BTS 1G

BACK TOSCHOOLG U I D E

2 0 1 3SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2013 A publication of

MEET FIVE NEW SCHOOL LEADERSBetween Gainesville and Hall County Schools,

there are five new principals this year. They

have varied backgrounds but similar goals

and hopes for their schools, which include

Flowery Branch High, Chestnut Mountain

Creative School of Inquiry, North Hall Middle,

Oakwood Elementary and Wood’s Mill

Academy.

Most of these men and women believe an

increased reliance on technology is something

they must embrace, but the effects of the

digital world on students is also a concern in

education. Another concern is overcoming

poverty’s impact on many students. Learn

more about these new leaders and their

outlook for the school year. PAgES 4-5

New schools and renovated spacesGainesville City Schools’ biggest project

by far is the new Fair Street School, which

is set to open in October. The city school

system also completed updates to Enota

Multiple Intelligences Academy. In Hall

County, existing space is being reinvented

to house a new Science, Technology,

Engineering and Math academy at North

Hall High School. Students must apply for

the program, which aims to prepare them

for technical careers. Elsewhere in the

county, Johnson High is getting a bigger

cafeteria. PAgE 6

Transportation mostly unchangedStudent transportation will look much the same

this year, with the exception of three new buses

for Gainesville City Schools. The big concerns

for officials, however, are navigating routes

in which roads have washed out this summer

due to periods of heavy rain. Work continues

on McEver and Stephens roads in Flowery

Branch as well as Lenox Drive in Gainesville,

and officials are keeping a close eye on the

progress to determine whether routes need to

be adjusted. PAgE 7

SCHOOLS WORK TO MEASURE UP

No matter the subject, there will be a test to go with

it. And those tests may be toughas school systems across thestate move to a more difficult

curriculum. PAGE 7

Photo illustration by SCOTT ROgERS | The Times

SCOTT ROgERS | The Times

2 Sunday, July 28, 2013 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes com Back to school

CMYK

BTS 2G

Gainesville city schoolsCentennial Arts AcademyWhere: 852 Century Place, GainesvilleContact: 770-287-2044; gcssk12.net/cesweb

Enota Multiple Intelligences AcademyWhere: 1340 Enota Ave. NE, GainesvilleContact: 770-532-7711; gcssk12.net/eesweb

Fair Street SchoolWhere: 715 Woodsmill Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-536-5295; gcssk12.net/fsweb

Gainesville Exploration AcademyWhere: 1145 McEver Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-287-1223; gcssk12.net/gesweb

Gainesville High SchoolWhere: 830 Century Place, GainesvilleContact: 770-536-4441; gcssk12.net/ghsweb

Gainesville Middle SchoolWhere: 1581 Community Way, GainesvilleContact: 770-534-4237; gcssk12.net/gmsweb

New Holland Core Knowledge AcademyWhere: 170 Barn St., GainesvilleContact: 770-287-1095; gcssk12.net/nhweb

Wood’s Mill AcademyWhere: 715 Woodsmill Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-287-2021; gcssk12.net/wma

hall county schoolsChestatee High SchoolWhere: 3005 Sardis Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-532-1162; hallco.org/chs

Chestatee AcademyWhere: 2740 Fran Mar Drive, GainesvilleContact: 770-297-6270; hallco.org/cms; chestateeacademy.com

Chestnut Mountain Creative School of InquiryWhere: 4841 Union Church Road, Flowery BranchContact: 770-967-3121; hallco.org/cmes

Chicopee Woods ElementaryWhere: 2029 Calvary Church Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-536-2057; hallco.org/chicopeewoodses

Da Vinci AcademyWhere: 3215 Poplar Springs Road, GainesvilleContact: 770 533-4004; hallco.org/dva

C.W. Davis Middle SchoolWhere: 4450 Hog Mountain Road, Flowery BranchContact: 770-965-3020; hallco.org/cwdms

East Hall High SchoolWhere: 3534 East Hall Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-536-9921; hallco.org/ehhs

East Hall Middle SchoolWhere: 4120 East Hall Road,

GainesvilleContact: 770-531-9457; hallco.org/ehms

Flowery Branch Elementary SchoolWhere: 5544 Radford Road, Flowery BranchContact: 770-967-6621; hallco.org/fbes

Flowery Branch High SchoolWhere: 6603 Spout Springs Road, Flowery BranchContact: 770-967-8000; hallco.org/fbhs

Friendship Elementary SchoolWhere: 4450 Friendship Road, BufordContact: 770-932-1223; hallco.org/friendshipes

Johnson High SchoolWhere: 3305 Poplar Springs Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-536-2394; hallco.org/johnsonhs

Lanier Charter Career AcademyWhere: 2327 Tumbling Creek Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-531-2330; hallco.org/eschool

Lanier Elementary SchoolWhere: 4782 Thompson Bridge Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-532-8781; hallco.org/lanieres

Lula Elementary SchoolWhere: 6130 Chattahoochee St., LulaContact: 770-869-3261; hallco.org/lulaes

Lyman Hall Elementary SchoolWhere: 2150 Memorial Park Drive, GainesvilleContact: 770-534-7044; hallco.org/lhes

Martin Technology Academy of Math and ScienceWhere: 4216 Martin Road, Flowery BranchContact: 770-965-1578; hallco.org/martines

McEver Arts AcademyWhere: 3265 Montgomery Drive, GainesvilleContact: 770-534-7473; hallco.org/mceveres

Mount Vernon Exploratory SchoolWhere: 4844 Jim Hood Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-983-1759; hallco.org/mves

Myers Elementary SchoolWhere: 2676 Candler Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-536-0814; hallco.org/myerses

North Hall High SchoolWhere: 4885 Mount Vernon Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-983-7331; hallco.org/nhhs

