Friday, July 29, 2011

A Choice Worth Choosing! Cross Keys offers some very special programs

For all the angst over the poor choices offered to ESEA (also known as NCLB or AYP) transfers, we wanted to promote an alternative for motivated students who really want to grab an opportunity for a terrific educational experience.

Cross Keys High School was just granted permission over the summer to offer a very new, high tech high school program starting this fall (yes - as in 2 weeks!) There are still spaces available, so if you find these interesting choices, call your home school counselor or principal ASAP and ask to apply for a transfer. (BTW, Cross Keys is within a short walking distance of the Brookhaven MARTA station.)

First, as Kim Gokce told us in a previous post, CKHS will be offering an "amazing program to be launched this fall at Cross Keys HS that is available to students from Dunwoody HS, Chamblee Charter HS, Cross Keys HS, Tucker HS, Lakeside HS, Clarkston HS, Stone Mountain HS and Druid Hills HS. The Remote Automation Management Project (RAMP) will be offered via a partnership between DeKalb County Schools and Moultrie Tech."

"Moultrie Tech is only the second site in the United States to become a platform for this type of innovative instructional support for robotics and automation. Cross Keys HS is the second site in Georgia to become part of the Moultrie program (I believe Forsyth may be the first)."

"A nationally recognized instructor, Patrick Gunter, has been hired by DCSS and assigned to Cross Keys to lead the class on site. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gunter on the day of his contract signing and can tell you that he is the sort of mentor and thought leader to which you want your kids to have access. Students will also have video conferencing access to Moultrie Tech faculty for support of their hands-on work with a $40,000 piece of SMC Corp robotics."

Read more and watch the video about the program here:

RAMP Comes to Cross Keys to Serve Area High Schoolers

Kim is spot-on with his enthusiasm. Mr. Gunter is an incredibly gifted teacher and scientist. Any student fortunate enough to work under his tutelage will do very well in the future.

But wait - there's more!

Mr. Gunter also serves as an advisor to the GT SolarJackets car team, and he is bringing GT student mentors for the CK teams. Read Kim's post about the solar car competition at this link:

CK Update: Here Comes the Sun

"Interested in joining the Cross Keys' solar car team or one of the two planned robotics teams Mr. Gunter will coach?

Parents and students should attend the 7:00 pm, August 9, 2011 Parent Meeting for the 2011/2012 GATSA at Cross Keys High School. Students participating in the GATSA must commit to working 3-4 days a week after school from 3:30 – 6:30 pm. Joining the GATSA is about a $15 proposition annually and families will need to support some travel expenses for their child for competitions. Private assistance available to support participation."

Like I said, there are spaces available in this program. If you are seeking a transfer - or simply a hands-on high tech high school education and the leadership of a highly regarded scientist/teacher, check out this new program at Cross Keys High School!

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Contact Kim Gokce, m: 678-361-4200, or Mr. Gunter, m: 864-590-9004, for details and to keep up with engineering and technology options at CK!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Both Arabia Mountain and Dunwoody have award-winning robotics programs themselves. Robotics competitions may be the "future" science fairs.

Cerebration said...

There is no admissions requirement for this program -- Mr. Gunter just wants enthusiastic students with a good work ethic. It's a terrific education opportunity!