Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson welcomes the International Academy of Trenton

Mayor Eric Jackson of Trenton, New Jersey, welcomed representatives of Trenton's newest charter public school, the International Academy of Trenton, at City Hall on October 16, 2014.  Mayor Jackson, the 47th Mayor of Trenton, assumed office on July 1, 2014 for a four-year term.  The Mayor congratulated the International Academy and SABIS Educational Systems for a successful and smooth school opening on September 8th and for offering 354 students access to a high quality college prep education. 

"I'm the Mayor for all the residents of Trenton, whether they attend traditional public or charter schools," said Mayor Jackson.  "A quality education is the key to revitalizing our city." 

Dr. Anthony Degatano, Director of the International Academy extended an open invitation to Mayor Jackson to visit the Academy, which the Mayor accepted.  Click here for a video of the International Academy's first day of school.

Tony Degatano, IAT Director, Mayor Eric Jackson, and Larry Chenault, IAT Board President

Pictured below from left to right are:  Alicia D'Allessandro of Beckerman Public Affairs; Matt Graig, SABIS Director of New School Development; Jose Afonso, SABIS Director of US Business Development; Anthony Degatano, School Director of the International Academy; Francis Blanca, Mayor Jackson's Chief of Staff; Mayor Eric Jackson; Larry Chenault, President, Board of Trustees of the International Academy; and, Tim White of Beckerman Public Affairs.

Michigan's Attorney General launches anti-bullying campaign at the SABIS International Academy of Flint

September 11 - Flint, MI:  Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette introduced the State's OK2SAY anti-bullying campaign at the International Academy of Flint, a member of the SABIS School Network.  The International Academy is a successful charter school and recipient of numerous academic awards.  The school opened in 1999 and serves nearly 1,200 students in grades K-12.

Click here for ABC12 news coverage of the initiative's launch at the International Academy.

Excerpts about the OK2SAY initiative from the Attorney General's announcement:

OK2SAY... a new program that enables students to confidentially report potential harm or criminal activities involving students or school employees. OK2SAY’s focus is on early intervention and prevention, acting as an early warning system to thwart school tragedies before they occur.


Students (and others) will be able to submit tips 24/7 by telephone, text, email, mobile application, and via a web-based form on the OK2SAY website at www.mi.gov/ok2say (website will be operational September 2, 2014). Tips can be filed on a wide range of issues, including: planned school attacks, weapons at school, assault, bullying/cyberbullying, threats, gang activity, and more. Upon receipt of a tip, specially trained OK2SAY operators will address the immediate need and, as necessary, forward the information to the appropriate responding agency or organization. Most tips are expected to go to schools and local law enforcement agencies, but in some instances, tips may go to local Community Mental Health agencies and/or the Michigan Department of Human Services. Operators will be trained to recognize, and appropriately address mental illness and emotional disturbance. Tips suggesting a psychiatric emergency will be forwarded to the local community mental health psychiatric crisis line.

SABIS International Charter School Hosts Largest College Fair To Date

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — Hundreds of high school students packed into a crowded gymnasium at Sabis International Charter School in Springfield this morning. With representatives from 82 colleges and universities, it’s the school’s biggest college fair, to date.

“It’s schools from all over the country, and local schools in Western Massachusetts, and what we do is we have our fair the day after the Western New England National Fair that takes place every year, so luckily, we get a lot of schools from all over the country,” says Kathleen Joyce, a guidance counselor at Sabis.

The fair is open to students in grades 9-12. Organizers say, while college might be the last thing on a freshman’s mind, it’s events like today that shape their plans for the future.

“I’d probably be waiting in ignorance, thinking probably that I have more time, when in reality, I really don’t,” says Nathan Johnson, a junior at Sabis.

“They have this experience today in the 9th grade where they meet an admissions counselor and make a connection and then that admissions counselor comes back the following year and remembers that student, so it’s very significant to the student,” adds Joyce.

“I like how today went, they had a lot more schools than last year, they keep building and I think it’s a really good experience for everyone here to be able to see a whole bunch of different colleges, especially the kids in younger grades so that when they do get to their senior year,” Madison Sinkfield, a senior at Sabis. “They’re not like running around like, ‘I don’t know what to do, I don’t know what colleges I want,’ I think this is a really good experience for kids.”

Sabis students boast some of the top tests scores in the state. Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Sabis 57 out of 352 high schools in Massachusetts.

Click here to read and watch the video at WGGB.

Newest SABIS charter school opens in Trenton, New Jersey

The International Academy of Trenton, the newest member of the SABIS Schools Network opened its doors Monday, September 8th in Trenton, New Jersey.  This new SABIS charter school welcomed 354 eager students in grades KG-3.  There are 371 additional students on the waiting list.  The International Academy plans to expand by one grade level each year until it becomes a full KG-12 school.  This is the first of several SABIS-managed charter schools planned for New Jersey.  The SABIS Business Development Team coordinated this school's successful opening, which is located at 720 Bellevue Ave, Trenton, NJ.

"Our team has the capacity and know-how to successfully launch new schools and I'm thrilled that the months of hard work and long hours have resulted in this seamless transition from its pre-operational stage to actual students in the classroom," said Tim Cameron, SABIS New School Start-up Coordinator.  "It's personally fulfilling to be a part of an initiative that will be offering Trenton's kids and families a top-quality college-prep education in a safe and caring environment."

The International Academy is led by Dr. Anthony Degatano, an experienced educator and school administrator.  For more information about the International Academy, please call (609) 759-2005, email iat@sabis.net or visit the school's website at www.iat.sabis.net.

George Saad, SABIS VP of US Operations welcoming students on first day.

Larry Chenault (Board Pres) and Traci Cormier (SABIS Operations Director)

International Academy's students excited about the first day of school

Students arriving on the first day of school

Tim Cameron, New School Start-up Coordinator, offering a helping hand

Smooth dismissal after a successful first day of school

State Senator Eileen Donoghue visited the Lowell Collegiate Charter School

Lowell, MA:  Massachusetts State Senator Eileen Donoghue visited the Lowell Collegiate Charter School today.  Lowell Collegiate, the newest member of SABIS School Network, is in its first operational year, serving 268 students in grades K-3.  During the 2014-15 school year it will enroll 350 students in grades K-4, and will continue to add a grade level each year until becoming a K-12 school.  The school is currently housed in a temporary facility while its permanent site is built.

Senator Eileen Donoghue, who represents the 1st Middlesex district of Massachusetts in the State Senate, met with school staff and members of the Board of Trustees, toured the temporary facility, and visited classrooms where she met with an enthusiastic and diverse student-body that is reflective of the cultural diversity of the City of Lowell.

In the picture are (left to right): Jose Afonso (SABIS), Senator Eileen Donoghue, Kathleen McCarthy (Board President), Erika Sousa (Board member), Dr. Joseph McCleary (School Director).