As was announced at last night’s Decatur School Board meeting, Oakhurst Elementary Principal Mary Mack has been promoted to CSD’s Director of Elementary Education.  Information handed out at last night’s meeting noted Principal Mack’s impressive track record…

Mrs. Mack has 37 years of experience and has been the principal of Oakhurst Elementary for the last 22 years. Under her leadership, Oakhurst ranked fourth in the state on the GaDOE’s College and Career-Ready Performance Index, was named a Title I Distinguished School, was named a Platinum Award Winner for Greatest Gains by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and was named a 2012 Georgia School of Excellence. During the 2012-2013 school year, Mrs. Mack developed and implemented a mentoring program for district Assistant Principals and the Dean of Students.

Additionally, just late yesterday Oakhurst Elementary was named a Georgia School of Excellence.  Here’s a PDF of the CSD press release.

In a letter to Oakhurst parents, Principal Mack thanked everyone for their support over the years and explained that it was time for her to take on a “new challenge”.  As for Oakhurst Elementary’s next steps, she writes…

For the next few months, I will remain at Oakhurst and slowly transition into my new role. By the end of September, a committee of SLT, parents and staff members will be organized to plan the search for the next principal with the process being organized and implemented through our Human Resources Department. Until a new principal has been selected, I will remain as principal of Oakhurst. After the new principal is on board, I will still be available and will continue to serve as a support. I will work diligently and collaboratively with the new leader (and spend time in my new position) on a daily basis.

Demolition began this morning on the Kindergarten wing at Oakhurst Elementary to make the way for a larger, two-story addition to accommodate the school system’s ever-growing student population.

Yesterday, E.J. sent in this rather dramatic shot of the backhoe waiting patiently in the street for demolition to begin.

Erin writes in…

Oakhurst Elementary’s Spring into Summer Online Auction is now open for bids! It opened on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 6 p.m. and will end a week later on April 20, 2011 at 10 p.m. To bid, go to http://auctions.readysetauction.com/oakhurstpta/ and enter the password “oakhurst.” All proceeds from both auctions will benefit Oakhurst Elementary. Anyone may participate, and the starting bids for most of the auction items are 75 percent off retail prices. The live auction will be held on April 29, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Solarium in Oakhurst Village and is open to Oakhurst Elementary parents. This year, event organizers hope to raise $12,000 to help fund the Oakhurst studentsâАЩ many field expeditions. For more information, please visit www.oakhurstauction.com.

Oakhurst Elementary’s new annual community marketplace event, “Junktique”, is back for a second year.

According to a press release I recently received, last year’s event raised $6,000 to meet the goal of buying the three remaining ActivBoards the School needed to outfit every classroom.  This year they hope to raise $10,000 to equip the School’s outdoor classroom with the necessary supplies and teacher training materials.  Here’s all the info…

The Junktique is back! The second annual event will be held Sunday, November 7, 2010 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Solarium in Oakhurst Village in Decatur. Junktique 2010 will feature a local artists’ market, a collectibles yard sale, live music, and tasty food and beverages. New this year is a “By Kids for Kids” yard sale where Oakhurst Elementary kids can experience the thrills of commerce.

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Click over to OakhurstAuction.com and type in the password “oakhurst2010″ to check out the 34 pages of items up for auction online at Oakhurst Elementary ! There’s everything from local restaurant gift certificates, to tickets to the Atlanta Symphony, to vacation accommodations.  There’s even a Carmelo Anthony autographed shoe!

Bidding continues until 8pm on Friday, April 16th.  All proceeds benefit Oakhurst Elementary Field Experiences.