Education - July 2023

July Special Section

Nurturing bonds beyond the classroom: The power of teacher-student relationships

In the realm of education, where knowledge is imparted and minds are shaped, an invaluable connection exists far beyond textbooks and curriculum: teacher-student relationships. At King’s Ridge Christian School, these relationships form the bedrock of our educational philosophy from Pre-K through High School. These relationships are also what continue to draw our alumni back to campus long after graduation.

Nurturing Personal and Spiritual Growth:

At King’s Ridge Christian School, the commitment to individualized attention and care is at the forefront of our educational approach. By establishing strong relationships, our teachers create a safe and nurturing environment where students feel seen, heard, and valued. This feeling of being “known” encourages students to explore their passions, take risks, and discover their true potential.

Through relationships and small class sizes, our teachers become mentors and leaders, providing students with the support and

encouragement they need to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. By understanding students’ unique strengths and learning styles, our teachers can often tailor their instruction to meet individual needs, cultivating personal growth and selfconfidence.

Recognizing the importance of each student’s personal relationship

PROVIDED

with Christ, educators at King’s Ridge Christian School actively model this for our students of all ages. We understand that a growing relationship with Christ is foundational to a purposeful and fulfilling life and a cornerstone of our school’s mission. By integrating biblical teachings into the curriculum, engaging in prayer and chapel services, and participating

in small group advisement, King’s Ridge Christian School teachers guide our students toward deepening their relationship with Christ in a safe and loving environment.

Academic Success and Motivation:

The influence of teacher-student relationships on academic success cannot be overstated. Our faculty and staff know that when students feel connected to their teachers, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated in their studies. The positive rapport established between teachers and students creates an environment where students are eager to learn, actively participate, and take ownership of their education from a young age.

As the educational landscape evolves, King’s Ridge Christian School stays true to its passion: to bring every student into a personal growing relationship with Jesus Christ while equipping them to do with excellence all that God has called them to do. Through nurturing bonds, our teachers cultivate an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to make an impact that extends far beyond the King’s Ridge Christian School campus.

Brought to you by - King’s Ridge Christian School

High Meadows School –Inspiring future global citizens and innovative leaders

There is no place like High Meadows School. Since 1973, High Meadows students in Pre-K through 8th grade have learned through experiential, immersive educational opportunities offered both in the school’s spacious, light-filled classrooms and across 42 acres of grassy fields and scenic woodlands. High Meadows School’s progressive curriculum is focused on developing future global citizens and innovative leaders who embrace challenge and think for themselves.

High Meadows lower years classrooms offer low student-teacher ratios in which instruction emphasizes academic excellence, love of learning, critical thinking, and environmental and social responsibility. As a nationally recognized and awardwinning leader in progressive education, High Meadows is an

accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) World School offering its renowned Primary Years Program for students in preschool through fifth grade.

High Meadows School’s accomplished and experienced faculty lead each student on this journey. Through interactive, inquiry-based instruction, supported by of-themoment technology and our naturebased campus, High Meadows teachers are unequaled in their intellect, passion, and compassion for these kids. Every day they inspire authentic learning opportunities that are engaging and sticky (literally and figuratively!).

When children graduate from High Meadows, they are empowered with a deep respect for international perspectives, an intuitive understanding of life’s interconnectedness, and an exceedingly strong sense of self. Education is an

expedition that starts from the moment we are born. When we teach children to be curious and inquiring at an early age, we create within them a love of learning that lasts an entire lifetime.

What is more important than that?

Please visit our website at highmeadows.org or call 770-9932940 to learn more about High Meadows School.

Brought to you by - High Meadows School

A letter to students

1. You are awesome. Be confident in who you are. I promise you’ll meet people who are smarter than you, and that’s OK. You don’t have to be the smartest person—oddly enough, sometimes being the smartest person is difficult. I also promise that you will be smarter than most. Enjoy that; while being smart isn’t everything, it is definitely something. Be confident in your intelligence, but not arrogant. I’ve found that, most of the time, being arrogant backfires on you. That leads into point two…

2. Sometimes it takes more courage and intelligence to be silent than to speak. It took me a long time to understand and respect silence. I’m still learning that it’s a mark of maturity and, most of the time, intelligence. Also, respect everyone’s differences and challenge yourself to learn about them.

