Up in the sky is a lonesome plane

Nobody’s guess it would inflict so much pain

Then all of a sudden CRASH, RUMBLE

Glass shards fall, tall buildings crumble

This unknown scare makes sirens blare

Nobody knew two planes in the sky

would knock down the twins and

cause so many to die

And this we will not tolerate

For certain we’ll retaliate

Anger, hatred, disbelief, fear;

the feelings of those affected here

The ones who are trapped under rubble and steam

“help us” “help us” “help us” they scream

but they are not heard nor are they seen

And though our land may be scarred and hurt

We are no cowards with our heads in the dirt

We will fight with all our might

for we are Americans true to our right

And if we go into battle our flags will fly high

with a tribute to the hurt and respect for those who

died

We will fight although we hate war

And remember the people and what they fight for

This is no regular mundane war

but a fight for freedom and everything we stand for.

by Chris Ludwin

Age 11

Learning Gate Community School

Lutz, Florida

 

Learning Gate Community School is a

Hillsborough County Charter School. The school

serves approximately 100 students in grades K-5.

Learning Gate Community School offers a

traditional curriculum, with an emphasis in science

and ecology.

 

For more information regarding Learning Gate

Community School, please contact the school at

813-968-3453.

A McKay Scholarships

Participating Private School

by Bob Metty

 

Nestled in the basement of the First Pentecostal

Church of Eustis, Judy Reed’s Lakeside Academy

provides educational services to students with

learning disabilities. These are students whose

parents may have been told, “He’ll never learn” or

“She just doesn’t have the ability.” Well, their

parents never gave up and neither did Judy!

 

Students at Lakeside Academy are placed in a

grade based on a grade level diagnostic

assessment rather then by their age or peer

group. “Wherever they test, that’s where they

start,” Judy told this reporter. From there, the

curriculum is self-paced. Students progress

according to their achievement. Additionally,

individual assistance is available to every student.

No child gets “stuck in a rut” without help. The

melodic strains of Bach or Mozart play softly in the

background as Judy and her staff float from child

to child, checking, assisting and encouraging.

 

Students with learning disabilities haven’t been

Judy’s only challenge. She has had to deal with

many unforeseen and difficult problems including

permitting and construction glitches and local

codes and requirements that seem to change

overnight and without notice. She has persevered

however, telling this reporter, “I can devote my

energy to teaching or to fighting legal battles, I

choose the kids.”

 

Kudos to you, Judy!

 

 

2002-2003 Public

Charter Schools Conference

 

Building Bridges to ensure that

NO CHILD is LEFT BEHIND

October 29-31, 2002

  

at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Studios

 

Conference Theme and Purpose

 

 

The event,

Building Bridges to Ensure NO CHILD is

LEFT BEHIND

, has been designed for charter school

community stakeholders to come together for two and

one-half days to dialogue, share successes and best

practices, clarify legislative intent (federal and state),

and discuss research regarding charter schools from a

national and local perspective.

 

Early Registration Deadline:

October 15, 2002

Hotel Reservation Conference

Rate Deadline:

  

September 28, 2002

 

For more information, please visit the Choice Office

website at

www.floridaschoolchoice.org

.