North Hall Middle SchoolWhere: 4856 Rilla Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-983-9749; hallco.org/nhms

Oakwood Elementary SchoolWhere: 4500 Allen St., OakwoodContact: 770-532-1656; hallco.org/oakwoodes

Riverbend Elementary SchoolWhere: 1742 Cleveland Highway, GainesvilleContact: 770-534-4141; hallco.org/riverbendes

Sardis Enrichment SchoolWhere: 2805 Sardis Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-532-0104; hallco.org/sardises

South Hall Middle SchoolWhere: 4335 Falcon Parkway, Flowery BranchContact: 770-532-4416; hallco.org/shms

Spout Springs School of EnrichmentWhere: 6640 Spout Springs Road, Flowery BranchContact: 770-967-4860; hallco.org/sses

Sugar Hill Elementary SchoolWhere: 3259 Athens Highway, GainesvilleContact: 770-503-1749; hallco.org/sugarhilles

Tadmore Elementary SchoolWhere: 3278 Gillsville Highway, GainesvilleContact: 770-536-9929; hallco.org/tadmorees

Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences AcademyWhere: 5850 Brookton-Lula Road, GainesvilleContact: 770-983-3221; hallco.org/wmes

West Hall High SchoolWhere: 5500 McEver Road, OakwoodContact: 770-967-9826; hallco.org/whhs

West Hall Middle SchoolWhere: 5470 McEver Road, OakwoodContact: 770-967-4871; hallco.org/whms

White Sulphur Elementary SchoolWhere: 2480 Old Cornelia Highway, GainesvilleContact: 770-532-0945; hallco.org/wses

World Language AcademyWhere: 4670 Winder Highway, Flowery BranchContact: 770-967-5856; hallco.org/wla

Private schoolsChattahoochee Christian SchoolWhere: 640 Main St., ClermontContact: 770-983-9433; chattahoocheechristian.org

Jubilee Christian AcademyWhere: 1221 Harmony St., GainesvilleContact: 770-531-7576; jubileestallions.com

Lakeview AcademyWhere: 796 Lakeview Drive NE, GainesvilleContact: 770-532-4383; lakeviewacademy.com

Maranatha Christian AcademyWhere: 5135 McEver Road, OakwoodContact: 770-536-6334; mcageorgia.com

North Georgia Christian SchoolWhere: 5285 Strickland Road, Flowery BranchContact: 770-534-1081; northgeorgiachristian.org

Riverside Military AcademyWhere: 2001 Riverside Drive, GainesvilleContact: 770-532-6251; cadet.com

Information compiled by The Times

Gainesville city schoolsDistrict office

Where: 508 Oak St., GainesvilleContact: 770-536-5275; gcssk12.netSuperintendent: Merrianne DyerBoard of Education: David Syfan, Willie Mitchell, Maria Calkins, Delores Diaz, Sammy Smith

2013-14 calendar

Aug. 5-6: New teacher orientationAug. 7-9: Teacher planningAug. 12: First day of schoolSept. 2: Labor Day holidayOct. 14-15: Fall breakNov. 25-29: Thanksgiving breakDec. 19-Jan. 3: Winter breakJan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. holidayFeb. 14-17: President’s Day holidayMarch 17: Spring holidayApril 4-11: Spring breakMay 23: Last day of schoolMay 26: Memorial Day holidayMay 27-28: Teacher post-planning*Date that may be restored for staff: Oct. 15, Nov. 25-26, Jan. 2-3, Feb. 17, May 29*Dates that may be restored for students and staff: Dec. 19, Feb. 14, April 4

Testing calendar

Sept. 9-13: Georgia High School Graduation Test at high schoolsSept. 16-27: End of Course Test retakesSept. 16-27: Georgia High School Writing Test at high schoolsOct. 16-25: End of Course Test retakesNov. 11-15: Georgia High School Graduation Test at high schoolsJan. 22-23: Eighth Grade Writing TestFeb. 26-27: Georgia High School Writing Test retakesMarch 5-6: Fifth Grade Writing TestMarch 6-7: End of Course Test retakesMarch 24-28: Georgia High School Graduation Test at high schools Apr. 21-25: Criterion-Referenced Competency TestsMay 5-16: Advanced Placement examsMay 12-23: End of Course Tests

Operating times

Elementary schools: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Gainesville Middle School: 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Gainesville High School: 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.Hours at some schools may vary slightly due to bus schedules.

Registration infoRegistration for all city schools will open July 29 at Wood’s Mill Academy, 715 Woodsmill Road, Gainesville. Registration hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students enrolling at Gainesville High School may contact the school before the open registration date to schedule an enrollment conference at 770-536-4441. International families must register at the International Center, which is located at Wood’s Mill Academy. Parents must bring a birth certificate; Georgia certificate of ear, eye and dental examinations; Georgia certificate of immunization; proof of residence, such as a utility bill; and Social Security card. A child entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be admitted.

