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 Drug Defense Lawyer Isle Of Hope, GA
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If you are accused of a crime, the only thing standing between your freedom and a verdict of "guilty" is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Isle of Hope, GA.

Those who have been arrested before know that life in the legal system is no laughing matter. Aside from the imminent ramifications of fines and jail time, any goals you have of bettering yourself and advancing your life could be compromised. Without a trusted attorney by your side, you could face a lifetime of embarrassment and poor employment prospects due to a tarnished criminal record.

The good news? Dennis O'Brien and his team of experienced lawyers in Isle of Hope are ready to clear your name. By retaining the help of a criminal defense attorney early in the legal process, you have a much better chance of securing your freedom and living a life as a productive member of society.

At O'Brien Law Firm PC, our practice was founded to fight for the rights of individuals accused of or charged with a crime. Our team of legal experts is well-equipped to take even the most difficult, contentious cases. From violent felonies to DUI, there is nothing we haven't seen and handled. As a former law enforcement officer, founding attorney Dennis O'Brien knows exactly how much a person can lose if convicted. That's why we work tirelessly to secure a verdict that is favorable for our clients.

Regardless of how serious or minor your case may be, know that we will fight fearlessly on your behalf. You deserve zealous representation - when you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC, you will receive nothing less.

 Drug Lawyer Isle Of Hope, GA
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The O'Brien Law Firm PC Difference

Many of our clients are surprised to discover that founding lawyer Dennis O'Brien was a police officer prior to his criminal defense career. As a former Field Training Officer for the Memphis Police Department, he has over two decades of knowledge and experience in the criminal justice system. Dennis truly understands the nuance and complexities involved in a criminal defense case. This rare experience gives Dennis a clear edge in any criminal defense case and gives clients priceless peace of mind when they need it the most. Unlike some criminal defense attorneys in Isle of Hope, Dennis O'Brien and his team believe that every client deserves effective, empathetic legal assistance. While some Isle of Hope criminal defense firms will take weekends off or pass along cases to paralegals, Dennis personally reviews each of his cases. There is no case too small or big for O'Brien Law Firm PC. When you hire our firm, you can rest easy knowing that we will be by your side when the going gets tough.

 Federal Defense Attorney Isle Of Hope, GA
Here are just a few reasons why O'Brien Law Firm PC is Isle of Hope's top choice in criminal defense:
  • Vigorous Representation
  • Fierce Dedication to Clients
  • Unmatched Experience
  • Face-to-Face Counsel
  • Prompt Response to Inquiries and Questions
  • Commitment to Defending Your Rights
  • Thorough, Effective Research and Investigation
  • Contact Us or Call: 912-704-5150
 Criminal Defense Law Firms Isle Of Hope, GA
Our firm has represented hundreds of criminal defense clients in Isle of Hope and is highly qualified to take your case. Some of our specialties include:

Drug Cases in Isle of Hope, GA

When you are charged with a drug crime in Isle of Hope, it can change your life forever. Georgia imposes very strict punishments for drug offenses. The truth is, it's hard to get your life back on track with a drug charge on your record. Your freedom and way of life could be in the hands of your criminal defense attorney. As such, you need a competent lawyer with years of experience handling drug cases. Leaving your fate in the hands of an incompetent attorney could have long-lasting effects on your family and may result in a conviction.

 Criminal Defense Lawyers Isle Of Hope, GA

Consequences for drug crimes in Isle of Hope often include:

  • Jail
  • Prison
  • Heavy fines
  • Community service
  • Court-ordered drug and alcohol counseling
  • Probation or parole
  • Permanent criminal record

While the consequences for a drug crime in Georgia are serious, there's reason to be hopeful: O'Brien Law Firm PC is here to fight for you. Remember - being charged with a drug crime is NOT the same thing as being convicted.

Our stellar team has represented many clients facing numerous drug-related charges. While each situation varies, one constant remains the same for clients facing drug charges: a fear of what lies ahead. At O'Brien Law Firm PC our job is to help you overcome the fear of the unknown. We do so by ensuring you understand your charges, the possible outcomes associated with those charges, and the options you need to consider from a criminal defense standpoint.

