Irish Gifted Academy

Hey IGA Family!

What a memorable week it has been, filled with high levels of engagement and learning! We are incredibly proud of our elementary and middle school students who excelled in the local and regional science fair. A huge shout-out to those who placed and will now advance to the state competition—what an amazing achievement! Please join us in celebrating these outstanding students listed below.

🏅 Middle School Winners:

🥇 1st Place: Aatimiya Shah, Aisha Saxena, Brayden Moore, Cale Blackburn, Gage McCalvin, Desley Walker, Karmyn Timmons, Anaya Lindsey, Dottie Windham, Eduardo Valeskains, Marlee Pool, London Culver, Kent Harvey

🥈 2nd Place: Colleen Tyner, Suri Coates, Suleyma Cano, Peighton Pittman, Kayli Robinson, Ellianna Daniel, Dawsen King

🥉 3rd Place: Harper Tarpley, Mollie Davis, Kardyn Kyzer, Rylee McCalvin, Edward Safford

🌍 USAID Science Champion Award:

🏅 Aisha Saxena – Biodegradable Hydrogels Protecting the Environment

🎉 Congratulations to all the winners of the FY25 Elementary Science Fair! 🎉

Our 1st and 2nd place winners will advance to the State Fair at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville this March.

🥇 1st Place: Thomas Jones, Price Jones, Beate Valeskalne, Luke White, Marlie Kate Harvey, Coy Lausch, Aditi Vyas, Eva Rowe, Ellie Rowe, Elaina McNamara, Si Savage, Kaden Johnson, A'Niyah Gamble, Jenna Warren, Aadish Garg, Caroline Curry, Joshua Kates, Zipporah Shepherd, Jenson Dollar, Gabe Sanchez, Everett Taylor, and Chloe Guyton

🥈 2nd Place: Ashton Boston, Camden Guyton, Levi Norman, Jedd Oxford, Ma'Kaela Waller, Cheznie Daniel, Javen Washington, Kali Simmons, Anna Cochran, Bailey Henderson, Camden Jones-Reid, Layla Green, Jasleen Brown, Ellie Ousley

🥉 3rd Place: Nolan Brewer, Stephanie Cano, Aria Turner, Eli Johnson, Kelis Lordge, Wyatt Wallace, Harmonee Harris, Sunjai Simmons

We are incredibly proud of all the participants for their hard work, creativity, and passion for science! 🚀🔬

The projects will be on display through tomorrow at Dublin Mall.

We also want to extend a special thank you to our Junior Beta students who volunteered at the Night to Shine event. This incredible experience allowed them to help honor and celebrate individuals with special needs, demonstrating kindness, leadership, and a heart for service. We are so proud of their dedication to making a difference in our community!

This week, we are excited to host The Amazing Shake competition, a program first implemented at the Ron Clark Academy. Our fourth through eighth-grade students will be judged on a series of soft skills and life skills, including public speaking, confidence, and professional interactions. This competition provides a unique opportunity for students to showcase their abilities while networking with community stakeholders. We can’t wait to see them rise to the challenge!

As we approach Winter Break, we look forward to a short but impactful week ahead—one filled with learning, laughter, and lasting memories. Thank you for your continued support in making our school a place where students thrive.With Heartfelt Gratitude,

Mr. Taylor

Five Houses.....One IGA #Family

Here in Dublin City Schools, we pride ourselves on providing families with #ThePowerOfChoice. A shift from the traditional pull-out model of providing gifted services, the Irish Gifted Academy began in 2019 and serves children in an all-day PROGRAM that is technology-rich with a project-based curriculum. Applications for the 2025-2026 school year are open NOW - Monday, March 3rd.

Application: https://drive.google.com/.../1c1hQEZZOpo8txh4fF.../view

Mr. Taylor, IGA’s Principal, has created this short video to explain the process. A few important points he mentions are:

• If you have a rising Pre-K student, please do NOT complete an IGA application. Instead, your family will complete the traditional Pre-K application, which opens during Dublin City Schools' Early Bird Enrollment on Saturday, February 22nd.
• If you have a rising Kindergartener, your family will complete the application in its entirety minus the student questionnaire found on page 6.
• If you have a rising 1st - 8th Grader, your family will complete all components of the application.
• A helpful checklist to ensure the application is completed in its entirety is located on page 4 of the packet.
• Applications can be hand delivered or mailed to the Irish Gifted Academy, Attn: Matt Taylor at 1951 Hillcrest Parkway, Dublin, GA 31021. They can also be emailed to matt.taylor@dcsirish.com.
• If you have any questions about the IGA, please email matt.taylor@dcsirish.com.
• And, if you would like for your child to attend one of our five SCHOOLS for 2025-2026, mark your calendars. Dublin City Schools’ 2025-2026 Open Enrollment will be kicking off on Saturday, February 22nd. Our Early Bird Enrollment will provide families with the opportunity to register their child (Pre-K through 12th Grade) without having to take off work. Then, we’ll begin our traditional in-person enrollment at Central Registration starting on Monday, February 24th.

