South Africa, like the United States, is a country of rich diversity- geographical as well as social and cultural. Moreover, since South Africa's transition from Apartheid in 1994 the country has experienced one of the most dramatic peaceful transformations in modern world history as it has emerged from three centuries of severe racial discrimination into a vibrant multicultural democracy. However, in spite of the extraordinary changes in South Africa the country is still confronted with severe social and economic inequalities.

The Michigan Department of Education of Education and the Shiga Board of Education initiated the Michigan-Shiga Student Exchange program in 1990. the goal of the program was to expand the relationship between the two "sister" states, Michigan and Shiga. GATE programs have been administering the program on behalf of the State of Michigan since 1993. As an exchange program created specifically for high school students, it aims to create ties of friendship, education and understanding between the two states.

The Mathematics-Science-Technology (MST) program at Michigan State University is a two week summer residential program for academically talented students who completed grades 7, 8, or 9 with a minimum age of 12 years old in academic year preceding the program. MST is conducted on the East Lansing campus of Michigan Sate university and is limited to 110 academically talented students selected from Michigan and across the nation. The program has been designed to stimulate students to lean about new development in mathematics, science, an technology, and to explore related career fields.

High Achievers is a program for academically talented students currently in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 who are seeking to earn college credit while still in high school. Those enrolled in the program will complete an honors-level college course at MSU in four weeks during the early summer and earn transferable credit. Students can choose from courses in Biotechnology, Economics, Philosophy, English, and Psychology.

The CSI Forensic Science Crime Scene Program at Michigan State University is a one-week day camp or residential program. The curriculum is intended for academically able students who are currently in grades 7, 8, and 9 and at least 12 years old. all students will be working in a university setting with professionals who work in the field of Forensic Science. Students, through a variety of educational presentation and hands-on experiences, will learn how their acquired scientific knowledge can be applied to criminal investigation.

ISHALL is designed so that the participating students will learn in two years the content assigned in Michigan High School Curriculum Expectations (HSCE) aligned four-year high school English curriculum. Students will study a wide range of text and media in literature and the humanities including novels, biographies, plays, poetry, and film. Students will also be exposed to a variety of different historical movements and types of literature, such as romanticism, enlightenment, Shakespearean drama, and comedy.

CHAMP is designed so that participating students in grades 7-10 will learn in two years the content assigned in High School Curricular Expectations (HSCE) aligned four-year high school mathematics curriculum. During their first year, students will complete their required Algebra I and II work. During their second year in the program, students will study Geometry and standard pre-calculus work including, but not limited to, trigonometry, analytic geometry, and college algebra. Students who wish to participate can with the GATE office and can find more information at www.gifted.msu.edu

Our Methods and Teachers are so popular, we needed twice the space!!! We will move into our new space on the 3rd and 4th of September and celebrate with Open Mic Night for students and teachers. Future Open Mic events will be for all kids and Music Makers....for Life, Inc. teachers. Future Open Mics events will be held on Sunday afternoons but we thought we'd kick it all off at our Grand Re-Opening! Open Mic is just one more venue we are adding to our list of ways to allow our students to apply what they learn in their music classes and lessons in a performance setting.

Fall Registration for Group Piano, Guitar and Voice classes as well as for private lessons.

For: Home schooled children in grades Pre-k through 12th. Time: 10:30am - 11:30am When: October 18th, 2010 Where: 6300 Cochran Mill Rd. , Palmetto, GA 30268 Cost: $5 per participant (including parents) Cash or check only. September’s topic will be Reptiles in the Ecosystem. Meet native and some exotic reptiles up close and learn about their traits and habitats. Students will have the opportunity to touch many of the animals as well. www.cochranmillnaturecenter.org 770-306-0914