CONNECTING LEARNING TO LIFE

The Weinberg Early Learning Center

WELC at The Temple in Midtown kicked off its 16th year with an expansion that includes a brand-new infant room for 3 to 12 month old children, a young toddler classroom for 12 to 18 month old children, a state-of-the-art STEM lab, renovated interiors and a new director. The new infant room features a low 3:1 student-teacher ratio, a warm and nurturing environment and a stimulating and age appropriate play based curriculum. Focused on play-based learning, WELC’s curriculum blends secular and Judaic studies to provide a balanced educational environment for its students. For more information, visit the-temple.org/welc.

Atlanta Youth Academy

Atlanta SunTrust Community Capital, a subsidiary of SunTrust Banks, Inc., is providing $3.5 million of New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) equity, coupled with a $5.1 million bridge loan to support the expansion of the Atlanta Youth Academy’s (AYA) private school campus which serves Pre-K – 8th grade students. The 45,600 square foot expansion project will help provide high-quality primary education to low-income students across the Atlanta region, and is located in the Norwood Manor/Thomasville Heights neighborhood in southeast Atlanta. The project will result in the expansion of the current school staff from 25 to 35. The new school facility will also allow enrollment to grow from 150 students to 225 students. Construction is anticipated to be complete in time for the 2020-21 school year. For more information, visit AtlantaYouthAcademy. com.

Ron Clark Academy

The Ryan Marshall Performing Arts Center, named in honor of the late RCA alumnus from the class of 2013, will allow the school to increase the capacity for its educator training program, explore additional opportunities for customized workshops, and train an estimated 150,000 educators over the next 10 years. The performing arts center will add a 42,000 square foot multipurpose facility, which features a large auditorium, grand rotunda and multiple classrooms. With the additional excitement of adding 4th graders to the student body this fall, RCA expects the new center to open next spring. For more information, visit ronclarkacademy.com.