Dublin City Schools’ 2025-2026 Open Enrollment will be kicking off on Saturday, February 22nd from 8:00 AM - NOON at the Irish Gifted Academy Middle Grades Gym. Our Early Bird Enrollment will provide families with the opportunity to register their child (Pre-K through 12th Grade) without having to take off work. Then, we’ll begin our traditional in-person enrollment at Central Registration starting on Monday, February 24th.

PRE-K

As we begin planning for the upcoming school year, it has been our practice to give DCS staff members top priority in choosing which Pre-K program they would like their child to attend. All our Pre-K programs are FANTASTIC! So, we would like to provide DCS staff members with the ability to pre-register their child for Pre-K before anyone else. To secure a Pre-K slot at Hillcrest Elementary, the Irish Gifted Academy or Susie Dasher Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year, please email holli@dcsirish.com and josh@dcsirish.com as soon as possible.

Once you’ve expressed interest, you will have until Wednesday, February 12th to complete this Pre-K packet and provide copies of your child’s:

• Certified Birth Certificate

• Social Security Card

• Immunization Records (On Georgia Form 3231)

• Eye, Ear, and Dental Certificate (On Georgia Form 3300)

• Proof of Residence (ie. utility bills, home insurance policy, rental/lease agreement, property tax record)

• Proof of Medicaid or Food Stamps (Only If Applicable)

Completed packets and required documentation can either be emailed to holli@dcsirish.com and josh@dcsirish.com or hand delivered to Central Registration at 1405 West Moore Street between 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. If you do not complete your packet and provide your required documentation by WEDNESDAY, February 12th your family will not have a reserved spot but will continue to have the ability to register during our Early Bird Registration and beyond.

To take advantage of this perk, please know the rising Pre-K student must either biologically be your child OR you must be able to provide court documentation stating that you have legal custody of them.

We're fortunate to have AMAZING community partners, like the Laurens County Library, who are beginning a new literacy club for families with children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Funded by a Dollar General literacy grant, Launching Into Literacy is designed to encourage reading and family engagement.

When families sign up, they'll receive:

• 2 to 3 books,
• Discussion questions and a craft activity for each book,
• Necessary craft supplies, and
• A caregiver guide with quick tips and activities to nurture literacy development!

All at NO COST!

Wondering how your family can participate? Visit the library for more information!

• Monday, February 10th: Dublin High School Baseball AWAY @ Wilcox County at 5:30 PM
• Monday, February 10th: Round 1 of IGA Amazing Shake
• Tuesday, February 11th: Rounds 2 and 3 of IGA Amazing Shake
• Tuesday, February 11th: Dublin High School Tennis HOME vs. Swainsboro at 4:00 PM
• Tuesday, February 11th: Dublin High School Baseball HOME vs. Toombs at 5:30 PM
• Wednesday, February 12th: Hillcrest Elementary vs. Susie Dasher Elementary School’s Love & Basketball at 9:30 AM in the DHS Gymnasium
• Thursday, February 13th - Monday, February 17th: Winter Break {No School}
• Tuesday, February 18th: Final Round of IGA Amazing Shake
• Thursday, February 20th: Hillcrest Elementary School’s Black History Month Program
• Saturday, February 22nd: Dublin City Schools' Early Bird Enrollment from 8:00 AM - 12:00 NOON in the Irish Gifted Academy Middle Grades Building
• Monday, February 24th: Dublin High School Black History Month Program at 1:00 PM

Curious about our Local School Governance Team, or how you can become more involved with the Irish Gifted Academy and Dublin City Schools? Click this link to find out more about our LSGT teams, meeting agendas, and view upcoming dates on our district website --> https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Index.aspx?S=4059

If you are able to assist us in any of the below capacities, please reach out to Mr. Taylor at matt.taylor@dcsirish.com. We are so grateful for the village we have!

• Assist with Check In / Check Out Process for Books in Our Reading Corner
• Assist with Interior Painting / Decor

Our five houses are modeled after those used at the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta #rcainspired Visit https://rcahousesystem.com/ for more information regarding houses, more information about each, and ways to access house merchandise.

Isibindi — House of Courage — Language (Zulu) — Country (South Africa) — Animal (Lion)
Altruismo — House of Givers — Language (Portuguese) — Country (Brazil) — Animal (Snake)
Amistad — House of Friendship — Language (Spanish) — Country (Mexico) — Animal (Peacock)
Reveur — House of Dreamers — Language (French) — Country (France) — Animal (Wolf)

Nukumori -- House of Kindness -- Language (Japanese) -- Country (Japan) -- Animal (Dragon)

Email: matt.taylor@dcsirish.com
Website: https://iga.dcs.irish/en-US
Location: 1951 Hillcrest Parkway, Dublin, GA, USA
Phone: 478-353-8450
Facebook: facebook.com/irishgiftedacademy