LOA Symphonic Band Receives Superior Rating at State Evaluations

The Lake Oconee Academy Symphonic Band recently traveled to Burke County High School in Waynesboro, GA for the annual state evaluations.

The symphonic band is comprised of high school students in 9th to 12th grade, alongside advanced middle school students in 7th and 8th grade. Led by Band Director Courtney Pilgrim, these students have been diligently preparing for evaluations since January 2024.

During the evaluation, instructors receive a selection of music from the state, covering various musical styles. The evaluation consists of three pieces: a march, featuring "Gallant Marines" by Karl Kind, a ballad, showcasing "By Dawn’s Early Light" by David Shaffer, and the finale, referred to as the “kitchen sink,” which incorporates fast-paced and rhythmic melodies for an exhilarating conclusion. For this piece, they've chosen "Prelude and Firestorm" by Roland Barrett.

Performing on stage in front of three judges and an audience, the musicians are judged on several aspects for each of their scores. The first being technical accuracy which includes articulation, correct notes, note volume and rhythm. Second is flexibility, which is the balance of sound, tone, and response to the director. Then their musical effect, which is their confidence, fluency, intonation, and tone. Lastly, they are judged on their overall musical content.

While Mrs. Pilgrim says both parts of the evaluation are challenging, she believes that the sight-reading portion really showcases what the students have learned and demonstrates their overall musical knowledge. Students are given 6 minutes to silently study the music and then perform it one time for judging.

After much hard work and dedication, the Lake Oconee Academy Symphonic Band brought home the distinction of receiving superior ratings in both the stage performance and in their Sight-Reading room. This is the highest level that can be received at the state level. “I couldn’t be more proud of this group of students. They really pushed their musical maturity and ability with this performance. They truly knocked it out of the park,” says Mrs. Pilgrim.

9th Grade LOA Art II Student Wins Georgia Farm Bureau County Art Contest

The Georgia Farm Bureau annually hosts an art contest centered on Georgia agriculture, showcasing the creativity and talent of local students. This year's standout among county entrants is Lexi Sangum, a dedicated 9th-grade student from Lake Oconee Academy Art II.

Lexi's exceptional artwork earned her the title of county winner and secured her a coveted cash prize of $50. The competition, open to 9th through 12th-grade students from public, private, or homeschooling backgrounds, encourages participants to express their artistic vision on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper, utilizing a grayscale black, white, and gray palette.

Contestants are encouraged to explore various mediums suitable for reproduction, such as graphite, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencils, pen and ink, or mixed media. Lexi's Art II teacher, Mrs. Debbie Vogel, lauded Lexi's dedication and talent, describing her as a hardworking freshman with immense potential.

Lexi's victory at the county level propels her artwork to the District stage and potentially to the statewide competition. Her achievement highlights her artistic prowess and underscores the importance of the farming industry in Georgia.

According to the UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Georgia's agriculture sector contributed a substantial $73.2 billion to the state's economy in 2021, showcasing the vital role of farming in sustaining economic growth and employment opportunities within the state.

Lake Oconee Academy Announced as AP Honor School for 2024

On February 27, 2024, State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced Lake Oconee Academy as one of 276 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools from 99 school districts in Georgia for 2024.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 AP Honor Schools,” said Superintendent Woods, “I commend them for their hard work to build strong Advanced Placement programs and, as a result, provide high-quality opportunities for Georgia students. Additionally, I am thrilled that the number of AP Honor Schools and school districts continue to rise each year - a testament to the commitment of Georgia public education to expand opportunities for all Georgia students.”

The College Board administers AP exams and the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning at the high school level; students who receive a 3, 4, or 5 on the exam may receive college credit.

The 2024 AP Honor Schools are named in eight categories based on the results of AP courses and exams from 2023. Lake Oconee Academy was honored in the following categories: AP Challenge Schools (1 of 43), AP Humanities Schools, AP Humanities Achievement Schools, and AP Schools of Distinction. For a school to be named an AP School of Distinction, it must have at least 20% of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

Upon receiving the news of being awarded AP Honor School, Executive Director Dr. Brad Bowling enthusiastically stated,  “We are truly honored to be once again named an AP Honor School. This award is a testament to the dedication to excellence of our students, faculty, and staff. The recognition reaffirms our commitment to providing rigorous academic opportunities and preparing our students for success in college and beyond.”