With more than a decade of experience as Isle of Hope drug crime attorneys, we have the experience and resources to defend you in court no matter what your charges may be, including:

  • Marijuana
  • Crack
  • Cocaine
  • Heroin
  • Methamphetamine
  • Ecstasy

No matter what charge you are facing, our team has the experience and resources to build a comprehensive defense strategy for your drug case in Isle of Hope, GA. Without a criminal defense attorney acting as your advocate, you could be facing very harsh penalties. Here are a few punishments you could be facing for drug crimes in Isle of Hope:

  • Schedule I or Schedule II Drug Possession
    Schedule I or Schedule II Drug Possession:

    Having less than a gram (or one milliliter for liquids) of this type of drug results in a prison term of one to three years. Having four grams or milliliter carries a term of one to eight years.

  • Schedule III, IV, or V Drug Possession
    Schedule III, IV, or V Drug Possession:

    Any substance on this list is punishable by a prison sentence of one to three years.

  • Non-Narcotic Schedule II Drug Possession
    Non-Narcotic Schedule II Drug Possession:

    If you have less than two grams or milliliters of this substance, punishments can be between one year and three years. Having up to four grams or milliliters results in a prison sentence of one to eight years.

  • Possession of Marijuana
    Possession of Marijuana:

    Those who are in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana are subject to a jail sentence of up to 12 months. Fines may be no more than $1,000. Possession of more than an ounce of marijuana can result in a prison term of one to 10 years.

To avoid these life-changing punishments, you must take action now. Contact O'Brien Law Firm today for a consultation about your case.

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 Defense Lawyers Isle Of Hope, GA
 Criminal Defense Attorney Isle Of Hope, GA

Violent Crime Cases in Isle of Hope, GA

Violent crime offenses in Isle of Hope typically involve some form of bodily harm to another individual, actions committed against an individual's will, or threatening someone with bodily harm. Aggravated violent offenses are more severe charges and often occur when a violent crime is made more serious due to circumstances like deadly weapons.

Much like serious drug cases, violent crimes create an added layer of negativity that follows the accused for the rest of their life. In these cases, even an accusation is enough to cause irreparable damage to a person's reputation. Those convicted of a violent crime face severe penalties that can include years in a correctional facility.

Common crimes of this nature include but are not limited to:
  • Murder
  • Assault with the intent to murder
  • Vehicular homicide
  • Domestic violence
  • Assault
  • Battery
  • Kidnapping
  • Rape
  • Robbery
  • Carjacking

When you are accused of any of the above crimes, your freedom hangs in the balance. The outcome of your case will determine whether you leave the courtroom with your freedom intact or stripped away to serve time behind bars. Because the punishments for violent crimes are so extreme, you should be seeking legal counsel from a criminal defense attorney in Isle of Hope, GA, as soon as possible. As a former police officer with a long record of positive verdicts in violent crime cases, Dennis O'Brien is well equipped to represent you in court.

Having a criminal defense lawyer by your side is the best way to avoid the serious punishments associated with violent crimes. These punishments usually result in prison time if convicted and include:
Forced rape: 20 years
Armed robbery: Up to 20 years
Simple assault: Up to 12 months
Aggravated assault: 10 to 20 years
Aggravated battery: Up to 20 years
Involuntary manslaughter: One to 20 years
Vehicular homicide Up to 15 years
Murder: Life in prison or the death sentence
Zealous Representation Without Judgement

As a former police officer, Dennis O'Brien has seen the toll it takes on a person when charged with a crime. His time in law enforcement allows him to empathize with his clients who desperately need competent representation. Despite being innocent until proven guilty, accusations are scary, and conviction could be a reality. That is why you must work with a trustworthy criminal defense lawyer in Isle of Hope, GA who will work tirelessly to clear your name.

Clients choose O'Brien Law Firm because we believe in open communication, honesty, and hard work. It is not our job to act as judges for those who have been accused of crimes. Rather, our goal is to find the best defense that allows us to protect our clients' rights and freedoms.

DUI Cases in Isle of Hope, GA

Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common crimes committed in Georgia. Punishments for such a crime can be severe, and for understandable reasons - when a person operates a vehicle while they are intoxicated, they're putting their life and the lives of others at risk.

While DUI is a serious crime that completely upend the accused's life, the earnest desire to end drunk driving can make police officers too eager to catch a person who they believe is under the influence.

