Purpose – Drew Charter School serves as a key component of the cradle-to-college pipeline within the holistic East Lake neighborhood revitalization. Appreciating our unique status as a mixed-income school, Drew Charter School’s primary purpose is to provide an excellent education to all children living in the Villages of East Lake so that each student reaches his or her full potential and is launched on a pathway to health, impact and prosperity.

Vision – Drew Charter School students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and passion to create positive change in the world.

Mission – Drew Charter School is an exemplary, innovative education community that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.

Shout Outs!

• To Ms. Manwell’s AP US Government students for presenting their bills about community policing to State Rep. Howard Mosby and APS PD Chief Ronald Applin [see picture above]!
• To Ms. Kemp and Mr. Parker for providing great Black History Month resources!
• To the College and Career Readiness Team for participating in Legislative Day at the State Capitol on Wednesday, advocating for college and career counseling across the state!
• To Ms. Simmons for her work consistently implementing small group instruction!
• To the juniors and Ms. Thomas for a successful round of ACT Prep during the month of January!
• To Ms. Keys and the Girls Tennis Team for their first win against Decatur on Thursday!
• To Asher McGee for being selected to the Second Team All-Region Team and to Jajuan Harris for being an Honorable Mention!
• To the CCR Team for helping coordinate the College Mixer with the Board of Directors last Tuesday night!
• To Ms. Kaney, Ms. Manwell and the College and Career Readiness Team for coordinating Senior Parent Night last Thursday!

Calendar:

• Black History Week 3 February 13-17, 2017
  • S.T.E.A.M. Innovators of African Descent
  • DRESS DAY: Thursday, February 16th
  • ATTIRE: Dress as an innovator of African Descent
• Monday, February 13th, B-Day
  • Flex Time – Clubs
  • 6:00 – Prospective Parent Night: This program will present a full outline of the programming for the Senior Academy.  It is designed for rising ninth grade families and anyone who has applied through the lottery, but is open to the public [Theater]
• Tuesday, February 14th, A-Day
  • 8:15-10:45 – Gifted Testing [Selected Students – Cafeteria]
  • Flex Time: Advisory
  • 4:30 – SA Girls and Boys Tennis Match vs Elite Scholars [Early dismissal at 3:00 pm]
•  Wednesday, February 15th, B-Day
  • 8:15-10:45 – Gifted Testing [Selected Students – Cafeteria]
  • 9:30-1:30 – Theater Field trip to the Apple Store [Selected Students]
  • Flex Time: Extended Learning
    • 11th Grade Community Forum [Cafeteria]
  • 5:00 – InvenTeam Mid-Grant Review: Come learn about the exciting work our students are doing to develop a device to mitigate hot car deaths. [Open to the Public – Theater]
• Thursday, February 16th, A-Day
  • Orchestra Large Group Performance Evaluation
  • 10:00-2:00 – Intro. to Business Tech Field Trip to Serenbe
  • Flex Time: Extended Learning
    • 9th Grade Community Forum [Theater]
• Friday, February 17th – Winter Break [No School]

Upcoming Events:

• 2/20 – 2/21 – Winter Break
• Thursday, 2/23, 2:30 pm – EA/JA/SA Dance/Drama Black History Program
• Friday, 2/24
  • 8:00-10:00 – Senior College and Work Readiness Assessment Administration [Selected Seniors]
  • 6:00 – Joint Drew/DSA Black History Month Dance Performance [Theater]
• 2/27 –
  • Band Large Group Performance Evaluation
  • 8:00-10:00 – Senior College and Work Readiness Assessment Administration [Selected Seniors]
• 2/28 –
  • Chorus Large Group Performance Evaluation
  • 4:30 – SA Principal’s Coffee: Math Initiatives
• 3/1-3/3 – Sophomore College Trip
• 3/6, 6:00 – Rising Ninth Grade Transition Night: This night will focus on information to prepare rising ninth graders and their families for the transition to the Senior Academy, including course selection for next year.
• 3/7 – Coding Workshop from Best Buy with the Geek Squad for Teen Tech Week
• 3/8, 1:30-4:00 – SA Hidden Figures Screening [Theater]
• 3/22 – Quarter 3 PBL Showcase
• Saturday, 5/20, 4:00 pm – Graduation
• June 6-17th – Summer BRIDGE Program for rising ninth grade students [Georgia Tech – Flyer]

