Smyrna-Vinings school news you can use

After receiving its first planning grant from the Georgia Department of Education, the Smyrna Academy of Excellence submitted a $2.55 million grant application to the GA DOE Race To The Top (RT3) Innovation Fund on Nov. 1. Georgia RT3 is a $19.4 million fund that provides competitive grants to support new approaches to school improvement.

The purpose of the RT3 Innovation Fund is to support partnerships that develop or implement innovative and high-impact programs aimed at producing positive outcomes for students. Additionally, the state intends to use the Innovation Fund to determine best practices in innovative programming related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), which is the chosen curriculum for the Smyrna Academy of Excellence.

Also central to the fund’s purpose is the establishment and strengthening of partnerships between Georgia local education authorities or charter schools, institutions of higher education, businesses and non-profit organizations to advance the applied learning and academic achievement of Georgia’s K-12 students. Established partnerships cited in the Smyrna Academy of Excellence RT3 grant application include Georgia State University, Southern Polytechnic, Georgia Tech, Chattahoochee Tech, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce Lockheed Martin, Rosser International, The National Coalition for Exemplary Schools, Renova Partners, and the YMCA.

The Race to the Top grant will be awarded on Jan. 9, 2012. Smyrna Academy of Excellence for prospective students and their parents at Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m.

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seniors have just 190 days till graduation. Cobb County School District released the 2012 commencement schedule this week. Campbell’s ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at Kennesaw State University’s Convocation Center. Osborne High School’s commencement activities are the day before at the Cathedral of Turner Chapel at 7 p.m.

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has announced that it will hold its annual High School Oratorical Scholarship Program Saturday, Feb. 4. Contestants present an eight- to 10-minute dissertation about an aspect of the U.S. Constitution of their choosing. This is followed by a three- to five-minute oration on the first four amendments of the Bill of Rights as chosen by the committee. First prize is $250. Second and third prize is $150 and $100 respectively.

The winner of the local contest will have the opportunity to advance to the regional, area, state and national levels of competition. Students interested in participating should contact Commander Ron Mazzola at 770-975-7269 or at 770-480-9506 by Jan. 30.