 Criminal Defense Law Firm Isle Of Hope, GA

The city of Isle of Hope, Georgia, has implemented severe punishments for DUI, even for first-time offenders. Individuals charged with DUI in Isle of Hope could face:

  • Very expensive fines and fees
  • Loss of license
  • Incarceration

Fortunately, if you or someone you love has been charged with DUI, there is hope. This is particularly true when the accused is administered a breath or blood test for DUI. In fact, cases that involve a breath and/or blood test are beaten daily. When you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC, we will dive deep into your DUI case in Isle of Hope and examine every angle possible for your case to be dismissed. Here are just a few questions our team will investigate:

  • Was the stop legal? If not, your case could be dismissed
  • Is there enough evidence or probable cause to arrest you? If not, Dennis O'Brien will file a pre-trial motion and will fight hard to have your case dismissed before trial.
  • Did the police read you your implied consent rights? If not, your case could be thrown out. Failure to read implied consent rights to the accused is one of the most common police errors.
  • Were your blood testing records and breathalyzer results maintained? Breath testing comes with inherent weaknesses that can create doubt in a juror's mind.

There are numerous ways to beat a DUI case in Georgia, from unreliable field sobriety tests to inaccurate state-administered breath tests. As a veteran criminal defense lawyer in Isle of Hope, GA, Dennis O'Brien has the knowledge and experience to expose the state's mistakes and fight for your rights. When you hire O'Brien Law Firm PC your chances of dismissal are greatly increased. When your case is dismissed, you can continue living life without the burden of a criminal record.

 Criminal Justice Attorney Isle Of Hope, GA

If you or someone you love is accused of a crime in Isle of Hope, GA, don't leave fate up to the prosecution. Take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family before it's too late.

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Latest News in Isle of Hope, GA

Polling changes, locations for the Warnock, Walker runoff

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The Chatham County Board of Elections has announced the updated polling changes and locations for the Dec. 6 runoff between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker.Georgia counties are required to hold early voting days from Monday, Nov. 28, to Friday, Dec. 2. However, Chatham County is also opting to hold voting on Sunday, Nov. 27. How the...

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – The Chatham County Board of Elections has announced the updated polling changes and locations for the Dec. 6 runoff between Raphael Warnock and Herschel Walker.

Georgia counties are required to hold early voting days from Monday, Nov. 28, to Friday, Dec. 2. However, Chatham County is also opting to hold voting on Sunday, Nov. 27.

Polling changes:

I-16 Ferguson Ave Baptist Church will vote at the Montgomery Athletic Association at 10155 Ferguson Avenue8-13 Savannah Christian School will vote at 8-03 Silk Hope Baptist Church at 4929 Pineland Drive

