GA HS Sports: Carver-Columbus & Baldwin HS

Carver-Columbus & Baldwin HS
Beyond the Game

Friday night is Football night for most Georgia high schools. Georgia Public Broadcasting and Score Atlanta are collaborating to cover the 2009 high school football season from the first game to the season championships at the Georgia Dome. Check out the Football Fridays in Georgia website for stats, interviews and live streaming of the game. We are all proud of our student athletes and their accomplishments on the field each week. Here are some facts and programs you might not know about our featured schools.

Georgia Washington Carver High School

3100 8th Street
Columbus, GA 31906

http://www.carverhighschool.com/

On Fridays, the "on the field focus" is on the student athletes and the game they play. Mr. Christopher Lindsey, Carver Principal, asked Georgia Graduation Stories to focus on Carver's Math, Science, & Technology magnet program for our Beyond the Game feature. Thank you to Ms. Joyce Lee for providing information on the Integrated Math, Science & Technology Magnet Program (IMST).

Begun in 1991, Carver's IMST program was designed to serve students who exemplify a strong interest and aptitude in Math and in Science combined with an emphasis on Technology. Students with a strong interest in Math, Science and Technology move through a hands-on curriculum in those areas. In addition, the program offers a well rounded, individualized curriculum for all students. To qualify for the IMST program at Carver, students must successfully complete Advanced Math and maintain a cumulative average of 3.0 or higher in all Math and Science courses. In addition, prospective students must present a letter of recommendation from both a Science and a Math teacher, acceptable scores on standardized tests and an interview with the Principal or Lead Teacher. Magnet School students are required to balance accomplishments at the school with those in the community. For school, each student develops and completes an in-depth research project and a senior seminar. In addition, each student is required to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours annually toward Service Learning and must participate in various Math and Science competitions.

Listed below are just a few of the accomplishments and success stories of the students at Carver's Integrated Math, Science & Technology program:

* 100% pass rate on all portions of the Georgia High School Graduation Test on the first attempt

*Presidential scholarships to major universities

*Recruitment of graduations by such post secondary institutions as University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn University, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame and Tuskegee

*Student appointment to the United States Military Academ at West Point and to the United States Naval Academy

*Winner of Sony Student Abroad Program in Japan

*Regional and state winners at Science Fair and at Math competions

Baldwin High School

110 North ABC Street

Milledgeville, GA 31061

http://baldwin.schooldesk.net/

Mr. Lyn Chandler, Principal, provided background information on Baldwin that describes a High School that is working hard to support and focus on the education needs of all the students in the school.

Educating Everyone Takes Everyone

Educate to Graduate

This philosophy describes the approach the faculty and staff use to educate the approximately 1,400 Baldwin students. Indications are that their approach is working. There has been an upward trajectory in Baldwin's graduation rate, including a marked increase in 2008 (69.3%) and 2009. These statistics are matched by a corresponding decrease in the student dropout rate.

Milestones for Baldwin High School include:

*Govenor's Challenge Cup Award for Gain on the SAT

*Georiga Work Ready Grant

*II-D ITEE Grants in Science & Math

*Enterprise Small Learning Communities Grant

*GLRS SPDG Project (Georgia Graduation / Dropout Prevention Project

Athletics, particularly Football and Basketball, are an outstanding feature at Baldwin High School. Another point of pride for the BHS community is the school's Visual and Performing Arts program. Baldwin High School is one of the few Georgia high schools with a program that students can follow to earn a Fine Arts Endorsement on their diploma. Students can participate in Band, Choral, Dance and Theater as well as Visual Arts and Gallery work. Fame, the Musical is scheduled to be the Theater Department's fall '09 production.

The big news is that Baldwin High School is renovating and building a new Fine Arts Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, complete with a 1,000 seat auditorium. Thank you to Mr. Lyn Chandler, Baldwin's Principal, for the images of the soon to be Fine Arts Center.

See more pictures in a slide show format.

