Friday, December 2, 2011
PTA Update
The PTSA organizing meetings for Cambridge HS will be Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 7:00 PM and also Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:00 AM. Both meetings will be at the Milton Center. All families in the Cambridge High attendance district are welcome. Please bring your PTA card from your current school to be assigned a committee.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Cambridge High School PTA Organizing Committee
This meeting that was scheduled for November 29th will be rescheduled to some time in January. The new date will be posted when it is finalized.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Board Approves New School Name, 2012-13 Calendar and Charter System Application
The Fulton County Board of Education met November 15 for its monthly meeting and approved 28 agenda items, including the name for a new high school in North Fulton and the 2012-13 school year calendar. The board also voted to send its charter system application to the Georgia Department of Education for approval.
New school name
Cambridge High School will be the name of the high school currently under construction on Bethany Bend in Milton. Approved by the school board tonight, Cambridge was the top choice of two names submitted by a panel consisting of students, parents and staff, and represents a historical view of the area and a unifying vision for the school. Providence High School was the other name submitted but Cambridge was the leader among the name selection committee.
The “C” in Cambridge is in honor of the Cogburn family, the original owners of the school site. The “A” represents the students coming from Alpharetta High School and the “M” represents the students coming from Milton High School. The “bridge” is both metaphorical and physical, representing how students will come together to form a new school community as well as the 126-foot bridge on the property. The school will open in August 2012, and earlier this month, incoming students voted on the “Bears” as its mascot and blue and white as its official colors.
2012-2013 school calendar
The board also approved the 2012-13 school year calendar. Monday, August 13, will be the first day of school, with the last day being May 23, the Thursday before Memorial Day. Eighty-seven days are in first semester, which ends December 19, and 90 days are in second semester.
In 2010, Georgia law changed to allow school systems to move away from a mandated 180-day calendar, provided there is no reduction in instructional time. The 177-day calendar follows the same model as the previous three years, where the year is shortened by three days but 10 minutes of instructional time are added to each day.
Charter system application
After nearly two years of exploration and development, the Fulton County Board of Education approved its charter application for submittal to the Georgia Department of Education.
The 50-page petition outlines the charter’s three main themes – people, instruction and finances – and how the model would improve student achievement. Specifically, the charter application suggests how the school district could adjust its hiring processes and give schools more flexibility in its staffing. The charter system model also supports curriculum innovation, such as how students receive instruction and how technology could be leveraged in the classroom.
And as the final charter tenet, financial flexibility also could be realized through the way certain resources within each local school are allocated and through waivers from state-mandated spending requirements.
The now-approved charter application will be sent to the Georgia Department of Education for approval and the district expects to learn its status in the spring.
New school name
Cambridge High School will be the name of the high school currently under construction on Bethany Bend in Milton. Approved by the school board tonight, Cambridge was the top choice of two names submitted by a panel consisting of students, parents and staff, and represents a historical view of the area and a unifying vision for the school. Providence High School was the other name submitted but Cambridge was the leader among the name selection committee.
The “C” in Cambridge is in honor of the Cogburn family, the original owners of the school site. The “A” represents the students coming from Alpharetta High School and the “M” represents the students coming from Milton High School. The “bridge” is both metaphorical and physical, representing how students will come together to form a new school community as well as the 126-foot bridge on the property. The school will open in August 2012, and earlier this month, incoming students voted on the “Bears” as its mascot and blue and white as its official colors.
2012-2013 school calendar
The board also approved the 2012-13 school year calendar. Monday, August 13, will be the first day of school, with the last day being May 23, the Thursday before Memorial Day. Eighty-seven days are in first semester, which ends December 19, and 90 days are in second semester.
In 2010, Georgia law changed to allow school systems to move away from a mandated 180-day calendar, provided there is no reduction in instructional time. The 177-day calendar follows the same model as the previous three years, where the year is shortened by three days but 10 minutes of instructional time are added to each day.
Charter system application
After nearly two years of exploration and development, the Fulton County Board of Education approved its charter application for submittal to the Georgia Department of Education.
The 50-page petition outlines the charter’s three main themes – people, instruction and finances – and how the model would improve student achievement. Specifically, the charter application suggests how the school district could adjust its hiring processes and give schools more flexibility in its staffing. The charter system model also supports curriculum innovation, such as how students receive instruction and how technology could be leveraged in the classroom.
And as the final charter tenet, financial flexibility also could be realized through the way certain resources within each local school are allocated and through waivers from state-mandated spending requirements.