Polling Locations for Dec. 6 Runoff Election

1-01 First Presbyterian Church 520 Washington Avenue Savannah, GA 314051-05 JEA Building 5111 Abercorn Street Savannah, GA 314051-06 Central Church of Christ 632 Stephenson Avenue Savannah, GA 314051-08 Grace United Methodist Church 6412 Waters Avenue Savannah, GA 314061-09 Immanuel Baptist Church 7375 Hodgson Memorial Drive Savannah, GA 314061-10 St. Thomas Episcopal Church 2 St. Thomas Avenue Savannah, GA 314061-12 Isle of Hope Baptist Church 22 Rose Avenue Savannah, GA 314061-13 The Sanctuary 8912 Whitefield Savannah, GA 314061-14 St. Luke United Methodist Church 9114 Whitefield Avenue Savannah, GA 314061-16 Montgomery Athletic Association (temp) 10155 Ferguson Avenue Savannah, GA 314061-17 Islands Christian Church 4601 US Highway 80 East Savannah, GA 314102-02 River Pointe 939 Wheaton Street Savannah, GA 314012-03 W. W. Law Center 909 East Bolton Street Savannah, GA 314012-04 Fellowship of Love Community Church 1402 Harmon Street Savannah, GA 314012-05 Holy Spirit Lutheran Church 622 East 37th Street Savannah, GA 314012-06 Eli Whitney Complex #2 Laura Street Savannah, GA 314042-07 Christ Community Church at Morningside 1805 E. Gwinnett Street Savannah, GA 314042-09 Salvation Army 3000 Bee Road Savannah, GA 314042-11 Oasis of Hope Community Center 728 E 55th St. Savannah, GA 314052-12 Williams Court 1900 Lincoln Street Savannah, GA 314013-02 Temple Mickve Israel 20 E Gordon St Savannah, GA 314063-03 Savannah High School 400 Pennsylvania Avenue Savannah, GA 314043-04 1st African Baptist Church 402 Treat Street Savannah, GA 314043-05 New Generations Cathedral 2023 Tennessee Avenue Savannah, GA 314043-08 Jenkins High School 1800 E. DeRenne Avenue Savannah, GA 314043-09 The ConneXion Church 5411 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 314063-10 Bible Baptist Church 4700 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 314043-11 Southside Baptist Church 5502 Skidaway Road Savannah, GA 314063-12 Thunderbolt Senior Center 3236 Russell Street Savannah, GA 314043-13 New Covenant Seventh Day Adventist Church 5100 LaRoche Avenue Savannah, GA 314043-14 Oglethorpe Charter Academy 7202 Central Avenue Savannah, GA 314064-02 Islands High School Annex 169 Whitemarsh Island Road Savannah, GA 314104-04 Lighthouse Baptist Church 401 Quarterman Road Savannah, GA 314104-05 Saint Francis Episcopal 590 Walthour Road Savannah, GA 314104-06 First Baptist Church of the Islands 6613 Johnny Mercer Boulevard Savannah, GA 314104-07 Wilmington Island Methodist Church 195 Wilmington Island Road Savannah, GA 314104-08 Wilmington Island Pres. Church 450 North Cromwell Road Savannah, GA 314104-10 Burke Day Public Safety Bldg 78 Van Horne Ave Tybee Island, GA 313284-11 Tybee Old School Cafeteria 202 Fifth Street Tybee Island, GA 313284-12 St. Peters Episcopal Church 3 Westridge Road Savannah, GA 314114-13 Skidaway Community Church 50 Diamond Causeway Savannah, GA 314114-14 Skidaway Island Methodist Church 54 Diamond Causeway Savannah, GA 314115-02 Senior Citizens Inc 3025 Bull Street Savannah, GA 314055-03 Butler Pres. Ed. Building 603 West Victory Drive Savannah, GA 314055-05 Liberty City Community Center 1401 Mills B. Lane Savannah, GA 314055-06 Seed Church 1950 Chatham Parkway Savannah, GA 314055-07 Elks Lodge 183 Wilshire Boulevard Savannah, GA 314195-08 Southside Assembly of God (temp) 401 Tibet Avenue Savannah, GA 314065-10 Jonesville Baptist Church 5201 Montgomery Street Savannah, GA 314055-11 Largo Tibet School 430 Tibet Avenue Savannah, GA 314066-01 White Bluff Presbyterian Church 10710 White Bluff Road Savannah, GA 314066-02 Windsor Forest Baptist Church 12521 White Bluff Road Savannah, GA 314196-03 Crusader Community Center 81 Coffee Bluff Villa Road Savannah, GA 314196-05 Windsor Hall 302 Briarcliff Circle Savannah, GA 314196-06 The Light 8511 Waters Avenue Savannah, GA 314066-08 Christ Memorial Baptist Church 1023 Dutchtown Rd Savannah, GA 314196-09 Trinity Lutheran Church 12391 Mercy Boulevard Savannah, GA 314196-10 Georgetown Elementary 1516 King George Boulevard Savannah, GA 314196-11 Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens 2 Canebrake Road Savannah, GA 314197-01 First Baptist Church of Garden City 35 Nelson Ave Garden City, GA 314087-03 Preston B. Edwards Gymnasium 101 Turnberry Street Port Wentworth, GA 314077-04 Lakeshore Community Center 1000 Lake Shore Boulevard Port Wentworth, GA 314077-05 Woodlawn Baptist Church 407 Talmadge Avenue Garden City, GA 314087-06 First Baptist Church of Pooler 204 US-80 Pooler, GA 313227-07 Rothwell Baptist Church 216 East Rothwell Street Pooler, GA 313227-08 Bloomingdale Comm. Center 202 E. Moore Street Bloomingdale, GA 313027-09 Adult Ministry Center at Compassion 50 Al Henderson Blvd. Savannah, GA 314197-10 Progressive Recreation 5321 Ogeechee Road Savannah, GA 314057-11 Savannah Fire Station 14 480 Highlands Blvd Pooler, GA 313227-12 West Chatham Baptist Church 1360 S Rogers St Pooler, GA 313227-13 Southside Fire Training Center 1381 Dean Forest Road Savannah, GA 314197-14 Coastal Cathedral Church of God 275 Berwick Boulevard Savannah, GA 314197-15 Rice Creek School 100 Mulberry Street Port Wentworth, GA 314077-16 Pooler Rec Center Gym 900 S. Rogers St Pooler, GA 313228-01 Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum 460 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Savannah, GA 314018-02 Hellenic Center 14 W. Anderson Street Savannah, GA 314018-03 Silk Hope Baptist Church 4929 Pineland Drive Savannah, GA 314058-05 West Broad YMCA 1110 May Street Savannah, GA 314158-06 Tompkins Recreation Center 2333 Ogeechee Road Savannah, GA 314158-07 Woodville Tompkins Technical Institute 151 Coach Joe Turner Street Savannah, GA 314088-08 Resurrection of Our Lord Church 112 Fell Street Savannah, GA 314158-09 Moses Jackson Center 1410 Richards Street Savannah, GA 314158-10 Carver Heights Community Center 905 Collat Street Savannah, GA 314158-11 Butler Elementary School 1909 Cynthia Street Savannah, GA 314158-12 Beach High School 3001 Hopkins Street Savannah, GA 314058-13 8-03 Silk Hope Baptist Church (temp) 4929 Pineland Drive Savannah, GA 314088-15 Cooper Center 700 Davis Ave Savannah, GA 314088-16 Mighty 8th Museum 175 Bourne Ave Pooler, GA 313228-17 Georgia Tech, Savannah Campus 210 Technology Circle Savannah, GA 314078-18 Savannah First Seventh-day Adventist Church 50 Godley Way Savannah, GA 31407

