Dear Editor:

The School of Discovery Genesis Center reached the mid-point (ended the first semester) of the 2007-2008 school year Dec. 20.

The faculty and staff are on pace to meet this year&8217;s school wide goals.

The goals are for pupils to score above the annual measurable objectives in percentage of proficient students on both the reading, 78 percent, and mathematics, 48 percent, components of the Alabama Reading and Mathematics Test (ARMT), and for students to score above the 50th percentile on the Stanford Achievement Test 10 (SAT-10).

The school has applied for re-accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

A SACS review team will visit the school Feb. 27 and 28 to evaluate the following standards:

Standard 1 &8212; Vision and purpose

Standard 2 &8212; Governance and leadership

Standard 3 &8212; Teaching and learning

Standard 4 &8212; Documenting and using results

Standard 5 &8212; Resource and support systems

Standard 6 &8212; Stakeholder communications and relationships

Standard 7 &8212; Commitment to continuous improvement

The faculty and staff collaborated to write the vision statement.

However, over the years the vision statement has been revisited and changed to reflect the needs of the students and society.

Our current mission statement says, &8220;The mission of the School of Discovery Genesis Center is to provide a child-centered, integrated curriculum of academics, the arts and technology.

The school&8217;s environment will allow teachers, parents, and community stakeholders to work together to help each child discover and develop his/her roles and responsibilities in the school community.&8221;

The beliefs of the School of Discovery Genesis Center&8217;s faculty and staff are as follows:

Media Specialist Becky Chandler serves as the school&8217;s local standards review facilitator.

Committee chairpersons are Rebecca Nichols, Andrea Jean Gilmore Curtis, Collin Parker Lashley, Demisha Stough, Barbara Jean Robinson, and James Allen Bearden.

We are confident of an excellent evaluation.

Gerald Shirley

School of Discovery principal