GA Graduation and Collaboration Coaches Highlighted

SOLUTIONS TO THE DROPOUT CRISIS

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Graduation & Collaboration Coaches: Working Effectively Together

presented by
Dr. Laura Brown and Ms. Fran Bay

*Learn how Graduation & Collaboration Coaches have contributed to an increase in Georgia's Graduation rate

*Learn about the roles of these Graduation & Collaboration Coaches

This webcast will address a framework for dropout prevention that has been effective in Georgia. The state's Graduation Coach program provides early intervention services to students at risk for dropping out of school. The state's graduation rate has increased from 72.3% in 2007 to 75.4% in 2008 - a record high. This 3.1% rate increase represents 8,277 additional graduates for the 2007-2008 school year. The State's dropout rate decreased from 4.1% to 3.7%. Georgia also funds Collaboration Coaches to assist middle and high schools in developing support for students with disabilities. Schools implement strategies for engaging students academically and behaviorally as well as focusing on affective needs.

On the day of the webcast, log on 10-30 minutes early to ensure you are connected to the broadcast @ www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. You should just hear music until the program begins @ 3:30. If you have problems connecting, call Eric Rodgers @ 864.656.4550.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
Supplementary materials are now available online. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the website. For further questions, contact the National Dropout Prevention Center or call 864.656.2580.

PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBCAST
Participation in this webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the website. On the day of the webcast, link to the broadcast. This webcast is produced with support from Penn Foster. If you have trouble with the link, copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:

http://www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast

See What's New

NEW FEATURES FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

GPB’s Georgia Graduation Stories blog is now on Facebook! Be one of the first to become a member of the group and share your support for all Georgia students making the incredible journey towards the goal of High School graduation.

Facebook is just one of the new features we are adding for the new school year. Stay in touch so you don’t miss out on any of the stories, pictures and resources.

Champions at Work: Student Success Through SkillsUSA

Students Ready for the Workplace

Buses pull up in front of the building. Students unload and move to their classroom, ready for a day of learning and tests. Sounds familiar, but this day in mid-April, 2009, is designed to be a different kind of learning experience.

The ten buses are chartered, the buildings are not schools but businesses and convention centers in Metro Atlanta, and the students are there to show off their workplace skills in competition with their peers. This is Georgia's SkillsUSA state competition. Representing 130-140 Georgia schools, the students enter the real world work place environment designed by business and industry partners to be as true to life as possible. Students dress to industry standards on the day of competition whether it be automotive, construction, electrical or broadcast just to name a few careers represented. Winners in each category at this level move onto the national competition.

The Broadcast competition was held in the studios of Georgia Public Broadcasting. Six teams of high school students competed in the Television News category in team of four: 2 Anchors (red jackets), a Director and a Floor Director. Two teams made up the Radio News event. Both groups were responsible for researching, writing and producing their stories.




The Teams came from the following High Schools:
Grayson Technical High School
Rockdale Career Academy
Salem High School
Lovejoy High School
Miller Grove High School
Centennial High School

View the slide show to see all the students who competed at GPB.


For more information, contact:
Gayle Silvey, State Director
SkillsUSA Georgia
73 Price Quarters Road #129
McDonough, GA 30253
770.914.6288
gsilvey@skillsusageorgia.org

Thank you to Mike Nixon for the photograph taken at the Automotive Work Station.

Jump Start on College Credit for Georgia High School Students

DeVry University Offers Passport2College Program This Summer

Georgia High School students who will be entering their junior or senior year in the fall of 2009 need to check out DeVry University's Passport2College Program being offered this summer. Qualified students who enroll in the program will earn college credit, getting a jump-start on their college education. There is no tuition cost for the Passport2College Program, but qualified students are responsible for the cost of the textbooks.

Application Deadline: June 8, 2009

Students with an interest in the areas of business and/or technology and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher should see if this opportunity fits their needs.

For more information:
Visit the DeVry website
Email bwright@DeVry.edu
Call 404.270.2800 or 800.221.4771, ext. 2742800

NASA Offers Education Programs for Students

NASA Online Learning Community and Summer Studies Available to High School Students


High School students interested in careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are encouraged to visit the NASA Education website. NASA is accepting applications for the Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience (INSPIRE) program. Eligible students will have the opportunity to participate in an online learning community that allows them to interact with their peers and with NASA scientists and engineers.

Students selected for the online learning community will then have the option to compete for placement in programs for the summer of 2010 held at NASA facilities and participating universities throughout the country.

