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The Amana Journal / October 8, 2012 |
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Dear Amana Family Members,
A pioneer in the charter school movement is Ember Reichgott Junge, a former Minnesota state senator, and the author of Minnesota's 1991 first-in-nation charter school law. She spoke passionately and with wisdom last week at the October 4-5th Georgia Charter Schools Conference at the World Congress Center, which brought together hundreds of educators for sessions on curriculum & instruction, school governance, operations, and advocacy. Amana was represented by teachers Tasha Roth (6th grade) and Cherisse Campbell (now teaching at Roswell High), and EL School Designer Anne Vilen for representing Amana by presenting a session on Expeditionary STEM Education - see photo story below. Their session was made possible through a grant we received from the Georgia Department of Education to disseminate our unique brand of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics integration.
Overshadowing the conference, however, was the November 6th vote where Georgians will decided whether to approve a Constitutional Amendment that would allow the State to authorize an alternative charter school authorizing process. The voting ballot will ask voters the following question: "SHALL THE CONSTITUTION OF GEORGIA BE AMENDED TO ALLOW STATE OR LOCAL APPROVAL OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS UPON THE REQUEST OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES?" The question seems harmless enough, but it has created a spirited debate among policy makers, school systems, parents, agencies, and the press.
I understand why people are confused, as there are various types of charter schools (start-up, conversion, state-special, etc.). Also, there are different types of authorizers, some at the state-level (like Texas and NY) and others at the county-level (like Georgia). In case you are wondering, Amana is a "start-up" Fulton County chartered school.
 I had a chance to meet Ms. Junge the night before the conference at a book signing. Twenty years after her ground-breaking law was enacted, and with 2 million students enrolled in charter schools across America, she remains optimistic that parents will continue to seek choices in public education.
Ehab Jaleel
Executive Director |
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Key Dates | |
10/15 - NO School, Teacher Day
10/16 - NO School, Parent Conf's
10/20 - International Festival
10/22-26 - ITBS Testing
10/27 - Hands On Amana Day
10/28 - Family Fun Atl History Ctr
11/17 - TEDx Youth Day
Click Here for Complete Listing |
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Connect
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Ms. Hopkins-McClure Heads Up EdCamp Atlanta
 There is a growing ed tech movement in education centering around "unconferences" for professional development that is sweeping the nation. "Unconferences" have long been a source of learning in corporate sectors and now that mindset of learning is storming through the educational sector as well. On September 8, the first annual EdCamp Atlanta was launched by Wanda Hopkins-McClure, EdCamp Atlanta president and co-founder.
Edcamp Atlanta is a free, open "un-conference" committed to reaching all educators in public, private, charter, and higher ed environments with innovative learning using pioneering technologies and instructional strategies to transform teaching for all students. The focus of this year's EdCamp Atlanta was on transformative teaching using digital media.
Amana Academy educators represented well with Maria Annunziata and Kristen McNeil on hand to present a session to educators on STEM in the classroom. In all, approximately 115 engaged, passionate teachers attended and spent an uncompensated Saturday learning how to connect with other educators using social media, how 21st century digital tools can engage students in learning, and, ultimately, how to be better at reaching students as digital natives. To learn more about EdCamp Atlanta, visit the website at www.edcampatlanta.org. |
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PIE Volunteers Making a Difference
Our Partners in Education parent organization is off to an amazing start this year with parents involved in a record number of activities. The number of parents who have signed up to be volunteers has almost doubled this year with 100+ having completed the formal orientation process! For a complete listing of PIE Officers and committee leads, please visit the PIE web page. Here are a few of the parents leading the charge. Sara Ead and Michelle Bard launched the "Copy Central" copy service for our teachers. They visited other local schools to learn how to make such a service successful and have recruited other parents to help with the service, which saves our teachers hours of time. Thank you ladies!
A number of parents showed up for the Rivers Alive event, organized by dad Samer Bashir in Wills Park on September 22nd. Along with students, they planted flowers and spread out mulch. It was a great way to give back to the community while meeting new people. Click here to view more pictures.
Jaimee Khan organized Grandparents Day on September 28th, which was attended by a record number of grandparents (150+). Click here to view more pictures. 
Michelle Bard is taking the lead with Family Fun Events including the hugely successful Apple Picking Day at Reece Farms in Ellijay, Georgia on September 29th, where a record 178 attendees picked apples and purchases other goodies! Thank you parents for your commitment! |
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Arabic at Amana
Hana Arslan ( K-8th Arabic teacher)
Amana is an Expeditionary school that inspires the motivation to learn, and engages both teachers and students in a new level of focus and efforts; so we created an active environment where students become leaders of their own learning in Arabic as well.
Because we believe that happy students - when engaged - learn the best, we design centers where students are engaged in self directed activities, and where they can work either alone or in groups using hands-on materials to explore, and expand their learning. Lessons in these centers have explicit purposes guided by learning targets, for which students take responsibility and ownership, and where they are given the opportunity for self discovery. Students are cooperating, helping and learning. Teachers on the other hand, are targeting specific skills that students need help with.
Like in any other subject, Arabic teachers differentiate in instruction and maintain high expectations in order to bring out the best in every student and cultivate culture of high achievement. We start from basic lessons and we build on their vocabulary to make it a progressive, using developmental learning approach where students feel confident and proud to express themselves in the Target Language. We make it engaging, fun, amusing, "alive", and as for feedback we teachers see the sparkles in their eyes, and we feel the motivation and excitement in their learning.
Away from any traditional setting, Arabic at Amana has a "flying Spirit" that touches the hearts, and minds of our students. We have the passion, and the drive, that make us build not just a culture of respect, responsibility, and kindness, but also make us value and strive for quality work and citizenship in both students and adults.
