and accept a $10,000 college scholarship funded by the REACH Georgia program. The special signing event featured Gov. Nathan Deal, Fulton County Schools Superintendent Robert Avossa, Fulton school board members, principals, counselors, graduation coaches, and other district leaders. Launched in 2012, the REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Georgia program is a needs-based scholarship designed to promote academic success and expand access to higher education. More than 100 students across Georgia in 23 school systems signed contracts for the 2014-2015 school year, including: Claudia Munoz, Haynes Bridge Middle School; Sara Rahimpour, Taylor Road Middle School; Mirian Rivera, Elkins Pointe Mille School; and Sabrina Villa, Holcomb Bridge Middle School. As a part of the program, the students signed contracts to maintain a certain grade point average; remain crime, drug and behavior issue free; and meet with a volunteer mentor until they graduate from high school. Parents and guardians also signed contracts to support their student through their education. When these scholars graduate from high school, they will receive up to a $10,000 scholarship $2,500 each year for up to four years to be used at a HOPE-eligible college. Many colleges are matching this scholarship and some are double matching the scholarship, providing scholars addition resources for their college education. "By accepting the challenge to become a REACH Scholar, these students are taking the first step toward an exciting and rewarding future a college education," said Superintendent Avossa. "This was a proud, emotional day for all of us. This scholarship means that our young students, many who will be the first in their family to attend college, will have the financial ability to pursue a higher education and follow their dreams."
Barnwell Elementary, Milton High PTAs Honored for Excellence Two Fulton schools and their PTAs recently were recognized as National PTA Schools of Excellence. Barnwell Elementary School and the Barnwell Elementary PTA, as well as Milton High School and the Milton High PTA, were honored for building effective family-school partnerships. The recognition demonstrates leadership and a commitment to partnering for student success and continuous school improvement.
Milton Teacher Wins AFAEE Drew Bowers, choral director at Milton High School, was one of four Fulton educators selected for the Atlanta Families' Awards for Excellence in Education (AFAEE), which includes a $7,500 prize. The AFAEE was conceived as a way to recognize the "best of the best" in Atlanta education. By recognizing outstanding educators each year, the program hopes to help school districts retain excellent teachers and school leaders, inspire other educators to transform their craft, and increase the public's awareness of educator and student success across metro Atlanta. Educators were nominated by coworkers, students, parents and the general community, and were selected through their demonstration of excellence in three areas: raising student achievement, enhancing students' self-esteem and collaboration with multiple stakeholders for the benefit of students. The $7,500 prize includes funds for innovative classroom projects ($3,500), professional development ($1,500) and a personal stipend ($2,500). AFAEE has operated the recognition program over the past nine years with Atlanta Public Schools, but this year expanded it to include Fulton County Schools. The 2014 winners will be celebrated formally on November 6 with an awards ceremony at The Carter Presidential Center.
Creek View Elementary Celebrates Native American Tradition Fourth-grade students at Creek View Elementary School held their own Native American potlatch celebration recently. A potlatch was a Native American ceremony in which tribes would gather together to exchange goods and celebrate their different cultures. Similarly, students created handmade items to barter with each other and dressed Native American-style for the celebration.
Home Depot to Build Outdoor Classroom at Roswell North Elementary Home Depot Store #146, located at 870 Woodstock Road in Roswell, selected Roswell North Elementary School (RNE) for its Adopt-a-School program, part of Home Depot's Community Involvement campaign. The store will donate materials, expertise, and labor to build a butterfly garden and outdoor classroom at the school on September 4. Home Depot volunteers, RNE Principal Kindra Smith, RNE PTA volunteers, and Fulton County School System VIPs also will assist with the project. The butterfly garden and outdoor classroom will be available to RNE teachers to incorporate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), learning opportunities into their existing curriculum. RNE's "Full STEAM Ahead" initiative is part of the Charter Strategic Plan and encourages teachers to integrate project-based learning activities coupled with STEAM to support teaching and learning at the school.
FCS to Hold Redistricting Meeting October 8 Fulton County Schools has scheduled three community meetings October 8, November 5, and December 10 to address the redistricting process for two new schools in Roswell and classroom additions at three North Fulton middle schools. During the meetings, community members will have the opportunity to review the school board's redistricting criteria and comment on residential development, traffic, previous redistricting, special programs and other issues relevant to the criteria used for redrawing attendance lines. The first meeting will be held 7:00-9:00 p.m., October 8, at Centennial High School. A second meeting is scheduled for 7:00-9:00 p.m., November 5, Alpharetta High School; and a third meeting at 7:00-9:00 p.m., December 10, also at Centennial High School. To maximize input, parents and community members also can participate online through the redistricting website once it goes live on October 8. The Fulton County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the new attendance zones in February 2015. Changes in middle school attendance zones will go into effect in August 2015, with elementary zone changes following in August 2016. For more details, visit FultonSchools.org.
