Principal Named for New Highway 9 School Adam Maroney, the current principal of Alpharetta Elementary, will lead the Highway 9/West Roswell School, which presently is the temporary home of Esther Jackson Elementary School. When the newly rebuilt Esther Jackson School opens in August, its students will move back to their Martin Road home, and Highway 9 Elementary will reopen under a new name and student body. In addition to staffing the new school, one of Maroneys first priorities will be to form community committees for developing a unique school identity, such as an official name, mascot and colors. Maroney holds a bachelors degree in special education (speech pathology) from the University of Maine at Farmington, as well as a masters degree in communication disorders from the University of Cincinnati. He also earned a specialists degree in educational leadership from the University of West Georgia.
Fulton CIO Named Woman of the Year in Technology Fulton County Schools Chief Information Officer, Serena Sacks, was named one of Georgias top Women of the Year in Technology. The Women of the Year in Technology Awards program is sponsored by Women in Technology (WIT), an organization focused on creating opportunities for girls and women in the field of technology. The program honors the accomplishments of Georgias top female leaders in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and the impact theyve made in their communities. A winner was named in three categories: Small/Emerging, Medium/Mid-Size and Large/Enterprise businesses. It is an honor to accept this award on behalf of Fulton County Schools and the work we are doing to help each student reach their potential, said Sacks, who was recognized in the Medium/Mid-Size Business category. As a female CIO, I believe in being a strong representative and champion of women in the technology industry. We set the example for young girls everywhere who are developing an interest in STEM fields and who may just need a role model or some encouragement to succeed.
Alpharetta High School Science National Honor Society visits Creek View Elementary Members of the Alpharetta High School Science National Honor Society came to Creek View Elementary to teach science lessons to some 4th and 5th grade classes. This program was initiated to get younger students excited about higher level science concepts and to create a way for Alpharetta High School students to earn community service hours. The Science National Honor Society members conducted all kinds of experiments dealing with energy. These included stations on electrical energy, chemical energy, thermal and motion energy, radiant energy transformations, endothermic and exothermic processes and potential and kinetic energy. Some of these future scientists were former Creek View students!
Fulton Students Proficiency Levels Above State and Metro Atlanta Average in Milestone Tests Scores from the 2014-2015 administration of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System have been released for Grades 3-8 (End-of-Grade exams) and Grades 9-12 (End-of-Course exams). These preliminary scores reflect the first administration of Georgias new comprehensive testing system that replaces the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) and the Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT).Although were still examining our data, our early analyses show that the percentages of Fulton students scoring as Proficient or Distinguished (Levels 3 and 4) are higher than their state and Metro Atlanta (Regional Educational Service Agency) peers. This occurred in all subject areas for both the End-of-Grade exams and End-of-Course exams, said Kenneth Zeff, interim superintendent. Unlike their CRCT predecessor, the Georgia Milestones assess student learning along four levels of performance. The CRCT previously assessed in three levels, and the Georgia Department of Education says that the use of four designations aims to shift the focus away from just test scores, instead capturing the progression of students learning.
XL212 Announces October Student-Athletes of the Month Jessica Diaz and Anders Olsen were recently honored as the XL212 Student-Athletes of the Month (SAM Award). The SAM award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of deserving Student-Athletes in the greater North Fulton area. Winners are chosen from nominations made by area athletic directors and coaches and are based on extraordinary academic proficiency, exceptional athletic accomplishments and dedication to civic action. Jessica Diaz is a Senior Volleyball player from Centennial High School. She is ranked #2 in her class, with a GPA of 104 and is a Scholar Athlete. Anders Olsen is a Senior Football player from Johns Creek High School and 2015 Team Captain. He has a 3.9 grade point average.
Fultons Graduation Rate is Tops in Metro Atlanta Area The results of the 2015 graduation scores released by the Georgia Department of Education show that Fulton has made substantial gains and has the distinction of having the highest graduation rate in the metro Atlanta area. Fultons 2015 graduation rate is 85.3%, which is a 6.6% increase over the 2014 rate of 78.7%. By comparison, the Georgia average for 2015 is 78.7%. Last year, Fultons rate rose by 3.2% from the previous year, which demonstrated steady and continuing progress toward meeting the districts graduation goal. In 2011, Fulton County Schools launched a five-year strategic plan that focuses on three specific goals, one of which is increasing the districts graduation rate to 90% by 2017. With two academic years still left in the five-year plan, Fulton is just 4.7% shy of reaching that ambitious goal. In the first three years alone, the graduation rate has increased an overwhelming 15.2%, from 70.1% in 2011 to 85.3% in 2015. This news is just incredible its more proof of the outstanding work being done by our students and teachers to ensure they graduate on time. We continue to be on target to meet our 2017 graduation rate goal, said Kenneth Zeff, interim superintendent. We set the bar very high, and the districts continued success shows the power of high expectations. Our students, teachers and administrators remain focused on the path and requirements for a high school diploma. The core of our charter system approach is local control and ownership, and our school communities deserve the credit for this success.
North Fulton County Breaks Ground on a New Elementary School The Esther Jackson School, whose former building was torn down over the summer, is being rebuilt on its original site in Roswell. Esther Jacksons current students are temporarily attending school in a building on Highway 9/Alpharetta Street. When the new school opens in August 2016, it will house up to 850 students.
XL212 Announces September Student Athletes of the Month Mikaela Gauthreux and Brian Mocarski were recently honored as the XL212 Student Athletes of the Month (SAM Award) at the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce February Eggs & Enterprise Breakfast. The SAM award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of deserving Student-Athletes in the greater North Fulton area. Winners are chosen from nominations made by area Athletic Directors and coaches, and based on extraordinary academic proficiency, exceptional athletic accomplishments, and dedication to civic action. Brian Mocarski, a Junior football player from Holy Spirit Preparatory School, is the Male Student- Athlete of the Month, and Mikaela Gauthreux, a Senior volleyball player from Johns Creek High School, was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Month.
8 Fulton Middle School Students to Earn $10,000 Scholarships Eight Fulton County middle school students will sign their commitments to graduate high school and accept a $10,000 college scholarship funded by the REACH Georgia, Fulton County Schools and the Fulton Education Foundation. The event will be held in a style similar to athletic scholarship signing ceremonies. Launched in 2012, REACH Georgia is a needs-based scholarship that begins in eighth grade. REACH Scholars are paired with a mentor and an academic coach through high school. Scholars must maintain good behavior, good grades (2.5 GPA in core courses), good attendance and graduate from high school. Scholars who successfully complete the program and graduate are awarded a $10,000 scholarship that can be used at any HOPE eligible college in Georgia. Many colleges are matching or double-matching this scholarship. The scholarship is in addition to any other grant or scholarship the student receives.
145 Fulton Students Named Semifinalists for 2016 National Merit Scholarship The Fulton County School System proudly announces that 145 students are semifinalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These scholastically-talented high school seniors now continue in the national competition for more than 7,400 Merit Scholarship awards, a value of approximately $32 million. This is the first round of competition for students seeking the distinction of being named a National Merit Scholar and receiving the scholarship money associated with it. Finalists will be named in the winter and the scholarship winners will be announced in the spring. The students were identified through exceptionally high scores on the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which they took as juniors. As semifinalists, the students now must fulfill several requirements in order to advance to the finalist round. They must have a record of high academic performance, be endorsed and recommended by their school leadership, and earn SAT scores that confirm their earlier qualifying test performance. A detailed scholarship application, which includes the students self-descriptive essay and information about his or her participation and leadership in school and community activities, also must be submitted.