Open houses

Elementary schools: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Aug. 8 for Centennial, Enota, Gainesville Exploration and New Holland; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Aug. 9 for Fair StreetMiddle schools: 3-6 p.m. Aug. 8 for Gainesville Middle School; 9-10 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 for Wood’s Mill Academy High schools: 9:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 8 for Gainesville High freshmen and noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 8 for Gainesville High upperclassmen; 9-10 a.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 for Wood’s Mill Academy

Meal prices

Breakfast: Free for all studentsLunch: Free for all students

hall county schoolsDistrict office

Where: 711 Green St., GainesvilleContact: 770-534-1080; hallco.orgSuperintendent: Will SchofieldBoard of Education: Bill Thompson, Nath Morris, Craig Herrington, Sam Chapman, Brian Sloan

2013-14 calendar

Aug. 5-6: New teacher orientationAug. 7-9: Teacher planningAug. 12: First day of schoolSept. 2: Labor Day holidayOct. 14-15: Fall breakNov. 25-29: Thanksgiving breakDec. 18-Jan. 6: Winter breakJan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day holidayFeb. 17: President’s Day holidayApril 7-11: Spring breakMay 23: Last day of schoolMay 26: Memorial Day holiday

May 27-28: Teacher post-planning*In case of inclement weather, make-up days will be May 27-28 and post-planning will be May 29-30

Testing calendar

Sept. 9-13: Georgia High School Graduation Test retakesSept. 16-20: End of Court Tests retakesSept. 25-27: Georgia High School Writing TestOct. 16: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test Nov. 4-8: Georgia High School Graduation Test retakesJan. 22-23: Eighth Grade Writing TestFeb. 26-27: Georgia High School Writing Test retakesMarch 5-6: Fifth Grade Writing TestMarch 17: Third Grade Writing TestMarch 17-21: Georgia High School Graduation TestApril 16-24: Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests April 28-May 9: End of Course Tests May 5-16: Advanced Placement examsMay 20-21: Criterion-Referenced Competency Test retakesJuly 14-18: Georgia High School Graduation Test retakes

School operating times

Elementary schools: 7:45 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.Middle schools: 8:20 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.High schools: 8:25 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.Hours at some schools may vary slightly due to bus schedules.

Registration info All children can be enrolled at their assigned school. Registration for middle school and high school students is 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Aug. 5-6. Parents must bring a birth certificate; Georgia certificate of ear, eye and dental examinations; Georgia certificate of immunization; proof of residence, such as a utility bill; and Social Security card. A child entering kindergarten must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be admitted. International families must show proof of a child’s birth.

Open houses

Elementary schools: 3-6 p.m. Aug. 8Middle schools: 3-6 p.m. Aug. 9High schools: 3-6 p.m. Aug. 9

Meal prices

Breakfast: 85 cents for elementary students; $1 for middle school and high school students; 30 cents for reduced-price lunchesLunch: $1.50 for elementary students; $1.60 for middle school and high school students; 40 cents for reduced-price lunches

Banks countyWhere: 102 Ga. 51 S, HomerContact: 706-677-2224; banks.k12.ga.us

BufordWhere: 2625 Sawnee Ave., BufordContact: 770-945-5035; bufordcityschools.org

commerceWhere: 270 Lakeview Drive, CommerceContact: 706-335-5500; commerce-city.k12.ga.us

Dawson countyWhere: 517 Allen St., DawsonvilleContact: 706-265-3246; dawsoncountyschools.org

Forsyth countyWhere: 1120 Dahlonega Highway, CummingContact: 770-887-2461; forsyth.k12.ga.us

habersham countyWhere: 132 Stanford Mill Road, ClarkesvilleContact: 706-754-2118; habershamschools.com

Jackson countyWhere: 1660 Winder Highway, JeffersonContact: 706-367-5151; jackson.k12.ga.us

JeffersonWhere: 345 Storey Lane, JeffersonContact: 706-367-2880; jeffcityschools.org

lumpkin countyWhere: 56 Indian Drive, DahlonegaContact: 706-864-3611; lumpkincounty.schoolinsites.com

White countyWhere: 136 Warriors Path, ClevelandContact: 706-865-2315; white.k12.ga.us

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Construction nears completion on Gainesville’s Fair Street School, but it won’t quite be ready

by the first day of school. The expected opening date is in October, and until then, more than

600 Fair Street elementary students will begin their school year in the Wood’s Mill Academy

building, located at 715 Woodsmill Road. Once the switch is made, the students will once again be

at 695 Fair St. Construction began at the site in 2011, and was originally expected to be finished

this December. Rising second-grader Ella Campbell is ready for the new school’s doors to open.

“My classroom will be on the second floor,” she said. “I’m also thankful ... we’ll have nice, new

bathrooms.”

Fair Street nears completion

Sunday, July 28, 2013 3gainesvilletimes comThe Times, Gainesville, Georgia |BACK TO SCHOOL

BTS 3G

Congratulations to the 1438 Graduates ofHall County High Schools’

Academy of BeautyAmerican UniversityAnderson UniversityAndrew CollegeArmstrong Atlantic UniversityArt Institute of AtlantaAugusta State UniversityBaylor UniversityBenedict CollegeBerry CollegeBrenau UniversityBrigham Young University Carson Newman CollegeChattahoochee Technical CollegeChowan UniversityColumbus State UniversityCornell UniversityCovenant CollegeDarton CollegeDefiance CollegeEast Georgia State CollegeEast Tennessee State UniversityEmmanuel CollegeEmory UniversityFort Valley State UniversityFurman UniversityGardner-Webb UniversityGeneva CollegeGeorgia College and State UniversityGeorgia Gwinnett College

Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Perimeter CollegeGeorgia Regents University-Augusta StateGeorgia Southern UniversityGrambling State UniversityGwinnett Technical CollegeHofstra UniversityJohnson & Wales UniversityIndiana State UniversityKennesaw State UniversityLaGrange CollegeLanier Technical CollegeLee UniversityLees-McCrae CollegeLenoir Rhyne UniversityLiberty UniversityLindsey Wilson CollegeMansfield UniversityMercer UniversityMiddle Georgia State CollegeMississippi StateNewberry CollegeNorthern Mississippi StateOglethorpe UniversityOklahoma State UniversityPaul Mitchell Cosmetology SchoolPerdue UniversityPiedmont CollegePoint UniversityPresbyterian College

Reinhardt CollegeSanford UniversitySavannah College of Art & DesignSavannah State UniversitySeminole State CollegeShorter UniversitySouthern Polytechnic State UniversitySuwanee University of the SouthTexas A & M UniversityToccoa Falls CollegeTrevecca Nazarene UniversityTruett-McConnell CollegeUnited States ArmyUnited States Marine CorpsUnited States NavyUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham Universidad de El SalvadorUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of HawaiiUniversity of LouisvilleUniversity of North GeorgiaUniversity of South CarolinaUniversity of Southern MississippiUniversity of West GeorgiaValdosta State UniversityWest Georgia Technical CollegeWestern Carolina UniversityWinthrop UniversityYoung Harris College

711 Green Street Gainesville, GA 30501 770.534.1080

We celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates as they advance to higher levels of learning.