Schedule for Application Process

Activity	Deadline
Applications for the INSPIRE Online Learning Community accepted:	May 1 to June 30, 2009
Students selected for the Online Learning Community will be notified:	Sept., 2009
Eligible Online Learning Community members provide additional documents to compete for optional 2010 summer experiences.	Fall, 2009
Online Learning Community members selected for summer experiences notified.	Spring, 2010

Webcast: Call Me MISTER

SOLUTIONS TO THE DROPOUT CRISIS

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Call Me MISTER

presented by
Dr. Roy Jones

*How can we partner with colleges and universities to address the shortage of teachers in our struggling schools?

*Learn about the many components of the Call Me Mister Program

This webcast will explore the fundamental principles that provide the guidance and foundation for the success of the nationally recognized Call Me MISTER program model. It is the goal of Call Me MISTER, now in its ninth year, to address the the shortage of teachers serving in some of the state's most struggling primary schools. Both the South Carolina and national initiative strategy will be examined. We will also discuss Project Middle Passage, a Call Me MISTER outreach component focused on mentoring and developing 6th, 7th, and 8th grade middle school African American boys. It is our belief that by successfully placing strong teachers in elementary calssrooms among at-risk among at-risk populations, we will have a positive impact on stemming the deplorable dropout rate.

Visit the Call Me MISTER (acronym for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Rose Models) website for more information on this national initiative.

On the day of the webcast, log on 10-30 minutes early to ensure you are connected to the broadcast @ www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
Supplementary materials are now available online. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the website. For further questions, contact the National Dropout Prevention Center or call 864.656.2580.

PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBCAST
Participation in this webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the website. On the day of the webcast, link to the broadcast. This webast is produced with support from Penn Foster. If you have trouble with the link, copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:

http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,P1,F063CEFD-2B16-4933-9440-BC7ACFDCF044

Georgia Student Media Festival

Student Work Judged at Annual Media Festival

May 1, 2009, over 160 judges assembled at Georgia Public Broadcasting to begin the process of reviewing work from over 1,100 of Georgia's K-12 students. This 33rd year of the Georgia Student Media Festival (GSMF) allowed groups of educators, media specialists, instructional technology specialists and university students to review the student produced media projects that had already earned high scores in competition at both the local building and system levels. The projects are organized into categories that include: Live Action, Animation, Sequential Stills, Electronic Picture Book, Electronic Photographic Essay, Interactive Stills and Website.

Student projects submitted to the state level of competition are awarded rankings of Superior (96-100), Merit (90-95) or Participation (Below 90). Projects are judged on their own merits for excellence in production, writing, creativity, lighting and impact. Students whose work earns a Superior at the state level will be entered into competiton at the International Student Media Festival (ISMF). Deborah Hargroves, IMSF Coordinator, says that Georgia is always well represented at this highest level of competition.

These instructional technology and media projects provide students with a creative outlet, along with:
*opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of technology
*an outlet to extend the learning beyond the classroom
*opportunity for self-expression
*another pathway for student success

Michelle Linderman

Deborah Gray (Gwinnett Co. Schools) and Michelle Lenderman (Bibb Co. Schools) served as C0-Chairs for the 2009 GSMF. Dr. Gordon Baker, Director, Libraries at Clayton State University Library, served on the leadership team. Joni Jones (Rockdale Co. Schools) designed the GSMF website.

Deborah Gray (GSMF) and Marylyn Stansbury, Director of Education & Outreach, GPB

Some of the Judging Stations

The Georgia Student Media Festival is sponsored by the Georgia Association for Instructional Technology, Inc. (GAIT), and the Georgia Library Association (GLA), in partnership with Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB).

Webcast: Dropout Prevention in the Digital Society

SOLUTIONS TO THE DROPOUT CRISIS

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Dropout Prevention in the Digital Society

presented by
Ms. Doris Settles

*How much do you know about the new digital world our students live in?

*What do you need to know to protect your students from its potential dangers?

*How can we use current technology to positively engage students in schools?

Being a teenager today is very different from when most of us reading this description were struggling with our own teen angst. Today students have no privacy, no "safe place," and an audience that is truly, truly global. All with the click of a mouse. They are the "digital natives." Doris Settles will discuss solutions for the adult community, "the digital immigrants," to make education, work skills and social interaction relevant, rigorous, and safe for these "digital natives. This always-on, always-connected environment is foreign to most of us, and the technologically immersed environment in which they live has little, if any, connection to the world run by adults, disengaging those already headed for dropping out even further. The solution, according to Settles, is to work together.

