LOA Homecoming 2023

The LOA Events Class is excited to announce Homecoming 2023 - LOA's Got Game!

The week is filled with many fun events for our High School Students with a few for everyone sprinkled in!!!  We hope that you will have an opportunity to join us!  Read about the week below!  Here's a Google Doc for any updates!  

Door Decorating - Judging: September 29, 2023
We invite all Homeroom (Advisory) Classrooms to decorate their classroom doors this year in the Homecoming Theme: LOA’s Got Game. All Classrooms can choose their own game (board, video, etc.)  to represent your door.  (Talk amongst your grade level to make sure no games are duplicated in your grade level.) 
 
Doors should be decorated by Noon on September 29th for judging.  Click on the rubric to see how doors will be judged! Winners will receive an ice cream or breakfast.  

INFORMATION ON DRESS UP DAYS
Dress Up Days will be for High School Students Only.  Middle and Elementary Students may participate on Friday’s Titan Spirit Day.  

High School Students, please remember, Dress Up Days are just that DRESS UP.  We understand that some of these days lend themselves to casual attire such as t-shirts and jeans, but we ask that you make it obvious that you are participating.  You can do that by doing something with your hair, make up, or adding accessories. Dress Up Days are not required, but if you choose not to participate, you should be in your regular school uniform.  Short/Skirt Lengths should be at Fingertips! All clothing must be SCHOOL APPROPRIATE (No Drug, Alcohol, Sexual, Political References or anything degrading towards anyone else) .  No Skin Tight Clothing.  Nothing too revealing.  Undergarments should be covered. If leggings are worn, shirts or shorts must cover.   If any students choose to dress inappropriately, they will be sent home as an unexcused absence.  Unexcused Absence = Zero for Grades - No Makeups.  Once again, we want you to have fun and be creative, but it needs to be appropriate.  

SIGN UP FOR ALL ACTIVITIES HERE! (Games, Float Help, etc.)

SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

Friday September 29, 2023
Gold PM Advisement - Float Prep @ LOA

Saturday September 30, 2023
9:00 - 1:00 - Float Prep @ LOA

Sunday October 1, 2023
1:00 - 6:00 - Float Prep @ LOA
6:00 PM - Homecoming Kickoff - Powder Puff Football 

Who: High School Students will sign up to participate in the Powder Puff (Flag) Football Game.  We will need 10 Girls and 7 Boys from each grade.  The girls will play flag football, while the boys will cheer and coach them on from the sideline.   The entire Titan Community is invited to watch!   

Where: Tucker Field

Game 1 -  Juniors vs Sophomores
Game 2 - Seniors vs Freshmen
Game 3 - Losers 1 vs Losers 2
Game 4 - Winners 1 vs Winners 2
Game 5 - Winner 3 vs Loser 4
Game 6 - Winner 4 vs Faculty

Blue Day Advisement Schedule for Middle and High School 
Middle and High School will run an Advisement Schedule for the week of October 2-6, 2023.  High School Students will report to the Homecoming Activity Location during Advisement.  Middle School will report to their Advisement.  

Monday Oct 2, 2023 
Scrabble: Dress as something with the first letter of your first name.

Advisement - Activity - Homecoming Parade 
Various Groups, Teams and High School Classes will decorate vehicles (Floats, Golf Carts, Trucks, etc.) to ride in the parade.  SGA Class Presidents will head up their Grade Level Float.  Any students interested in riding on the grade level float must help in the construction/decoration of said float.  The Homecoming Court will be featured as well!  The whole Titan Community is invited to come and watch the parade!  Sign up on the activities link above to help! 

Tuesday Oct 3, 2023 
Guess Who: Rhyme without Reason - Find a partner and dress as two words that rhyme - examples: Butterfly and Super Spy; Aquatic and Patriotic, Tinker Bell + Taco Bell, Buzz Lightyear + Sightseer

Advisement - Daily Competition: Speed Volleyball Tournament - (6 person teams) 5 Min - The team to score the most points wins. 

Game 1 -  Juniors vs Sophomores
Game 2 - Seniors vs Freshmen
Game 3 - Losers 1 vs Losers 2
Game 4 - Winners 1 vs Winners 2
Game 5 - Winner 3 vs Loser 4
Game 6 - Winner 4 vs Faculty

High School Students will sign up to participate in the daily activities!   

