First-Year Varsity Basketball Player Stephanie Cervantes Named First Team All-Region

FIRST-YEAR VARSITY BASKETBALL PLAYER STEPHANIE CERVANTES NAMED FIRST TEAM ALL-REGION

Meredith Grill Earns Honorable Mention All-Region

Greensboro, Ga. (February 13, 2017) - Lake Oconee Academy completed its first year of varsity basketball competition in Region 7A this year. A season full of remarkable growth for the Lady Titans was capped off by the announcement that junior player and team captain Stephanie Cervantes was named one of five players on the First Team All-Region.

Cervantes led the team with an average of 12.7 points, 2.9 assists and 2.9 steals per game, and was second on the team with 6.8 rebounds per game.

"There is nobody that works harder than Stephanie," said head coach Kevin Furtado. "She is always in the gym working on her game and is a truly unselfish player who thinks of her teammates first. We are very proud of her accomplishment as a First Team All-Region player."'

Junior Meredith Grill was awarded Honorable Mention All-Region. Her tenacity on the court resulted in 8.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

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Photo: Juniors Stephanie Cervantes (left) and Meredith Grill (right) are leading the Lady Titans after LOA's first season of varsity basketball.

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY RECEIVES EXCELLENT 2016 CCRPI SCORES

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY RECEIVES EXCELLENT 2016 CCRPI SCORES FROM THE GEORGIA DOE

College and Career Readiness Indicators Rank LOA Well Above State Averages

Greensboro, Ga. (December 12, 2016) - Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) received the Georgia Department of Education's (DOE) College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) data for the 2015-16 school year, and the public charter school's scores far surpass that of the state scores. The CCRPI is Georgia's annual tool for measuring how well its educational system - to include schools, districts, and the state itself - is preparing students for college and career readiness.

The state scores for Georgia's elementary schools is 71.7, the score for middle schools is 71.5, and 75.7 for high schools, with an overall statewide score of 73.6. LOA received an elementary score of 97.2, a middle school score of 97, and a high school score of 96. LOA's overall school score is 97, an increase over last year's score of 94.2.

The Georgia DOE describes the CCRPI as having four main components: Achievement, Progress, Achievement Gap, and Challenge Points. These components have multiple indicators and are combined for a total CCRPI score on a scale of 0 to 100, with a possibility of 10 additional points. The CCRPI also reports other information such as the performance of student subgroups, school climate, and financial efficiency status.

According to the 2016 CCRPI rankings as reported by the ajc.com, LOA's scores rank its elementary school among the top 2% in the state (number 22 out of 1250 schools that recorded a score), the middle school among the top 3% (number 13 out of 592 schools that recorded a score), and the LOA high school ranks in the top 7% (number 31 out of 451 schools that recorded a score).

"I am extremely pleased with the 2016 CCRPI scores," said Dr. Otho Tucker, CEO of LOA. "We will certainly experience fluctuations in scores from year to year, but the overall consistency in academic achievement demonstrated by our students is very important. LOA's scores are comparable to the best public schools and districts across the state, even among schools that are able to select students, such as magnet schools and schools for the gifted, as opposed to LOA students who are admitted through a lottery.

"I would like to commend the faculty, staff, and administration for their hard work and commitment. The dedication shown by directors, faculty, staff, custodians, food service, parents, volunteers, and everyone else who contributes to the vision, mission, and culture of LOA is what makes it special. I would also like to thank the LOA Board of Governors for providing the support to our educators that is critical to the success of our students and the morale of the school. It allows us to live our passion for the education of our students."

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Named Advanced Placement Capstone School

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY NAMED A COLLEGE BOARD AP® CAPSTONE SCHOOL

LOA One of Only 21 Participating High Schools in Georgia

Greensboro, Ga. (December 5, 2016) - Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) was recently named an Advanced Placement (AP®) Capstone™ school for the 2017-18 school year - one of only 21 participating high schools in Georgia. The AP Capstone is a College Board program that provides current AP students with the research, teamwork, writing and communication skills that colleges seek in its applicants.

