Students Get Personal Lesson on Diabetes The parents of a kindergarten student at Mountain Road Elementary School visited the school recently to educate students about diabetes. Chris and Kerry Kiser's son, Canon, has juvenile diabetes and uses an insulin pump while at school. A first-grader at the school with Type 1 diabetes attended the program. "Lenny The Lion" shared with the students what a person with Type 1 diabetes does to take care of himself/herself, and how friends can help including knowing the signs for high and low blood sugar. Canon's father works for Medtronics, which designs technology relative to Type 1 diabetes and other diseases. "Their goal is to educate all who are involved in Canon's life and the lives of others with Type 1 diabetes," said Principal Jennifer Landry. "The presentation was light-hearted, and the kids had fun and learned something, too!"
Local Student Places Third in International Art Contest Ryan Swiger, a student at Woodstock High School, placed third in the 2014 International Kepler Art of Discovery Contest for student graphic artists. Contestants submitted their artwork based on designing and creating graphic images that display future planets that have not been discovered. The annual international competition began in 2009 and receives thousands of entries from around the world. Winners are selected by a distinguished panel of judges, and the award is considered a great accomplishment for a student non-professional graphic artist.
CCSD to Host New Senior Bowl Cherokee County School District (CCSD) will host its inaugural Northside Hospital-Cherokee CCSD Senior Bowl to honor senior football players, cheerleaders, marching band members and Junior ROTC cadets at the end of the season. Sponsored by Northside Hospital-Cherokee, the event will be held at 7:00 p.m., December 5, in the Etowah High School stadium. All CCSD senior football players will participate in a "draft" event the morning of November 15, with Coach Josh Shaw of Cherokee High School and Coach Dave Svehla of Etowah High School making picks for the teams that they will lead as head coaches for the Bowl. Senior marching band members from all schools will learn the same music a selection of patriotic and holiday pieces to perform during the game and for a special half-time show. Senior cheerleaders will raise the crowds' spirits, and senior JROTC cadets will participate in the Presentation of Colors and a special salute to veterans. The players will receive commemorative jerseys, while the cheerleaders, musicians and cadets will receive commemorative medals... in what for some will be their last experience on the field before pursuing other goals in higher education and careers. These special gifts also are funded by Northside Hospital-Cherokee, with production sponsorship assistance from Herff Jones and Titan Sports. Tickets for the game will be $5.00; however, admission will be free to all Bowl participants and the admission fee waived for those who bring a new, unwrapped toy that will be donated by CCSD to a local toy drive. "We're about giving our students opportunities to succeed and celebrating the achievements... and this wonderful event does both," said Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Frank R. Petruzielo. "Thanks to the sponsorship of Northside Hospital-Cherokee, we'll be able to provide this opportunity to our Bowl participants at no cost... and make the event more affordable for patrons." Northside Hospital-Cherokee's title sponsorship of the game is a continuation of the organization's longtime, significant support of CCSD academic, health and wellness and athletic activities, including its sponsorship of the ImPACT Concussion Management Program. "Northside Hospital-Cherokee is proud to continue our partnership with CCSD," said Northside Hospital-Cherokee CEO Billy Hayes. "As Cherokee's community hospital, we are dedicated to the health and safety of our young athletes and their families."
WES Teacher Recognized for New Fitness Track Project Woodstock Elementary School recently recognized Scott Fortes as its Staff Member of the Month for August. Fortes, who teaches physical education at the school, played an integral role in the construction of a new fitness park and quarter-mile asphalt track on the campus. The project is a collaboration between the school, Greenprints Alliance, and WellStar Health System, with additional support from Park Green Homes and Neighborhoods, and Pillow Perfect. The school and Woodstock community celebrated the completion of the fitness park and track with a special ribbon cutting ceremony on August 29.
Clark Creek ES STEM Teacher Honored for Innovative Teaching Jennifer McIntosh, a fifth-grade math teacher at Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy, is one of only eight educators statewide to be honored for creativity in the classroom in the Georgia Innovation in Teaching Competition. The competition through Georgia's Innovation Fund recognizes and rewards teachers who demonstrate "innovative teaching strategies" for the Georgia standards in English/Language Arts and Mathematics. McIntosh, along with the other winning teachers and their schools, will receive a $2,000 stipend and a $5,000 grant for the school to use in implementing Georgia's standards. Teachers were nominated by principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, district staff and the Georgia Dept. of Education's Teacher and Leader Effectiveness, School Improvement and Curriculum staff. Nominees were asked to submit a unit plan demonstrating innovative and effective strategies for teaching reading, English language arts and/or mathematics and a two-minute video describing their qualifications for the prize. "The Cherokee County School District is one of the nation's most desirable systems in which to enroll your children largely due to the talent, dedication and innovative spirit of our teachers, and Ms. McIntosh exemplifies this," said Cherokee County Superintendent of Schools Frank R. Petruzielo. "Mathematics is a skill that each child needs to master for success in every career, especially the growing number of desirable jobs in the STEM fields, as well as in their day-to-day life; so, it should be encouraging for our community to know that we have another state leader in this field among our educators."
