1130 Spalding Dr. Atlanta, GA 30350      Ph. 770-551-5890   Fax 770-673-4091

Woodland Charter Elementary School in Sandy Springs and Tri-Cities High School in East Point have been named 2003 Georgia Schools of Excellence. Twenty winners statewide were selected by the Georgia Department of Education for this annual recognition program. Selected schools must demonstrate strong student focus and support; school organization and culture; challenging standards and curriculum; active teaching and learning; professional community; leadership and educational vitality; school, family, and community partnerships; and indicators of success. Since its beginning in 1984, 20 Fulton schools have been recognized as a Georgia School of Excellence.

"Woodland Charter Elementary School is a place where all students are valued and respected," said Woodland Principal Noris Price. "We work to meet the needs of all students, helping each of them reach their fullest potential. This is a thrilling announcement for all of us - our staff and community are to be commended for their unyielding support.

"Tri-Cities Principal Mimi Davis agrees. "The Tri-Cities staff and community has worked hard to make receiving this award a reality. We are so pleased that the Department of Education is recognizing our successes," Davis said. "Tri-Cities consistently has demonstrated improved student performance and is committed to continual improvement."

Each local school district is invited to nominate one elementary school, one junior high or middle school, and one high school to the Schools of Excellence program. Up to 39 schools can be named Georgia Schools of Excellence each year: one elementary, one middle or junior high school, and one high school from each of Georgia's 13 congressional districts. Woodland was one of nine elementary schools selected statewide and Tri-Cities was one of six high schools chosen. Both schools represent Congressional District 5.

In December 2002, a panel of highly qualified educators reviewed and evaluated each nominated school's application. In March, reviewers conducted site visits and evaluated each school against the available performance data in the department that indicated whether significant school improvement had been made.

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For Immediate Release

Date: October 21, 2005

Contacts: Laura Stowell

Digital Quill Communications, LLC 770.671.9812

Title: HEAL Grants Lend Helping Hand to Sandy Springs Community

Three grants totaling $10,000 were presented to local groups on Wednesday, October 19, to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Kaiser Permanente’s Glenlake Medical Center in Sandy Springs.

Woodland Elementary Charter School, Dunwoody Springs Charter School and the Mary Hall Freedom House each received $3,333 to support programs that encourage eating healthier foods and leading physically active lifestyles.  Representatives from each organization were on hand to accept the grants.

“Glenlake has opened its arms to the community of Sandy Springs and has a history of making a difference in this community.  We are proud to donate HEAL grants to Woodland Elementary Charter School, Dunwoody Springs Charter School and the Mary Hall Freedom House,” said Jenny Wingard, regional director of primary care for Kaiser Permanente.

The KP Glenlake Medical Office serves more than 13,000 Kaiser Permanente members.

Kaiser Permanente of Georgia provides health care services to 275,000 members through 12 medical facilities and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians in its 20-county metro Atlanta service area.

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We are pleased to announce that Woodland Elementary has been selected as a "GRAMMY Signature Elementary School" by the GRAMMY Foundation, part of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.  The GRAMMY Signature Program recognizes schools that promote and preserve music education as a key part of their curriculum.  The selection process included information about the school's music curriculum, performing repertoire, concert programs, music budget, and other documentation regarding our school. The GRAMMY Foundation selected 100 schools for this honor out of nearly 3,000 schools that applied.  We are very proud to receive this recognition for our music program.

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K-9 Kids Project

Canine Assistants Organization partners with Woodland Elementary Charter School in a program which service dogs help at -risk first grade students develop their reading skills. The service dogs come to Woodland every Friday for two hours to listen to the students read.

Children who are uncomfortable reading in front of peers or teachers, fearing that they might make a mistake, are quite at ease reading in front of a dog. Scientific and anecdotal evidence has demonstrated that dogs can be instrumental in enhancing not only emotional well-being but academic achievement as well. Under the K-9 Kids Reading Program, Canine Assistants service dogs are both supportive and nurturing and give children the confidence and desire to overcome their reading challenges.

The Canine Assistants Program has been featured on the local Atlanta news, NBC with Tom Brokaw and also CNN News.

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