On the day of the webcast, log on 10-30 minutes early to ensure you are connected to the broadcast @ www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
Supplementary materials are now available online. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the website. For further questions, contact the National Dropout Prevention Center or call 864.656.2580.

PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBCAST
Participation in this webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the website. On the day of the webcast, link to the broadcast. This webast is produced with support from Penn Foster. If you have trouble with the link, copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:

http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,P1,F063CEFD-2B16-4933-9440-BC7ACFDCF044

Digital Schoolhouse Conference for 21st Century Learning

Forsyth County Schools: Digital Schoolhouse Conferen

Technology Training for 21st Century Learners

On Saturday, March 28, educators from Forsyth County Schools gathered to hone their skills in creating a 21st Century learning environment for their students. The workshops and demonstrations for educators were organized under the heading of The Digital Schoolhouse.

Following the theme of Engage Me...With Technology, educators participated in a wide selection of workshop offerings geared to assisting them to provide new ways for using technology to engage their K-12 students. The generous schedule uncovered technology instruction through subjects such as Art, Poetry, Science, Virtual Communication and Language Arts. Georgia Public Broadcasting presented 2 sessions on the educational resources it offers to all educators in the state.

The Digital Schoolhouse Conference booklet states Forsyth County's vision for Digital Learning as using classroom technology to engage students in asking questions and choosing tools to facilitate real world problem solving. Chief Technology & Information Officer, Baily Mitchell, states that there should be no divide between instruction and technology instruction. There is only one thing - good instruction.

According to Director of Instructional Technology, Jill Hobson, the first Digital School House Conference was inspired by the experience of hosting a National School Board Association Technology Site Visit in 2005. The first Digital Schoolhouse took place in 2006 with the 2009 conference being the third of a growing tradition.

Webcast: Improving Graduation Rates Through Virtual Schooling

SOLUTIONS TO THE DROPOUT CRISIS

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Improving Graduation Rates Through Virtual Schooling

presented by
Mr. Stuart Udelll

*What role can virtual schooling play in dropout prevention?

*What success have others had with virtual schools?

*With current budget restrictions, are virtual schools cost effective?

In his 2008 book Disrupting Class, Clayton Christensen, Harvard business School professor and noted author on disruptive technology and innovation, suggests that within the next decade, U.S. high school students may be taking up to 5o% of their courses virtually. While independent virtual schools have begun to proliferate outside the traditional school system, Stuart will discuss alternative models of virtual schooling that school and districts may embrace to keep students "within their borders". In addition, he will examine the potential for helping to improve graduation rates through virtual education models.

On the day of the webcast, log on 10-30 minutes early to ensure you are connected to the broadcast @ www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
Supplementary materials are now available online. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the website. For further questions, contact the National Dropout Prevention Center or call 864.656.2580.

PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBCAST
Participation in this webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the website. On the day of the webcast, link to the broadcast. This webast is produced with support from Penn Foster. If you have trouble with the link, copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:

http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,P1,F063CEFD-2B16-4933-9440-BC7ACFDCF044

Webcast: Improving the Graduation Rate

SOLUTIONS TO THE DROPOUT CRISIS

Strategic Planning to Improve the
Graduation Rate

presented by

Ms. Deb Dillon

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

3:30-4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

*Learn where to start to raise your school's graduation rate.

*Find out about Systemic Renewal and how one school system has used this process of planning and continuous review of results to help keep kids in school.

The Fargo Public Schools, Fargo, ND, never suffered from the severely low graduation rates experienced in some areas of the country. However, in the upper Midwest, with an exceptional work ethic and high value placed on education, an 83% graduation rate was considered unacceptable. In 2003, the Fargo Schools contracted with the National Dropout Prevention Center at Clemson University to conduct a Program Assessment and Review (PAR). PAR is a systemic assessment and planning process to assist schools and school districts to plan solutions for keeping students in school and improving graduation rates. The PAR provided the school district with ten recommendations, and the district has been building on those suggestions, bringing the graduation rate up to 90%. Deb Dillon, Fargo Public Schools Director of Alternative Programs, has been coordinating these efforts, and she will share the process the district has used.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
Supplementary materials are now available online. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the website. For further questions, contact the National Dropout Prevention Center or call 864.656.2580.

PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBCAST
Participation in this webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the website. On the day of the webcast, link to the broadcast. If you have trouble with the link, copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:

http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,P1,F063CEFD-2B16-4933-9440-BC7ACFDCF044

Young Women in Science & Technology

Young Women in Science and Technology (YWIST)

This is the tenth year that DeVry University has sponsored this daylong event as a service program for Georgia high schools. The goals of the program are to encourage and reinforce young women's interest in careers involving science and technology and to increase the number of young women pursing these careers. Over 400 high school juniors and seniors from all over Georgia along with their parents, teachers and guidance counselors had a day to explore career options, to be motivated by a panel of outstanding women professionals and to celebrate dreams for the future. The November 13th event was offered at no charge to the participants.

The students pictured to the left are in AP Computer Science at Centennial High School in Fulton County. They came to the YWIST event with ideas about careers in medicine and business. Their teacher hoped that they would be exposed to different aspects of technology and hear about additional new career options. The other adult with this group was a mother of one of the students. She was pleased to see how this program added to her daughter's long standing interest in technology and potentially provide some clarity on a path to a career. She was also pleased to see the theme of women in technology being promoted.

The next group of young women and moms were some of the representatives from the Center for Engineering and Applied Technology at Atlanta's Frederick Douglas High School. They talked enthusiastically about the process of applying as 8th graders with strong grades and written essays for selection into a program that now defines their high school experience.

The mothers' offered their own perspective on the day. They saw their participation in this event an another way to become informed and to be there for their daughters. A good education, good grades and GPA are all part of an overall plan that has to be in place to help these young women set goals and achieve success

Morgan County High School students along with Mr. Eric Hamilton, Assistant Principal started their day at 5:30 am in order to participate in the YWIST event. The students participate in the MCHS Math & Science Academy. The day's activities were part of a larger school strategy to encourage young women to follow careers of excellence, empower then to achieve and to formulate and follow their dreams. To have the MCHS students see women who have found success in a career of their choice and to hear the women's stories was a large motivation to make the trip.

The reflections of the students took shape in takeaway messages:
learned more about science and technology wants to persue careers in science broaden horizons always in style to be the best women should not feel inferior and can succeed you do not have to be a man to be powerful in this work

Panel Members provided equal portions of information and motivation through the stories of their own life stories and career goals. The Panel included:
Karen A. Albrecht, Engineering Site Director, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Rosemary Cloud, Fire Chief, East Point Fire Department
Lynn Do, President, RenovoData, Inc.
Sue Miller, Managing Consultant, MDI Group: President, WIT Foundation
Jacqueline Plair-Rushin, Director, Global Customer Care, InterContinental Hotels Group
Kanchana Raman, Founder, President & CEO Avion Systems, Inc.
Kim Ruple, Director of Contracts, Georgia Technology Authority


Visit the DeVry website to learn more about the University along with the YWIST program and sponsors.

Webcast: Solutions to the Dropout Crisis

SOLUTIONS TO THE DROPOUT CRISIS

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Connected Counseling:
Connecting Students to Success

presented by

Kitty Johnson

*Learn about an innovative approach to school counseling for All students.
*Find out how teachers and counselors can become advocates for students, helping them develop more positive attitudes towards school and thus stay in school with goals for the future.

Standards-based high school educational reform movements lead to the creation of the American School Counselors Association Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs. Saint Paul high school counselors across the district learned the model and created Connected Counseling: A Strategic Plan to Restructure St. Paul's High School Counseling Programs to raise graduation rates for all students.

Connected Counseling means students have connections to caring adults, supportive peers, challenging academic curricula, community partners, and the ability to create a Six Year Plan outlining their four years of high school and two years beyond. This broadcast will introduce you to Connected Counseling.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS

Supplementary materials are now available online. All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the website. For further questions, contact the National Dropout Prevention Center or call 864.656.2580.

PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBCAST

Participation in this webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the website. On the day of the webcast, link to the broadcast.

