Education
Wesleyan School Celebrates 25 Years in Peachtree Corners- Brown Family
Four families share their stories
Walking through the grounds of Wesleyan School, it feels more like stepping onto a college campus. For those unfamiliar with the school, it may be surprising to learn that Wesleyan is actually a K-12 private college-preparatory nondenominational Christian school with an enrollment of 1,171 students.
Chris Cleveland, who has served as Head of School for nearly 20 years, describes Wesleyan as many do — a family. The Wesleyan family is made up of teachers, community members and, of course, students and their families.
The Brown family
For some parents, their children’s time at Wesleyan has been more long-lasting than others. Pam Brown, wife of Lewis Brown, has had children in the Wesleyan school from 1988 through 2010. Her oldest son, Davis Brown, was not only Evergreen, but also now works at Wesleyan as an educator, peer leader and coach.
In the mid 1980s, Pam was looking for a Mother’s Day Out program for her young children. A neighbor recommended that she look into the Wesleyan Day School, so she toured the facility.
“When I walked in, I felt that it was just warm, inviting, nurturing… you know I just felt that it was friendly,” said Brown. “I’m still good friends with some of the teachers from back then.”
The Browns applied and when their daughter was accepted, that allowed her younger children to also get into the school. The Brown family enjoyed Wesleyan so much they stuck with the school for the duration of their children’s schooling.
“We just both really loved it. That’s why we stayed when they moved out here, and why we moved out here. We could have stayed in Dunwoody and done other schools there, public or private,” she explained. “We came out here when it was just a dirt mound with trailers.”
After his graduation, her son Davis initially worked at other schools and churches in and around the Buckhead area, but he eventually realized that what he truly wanted was to continue working with the kids at Wesleyan. It was a perfect fit for him, both academically and ethically, and he has found success as an Evergreen-turned-teacher. He even met his now wife at Wesleyan when they were in elementary school together and got married in the chapel on campus!
“The people all of my children have met here, the teachers, they really were nurturing in elementary school and they were nurturing in a caring and encouraging way in high school, and there were three different teachers that made an enormous difference on the path my children took,” said Brown.
She explained that when kids become teenagers, they often pull away from their parents. For her children, the teachers and staff at Wesleyan played a central role in their development during that time. “The teachers here could see the potential; they see the potential and they encourage their students. They care, they are friends, and they invest in you. They see the student as a person.”
Always taking an active role in her children’s lives, Brown found ways to volunteer at the school and served on the athletic board as well as overseeing the arts alliance. She pointed out that the families of students who attend Wesleyan are all very engaged with the community around them, and how that integration plays out in athletics.
“Most teams out here have community coaches as well as the team coach, which is good because the community can come out,” she explained. “People in the town invest as well. My husband did pole vaulting in high school, and we didn’t have a pole-vaulting coach, so he came out after work and coached the pole vaulting. It’s very interactive and parents can be as involved as they want to be.”
The International Charter Academy of Georgia (ICAGeorgia) recently hosted its third annual Dining with the Scholars event on April 18 — an evening filled with celebration, culture and community spirit.
Held at Canton House in Duluth, the event welcomed over 200 attendees, including students, parents, teachers, board members, local sponsors and special guest, the Consul General of Japan.
Fundraising and performances
The purpose of the event was twofold: to raise funds in support of academic programs for the school and, most importantly, to honor and showcase the outstanding talents and achievements of ICAGeorgia students.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed a silent auction, dinner and dessert, as well as a vibrant lineup of student performances, a magic show and live music — creating a truly festive and memorable atmosphere.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many local companies and organizations whose generous sponsorship made this event possible,” said Felecia Tucker-Jones, principal of ICAGeorgia. “[The] support helps us continue to grow and enhance our academic offerings.”
By all accounts, it was a night to remember — and a wonderful reminder of the strong, supportive community that surrounds the school.
Children’s Day Festival
On May 4, students, families and community members gathered at Thrasher Park in Norcross for a vibrant celebration of Children’s Day, a beloved Japanese holiday that honors children’s happiness, growth and well-being.
The Japan’s Children’s Day Festival 2025 brought together over 1,000 attendees for a full day of music, crafts, food and cultural experiences.
Visitors of all ages enjoyed traditional Japanese activities such as origami, kingyo sukui (goldfish scooping) and kimono try-ons, while kids played in bounce houses, participated in golf and soccer games and listened to story time in the park.
The festival’s stage was alive with performances from school choirs, dance studios and even a thrilling showcase of breakdancing and karate. Local vendors offered delicious international food — from pizza, tacos and paella to boba and shaved ice — while guests explored artisan booths and even online shopping options.
Culture and community
This festival was a beautiful reflection of cultural pride and community spirit and partnerships, with ICAGeorgia, local small businesses and generous sponsors bringing the vision to life.
“We’re deeply grateful to all our sponsors, performers, volunteers and families who made the day so special,” said Jeremy Williams, president of the ICAGeorgia PTO.
As Norcross continues to grow as a hub for diverse cultural events, Japan’s Children’s Day Festival stands out as a joyful, family-focused experience with the goal of continuing for years to come.
Follow Japan’s Children’s Day Festival (@JapansChildrensDayFestival) on Instagram and Facebook, and stay tuned for next year’s exciting event.
About ICAGeorgia
The International Charter Academy of Georgia is a statewide charter school available free of charge to any K–6 student residing in Georgia.
Located in Peachtree Corners, the school offers a dual language immersion program in both English and Japanese, a rigorous standards-based curriculum, extracurricular activities and multiple opportunities throughout the year to engage in cross-cultural community.
For more about the school, visit internationalcharteracademy.org.
Simpson Elementary School celebrated Exceptional Children’s Week (ECW) last month with five days of special activities to recognize their special needs population and all of their exceptional students.
April 14–18 is set aside each year to celebrate children with disabilities, gifts and talents. This year’s ECW theme was Bridging Gaps and Building Futures, and the school was happy to take part.
They highlighted each day of the week on the morning news with fun facts about notable people in society — and throughout history — who have overcome challenges with their disabilities, including actor Daniel Radcliffe (who has lived with dyspraxia for his entire life), Tom Cruise, Whoopi Goldberg, Frida Kahlo and Helen Keller.
Simpson Elementary’s technology team also pre-recorded various special needs classes reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every day of the week.
Guest speaker
To end their ECW with a bang, they invited former Simpson Elementary parent, State Representative Scott Hilton, to come in and speak to their K-2 classes about raising his son, Chase (who is autistic and now a student at Norcross High School), and how being different is okay.
“Showing kindness and being inclusive is the best version of humanity,” said Dr. Taffeta Connery, Simpson Elementary School principal, in a statement about the event.
“Simpson Elementary has a special needs population of 214 (23%) of 946 students. [And] … we strive to ensure that our students are valued, recognized and instilled with high expectations for all.”
For more about Simpson Elementary, visit simpsones.gcpsk12.org.
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