Turning Point Academy

[Ursus]

http://www.turningpointacademy.org/Home.asp
Anyone know anything about this place or where things stand at this point?  I've been watching them for close to a year.  Originally the website was registered as turingpoint; somebody forgot to put in the "n."  There was also some activity linking it to some Christian site, which is linked to their physical space:  apparently, they use part of a local church.

The news has always been several months to a year old and full of typos, yet it seems they are operational, as it does get updated, albeit rarely.

[Ursus]

Here is an interesting coincidence:

Turning Point Academy
7800 Good Luck Road
Lanham, MD  20706

Also in Lanham:  National Book Network  http://www.nbnbooks.com/
Original trade distributors of at least the first printing of Joe Gauld's Character First...

[Ursus]

From the September 8th, 2006 edition of The Metro Herald, "Imaging the Politics, Culture, and Events of Our Times," based in Washington, DC.

Isn't Lynn Fisher the teacher who is alleged to now be posting in Hyde students' Facebook groups, disparaging them for their "bad attitude?"
viewtopic.php?t=21971&start=14#p285823

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PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS LEARN FROM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PEERS

Hyde School, an independent boarding school and national leader in character-based education, recently hosted training sessions for teachers from three different public schools. The week-long training and introduction to classroom teaching, with a focus on character and family, was held coincidentally at Hyde's two boarding campuses in Woodstock, CT, and Bath, ME, on August 7-13.

Teachers and parent volunteers participated in a high-ropes challenge, group problem-solving exercises, and workshops on creating a character culture in the classroom. Additionally, Woodstock Head of School Laura Gauld offered "The Biggest Job" workshop at her campus.  

Participants in the Bath workshop were from the Hyde Leadership Public Charter School of Washington, DC, which opened in 1999. Those attending the  Woodstock program hailed from Turning Point Academy of Prince George's County, MD, and the Hyde Leadership Charter School of Bronx, NY—both of which will open their doors for the first time this fall.  

In order to strengthen their teaching, the teachers were asked to take a meaningful look at themselves during the seven-day training. "I had a real learning experience by looking at myself. I hope I can grow and bring my inspiration to the students," said Tracey Triggs, a parent volunteer with Turning Point Academy.

While the program was challenging at times, the new teachers learned to support one another in a significant way. "These teachers are dedicated to helping make the classroom a springboard for successful students and, in turn, successful citizens." said Lynn Fisher, Hyde School faculty member and head trainer for the Woodstock event.

The Hyde School approach to education has been developed since 1966 at the Hyde boarding campuses in Bath, ME, and Woodstock, CT, and through public school initiatives in New Haven, CT; Washington, DC; and the Bronx, NY. The organization, based in Bath, also includes national parenting workshops and wilderness experiences.  

College preparation through Hyde Schools is rigorous, with students taking primary responsibility for their learning. More than 96 percent of Hyde's graduates are accepted at four-year colleges. To learn more about Hyde Schools, log on to HYDE.EDU. For more information about public school workshops, contact Lynn Fisher, 860-963-9096, lfisher@hyde.edu.

[Ursus]

More confirmation of a September 2006 opening date for Turning Point Academy, color emphasis added:

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Gazette.Net — Maryland Community Newspapers Online

Delayed charter schools to open
Potomac is ready but EXCEL Academy may still be late

Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006
By Guy Leonard · Staff Writer

Potomac Charter School was scheduled to open in Fort Washington today, after a three-day construction delay, leaving only one of Prince George's three new charter schools left in limbo.

"We got our use and occupancy permit," said Deborah Driver of Potomac Public Charter School in Fort Washington. "We'll be opening Thursday."

Turning Point Academy in Lanham was the only one of the three charter schools to open on time with other public schools on Monday.

School system officials were not sure when EXCEL Academy in Beltsville, would open.

School system spokesman John White said "we don't have a timetable for" the opening of EXCEL, but Potomac was on track to open. "They each had their construction issues."

Driver, who heads the parent board at Potomac, said the school was awarded its permit once several key inspections were completed. She said the school system required more bathroom facilities than were originally thought necessary.

"In three weeks, we had to almost triple the number of bathrooms," Driver said.

Johnnie Searcy, principal at Potomac, said parents were concerned about the delay but were still enthusiastic.

"Our parents have been very supportive," Searcy said. "They're very excited about us offering a quality curriculum."

Calls to High Calling Christian Ministries, the founding body for EXCEL Academy, were not returned.

The halls were a buzz of activity as parents, staff members, and new pupils familiarized themselves with classroom procedures and the outlook of the school.

The school serves kindergarten through third grade, with some combined classes.

"Some parents feel their children read at a higher level," said Angelia Robinson, board member and co-founder at the academy. "There are three combined classes that have kindergartners and first-graders, first and second-graders, and second and third-graders. It challenges some of the kids to keep them from being bored."

Turning Point Academy's curriculum operated under the Hyde system founded by Joseph Gauld. Pupils are taught through both an academic and character-based curriculum that stresses a student-parent-teacher partnership.

Both Potomac and EXCEL use the Calvert Curriculum which emphasizes college preparatory classes and strong command of fundamentals such as math and reading with a healthy dose of the classics.

Potomac and EXCEL will serve kindergarten through fifth grade this year.

While charter schools are off to a rocky start here in Prince George's, there is no denying their popularity.

Before the start of the new school year, all three schools had developed waiting lists where children who wanted to attend would have to wait for a vacancy. They would then have to participate in a lottery for that empty seat.

Moreover, 10 new groups have applied to open charter schools in the county for the 2007 to 2008 school year.

They are: Potomac Bay Public Charter School, Capital Institute of Science and Technology, Donald M. Taylor Aeronautical Academy, Gabrielle Alexis Garrett Public Charter School, Colin Powell International Public Charter School, Shepard B. Henry Public Charter School, Good Success Academy, Community Teachers Bilingual Public Charter School, Righteous Corner Learning Center and Piscataway Creek Montessori Charter School.

These applicants offer a mix of grades from kindergarten all the way up to 12 grade in high school as well as programs for special needs students.

E-mail Guy Leonard at gleonard@gazette.net.


Copyright ©  Post-Newsweek Media, Inc./Gazette.Net

[Anonymous]

It was previously held by Peyton Place and The Little Foxes which both had 9 noms with no wins.Two great actresses star as friends and rivals in The Turning Point.