THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR

The Museum Schoolof Avondale Estates

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child

who proudly marches through the doors every day

A homegrown community school

built with passion and innovation

to serve each precious, unique and inquisitive

to her or his very own drummer

*

thoughts in this moment

t t any given moment in a principal’s day there are those times when you have this heightened

sense of awareness and purpose. When you witness some

perfect little exchange between a teacher and student. When you see one of the older

students helping a fi rst grader who has dropped his books on the playground. Little

moments. Great gratifi cation. It is in those moments that we know we have all chosen

wisely for our students and our community.

As soon as you enter The Museum School you get it. You understand that kids come

fi rst. You see that core values are appreciated and practiced. You know that learning

with your hands is valued and you actually feel the school’s sense of community. As

you enter, though, prepare to be inspired. You’ll overhear enthusiastic conversations

among groups of eager students—hopefully, you’ll have a quick chat with a teacher

busily preparing for the next activity, and of course, your stroll down the colorful

hallways will rejuvenate you.

The Museum School is different. Our school is where innovation and a cutting-edge

model are nestled against a inviting school culture and a welcoming school community.

Where students visit partner sites and excitedly share new knowledge with a classmate

—where teachers beam while watching students master diffi cult concepts and where

parents chat lively while helping to prepare future Exhibit Night displays.

This is The Museum School. Where challenging goals are set and exceeded and kids’

dreams are developed and fostered. Please consider joining our students, staff, and

community on this journey to even more success and greater achievements. Whether

for your own child or for an entire community of children, parents and caring citizens,

the impact will be immeasurable.

Gratefully,

Katherine KelbaughFounding Principal

As the fi rst museum school in the state of Georgia, The Museum School is thriving in every way.

In the short time it has been educating children, The Museum

School of Avondale Estates has built an impressive academic record.

Already, its students have scored exceptionally well on state and

national tests, it has built a growing reputation in Georgia, and its

teaching methods have become a model for future educators.

THE MUSEUM SCHOOL

Collaborates with several universities and colleges to serve as

a model for pre-service teachers and student teachers. Those

institutions include:

• The University of Georgia

• Georgia State University

• Agnes Scott College

• Clayton State University

• Oglethorpe University

SERVES. One of our fi rst-grade teachers is one of only 14 educators

statewide to serve on Governor Nathan Deal’s Education

Advisory Board.

ACHIEVES. After its fi rst year of operation, the school was the

proud recipient of the Elementary Program of Excellence award

from the Georgia Council for the Social Studies. In 2012, the

school received the Education Award from the Georgia Associa-

tion of Museum and Galleries.

Excelling

“The school you’ve created is already phenomenal. There are

few charters that are able to pull off what you have done.”

~ David Jernigan, Executive Director, KIPP Metro Atlanta

100%of Museum School third gradersmet or exceeded state stand- ards in the areas of Reading, English/Language Arts and Science on the 2011 CRCT.

No. 1In a statewide ranking of morethan 1,200 elementary schools in Georgia, our students rank #1 in Science.

Based on CRCT scores, our students are among the top 4% in Georgia in every subject category.

Top 4%

a model of success

Exploring, Creating, DiscoveringUNIQUE, STANDARDS-BASED CURRICULUM

The Museum School of Avondale Estates is a public charter school

built on the understanding that children learn best through personal

exploration and hands-on experience. As the fi rst museum school

in Georgia, the school partners with museums and other learning

institutions to offer students real-world experience with classroom

lessons and allow them the opportunity to make discoveries

driven by their own curiosity.

Museum learning brings a depth of understanding rather than

merely asking students to memorize facts. Intensive curriculum

development ensures that classroom discussions are reinforced

and enhanced through interactive personal experiences. Students

learn to ask questions, make observations, refl ect on experiences,

draw conclusions and construct museum-style exhibits to demonstrate

their knowledge. Learning is student-centered and project-based.

The Museum School concept draws heavily on constructivism, a

philosophy of learning founded on the premise that, by refl ecting

on experiences, individuals construct their own understanding

of the world. Teachers tailor their teaching strategies to student

responses and encourage students to analyze, interpret and

predict information.

Additionally, Museum School teachers employ differentiation and

best practices to individualize lessons and experiences for each

student. All students learn, because teachers meet them at their

own level.

“The academic skills our daughter has learned

this year simply amaze us. My mother is a fourth-grade teacher in Maine

and she frequently says that our daughter is doing things in school that her

fourth graders have diffi culty doing.”

– Parents of a kindergarten student

depth in learning

EXHIBIT NIGHT

Four times a year, students proudly open the doors to their academic

world for parents and visitors. Exhibit Night is a special evening

when students showcase knowledge gained and projects completed.