3. Never stop learning. I don’t mean that in a teacher way, I mean it in a learning life sort of way. You are constantly growing, maturing, and developing, so enjoy it. Life is a condition to which no one is immune. We learn something every day. Our taste in music, food, TV, and the people we surround ourselves with evolves. It’s natural for these preferences to change. I wasted a lot of time trying to be someone I wasn’t because I thought I was supposed to be someone else. To complete number three, you need to invest in number four…

4. Spend time with yourself. Since you’ve been in my class, I’ve learned how amazing you are each in your own way. If you sit and spend time with you, I think you’ll feel the same way. I’m such a people person, but sometimes the best thing is time alone with great music, a book, TV, or whatever. As cheesy as this sounds, be your own best friend. The sooner you learn that all of your faults and idiosyncrasies are what make you awesome, the sooner you will be a better person and enjoy life so much more. That leads to number five…

5. Everyone has faults. With the advent of social media, I sometimes find myself comparing my faults with everyone else’s highlights. Scrolling through your Twitter feed (or

Snapchat or TikTok), you see people lauding their accomplishments, great times, and great friends. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, as long as you understand that what you see on social media is an incomplete picture. If you compare all of your faults to those highlights, you may feel a bit inadequate. Everyone has faults, so embrace yours. Grow from them and know that they add to what makes you, you. And remember, you’re awesome.

6. Surround yourself with people who love you and think you’re great (but also who know and accept your faults). You need this. If someone won’t accept you for who you are, ask yourself if you really need that relationship (be it friends or more).

7. Smile. Every day. I’m not getting into the psychology of it all, but it could possibly make you happier and healthier. It works. Trust me.

8. Don’t trust people just because they say, “trust me.” Still...

9. Trust people. It’s endearing. I know this is very contradictory, but it’s true. Even though “trust me” should raise flags, trusting people means you are human and we all need people we can trust.

10. I’ve saved one of the most important tips for last: Be happy. Genuinely happy. Choose a profession that pays the bills and makes you want to go to work most days. You won’t be happy every day. You will have bad days, weeks and maybe even months, but you’ll be generally happy. Money will not, in the end, make you happy.

One of the greatest pieces of advice my dad ever gave me was to make greatmemories. Good and bad, and all kinds in between, they are all part of our life.

So, make them good ones and remember that you are part of other’s memories so make sure they are positive, too.

I have to end this the way my mother ended most of our conversations when I was in high school and college. Make good choices. (I repeat this often to my own kids.)

Lori Fenzl, Upper School social studies teacher

Brought to you by - Woodward Academy

A DEEPLY PERSONALIZED COMMUNITY, WHERE EACH STUDENT CAN TAILOR THEIR OWN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE

WOODWARD THE WAY

PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE

With the most cocurricular and athletic opportunities of any private school in Atlanta.

Great minds think differently

Brought to you by – The Cottage School

Since 1985, The Cottage School (TCS) has provided a comprehensive program for students with learning differences grades 3-12. TCS offers a business-based model that promotes self-advocacy and fosters self-confidence, preparing them for life after graduation to pursue post-secondary educational paths or vocational opportunities. Our accredited college preparatory curriculum meets Georgia graduation standards and HOPE scholarship requirements to take students to graduation and beyond.

Our students, in all grades, enjoy unique experiential learning with electives based on their interests and clubs including archery, drama, forensics, robotics, horticulture and amazing off-campus experiences throughout the year.

The school’s beautiful 23-acre Roswell campus is a hidden gem in North Fulton, with small class sizes our students develop meaningful connections to our teaching staff. Our cottages are unique and warm

learning environments that include computer and science labs, art studios, a multi-purpose athletic and performing arts facility, indoor and outdoor classrooms, comprehensive music program and trails for mountain biking and cross-country. TCS encourages students of all

abilities to participate in athletics by offering sports such as soccer, basketball, baseball, cross-country, tennis, and golf.

