Do Plastics in the Ocean Negatively Impact Marine Life? A Creekview High School Class of 2018 graduate recently visited her senior project, which is on display at a national refuge in Florida. As part of her research project, Do Plastics in the Ocean Negatively Impact Marine Life? Isabelle Knott crafted a life-size model of a leatherback sea turtle. She filled it with plastics to communicate the importance of reducing plastic waste to help improve ocean ecology and protect marine life. The sculpture is on display at the visitors center for the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge at Sanibel Island, not far from where Knott is now studying marine biology at Eckerd College.
Sheriffs Office Recognizes 2018 Deputies of the Year for Field Operations and Corrections The Cherokee Sheriffs Office recently held its very first Deputy of the Year competition. A competition was open for a Field Operations Deputy of the Year and an Adult Detention Center/Court Staff Deputy of the Year, since daily tasks for the two sectors differ. Fourteen deputies from different areas within the agency were selected by their supervisors to compete in the competition.The Deputy of the Year competition was based on who best performs his/her daily duty assignments. Nine officers from each division in Field Operations were tested on building clearing, vehicle searches, room searches, investigative interviews, use of force, physical agility, report writing, field sobriety, and pistol qualification, and each completed an interview board. Five deputies from the Adult Detention/Court Staff were tested on book-in procedures, bonding procedures, the P.R.E.A. (Prison Rape Elimination Act), use of force, emergency procedures, report writing, physical agility, and inmate death procedures, and each completed a formal interview board. Congratulations to Deputy John Bennett for winning the Field Operations division and Deputy Steven McClure for winning the Adult Detention Center/Court Staff division.
Reinhardt Jumps in Rankings Again in U.S. News & World Report and College Consensus Reinhardt Universitys continuing growth, strength, and commitment to its students caused it to jump to the 25th spot in the 2019 U.S. News & World Reports Best Regional College South rankings. In the same poll, Reinhardt was ranked 29th in 2018 and 54th in 2017.College Consensus, a ranking that combines data from the most respected college ranking publications and the most reliable student review sites online, ranked Reinhardt tenth in Georgia out of all colleges and universities in the state. In this poll, Reinhardt is in impressive company with the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Emory University.Also reported in U.S. News & World Report were rankings of the Best Colleges for Veterans, with Reinhardt coming in tenth, and Best Value Schools in Regional Colleges South in which Reinhardt ranked sixteenth. While U.S. News & World Report recommends taking scores into consideration when choosing a college, they also say to allow it to be one of the many factors used when making the decision on where to earn a degree.
Cherokee HS Speech and Debate Team Wins Awards Congratulations to Mrs. Jamie Wills for being awarded GA District Coach of the Year by the National Speech and Debate Association. Mrs. Wills is the coach of the Speech and Debate Team at Cherokee High School (CHS) where she teaches language arts and speech and forensics. This was awarded at the District Tournament.Additionally, CHS competed at the GA Varsity State Championship. Junior John Peterson is the team captain. He made it to the semifinals with eight wins and one loss in Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate. He has qualified to represent the Speech and Debate Northern Georgia District in Congress in Ft. Lauderdale, FL at the 2018 National Speech and Debate Tournament. Other award winners included Rylee Holland, a first-year debater who made it to the octagonal rounds, and she is the first person on the team to compete at the Varsity State Championship in her first year of debate. Hannah Galloway made it to the final round for informative speaking. Jessica Tabickman made it to the final round in dramatic interpretation, winning sixth place in the state. Anne Greer made it to octafinals and won sixth place LD speaker. Sean Howell won seventh place LD speaker.
