Ivy Hawn - Charter School of the Arts

Ivy Hawn Charter School of the Arts is an innovative free public charter school of choice in Lake Helen. It serves students Kindergarten through 8th grade and opened in August for the 2011-2012 school year. Ivy Hawn offers a high level academic program with an intensive emphasis on visual art, music, drama and dance. Although it�s a public school, Ivy Hawn only has 302 available seats for the 2011-2012 school year and a waiting list in many grades. The initial registration window was open from February 23, 2011 to March 18, 2011 with approximately 560 applications being submitted. A random lottery drawing was conducted to determine which students were offered seats.

Ivy Hawn Charter School of the Arts� Principal Dr. Carol Kelley has been an educator and administrator in elementary, middle and high schools for over 40 years, serving most recently as Principal of New Smyrna Beach High School. Dr. Kelley carefully selected both academic and arts faculty that would give students the opportunity to flourish both academically and artistically.

Ivy Hawn Charter School of the Arts is located in historic Lake Helen in former Nautilus Building at 565 South Lakeview Drive in Unit 110. The building has been completly renovated to accommodate 20 classrooms, a computer lab, administrative offices, and a cafeteria on 2 different levels. The general contractor was able to preserve the original theatre that lies within the building. The theatre currently has seating for 170 and a full grid panel for theatrical lights.

Ivy Hawn students have already experienced a field trip to the Lake Helen library on Thursday September 8th as part of the START program sponsored in part by The Florida Museum of Art. This program is an integrated arts and literacy program. The program will be offered to different student groups once a month all year. Ivy Hawn is hosting interest meetings all next week for its Advanced Musical Ensemble, Chorus, Dance Team, Drama Club and Art Club. These types of extracurricular activities are unique to a K-8 school and will provide students with additional opportunities to experience and participate in the arts. Ivy Hawn will host an Instrument Petting Zoo on Thursday October 6th from 6-8pm to allow students and parents to sample all types of instruments with local vendors. There are several drama productions being scheduled for late October as well as several art contents being offered. Many students of Ivy Hawn are also rehearsing for a production of The Nutcracker ballet.

For more information on Ivy Hawn Charter School of the Arts, please visit the website at www.ivyhawnschool.org or call the school office at 386.228.3900.