The AP Capstone include two courses, AP Seminar and AP Research, which are designed to enrich other AP courses in which a student is enrolled and will qualify students for the AP Capstone Diploma. Students generally take AP Seminar in 10th or 11th grade, followed by AP Research. Students must earn scores of 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) in AP Seminar and AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams from other courses, to qualify for the AP Capstone Diploma. The AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ is available to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams, according to the College Board website.

"The AP Capstone courses are a tremendous addition to the opportunities offered for high school students at LOA," said Dr. Hester Vasconcelos, AP Coordinator at LOA. "The coursework mirrors formal college-level research and writing similar to an academic thesis paper expected at competitive colleges. As with everything we do in the high school at LOA, this program will help student transcripts stand out when applying to colleges and further prepare our students to be successful in their post-secondary education choices."

In addition, faculty professional development is part of the AP Capstone requirements. LOA teachers must complete five-day in-person training over the summer prior to teaching the course.

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LOA To Begin Construction of Permanent High School Campus

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

LAKE OCONEE ACADEMY TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS

LOA Foundation Capital Campaign Funds to Enhance Construction Project

Greensboro, Ga. (November 13, 2016) - The Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) Foundation, Inc. has met all general conditions for approval from the United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Facilities Direct Loan Program for a direct loan to finance the $18 million expansion of the LOA high school campus. The USDA program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.

The LOA Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to enrich the educational experience of every LOA student, will upon completion enter into a long-term lease agreement with Lake Oconee Academy, Inc. This contractual relationship meets the specifications addressed in the charter renewal for self-funding future facilities expansions without drawing additional facilities funds from the school district.

The campus expansion includes two new buildings - one that will house administrative offices, 17 high school classrooms including two science labs, and a student center with a dining, study and gym facility for student activities. Land grading and construction are underway.

"We are very pleased to continue the vision of LOA as a place of educational excellence in rural Georgia with the expansion of the high school campus," said Betsy Peck, LOA Foundation Chairman. "This is a very exciting time for the current high school students, and all those who will follow in their footsteps."

In conjunction with securing the financing for the construction project, the LOA Foundation has successfully met its $2 million capital campaign goal in order to continue the learning environments which have made LOA a unique and successful school. The LOA Foundation would like to thank the hundreds of donors that contributed to reach the current total of $2.3 million in donations. The campaign is ongoing and naming opportunities are still available. The focus of campaign dollars will be on implementing up-to-date technology in the facility, creating an environment that fosters mobility and collaboration in the high school, incorporating state-of-the-art safety upgrades between the new facility and the original campus, and recreational green space.

"It will be extremely beneficial to our academic program to have a dedicated high school facility for students in grades nine through twelve," said Dr. Otho Tucker, CEO of Lake Oconee Academy. "In 2007, LOA started with 11 kindergarten students and now we have the opportunity to provide the highest quality education to over 900 students. We have been successful in accomplishing the mission that was put forth for LOA - to increase student achievement by building a culture of high expectations for all students. I am truly grateful for the support of the Greene County community and our school family over the past 11 years."

The Lake Oconee Foundation will host a groundbreaking for the new campus along with the LOA Parent Teacher Committee annual Titan Bash for LOA families and staff on Thursday, November 16, 2017.

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Two Greene County students selected to serve on the State Superintendent's Student Advisory Council

September 8, 2016 – Anita White Carson Middle School eighth-grade student Paulina Macias and Stuart Baker, an eighth- grader at Lake Oconee Academy, have been selected by Superintendent Richard Woods to serve on his 2016-2017 Student Advisory Council.

The two students are among the 108 Georgia middle and high school students selected to serve on the council. Members were selected from a pool of more than
800 students who applied to participate. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers, which focused on their ideas for public education and the ways their own educational experience could be improved.

In his essay, Stuart discussed the importance of communication between parents or guardians, students, and teachers so that every student educated by the public school system in Georgia could be educated successfully.

“In my essay I stated that teachers are extremely important to the system, therefore all teachers should undergo peer and student evaluations that can show whether they are truly caring and educating each child,” Stuart explained. “Lastly, I said that my education could be impacted if more emphasis was placed on important concepts rather than less significant facts.”

