Friday, May 18, 2012
The school's charter with Fulton County Schools expires after June 30, and with its charter renewal and a state charter application denied, this was the only option to open in the fall.
A sigh of relief for many Sandy Springs parents: Fulton Science Academy Middle School announced its opening as a private school for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year, the school announced in an email Thursday. The new FSA private school will now serve students with no residency limitations. "FSA will continue to offer the same superior STEM academic programs that helped it to earn the 2011 National Blue Ribbon Award as well as the Governor’s Platinum Award," according to the release sent by Katherine Dion, spokesperson for the school. She said it will provide a wide variety of free after school clubs and tutoring as well as numerous competitive academic teams. "Local parents are thrilled that the school will remain open as an excellent …
Five students representing fourth-graders at Holy Innocents' submitted proposals for Sandy Springs new downtown area to the Mayor and City Council, Tuesday.
Sandy Springs has an abundance of parks and green space, but if you go by fourth-graders from Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, children want even more. During a presentation to Mayor Eva Galambos and City Council members, Tuesday, five students offered proposals on the old Target site as the center of the new downtown area. While the details varied, each student wants a park. The five students represented 80 fourth-graders who visited the site and have brainstormed, since February, on the pressing question of what should the center of Sandy Springs' new downtown look like? The students have picked up now common lingo such as “mixed-use” and “community gathering place.” There was even a hint of a desire for connectivity between shopping …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Students from Holy Spirit Preparatory Lower School in Sandy Springs dedicated work in their annual show to "11 Modern Masters."
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Wednesday, May 16
Sixth grade students at Holy Spirit Preparatory Lower School dedicated their artwork to “11 Modern Masters” in their annual show, recently. Students were inspired by Matisse, Pollock, Warhol, Mondrian, Miro, Johns, Calder, Duchamp, Bearden, Bourgeois, and Picasso. “All year we have been teaching about these modern artists that were on display at the High Museum for the better part of the school year,” said art teacher Esther Francis, in a press statement. “We touched on their artwork, techniques, mediums, and anything else that inspired the feel of the artist.”
The failure of Fulton Science Academy Middle School to get a state charter led to the latest drop to a 'C' rating. Many Sandy Springs students attend the Alpharetta school.
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Wednesday, May 16
Fitch Ratings again has downgraded the rating on the $18.9 million in bonds for Fulton Science Academy to "CC" from "B," according to BusinessWire. Fulton Science Academy Middle School's failure to get either a charter renewal from Fulton County or a state charter led to the downgrade of the Development Authority of Alpharetta educational facilities revenue bonds. Fitch said in the release that lack of management cooperation left it unable to determine if the middle school's proposed conversion to a private school was feasible, and its possible effects on the Fulton Sunshine Academy and Fulton Science Academy High School. All three schools are obligated for the bonds. Fitch won't be issuing analysis or further ratings because Fulton …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School students have spent months brainstorming ideas for the old Target site and Sandy Springs new downtown plans. They will present their ideas to City Council members on Tuesday.
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Tuesday, May 15
Fourth-graders from Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School will present their take on Sandy Springs new town center and the former Target site at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Creative writing teacher Jim Barton explained in an email to Sandy Springs Patch that since February - when City Councilman Chip Collins visited the school - each student has visited the site, researched similar developments around the area, and put together impressive proposals. Representing a total of 80 fourth-graders, four students will present an extensive package to Council members. “It’s an impressive package, and the students’ ideas are amazingly imaginative, appropriate and thorough,” Barton said. After visiting the Target site, taking snapshots and …
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Sandy Springs high school team made their first trip to the state finals in 19 years.
The North Springs Tennis Spartans finished no. 2 in the Georgia High School Association Tennis State Championship, on Saturday. After an exciting journey to the championship round, the Spartans lost to defending state champions, Woodward Academy, at Clayton County International Tennis Park. The Spartans were a third place AAA regional team. It has been more than 30 years since a no. 3 regional team has made it through to finish as one of Georgia's top two high school teams. It was the first trip to the state finals for North Springs’ tennis in 19 years. North Springs defeated St. Pius in the quarter-finals of the state tournament to take its place among the elite four in Georgia. The Spartans defeated region 4's no.1 team, Spalding High…
Sunday, May 13, 2012
North Fulton parents, including many from Sandy Springs, are outraged.
A day after the state Board of Education refused to grant a charter to Fulton Science Academy Middle School, 100 or more individuals identifying themselves as FSA parents accused state employees and the Board's own charter committee of having "intentionally impeded, stonewalled and misrepresented FSA." Louise Erste, director of the Charter Division at the state Department of Education was singled out. "I believe Erste misinformed and misled the Board down a path that was politically motivated and unfair," was one of the complaints. These claims are similar to what has been said in comments made on Patch articles and a letter to the editor on Alpharetta-Milton Patch. Patch user "Terry" made a related complaint on May 8, after the denial …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Sandy Springs eighth grader Adam Alexander wins first prize for his short film.
Ridgeview Charter School eighth grader Adam Alexander won first place for his short film at the 2012 Georgia Education Technology Fair. The event was held at Macon State College, in March. Adam is an honor roll student who plays in three school bands: Honor, Jazz, and Rialto Jazz Ensemble. He won in the Digital Video Production category - an original video project that has been edited on a computer with digital video editing software, and exported into a digital video format. Adam was one of 12 first pace winners from Regional Technologies Fairs across the state of Georgia. The Georgia Education Technology Fair is an annual event produced by the Georgia Educational Technology Consortium. It represents the highest level of student …
33.897161
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Ridgeview Charter Middle School
5340 Trimble Rd NE, Atlanta, GA
/articles/ridgeview-student-wins-at-state-technology-fair
1608143
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School announces plans for 2012-2013 just hours after final rejection of its appeal to become a state charter special school.
A door has opened for disappointed Sandy Springs parents and students. Fulton Science Academy Middle School announced Thursday evening that it has a plan to open as a private school in August. Earlier Thursday, the state Board of Education denied the school's application to become a state charter special school. “This is [the] best way for our school doors to remain open for our students, families, teachers, and staff,” said Ayhan Korucu, FSA Governing Board President, in a statement. “We believe our plan to become a private school is achievable for the 2012-2013 school year; however, we know that sadly some of our student body will be unable to attend our school due to the financial implications of this plan." "We intend to use …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Many Sandy Springs students attend FSA. Board members criticize the school's Governing Board and management over noncompliance, bond issues.
Fulton Science Academy Middle School lost its appeal to the state Board of Education for a charter this morning, so the school will be closed in July. The school's charter through Fulton County Schools expires June 30. Angela Lasseter, a representative of the school's Governing Board asked the state board to wait 30 days to make their decision so all the information could be heard and documents read. "It impacts so many of our parents, including me. "Hearing both sides and all of the documentation is critical to making an informed objective opinion," she said. But the board members said Department of Education staff have been working with the school's administration for months, ever since the charter renewal application denial by Fulton …
Marvin in Milton
3:08 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012
Help me out here. FSA is denied a charter by the county and the state. Fitch bond rating agency has de-rated the $20 million FSA bonds to CC as the FSA management refuses to cooperate. According to Fitch, default appears probable. Millions of dollars are unaccounted for. Construction has stopped on the new school, leaving acres of raw dirt. All three FSA schools, elementary, middle and high … more ›