CCSD Students Win Seats in All-State Band, Chorus, and Orchestra Middle and high school students must audition for these selective performance opportunities. This years events were held at The Classic Center in Athens.The Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools recently recognized these talented students:All-State BandCreekland MSBecan FlynnDirector - Kevin BoyleCreekview HSNate SemanDirector - Stephen McCarthyFreedom MSRobert MiceliGabriel Vaulk Director - Jonathan BishopSequoyah HSBrittani GerkinDavid HaugenJace RettigDirector - Casey EubanksAll-State ChorusCherokee HSKaitlyn SmithDirector - Brad EllisCreekland MSMitchell DeesJessica HickmanJoy McCarthy Caitlien NguyenReagan PastorCameron Trujillo-ShumickJackson WestmorelandDirector - Ann BurgessCreekview HSElizabeth AndrewsWyatt BrooksTate FosterMegan HalversonJoey HomillerShelby McDonaldEmily McGheeDanielle OlivaresRiley OrtegaCaroline RichardsonNate SemanTeagan SmithAnna Grace SutherlandKoryn ToddDirector - Scott MartinDean Rusk MSSuzanne CookKora HansenCaleb NelsonCeleste WallickDirector - Tim ChristianFreedom MSLaila EdwardsGreer UnterreinerDirector - Michelle JohnsonSequoyah HSMaddie BendsMalia ElzeyPatrick FaganSavannah HaasJordan JacksonHalee ShaplandDaniel TyeKelci VerdonCorinne WallickAmelia WestmorelandElaine WilliamsDirector - Josh MarkhamTeasley MSSarah LiebertDirector - Fred ForshAll-State OrchestraSequoyah HSElizabeth WilliamsDirector - Casey EubanksAll-State Reading ChorusCreekview HSWyatt BrooksDirector - Scott MartinSequoyah HSMaddie BendsKelsey BryantPatrick FaganCorinne WallickDirector - Josh Markham
Indian Knoll ES Media Specialist Wins Top Honor for 2018 Indian Knoll ES Media Specialist Jennifer Lewis sees her job as one of collaboration, exploration, and revelation. Ms. Lewis approach to managing the school media center as a hub of learning earned her the title of CCSDs 2018 Media Specialist of the Year. She was recently surprised with the announcement by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower, Deputy Superintendent Trey Olson, and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Nicole Holmes. We are so, so proud of Jennifer; she is such an impressive educator, said Dr. Hightower. People like Jennifer challenge me to the core. Kids deserve your A-game; they deserve the teachers A-game; and they deserve my A-game. It fills my heart to know that weve got people like Jennifer out there working hard for public education. Indian Knoll ES Principal Dr. Ann Gazell said, When Jennifer came in to interview, she walked in with a plan and a purpose of what her vision was for our media center. It was a no-brainer to hire her. She has never, ever let me down.Ms. Lewis will represent CCSD in the State Media Specialist of the Year competition.
CCSD Recognizes Superintendent's Key Scholars Students recently recognized as Key Scholars are juniors who rank in the top ten percent of students nationwide who took the PSAT exam last October. Each student received an embroidered Key Scholar letter-jacket patch and will be recognized again at their schools year-end awards ceremony.The final step in the program is National Merit Scholars. National Merit Scholars are selected during students senior year. These academically outstanding students lead their classes, as they march across the graduation stage wearing a National Merit Scholar gold medallion.
CCSD Launching New Online System for Kindergarten Registration Beginning March 12 Instead of handwriting information on a pile of paper forms in a school office, parents can log in from home to the Registration Gateway via CCSDs web site at Cherokeek12.net. Through the user-friendly process that takes about 15 to 20 minutes, parents will enter their own identification information, such as emergency contact names and numbers, which will increase accuracy and eliminate redundancy. Required enrollment documents (birth certificate, proof of residency, etc.) also can be scanned and uploaded to the system from home. After entering all their information online into the secure system, parents will be asked to schedule an appointment to bring the legally required documents for enrollment to the school. During this appointment, records will be verified by the front office (and scanned and uploaded if you were unable to do this from home), and your child will participate in a brief assessment with a teacher to gauge his or her kindergarten readiness.The Registration Gateway will be open from March 12-31 for parents of children who will begin kindergarten in the 2018-19 school year (must be born on or before Sept. 1, 2013), and children who are starting school for the first time but are ready to enter the first grade (must be born on or before Sept. 1, 2012).
Sequoyah High School Speech and Debate Team Headed to Nationals The team has qualified to represent the Speech and Debate Northern Georgia District in their event areas at the 2018 National Speech and Debate Tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, FL this summer.Seniors Rebekah Carnes and Maddie Doerr won first place for Duo Interpretation in a qualifying event and will compete in this category at Nationals. Rebekah also won first place for Humorous Interpretation. Sophomore Noah Campbell won first place in Big Questions Debate and will compete in this category at Nationals.
Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Leadership and Teen Leadership Cherokee Class of 2018 Named This 30th Anniversary Class was chosen following participation in a nomination, application, and interview process. Over the next nine months, the Leadership Cherokee Class will participate in a range of sessions that will focus on a variety of topics such as economic development, infrastructure, government, justice, education, recreation, tourism, public safety, healthcare, and social/human services. These classes will prepare members to take a more active role in the community. The mission of Teen Leadership Cherokee is to develop the knowledge and leadership skills of young people in Cherokee County, so they may confidently become the leaders of tomorrow.