The Cottage School has built a oneof-a-kind learning environment perfect for students who learn differently. TCS offers 12-month rolling admissions for

The Cottage School

700 Grimes Bridge Road Roswell, Georgia 30075 770-641-8688

www.cottageschool.org

Established in 1985 at the highest point in the city of Roswell, GA, The Cottage School equips students with learning differences to face the challenges of a changing world by meeting the students where they are today.

Established in 1985 at the highest point in the city of Roswell, GA, The Cottage School equips students with learning differences to face the challenges of a changing world by meeting the students where they are today.

Established in 1985 at the highest point in the city of Roswell, GA, The Cottage School equips students with learning differences to face the challenges of a changing world by meeting the students where they are today. Our unique experimental programming and business based model sets us apart from all the rest.

Our unique experimental programming and business based model sets us apart from all the rest.

Our unique experimental programming and business based model sets us apart from all the rest.

ACADEMICS TECHNOLOGY ATHLETICS

FINANCIAL LITERACY ARTS

ACADEMICS TECHNOLOGY ATHLETICS

FINANCIAL LITERACY ARTS

all grade levels. Visit our website or call for a campus tour today.

Sowing the seeds of organic learning

Brought

to you by

– Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia

Maria Montessori, Italy’s first woman doctor, invented a system of early childhood education based on her scientific observations of how the child constructs himself through interaction with his environment.

Her emphasis on the importance of the “prepared” environment created by the teacher offers the child the freedom to choose his work. This freedom - which is given when the child demonstrates the responsibility to use it wisely - allows him to remain with an activity until its purpose is accomplished. Working without artificial timelines allows him to engage in the spontaneous repetition of a skill so that it is refined; this freedom also creates in him the ability to concentrate for long periods of time and to feel the satisfaction of mastery.

In a Montessori environment, the teacher serves as a guide rather than as a traditional instructor. She continually observes the child, using these observations to give the next lesson so that he steadily progresses.

The multi-aged classroom gives every child regular opportunities to be the learner as well as the leader in the security

of a home-like environment which is cared for by everyone in it, teacher and student alike. The Montessori classroom is ordered and beautiful, filled with materials that are aesthetically pleasing, materials which capture the imagination and assist in physical, academic and social development. Montessori develops children who are responsible, creative, innovative, respectful and kind. Montessori children are truly the citizens of the future, equipped to face challenges with confidence and competence.

Located near the intersection of 141 and McGinnis Ferry Road in Johns Creek, Johns Creek Montessori School of Georgia provides excellence in Montessori education for infants, toddlers and children to six years old. JCMSOG provides an authentic Montessori environment, where each individual’s needs are respected, and everyone works together for the good of the community. The focus is always on helping the children to develop themselves in a caring, peaceful environment. By helping children to develop independence, we assist them in their physical and emotional development. As their sense of security in their ability to care for themselves and their environment grows, their brains have more energy

or “bandwidth” for increased academic learning. Additionally, this focus on development of muscular control is a first step in developing self-discipline. The

JCMSOG Difference is best experienced in person. Please schedule a visit with your child to observe our “Montessori Magic”www.JCMSOG.org 770-814-8001

Summit Counseling Center’s onsite therapy program

Brought to you by - Summit Counseling Center

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please fo Did you know that mental health support in schools is often lacking? Recent data from a 2022 Pew Research Center survey revealed that only about half of U.S. public schools offer mental health assessments, and even fewer provide treatment services - meaning that many students who may be struggling with their emotions are not receiving the support they need.

Research has shown that school connectedness (how much youth believe that adults and peers at school genuinely care about them and want them to succeed) plays a significant role in mental health. Youth who experience a strong sense of connectedness during middle and high school are less likely to encounter

problems with substance use, mental health, suicidality, and risky sexual behavior as they become adults (Steiner, R. J., et al., Pediatrics, Vol. 144, No. 1, 2019).

Our Summit onsite school-based therapy program seeks to bridge the gap. Our highly skilled therapists are physically present in 31 public and private schools across Fulton, Dekalb, and Gwinnett counties so students can receive professional therapy right within the familiar environment of their own schools, making it easier for them to access the help they need. Our program is specifically designed to address a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral challenges. Therapists work closely with school staff to establish a comprehensive support system that nurtures emotional well-being and resilience.