Lake Oconee Academy offers, on average, around 25 AP courses each year. For the 2022-2023 school year, LOA had 86% of students score a three or higher on AP exams.

Sign Up for 2024 Titan Summer Camp

It's finally time to sign up for Titan Summer Camp! We have all the information you need down below! If you have any questions, our emails and phone numbers are on the bottom of the flyer and the information pamphlet. You can email the teacher(s) directly.

Lake Oconee Academy Honors Black History Month With Night of Celebration

Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) hosted its Inaugural Black History Celebration on February 28, 2024. The evening was a delightful celebration highlighting Black American culture from the past, present, and future. "It was a great event that brought many community members to celebrate. Attendees enjoyed the food as much as the performances. It was a joy to watch the students perform," shared Jermika Buck, LOA School Social Worker.

Roughly 150 people attended the evening. Artwork from elementary, middle, and high school students lined the event space, creating an immersive art showcase. These talented students created sculptures, paintings, and photographs to pay tribute to Black Artists and their contributions to the field of art and photography. 

Food trucks from Jeremy's Wing Shack, Jamaican Backyaad Cookout, and CC's Sweet Treats were on hand for the evening, serving up mouth-watering local favorites. Even a local elementary school entrepreneur served his famous lemonade from his business, "Taylen's Lemonade." The threat of rain and a sudden downpour didn't hinder the enthusiasm for this memorable event.

What student-led event would be possible without the Master of Ceremonies? Eighth-grade student Christian Robbins, a very active member of the student body, was the MC for the evening. He kept the audience entertained and engaged throughout the night. 

The talent showcased at this Inaugural event was plentiful! Dakota Moon, the seventh-grade student, kicked off the evening with an enthusiastic piano performance of "Ragtime Dance" by Scott Joplin that had the audience tapping their toes while the 7th-8th grade Chorus left the crowd moved as they sang the traditional spiritual "Moses and David" by Sally K. Albrecht. An 8th-grade student, Rylie West, recited "The Battle of Birmingham," and LOA senior, Jakeria Porter, performed Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise." These young ladies' voices encompassed the room as their powerful performances radiated throughout the usually bustling cafeteria. Singing "Rise" by Andra Day, Rashedah Mitchell, a Milledgeville resident, moved attendees as she captured this powerful anthem's emotion. Students from grades 1st through 4th performed a beautiful lyrical dance with the coaching of Tyya Alexander. "I worked closely with the elementary dancers. In a short time, we organized a dance team with the help of the amazing Tyya Alexander. Ms. Tyya took the lead in teaching our young dancers a routine for the performance. "I think the dancers stole the show!" laughed LOA paraprofessional Dominique Sneed.

Lake Oconee Academy was honored to have a special guest speaker, Mamie Hillman, who gave a powerful narrative and history of Black Americans in Greene County. Ms. Hillman is the Director of the Greene County African American Museum. "The Black History Celebration was the first of its kind at LOA. It was amazing to make this event a reality and showcase LOA's diverse and talented student body," said LOA's ESOL teacher, Mrs. Shannon Hooks. The Black History Committee is already thinking of meaningful and creative ways to add to next year's Black History event!

A Note from Nurse Jessica - March Wellness Update

LOA Families and Staff ~

I hope you have all handled the 'spring forward' well!! I am not one who loves losing an hour of sleep, but I am looking forward to the first day of spring (March 19) and all the warmer weather (minus the seasonal allergies)!! 

I wanted to let you know about our update to the LOA Covid Policy. In keeping with the recommendations from the CDC and Department of Health we have updated our guidelines for our staff and students.  