Wednesday Oct 4, 2023
Game of Life: Dress as Future Career

Advisement - Daily Competition: Dodgeball Tournament  5 min timer - move to volleyball line
Game 1 -  Juniors vs Sophomores
Game 2 - Seniors vs Freshmen
Game 3 - Losers 1 vs Losers 2
Game 4 - Winners 1 vs Winners 2
Game 5 - Winner 3 vs Loser 4
Game 6 - Winner 4 vs Faculty

High School Students will sign up to participate in the daily activities! 

6:00 PM - Clash of the Titans - Titan Trivia and Challenges - Titan Center
Titan Trivia and Challenges (Trivia with Minute to Win It Challenges Mixed together!) 6 Person Teams

High School Students will sign up for a grade level team.  6 people per team - The teams will be determined randomly by who is signed up.  

Thursday Oct 5, 2023
Hay Day vs Subway Surfer: Farmers vs Skaters

Advisement - Activity -  Table Surfing - Obstacle Course - Subway Surfer/Hay Day Theme

Friday Oct 6, 2023

Battleship (Battle of the Classes - Titan Spirit Day) 
High School wear your Class Color!
12th Grade - Black
11th Grade - Royal
10th Grade - Gold
9th Grade - White
Elementary and Middle School Students, show us your Titan Spirit and dress in school colors that day!!! 

  
Advisement - Pep Rally on Football Field - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
The Pep Rally will announce Homecoming Court and all Fall Sports in addition to final grade level games and the announcing of the Spirit Stick Winners! 

Schedule for Friday: 
1st Block - 7:40 - 8:45
2nd Block - 8:50 - 9:55
10:00 - 11:05 - Homecoming Pep Rally on Football Field
Normal Advisory Schedule 

Saturday October 7, 2023 
Titan Center 
8:00 - 10:00 
Tickets - $15
Purchase Tickets at loastore.org TILL SEPTEMBER 29. 

Everyone must purchase a ticket to enter.  Tickets are on sale till September 29.  ABSOLUTELY NO TICKETS OR FORMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE 29TH!  This is a FIRM DEADLINE!  Only 9th-12th Grade Students or Guests that have graduated but under the age of 21. Any Non-LOA Guests must complete a Dance Guest Form and have submitted by September 29, 2023. Guests must also bring identification to check in the night of the dance. 

We will be updating that Google Doc  with additional links and information as we finalize all the plans, so make sure to check back!  

News From the LOA Board of Governors - August Edition

We hope your school year is off to a great start! The Lake Oconee Academy Board of Governors held its monthly meeting on Monday, August 7th. We want to share some highlights with you:

●     LOA Waiting List - There are currently 355 students on the waiting list.

 ●     Charter Renewal Update - The LOA BOG approved LOA to send over its responses to the request for clarification from the Greene County School System. For more information regarding the charter renewal, please visit the Charter Renewal Resource Center located on the Charter Schools Tab on the LOA website and Quick Link at the top of the website.

●     Alternative Education Program was approved to be sent to GADOE- More information about this program can be found here.

●     Discussion of the Cognia Accreditation - LOA is currently going through the process of accreditation through the accreditation agency, Cognia. On their website, Cognia shares, “For more than 125 years, schools have been inviting Cognia and our legacy agencies, NCA CASI, NWAC, and SACS CASI, into their classrooms. Why? Because we go beyond evaluating school quality. We provide trusted expertise and actionable ideas that move the needle on school quality."

○     Accreditation is the launchpad for school improvement. Based on rigorous research-based standards and evidence-based criteria, the process probes the whole institution—from policies to learning conditions and cultural context—to determine how well the parts work together to meet the needs of every learner.

○     Accreditation isn’t about passing a one-time inspection—it helps education providers meet improvement goals and sustain commitments to better learner outcomes.

○     Cognia identifies schools and systems that best exemplify excellence in education and stand out in the service to learners based on the results of our rigorous accreditation process, as stated on their website. For more information on the accreditation process, please visit cognia.org. As a part of the accreditation process, a Cognia team will do a virtual site visit on Tuesday, November 28th.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach the LOA Board of Governors by emailing LOABOG@lakeoconeeacademy.org.

We are ONE TITAN!

