When Mary Griffin moved to Gainesville from Dawson County, one of the decisions she had to make in settling down was what city school her 11-year-old son should attend.

She chose the brand-new Gainesville Elementary School, hoping Travis will "be inspired to further his interest in science."

"I'm excited to see, with (the school) labeling itself the 'exploration academy,' what's going to be different from just another elementary school," Griffin said.

Principal Shawn McCollough also hopes the school, which starts its first year on Friday, is unique beyond its instructional emphasis on math, science and technology. Each elementary school in the system is offering a different slant on academics.

He said he will push student achievement and success, but he also wants the students' parents and families to feel a connection to the school. To back up his words, he has pulled together an open house Wednesday that will feature 15 social service agencies setting up booths.

"I want it to be a community school in every sense," he said.

The school, which had 416 students as of July 20, certainly will be a visible school. The $7.5 million building, paid for by the 1-cent sales tax for schools, is perched on a hill overlooking a busy strip of McEver Road Extension at Spring Road.

Construction began a year ago on the brick, single-story building, after an extended period of city officials trying to find the right site at the right price.

Finding land suitable for a school in a city with limited large lots was a challenge, said Superintendent Steven Ballowe.

Plus, he said, the location needed to fit a big picture for where the system wanted to plant schools.

As it turned out, Gainesville Elementary is the system's westernmost school and originally was called Westside Elementary.

It sits in area where the city is growing, residentially and commercially. Work is under way to widen McEver Road Extension to four lanes from two, with completion set for February 2005.

The school system's other new school, New Holland Elementary, is located on the east side of town, off Jesse Jewell Parkway and near another growth area.

McCollough was hired early in the year from Gwinnett County Public Schools, where he served as an assistant principal at Lilburn Middle School.

The city, which has a burgeoning Latino population, also saw appeal in his experience as a nationwide keynote speaker and consultant to schools on such issues as cultural diversity and learning a second language.

McCollough has worked since April assembling a faculty and ensuring a smooth transition into the new school.

"From top to bottom, we have recruited highly qualified teachers from the metro area and other states," he said. "I feel like I've got to have the best teachers possible in the building."

Some teachers are moving from other city schools. Yvonne Zalewski, who taught first grade at Enota last year and is starting her 11th year with the city, is among that group.

"This is going to be the start of a great school," she said. "I am real excited working with Shawn. He brings so much to the city. I couldn't be happier."

Assistant principal Priscilla Collins comes to the school from a teaching position at Centennial Elementary.

"This school is beautiful," she said of her new surroundings. "I'm waiting to get the little ones in."

McCollough's plans include starting a Saturday school program to give students who are learning English an extra boost.

"Research show that extended-day opportunities help improve test scores," he said.

He also wants people from the community to volunteer in a "reading buddy program."

Also, Gainesville and New Holland are piloting a program that will have students in kindergarten through fifth-grade using palm-held computers. Teachers will be furnished with laptop computers, which will help them manage test scores and other data.

"I want to get technology into every hand in this school," McCollough said. "Sometimes, the (students) don't have that kind of access."

Bobbie Krause will direct an Even Start program at the school that will feature parenting classes, including help for those who speak little or no English in helping their child with schoolwork.

"In anything that has to do with literacy, the ultimate goal is student achievement," Krause said.

The school system plans to add two lottery-funded, 20-student pre-kindergarten classes, one each at Gainesville and Fair Street Elementary.

McCollough applauds the move.

"Early intervention is the way to improve student achievement," he said.

Also, unlike the traditional model of elementary students receiving all their instruction from one teacher, each child will learn from two or three teachers. McCollough believes the system allows teachers to emphasize their strengths and provides more support for students.

"We think that three heads are better than one," he said.

The school also is forming a PTO and plans to schedule the first meeting later.

Griffin said she expects that the school will spend some time adjusting students to the new environment, but she's convinced her son is ready to start the new year at the new school.

"He's so bored. That's all I hear," she said.