Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mission Statement:
Ignite Academy's goal is to develop the individual talents and academic strengths of each student, while
recognizing social and emotional needs, through authentic learning experiences that engage active learners as
they develop into innovative leaders in an ever-changing world. This is accomplished through implementing the
Integrated Curriculum Model, which focuses on interdisciplinary studies that incorporates students' interests into
learning and establishing connections to the real-world. This mission is realized through building a strong
collective relationship between Ignite Academy, students, families and the community while providing a
challenging curricula that builds self-concept and talents in the pursuit of excellence.
Core Values:
1. Integrity
2. Building partnerships beyond the classroom
3. Empathy
4. Resilience
5. Building lifelong learners and leaders
Descriptors:
Ignite Academy is a greater Atlanta private school that will serve 150 gifted students in grades K-5. Students will be
served in a small classroom environment with a student to teacher ratio of 10:1 to ensure personalization and
differentiation of instruction to meet the specific academic, social, and emotional needs of students.
Due to the growing population and changing demographics of students and communities in the greater Atlanta
area, Ignite Academy will be centrally located in the city of Atlanta. Ignite Academy will depend on the families,
community members , and affiliated businesses, so having a convenient site will be beneficial for all
stakeholders. Additionally, it's location will enable Ignite Academy to build strategic partnerships for financial
contributions and outreach of the following Atlanta based companies and universities:
Georgia Tech: engineering, STEM, and math
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Savannah College of Arts and Design: arts, STEAM
Georgia State University: education training, student teachers, research based studies, athletics
Coca-Cola, CNN: global connections, technology, and media
Home Depot: engineering, school garden, agriculture
Grady Hospital, Childrens Hospital of Atlanta, Atlanta Medical Center, and Good Samaritans- health services,
science, and technology
Atlanta Symphony and Orchestra: music
Atlanta Zoo and Atlanta Botanical Gardens: agriculture, STEAM, science,
Georgia Aquarium- science, STEAM
5. Student Records: For students entering grades 1-5, please request that your child's school submit current student
transcripts, as well as any other evaluations and standardized test scores directly to Ignite Academy.
(note: above admission criteria was adapted from MIS school in Atlanta.)
-Students not already identified for gifted services will be provided with resources for the testing
process. Eligibility for these resources will be determined on a needs based criteria by the Admissions
Committee.
-Students will keep an electronic portfolio to document and provide evidence of learning throughout the year,
which will be continually reviewed. As part of this portfolio, students will reflect upon their experiences and
projects of interest that extended beyond the walls of the classroom. At the end of the year, student, teachers and
parents will review evidence in the portfolio to evaluate the student's strengths, areas for development, and next
steps for instruction.
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C. Calland-Jones, S. Lee, and A. Smith
Funding Sources:
Being a private school, our primary source of funding will come from the student tuition of $20,000 per year. This
tuition will help provide educational resources, student services, project materials, experiences inside and outside
of the classroom, teacher training and resources, and staffing needs.
Supplemental funding will come from endowments, donations, or grants provided by business partners (Lowe's,
Home Depot, Target, Coca-Cola, CNN, Georgia State University , Georgia Tech , SCAD , Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra) or other corporations. These contributions go towards specific projects or talent areas designated by
the contributor.
Ignite Academy will have multiple fundraisers and student showcase opportunities. During these events students
will exhibit their talents, sell produce from our urban gardens, and use student driven projects or products to help
raise money for the school. Students and teachers will have input and work together organize fundraising events
for families and the community.
Students:
Students at Ignite Academy will not only be focusing on growing academically, but will nurture their true talents,
while engaging in innovative projects and experiences that bridge school to the world around them. Ignite
Academy focuses on providing safe and challenging learning environments where students are encouraged to
take risks and be innovative in their thinking and creating.
Just as these families, community members, and business partners give to us, Ignite Academy students give back
to the community that enriches their learning through community based projects, annual fundraiser, outreach
programs, or volunteering in an area of interest at one of the local businesses.
Teachers:
Teachers will have the flexibility to adapt the curriculum, along with having the voice and choice in how to
personalize instruction for their students. Time will be devoted weekly for collaboration among teachers and staff
to build integrated units or projects.
- In order for our students at Ignite Academy to connect beyond the classroom, parents, community members,
and business partners must contribute the gift of experiences, time, and talents to our students. Families and
business partners will be asked to give a minimum of 20 hours of their time or talents towards building our
students' futures.
Students engage in core subjects daily: language arts, math, social and cultural studies, science & STEM lab, and a
special talent area class of interest.
-Specials talent areas classes offered: visual arts, music (band or orchestra), chorus, drama/theater, dance,
physical education, computer coding and programming.
Once a week, students will participate in foreign language (Mandarin, Spanish & Hindi), environmental science,
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C. Calland-Jones, S. Lee, and A. Smith
critical thinking, social and study skills, computer science, urban farming, engineering, or community outreach
project. Students choose one of these opportunities every nine weeks.
School Committees
The Board of Trustees, made up of representatives from our business partners and community leaders, are in
charge of all funding and financial decisions.
The Academics Committee, consisting of staff members and content experts who oversee the hiring of educators
and choosing curriculum to best support the needs of our students.
The Admissions Committee is comprised of staff members who oversee acceptance into the Ignite Academy and
the educator selection process.
The Community Engagement Committee brings together our families, business partners and the surrounding
community to create the best environment and educational opportunities to lead our students on a path that
transcends our school walls.
Experts in the areas of STEM/STEAM, technology and other specialized interests will be utilized in a co-teaching
model based on student interest and project-based needs.
All Educators working with students on and off our campus will complete an interview process involving
stakeholders of the Ignite Academy.
Professional Development
All educators at Ignite Academy will participate in on-going professional development. The goal is to diversify the
personal-knowledge base of student educators, and meet the interests & needs of talented & gifted and high
ability learners with an inquiry-based, cross-curricular idea in mind. The training of the educators will have lasting
impact on instruction with students and program development supported by families, business partners and the
surrounding community. The end goal is to have training opportunities that provide a positive impact on the
ingenuity and degree of learning experience we provide for the diverse learners in preparing them to be
contributing citizens on a global level.