Here is the update in our policy: 

In terms of actual protocols, the key elements are as follows: 

• Positive Cases – will stay home until there has been a 24 hour improvement in overall symptoms, and fever-free (without the use of medication) for at least 24 hours; 

• Symptomatic Students – if on campus, will be seen by our staff and can consult a Telehealth practitioner, and then test if it is deemed necessary, with positive cases isolating (per above) and negative cases being addressed accordingly (including sent home for cough, muscle aches, sore throat, and/or fevers, etc.); 

• Exposed Students – will remain on campus if asymptomatic.

Please see below the updated information from the CDC: 

NEW from the CDC:

When you have a respiratory virus infection, you can spread it to others. How long someone can spread the virus depends on different factors, including how sick they are (severity) and how long their illness lasts (duration). This is not the same for everyone.When, for at least 24 hours, your symptoms are getting better overall and you have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication), you are typically less contagious, but it still takes more time for your body to fully get rid of the virus. During this time, you may still be able to spread the virus to others. Taking precautions for the next 5 days can help reduce this risk. After this 5-day period, you are typically much less likely to be contagious. 

Examples

For illustrative purposes, not to scale

Example 1: Person with fever and symptoms.

Example 2: Person with fever but no other symptoms.

Example 3: Person with fever and other symptoms, fever ends but other symptoms take longer to improve.

Example 4: Person gets better and then gets a fever.

These precautions include: 

• Practicing Good Hand Hygiene

• Covering Coughs and Sneezes 

• Cleaning Frequently Touched Surfaces

• Taking Steps for Cleaner Air

We are still seeing a large number of students with stomach viruses.  Please continue the following guidelines pertaining to stomach sickness: 

• Vomiting and/or Diarrhea: Must be kept home for 24 hours following the last vomiting/diarrhea episode.  This includes if students are sent home, they may not return prior to the time in which they were sent home the day before (ex; sent home at 10:00 am, student may not return until after 10:00am next day if no other vomiting/diarrhea episodes occur).  

HEALTHY KIDS = BETTER LEARNERS

Kind Regards, 

Jessica Tolbert, RN

Lake Oconee Academy

School Nurse

LOA Students at the National History Day Regional Competition

Congratulations to two groups of Lake Oconee Academy  students for their incredible achievements at the National History Day (NHD)  regional competition held at Augusta University on March 2nd! Both teams secured a berth in the state competition at LaGrange University in April, by clinching the 1st and 2nd positions in their respective divisions.

Both teams competed in the category of Group Exhibit.  Irem Erturk, Ana Garcia, Adam Kalmanowicz, Maria Marquez, and Jewell Morrison  presented on "Genetically Modified Organisms: A Turning Point" and took first place  Emily Harrison, Braylen Nelson, Sidney Pattison discussed "The Significance of Gunpowder" to secure second.  

National History Day is a nationwide academic program where students conduct historical research on a chosen topic related to an annual theme. This year’s theme is “Turning Points in History.” Students present their findings through various formats such as exhibits, documentaries, websites, performances, or papers. It provides a platform for students to dive deep into history and showcase their knowledge and skills.

Winners at the state competition will have the prestigious opportunity to advance to the National Contest in Washington, DC, in June. We wish our talented students the best of luck as they progress through this exciting journey!

Career Day at Lake Oconee Academy

We are excited to share the date for our school-wide grades PreK-12 Career Day on Friday April 12th, 2024 @ LOA. Presenter formats will vary based on student age. We are currently seeking presenters and welcome parents and others with engaging careers to sign up to volunteer as a speaker.

Feel free also to forward this sign-up link to others! 

We welcome all presenters from a variety of backgrounds!  We will support you to prepare and more details are forthcoming upon sign-up.  If you have questions, please feel free to contact our school counselors:

• Lower School Grades preK-4: erica.seybert@lakeoconeeacademy.org

• Middle School Grades 4-8: jennifer.patton@lakeoconeeacademy.org

• Upper School Grades 9-12: john.noto@lakeoconeeacademy.org

Our goal is to expose students to a variety of careers and connect what they are learning in school to the world of work in order to jumpstart their thinking about the future.