CCS Students Enjoy Medieval Banquet Rising 9th graders at Cherokee Christian School enjoyed a rousing good time at their Medieval Banquet, featuring great food, dancing and jousting. Pictured are (first row, left to right): Kalyn Stang, Michala Plato, Larissa Monteiro, Emri Nikolai, Kara Pomerantz, Clareece Cunningham, Cassidy Teague, Valeria Sibaha, Lauren Hardwick, Rachel Fail; and (second row, left to right): Weston Sheffield, Vicente Manzo, Thaddeus Palmer, Brent Brown, Eli Conley, Juan Aguirre, Billy McCurry, Nicole Frost, Mary Boing, and Toryn Cox.
Local Students Selected to Model ARC Eight Cherokee County School District students, including six from the Woodstock area, have been selected for the 2014-15 Model Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). The annual youth leadership program brings together 55 select high school students from the metro area. Participants were selected by an ARC committee based on applications, which note academic achievement and extracurricular activities; a letter of recommendation from a teacher; and an essay about a regional issue that interests the student the most. The local CCSD students chosen for the Model ARC program are: sophomore Sindhu Manivannan, Etowah High School; junior Kelly Mayes, River Ridge High School; juniors Yeseul Heo and Zaria Hunter and sophomore Isabelle Riddle, Sequoyah High School; and sophomore Austin Cox and juniors Michael Papadimitriou and Paula Ruiz, Woodstock High School. Students will attend monthly meetings during the school year beginning in September, as well as an overnight retreat in the fall. They will learn about how local governments work together to address regional needs, such as transportation, water supply, land use, sustainability and human services. Activities will include hands-on exercises and visits to sites throughout metro Atlanta, with a capstone project of proposed resolutions to ARC that would improve life in metro Atlanta.
Carmel Elementary Has New Principal Paula Crumbley is ready to lead Carmel Elementary School as its new principal when classes begin on August 4. Crumbley is filling the role formerly held by Keith Bryant, who is a new CCSD supervisor of special education. She joined CCSD after serving as principal of Hickory Flat Elementary School in Henry County for six years. Recipient of a Title I Distinguished School Award, Crumbleys other past education roles include assistant principal, student support specialist and teacher in Henry County for 14 years, as well as prior teaching experience in Carroll and Hall counties.
RRHS Graduate Wins CCSNA Scholarship The Cherokee County School Nutrition Association (CCSNA) has awarded the 2014 Judy Johnson Memorial Scholarship to Josilyn Elliott, a 2014 graduate of River Ridge High School (RRHS). The Judy Johnson Memorial Scholarship began in 2010 in memory of Judy Johnson, School Nutrition department secretary. The Cherokee County School Nutrition Association works during the year to raise the $500 for the scholarship. Additional contributions to the scholarship fund have raised the amount of the award this year to $1,000. The scholarship is awarded to a child or grandchild of a CCSNA member who has shown strong academic performance and a record of community service. Josilyn is the daughter of Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy Cafeteria Assistant Manager Hollie Elliott and the late Alan Elliott. While at RRHS, Josilyn was a member of the French Club and Crusading Knights, participated in track and basketball, and worked 20-25 hours per week. She was also active in the Leadership Academy and Habitat for Humanity. Josilyn plans to use the $1,000 scholarship to attend Darton State College to pursue an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification.
CCSD Offers Free Summer Lunches The Cherokee County School District (CCSD) is participating in the USDA Seamless Summer Option for Children program this summer, providing lunch for children in need at five locations throughout the county, along with breakfast at three locations. More than 32 percent of CCSD students qualify for free or reduced lunch, which means that more than 12,000 students who rely on a breakfast or lunch at school during the year likely do not have access to adequate food during the summer months. Last summer, CCSD provided 64,980 meals to hungry children through the Seamless Summer program, which is federally funded. The meals are free to any child under the age of 18 and proof of income is not required to participate. Meals are available only during the specific advertised times and must be consumed on site. The program runs through July 25 at the following locations: YMCA Canton: breakfast, 8:30-8:45 a.m.; lunch, 11:00-11:20 a.m.; YMCA Woodstock: breakfast, 8:00-8:20 a.m.; lunch, 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; East Gate Mobile Home Park: lunch, 11:30-11:45 a.m.; Shadowood Mobile Home Park: lunch at the clubhouse, 10:45-11:00 a.m., lunch at the playground, 11:05-11:20 a.m.; and Woodstock High School: breakfast, 7:45-8:05 a.m.; lunch, 12:00-12:20 p.m.