In addition to serving on the council, Stuart plays with the First Move Junior Golf group and is a member of the Junior Model United Nations. He also plays the piano and sings with the church choir.

Throughout the school year, the students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom. Members of the Student Advisory Council will also discuss other issues related to education, serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects to benefit schools and students.

Paulina is looking forward to working with Superintendent Woods and discussing some of her ideas that could make a major difference in public education. In her essay, she stated that students should not go unpunished for their unacceptable actions for impacting the quality of her educational experience and the educational experience of other students. She also discussed that there should be a limit to the social trends used during the school day and that school lunches should be improved.

Paulina is an active member of her school community. She plays with the marching band and is a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and the Beta Club.

Both students believe that serving on the council will help develop their leadership and social skills as they serve as a voice for Greene County.

The first Student Advisory Council meeting will be held next week at the Georgia Department of Education office in Atlanta.

Media Contact:
Robyn Brunson, Communications Coordinator
Office: (706) 453-7688 ext. 2247
Cell phone: (706) 817-6014
Email: Robyn.Brunson@greene.k12.ga.us

Lake Oconee Academy Named First School-Based Retailer for Peach State Pride

Greensboro, Ga. (August 30, 2016) – The Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) high school Entrepreneurship class has created a brand new look for the Titans with the launch of custom Peach State Pride apparel available at the Titan Amory, the LOA school store. LOA has been named the first school-based retailer for Peach State Pride.

The Entrepreneurship class, headed by Mrs. Jennifer Blythe, is part of the DOE-approved CTAE course for the Business and Computer Science Pathway. This year, the class members assumed management of the Titan Armory and revamped store operations. Over the summer students worked to convert the entire inventory to a bar code scanner system with credit card and online sales capability. Students manage every aspect of the school store - merchant services, development and maintenance of the online store, merchandising, product ordering, inventory, delivery, and marketing/advertising.

In order to create demand for LOA merchandise and provide a real-world example of entrepreneurship in action, Mrs. Blythe reached out to representatives of the popular Peach State Pride brand based in Watkinsville, Georgia. Those conversations resulted in a partnership between the Titan Armory and Peach State Pride, making LOA the first ever school-based retailer for Peach State Pride. Periwinkle and white t-shirts hit the store racks on August 19 and the Titan Armory sold 120 adult-sized t-shirts in just two days. The Entrepreneurship class plans to continue its collaboration with Peach State Pride and expand the selection to include sweatshirts, hats, belts, and polo shirts.

LOA students welcomed Peach State Pride founders Derek and Kari Beth Chitwood to LOA on August 25 to speak to the Entrepreneurship classes about the retail business, the future of Peach State Pride, and promoting LOA goods. Mr. Chitwood explained to the students that the brand was born out of a sketch that he penned while sitting in a college class thinking about what could represent Georgia in a manner similar to the popular palm tree and crescent moon logo of South Carolina. After an initial two years of dedication and hard work, Peach State Pride is now an established brand available in over 100 retail stores in Georgia.

“We enjoyed our visit to Lake Oconee Academy, and we are so excited about Peach State Pride's partnership with the Titan Armory,” said Kari Beth Chitwood. “The students impressed us with their engagement and the caliber of their entrepreneurship and marketing efforts.”

For Immediate Release Contact: Kerry Minster 706.454.1562 kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

Lake Oconee Academy Named Act Test Center Site

Greensboro, Ga. (June 8, 2016) - Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) has recently received approval to offer the ACT college admission test to high school students in Greene County and surrounding areas. LOA became a SAT Test Center last year and has regularly tested between 30-40 students each testing date. Having a test center in Greene County has made the SAT more accessible to students in the area without having to incur long distance travel.

"We are very pleased to add the ACT as a test center in Greene County, as it may be a better test option for some students," said Dr. Hester Vasconcelos, Test Center Supervisor. "As a rural school, LOA had to apply repeatedly to become a test center and dispel the myth that there are not enough test takers in our area." LOA will offer the ACT on December 10, 2016, and February 11, 2017, during the upcoming school year. The ACT Test Center at LOA is Test Center #246290 and is open to all students. Students can register online and get more information about the ACT by visiting www.act.org.