Isle of Hope Astronaut Club shoots for the stars

Isle of Hope K8 science, technology, engineering, art and math teachers started an astronaut club so students could build and launch rockets after school.They never imagined it would lead to a competitive NASA space shuttle launch.Twelve Isle of Hope students will go to the Kennedy Space Center this month to compete in the Student Astronaut Challenge National Finals. They've been studying engineering, astrophysics and orbital spaceflight basics so they can master the process for launching, orbiting and safely lan...

Isle of Hope K8 science, technology, engineering, art and math teachers started an astronaut club so students could build and launch rockets after school.

They never imagined it would lead to a competitive NASA space shuttle launch.

Twelve Isle of Hope students will go to the Kennedy Space Center this month to compete in the Student Astronaut Challenge National Finals. They've been studying engineering, astrophysics and orbital spaceflight basics so they can master the process for launching, orbiting and safely landing a space shuttle.

Middle school teams from Florida and Georgia will be tested on how well they handle the pressures of space travel. They'll use NASA space flight training equipment to simulate a mission in which they launch at sunrise, repair a faulty pipe in space, grow food on Mars and safely return to Earth.

Twelve teams will compete in the national finals. The teams from Georgia include Isle of Hope, two teams from Richmond Hill Middle and one from William James Middle in Statesboro.

"We started the program just to be able to build and launch rockets," said science teacher Carolyn Rethwisch. "When we took the students to the regional Astronaut Challenge in Richmond Hill our goal was just to expose them to the challenge. But 10 of our kids scored in the top 10 percent - high enough to go to the finals."

In addition to their regular school work, students get daily assignments to study NASA terminology, physics and other topics that would baffle many high school and college students. The contest even requires them to write a 12-page paper with APA format citations.

STEAM teacher Wade Smith warned students that the Astronaut Challenge would be tough, but they didn't back down.

Davian Smith, a seventh-grade sports star, decided to sit out basketball season so he could be part of the team's mission control crew. Sixth-grader Bella Carter sacrificed dance lessons until Feb. 16. She wore ballet-style shoes Thursday as she practiced her landing skills on a flight simulator.

