Hall County School District Annual Report to the Community
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Hall County School District Annual Report to the Community SPRING 2013 A LOOK INSIDE • An Era of Unprecedented Innovati on • Charter Schools and Programs of Choice • The Pursuit of Excellence Hall County Schools • Wellness Programs 711 Green Street • Academic Updates Gainesville, GA 30501 • Milestones (770) 534-1080 • Financial Update / ESPLOST www.hallco.org • School Directory • Meet Your Board of Educati on • System Facts Developing the Next Generati on of Innovators An Era of Unprecedented Innovation For generations, public schools have functioned much like the factories and businesses within our communities. Utilizing similar curriculums, chronological age grouping of children, and progression based upon seat time, the current educational model has been the norm for millions of us. Since our country is the planet’s only remaining superpower, it could be argued that those schools served us well. However, times have changed dramatically. Schools of the past focused on imparting knowledge. Knowing about the world around us is important; Innovation however, for the first time in human history much of the information that was meted out in classrooms Era of is free and almost universally available to the masses via Google and YouTube. Not only is knowledge free, it is expanding at an exponential rate. Some estimate that the world knowledge base is now doubling every six months. Therefore, while our schools must continue to teach facts and concepts, it is more important than ever that we teach children strategies to learn and to apply knowledge to good use. We peer into the future and cannot fully imagine exactly what skills the next generation will need. Businesses, industries, and governments around the world agree that people with the ability to innovate and create will consistently be in high demand. In every walk of life, we need individuals who can make our world a better place. With the support and encouragement of your Hall County Board of Education, our district is in the midst of developing unprecedented innovative educational choices for families. Beginning five years ago with the World Language Academy, a dual language immersion charter school, the district now offers our parents and their children over 20 highly personalized education pathways that include both charter schools and programs of choice. We believe that engaging young people in rigorous programs that focus on their individual strengths and interests is the way to improve achievement and enthusiasm for life- long learning. I am proud of the courage and creativity of Hall County educators, students and their families as, together, we seek a better way to prepare citizens for the world of tomorrow. In the words of Bob Seger, we have “felt the wind and set ourselves a bolder course…” Thank you for your support, encouragement and ideas as we continually seek ways to improve your local schools. Will Schofield, Superintendent *Throughout this publication, you will find numerous QR codes which will direct you to related resources on our system website. InnovationInnovation in Hall in County: Hall County: Charter Charter Schools Schools and Programs and Programs of Choice of Choice The Hall CountyThe Hall School County District School has District been featuredhas been in featured both the in Wall both Street the Wall Journal Street and Journal Forbes and Forbes Magazine Magazineas an example as an of example a school of system a school where system innovation where innovation in programming in programming and technology and technology is is being usedbeing to emphasize used to emphasize students’ students’individual individualstrengths strengthsand interests, and interests,and consequently, and consequently, to to increase theincrease number the of number students of scoring students in scoringthe top intier the of top state tier tests. of state tests. Programs of Programs of Students areStudents assigned are to assigned schools to based schools on theirbased residential on their residential addresses addresses, and all schools, and all have schools a have a Schools and Schools and Charter Charter variety of varietyexcellent of programmingexcellent programming options to options meet students’ to meet students’needs. However, needs. However,it is our belief it is ourthat belief Choice that Choice students arestudents most successfulare most successful when they when are involved they are in involved programs in prograthat engagems that and engage motivate and motivate them, thatthem, capitalize that capitalizeon their unique on their talents unique and talents interests. and interests.Currently, Currently, the system the offers system twenty offers- twenty- two (22) schooltwo (22) and school programs and programsof choice inof anchoice effort in toan bring effort innovative to bring innovative curriculums curriculums to the to the students instudents a more inconcerted a more concerted effort to m efforteet their to m individualeet their individualneeds. Students needs. mayStudents apply may to a apply to a school withschool a certain with focusa certain or to focus a school or to with a school a unique with programa unique that program matches that their matches individual their individual interests, interests,aptitudes aptitudesand goals. and goals. Charter SchoolsCharter Schools Students livingStudents within living the within charter the school’s charter zoned school’s district zoned will district be given will first be given priority; first those priority; living those living outside theoutside attendance the attendance zone may zoneapply may for admission.apply for admission. When applications When applications exceed building exceed building capacity, acapacity, lottery process a lottery is processused, and is used,students and are students selected are based selected on availablebased on space.available Parents space. Parents of studentsof who students live outside who live the outside charter the school’s charter attendance school’s attendance zone must zone provide must transportation. provide transportation. For applicationsFor applications and details and about details the aboutlottery the process, lottery please process, see please the school’s see the webpage. school’s webpage. Elementary:Elementary: Chestnut MountainChestnut Mountain Creative School Creative of SchoolInquiry of (CSI Inquiry) is for (CSI students) is for in students grade K in-5 gradewho enj K-5oy who enjoy discovery discoveryand creativity. and creativity. The program The is program designed is todesigned engage to students engage in students 21st Century in 21st learning Century as learning as they question,they question,research, discoverresearch, and discover create. and Curriculum create. Curriculum standards standards are taught are through taught inquiry through- inquiry- based, thematicbased, units.thematic Teachers units. guideTeachers students guide to students create questo createtions quesbasedtions on theirbased interest on their in interest in the unit. Studentsthe unit. research,Students discoverresearch, answers discover to answers their questions, to their questions, and present and what present they what have they have learned tolearned real audiences to real audiences through creative through products creative suchproducts as multi such-media as multi presentations,-media presentations, interactiveinteractive displays, or displays, through or the through use of the Web use 2.0 of tools. Web Technology2.0 tools. Technology is integrated is integrated into into instruction,instruction, research and research student and productivity. student productivity. For more information:For more information: www.hallco.org/cmes www.hallco.org/cmes or 770-967 or-3121 770- 967-3121 Martin TechnologyMartin Technology Academy Academyof Math and of Math Science and provides Science a provides challenging a challenging academic academiclearning learning environmentenvironment for students for in students grades Kin- 5.grades Instruction K-5. Instruction is inquiry- isbased, inquiry and-based, TNT (Talent and TNT & (TalentThinking) & Thinking) classes reinforceclasses thereinforce hands the-on handsapproach-on approachwith interest with-based interest activities-based thatactivities focus that on state focus and on state and national standardsnational standards in math and in mathscience. and Martin science. teachers Martin and teachers students and utilize students cutting utilize edge cutting edge technology,technology, e.g., tablets e.g., and tablets cloud and computing cloud computing for instruction for instruction, in all content, in all areas. content areas. For more information:For more information: http://www.hallco.org/martines http://www.hallco.org/martines or 770-965 or-1578 770- 965-1578 McEver Arts Academy is an arts integration model charter school that uses dance, music, movement, drama and visual arts to engage students in authentic learning of the state curriculum standards and the National Standards for the Arts. Arts-based instructional strategies, integrated units of study, and specialty classes in individual areas of interest develop students’ capacities for creativity, inquiry, reflective thinking, self-esteem and love of learning. For more information: http://www.hallco.org/mceveres or 770-534-7473 The Mount Vernon Exploratory School offers students extensive opportunities to build authentic learning experiences through project-based learning, best practice instruction and Programs of cutting-edge technology tools. Academic subjects are presented in