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The FY09 budget season ends in June, bringing
six months of intense work and financial planning to a
close. In reality, the budget process is year-round but
reaches its highest points during the spring. On May
15, the board adopted the tentative budget and final
adoption is scheduled for June 12.
Rising enrollments, continued state austerity
reductions and other factors have made the FY09
budgeting process challenging. However,
Superintendent Loe and the school board worked
hard and collaboratively to create a budget that is
aligned with the school system's strategic planning
priorities and that supports the district's most
pressing funding needs.
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Student testing has been a hot topic in the news lately.
If you were to believe everything you hear or read, you
might think that students are not learning or not doing
well academically.
That's certainly not the case. In the Fulton County
School System, standardized test scores are as high
as ever for the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and SAT, the
state's third-, fifth- and eighth-grade writing
assessments, the Georgia High School Graduation
Tests and other assessments.
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Although school is taking a break for the summer,
don't forget about the appointments you'll need to
schedule next year, such as visits to the dentist or
orthodontist, check-ups with the family doctor or other
special events that may occur. Use these calendars to
guide your planning:
Why not plan even further ahead? View the 2009-10 school year calendar Early Release Days. Included in both the
2008-09 and 2009-10 calendars are five Early
Release Days. On these days, school dismisses
approximately three hours early so that teachers and
school staff can participate in curriculum trainings and
other professional development workshops. Schools
will still offer their after-school programs on these
days.
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Newsweek Magazine has named seven Fulton County
schools in its annual list of 1,300 top-ranking public
high schools in the United States.
Centennial (No. 272), Riverwood (No. 301), Milton (No.
325), Northview (No. 347),
Roswell (No. 529), Chattahoochee (No. 530) and
Alpharetta (No. 1129) high schools
made the list. You can view the report on Newsweek's web site.
Newsweek ranked the schools according to a ratio
that takes the total number of 2007 Advanced
Placement and/or International Baccalaureate tests
divided by the number of graduating seniors.
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In August, parents are again required to submit a
notarized Affidavit of Residence form for each child,
but the school board has made the process more
streamlined.
Although notarized forms are still required for every
child, not all parents need to provide proof that their
family lives within a Fulton County School System
attendance zone. Proof of residence is required only of
students who are (1) new enrollees in a Fulton County
school or (2) entering sixth grade or ninth grade.
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Immunization requirements for new pre-kindergarten
and kindergarten students and rising sixth graders
changed last summer.
As a reminder, parents must show
proof during registration that their child has been
immunized or provide laboratory proof of immunity.
These requirements went into effect July 1,
2007.
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Everything is on schedule to open the new Lake
Forest Elementary School (official name
approved this month) in Sandy Springs and the
replacement Westlake High School in southwest
Atlanta. While construction is still ongoing,
the summer months are ideal for finishing major
aspects of the projects. Both schools open in August.
Several other schools have building additions under
construction, many to be completed this summer or
late fall.
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Fulton County Schools proudly announces its 2008-09
Employees of the Year: Ellen Hungerford (River Eves
Elementary) as Elementary School Teacher of the
Year, Nick Cassidy (Haynes Bridge Middle) as Middle
School Teacher of the Year and Rebecca Perkins
(Alpharetta High) as High School Teacher of the Year.
Perkins also was named the county's Overall Teacher
of the Year. She now represents Fulton in the 2009
Georgia Teacher of the Year program.
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Called SALE (Summer Accelerated Learning
Experience), Fulton County offers summer school
opportunities for elementary and middle school
students needing extra academic assistance in order
to be promoted to the next grade.
At the high school level, summer school is available
for students desiring opportunities to get ahead, for
course recovery and for those needing remedial
assistance.
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You've probably heard your kids talking about the
latest podcast or vodcast they downloaded from
iTunes or elsewhere on the Internet.
You can join them by checking out Fulton County's
newest communication program -- "Fulton Schools In
Focus," a free, monthly vodcast produced by the
school system's Broadcast & Video Technology and
Communications departments.
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You can help your children stay active this summer
through the adventures of a good book. The Fulton
County School System has created a summer reading
list for all grade levels.
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It never hurts to be reminded: Be safe this summer.
You and your children are part of the Fulton family and
we want you back safe-and-sound next fall. If you're
traveling, taking an extended break this summer or
just relaxing at home, keep a watchful eye over
yourself and your loved ones. As the old adage goes,
an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure.
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"Connections" is an informational publication produced quarterly by the school system's Communications Department. Your email address came from information you supplied to your child's school. If you change your email address, please notify the school's data clerk. This information will not be shared or provided to any organization outside the Fulton County School System without your permission.
It is the policy of the Fulton County School System not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age or disability in any employment practice, educational program, or any program, activity or service. If you wish to make a complaint or request accommodation or modification due to discrimination in any program, activity or service, contact the Compliance Coordinator (Ron Wade) at 786 Cleveland Avenue SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30315, or by phone at
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Fulton County School System | 786 Cleveland Avenue SW | Atlanta | GA | 30315 |
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