Cherokee County School District Announcements New School Board MembersThe Cherokee County School Board approved Matthew Shettle’s appointment as a director for capital improvements and Mark Johnson’s appointment as school nutrition coordinator, which includes dietitian responsibilities. Shettle’s position was added for this school year to assist with major projects such as the upcoming construction of new campuses for Cherokee HS and Free Home ES. Shettle has 23 years of experience, including most recently serving as Cobb County Schools’ Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax construction and program manager, and has led more than 40 major school renovation projects. Johnson has 17 years of experience, including most recently serving as nutrition coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools’ school food service provider, and is a registered and licensed dietitian.CCSD 2022 Volunteer of the Year AnnouncedPatti Tressler received CCSD’s 2022 Volunteer of the Year award for her outstanding service with ACE Academy. Tressler was thanked for her giving spirit, providing appreciation treats and meals for support staff, bus drivers, and the school nurse. She is also active with the Transition Academy by providing treats and helping teachers with specials needs students. Creekview HS Student Places in National Academic CompetitionsThis past school year, freshman Abigail Moore qualified at regional contests for the International Academic Competition’s (IAC) Humanities, National (World) History, U.S. History, and general Academic Bees. During the IAC Nationals held in Orlando, Moore advanced to the quarterfinals of the National History Bee and the semifinals of the U.S. History and Academic Bees. She also placed 13th in the nation during the competition on the IAC’s physical science test. IAC organizes academic competitions for primary and secondary students in more than 50 countries around the world with a mission of “rewarding academic excellence by bringing innovative, stimulating, fair, and relevant competition opportunities to students around the world.”Indian Knoll and Liberty Elementary Schools Celebrate National Character Education AwardThese schools have been honored with Promising Practices Awards by Character.org, a national nonprofit organization that promotes developing positive character among students. Only 152 schools were honored nationwide including four in Georgia. Indian Knoll earned an award for its “Core Values Cultivate a Culture of Caring” initiative, through which students completed service-learning projects. Liberty won two awards; one for its Adopt a Grandparent for Valentine’s Day program and another for its Friends Club – Adaptive PE Helpers initiative.Teasley MS Student Places 2nd in Shot Put at 2022 USATF Junior OlympicsJillian Waterman, a 7th grader at Teasley MS and member of the Cherokee Junior Warriors track team led by Coach Camille Driscoll, recently placed 2nd in the nation in the shot put event at the 2022 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held at Sacramento State University, in California. Waterman’s winning shot put throw was 12.61 meters. Students Place at State Science OlympiadKaden Patel (1) and Noah Larkin (2) from Little River ES earned first place at the statewide competition in the barge building contest, with Mason Trombley (3) and Lily Juneghani (4) from Hickory Flat ES placing third in the same event. These students qualified for the competition through their performance at the CCSD Science Olympiad held in the spring at River Ridge HS. The competition consists of 18 events including barge building, crime busters, and water rockets contests.Etowah HS Student Earns National Honors in PTA Reflections ContestThe annual PTA Reflections Contest offers students the opportunity to create original works of art in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Students can earn recognition at the school, district, state, and national levels. This year's theme was “I Will Change the World By...” Sophomore Ryan Weber, who earlier this year was named the overall state winner for the Special Artist – Photography category, advanced this summer to earn a National Award of Merit for his photograph “Dying World.” He is one of only nine honorees from Georgia.School Nurse of the Year Award PresentedSuperintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower presented the 2022 CCSD School Nurse of the Year award to Etowah HS nurse Cathy Alexander. The presentation was made before her colleagues from across the school district at the annual professional development event for school nurses held at Cherokee HS. Alexander received an iPad, $100 gift card, and an engraved plaque and honor banner in acknowledgement of this recognition.Boston ES and Little River ES Honored by the National PTABoston ES and Little River ES were named winners of the National PTA School of Excellence award, a two-year title that recognizes outstanding partnerships between local PTAs and schools “to build an inclusive and welcoming school-community where all families contribute to enriching the educational experience and overall well-being for all students.” These schools are among only 242 nationwide schools and 12 Georgia schools awarded with this recognition. To be considered for this honor, a school and its PTA must commit to working together to set and meet goals for improving family engagement.
to your business!