"It's always education over any type of sport," Davian said.

The community has rallied behind their effort. Bobcat of Savannah donated engineering expertise, cash, computers and supplies so the students could build mock control panels out of wooden crates and hook them up to a space launch simulation program. But they're still working to raise $7,000 for expenses and travel. The 12-student club can't afford to rent a 15-passenger van. so several parents have agreed to carpool.

This is the first time Isle of Hope has competed. They'll be facing more experienced teams from schools with high-tech equipment and more resources, but students said they were inspired by the African-American female mathematicians in the movie "Hidden Figures" and they want to inspire other Title I, low-income, school students like them.

"I want to be a role model for young girls," Bella said.

LaKayla Watkins, the team's eighth-grade flight engineering expert, said she has enjoyed learning about space travel so much she wants to come back and help other teams after she goes to high school next year.

"I love telling the pilot and flight commander what to do," she said.

Team members John Saxon, Callum Bagley-Heath, Bella Carter, Davion Smith, Own Walsh, Jonah Tinfow, LaKayla Watkins, Jaevon Hill, Jeaneva Hill, Noah Shook, Elicxavier Madril and Ayasha Pickney will all travel to Kennedy Space Center, but just six of them will compete. Yet they aren't fighting each other for the six coveted spots. They're all helping each other learn as much as they can and they want whoever has the best chance of successfully completing the mission to compete.

"When I first started I didn't understand anything, but I started watching the other kids and they taught me. Now I'm good at mission control," he said. "We're all helping each other."

The Student Astronaut Challenge is designed to promote creativity, teamwork, and the understanding and application of STEM subjects. The Isle of Hope students say they'd love to win, but the best part about the competition so far has been stretching themselves to learn more about science than they ever imagined.

"It might be hard and we might fail, but we want to try it," Davion said.

Isle of Hope students win NASA competition

The Astronaut Club at Isle of Hope K-8 School earned the gold medal for the Landing Challenge and were named national champions at the National Student Astronaut Challenge Finals earlier this month at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The competition was held Feb. 3-7.In the past three years, this was the club’s highest finish. The students also earned the bronze medal for the Space Shuttle Simulator Challenge, according to the press release from the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. Overall, the 2019 team fini...

The Astronaut Club at Isle of Hope K-8 School earned the gold medal for the Landing Challenge and were named national champions at the National Student Astronaut Challenge Finals earlier this month at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The competition was held Feb. 3-7.

In the past three years, this was the club’s highest finish. The students also earned the bronze medal for the Space Shuttle Simulator Challenge, according to the press release from the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. Overall, the 2019 team finished third place overall (in all four challenges), fifth in design, and ninth in engineering, according to an email from Carolyn Rethwisch, Isle of Hope sixth-grade math teacher and head coach of the Astronaut Club.

The students had qualified for the competition with their third-place finish at a run-off last fall to select the 15 best teams from across the U.S. to compete at nationals.

The students spent that time from last fall to the early part of this year practicing 12 to 18 hours a week, including weekends, to prepare for the four challenges they would face over the competition, the press release stated. The four challenges included a Design Challenge, Engineering Challenge, Space Shuttle Atlantis Simulator Challenge, and a Landing Challenge.

The 2019-20 Astronaut Club is coached by Bob and Carol Nickels, Barbara Serianni, assistant education department professor at Georgia Southern University, and Rethwisch who founded the club in 2016.

The Nickels’ daughter, Robbie Lynn, is married to Commander Robert Shane Kimbrough, who was part of the team aboard ISS missions 49 and 50 for NASA, according to the release. The following organizations helped offset the team’s expenses: Bobcat of Savannah in Pooler, The Rotary Club of Skidaway Island, and Isle of Hope Parent Teacher Association.

The challenges

For the Landing Challenge, six of the members of the team who participated in this challenge had to land the shuttle. They were randomly selected for each portion of the challenge -- meaning all six participants had to know how to both land the craft in multiple scenarios, as well as communicate how to land the craft to their teammates.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis Simulator Challenge included a pre-launch checklist, launch into orbit, de-orbiting procedures, and landing at a designated location, according to the release. In preparation, students had to learn the schematics of the Shuttle, as well as the layout of the controls in the cockpit. They had to collaborate strategically to isolate problems and repair them, all while flying the Shuttle.

