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Schools

Mini-Grants Worth $10K Awarded to Five Forsyth Schools

Each school will receive $2,000 to go towards projects and programs within that specific school.

RBM of Atlanta-North recently awarded $10,000 in mini-grants to five Forsyth County schools including, Brookwood Elementary, Johns Creek Elementary, Liberty Middle, Little Middle and Matt Elementary.

Each of the schools are receiving a $2,000 mini-grant to be used to fund various projects and programs that enrich the curriculum or school activities in ways that directly affect students in a positive way.

Each school below provided a brief description of the intended project and/or program that the money will go towards.

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Brookwood Elementary – Brookwood Plaza Project

This initiative is part of an overall plan for our school’s campus, student body enrichment and efforts towards a greener, brighter tomorrow. The Plaza will be a multi-use outdoor patio and shade structure, which will turn our flat, non-shaded, dirt area into a partially shaded, environmentally friendly learning center and outdoor garden. The plaza will provide an extension to our already successful and exciting Bobcat Science Den by allowing students to study the science of nature while being surrounded by it. The plaza and garden will not only provide a myriad of lessons in plant, animal and insect identification but will also make a suitable work place for our developing Garden Club.

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Johns Creek Elementary – 21st Century Media Center

We are working to transform our existing Media Center to a 21st Century Media Center. A 21st Century Media Center is a place that supports and encourages students to be creative, critical thinkers, who effectively collaborate and communicate by providing work zones and state of the art technology. Media Centers are no longer what we remember as the library. They are centers for gathering information and producing products that demonstrate knowledge and understanding of standards. In order to be college and career ready, students need to be able to resourceful collaborators who can use technology effectively.

Liberty Middle - Project Inspiration Team (iTeam)

In order for new demands to be met on the implementation of the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards in our schools, teachers need to willing to change their instructional practices to provide opportunities for the four C’s of learning: communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Therefore Liberty Middle School has implemented inquiry-based, authentic learning strategies through a model team. The Inspiration Team, or iTeam for short, has created learning units that feature real-world, current problems around which students post questions. Students work collaboratively to research current information about a topic and then they synthesize this new information with the skills and concepts provided by teachers to reach the best solution.

Little Mill Middle – First Lego League Robotics Teams

Our goal is to increase the number and preparedness of Little Mill Middle School students who will move on to either the STEM academy at Forsyth Central High School or other math and science rich curriculum at North Forsyth High Schools. The LEGO robotics program is structured to allow students to experience applications of physical science, a variety of mechanical engineering concepts, computer programming, and problem solving, in a manner no traditional classroom could offer.

Matt Elementary – Robotics (grades 3-5)

Current school improvement goals at Matt Elementary center on increasing student percentile achievement in reading and math. Students learning goals are dependent on reasoning skills which are strongly supported by robotics through such skills and processes as problem solving, calculation, programming language, and making predictions. Aside from a direct connection to the Math and Sciences, robotics translates to variety of subject content areas, and life skills. Strengthening our robotics program requires additional equipment. New LEGO programming software will be purchased.

RBM of Atlanta-North is a long time Partner in Education with Forsyth County Schools and provides the district with the money for the 2012-2013 school year.

Each school has a deadline of May 31, 2013 to spend the grant funds.

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