FCS Prepares for New School Year Fulton County Schools (FCS) Superintendent Robert Avossa, along with other FCS administrators and leaders, invited members of the media to Riverwood International Charter School in Sandy Springs for a public back-to-school briefing as school officials prepared for the new 2014-15 school year, which began August 11. With a projected opening day enrollment of approximately 96,300 students 1,200 more than last school year FCS is the fourth-largest school district in the state. FCS has 101 schools throughout the district: 58 elementary, 19 middle, 17 high, and 7 charter schools. Superintendent Avossa began the briefing by highlighting successes of the previous year, noting the advances that technology in the classrooms and Bring Your Own Technology programs offer in terms of enhanced learning opportunities; achievements in math and writing; and a solvent fiscal system that not only has averted furloughs but also will allow for a 3 percent one-time bonus to FCS employees this December. In addition, Superintendent Avossa introduced new principals for the 2014-15 academic year, including those in attendance from North Fulton schools: Brian Downey, Northview High School; Ariane Holcombe, Mimosa Elementary School; Gail Johnson, Johns Creek High School; Mary Robson, New Prospect Elementary School; Christopher Shearer, Holcomb Bridge Middle School; Rachel Williams, Crabapple Crossing Elementary School; and Laurie Woodruff, Hembree Springs Elementary School. The many new programs and initiatives for FCS and area North Fulton schools in the 2014-15 academic year will include: Teach to One: Northwestern Middle School will introduce an instructional delivery model for math that creates several learning stations for teachers and students to move between throughout a single class period. Students will receive an individualized learning experience, at the right academic level, using the most appropriate instructional format. Students may work on one of several instructional approaches that include live teacher-led instruction, student collaboration, software, or virtual instructors; students are assessed daily to determine whether they have mastered a skill or need more time on that skill. The Teach to One program will serve as a secondary support model for a select group of students at Northwestern Middle School. Charter System Requests for Flexibility: Last winter, the FCS board reviewed Requests for Flexibility from schools that wanted to use the district's charter system status to exercise flexibility options supporting their school strategic plans. As example of the 18 approved requests that go into effect this year, Centennial High School can allow a waiver to grant PE credit to students who participate in GHSA athletics, school-sponsored club sports, or marching band. Mountain Park Elementary School also can implement a new TAG (Talented and Gifted) model to allow more students to be exposed to TAG strategies. Northview High School can apply a class size waiver to offer a few larger Advanced Placement courses to provide more students the opportunity to take AP courses. Student Learning Objectives: Student Learning Objectives (SLOs), a component of the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System, measure student growth and academic achievement. Data from the assessments will help educators plan for student success by ensuring that every minute of instruction is moving students, teachers, and schools toward the common vision of exemplary instruction and high levels of student academic growth. In addition, as a measure of teachers' impact on student learning, SLOs give educators, school systems, and state leaders an additional means by which to understand, value, and recognize success in the classroom. SLOs will provide evidence of each teacher's instructional impact on student learning. Georgia Milestones: Beginning this year, FCS will use the Georgia Dept. of Education's new testing system, the Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones). Georgia Milestones will replace the CRCT and the EOCT. Construction & Maintenance Projects: Maintenance crews have completed 4,500 maintenance work orders throughout Fulton schools. Also as part of FCS' "Rebuild, Refresh, Renew" program, renovation is under way on more than 20 schools throughout the county, including North Fulton's Chattahoochee and Roswell High, Haynes Bridge and Holcomb Bridge Middle, and Barnwell and Dolvin Elementary schools. Additional targeted improvements are planned for Alpharetta High (softball concessions), Northview High (track), and Lake Windward Elementary (play areas). Construction of a new high school in west Roswell is expected to be completed in time for the 2015-16 school year. Bus Transportation: Sixty-six new buses have replaced older vehicles and repairs have been made to other buses. Mechanics have certified that all buses are ready. Nearly 100 new bus drivers have been hired and trained, and all (800+) drivers are being certified in CPR, Emergency First-Aid Response, and Green Cross Defensive Driving. School bus routes and bus stops are available online. Safety & Security: A system-wide visitor identification system is being implemented, which will allow staff to scan a visitor's ID and check it against a national database. In addition to the school resource officers already in place at middle and high schools, campus security associates are being added to some locations this year. Also, security and support was increased in each of the district's four learning communities by assigning a lieutenant and investigator. They are located at an elementary school in their learning community and provide centralized support to the schools in that area. Health Initiatives: Changes in Georgia's immunization requirements now call for seventh-grade students and new entrants/students in grades 8-12 to have one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) and one dose of MCV (meningococcal conjugate) vaccines. To continue compliance with USDA federal regulations, "Equity in School Lunch Pricing," the FCS school board approved a 5-cent increase to the student lunch meal price and a 10-cent increase to the adult lunch meal price. Reduced price meals for eligible students will cost $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch. Middle and high school cafeterias will no longer fry any foods all fryers have been replaced with retherm ovens. School menus will reflect new nutrition regulations. One hundred percent of grains offered will be whole grain-rich, students will be required to select a fruit as part of the breakfast meal, and lower sodium targets will be met. Also, all foods and beverages sold to students during the school day must meet new federal nutrition regulations for calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. Mimosa Elementary is one of 11 elementary schools participating in the USDA's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which introduces school children to a variety of free produce to sample while also providing a nourishing snack to help fuel the students' brains and growing bodies during the school day. Technology Enhancements: A primary emphasis of the SPLOST program is an investment of technology in schools. In order to be successful in the future, students must participate in engaging instruction that allows them to gather, analyze and present information easily, share work with teachers, collaborate with other students, and use current technology to create and display their work. Teachers and parents must have access to timely information on their students' performance. Teachers must also use current technology in their classrooms so that student learning can be engaging and focused on students' specific needs and interests. This year, approximately 500 laptops are being provided to new teachers and 3,400 teacher laptops are being replaced throughout the county. Schools' bandwidth also has been doubled, and students and teachers will have access to a new "digital repository" for cloud-like sharing of digital resources. FCS also will finish this year installation of digital projectors that act as interactive whiteboards in classrooms. "We've had a great first month of school, and that's due to all the preparation that occurred over the summer," said Superintendent Avossa. "It pays off when we see our students and teachers excited to be back in class, ready for the new year." Michelle Martin