Hallways and classrooms overfl ow with exhibits, from plant-pound-

ing quilts to student-made fossils, from student-created books about

animals to hand-crafted sun dials, from ocean life murals to a rainfor-

est crunch taste station. Exhibit Night pulls everything together –

museum visits, observations, science experiments, individual explo-

ration and classroom lessons – under one roof.

Adding PerspectiveMUSEUM SCHOOL PARTNERS

Learning partnerships are a central part of the museum school model.

History museums, science centers and other institutions host interactive

learning expeditions, provide guest speakers, donate supplies and

reinforce classroom lessons.

The Museum School proudly partners with some of the region’s most

respected institutions, offering students exposure to expertise and

perspectives they otherwise might not encounter. Working closely with

curriculum partners builds a symbiotic relationship of trust, respect

and dedication to learning.

CURRICULAR PARTNERS

Learning and exploration are inseparable at The Museum School. Students take about a dozen expeditions each year to partner sites like the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, where they get a chance to unearth dinosaur bones. Expeditions take students into worlds of wonder at places such as Zoo Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta History Center and the Agnes Scott Planetarium.

“Our Education team thinks the world of the school. They are the

perfect model to follow.”

~ Raymond King, President and CEO, Zoo Atlanta

ResultsResults from the Measures of Academic Progress assess-ment show Museum School students learning at a faster rate than their peers across the country.

interactive expeditions

GrowingThe only school of its kind in Georgia, The Museum

School has a reputation for innovation and excellence,

and it is growing quickly. After opening in August 2010

to 140 students, it expanded by the second year to

serve 200 students. With plans to add one grade level

each year through the eighth grade, it is on schedule

to serve 516 children by the 2016-2017 academic year,

and that number will grow as larger classes of younger

grades move up through the middle school.

Designed as a temporary location, the initial facility

served the school well during its fi rst two academic

years, but capacity was quickly reached. An addition

to this temporary site would have been both costly and

short-lived.

The school’s goals of serving more and older students

called for relocation to a larger facility. The Museum

School has a fantastic opportunity to occupy a vacant

elementary school on 11 acres of land, rent-free, but

must raise the funds needed for renovation.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS is a $2.6 million

fundraising campaign to support renovations at the

former Forrest Hills Elementary School. Centrally

located within The Museum School’s attendance

district, the site will allow The Museum School to

keep adding grade levels and provide students

with the classrooms and ancillary facilities needed

to accommodate elementary and middle schools.

“Our two children, ages 5 and 8, attended The Museum School this past school year and both have

benefi ted tremendously from the hands-on, project-based, educational model. They now

enjoy school, which is a huge shift, especially for my eight-year-old son. At The Museum School, he found

an environment that sparked his curiosity and excitement towards learning.”

– Parents of a kindergarten student

as quickly as the students

516students will be learning in grades K–8 at The Museum School by the 2016-2017 academic year.

Building on SuccessThe school has negotiated a 10-year lease, with two fi ve-year

renewal options, with the DeKalb County School System for the

property on Forrest Boulevard. For safety, code compliance and

operational reasons, the facility requires extensive renovations.

Though The Museum School is responsible for renovations and

property maintenance, once these funds have been raised, the

school will have the benefi t of occupying the entire 86,000-square-

foot facility and pay no rent for the entire length of the lease.

IN SUMMARY:

• The $2.6 million capital campaign will support a fi ve-year

renovation process.

• Five buildings, constructed between 1954 and 1998, will

be renovated.

• The school will transition from a 14,000-square-foot temporary

modular space to 36,000 square feet in the permanent facility

by August 2012. Subsequent renovations will be completed

within the following four years.

• At the end of Phase V, the school will include 86,000 square feet.

• Renovation is the most responsible option, particularly for a school

with sustainability as one its core values. Building a new school,

even with donated land, would cost an estimated $13.6 million.

a10 -yearlease from DeKalb County ensures our school has an opportunity to take root in the community.

a permanent home

“The curriculum is well organized and demands that students work at a high level

and use critical-thinking skills to solve problems.

I was skeptical at fi rst as to whether they were setting the bar too high, but my grandson

has never known anything differently, and he has met the challenge. ”

– Retired DeKalb County educator and grandparent of a Museum School student

Smart Growth

With the assistance of Lord, Aeck & Sargent, the school has set out

a fi ve-year, phased renovation plan that provides the fl exibility

to complete one phase a year for fi ve years or to combine or delay

phases as needed.

PHASE ONE (COMPLETION: SUMMER 2012)

• Renovate Buildings Three, Four and Gymnasium.