2013 Graduates have been awarded over

$5,364,979in scholarship funding in addition to HOPE Scholarships and Grants.

This ad presented by The Times in conjunction with the Hall County School System as a community service.

2013

Hall County School System is very proud of its International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs at Johnson, North Hall and West Hall High Schools. Limited seats are available in each of those programs, and applications are currently being accepted from any

rising 11th-grade student, regardless of attendance zone or county of residence. Annual tuition for out-of-district students will be $1500/year plus the cost of IB exams. For additional information, please see www.hallco.org, https://www.facebook.com/

groups/372502879484051 or contact Dr. Sally Krisel, Director of Innovative & Advanced Programs at sally.krisel@hallco.org or 770-534-1080.

Previously: Freshman Academy principal at Gainesville HighEducation: Bachelor’s degree from Piedmont College, master’s from Piedmont College, Education Specialist from University of AlabamaHobbies: Cub Scouts, basketball, outdoor activities, competing in mud runs and obstacle runs

What goals do you have as principal?Increasing attendance and results. Recruiting students to the academy at Wood’s Mill through a program that focuses on academic rigor, character building, development of creativity and talent, service learning, internships and dual enrollment. For this year, to revision, re-brand and revitalize Wood’s Mill to better prepare its students for college or career and to promote a system of care in the school and greater community.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing those with careers in education today?

Keeping the focus of what we do on our students. There are so many things that are legislated and mandated that it is easy for those in education to focus on the hoops they need to jump through rather than on the young men and women whose lives they impact daily. Our students are our future; they’re so much more than a test score or a piece of data on a chart or graph. They need to know we care

about them as an individual first and as a student second and positive results will follow.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that students face?There are many challenges for our students. Technology is both a boon and a bane and can help or hurt us very quickly. One quick moment of a poor decision can go viral and have a life of its own in a cyberworld

for all to see including college admissions, coaches, recruiters and prospective employers. Another challenge is to live a humble and selfless life.

Why did you choose a career in education?I became an educator because I believed I could make a positive difference in the lives of others. I believe education is a calling and a great service to individual students and a greater community.

Previously: Director of education, Eagle Ranch Children’s HomeEducation: Bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, master’s from Georgia State University, Education Specialist from Georgia State UniversityFamily: Wife Chris, daughters Jamie and Lindsey and son J. WadeHobbies: Reading, basketball, camping and boating

What goals do you have as principal?My focus this year is to get to

know the staff, students and parents in the CMCSI community. I look forward to seeing the school in “action” — visiting classrooms, working with students and building relationships with teachers and parents. One of my primary goals is to successfully integrate our school’s new technology into each classroom. We had the privilege of purchasing a substantial number of state-of-the-art instructional tools with charter funds this past spring and our hope is to fully utilize this

great resource.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing those with careers in education today?Meeting the needs of a diverse population of students and preparing them to succeed in a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world .

What do you think is the biggest challenge that students face?Students today battle distractions at every turn. In our media-rich

culture, students must use a greater amount of discernment and self-discipline than ever before to achieve academic goals.

Why did you choose a career in education?I wanted to create a classroom environment where all students were treated with dignity and challenged to grow socially, emotionally and intellectually. A career in education provided me the opportunity to invest my life in others.

4 Sunday, July 28, 2013 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes com Back to school

CMYK

BTS 4G

Daryl WhitePrincipal, Wood’s Mill Academy

NeW school leaDersIt’s not just the first day of school for students. Five principals — four in the Hall County system and one in Gainesville — are new to their schools, though not to the world

of academia. In fact, many have moved from previous leadership positions.

Jason carterPrincipal, Flowery Branch High School

Wade PearcePrincipal, Chestnut Mountain Creative School of Inquiry

Nat Gurley | The Times

SCOtt rOGerS | The Times

Previously: Assistant principal at Johnson High SchoolEducation: Master’s degree from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, doctorate from University of AlabamaFamily: Wife Courtney and daughters Madilyn and EllisynHobbies: golf, jogging and tennis

What goals do you have as principal?I feel like we need to help our students to start producing with technology. Students use technology and have access to it in our school, but I feel like we need to find ways for them to produce a product(s) with the technology.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing those with careers in education today?

Finding the balance in meeting the demands of standardized testing and being able to go more in-depth with their subject.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that students face?They have grown up in a digital world, and we are just now starting to catch up to the digital world in education. Sometimes they have to “power down” at school, and this may be difficult for a lot of our students.

Why did you choose a career in education?I had a high school counselor, Lois Roba, who had a huge impact on me during my high school career. I also wanted to remain active in athletics/coaching, and a career in education afforded me that opportunity.

SCOtt rOGerS | The Times

Previously: Principal of Mount Yonah Elementary School in White CountyEducation: Bachelor’s degree from University of South Florida, master’s from Georgia Southern, Education Specialist from University of FloridaFamily: Husband Michael, daughter Savanna and son DraytonHobbies: Fishing and boating

What goals do you have as principal?Refine our response to intervention programs and increase overall student achievement. The main goal is to establish long and lasting relationships with staff, students and the Oakwood community.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing those with careers in education today?The challenges are too numerous to count and are ever-evolving, as is the field of education. The challenge that I do wake up to every day is one of making a positive difference for those that I serve: kids, colleagues and community — whatever it takes!