The now-approved charter application will be sent to the Georgia Department of Education for approval and the district expects to learn its status in the spring.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Mascot and Colors Announcement
After two days and 537 student votes, our students have established an official mascot and official colors for the new high school. Our new high school is proud to have the mascot The Bears and our official colors will be Navy Blue, Carolina Blue, and White. Thank you to all the students who came out to vote at Northwestern MS and Hopewell MS. We will have our official name on November 15th.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Attention All Future Football Players at the New High School
If you are zoned to the new high school and want to receive more information about the football program, please contact Stan Kania at 770-356-2202 or via email at skania@software-link.com. Parents of the new school are working with Dr. Spurka to begin weight training and conditioning in January to prepare for the upcoming spring practice.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Update on Mascot & Colors
Last night Dr. Spurka met with 40 student representatives to develop the list of official mascots and color combinations that all our students will vote on. The students on the committee were from the following schools: Cogburn Woods Elementary, Birmingham Falls Elementary, Alpharetta Elementary, Summit Hill Elementary, Hopewell Middle School, Northwestern Middle School, Alpharetta High School and Milton High School. The final choices for the new high school’s official mascot are: The Broncos, The Bears, or The Jaguars. The final choices for the official school colors are: Navy Blue and White, Navy Blue, Caroline Blue, and White, or Navy Blue, Orange, and White.
Dr. Spurka, the principal of our new high school on Bethany Bend, is excited to invite you to help select the new high school’s official mascot and colors. All students who live within the new high school’s attendance zone will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Spurka and vote for the official mascot and colors for the new high school.
All students, elementary through high school, are welcome to stop by Northwestern MS on Wednesday, November 2nd from 6:00 to 7:30 or Hopewell MS on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:00 to 7:30. While our school board is currently working on the school name, Dr. Spurka is excited to work with all his future students to give the school its official mascot and colors.
Dr. Spurka, the principal of our new high school on Bethany Bend, is excited to invite you to help select the new high school’s official mascot and colors. All students who live within the new high school’s attendance zone will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Spurka and vote for the official mascot and colors for the new high school.
All students, elementary through high school, are welcome to stop by Northwestern MS on Wednesday, November 2nd from 6:00 to 7:30 or Hopewell MS on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:00 to 7:30. While our school board is currently working on the school name, Dr. Spurka is excited to work with all his future students to give the school its official mascot and colors.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Updated Welcome Video from Dr. Spurka
Please scroll down to the bottom of the page or go here to watch the new video from Dr. Spurka.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Calling All Bethany Bend Students!
Dr. Spurka, the principal of our new high school on Bethany Bend, is excited to invite you to help select the new high school’s official mascot and colors. All students who live within the new high school’s attendance zone will have the opportunity to meet Dr. Spurka and vote for the official mascot and colors for the new high school.
All students, elementary through high school, are welcome to stop by Northwestern MS on Wednesday, November 2nd from 6:00 to 7:30 or Hopewell MS on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:00 to 7:30. While our school board is currently working on the school name, Dr. Spurka is excited to work with all his future students to give the school its official mascot and colors.
All students, elementary through high school, are welcome to stop by Northwestern MS on Wednesday, November 2nd from 6:00 to 7:30 or Hopewell MS on Thursday, November 3rd from 6:00 to 7:30. While our school board is currently working on the school name, Dr. Spurka is excited to work with all his future students to give the school its official mascot and colors.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Information on SPLOST IV
As you may know, SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) is a five-year, one-penny sales tax that has funded millions of dollars of improvements to our school system. The current SPLOST expires this March, which means Fulton County voters must decide whether to extend it for another five years. The issue will go to the polls on Tuesday, November 8.
For more information on the SPLOST, visit http://www.fultonschools.org/SPLOST4/
For more information on the SPLOST, visit http://www.fultonschools.org/SPLOST4/
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Naming Committee Update
I would like to personally thank the hard work of the members of our Naming Committee who recently recommended two names to our Board of Education last Wednesday. Like the new schools that opened before us, we followed Fulton County School Board Policy FDC – Naming of Facilities – to ensure we had representation from the communities we will serve. The naming committee was made up of 24 parents and students that represent our new school’s attendance zone as well as representatives from the historical society and the Milton City Council. Committee members worked with their communities to be sure that their input was received and shared back with the committee at-large.
It is important to understand that the committee’s recommendations were recommendations and no action will be taken for at least one month while the school board hears from the community and gets feedback. The Fulton County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on our high school’s official name on November 15. Here are two names that the committee recommended to our school board:
Cambridge High School
The committee felt it was important to select a name for our new school that honors the history of the area and at the same time would be inclusive and unifying for the students in the newly created attendance zone. The name "Cambridge" has prestige, but it also has a deeper meaning for our school. The "C" in Cambridge is in honor of the Cogburn family, the original owners of the school site. The "A" represents the students coming from Alpharetta High School; the "M" represents the students coming from Milton High School. The "bridge" is both metaphorical and physical. It represents all of the students coming together to form a new school community as well as representing the 126-foot bridge on the property, a defining feature of the school site.
Providence High School
The committee felt it was important to select a name for our new school that honors the history of the area. The community of Providence was established around Providence Church. The main mail in Milton County ran from Roswell to Cumming and went right through the community of Providence. Providence was an agricultural community up until post World War II. Providence High School would represent the Providence Community.