Our program is now accepting referrals for the 2023-2024 school year. If you believe your student could benefit from our nonprofit services, visit our website at summitcounseling.org.

Together, let’s prioritize youth mental health, foster school connectedness, and ensure that every student receives the guidance they need to lead happier and healthier lives!

Education solutions for every mind, every age

Brought to you by -

Eaton Academy

Eaton Academy offers multiple programs, both in person and online, since a “one size fits all” approach to education is not effective in today’s world.

Academic Programs

The full-day K-12 school, with its 5:1 student-to-teacher ratio, allows instructors to address students’ individual learning styles, while maintaining social distancing. Students achieve significant academic and personal success resulting from STEAMrelated activities and multisensory instruction. The challenging collegeprep curriculum is delivered in a safe, nurturing environment.

For students with more significant academic and social needs, the Pace Program helps students develop life skills and independent living strategies. Pace students follow the traditional school day and work to develop greater self-sufficiency and independence, on their way to earning a high school diploma.

The Independent Study Program (ISP), tailored to students’ schedules and academic needs, permits individuals to work at their own pace. The tutorial setting enables aspiring athletes and

performers to work toward graduation while following their dreams. Some students enroll in ISP to accelerate their scholastic work; others seek academic remediation. ISP arranges the oneto-one sessions on a schedule that accommodates the students’ needs for flexibility.

Post-Graduate Programs

LEAP is designed to help individuals strengthen their life skills in order to achieve greater independence. Participants benefit from job readiness training, life skill development, and scholastic support.

The LIFE program places young adults into their own apartments. Participants meet with a LIFE coach several times each week for support with topics such as budgeting, hygiene, roommate relations, and housekeeping. Supported Employment prepares young adults for the workplace. Assistance is given with resume writing, applying for positions, and keeping a job. College Exploratory offers individuals college level, non-credit courses so they can gauge their readiness for university life.

Eaton Academy is the ideal place for families to discover education options and independent living solutions.

EATON ACADEMY NOW ENROLLING

Change lives, change the world

Wesleyan School believes faith and intellect are great partners with each other. At Wesleyan, it’s not a matter of choosing faith or intellect, but rather using both to create the best possible education for your child. Our leadership and faculty work to provide students with an atmosphere that is challenging, reinforces the value of hard work, and emphasizes character and integrity above accomplishment. Wesleyan prepares students for each stage of life and provides them the opportunity to see all the possibilities that lie before them. Wesleyan’s school motto is JOY-Jesus, Others, Yourself, and every aspect of school life is oriented to reinforce this philosophy of putting Jesus first and others ahead of ourselves.

A college preparatory environment,

students have access to a wide range of academic opportunities along with athletics, arts, service and other extracurricular activities. Wesleyan’s 85-acre campus provides state-ofthe-art academic facilities along with on-campus practice space for athletics and arts.

Located just outside of I-285 in Peachtree Corners, Wesleyan enrolled 1,207 students in grades K-12 for the 2022-2023 school year. Wesleyan offers bus routes throughout the metro Atlanta area. Supervised care before school is included in the cost of tuition and after care is available (K-8) until 6 p.m. at an affordable rate.

The Wesleyan School

5405 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 770-448-7640

https://www.wesleyanschool.org/

Brought to you by - Wesleyan School

The Murray Academy welcomes preschool students for the first time this fall

Mount Pisgah Christian School’s new preschool facility, the Stuart and Eulene Murray Academy celebrated the opening with a ribbon cutting this summer.

Located on the Lower School campus of MPCS, the 24,000 square foot, $3 million preschool is a state-of-the-art facility with 10 new classrooms, a chapel and theatre space, innovation center, indoor interactive play space, and a natureinspired outdoor playscape.

The Murray Academy program serves the school’s three and four-

year-old full day preschool students. Located in Johns Creek, Mount Pisgah Christian School serves more than 1,000 students from infants through 12th grade.

These early years of learning are essential as children learn about the love of Christ and set a foundation to become lifelong learners.

