Schools

Thousands enroll in Ga. Pre-K Program

Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, July 29th, 2014, 5:04am

(WXIA) -- More than 80,000 Georgia children are enrolled in the state's Pre-K Program for the 2014-15 school year.

Pre-K is open to all 4 year olds, regardless of household income. Assistant commissioner Susan Adams said that it is the first school experience for many children.

"For this reason, we take our roles very seriously, and we work really hard to provide Georgia's children with positive and meaningful experiences," Adams said in a release.

In Pre-K, students study language, literacy and math while making new friends and building foundations for lifelong learning. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning recommends parents visit their children's classrooms in advance to familiarize them with their new surroundings, and dress them in comfortable clothes and shoes every day. If students have a tendency to feel lonely, parents can send them to school with family photos to cheer them up, and blankets or stuffed animals to snuggle at naptime.

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Fulton County’s after school program begins August 11

Submitted by FeleciaChurch on Saturday, July 12th, 10:40 am

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. -- Fulton County parents or guardians searching for after school programs can take advantage of the after school program offered by Fulton County Parks and Recreation. Registration is now open for the program, which begins Monday, August 11 at four recreation centers located in unincorporated South Fulton.

The Parks and Recreation Afterschool Program will be open from 2:30 p.m. until 6 p.m. on weekdays when school is in session. The program services children between the ages of 5 and 12. The cost is $40 per child per week for unincorporated Fulton County residents, with a one-time registration fee of $15 per child. Space is limited, so interested parents or guardians are urged to register now.

The after school program locations include:

Burdett Park
2945 Burdett Road
College Park, 30349
Phone: 770-996-9145

Cliftondale Park
4645 Butner Road
College Park, 30349
Phone: 404-613-3061

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Saturday, June 14th, 2014, 3:00pm

(WXIA) -- Public libraries across Georgia will participate in this year's Summer Reading Program and college savings sweepstakes.

The initiative, which is hosted by Georgia's Path2College 529 Plan, will award one grand prize and four regional scholarships to five lucky participants. The winners will be chosen at random from five groups.

The grand prize is a college scholarship worth $5,529 and a $1,529 grant for the winner's library. The runners-up will each get $1,529 to put toward a Path2College 529 Plan and $529 for their libraries.

Georgia parents, grandparents and legal guardians can sign up their children at path2college529.com. Entry closes on Aug. 10.

The program provides students with activities throughout the summer and encourages them to read by giving them prizes for finishing books, ebooks, audiobooks and magazines.

Participating library groups include:

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014, 2:59pm

Ga. Connections Academy graduates Class of 2014

(WXIA) -- Georgia Connections Academy recently held a graduation ceremony for its Class of 2014.

Many classmates met for the very first time during the event at the Gwinnett Center.

"We are very proud of our graduates," GCA lead principal Heather Robinson said in a release. Altogether, the Class of 2014 secured $1.33 million in college scholarship offers.

Emily McClure of Columbus is GCA's valedictorian. She will attend Georgia College and State University on the Zell Miller Scholarship in the fall.

Learn more about Georgia Connections Academy, the state's free virtual charter school for students in grades K-12, at georgiaconnectionsacademy.com.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014, 11:08am

APS associate superintendent Steve Smith resigns

ATLANTA -- Atlanta Public Schools associate superintendent Steve Smith has resigned, effective June 30.

Smith is leaving the school system to return to the private sector, according to a release from Atlanta Public Schools. He has served in his position since 2011, when Erroll Davis was appointed interim superintendent.

"As my right hand, Steve has helped to shepherd Atlanta Public Schools through a difficult transition," Davis said in a statement. "As he returns to the private sector, I am confident that he will continue to be an asset to APS and a champion for education."

During his time with APS, Smith managed the district's recent redistricting, created an innovation office that led to the school board's approval of three new charter schools, and provided executive oversight of daily operations. Before joining the school system, he served as vice president of corporate responsibility for Turner Broadcasting System.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Thursday, May 29th, 2014, 12:34pm

(WXIA) -- The Class of 2014 is the very first class to graduate from Georgia Cyber Academy, the state's free online public school.

The school will hold a graduation ceremony at noon on Saturday, May 31 at the Gwinnett Center. More than 300 graduating seniors are scheduled to walk across the stage.

"We're so proud of each of our graduates, all of whom have taken the individualized learning that comes with GCA's online curriculum and worked with GCA's world-class teachers to adapt it to best serve and support their own academic successes," GCA head of school Matt Arkin said in a release.

Members of GCA's Class of 2014 were accepted to some of the country's top colleges and universities, including Cornell University, Georgia Tech, the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia.

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Submitted by Beth Sawicki, Where U Live Producer

Saturday, May 17th, 2014, 3:30pm

(WXIA) -- The Georgia Department of Education has created a 2014 Summer Reading Challenge for students in all grades.

The program was announced Thursday at Timber Ridge Elementary School in Cobb County. Its goal is to close the achievement gap that widens during the summer months, when children often don't read.

"No student should have to start the school year having fallen behind," State School Superintendent Dr. John Barge said. "That's what we know, and that's what we're committed to preventing, because that loss is preventable."

The challenge encourages students to read for at least 15 to 30 minutes every day. The GDOE outlined suggested summer goals for children based on their school years:

* K-2: 10 books
* 3-5: 8 chapter books
* 6-12: 5 fiction books and 5 nonfiction books

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