What do you think is the biggest challenge that students face?Currently, I see the economy as a huge challenge for our students as it brings with it increased hardships on many already fragile families. I believe, as educators, many of us are seeing record numbers of homeless and hungry children whose basic needs are not able to be met by traditional measures.

Why did you choose a career in education?I began teaching dance at age 12. I loved the little ones and the excitement they brought for learning to the studio every day. That was my first teaching experience. Later on, my mom, who was also a teacher, suggested a career in education. Although my dad wanted an attorney, I chose the path of an educator and have never looked back. It truly has been a career full of rich experiences!

Sunday, July 28, 2013 5gainesvilletimes comThe Times, Gainesville, Georgia |Back to school

CMYK

BTS 5G

Accelerate Career & College!

40 MajorsHands-on SkillsLow Tuition Rate HOPE Grant Available98% Job Placement RateSACS COC & COE Accredited

Lanier TechnicalCollege

www.laniertech.eduPh. 770.531.6300 EOI

shane RayburnPrincipal, North Hall Middle School

Dana MagillPrincipal, Oakwood Elementary

Previously: Principal of Oakwood ElementaryEducation: Bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University, master’s from Augusta College, doctorate from University of GeorgiaFamily: Wife Jennifer, son Trent and daughter AlexisHobbies: Reading, writing, boating, scuba diving and photography

What goals do you have as principal?Students will be our focus. Our next generations are requiring us to rethink how we provide an education to them. Our goal at NHMS will be to move beyond “schooling” students and instead educate them by creating an environment that promotes intellectual curiosity about the world. My goal: I hope we can foster a culture that empowers students and promotes opportunities for empathy through relevant, authentic, rigorous, interconnected learning opportunities. During the first year, I’ll do a lot of listening. I’ll ask students what we need to do and how we can improve. I hope to build strong relationships and create spaces to dream new ways of doing school.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing those with careers in education today?The world is changing at light speed and schools are struggling

to keep up. Our students are already digital consumers and producers, and the way they engage in their worlds is often in conflict with what is offered in schools. The possibilities for accessing knowledge and creating new knowledge are just “clicks” or “taps” away for our students. Thus, schools have a new challenge of changing, too. The landscape of teaching is shifting, and there are competing voices at the table, especially on issues of accountability and measures of success. I think one of the greatest challenges for teachers is for them to remain true to their calling and feel

empowered enough to raise their voices among competing voices in the educational arena. What do you think is the biggest challenge that students face?Students are usually highly engaged in their “out-of-school” worlds and yet not necessarily engaged in school, because it seems to lack relevance to who they are as people. I think there is often a disconnect that happens between school and home and society. Students are bombarded with immediate-at-a-click content but are often not prepared to process or organize that information efficiently and

effectively. So, I’d challenge that students seem to struggle with creating and maintaining authentic, genuine relationships ... learning to see the greater need beyond oneself and equipping to change the world for the better. The challenges that students face are really signals for educators to pay attention; it’s our jobs to reassess and reshape what we do to meet the demands of this generation of students.

Why did you choose a career in education?School always worked for me, so it seemed like a great place to prepare to spend my life. My story of being a teacher starts with my years as a student. I followed the rules. I learned to read and write with relative ease. I knew early on that I wanted to be a teacher. In contrast, however, I had friends that did not fare so well in schools. They had different stories and they did not match the “one size fits all” notion in schools. They marched to the beat of different drums, and I found that fascinating and at the same time, puzzling. Students learn in myriad ways and have helped me to listen differently, to view them through different lenses and to ultimately tailor an education for them. That’s why I do what I do.

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

other principalsGainesville

Centennial Arts Academy: Charlene WilliamsEnota Multiple Intelligences Academy: Matt MaynorFair Street School: Will Campbell Gainesville Exploration Academy: Renee Boatright Gainesville High: LaCrisia LarkinGainesville Middle: Ken Martin New Holland Core Knowledge Academy: Pam Wood

Hall County

Chestatee High: Suzanne Jarrard Chestatee Academy: David Robles Chicopee Woods Elementary: Hank RameyDa Vinci Academy: Paula Stubbs C.W. Davis Middle: Eddie Millwood East Hall High: Jeff Cooper East Hall Middle: Vickie Tribble Flowery Branch Elementary: Susan Miller Friendship Elementary: Berry Walton Johnson High: Stan Lewis Lanier Charter Career Academy: Cindy BlakleyLanier Elementary: John Wiggins Lula Elementary: Matthew Alexander Lyman Hall Elementary: Robert Wilson Martin Technology Academy of Math and Science: Tamara Etterling McEver Arts Academy: Catherine RosaMount Vernon Exploratory: Connie Daniels Myers Elementary: Beth Hudgins North Hall High: Joe Gheesling Riverbend Elementary: Debra Smith Sardis Enrichment: Neil Yarrington South Hall Middle: Paula Stubbs Spout Springs School of Enrichment: Steven McDaniel Sugar Hill Elementary: Beth Skarda Tadmore Elementary: Robin Gower Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy: Jo Dinnan West Hall High: Greg Williams West Hall Middle: Karla Swafford White Sulphur Elementary: Betsy AinsworthWorld Language Academy: David Moody

BY CARLY SHARECcsharec@gainesvilletimes.com

Students aren’t the only ones who will hopefully be renewed and refreshed at the beginning of the school year. Many schools, within both the Hall County and Gaines-ville systems, are currently being remodeled to be ready by the be-ginning of the school year.