To view the August newsletter online, please click here: https://conta.cc/3E0T1jM

Lake Oconee Academy Named National Beta School of Merit

Lake Oconee Academy is proud to announce its recognition as a 2022-2023 National Beta School of Merit. The school earned this acknowledgement by offering National Beta to all eligible grades on their campus. National Junior Beta includes grades 4-8 and National Senior Beta includes grades 9-12.

The National Beta School of Merit award is given to honor a club’s dedication and commitment to academic excellence. To achieve this prestigious honor, a school must include members from all eligible grade levels in their Beta club. This year, only 3,583 Beta Clubs across the country received this award.

Lake Oconee Academy’s Executive Director, Dr. Brad Bowling, Ed.D., shared his sentiments, “We are honored to have been selected as a National Beta School of Merit. It is a reflection of our Beta Club students’ efforts not only in achieving academically, but also in developing character through service and leadership among their peers and in our community.”

LOA Beta, along with its sponsors, LOA Faculty - Kris Stevens and Teena Garland, carried out numerous undertakings in the 2022-2023 school year. The projects included trash pickup, canned food collection, toy collection, and a highly successful blood drive. These have provided LOA Beta with distinguished accomplishments, including the following:

●      Through the annual event of Rivers Alive, Beta members helped clear trash from the waterways of Greene and Putnam counties.

●      Approximately 2,000 cans were collected in the school-wide canned food drive to benefit Greene County Food Pantry.

●      Nearly 100 coats were collected in the school-wide Coat Drive to assist Greene County residents who were in need of harsh winter protection.

●      150 handmade, holiday and Valentine’s cards were made for the residents of local assisted living facilities; additionally, members spent time with the residents and helped assist in holiday activities.

●      Beta Club members staffed LOA concession stands for every home basketball game.

●      Beta Club partnered with the American Red Cross to host a community blood drive; Beta members facilitated and provided donors with thank you cards.

To commemorate the accomplishments of LOA Beta, the LOA Beta Officers state:

“We have much more to accomplish; however, through service initiatives and continued vigor to serve, LOA Senior Beta Club members have developed a sense of leadership and devotion toward the community. As the tide shifts to the next school year, we anticipate an even brighter future that encompasses a multitude of opportunities to carry on the principles of a Beta member. ‘Let us lead by serving others’, our guiding principle acts as a catalyst as we lead every service event in our school and community. The wealth of knowledge and experience acquired through our work in the 2022-2023 school year demonstrates our capability to perform but also serves to further our goal of advancing our community through both service and leadership.”

About National Beta  
With more than 500,000 active members and 9,000 chapters nationally and internationally, National Beta has become the nation’s largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization. National Beta recognizes outstanding achievement, promotes character and social responsibility, encourages service involvement to school and community, and fosters leadership skills. The National Beta program offers over $300,000 annually to its Senior Beta Members. Visit betaclub.org for more information. 

News From the LOA Board of Governors - Charter Renewal

Titan Family and Friends,

Thursday, July 13, 2023, the Greene County School System (GCSS) Board of Education (BOE) held a called meeting to discuss their clarification requests regarding the LOA Charter Renewal Application, to vote on approval to submit said requests to LOA, and to vote on approval to submit an extension request to the 90-day deadline (outlined in Georgia State Board Rule 160-4-9-.05 Charter Renewal Petitions Process) for the Charter Renewal Application. 

On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, the LOA Board of Governors (BOG) held a special called meeting at 5:30 PM in the 300 Building/Cafeteria.

We have detailed below the items covered at the July 18th special called meeting...

Discussion of the GCSS BOE Charter Application-Clarification Requests: At the meeting, a discussion was held regarding the GCSS Charter Application-Clarification Request that was received by LOA on July 13, 2023. Chairman Michael Tompkins, Dr. Brad Bowling, and Dr. Otho Tucker shared concerns about various items in the clarification request document and spoke specifically to the GCSS “non-negotiables” that were a part of said document. Among the concerns addressed were:

• The timeline of the charter renewal process, and the GCSS BOE delay in response to the charter petition

• Elements in the GCSS BOE response to the charter petition that appear to attempt to control, oversee, and monitor the growth, development, operations, and educational programs of the school, rather than grant the autonomy that charter schools are characterized by

• Requests to prove the success of LOA despite ample evidence already provided

•  A list of “non-negotiables” from the GCSS BOE that cause divisiveness rather than collaboration. Dr. Bowling and Dr. Tucker spoke to each of these from the perspective of LOA:

• Special Education and Services to Students with Disabilities

• Data used to inform instruction and comparisons between LOA and GCSS

• School discipline

• School safety plan

• Strategic Planning/Surveys

• Applications to the charter school

• Facilities

• Enrollment cap

• Funding

• Chairman Tompkins allowed for questions from the LOA Board of Governors. Dr. Bowling and Dr. Tucker responded to each question

Response to GCSS BOE request an additional 90-day extension to the July 15th deadline (received July 13, 2023): Pursuant to OCGA § 20-2-2064(a) and (b) and State Board of Education Rule 160-4-9-.05(1)(b), a local board of education must approve or deny a charter petition within 90 days of submission unless the charter applicant offers an extension. The Greene County Board of Education did not vote on Lake Oconee Academy’s petition within the 90-day period. At the meeting, the Board of Governors met and voted to agree to an extension of 30 days from the date LOA’s responses to the GCSS Request for Clarifications is sent, in order to give the Board time to review this additional information and reach a final decision on our charter.

The LOA Administration and the Board of Governors will continue efforts to increase communications between the LOABOG and the community at large. We are committed to keeping the community informed about LOA, not only regarding the upcoming Charter Renewal, but in all facets of our great school.

The next LOABOG is scheduled for Monday, August 7, 2023 at 5:30pm and will be held in room 102 of the LOA Upper School, Building 800. The next GCSSBOE meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 17, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Board Meeting Room located at 101 East Third Street, Greensboro, Georgia. We encourage parents, faculty and community members to attend these regularly scheduled meetings when possible.

If you have any questions or concerns you can reach the LOA Board of Governors by emailing LOABOG@lakeoconeeacademy.org.

We are ONE TITAN!

Pre-K through 12th Grade Meet & Greet Information

Pre-K

Pre-K Meet & Greet will take place Monday, July 31 from 5:00 pm-6:30pm.

Location- Pre-K Classrooms- Please report to your child’s classroom. The structure will be fluid and not based on last names**
⭐ Rm. 219 Dale Hughes
⭐ Rm. 218 Haley Snead
⭐ Rm. 406 Lisa Weaver
⭐ Rm. 407 Ashley Pincus

Please bring all school supplies at this time

Parking- Please park in the parking lot closest to the football field. This will allow for easy access to and from the classrooms. Faculty members will be stationed throughout the buildings to help you navigate our LOA campus. **
During the week of July 24, you will be able to view your child's schedule and classroom teacher in the Parent Portal/Infinite Campus. If you do not have access to Infinite Campus, you will receive your child’s classroom teacher at Meet and Greet. You may also reach out to Robin Weir at robin.weir@lakeoconeeacademy for questions relating to Infinite Campus.

Families are not required to attend Meet & Greet, but it is recommended to help with the transition to school from summer vacation. If you cannot attend but have questions, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher after July 24th.
Enjoy the remainder of your summer! We look forward to seeing our Pre-K Titan Families on July 31.

Kindergarten - 4th Grade

Meet & Greet will take place on Tuesday, August 1. Take note of the scheduled times below, depending on the beginning letter of your child's last name.
🔹 Last Name A-I - 9:00 am - 10:30 am
🔹 Last Name J-R - 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
🔹 Last Name S-Z - 1:00 pm - 2:30pm
*If you have students in your family with different last names, please choose one time to attend.

During Meet & Greet scheduled times, please do the following:
1. Visit your child’s classroom(s)
2. Bring in school supplies
3. Help your child(ren) become familiar with how to walk to their classroom from the carline that you plan to drop them off at

During the week of July 24, you will be able to view your child's schedule and homeroom teacher in Parent Portal/Infinite Campus. Faculty members will be stationed throughout the buildings to help you navigate campus. If you do not have access to Infinite Campus, you will receive your child’s homeroom teacher at Meet and Greet. You may also reach out to Robin Weir at robin.robin.weir@lakeoconeeacademy for questions relating to Infinite Campus.

Families are not required to attend Meet & Greet, but it is recommended to attend to help with the transition back to school after summertime. If you cannot attend but have questions, please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher after July 24.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and we are so excited to see our Titan families on August 1!

