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CCAT NEWSLETTER
Charter Conservatory for Liberal Arts and Technology
August 2007
Welcome, New Teachers:
Julie Ray, teaching MS Science, comes to CCAT with 20 years of teaching experience in public and private schools as well as at GSU. Most of that teaching has been in Middle School. She is certified in grades 6-12 Science and English with a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology. Her teaching style favors hands-on projects, seeking out creative ways to convey information to students, which makes her a good fit with CCAT’s teaching approach. Immediately upon coming to CCAT, she was pleased to see how the students are accepting of one another, looking out for one another—a quality unfortunately missing from too many middle-school settings. She is pleased to have her daughter joining the 6th grade here, making her commitment to the school as a parent in addition to her commitment as a teacher.
Kim Waters, our new special education teacher, grew up in Bulloch County. She earned her B.A. in comparative literature from the University of Georgia where she participated in the Young Democrats, German Club, Creative Writing Club and the Debate Team. She is completing her Master’s degree in English at GSU, and attaining her teaching certificate in English and Creative Writing.
Governing Board News:
Our new head of the Governing Board is Jim Lobue. The board also welcomes two new members this year: Michelle Rushing and Beverly Skinner. There is still a seat to be filled on the Board. If you are willing to nominate yourself or know someone who would like to serve, please contact Sharon Wilson or Kathy Harwood. The election for this seat will be held at the next PTO/Family Night on Thursday, September 6.
Hot Lunches At CCAT!!!!
The ClubHouse Diner (across from Mill Creek Park on Hwy 24) is offering to deliver hot, nutritious meals to students, teachers or staff of CCAT. All money, menus, and contacts are to be done through the diner and will work on a pre-pay basis. Call the diner at 489-2582 (contact person there is Kim Duke) and arrange to pre-pay an account for your student and set up delivery days and choice of meals. Weekly and monthly menus are available. Meals will be delivered before 12:00 on the days you have arranged for delivery. Regular sized meals are $3.25, Large are $3.75. The menu includes “homestyle” lunches such as Pork BBQ and slaw, Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes, Sloppy Joes and corn on the cob, as well as Hamburgers, Chicken Fingers, and Corndogs. The Last Don’s Pizza, Etc. is offering a similar plan that you order and pre-pay weekly. Their phone number is 681-7212. Again, no money will be exchanged between students and delivery person since all meals must be paid for in advance. Their menu includes sandwiches, pasta, personal pizzas, and vegetarian dishes. Both restaurants have placed menus at the front table of the school. All arrangements for delivery or cancellation of delivery must be made through the restaurants. This is a great opportunity to provide variety and hot meals to your CCAT student.
Volunteer News:
All parents must donate 9 hours of work per 9-week session. Benji Lewis is the volunteer coordinator. If you have a special talent or some particular way you would like to fulfill your volunteer commitment or need ideas as to what you might do for the school, please see Mr. Benji or contact him at blewis@chartercat.org. We can always use parents who are willing to serve as substitute teachers for just a few classes or all day. Saturday work days are also a good way to get your hours in. These are usually scheduled on the Saturday after the Family Night meetings which take place on the first Thursday of every month. The next Saturday Work Day will be September 8th from 9-12.
Fund Raisers:
Our first fund raiser is a Boston Butt Sale. Notices of sale dates will be going out soon. Pick up of the Boston Butts is August 31st. Mr. Benji needs volunteers to help with all aspects of this fundraiser.
Don’t forget to register your Bi-Lo shopping card so that a portion of your purchases can be paid to CCAT. Also, clip and save the Labels for Education that appear on Campbell’s Soup cans, Swanson’s products, and cereal boxes, Kleenex tissues, Pop-Secret microwave popcorn, Saran Wrap, and many other products (look for the small “Box Tops for Education” square to cut out).
Middle School News:
New MS Team Leader Ellen Boyle sends in this update:
Welcome to our returning and new students. Most of last year’s eighth graders are just across the way in the High School. We have a wonderful team this year. Ms. Julie Ray joins the staff as our new science teacher. Ms. Kathy Mortensen is teaching reading as well as Math. Mr. Jared Smythe is also teaching several Learning Logic classes. Mr. Benji Lewis is teaching all MS physical education classes. Mr. Corliss Reese is teaching Writing and Drama. Ms. Donna Harville is teaching a technology class to our new students in addition to overseeing a video class that will be documenting Middle School activities. Ms. Ellen Boyle is teaching Social Studies. We also welcome our new special education teacher Ms. Kim Waters.
High School News:
HS Team Leader Ms. Juli Sergi sends the following:
CCAT received Title I monies to help buy laptops in order to improve student success through interactive websites and software. We look forward to receiving this year’s Title I monies which support professional development, technological improvements and the promotion of a drug-free school.
Further News From the Classroom:
MS Social Studies students will continue world studies, exploring the Middle East (1st session), Africa (2nd session) and Asia (3rd & 4th session). For our 9-week project student teams will create a board game designed to teach fellow students about the Middle East. We will also be participating in the International Festival in November.
Mr. Corliss Reese’s Drama class is rehearsing a play that will probably be performed next Family Night. He could use parent volunteers to help locate props and costumes.
Ms. Donna Harville’s technology classes are using a typing program Learn2Type (http://schools.learn2type.com) that can be accessed online from school or home. Ms. Donna encourages home practice of the exercises or tests. Scores are sent back to the teacher automatically and graphs of student progress can be viewed from the main page.
Reminders:
It is illegal to make a left turn out of the car line, and doing so backs up traffic. ALL cars must go through the car line. Students cannot be picked up at the side of the building or parking lot. We load as many students as we can at 3:00, but once the cars start moving, the students have to be loaded in cars from the crosswalk. This is for their safety. We have had some close calls with students running between the cars as they start moving. If your student is not outside and you are holding up the line, we will ask you to move to the high school parking lot to wait.
Legislative News:
Last year’s debate about Multiple Authorizers for Charter Schools has been re-named the Alternate Authorizers Bill. If this bill passes, it would mean more equitable funding for charter schools like CCAT that currently do not receive their fair share of local school tax dollars. Please contact our legislators about your support for this bill. Contact information for our representatives is on CCAT website’s Moodle page. Take 10 minutes to send them an e-mail and you will help us be heard. CCAT deserves funding equal to any other public school in the state. (You can also record the time you spend sending that e-mail as part of your volunteer commitment to the school.)
Important CCAT Dates:
August 31: Boston Butt Pick-up
Sept. 3: Labor Day, No School
Sept. 6: Family Night
Sept. 8: Work Day, 9-12
Sept. 13: End of 1st session | 
