From staff reports

Holy Spirit Prep named a top Catholic school

Holy Spirit Preparatory School has been named one of America’s top 50 Catholic high schools by the Catholic High School Honor Roll.

The parochial school’s high school is located on its Upper Campus on Northside Drive in Buckhead.

The Honor Roll provides a powerful resource to parents and educators by acknowledging those schools that best maintain high academic standards, uphold their Catholic identities, and prepare students to actively engage in the world.

This is the first year that Holy Spirit Prep was eligible for consideration and the first year that any school in Georgia has been recognized nationally in such a manner.

“We are proud and grateful to be named one of the top 50 Catholic high schools in America,” said Holy Spirit President Gareth N. Genner. “Our dedicated faculty and staff as well as our committed and supportive parents make Holy Spirit Prep a special place. We thank the Catholic High School Honor Roll for this distinction. We look forward to continuing our commitment to academic excellence, Catholic faith formation and exceeding the high expectations of our students, parents and alumni in the years to come.”

Nearly 1,300 Catholic high schools were invited to apply to the Honor Roll by completing surveys that measure academic excellence, Catholic identity and civic education. With this high level of competition, inclusion on the Honor Roll indicates outstanding success in each of the disciplines examined.

“I am grateful that we have been recognized by the Catholic High School Honor Roll as one of the top 50 Catholic high schools,” said Holy Spirit Board Chairman Monsignor Edward J. Dillon. “This honor is fully the result of our dedicated teachers and staff for their hard work and commitment to Catholic education.”

Overall, 25 states are represented on the Honor Roll and Holy Spirit Prep is one of only two from Georgia ever to be named to the top 50.

“I share my delight in celebrating with Holy Spirit Prep the recognition that it receives today,” said Diane Starkovich, Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. “Whenever an outside agency recognizes a school’s academic excellence, Catholic identity and civic education, the local community must be commended for its commitment to the students it serves. I extend my congratulations to the administration, teachers, staff, parents and students of Holy Spirit Prep.”

Two teachers receive science award

Two local teachers have received the Siemens Science Teacher Award, which recognizes exceptional middle and high school, public and private school, science educators who go the extra mile to motivate and inspire their students.

Frankie Long from Sutton Middle School in Buckhead and Rochelle Lofstrand Hamby from North Springs Charter School of Arts and Sciences in Sandy Springs are among the 10 teachers who were presented a trophy during a special awards ceremony held at the Fernbank Museum on Oct. 3.

Sponsored by the Siemens Foundation and in partnership with the Fernbank Museum, the first green-inspired Science Teacher Awards highlight environmental stewardship, a message at the core of Fernbank’s programming. A number of teachers have participated in Fernbank’s UrbanWatch Atlanta Initiative, an environmental education program that trains students and teachers to conduct biodiversity inventories in their local greenspaces while providing an unparalleled opportunity to observe and engage with their surroundings. Other teachers were selected by their county science coordinators for their dedication, initiative and creativity.

Davis Academy collects for Food Bank

Second grade students from Davis Academy proudly show some of the many canned and boxed foods they recently collected for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. In conjunction with the citywide Jewish community food drive, Operation Isaiah, which takes place every year during the Jewish High Holiday season, the students spearheaded the school’s own Operation Isaiah food drive. This collection was part of the 2nd grade’s yearlong community service work with the Food Bank and ties in with their Global Concepts curriculum, specifically the concept of Scarcity. Pictured from left in the back row are Jonathan Fitch, Paul Rosing, Haley Joffre, Mallory Nathan, Ben Rosing and Jake Robert Kamean. Picured in front are Hannah Rippans and Mollie Schwarz.