One, a newly constructed Fair Street School, won’t quite make it in time, opting instead for an October reveal. But minor changes at Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy in Gainesville will be finished way ahead of the Aug. 12 school open-ing date.

The two main projects in the Hall County system, North Hall and Johnson high schools, will be com-plete as well.

The Science, Technology, En-gineering and Math Academy at North Hall is a renovation of an existing building, meant to serve students in that program. The caf-eteria at Johnson is for all students, with an increase in room allowing for more students to be seated at a time and for students to have a little bit longer to enjoy lunch.

Fair Street SchoolIt’s not just a renovation — it’s

a complete reconstruction of the historic school, a reconstruction unique in and of itself.

When it opens in October, the $17.9 million Fair Street School will give a nod to its place in community history but also be a representation of what’s in store for the future.

“It is not like any elementary school you’ll ever see,” Principal Will Campbell said. “It’s a historic piece of our community.”

The school was reconstructed to be a true piece of the community, including a heritage hall open to the community for events and meet-ings.

Campbell envisions family re-unions and weddings being held in the hall.

“On both sides will be trophy cases with memorabilia from the 76-year history of Fair Street,” Campbell said. “Like the football championship the high school won in the mid-1950s, yearbooks, report cards and various historically sig-nificant items.”

At a recent meeting of the Gainesville City School Board, Campbell was presented with the college diploma of Frances Mead-

ows, as well as a certificate from Meadows’ time as a county com-missioner. Meadows was a gradu-ate of Fair Street when it was a high school, and Campbell will place these items in the hall for viewing.

Any events in the hall will be sep-arated from the school, Campbell said, so there will be no meetings between students and people from the groups. Safety should not be an issue, he said.

The gymnasium is not the small

space sometimes seen at the el-ementary school level, but is a full-size, fully equipped gym.

Fair Street students will begin their year at Wood’s Mill Academy, where they have been for the last year, with the new school expected to be inaugurated at some point in mid-October. An official opening date has not been set, but Campbell is confident that the students will be moved into the school by Oct. 31 at the latest.

Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy

Also renovated in a significant construction project this year was Gainesville’s Enota Multiple Intel-ligences Academy. The work was basic but necessary. Construction involved replacing the roof and 32 air conditioning units.

Lighting, the ceiling grid and ceil-ing tiles also were all replaced.

Project administrator David Shumake said the project is nearly complete, well ahead of the begin-ning of the school year. Total costs are $763,388.

North Hall High School’s STEM Academy

North Hall High students are in for a treat when they view the build-ing’s new Science, Technology, En-gineering and Mathematics wing for the first time.

The STEM academy is taking over the right-hand wing of the building, if you’re outside looking from the front. The classes origi-nally located in that area were simi-lar tech courses, like drafting and welding, which still will be located in that area.

“We want these kids to have everyday experiences, where the skills that they learn here they can transfer into the workplace,” Da-mon Gibbs, executive director of

facilities with Hall County Schools, said. “We’re already planning for next summer; we’re going to do the roofing and HVAC next summer in this building.

The main difference will be that the originally large classrooms will be split up, making for six class-rooms in that section of the build-ing, which Gibbs said will better use the space.

It will also be friendlier to tech-nology, with all rooms set up for Internet access.

“It will all be wireless technol-ogy,” Gibbs said.

The project was more extensive than Gibbs had anticipated, includ-ing completely redoing the brick exterior. It’ll be more energy-effi-cient, he said, but it was a snag that was not originally planned.

The cost of the project was around $1.6 million, Gibbs said.

That particular wing of the school was originally the cafeteria, but had been made into classrooms over the years. Now it will be spe-cifically for the focused STEM program as national and state ex-pectations lean more toward en-couraging students in technical ca-reers to compete on both a national and global scale.

According to the North Hall High School website, students will enter the STEM academy as freshmen, and will continue the program as they meet certain qualifications. The STEM academy application requires test scores, teacher rec-ommendations and a student essay.

Johnson High SchoolThe cafeteria at Johnson High

School will seat up to 600 students at a time, up from the current 300, which made for a tight fit and shorter lunch sessions for students.

With the expanded cafeteria, Gibbs said the plan now is to seat around 450 students comfortably.

“There are over 1,200 kids, and we only had four possible serving times at lunch,” he said. “We can feed them in three sittings instead of four, which will give them a little bit longer.”

There will be no changes to the lunch lines themselves. There were already three serving lines in place, with Gibbs saying there is no need at the moment to add another sta-tion.

The project cost around $1 mil-lion, according to Gibbs. It included a little bit of exterior work on the ramps.

6 Sunday, July 28, 2013 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes com Back to school

CMYK

BTS 6G

Tuesday, July 30th • Wednesday, July 31st

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Fall Registration

Sign Up Today!Gymnastic Builds...

Strength • Flexibility • Coordination Confidence • Self Esteem

www.gainesvillegymnastics.com

112 Clarks Bridge Road

The Gainesville School of

Gymnastics

Many people ask what kind of child comes to Eagle Ranch. Our answer is simple: a child you know. A child whose family has tried to find answers, is struggling and desperate for help. Eagle Ranch children come from all backgrounds, and all face challenges: trouble fitting in, academic struggles, defiance, anger, lack of confidence. They find a common bond in crisis, a point that to some families is the lowest in their lives. But crisis can also provide the bedrock for change.

The goal of the Eagle Ranch program is to lead children to lifelong change. It’s not just about making a child well-behaved; it’s about changing their heart. It’s about uncovering potential and showing a child they have worth. It’s about time-honored principles of respect, honor, work ethic and responsibility.

It’s showing a family that things don’t have to be the way they’ve always been. It’s showing how Christ gives grace and mercy, making brokenness whole again.