First made possible by Mount Pisgah Church’s generous gift to the school of the South Campus property itself, the Murray Academy is named in recognition of a $1 million grant from the Stuart and Eulene Murray Foundation. The Murray Foundation has a strong history of serving Christian education.

The new playground playscape is a one-of-a-kind outdoor play environment, featuring natural and hand-carved materials. Tree-inspired and sensory stations such as the Eagle’s Nest, Creation Corner and the Hatchling Dig engage students in both learning and play.

In their classrooms, children open a new world of discovery through technology and multi-sensory experiments. Students participate in Chapel, Atelier, music, P.E. and STEAM classes each week. They grow in faith through chapel programs featuring singing and dancing and Bible curriculum.

In the Atelier space, an Atelierista,

or art specialist, provides a variety of creative experiences through music, clay, light and shadow, loose parts, paint, nature, movement and sound.

With small classroom sizes, teachers prepare Preschool 3s and 4s students for the next stage of learning. Elements of formal instruction and curriculum are introduced strategically to prepare children for school.

Children will have opportunities to focus on gross and fine motor skills and social and emotional development. Concepts in language arts, math, and science will be introduced in engaging activities and through the arts and experiments.

Brought to you by - Mount Pisgah Christian School, The Murray Academy Preschool

Be amazed.

From Kindergarten PrepEighth Grade, The Davis Academy teaches to the whole child, creating compassionate leaders and equipping them with skills they will use for the entirety of their academic careers and beyond. Davis graduates attend the most prestigious public and private high schools in Atlanta, they know who they are and continuously make a difference in their communities and the world.

Students learn amongst a warm and supportive community that shares common values and visions. We teach life skills, instill Jewish values, and provide diverse experiences so that our students become well-rounded and self-confident individuals. We celebrate both the ways our diversity makes our school vibrant and the

individual differences that make our school community so unique. With a retention rate of 97%, The Davis Academy community is comprised of families from across the globe, nation, and 31 metro Atlanta zip codes.

The school offers many options for prospective families to learn about the school and community. Parents can schedule a personal tour. In addition, families can engage in wonderful Nurture events that are free and open to the community.

To learn more or schedule a tour go to www.davisacademy.org/ admissions/visit or call 678-5273300.

The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy 8105 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, GA 30350

770-671-0085

www.davisacademy.org

Inspiring students to become 21st century changemakers

Brought

to you by -

Amana Academy

Amana Academy, a public school located in the heart of Alpharetta adjacent to Wills Park, is preparing to welcome nearly 800 students in grades K-8 back to school on August 7, beginning their 18th school year serving students in the Fulton County School district. Amana offers Fulton families a choice when it comes to their children’s education - with a mission to inspire students to become 21st century changemakers and STEM leaders, Amana provides a hands-on learning experience that takes them beyond the four walls of the classroom to discover how what they learn in the classroom gets put into practice in the real world.

Amana’s program is rooted in the Harvard-based EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) model, which measures student success in three ways - academic achievement, habits of character, and the ability to produce high-quality work. The school has also achieved schoolwide STEM-certification through the Georgia DOE, meaning every student is exposed to Design Thinking from a young age, developing key critical thinking skills that will follow them through high school, college and into their careers.

Each school year, students embark on cross-curricular Learning Expeditions that seek to solve a problem that members of their community may be

facing. They read stories and scientific articles related to the issue in an effort to build empathy and understanding, and use math, science and social studies to do in-depth research to dig deeper into the root causes of the issue. This integrated approach has resulted in remarkable outcomes for Amana students, who consistently outperform their peers in 93% of public schools statewide. Not only are Amana’s students achieving at high levels, but they are also growing at a rate that far exceeds their peers.

Amana is still enrolling for the 20232024 school year. Interested families can learn more at www.amanaacademy.org

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Preparing middle school students for a complex world

Brought to you by – Endeavor International School

In an increasingly competitive world, children need an education that prepares them for a complex economy. Endeavor International School, an IB (International Baccalaureate®) middle school in Dunwoody, Georgia serves students from 6th grade to 8th grade. We offer an empowering education and implement the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP), ensuring a rigorous education in the sciences and arts with professional educators trained to develop young minds to their maximum potential.

