Perfect Attendance Recognized at Creekland MS Creekland Middle School recently recognized its Perfect Attendance grade-level winners for the first semester: sixth-grader Bailly Wheeler, seventh-grader Gabrielle Seguin and eighth-grader Eric Flores. These students names were drawn from the names of all students in each grade level who earned perfect attendance by being at school every day, with no tardies or early check-outs.
Liberty ES Cafeteria Contest Liberty Elementary Schools cafeteria recently held a promotional contest for its school lunch program. All students who purchased school lunch during the contest timeframe were entered into a drawing for a package of gift cards and coupons. The winners were kindergartener Lorelai Poole and first-grader Tyler Joseph.
Holly Springs First LEGO League Team Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academys First LEGO League team, Block Starz, won the Robot Performance trophy at the recent regional competition held at Mill Creek Middle School. FIRST LEGO League is a robotics program for 9 to 14 year olds, which is designed to excite them about science and technology -- and teach them valuable employment and life skills. The Robot Performance trophy is given to the team that scores the most points on robot missions. Each teams robot is to be designed and programmed to perform specific missions. On the Block Starz highest-scoring round, the team scored 140 points correctly completing six missions.
Cherokee Charter Academy Visits Atlantas High Museum Cherokee Charter Academy middle school art, music and band students explored art exhibits at Atlantas High Museum featuring elements of music. These included Make a Joyful Noise and Cezanne and the Modern. They were also treated to a docent-led STEAM tour (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). CCA students learned about complementary and harmonious colors in art, the Renaissance cultural movement and Post-Impressionism through an audio guided tour.
Pavilion at Ralph Bunche Center Honors Former Student A crowd of parents, volunteers and school staff gathered recently to dedicate a pavilion built behind the school in honor of Lucy Jackson, a young student at the preschool center who died from Mitochondrial Disease in December of 2012. Lucy's parents, Ed and Jill Jackson, were present for the ceremony and shared their thanks for the school's ongoing love and support of Lucy. Donna Adams, administrator for CCSD's Preschool Centers, including Ralph Bunche Center, thanked the many volunteers who were essential in fundraising and constructing the Lucy's Wish playground pavilion, which will be used for outdoor classroom activities, special events and a play area. The Home Depot in Canton, led by store manager Steve Renegar, worked with volunteers from Soleil Optimist Club and Soleil Tennis Club from Laurel Canyon to construct the pavilion and adjacent garden area. Ralph Bunche teachers Michele Parish and Jennifer Fowler served as coordinators of the project to honor Lucy's memory. "In spite of her disease, Lucy's love for her family and friends was evident through her continuous effervescent smiles," said Adams. "We believe that Lucy's wish would be for others to live their lives in the same manner she did, to show great love to those around them, in spite of their circumstances, to overwhelmingly enjoy even the simplest of moments and to share contagious laughter wherever you go. These were hallmarks of Lucy's life and are the legacy she has left to all who were so blessed to have known her." Ralph Bunche students closed the ceremony by performing the song "Love Grows."
South Cherokee Optimist Club Honors CCSD Students Cherokee County School District (CCSD) students and employees were recognized recently at the South Cherokee Optimist Club's Annual Youth Appreciation Awards Breakfast. The event recognizes high school students with disabilities with awards in several categories. The Club honors middle school students with disabilities in the spring. The honored students included: Most Improved Brayton Hunter, Cherokee HS; Victoria Wooldridge, Sequoyah HS; David Gracia, Transition Academy at Cherokee HS; Positive Attitude and Most Improved Ashley Reddick, Tippens Educational Center. Two CCSD employees also were recognized with special awards. Letitia Cline, who recently retired as Assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs, Student Support and Professional Development, from CCSD after 30 years of service, was honored with the Excellence in Leadership Award. Creekview HS special education teacher Michelle Abdinoor was honored with the Outstanding Achievement in Education Award.
Cherokee HS Principal Appointed to National Advisory Council Cherokee HS Principal Debra Murdock has been selected for a one-year term on the National Association of Student Councils' (NASC) National Advisory Council as one of three principal-at-large appointments. The Council's first meeting is in January in Reston, Va., with travel and other costs paid for by the Association. The Council provides input and feedback on topics and issues of importance to the Association and its members; in addition to top principals from across the country, the Council includes eight high school representatives and three student council advisers. "As a member of the National Advisory Council, one of Principal Murdock's primary tasks will be addressing student council issues and topics that can impact the entire NASC membership, and bringing the adviser perspective to the conversation," said Jeff R. Sherrill, NASC associate director. "Building and maintaining strong student councils is predicated on the leadership and skills of the adviser and her input on this ongoing topic will be very valuable."
Ball Ground ES Teacher Joy Silk Named CCSD Teacher of the Year Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy teacher Joy Silk has been selected Teacher of the Year for Cherokee County School District (CCSD). Teacher of the Year is selected by a panel of community leaders, who evaluate applications from each school's Teacher of the Year (school winners are selected by their peers). Silk says she found her dream job with the CCSD's creation of STEM Academies and her role as a STEM lab and AIM gifted program teacher. "It doesn't get any better than this. I love technology...I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't in CCSD." Silk's mother, Judy Brandon, also won the CCSD Teacher of the Year honor more than a decade ago at R.M. Moore ES. Silk's father, Nathan, was dean of students at then-Reinhardt College during most of her childhood. "As a student, I was a classic nerd. I loved everything about school and wanted to emulate every teacher I ever had," Silk said. "But, I swore to my parents that I would never be a teacher when I grew up. I can remember them both smirking at me each time I declared it. I'm so glad I followed my gut and went into education. I've never regretted that decision." Silk began her teaching career in 2000 at Boston ES, where she worked as an Early Intervention Program teacher and technology teacher, and then taught at Hasty ES and R.M. Moore ES before joining Ball Ground ES STEM Academy in 2012 in her current role. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from Reinhardt University, followed by a master's degree in early childhood education and an education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction, both from Piedmont College.
Sequoyah Junior Earns Perfect ACT Score Mackenzie Joy, a junior at Sequoyah High School, has earned a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT college entrance and placement test. She is the daughter of Stephanie and William Joy. On average, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students nationally who take the ACT earns the top score. In a letter recognizing this exceptional achievement, ACT CEO Jon Whitmore said: "While test scores are just one of the many criteria that most colleges consider when making admission decisions, your exceptional ACT composite score should prove helpful as you pursue your education and career goals." Mackenzie was recognized by the Cherokee County School Board and superintendent of schools at a recent school board meeting.
Cherokee HS Raising Funds for Leadership Conferences Cherokee High School CTI (Career & Technical Instruction) is raising money online (Fundly.com/Embrace-The-Leader-In-You) to support students with disabilities to attend two conferences: State Leadership Conference and Fall Leadership Conference. The focus of the CTI Leadership Conferences is to provide students with disabilities enrolled in career, technical and agricultural education courses with high-quality interactive leadership activities. The purpose of the conferences is to reward students showing the greatest improvement in career, technical, and agricultural education courses and work adjustment skills, and to recognize the achievement of these students. The leadership conferences also serve as an incentive for other students with disabilities to improve their skills. For more information, contact school CTI Coordinator Jennifer Jean: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 770-479-4112, ext. 257.