Both the SAT and the ACT are exams that are universally accepted for college admission. The redesigned SAT is now more similar to the ACT with both tests having an essay-optional component and being tied to high school curriculum. Students may opt to take either test multiple times. Many colleges will consider what is termed a "super score," which is the highest score on each part of the test even when those scores come from different test dates. Potential test takers should contact their college counselor and review the ACT and SAT websites to help them make decisions about which test may be the best for them. Students can access SAT information at www.collegeboard.org.

SAT Test Dates for 2016-2017 at Test Center #11522:

October 1, 2016
November 5, 2016
December 3, 2016
January 28, 2017
March 11, 2017
May 6, 2017
June 3, 2017

ACT Test Dates for 2016-2017 at Test Center #246290:

December 10, 2016
February 11, 2017

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org

Lake Oconee Academy Designated International Spanish Academy By Ministry of Education of Spain

Only Third School in Georgia to be Named an ISA

Greensboro, Ga. (June 14, 2016) – Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) has received official notice from the Ministry of Education of Spain that it has been named an International Spanish Academy (ISA). ISA students will take at least 25% of their high school courses with Spanish as the language of instruction with the objective to obtain written and oral competency in both languages. Students will gain fluid use of the Spanish language, using it in context in their content courses, such as Social Studies and Science, as well as in their Spanish classes. This distinctive and exciting Academy is open to all students at LOA beginning in Kindergarten and continuing through high school.

LOA is among 104 other schools (elementary, middle and high schools) throughout the United States and Canada that are ISA schools. LOA joins Walton High School in Marietta and Wood Acres School, a private K-8 school also in Marietta, to become the third ISA school in Georgia. LOA is the only K-12 school in the ISA network in the US and Canada.

“Our Spanish Education Office cherishes the opportunity to collaborate with the teaching and learning community at Lake Oconee Academy,” stated Felix Gaspar Koch, Education Consultant-Education Office, Embassy of Spain. “We are honored to work together and strive for excellence in educating students as both members of a global community and mindful contributors for a more humane and civilized future.”

The ISA at LOA is another creative and innovative educational program that empowers students for success in the global society in which they live, work and play. As part of the mission of LOA, the ISA adds the basic belief that fluency in at least one other language in addition to English is an essential characteristic of a well-prepared, contributing citizen of the 21st century. The premise behind dual language immersion is simply that a person uses the language, not just studies the language, in order to learn it. Through the ISA, students will be prepared to earn a diploma from LOA and from the Ministry of Education of Spain. The ISA at LOA will:

• Educate students in the values of multicultural education to foster international communication and respect among different cultures;

• Teach students to express themselves and effectively communicate in English and Spanish in their personal relationships and in an academic setting;

• Facilitate and promote the access of students to prestigious centers of higher education throughout the U.S., Spain, Europe and Latin America;

• Become certified to administer the DELE exams (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera).

The DELE exam evaluates the ability of students to use Spanish in authentic communicative situations that highlight their ability to speak, read, write, listen, visualize and present a variety of ideas in Spanish. Additionally, an on-going relationship between the Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (Spain) and LOA will expand opportunities for ISA students to study in Spain.

The ISA program is possible at LOA because of talented and dedicated teachers who will use Spanish as a communication tool in their content area and throughout the campus. Teachers will be working to improve their Spanish skills in preparation for the rollout of this exciting program. An assistant or a Spanish teacher will come to classes and offer whole-group or small-group learning opportunities where Spanish is the language of instruction. The Spanish instruction complements but does not replace the English instruction. Students actually receive reinforcement of the content, hearing the same content in Spanish and using the vocabulary of critical thinking in Spanish as well as in English. Students expand their knowledge of the Spanish language by using it as their main communication tool in their ISA courses.

“The faculty and administration at LOA have embraced the ISA program with great enthusiasm,” said LOA CEO Dr. Otho Tucker. “This is a rare opportunity for children anywhere in the United States, and especially in rural America, to expand their horizons on an international level.”

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kerry Minster
706.454.1562
kerry.minster@lakeoconeeacademy.org