SHS Art Students Brighten Walls The once bare and windowless walls of Sequoyah High Schools police officers office now have what appears to be a large stained glass window gracing the interior. Officer Katrina Adams approached the art department during the previous school year requesting, A little color on the wall, to brighten up the room to make the environment more inviting. Fourth year art students, Ansley Petherick and Sarah Warner, decided to put in a window instead. Using a triumphe loeil or fool the eye style of painting, they created the illusion of a large, arched stained glass window, complete with Chief Sequoyah.
Boys Quartet Champions Sequoyah High School students won the 2015 Georgia High School Associations State Literary Championship for Boys Quartet. The state championship boys quartet was composed of Levi Miller, John Haas, Stefan Dayes, and John Austin Emerson. They are coached by Mr. John Markham, Sequoyahs choral director.
CCA Teachers of Year Chris Marcusky, an 8th grade teacher, and 3rd grade teacher Hannah King, were Cherokee Charter Academys Most Inspiring Educators for the 2014-2015 school year. Mr. Marcusky and Ms. King were nominated by CCA parents and recognized for their efforts inside and outside the classroom. Curriculum Resource teacher, Kara Reeder, was lauded by CCAs PTC for her outstanding efforts in overseeing the schools STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) initiatives.
New Aquaponics Lab at Canton ES Rotary Club of Canton toured the new aquaponics lab at Canton Elementary School STEM Academy during the last school year. The club funded and helped build the lab with a $5,000 grant. The lab, called the AGUA (Aquaponics Generates Understanding and Achievement) Lab includes a fish hatchery and hydroponics tables where vegetables and herbs are grown using nutrients created by the fish and other aquatic creatures. Agua is also the Spanish word for water. Students learned about the symbiotic nature of the relationship between fish and plants. STEM teachers David Cornn and Dr. Judy Wright planned the lab, which benefits students in all grade levels at Canton ES STEM Academy. Superintendent Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Brian Hightower joined the Rotary Club of Canton during the tour, which included a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Principal Beth Long was very excited about the learning opportunities the new lab presents for all of Cantons students.
Tony the Tiger Visit Kelloggs recently sent Tony the Tiger out to visit a few CCSD schools, including Hasty ES. Tonys visits, coordinated through the School Nutrition Department, focused on the importance of breakfast which is available during the school year at all CCSD schools. During the summer months, the USDA Seamless Summer Option program is available for children. This program offers free meals during the summer for children 18 years of age or younger. The distribution sites include YMCA Canton, YMCA Woodstock, and East Gate Mobile Home Park. Some sites also serve breakfast, and children can participate in either or both meals at no cost. For more information, you may contact Susan Turner, Supervisor of School Nutrition, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 770-479-4268.
Clayton Career Week Clayton ES held career week at the school on May 4-8. Students heard from speakers on a variety of career topics, including government and technology. 1st grade students listened to Officer Elizabeth Endicott speak about police and safety.
Dressed in Pink to Show Support The staff at Knox Elementary, as well as the students in Ms. Tanya Riley-Cantrells 5th grade class, raised $623 as a donation in her honor for Relay for Life. Mrs. Riley-Cantrell was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of 2015, and she had to be out of school for a couple months during treatment. When she returned to school in April, the staff and students dressed in pink and presented her with the Relay for Life honorary donation. The Knox family is overjoyed to have Mrs. Riley-Cantrell back with them!
Charter Bands Compete at Music Festival Cherokee Charter Academy recently earned overall Silver ratings at the Southern Star Music Festival in Austell, Georgia. Participating Cherokee Charter Academy groups were the sixth grade Concert Band and the seventh and eighth grade Symphonic Band, both under the direction of Mrs. Valerie Boehm. CCA competed against more than twenty other instrumental groups including well-established bands from The Lovett School, Forsyth County, and White County, as well as out of state ensembles. The prestigious festival is held annually for Choral, Jazz, and Band divisions. Judges score ensembles on different categories and give an overall rating of blue, bronze, silver or gold.
Math Success Wins Braves Tickets Nathan Ramirez-Molina, a seventh grade student in the Math Success program at Creekland Middle School, was the winner of an Atlanta Braves ticket package sponsored by Northside Hospital. The Math Success program is designed to provide help to those students who might need assistance in mastering the grade level material. Nathan has spent a tremendous amount of time and diligence in going far beyond what was expected this year.
Young Entrepreneurs at CCA 3rd graders at Cherokee Charter Academy learned recently what it takes to be young entrepreneurs at the River Church Farmers Market. The 3rd grade classes developed small business plans and students worked on product development, pricing, and advertising. They learned the importance of connecting with the customer from operator Keith Booth of Chick-fil-A at the Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta who gave them expert customer service training. Tricia Nitti, director of River Church Farmers Market, also spoke with CCA students about market etiquette and discussed expectations and vendor responsibilities. The students sold a variety of items ranging from bird feeders and bracelets to dog biscuits and root beer floats. They also toured the market, talked with other vendors and participated in POP (Power of Produce) activities. The 11-hundred dollars raised from CCAs Market Day will go toward furnishing the schools outdoor classroom.