Taylor Road Middle School: Alpharetta, Georgia, USA

We are a Middle School of approximately 1400 students in Alpharetta, Georgia, a northern suburb of Atlanta, Home of the 1996 Summer Olympics! The small town is located in the fastest-growing county in Georgia and there is much new home construction taking place in the surrounding area. Our Talented and Gifted sixth grade students will be participating in your program, under the direction of their teacher, Mrs. Sgro Ellis. We are proud of our advances in technology over the last few years. Our school has three totally Internet accessible labs, as well as some classrooms. We have successfully integrated the Internet into many curriculum-related activities. If you are interested in finding out more about our school, you can check out our Web site at: http://www.trms.ga.net

Since the school opened in 1990, our students and teachers have enjoyed a regular Wildlife Habitat , which borders the back of the school grounds. We are currently working on certification from the National Wildlife Federation on becoming a Schoolyard Habitat. Through the assistance of a botanist from the US Forest Service, we have identified plants and animals found along our mile-long Nature Trail. The site for classroom observation consists of a stream that flows along the boundary of the forested area of the school property. This stream flows throughout the year and provides both aquatic habitat and a water resource for terrestrial species. The Nature Trail meanders along the stream providing students the opportunity to view and study aquatic habitat and associated species. We are participating in the Georgia Adopt-A Pond program,also.

The Science teacher involved is working with Mrs. Turco and Mrs. Busby, and others on an in-house grant to meet several objectives for the school year:

1). Install and provide bird feeders and food on a year-round basis (maintained by Science classes, Beta Club, and the Environmental Club);
2). Construct and place the following Wildlife Homes on the site- Bluebird Boxes, an Owl Box, A Bat Box, a Butterfly Box, and Birdbaths on the grounds;
3). To place plants native to Georgia at the beginning of the trail;
4). To create Field Guides of the Plants found on the Nature Trail;
5). To begin to address the erosion problem from silt on the trail.

We look forward to participating in the Waterways Project and establishing a year-long correspondence with friends around-the-world!