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Schools

Beaver Ridge Elementary Receives Grant

The school was awarded $2,000 to fund an education-with-arts program.

Beaver Ridge Elementary School was awarded a $2,000 grant to fully fund a new program called Mastering Math Skills Through Music.

The program concentrates on education through the arts, and it was pushed by early intervention teacher Kathy Boyer.

"It's like a high-energy, music-movement math skills program," said Boyer. She added that the fun program is geared more for third, fourth and fifth graders, but it has basic addition and subtraction activities that can be used with younger students.

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She first heard about the program two years ago while attending the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics conference. She went to a session headed by the author of the program, and she was hooked immediately.

"I had so much fun as an adult that I knew the kids would enjoy it," she said.

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Boyer also noted that the school especially aims to use the program for at-risk students.

Backed by the Foresite Group, Advanced Disposal, the Norcross Cluster Schools Partnership and the Norcross Arts Alliance, the grant was awarded to the school Wednesday afternoon. The Foresite Group and Advanced Disposal helped fund the grant, and the Norcross Cluster Schools Partnership and the Norcross Arts Alliance also supported the grant since they have begun several programs to improve both education and art in local schools.

"I'm glad I did my part," said Norcross Arts Alliance board member Arlene Beckles, who was a major player in getting the grant fulfilled. When she first heard Boyer had submitted a grant request for the program, Beckles said, she got to work and twisted the arms of people whom she knew would want to support the school.

Members of the city council and representatives from the sponsors were present to award the check to the school Wednesday.

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