Ambrose Elementary highlights relationship-building, community events after hurricane disruptions
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Summary
Principal Randy Drew briefed the Coffee County Board of Education on Ambrose Elementary's Capture Kids' Hearts program, survey scores, student recognitions and community events following Hurricane Helene, and invited the board to a vendor/community event March 28.
Principal Randy Drew updated the Coffee County Board of Education on March 20 on Ambrose Elementary School’s post-hurricane recovery, relationship-building curriculum and family engagement activities.
Drew said the school uses Capture Kids’ Hearts, “a fundamental relationship building tool,” and shared survey results that ranked Ambrose highest in the county for culture and climate (4.9 on a 5-point scale) and family engagement (4.6). He said student responses tied Ambrose with West Green at 4.4. “I’m proud of that data,” Drew said, adding that the investment “is gonna pay off in academics” and discipline outcomes.
Drew described classroom tactics he credited with higher engagement, including kinesthetic math lessons led by third-grade teacher Hailey Foster and an icebreaker activity used by Nori Putnam. He showed short video and photo examples of students participating in team-building, a spelling bee that included four finalists, and awards for students identified as the school’s “Eagles.”
He also described how staff and community partners responded during Hurricane Helene: first responders, linemen and other public-safety personnel visited classrooms; staff prepared more than 1,000 sack lunches; and teachers and lunchroom staff went door to door to deliver meals. Drew said the school worked to preserve routines while adapting activities during the storm and its aftermath.
Drew invited board members to Ambrose’s vendor event on March 28, which he said will include local farms, vendors, Coffee County Farm Bureau, UGA Extension and Pilgrim’s Pride, and a mobile dairy classroom demonstration. He said the event is intended to expose students to local occupations and agriculture and asked board members to “please give us some grace” as the school hosts the community event.
Drew closed by thanking staff and the board for support and reiterating that Ambrose aims to keep classrooms open for public visits and community participation.
Ending: The school’s vendor day is scheduled for March 28; board members were invited to attend and view Ambrose’s instructional and community programs.
