CCSD Speech Language Pathologist Named to National Board The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association selected Cherokee County School District Lead Speech Language Pathologist Dr. Patti Howard to serve on its Clinical Specialty Certification Board, a prestigious national appointment. According to the Association, Certification Board members are responsible for setting standards for professional clinical certification for speech-language pathologists and audiologists as well as for clinical specialty certification programs and recognition programs for support personnel.
CCSD School Nutrition Meals Free to All Students Cherokee County School District (CCSD) families are receiving a new form of economic stimulus: free meals. Through December 31, 2020 (end date depends upon funding), CCSD School Nutrition will not charge fees to students for breakfast or lunch. No forms or income eligibility requirements are necessary for this federally funded temporary relief program. The USDA funding is retroactive to Sept. 1, 2020, and all meals charged since then will be credited back to student accounts. If an unpaid balance for meals was incurred, that balance will be waived. School Nutrition will charge fees for second helpings and extras like chips and cookies. Free meals are available to in-person students and Digital Learning students who order a week of to-go meals. Free meals are available to students at high schools with hybrid schedules for both in-person days and at-home days if to-go meals are ordered in advance. Children who are not yet school age who come with their parent/caregiver to the Digital Learning meal pick-up are also eligible to receive to-go meals. “We’re grateful for this federal support to provide relief to families who need a helping hand during this challenging time to ensure their children are fed,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower.
Lisa-Marie Haygood Earns Certified Association Executive Credential American Society of Association Executives announced that Lisa-Marie Haygood, executive director of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF), earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation, which is the highest professional credential in the association industry. To be designated as a CAE, the applicant must have experience with nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics. Haygood has served as CCEF’s executive director since 2017 and has a long history of advocating for excellence in public schools throughout Georgia.
CCSD High Schools Make Best High Schools List All six Cherokee County School District (CCSD) high schools have been named to U.S. News and World Reports Best High Schools list.The magazines prestigious list is based on factors including academic performance, college readiness, graduation rates, and success of disadvantaged students. The six high schools are led in the rankings by Etowah High School, which placed at 1,995 out of all high schools nationwide. Five of CCSDs high schools Creekview, Etowah, River Ridge, Sequoyah, and Woodstock also ranked in the Top 100 in Georgia of the more than 400 high schools statewide.Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said the outstanding accomplishment reflects the hard work of students and teachers. We also greatly appreciate the support of our students families and our community partners, which makes achievements like this possible, noted Hightower.
CCSD Leader Named 2020 Georgia Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year A Cherokee County School District leader has been named the 2020 Georgia Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year. E.T. Booth MS Assistant Principal Kathie Monti was one of two leaders announced as finalists for the award, presented by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. The award, which is open to middle school assistant principals statewide, recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students. The judges selected the winner based on achievement in four categories of specific standards: Personal Excellence; Collaborative Leadership; Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; and Personalization. As Georgias winner, Monti will represent the state in the competition for the national title.Kathie is devoted to E.T. Booth Middle School and her Eagle Mountain family, and this award speaks to that dedication, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. Were so proud to see her recognized for excellence in leadership and for the service she provides to the students and staff.In addition to being a vital part of the administrative and leadership team, Montis specific area of oversight at E.T. Booth MS is student support, which includes Special Education, Response to Intervention, 504 plans, testing, the School Improvement Plan, and English Learners. Now in her fifth year as an assistant principal at E.T. Booth MS, Monti previously taught middle school English language arts and reading and earned the Teacher of the Year title for both Marietta MS and the Marietta City School System, then advanced to be named a finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year. Monti later worked for the Georgia Department of Education as a teacher advisor for Race to the Top and trainer for the Teacher Keys Evaluation System before joining CCSD in 2013.
River Ridge HS Junior Earns Perfect ACT Score River Ridge HS junior Maya Osborne earned the top composite score of 36 on the ACT college entrance and placement test. On average, less than one-half of 1% of the 1.8 million students who take the ACT each year earn the top score. Were so proud of Maya for this amazing academic achievement, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. Shes an exemplary student, active in her school and community, and an all-around excellent Knight. Congratulations!Exceptional scores of 36 provide colleges with evidence of student readiness for the academic rigors that lie ahead, according to ACT. The exam includes English, mathematics, reading, and science sections; each section is scored on a scale of 1-36, and the composite score is the average of the four. In addition to this accomplishment, Maya is a member of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, Beta Club service organization, and Science Olympiad team.