• Improve building access and connectivity to the school campus.

• Provide a new roof-top air conditioning unit for Building Three.

• Bring corridor construction up to life safety code compliance in

we have a plan

With the assistance of Lord, Aeck & Sargent, the school

has set out a fi ve-year, phased renovation plan that

provides the fl exibility to complete one phase a year for

fi ve years or to combine or delay phases as needed.

PHASE ONE (COMPLETION: SUMMER 2012)

• Renovate Buildings Three, Four and Gymnasium.

• Improve building access and connectivity to the

school campus.

• Provide a new roof-top air conditioning unit for

Building Three.

• Bring corridor construction up to life safety code

compliance in Building Two.

• Repair damaged exterior envelope and roof.

PHASE TWO: Building Two

• Campus HVAC system infrastructure repairs required

• Replace classroom and corridor ceilings and lights due

to HVAC repairs.

• Renovate exterior envelope to meet energy effi ciency

standards.

• Repair damaged roof.

PHASE THREE: Building One

• Renovate permanent school entrance.

• Install elevator to connect Building One with Buildings

Two, Three and Four to comply with the Americans

with Disabilities Act.

• Renovate half of Building One, replace roof and

insulation due to damages.

• Renovate restrooms to meet code requirements.

• Renovate exterior envelope to meet energy

effi ciency standards.

• Replace existing skylights in Building One to provide

natural light in corridors.

• Relocate and enlarge Media Center due to increased

student enrollment.

PHASE FOUR

• Renovate the remainder of Building One.

• Create permanent cafeteria and auditorium space.

• Renovate exterior envelope to meet energy

effi ciency standards.

• Create a new connection between upper and lower

buildings.

PHASE FIVE

• Add modular units to accommodate growth until

a middle school expansion is built.

• New HVAC roof-top units for Building Four

• Install windows, skylights, new lighting with

daylighting controls in the gym. Install new direct/

indirect, energy-effi cient lighting throughout

building.

• Develop multi-use athletic fi eld and refurbish

exterior basketball courts.

• Renovate entry lobby to incorporate curriculum-

guided gallery space.

the math is simple

A $2.6 million, fi ve-year campaign to renovate a permanent facility for The Museum School.

Our NeedRENOVATION COSTS:

Construction costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3,006,409

Architect fees and services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 390,000

Financing fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 300,000

Campaign expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 314,000

Subtotal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4,010,409

COSTS BY YEAR:

Year 1: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,229,153

Year 2: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,000

Year 3: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,351,256

Year 4: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,000

Year 5: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $310,000

Subtotal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $4,010,409

Over the fi ve-year renovation period, the school will be able to

apply $1.3 million from its operating budget, since it will not pay

rent in the new facility. The funds leave $2,634,709 to be raised

by the capital campaign.

expectations

for our children

to exceed

When we undertook three years ago to build a charter school from scratch, the task, to many, seemed daunting. But our resolve was unshakable. Working day and night, a group of

dedicated parents built the school we know and love today.

With a professional background in science, I seek out facts on which to base conclusions

and take action. With The Museum School, the facts speak for themselves, and by any

measure, the success has been remarkable:

ACADEMICS – Museum School students are eager to learn and have mastered

their subject matter and excelled in every form of testing. Most importantly, they are

preparing for a life of learning, brilliance and innovation.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT – Our grassroots effort built a true school-community

partnership with tremendous support from private citizens, local businesses and

parents of our students. The school is now a central focus for a community greater than

the sum of its parts.

GRANTS – We have received the highest award in our category for every state and

federal grant applied for. We have received commendation for our responsible

management and documentation of grant funds.

FINANCE - The Museum School has consistently been recognized for strong fi nancial

planning and management. We have maintained a positive cash fl ow and remain on

budget, using the great majority of our operating funds for direct instructional expenses.

Ours is a robust organization with strong governance and a sound fi nancial structure.

Our students, our school, and the dedicated people who built it, are exceeding expecta-

tions in every way. This is an organization committed to doing things in the best pos-

sible way – every day, at every level. I am so proud to be a part of this team. The best is

yet to come!

Please join The Museum School as we embark upon the next phase of this great adventure.

Dr. Alexandra Webb

Dr. Alexandra WebbChair, Board of Directors

THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR

The Museum Schoolof Avondale Estates

mission The mission of The Museum School of Avondale Estates is to inspire

students, teachers and the community to collaborate to develop

strong critical thinking, interpersonal and academic skills in our

students, which will prepare them for real-world success.

Responsibility, Respect, Cooperation, Sustainability, Creativity, Kindness

3191 Covington Highway Avondale Estates, GA 30002 themuseumschool.org

core values

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