For the Design Challenge, students Chyler Ross, Megan Nguyen, Aisha Rhenals, Ally Arnsdorff, Cameron Huggins, Kelli Singleton, LaMyla Hill, David Washington, Lee Puckett and Alli Piatt researched the injuries sustained by astronauts. They interviewed experts in the field, including engineers and Kimbrough, wrote a research paper on their findings, created a slideshow, and built the prototype.

“Cameron and LaMyla (both eighth-graders) have been on the team for the past three years,” Rethwisch wrote in an email. “They were both part of last year's second-place team.”

For the Engineering Challenge, students were divided into a mission control team and a team aboard the Space Lab on the ISS, according to the release. There were four components that had to be completed: lack of technology for communication/relay between team members; broken circuits that had to be fixed where one team had the circuits and another team had the directions, computation of Ohm’s Law; and the ability to analyze the problem, design a solution, and understand (in that scenario) whether the problem had truly been corrected.

The Isle of Hope students are no strangers to placing high in this competition. In 2018, the students walked away with two second-place awards for both the Shuttle Simulator and the Landing challenges with only one point separating the Isle of Hope team from first place award in the Landing Challenge. The Isle of Hope students also received the first-ever Apollo 13 Flight Team Award. The school’s team finished second in 2017.

Isle of Hope teen earns top state GED score

To get to college this fall without a high school diploma, Isle of Hope resident Katy Thompson needed to take the GED test.But as a 16-year-old last February, she said she had to be enrolled in a program to take the test. Thompson enrolled at Savannah Technical College to accomplish her goal. With a score of 734 out of 800 on the high school equivalency test, she earned the top GED score in the state of Georgia and was named GED Adult Education Valedictorian, Savannah Technical College said.The GED program is housed in ...

To get to college this fall without a high school diploma, Isle of Hope resident Katy Thompson needed to take the GED test.

But as a 16-year-old last February, she said she had to be enrolled in a program to take the test. Thompson enrolled at Savannah Technical College to accomplish her goal. With a score of 734 out of 800 on the high school equivalency test, she earned the top GED score in the state of Georgia and was named GED Adult Education Valedictorian, Savannah Technical College said.

The GED program is housed in Savannah Technical College’s Adult Education program, which the Technical College System of Georgia recognized for achieving the highest enrollment increase for a large program last school year. Savannah Tech’s Adult Education and English as a Second Language program served 2,300 students from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, up 28 percent from 1,800 students the prior fiscal year.

About 400 of the 2,400 student in the Adult Education program are English as a Second Language learners from other countries, said Brent Stubbs, vice president for Adult Education at Savannah Tech., located at 5717 White Bluff Rd. in Savannah.

Savannah Tech’s Adult Education and ESL students vary from people trained as engineers who need to improve their English language skills to those with limited education who “need English survival skills,” Stubbs said. They also include students who have dropped out of high school for many different reasons.

Thompson wasn’t the typical GED student, Stubbs said. Thompson, who wants to pursue law or social work, is attending the University of South Carolina Beaufort this fall. She moved every five years as a child because of her mother’s career. “I’ve lived in five states and went to at least two schools in each state,” she said. But she did well because he loved to read and write. “I study a lot of languages; that’s just a personal hobby – Spanish, French, a little Romanian.”

Her family moved to Isle of Hope when her father, Brian Thompson, took a job at Gulfstream a few years ago, and Katy enrolled at St. Andrew’s School, an independent college preparatory school. A teacher recommended her for Bard College in Massachusetts because of its early college program, and after a year of online education from her home, Thompson started college there last fall — two years early. But after the first semester, she wanted to be closer to home. Bard didn’t require a high school diploma, but most colleges do, so Thompson needed a GED. “Once I was enrolled [at Savannah Tech], it only took me a week to complete all the course work,” she said.

For most teenage students, it takes months longer, Stubbs said. Many GED students have struggled in school or dropped out before graduating from high school to help support their families.

“Our GED students have been support systems for their families. We may look at them as behind, but they are the bedrock of their family. They are transport support and childcare support for their family,” he said. These returning students often have to learn to make their own educations a priority. “That can be a real challenge,” he said.

