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.

Senior Academy Priorities for the Year

A school where character and school culture are developed through positive relationships with students, parents, staff and the community.
A school where we facilitate high quality STEAM/PBL learning, and everyone understands how these principles and practices prepare students for postsecondary success.
A school that supports all students’ intellectual, social, and emotional growth and understands how these elements impact learning and development.

Shout-outs to:

Senior Sydney Robinson whose English 1101 essay is going to be added to a GSU textbook as an exemplary model!
The Drew Debate Team who finished 3rd at the Atlanta Urban Debate League tournament on Saturday [see picture above]!
Members of the junior class for participating in the Fearless Dialogues program with members of LEAD Atlanta on Thursday and to Ms. Davis for helping coordinate the event!
Mr. James Williams (james.cornelius.williams@gmail.com), who joins us as our Head Varsity Basketball Coach!
Ms. J’Ydina Ferrell, who joins us as a paraprofessional working with students with disabilities!
Ms. Mason who got married on October 7th!
Mr. Canney who earned funding at DonorsChoose for his classroom project “Show Don’t Tell!”
Ms. Schaffer, whose “Girl Rising” project has been selected as a featured project with Microsoft Skype in the Classroom!
To Ms. Mason and the CCR Team for hosting FAFSA Completion Night on Tuesday and to Mr. Wynn for incorporating the FSA ID number into his class so that everyone could complete the FAFSA!
Ms. Ricks for providing leadership opportunities for SA students through the Book Buddies program at the EA!
Ms. Ruffin for organizing the field trip to the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center!
The Senior Team for organizing the Senior Breakfast on Friday!

Calendar:

WEEKS 14 ~ (10/23- 10/28)

10/23 | Monday | “B” Day

Flex Time – B-Week Clubs

10/24 | Tuesday | “A” Day

8:00-11:30 – 8/9th Grade PSAT Administration
- 9th graders report to 3rd period when the test is finished and then to 2nd lunch at 12:50
Flex Time – Extended Learning

10/25 | Wednesday | “B” Day

8:00-11:30 – 10/11th Grade PSAT Administration
- 10th and 11th graders report to 3rd period when the test is finished and then to 2nd lunch at 12:50
11:05 – Freshmen and Seniors report to 1st lunch and then 3rd period at 11:45
Flex Time – Advisory/Distribute Mid-Semester Progress Reports
4:30-5:30 – Talent Development Committee Meeting

10/26| Thursday | “A” Day

Cross Country Area Meet [Rome, GA]
Flex Time
- 9th Grade Community Forum [Cafeteria]
- Extended Learning

10/27 | Friday | “B” Day

8:00-9:00 – 1st Period
9:00-11:05 – STEAM Career Day
11:10-1:25 – Regularly scheduled 3rd period classes and lunches
Flex Time – Hewlett Packard Enterprise STEAM Career Day Assembly [All students, seated by advisory]
- - 1:30-2:00 – Advisory Check-In Circles
  - 2:00-2:35 – Assembly
2:40-3:55 –
- 9-10th Grade – 4th Period Classes
- 11-12th Grade – HPE STEAM Career Day Break-out Sessions [Juniors and Seniors – 11-12th Grade Hallways]
3:55-5:00 – HPE STEAM Career Day Mixer/Networking Event [All Juniors and Seniors invited – 11-12th Grade PBL Labs]
6:00-8:00 – Class of 2019 Fundraising Event [Cascade Skating Rink]

10/28 | Saturday

GHSA One Act Play Competition
Vex Robotics Competition
Outdoor Club Hike [Arabia Mountain]
ACT

Upcoming Events:

10/30-11/1 – East Lake Cup collegiate golf tournament [Complimentary tickets]
10/30 – A-Week Clubs
11/1 – Make-Up Yearbook Pictures
11/3 – Half-Day for Parent Conferences [See letter sent home with students on Friday]
11/4, 8:00-10:00 – Drew EagleNation Athletic Booster Club Flapjack Fundraiser [See flyer below – Applebees 4705 Memorial Dr.]
11/6
- 11:00 – Drew Board of Directors Meeting
- B-Week Clubs
- 6:00 – Band Booster Club Meeting [Mr. Doran’s Conference Room]
11/8
- Flex Time – Homecoming Coronation
- 4:00-6:00 – PBL Showcase
- 6:30-8:30 – Drew’s Got Talent [6-12th Grade – Theater]
11/9, 6:00-8:00 – Soaring: 6th Annual Community Art Exhibit – Silent Auction – Pop Up Shop @ Namaste Yoga Indigo Spa 2033 Hosea L. Williams Dr. NE Atlanta Ga 30317
11/10 –
- Flex Time – Dance be-CAUSE Assembly [Theater]
- 3:00-4:00 – Homecoming Pep Rally [Gym]
11/11
- Atlanta Urban Debate Tournament at Drew
- Vex Robotics Competition
11/13-11/17 – Homecoming Week: Events occurring during Flex Time Monday-Wednesday
11/13 – A-Week Clubs
11/14, 2:45-6:00 – Junior Mock ACT Exam
11/16, 8:15 am – SA PTA Parent Gathering [Eva Davis Board Room]
11/17
- 4th Period – Homecoming Pep Rally [Will swap 1st and 4th periods]
- 6:00 – Homecoming Basketball Game vs. Maynard Jackson
11/18, 9:00-11:00 – Homecoming Dance [Cafeteria]
5/19, 4:00 pm – Class of 2018 Graduation Ceremony [Main Gym]
June 4-15th – Summer Bridge Program for rising ninth grade students [Georgia Tech]

Announcements:

Service Learning & Language Immersion in Peru – In June 2018, 24 of our students will travel to Peru, South America for nine days. This will be the Senior Academy’s first international trip! During this time students will visit the capital, Lima, and the Sacred Valley. The trip is a combination of community service, language immersion and cultural experiences. This will allow students to see the country from many points of view and gain a better understanding of daily life in Peru. Every day the students will build their confidence in Spanish through morning language lessons and in conversations with people from the area. Additionally, they will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Machu Picchu, a UNESCO world heritage site. As they work together with locals on a series of small community-based service projects, they’ll be immersed in the culture, expanding their language proficiency, and experiencing life as the Peruvians do. Our goal is for the students to return home with a better understanding of what meaningful service is to them in an interconnected world. Please consider contributing to our Peru Trip DonorsChoose project here.
Minority Students in Math and Science (MS^2) – Phillips Academy is beginning their search for qualified 9th grade applicants for the 2018 (MS)2 – Mathematics & Science for Minority Students – summer scholarship program, which takes place on the campus of Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. This rigorous three-summer STEM enrichment program is free to all accepted scholars. The 2018 program will run from July 3 through August 5. The application deadline is December 15, 2017. Students can access the online application at www.andover.edu/ms2. Students can hear more about the program from our scholars at: (MS)2 – In Their Own Words. (Password: MS240)
ACT Student Champion Scholarship – Applications are open for the ACT Student Champion Award! The ACT Student Champion Award recognizes one student in each state who is tenacious and persistent, no matter the challenge, and is prepared for life after high school with a goal in mind and plan in place. ACT Student Champions receive a $500 non-renewable scholarship, certificate, plaque, and state-level recognition. Please encourage students in the graduating class of 2018 who have taken the ACT who fit the following criteria to apply:
- A student who has overcome challenges and can articulate education and career actions
- Students must have a composite ACT score of a 22 on a single test date or a 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale
- Preference will be given to underrepresented and/or first-generation college students.

Applications can be found at www.act.org/readinesschampions. Applications are due December 31, 2017, and champions will be notified on or before April 2, 2018. If applicants are under the age of 18, they must complete this form in addition to the application. All questions may be directed to ccrc@act.org.

START: ME East Lake – Start:ME is a free, intensive 14-week business accelerator for small businesses (businesses with 1-4 employees) that provides the business training, mentorship support and loan fund capital needed to develop their businesses. The program is delivered by Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in partnership with the East Lake Foundation. To learn about the program, please click this link: Start: ME Program Information
Band Booster Club Meetings – Join us for the monthly Band Booster Club meeting on the First Monday of every month starting October 2 at 6pm. There are opportunities to help with leadership, fundraising, volunteering, chaperoning, and to provide guidance and feedback. Visit our website at drewbandboosters.org for the latest information and join the conversation at the drewbandboosters online forum.
Reminder: PTA Parent Gatherings –
- On October 19th we hosted our third PTA Senior Academy Parent Gathering. Thank you to Mr. Doug Ammar from the Georgia Justice Project for presenting.
- These gatherings will occur every third Thursday of the month, alternating between 8:15 am and 5:00 pm. The next Parent Gathering will be held at 8:15 am on Thursday, November 16th in the Eva Davis Board Room.
- Click Here to Become a PTA Member