Now Accepting Applications for Children in Elementary and Middle School

Post Office Box 7200 • Chestnut Mountain • Georgia 30502t: 770.967.8500 • f: 770.967.3757 • EagleRanch.org

For more information please call 770-536-6334K3-12th Grades

5135 McEver Road • Oakwood, GA 30566www.MCAGeorgia.com

School Starts on

August 16, 2013

“A Place to Learn, Grow and Achieve”

Some schools will open with renovated spaces

Photos by SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Cruz Aguilar cleans newly installed tile on the floor at Johnson High. The school’s cafeteria is getting a face-lift and a larger dining space for students.

The Fair Street School student drop-off area is in the location of the original driveway of the school. School buses drop kids off on the back side of the building.

BY CARLY SHARECcsharec@gainesvilletimes.com

Just as important as being in school is getting to school. That’s where the transporta-tion department steps in and coordinates hundreds of school buses on routes throughout Gainesville and Hall County.

Both school systems are keeping an eye on roads that have been closed after be-ing washed out from summer rains.

The main concern for the Gainesville route is Lenox Drive off Athens Highway, which remains closed after a storm drain pipe failed.

“I think that it’ll be ready for the first of August,” Jerry Castleberry, Gainesville direc-tor of transportation, said. But, just in case, there is a plan in place.

“We would use an extra bus that would go in off of Floyd Road and pick up in the 2500-2600 blocks of Lenox Drive,” he said.

Hall County’s concern is with the closed McEver Road and

Stephens Road near Flowery Branch. Both of those roads are still closed, as well.

“We’ll just drive around them,” Hall Director of Trans-portation Jewel Armour said. “Go in from the other side.” He said that he is hopeful the roads will be repaired before school, and in the meantime is keep-ing his fingers crossed that no other roads end up closed.

The Gainesville bus fleet welcomes three new vehicles for this upcoming school year, each with the capacity of 90 passengers.

“We have new buses, no new routes,” said Castleberry. “It’s pretty much the same as last year.”

There are no new bus routes in Hall County either, said Ar-mour. He said that some routes may be slightly changed, but nothing specific.

“We always tweak our routes during the summer because we have to allow for the new students ... and make room for them,” Armour said.

Hall added 20 LP buses last year for more fuel efficiency.

The LP buses run on pro-pane liquefied petroleum gas, making them more fuel-effi-cient and cost-effective.

Armour added that bus routes will be posted at each school, so parents may go up and see when and where a school bus is expected to pick up and drop off students.

Gainesville schools are con-tinuing something that began last school year, which is hav-ing two satellite drop-off loca-tions, one at Estates Drive, off of Riverside Drive, and one on Green Street.

“It worked well last year, and we plan to continue that,” Castleberry said.

As both school systems con-tinue to monitor the skies and the road conditions, they ask motorists to be careful around school buses and their passen-gers over the course of the up-coming school year.

“They need to be really careful,” Armour said. “Watch for children waiting at the bus stops, and watch for school buses. Slow down around both.”

BY CARLY SHARECcsharec@gainesvilletimes.com

If the keyword of last school year was Common Core, this year’s word may just be testing.

A new End of Course Test for analytic geometry will be in place, and schools will also begin the implementation process of the Student Learning Objec-tives, which will be the tests in place for classes that don’t currently fall under either EOCT or Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests.

Students, teachers and parents can expect to see more difficult tests, de-signed to increase standards. Some of the CRCT tests, for example, have been redesigned to reflect the more rigorous Common Core standards. More of that should be expected for the upcoming school year as well, said Eloise Barron, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning with Hall County Schools.

The goal is to build standardized tests that calculate understanding, not just re-gurgitation of facts.

“It’s a good thing,” Barron said, “be-cause a lot of times, multiple choice tests were very focused kind of answers. They have tried to take multiple choice tests and turn them into deeper depth-of-knowledge questions.”

The analytic geometry test is ex-pected to follow in the footsteps of the recently added coordinate algebra. Stu-dents across the state scored abysmally on the test, with just slightly more than 30 percent meeting or exceeding the standards.

Education leaders said that the low scores were due to the more rigorous standards, and it would take students and teachers time to adjust.

There are concerns that the results from the geometry EOCT will follow the trend of low scores with coordinate algebra.

“I would imagine those same students that had difficulty with coordinate al-gebra, if they squeaked through, they very well may have problems with the geometry,” Barron said, pointing out that math classes are sequential. “If you don’t have a strong foundation in alge-bra, there are algebraic concepts that you have to carry into geometry.”

Sarah Bell, director of academic pro-grams and standards with Gainesville City Schools, said she also expects the test to be as rigorous as the coordinate al-gebra test. She anticipates lower scores as students and teachers adjust.

“I feel like our teachers have done an

excellent job of learning the new stan-dards, teaching them well and getting our students prepared,” she said. “We just know it’s going to take some time.”

Generally speaking, coordinate alge-bra is taught to freshmen, and the ana-lytic geometry course would be for high school sophomores, Barron said.

From a curriculum and standard viewpoint, not a lot will change in the classroom this year. The state had been considering adopting the Next Genera-tion Science Standards, also known as the Common Core for science, but that adoption as been postponed as the state continues its review.

Common Core was in place for math and English/language arts for the 2012-13 school year, and both Barron and Bell expect that it will only get easier from this point.

Though Georgia leaders have an-nounced they will develop their own assessments for Common Core, the standards themselves are expected to remain in schools.

“My guess is whether we stay with Common Core or drop it ... nothing’s go-ing to change that much,” Barron said. “I directed the development of (the Geor-gia Performance Standards) at the De-partment of Education, and we worked with a lot of national groups. We hired national experts to help us develop that curriculum.

“So we weren’t that surprised when the Common Core came out, because they were pretty much aligned to the GPS,” she added.