About 60 percent of students from Chatham County who enter Savannah Tech are “functioning under the sixth-grade level,” Stubbs said. “They get behind and realize when they’re 16, they’re not going to graduate and so they leave,” he said.

Often, these students at some point will enroll at Savannah Technical College. Earning a passing score on the GED is the first step in pursuing education at the college level. The school provides free practice tests and offers scholarships to many students to over the $160 GED test fee, Stubbs said.

Many GED students have tried to make it in the work world without a GED, but they became frustrated. “We also serve student who are on probation,” Stubbs said. Some have left high school due to teen pregnancy or because of bullying. “Schools can do everything they can, but my goodness they can’t solve every social problem that exists.”

Students who haven’t enjoyed high school often succeed at Savannah Tech because it provides a flexible schedule, where student can attend days, nights or online. The college also works to give students a say in their education, Stubbs said. They can choose their focus, from traditional academic courses to dental hygiene, nursing, welding, construction or culinary arts. “It’s about student voice and creating a space where students can thrive,” he said. “We don’t have those detentions. We’re here to create opportunities to learn.”

What Savannah Tech’s students have in common, Stubbs said, is a motivation to improve through education and skills training. “They come here because they really want to have career success.”

Savannah Technical College Early Admission Day

When: 8 a.m. to noon Saturday

Where: 5717 White Bluff Road, Savannah

If you go

Isle of Hope Fiddlernauts Launch New Bobcat Space Shuttle Simulator

The Isle of Hope Middle School #Fiddlernauts Student Astronaut Club has launched its new Bobcat Space Shuttle Simulator. The simulator is a vital component, supplementing math and problem-solving skills, in the students’ preparation to compete in NASA-University of Florida Student Astronaut Challenge.The simulator was funded by the Skidaway Island Rotary Club and built by the Bethesda Barn Builders, Rotarians and Isle of Hope #Fiddlernauts. It will provide an on-site environment that closely replicates the functions of the NASA ...

The Isle of Hope Middle School #Fiddlernauts Student Astronaut Club has launched its new Bobcat Space Shuttle Simulator. The simulator is a vital component, supplementing math and problem-solving skills, in the students’ preparation to compete in NASA-University of Florida Student Astronaut Challenge.

The simulator was funded by the Skidaway Island Rotary Club and built by the Bethesda Barn Builders, Rotarians and Isle of Hope #Fiddlernauts. It will provide an on-site environment that closely replicates the functions of the NASA competitive site, giving the Isle of Hope Middle Schooler’s Club an added benefit in practice time.

The #Fiddlernauts is an afterschool club which has 18-20 students from grades 6-8. The Club was started in the Fall of 2016 when Mr. Wade Smith, Mr. Darren Bagley-Heath and Ms. Carolyn Rethwisch first took a team of 12 students to compete in a Regional Student Astronaut Challenge competition in Richmond Hill. Over the past three years, the #Fiddlernauts have had tremendous success. In the most recent national 2019 Student Astronaut Challenge at Cape Kennedy, competing against 14 other top middle schools across several states, the #Fiddlernauts TEAM #1 (all girls team) placed 1st in the Space Shuttle Landing Challenge. With the additional help of Ms. Margaret Nease (GA Southern/Armstrong University), they also placed 1st in the Lab Challenge (“Powering small home appliances by using a car battery”). When all four of the challenges were averaged together, the #Fiddlernauts all-girls Team #1 was 2nd in the nation overall! Finally, to top off the celebrating, the crew of TEAM #1 once again brought home the Apollo 13 Teamwork Award. The award has only been given twice and this was the second consecutive year for the #Fiddlernauts. This is a HUGE feat for the young team.

This talented group of students is inspired and coached by Isle of Hope School 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Ms. Carolyn Rethwisch and Dr. Barbara Serianni of GA Southern/Armstrong University. The Skidaway Rotary Club is proud to be able to support these outstanding young people and their mentors. The Skidaway Club’s primary goals are to support and stimulate Early Childhood Learning and Student Leadership. In developing this simulator, the potential to develop these IOH young people’s leadership skills is greatly enhanced. THE SKY IS THE LIMIT!

See more photos here: https://bit.ly/2JGgY52

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