In decades past, it was common to leave a child at a day care or preschool and expect little more than that the staff keep him or her occupied while the parents were at work. But as educators learn more about what and how children learn in their first few years, early education has come to mean much more than simply dropping a child off at the doorstep of a day care center. Continue reading
It’s a topic on the minds of many high-school students and their parents: college admissions. With an ever growing number of prospective college students—and an average of seven to 10 applications per student—colleges are seeing more competition than ever before. So, how do students stand out in the sea of applicants? According to some of metro Atlanta’s college and admissions counselors, the strongest applications are ones that show a pattern of success—and a little personality.
Enrolling in a new school is an important moment in a child’s life. Whether it’s elementary, middle or high school in a public, independent or religious setting, nding a nurturing and challenging institution is crucial.
Navigating Atlanta’s educational landscape means discovering many types of schools with descriptions that may sound somewhat familiar; magnet, charter and special needs are just a few. One kind of school that’s gaining more popularity in the metro area is Montessori, named for Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator.
Education has moved well beyond basic reading, writing and arithmetic. Global initiatives are a growing trend in many Atlanta schools. These programs introduce students to different cultures and different ways of thinking. They expand their horizons by offering opportunities to travel to other countries. And they immerse students in different languages, which is becoming more and more important in our multilingual world. By doing so, they provide today’s students with the skills they’ll need to thrive as adults in an increasingly global society and marketplace.
For many high school students, deciding on a possible career can be a daunting decision. The options seem almost endless, and it can be hard to successfully translate interests into viable career options. Luckily, Georgia’s public and independent schools are dedicated to helping students wade the sometimes murky waters of career preparation. By implementing special programs, offering enriching co-curricular activities and developing personal connections with students, Georgia’s schools are committed to getting students on the right path to a bright and successful future.
The educational experience is constantly changing, as technology and teaching methods evolve. But one aspect of school life remains as present as reading, writing and arithmetic—bullying. It’s a big problem that torments many children, and can have long-lasting effects long beyond a child’s school years. Fortunately, public and independent Atlanta schools have procedures in place to deal with the issue, and aim to tackle the problem through their curricula as well.
At the end of each school year, I have a chat with my eighth grade boys. This is the last grade of our school, so this is sort of an exit interview. “So guys,” I ask, “over the last 9 years here, what did you like and what did you not?”
It’s an enjoyable time, usually humorous. Comments range from “We want rock band classes” to “The toilet paper is too rough.” The comment I receive most often, however, is, “Don’t ever remove the eighth grade daily recess—we need it!”
The transitions to middle and high school can be daunting for both children and parents. And the stress of those transitions is only compounded when you’re relocating to a new city. New middle and high school students enter larger schools and have to learn to cope with more peers, new social hierarchies, new teachers and unfamiliar subjects. And they also have to deal with becoming the youngest students in the school—again.
After accepting a position as head of school at Atlanta Girls School last spring, Ayanna Hill-Gill found herself on the opposite side of the educational visit. This time, she was the one visiting local institutions to find the right fit for her own two children. And the questions she asked were the same ones she’d heard so many times as head of the Purnell School in New Jersey.
“Coming from out of town, we wanted to make sure the curriculum was what my kids were accustomed to, so there would be a smooth transition,” she says.
