Sandy Springs Education Force

During the year ended June 30, 2023, SSEF impacted these students through the following programs:AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS(i) After-School All- StarsThis comprehensive after school program takes place five days per week/ two hours per day at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, incorporating academic remediation and enrichment. The program is implemented in collaboration with the Georgia State University Research Foundation and After-School All-Stars Atlanta. Transportation is provided by the school. 97% percent of the students in the program are economically disadvantaged. Students consistently show an increase in grades, a decrease in disciplinary infractions and an increase in attendance as a result of participation in this program. (ii) After-School North Springs - This high school program incorporates many of the same elements as its middle school counterpart. Operating three afternoons a week at North Springs High School, the program offers academic support for one hour followed by enrichment activities, field trips, exposure to college and vocational schools, and career opportunities. MENTORING/ROLE MODELS(iii) SAIL& Senior Push For the SAIL program, Riverwood International Charter School seniors are identified by counselors as being on target to graduate, but without post-secondary plans. Volunteers receive training to help students identify their skills and interests and provide resources for students to learn about potential schools and programs that would be a good fit. Volunteers work with students on the entire college or program application process. SSEF provides funds for application fees, as well as SAT/ACT fees for those students needing financial assistance. A similar program called Senior Push is implemented at North Springs High School.(iv) Link with a Leader This program is designed to provide targeted students with an opportunity to meet and learn about careers and post-secondary educational opportunities from members of the local business community. Community mentors share stories of their personal career and educational journeys, as well as present informational workshops focused on increasing college and career readiness. Program speakers impart the importance of getting a good education to students who would not otherwise hear this message. Counselors and graduation coaches identify the students participating in this program at Ridgeview Middle School, Sandy Springs Charter Middle School, North Springs High School, and Riverwood International Charter School. (v) Business Bridge SSEF to engage members of the business community in the Sandy Springs public schools. SSEF assists members of Sandy Springs local business community in connecting with SSEFs students through various SSEF Programs such as SAIL/Senior Push, Link with a Leader, STEAM Grant After School Clubs, After School All Stars, and the After School Program at North Springs High School. In addition, the community collaboration with Sandy Springs local businesses provides opportunities for SSEFs students to participate in career fairs, field trips, and business-sponsored workshops. (vi) Cradle to College In collaboration with Georgia State University-Perimeter College, 5th-grade students from Dunwoody Springs Elementary learn about the opportunity for college in their own community. The students take a field trip to the GSU Perimeter campus to meet professors and college students, tour the campus, and engage in classroom activities. In 7th grade, these same students will once again engage with educators from the GSU Perimeter campus to learn more about high school dual enrollment and post-secondary educational programs. LITERACY(vii) Reading Buddies This program is conducted at Ison Springs Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Spalding Drive Elementary, and Dunwoody Springs Elementary Schools. Teachers identify students in need of assistance with reading. Once per week, volunteers read to a chosen student for 30 minutes during the students lunch period. Training, resources, and ongoing support are provided to volunteers. Suitable books are purchased by SSEF and kept on a cart for SSEF volunteers to read with their students. The objective of the program is to foster positive feelings about reading, thereby improving motivation, self-confidence, and reading skills, all centered on a meaningful relationship with a caring adult. (viii) Mini-Libraries This program reaches out to at-risk students by providing them with access to high-quality books that they can read and keep. Portable, free-standing, newspaper-type dispensaries are in place at strategic locations at six Sandy Springs elementary schools. Books are also available at various locations for students at two Sandy Springs middle schools and two Sandy Springs high schools. Books given out through the Mini-Libraries Program are donated by individuals and businesses in the Sandy Springs community, collected by volunteers, and then sorted and stored until ready for disbursement. Students are asked to take two books at a time to read at home and are encouraged to start their own personal library. The program also makes books available during school-sponsored family engagement events to reach siblings and other family members. Mini Libraries give out about 14,000 books each year.(ix) Summer Book Club - This program is an intervention program designed to maintain student reading levels over the summer break for SSEFs at-risk elementary school students. Certified teachers from Ison Springs Elementary and Dunwoody Springs Elementary, with additional volunteer support, work with students on various reading initiatives. Students are divided into groups by grade level and meet once a week for an hour. Each week students read a new book, engage in group discussion, and complete related assignments. To measure the success of the program student reading levels are assessed at the end of the school year and again at the beginning of the school year. (x) Virtual Tutoring Program - Implemented to reduce student learning loss during the pandemic, the Virtual Tutoring Program matches a Riverwood International Charter High School student tutor with a student in grades 1 5 from Ison Spring Elementary School. During their 45-minute virtual session each week, the tutor helps the student with homework, as well as math and reading skills work. In addition to helping with academic content, tutors with strong relationships with students, and help make the sessions each week fun as well as educational.STEAM INITIATIVES (xi) Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics (STEAM) Showcase and Outreach Each year, SSEF presents an Annual STEAM Showcase to the 11 Sandy Springs public schools. The opening event takes place at North Springs High School where high school and middle school students view STEAM-focused exhibits geared to the curriculum during the day. In the evening, the general community along with community, business, and civic leaders are invited to attend. The Showcase is followed by outreach STEAM events, field trips, and programs in many of SSEFs schools. SSEF has been twice awarded the Georgia STEM Award for Extracurricular Programs by the Technology Association of Georgia for this program. (xii) STEAM Legacy Grants From the funds raised through STEAM Showcase sponsorships, SSEF is able to offer STEAM grant opportunities to SSEFs 11 Sandy Springs public schools for ongoing after-school STEAM clubs and programs. Grant recipients are expected to display their projects at the annual STEAM Showcase. (xiii) Math Bowl SSEF sponsors an annual math competition event sanctioned by Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS). The 2017 inaugural Hound Bowl competition, held at High Point Elementary, was one of only three MOEMS elementary-level tournaments held in Georgia that year. 4th and 5th-grade math teams from High Point, Dunwoody Springs, Ison Springs, Spalding Drive, and Woodland Charter Elementary Schools, as well as 6th-grade math teams from Ridgeview Charter Middle School have participated in the annual competition. In 2021, the SSEF Math Bowl moved to a new home at Sandy Springs Charter Middle School.COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES(xiv) Teacher Supply Closet In partnership with the Community Assistance Center (CAC), SSEF coordinates school supply drives in the community to stock the SSEF Teachers Supply Closet. The donated supplies are stored at the CAC. Sandy Springs public school teachers are able to request school supplies for their students in need through an online form found on the SSEF website.