Announcements:

• Progress Reports – Mid-quarter Progress Reports were issued to students this past week.  These reports mark students’ grades midway through quarter 3.  These grades are not posted to students’ transcripts but provide valuable information about students’ progress.  Progress reports will be issued again at the end of quarter 3 and at mid-quarter for quarter 4 before grades are finalized and posted to transcripts in May.  Students’ live grades can be viewed on their Blackboard page, which all students have access to.
• Natural Resources Conservation Workshop – 
  • June 11-15, 2017
  • Available to Georgia’s Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. (Students who have previously attended the workshop are not eligible) Workshop focuses on the value, protection, and conservation of Georgia’s wildlife, forestry, soil, and water resources, including conservation in Georgia’s mining industry.
    Information about the Program:
    • Camp takes place at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA
    • More than $17,000 in college scholarships will be awarded during the workshop.
    • Features field trips, classroom instruction, and recreational activities.
      Early Bird Registration Deadline May 1, 2017.
      • *Tuition: $175 prior to May 1st/
      • $200 after May 1st
      • All Registrations must be received by June 1!
  • More information available here
• CDC Disease Detective Camp – One session will be offered June 19-23 and one July 10 – 14 of 2017. All days are 8:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  The CDC Disease Detective Camp teaches attendees the fundamentals of CDC’s work: the field of public health and the science of epidemiology. Public health is a vast field that covers many aspects of keeping populations of people healthy. It includes, but is not limited to, research, data collection, data analysis, and health education. Epidemiology, the systematic study of diseases in populations, is one of the sciences used at CDC to help improve the public’s health.  More information available here
• Reminder: Georgia Parent Survey – The Georgia Parent Survey is modeled after the student survey and contains 24 questions. Parents may complete the survey using their personal computer, smartphones or tablet.  All parents should be encouraged to participate in the Georgia Parent Survey because the data will be used as part of the calculation of the School Climate Star Rating. Survey responses are anonymous and will be submitted directly to the Georgia Department of Education for analysis.
• Reminder: Parent Committee Members – Parents/guardians, we need your help with several of our committees listed below.  If you are interested in working with a team of staff members on any of these initiatives, please complete the survey link here.  Committees will generally meet every third Monday at 4:15 pm.
  • Awards Ceremonies
  • Prom
  • School Culture, Spirit and Discipline
  • Staff Culture/Sunshine
    
• Reminder: MyPaymentsPlus – We are excited to announce a new way to pay for student dues, yearbooks, field trips and other expenses.  MyPaymentsPlus allows parents/guardians to pay for these obligations online via credit card.  More information about the program and how to register are available in this flyer.
• Reminder: Yearbook – The Charles R. Drew Charter School  2017 Yearbook is now available for sale!! This year’s book is a Signature Series Hardcover bound, PreK-12 (Drew’s FIRST graduating senior class), full color, 140 pages and is available for delivery 5/8/2017. Order yours TODAY for the lowest price possible!!  Sales will work as follows:
  • ONLINE through 11/25/16 $28.00 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL PRICE!!Purchase now with the link below.
  • http://link.entourageyearbooks.com/view_account.asp?l=F1940BDA-4103-4DFE-9899-5802744E3719
    • ONLINE 11/26/16 through 02/26/17 $30.00
    • ONLINE 02/27/17 through 04/10/17 $35.00
    • After 04/10/17 In person at either campus, $35 cash or credit.