In addition to founding board members and parents, guests of honor included Takashi Shinozuka, Consul General of Japan; Richard Woods, Georgia State School Superintendent; Charlotte Nash, Chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners; Mike Mason, Mayor of Peachtree Corners; Patrick Wallace, Program Specialist, Georgia Department of Education World Languages and Global Initiatives; Scott Hilton, Representative, Georgia State House District 95; Pedro “Pete” Marin, Georgia State Representative District 96; Tom Taylor, Georgia State Representative District 79; Sam Alston, President, Buckhead Rotary; and Jim Masui, Chairman, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia.
Pedro “Pete” Marin, Georgia State Representative District 96; Richard Woods, Georgia State School Superintendent; Carrie Woodcock, Principal, International Charter Academy of Georgia; Scott Hilton, Representative, Georgia State House District 95; Mike Mason, Mayor of Peachtree Corners; Charlotte Nash, Chairman of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners; Tom Taylor, Georgia State Representative District 79; Patrick Wallace, Program Specialist, Georgia Department of Education World Languages and Global Initiatives During the ceremony, Chairman Nash spoke of the importance of ICA Georgia’s mission given the incredible diversity of Gwinnett County, where 25% of the population was born outside the United States. Superintendent Woods expressed his support for the new school, deeming it an opportunity to broaden and enhance education. Mayor Mason shared his excitement about welcoming the school to Peachtree Corners and promised to promote the school at every opportunity. Consul General Shinozuka expressed his wish that many of the children who graduate from ICA Georgia will go on to study or work in Japan or start careers with Japanese companies and continue to build good relationships between Japan and the United States.
After the ribbon-cutting, a dogwood tree representing Georgia and a cherry tree representing Japan were planted in front of the school.
Tom Taylor, Georgia State Representative District 79; Takashi Shinozuka, Consul General of Japan; Pedro “Pete” Marin, Georgia State Representative District 96; Mike Mason, Mayor of Peachtree Corners; Jim Masui, Chairman, Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia.About International Charter Academy of Georgia:
International Charter Academy of Georgia is a new K-5 state charter school in Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County, GA specializing in Japanese/English dual language immersion education. The school is currently enrolling students for August 2018.
ICA Georgia will use the Dual Language Model for Japanese and English instruction, in which the ratio of time spent in each language favors Japanese in younger grades and shifts to balance more evenly with English as students age. All core subjects will be taught in both languages, exposing students to a wide range of content learning areas in the target language and enhancing academic achievement in general. Additionally, Chinese classes will be offered for one to two 45-minute periods per week.
ICA Georgia aims to broaden the horizons of students in Georgia so that they may become global citizens who promote peace around the world. ICA Georgia students will be expected to contribute to the local and global community through various service learning projects, and ICA Georgia will promote parental involvement and build a community that learns from one another.
For further details about the school, visit www.internationalcharteracademy.org, call 770-604-0007, or email info@internationalcharteracademy.org.