She said teachers should not be con-cerned about significant changes in cur-riculum.

Bell said she is “really thankful to have this time to practice with all of (the) new initiatives.”

Sunday, July 28, 2013 7gainesvilletimes comThe Times, Gainesville, Georgia |Back to school

CMYK

BTS 7G

New tests roll out for students

Officials keep eye on roads weakened by summer rains

SCOTT ROGERS | The Times

Rains are keeping crews from completing work on the washed-out portion of McEver Road in Flowery Branch. Hall County Schools Director of Transportation Jewel Armour said if the road is not repaired before the start of school, buses likely will have to drive around the problem areas, coming in from the other side to pick up children.

‘My guess is whether we stay with Common Core or drop

it ... nothing’s going to change that much.’Eloise Barron, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning with Hall County Schools

8 Sunday, July 28, 2013 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes com BACK TO SCHOOL

CMYK

BTS 8G

Points of Pride 2012 - 2013

�is ad presented by �e Times in conjunction with the Gainesville City School System as a community service.

DISTRICT RECOGNITIONS AND HONORSCharter System Application Renewed by

State Board for 2013-2023

Opened the P.K. Dixon Field House at Bobby Gruhn Field

United Way Chairman’s Award

UCLA-Scholastic-AASA Comprehensive System of Learning Supports Exemplar District

ACADEMIC AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONSGainesville High School Literary

Region 8-AAAAA Championship

Gainesville High School Varsity Academic Bowl Region 8-AAAAA Championship

Gainesville High School Family Consumer Careers Leadership Association (FCCLA)

State STAR Event Winners: Four Teams to National Competition in July 2013

Gainesville High School Health Occupations: 9 Students Quali�ed for State Finals

Gainesville High School �espian Troupe 2445: GOLD Honor Status Award Highest Achievement

Gainesville High School Robotics Alliance: VEX Robotics Regional Winner

Placed 35th at World Championships

Gainesville Middle School Robotics: Highest Score in FIRST Competition

Gainesville High School and Gainesville Middle School Drug Free Coalition Video Production Winners

Enota Multiple Intelligences Academy: Department of Education Family Friendly School Award

Wood’s Mill Academy: Edgenuity Exemplary Blended Learning Program 2013

Gainesville Middle School Ru�n Reading Bowl 3rd Place State

Centennial Arts Academy Ru�n Reading Bowl: 2nd Place State, 1st Place in Essay

Gainesville High School JROTC: 1st Place Area 12 (State) Championship

Elite 22: 2nd Place in Navy National Competition

Gainesville High School 2013 Georgia Advanced Placement Honors Awards: AP STEM School and AP Achievement School

Gainesville High School: U.S. News and World ReportBest High Schools in Georgia

Gainesville Middle School Chorus and Band: Superior Ratings in High Note Competition

Gainesville High School Band: Superior Ratings High Note Competition

Gainesville Middle School: 16 Students Quali�ed for Duke Talent Identi�cation Program

Fair Street IB World School and New Holland Knowledge Academy Family and Early Literacy Program

Recognition for “Read and Rise” ImpactEd

Gainesville Exploration Academy: High Flying School Award 2012 National Drop Out Prevention Network

Gainesville High School: Two Governors Honors Finalist

Gainesville High School: 3 National Merit Nominees1 Semi�nalist

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTSGainesville High School Football: State AAAAA Championship

Bruce Miller: AAAAA Coach of the YearDeshaun Watson: Region 9 and State AAAAA Player of the Year

Gainesville High School Girls Volleyball: Region 8-AAAAA Runner Up

Sweet 16 State Finals

Gainesville Middle School: Hall County Cross Country ChampionshipGainesville High School Boys Basketball:

Region 8-AAAAA ChampionshipState Runner Up AAAAA Champioship

Todd Cottrell: Region 8-AAAAA Coach of the YearState AAAAA Coach of the Year

Gainesville High School Girls Tennis Region 8-AAAAA Championship

State Quarter�nalsKellie Smith: Region 8-AAAAA Coach of the Year

Gainesville High School Boys Tennis 2nd Place Region 8-AAAAA State Quali�er Round 2

C.J.Weaver: Region 8-AAAAA Coach of the Year

Gainesville High School Boys Soccer: Region 8-AAAAA Runner Up

Sweet 16 State Play-o�sRicardo Gomez: Region 8-AAAAA Player of the Year

Gainesville Middle School Boys Soccer: Hall County Championship

Gainesville High School Girls Soccer: Region 8-AAAAA 4th Place

1st Round State Playo�sHartley Carter: Region 8-AAAAA Player of the Year

Gainesville High School Baseball Region 8-AAAAA Championship

State Quarter�nalsJeremy Kemp: Region 8-AAAAA Coach of the Year

Gainesville Middle School Baseball: Hall County Championship

Gainesville High School Women’s Golf: Region 8-AAAAA Championship

Clay McDonald: 8-AAAAA Coach of the Year3rd Place State AAAAA Championship

Gainesville High School Men’s Golf: Region 8-AAAAA Championship

Bryson Worley: 8-AAAAA Coach of the YearState AAAAA Championship

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS OF NOTEPam Ware “Woodru� Salutes the Arts” Award 2012

William Morris: Georgia STAR Student 2013

Alex Longoria: Gates Millenium Scholar

Ben Lieu: Recipient of Congressional AppointmentU.S. Naval Academy

Jerry Castleberry: Phillip Wright Award

Sue Williamson: Centerpoint Counselor of the Year

Kathy Kelley: Liberty Bell AwardNortheast Georgia Bar Association

COLLEGE AND CAREER READY HIGHLIGHTSOver $3 Million of Scholarship Awards

(Including the HOPE Scholarship Awards)