If you have trouble with the link, copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:

http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,P1,F063CEFD-2B16-4933-9440-BC7ACFDCF044

Dropout Prevention & Technology Webcast

Solutions to the Dropout Crisis

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Technology and Dropout Prevention—Tools, Tactics, and Things You Should Know

presented by

Dr. Chris Peters

Want to find out how to engage at-risk students in using technology?

How can I use technology with my students if I have a very tight budget?

Dr. Chris Peters will discuss positive ways that technology can be made part of any school’s dropout prevention strategy. Topics to be covered in this live discussion range from "big picture" issues such as developing realistic expectations of what technology can and can’t do, to spotlighting specific technologies that are both powerful and inexpensive. While aimed particularly at those working with students in the school setting, this program will hold valuable insights and recommendations for parents, community members, and at-risk students themselves.

Supplementary materials are now available online for this radio webcast at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast

All necessary information about participating fully in this professional development opportunity is found on the Web site at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact the National Dropout Prevention Center.

Participation in this radio Webcast is free and no registration is required. The program will be archived in its entirety on the Web site. On the day of the Webcast, link to the broadcast at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast.

Having trouble with the link? Simply copy and paste the entire address listed below into your web browser:
http://guest.cvent.com/i.aspx?1Q,P1,F063CEFD-2B16-4933-9440-BC7ACFDCF044

Sophomores Provide Leadership at GSMST

The Sophomores: Monica, Brian, Noor & Nikhil

Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology (GSMST) open as a charter high school in time for the 2007-2008 school year. The original Freshman Class is now the rising Sophomore Class and on track to be the first in everything at the school through their graduation as the Class of 2011.

Attending Boot Camp as mentors to the new students gave the Sophomores a chance to reflect on their first year in a school that had opened for the first time in 2007. They are very aware of there role as pioneers in shaping GSMST's potential. There were some days during the past school year that they found the demands of their studies to be overwhelming. There was high praise for the support offered to them by their peers and by the teachers. A high point of the year for this class was a TelePresence arranged to connect the GSMST student to students in Bangalore, India. The experience helped them realize just how technology is touching everything that is happening in the world. The message from the Sophomore Class is that GSMST is not a school for nerds. It is a school for students who want to work very hard in Science, Math and Technology while also enjoying opportunities in Foreign Language, Arts, Language Arts and Social Studies and all the clubs the school has to offer.


Thanks goes out to Mr. Chris Gegen and the members of GSMST's Digital Media Club, Asma, Noor & Bradley, for providing background on the school and for sharing their dreams.

Nikhil, GSMST's Student Government President, provided this quote:

Students who have an attitude for hard work and an aptitude for Math and Science will be successful at GSMST.

View video provided by GSMST website

Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology

Boot Camp for Freshman at GSMST

How do you measure a school or the success of a student? If you are an incoming Freshman at the Gwinnett School for Mathematics, Science and Technology (GSMST), the school part starts with an assignment in Boot Camp, a one-week summer intensive that orients new students to the expectations and rigor of this charter school.

Gathering the dimensions of the school is an actual assignment from Mr. Garrison, one of GSMST's math teachers. With mathematical guidance, simple tools and helpful partners, the students experience a typical assignment - hands-on, creative and technical.


One measure of success at GSMST are the stories of the individual students.

The Freshmen: Ning, Jeremy, & Ahanth

The Freshman Class has approximately 250 students who had a strong interest in Math, Science and Technology and were selected from a lottery of nearly 500 students. Boot Camp is designed for them. Transition from middle school to high school can be a challenge, but it is more so at a school where the courses are demanding at taught at an accelerated. Parents and students are on hand the first day of Camp to meet the teachers, understand expectations and experience a typical day. Members of GSMTS's Sophomore Class are on hand to serve as mentors to the new students. Their advice - know that the work will be hard, learn to manage your time, and get ready for an amazing experience.
By the end of the week, the Freshman were enthusiastically looking forward to the start of the new school year in August. The were eager to meet new friends who shared common interests and were looking forward to being challenged academically.





Thanks goes out to Mr. Chris Gegen and the members of GSMST's Digital Media Club, Asma, Noor & Bradley, for providing background on the school and for sharing their dreams.

View Video provided by GSMST website