It is important to understand that the committee’s recommendations were recommendations and no action will be taken for at least one month while the school board hears from the community and gets feedback. The Fulton County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on our high school’s official name on November 15. Here are two names that the committee recommended to our school board:
Cambridge High School
The committee felt it was important to select a name for our new school that honors the history of the area and at the same time would be inclusive and unifying for the students in the newly created attendance zone. The name "Cambridge" has prestige, but it also has a deeper meaning for our school. The "C" in Cambridge is in honor of the Cogburn family, the original owners of the school site. The "A" represents the students coming from Alpharetta High School; the "M" represents the students coming from Milton High School. The "bridge" is both metaphorical and physical. It represents all of the students coming together to form a new school community as well as representing the 126-foot bridge on the property, a defining feature of the school site.
Providence High School
The committee felt it was important to select a name for our new school that honors the history of the area. The community of Providence was established around Providence Church. The main mail in Milton County ran from Roswell to Cumming and went right through the community of Providence. Providence was an agricultural community up until post World War II. Providence High School would represent the Providence Community.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Announcing the Bethany Bend Golf Fundraiser
Please go to our Golf Fundraiser page to learn more about how you can help out with this important fundraiser for our new school.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Naming Committee Update
On Wednesday night we had our first committee meeting for the naming of our new high school. I want to thank the committee members who participated in this discussion and represented their communities.
I’ve received a few questions about how a school’s name is selected. Like the new schools that opened before us, we are following Fulton County School Board Policy FDC – Naming of Facilities – to ensure we have representation from the communities we will serve. The naming committee was made up of 24 parents and students that represent our new school’s attendance zone as well as representatives from the historical society and the Milton City Council. Committee members will work with their communities to be sure that their input will be received and shared back with the committee at-large.
As next steps, our committee will resume on Wednesday, September 28, to come up with two or three names to recommend to the school board on October 20 for first reading. It is important to understand that our committee’s recommendations are recommendations and no action will be taken for at least one month while the school board hears from the community and gets feedback. The Fulton County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on our high school’s official name on November 15.
Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or comments at spurka@fultonschools.org.
I’ve received a few questions about how a school’s name is selected. Like the new schools that opened before us, we are following Fulton County School Board Policy FDC – Naming of Facilities – to ensure we have representation from the communities we will serve. The naming committee was made up of 24 parents and students that represent our new school’s attendance zone as well as representatives from the historical society and the Milton City Council. Committee members will work with their communities to be sure that their input will be received and shared back with the committee at-large.
As next steps, our committee will resume on Wednesday, September 28, to come up with two or three names to recommend to the school board on October 20 for first reading. It is important to understand that our committee’s recommendations are recommendations and no action will be taken for at least one month while the school board hears from the community and gets feedback. The Fulton County Board of Education is scheduled to vote on our high school’s official name on November 15.
Feel free to e-mail me with any questions or comments at spurka@fultonschools.org.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Town Hall Meetings Set for Charter System Model
Three town hall meetings will be held in early October regarding the Fulton County School System’s proposed charter system model. Each will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s auditorium or cafeteria.
· October 3, Milton Center -- 86 School Drive, Alpharetta
· October 5, Lake Forest Elementary School -- 5920 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs
· October 6, Westlake High School -- 2400 Union Road SW, Atlanta
The meetings will give the community an update about the charter system process as well as an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback. To learn more about the process, ask a question, or leave an online comment, please visit the Exploring Fulton as a Charter System website at http://www.fultonschools.org/CharterSystem.
· October 3, Milton Center -- 86 School Drive, Alpharetta
· October 5, Lake Forest Elementary School -- 5920 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs
· October 6, Westlake High School -- 2400 Union Road SW, Atlanta
The meetings will give the community an update about the charter system process as well as an opportunity to ask questions and give feedback. To learn more about the process, ask a question, or leave an online comment, please visit the Exploring Fulton as a Charter System website at http://www.fultonschools.org/CharterSystem.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
New Photos Added 9/8/11
Please go to More Pictures to see the most recent photos of progress at the school site.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Naming Committee Update 8/31/11
I want to thank all our parents who have contacted me about joining our new school’s naming committee. I have assembled a wonderful committee with 14 parents throughout our school community. I am working on a schedule for our meetings with the goal of taking our recommendation to the board in October. Please keep checking our website for updates and opportunities for you to give feedback to members of our naming committee.
Thank you,
Dr. Spurka
Thank you,
Dr. Spurka
Updated Photos 8/27/11
We have added new aerial photos at the bottom of the page as well as up close photos of the project on the More Pictures page. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Updated Aerial Photos
Check out the updated aerial photos of the new school site at the bottom of the page. Click the More Pictures link on the left of the page to see recent up close photos of the buildings.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Welcome!
Welcome to the families of the Bethany Bend High School site. This is the place you will find up to date information from Dr. Spurka and others concerning developments with our new school. Check back often!
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