Students graduating with an IB diploma are 18 percent more likely to be admitted to an Ivy League university and 22 percent more likely to be admitted to the top 25-ranked schools in the United States, according to Crimson Education’s IB survey. At Endeavor International School, we help students get into the best high schools and prepare them for success when they get there.

Our teachers are highly trained in their subjects and offer an ef -

fective, unique learning experience unlike any other program in the Atlanta area. With small class sizes and immersive instruction techniques, students can learn in a collaborative fashion and develop thinking and communicative skills that serve them in and outside the classroom.

At Endeavor International School, your child receives more than a high-quality education – they learn how to enjoy learning. Our students are taught how to think beyond the standardized test and dig deep into their subjects, absorb the curriculum, and develop high-level, criticalthinking skills. Not only do our students gain a strong grasp on their material, but they better understand their own minds, which puts them in an advantageous position as they go on to high school and beyond.

We are now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year! See our school for yourself and speak with our educators about how we can help realize the dreams you have for your child’s future. Visit our website at EndeavorInternationalSchool.com or call us at 770-8022194 to learn more.

Developing self-directed world citizens through integrated learning

Brought to you by – Endeavor Montessori, Dunwoody

A Montessori education offers a curriculum that focuses on developing physical, cognitive, social and emotional growth, enabling them to reach their full potential and gain an appreciation for learning that lasts a lifetime. Endeavor Montessori opened fall 2019 in Dunwoody, GA, and is enrolling children ages 6 weeks-12 years for 2023 - 2024.

Endeavor Montessori’s curriculum is distilled from the experiences and knowledge of esteemed Montessori certified teachers and leaders. Designed for infants through elementary school age children, the curriculum implements a modernized Montessori approach that cultivates the whole child through a nurturing and inspiring school environment, as well as our rigorous yet celebratory approach to learning through critical thinking, cultural awareness and entrepreneurship.

At Endeavor Montessori, teachers know that each child learns differently and will accommodate each student’s specific needs and learning style. Children, and parents, will benefit from a

warm and close-knit school community with educators who are passionate about the growth of each child.

One of Endeavor Montessori’s main goals is to develop self-directed citizens of the world. Through a global approach to learning, cultural awareness and a sense of connection with all human beings will be instilled in each child. Children will benefit from learning that these differences should always be respected and from the integration of global languages into their curriculum.

Endeavor Montessori offers a learning environment where children are exposed to appropriate levels of technology, integrated seamlessly into an enhanced Montessori curriculum. This approach, along with a Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math (STEAM) program, addresses the demands placed by modern education, while also strengthening children’s innate desire to seek knowledge on their own and find the answers to their own questions.

To learn more about our curriculum, and for enrollment for children ages 6 weeks-12 years, call (770)-6371242 or visit our website at endeavormontessori.com.

This is The 805!

Brought to you by – Holy Innocents’

Episcopal School

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, located at 805 Mt. Vernon Highway, NW, in Sandy Springs, enrolls 1,380 students in Grades PK3-12. HIES is a unique, vibrant learning community filled with encouragement and every imaginable opportunity for students to explore their talents, pursue their passions and achieve their full potential.

HIES offers an educational program encompassing academics, arts, athletics and spiritual formation. Through opportunities to grow intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally, students develop their individual worth and dignity.

The challenging academic program prepares students for higher education and emphasizes learning as a pathway toward ethical leadership and a commitment to the common good. Students learn in small classes and actively participate in all classroom discussions. HIES is a community where close connections between students and teachers flour -

ish within the curriculum. The Upper School offers nearly 30 Honors and Advanced Placement classes. With a team of highly regarded college counselors, HIES is committed to working closely with each student and family to help navigate the college search and application process.

As a Global Member of Round Square, an international network of 200 schools in 50 countries, HIES provides a multicultural education for students.

The school is a welcoming and supportive environment that embraces the differences inherent in a diverse community and embodies the inclusive Episcopal tradition of respect for the beliefs of others. HIES is an active Christian community of faith engaged in local, national and international service to others.

The school is easily accessible from all parts of Dunwoody and Metro Atlanta.

Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School: This is The 805! Where students pursue their passions and are challenged to reach their full potential.