Two CCSD Graduates Win Prestigious National Merit Scholarship Kieran Black of Etowah High School and Jordan Vaughn of Sequoyah High School are two of only 2,500 students in the nation, of the 1.6 million students who took the 2017 PSAT exam, to be awarded a $2,500 scholarship by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.Were so proud of Kieran and Jordan for this extraordinary accomplishment and all of the hard work that led them to earning this honor, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. Congratulations to them and their families and all of the teachers and school staff who have played a role in their education. Best wishes for even greater successes in the future!Black, who plans to study computer science at Georgia Tech, and Vaughn, who plans to study genetics at Northwestern University, and their fellow Merit Scholar designees were selected from more than 15,000 outstanding finalists who made it through the initial rigorous selection process for the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. Merit Scholars are selected based on their accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The selection committee is made up of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who reviewed records submitted by finalists and their high schools including difficulty of courses and grades earned, college entrance exam scores, contributions and leadership in school and community activities, an essay written by the finalist, and a recommendation written by a high school official.Black, Vaughn, and CCSDs three other finalists remain in the running for college-sponsored National Merit scholarships, which are announced in June and July.
Give a Kid a Chance Seeks Donations Give a Kid a Chance is a nonprofit organization that provides filled backpacks for Cherokee County students in need. Below is everything you need to know to purchase, fill, and donate backpacks. Filled backpacks must be donated by Friday, June 28, 2019 to ensure registration numbers can be met. In order to know which backpacks are packed for which students, place a white ribbon on the top handle of the elementary backpacks and a red ribbon on the handle of the middle school/high school backpacks.Elementary School Supplies1 Bottle Glue2 Glue Sticks10 #2 Pencils1 Box Colored Pencils1 Box 24-Count Crayons1 Large Pink Eraser1 Box Colored Markers1 Ruler1 Pair Blunt-End Scissors1 Pack Wide-Ruled Notepaper1 Wide-Ruled Spiral Notebook1 Marble Composition Notebook3 Basic Color Pocket Folders1 1-inch or 1.5-inch 3-Ring BinderMiddle/High School Supplies10 #2 Pencils1 Box Colored Pencils1 Package Cap Erasers5 Black Pens5 Blue Pens2 Highlighters2 Packs College-Ruled Notepaper3 College-Ruled Spiral Notebooks3 Pocket Folders1 Package Tab Dividers1 1-inch or 1.5-inch 3-Ring BinderOther Major Needs Underwear (new, all sizes)Socks (new, all sizes)Picture Books (used/new)Black Trash Bags (39 gallon)Gently Used, School Appropriate Clothes
Superintendent of Schools Presents 2019 Game Changer Award Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower recently presented his top annual award to the CEO of Northside Hospital Cherokee.Dr. Hightower surprised CEO Billy Hayes with the Superintendents 2019 Game Changer Award for Instructional Advocacy during the monthly board meeting of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation, for which the hospital leader serves as board president.Its important that weve got people in the county in leadership positions who are advocates for our schools and our kids, and you are a shining example of that, Dr. Hightower said. We believe that Billy is a game changer, not just at the hospital, but also in the Cherokee County School District.Dr. Hightower noted the support Hayes has given to the Foundation since its establishment as a charter board member and current board president. The decisions this board makes under your leadership impact 42,000 kids every day, Dr. Hightower said.In addition to his work with the Foundation, Hayes has championed instructional opportunities at the hospital, including clinical rotations for 40 CCSD Career Pathways healthcare science high school students each year. Northside Hospital Cherokee also sponsors programs like Teacher of the Year, which recognizes instructional excellence at the school district. The hospital likewise supports projects at the school level, such as donating hospital equipment to high school healthcare classrooms, supplying school nurse clinics, and purchasing AED devices for schools.
Farm Bureau Seeks Entries for Art Contest Students in ninth through 12th grade are invited to enter the Georgia Farm Bureau Art Contest. Artwork should be drawn in black ink or dark soft lead pencil on an 8 1/2 x 11-inch piece of white paper. The artwork should be camera ready. Drawings will be judged on how well the artwork represents modern agriculture found in Cherokee or Georgias agriculture industry as well as artistic merit. To enter the contest, students should contact the Cherokee County Farm Bureau for an official entry form and contest rules. All entries must be received at the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office by February 15. For more information, contact the Cherokee County Farm Bureau office at 770-479-1481, ext. 0.