5th - 6th Grade

Monday, July 31 from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Location: Buildings 500 & 600

9th Grade

Monday, July 31 from 6:00 pm - 7: 00 pm 

Location: Building 800

7th - 8th Grade & 10th - 12th grade

Tuesday, August 1.

Location - Homerooms Classrooms 

Last Name A-I - 9:00 am - 10:30 am

Last Name J-R - 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Last Name S-Z - 1:00 pm - 2:30pm

If you have students in your family with different last names, please choose one time to attend Meet & Greet.

Lake Oconee Academy Celebrates 2023 Denim & Diamonds As A Record Breaking Success

On Saturday, April 22, 2023, Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) and the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation (LOAF) hosted their annual fundraising event, Denim & Diamonds at Collins Farm in Greensboro, GA. The event attracted over 550 attendees who gathered to enjoy a night filled with good friends, good food, good times, and an incredible amount of generosity. From ticket sales, sponsorships, and raffles to the silent and live auctions, this year’s Denim & Diamonds raised over $293,000 for the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation. This achievement surpasses all previous years, making this the largest amount of funds ever raised by one single LOA benefit event.

“I am beyond proud to have been part of planning this extraordinary event,” said Kendra Van Mol, Lake Oconee Academy Foundation Director of Development. “I have a deep appreciation for this school, community, and Titan Family. Our sponsors, volunteers, and attendees were all amazing, and their generosity has been overwhelming. One of my favorite moments from the evening was seeing the Titan Tower live auction item sell for $8,000. Alongside, of course, the delicious food and the Titan Ranch flash mob. I believe this year’s event brought an energy and excitement we’ve never experienced before. With everyone’s support and involvement, we were truly able to bring our best!”

Denim & Diamonds was largely made possible by a team of volunteers made up of business owners, community members, LOA faculty, and parents. They devoted many hours of their time in preparation, including set-up of the venue and silent auction, hand-made decor, and raffle ticket sales. Their hard work is a testament to the level of community support required to bring an event like Denim & Diamonds to fruition.

“On behalf of the Lake Oconee Academy Foundation and my entire faculty and staff, I would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to make the 2023 Denim & Diamonds a special event. A huge thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Todd Collins who allowed us to use their beautiful home and property. I would also like to thank Denim & Diamonds Title Sponsors, Juturna, Bughouse Pest Control and Aalto Scientific, Ltd., and Platinum VIP Cocktail Sponsor, BankSouth as well as all of our incredible sponsors for their tremendous generosity. Finally, I would like to recognize Kendra Van Mol, Teresa Sitler, Event Co-
Chair, and their team of volunteers for their dedication and hard work in making our event a huge success,” noted Dr. Otho Tucker, CEO of LOA.

LOAF is a non-profit organization committed to enriching the educational experience of every LOA student. As the school population continues to grow, the mission of the LOAF is to support this growth through new classroom buildings, fine arts programming, scholarship opportunities, and everything in between to offer the best educational experience. Hence why the theme of this year’s Denim & Diamonds was, “Bring Your Best!”  With profits from this year’s events, the LOAF approved $200,000 worth of needs for the school and students – Including, but not limited to, new marching band uniforms, drill team uniforms, various athletic uniforms, new sheet music, art supplies and literature programs.

In previous years, LOAF has raised funds to provide LOA students with 6,000+ library books, a piano lab, equipment for broadcasting, technology, band/musical theatre licenses, costumes, technology, athletic equipment, an upper elementary playground, visual arts supplies for honors and AP programs, travel scholarships for international study programs, new athletic fields, and most recently, the campus expansion which included the completion of a new Fine Arts Building.

Denim & Diamonds 2024 is set to take place on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Collins Farm.

To learn more about LOAF visit LakeOconeeAcademy.org. For a complete list of Denim & Diamonds contributors or to learn more about the event, kindly visit DenimAndDiamondsLO.com.

LOA has partnered with EPI for 2023 school supplies to make it easy on our parents

SHOP NOW for your 2023-24 school supplies. Avoid the stores and get all your school supply shopping done online. EPI school supply packs contain all the items and brands our teachers require. Not only is this convenient for you, but it is a fundraiser to help our school. Order now with our School ID at https://www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks/.

LAK375 - Lake Oconee Academy

LAK377 - Lake Oconee Academy Middle School

Please note, this is not required for school supplies. LOA partners with EPI to make purchasing supplies seamless and easy.