I often ask myself what makes Arabic so unique at Amana. I pause, think, and go back in time to eight years ago, and I reflect on the curriculum that grew out of the experiences and needs of our students. |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS / REMINDERS |
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Amana to Host TEDx YouthDay on November 17
Maria Annunziata (1st grade Teacher)
Have you ever had a moment or an idea that changed your life for the better? Well, for this EL teacher that moment was when I discovered the world of TED. TED technically stands for the connection between Technology, Entertainment, and Design. The TED movement however, is much bigger than that. During my undergrad I stumbled upon a talk by Sir Ken Robinson. It was that talk that got me hooked on watching TED videos and I've been supporter of TED ever since. Last summer I saw that Amana Academy was interested in being apart of the TEDxYouthDay event. Since I am avid fan of ALL things TED related I jumped on the opportunity to help organize it. With the support of Amana Administration, parents and students we are moving forward with plans for TEDxAmanaAcademy.
The moment I discovered TED.com I found myself truly learning something new everyday! ( Every teacher's dream come true!) The idea of hosting a TEDxYouthDay event was when I realized that this is our time to showcase Expeditionary Learning and how it aligns with the Design Principles we encourage our students to live by. I am writing to cordially invite you, Amana family, to this event on Nov. 17, 2012 from 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. You can join in person or on-line since the event will be streamed live! The theme for this event is called: Be the Change!
I am calling all students 1st-8th grade to participate in this event. You can do so by submitting your ideas of how you can be a positive change in our society to Maria Annunziata mannunziata@amanaacademy.org. While there are only 7 spots for Elementary and Middle School presenters I will be starting TED Thursdays next week (10/11/12) and it will be a yearlong club. We will watch TED talks and practice giving our own talks. After our TED event we will start working on our presentations for next year. We will share our ideas, research, and explore the world together! The adventure begins now and my hope is that the TED movement will stir in our students a desire to take charge of their Expeditions and help them to become the Citizen Scholars they were meant to be.
"We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world." http://www.ted.com/
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Join Our School's Green Movement
 What does it mean for Amana to fulfill on our mission of environmental stewardship, and what will it take for Amana to become a green ribbon school in the future? While we are proud our students benefit from Environmental Ed/Outward Bound class and that Amana has won awards in the past for our environmental ethic; we know there is much more we can do on our journey to becoming a "green and healthy school". To that end, Mr. Jaleel is in the process of forming a forum of teachers, parents, and students to review a "GreenPrint" for becoming a green and healthy school that the Green Schools National Network has created. If you would like to participate, please contact him at ejaleel@amanaacademy.org. |
Keep Tabs on Grades and Assignments Using Home Access Center
Starting Friday September 14, Amana Academy is happy to partner with Fulton County Schools to provide parents the ability to access information regarding your child's work progress at school. The online system is called Home Access Center and is available on the Fulton County Schools website. Instructions are available on the Fulton website by clicking here. For security reasons, user name and password information can not be emailed or via phone, and must be handed to parents. Therefore, parents can pick up their user name and password from homeroom teachers on Friday September 14 during dismissal. Any user name password forms not picked up this Friday will be available at the front desk during school hours or after care.
The Home Access Center allows parents and students to view data including: - Student Registration
- Report Card
- Attendance
- Discipline
- Transcript (course history)
- In progress grades
- Class work (assignments, tests etc.)
- Student Schedule
- Testing Information (CRCT, ITBS etc.)
◦ All data is 'real-time' as teachers and administrators input data into the school district's database |
Sharing Best Practices with Sister EL Schools
Being part of the Expeditionary Learning network provides Amana faculty with the opportunity to share best practices with other schools. We are lucky in that the City of Decatur elementary schools use EL. Last week, the 1st grade crew at Amana Academy went to collaborate with the 1st grade crew at Glenwood Academy in Decatur. Since we loop, our crew got to visit both Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms. The entire staff welcomed us with open arms; and we learned so much from them. Both 1st grade teams enjoyed bonding over our common teaching philosophies and sharing ideas on what works in terms of our Fall Expeditions.
The entire staff at Glenwood Academy truly has the spirit of Expeditionary Learning and we thank them for taking the time to talk with us. We have definitely made life long friends and partners in education. We look forward to seeing what both crews have to offer as we implement the new ideas we have learned.
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Expeditionary STEM Presentation at GA Charter School Conference
 | Left to Right - Cherisse Campbell (Roswell High), Tasha Roth (6th Grade Math), and Anne Vilen (Expeditionary Learning School Designer) on October 5, 2012.
Their presentation was sponsored by a GA DOE Dissemination Grant, and it showcased our integrated approach to Expeditionary STEM Education and the Engineering is Elementary Program. |
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Want to Help Produce this Newsletter?
Are you good with editing articles and playing with publishing tools? Do you have experience with photo editors, or with ConstantContact? If you answered yes to any of these questions, and you are able to devote a few hours a month [from the comfort of your home], then please consider joining the small, but dedicated, publishing team that produces this e-newsletter. Send a message to Mr. Jaleel at ejaleel@amanaacademy.org with the subject line "Sign me up for Amana Journal!" |
Thank You!
If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact your child's teacher  directly, or any one of our Administrative team members. If your question was not addressed, then feel free to contact our Governing Board. Amana's main number is (678) 624-0989 and you may also find email contact information for all of our staff by visiting the Amana Staff Directory. On behalf of the Governing Board, the Amana faculty and staff, and the school Administration, thank you for entrusting your child's education to us. With your continued support, we will continue to mold the very best and brightest global leaders within our community! |
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