Cherokee Chamber Selects Teen Leadership Class of 2019 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 our leaders of tomorrow. For more information on the Chamber and its programs, visit CherokeeChamber.com.
Woodstock MS Student Wins Metro Water District Essay Contest Bryce Jones, a seventh-grade student from Woodstock MS, recently won the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District (Metro Water District) Essay Contest for Cherokee County and was selected as the grand prize winner, earning him a $500 prize. Bryces winning essay was called I Am Stormwater Pollution. In it, he wrote, I do not mean to cause harm, but when you throw down your trash, salt, oil, and fertilizers, I cannot help but to take it to where I flow. I cannot help what I do, but you can. You can help clean me up and cleanse me of pollution. Metro Water District announced the contest results during an awards ceremony for winners from the city of Atlanta and 12 counties. More than a thousand students participated in the contest in which middle school students were asked to write a 300- to 500-word essay on the topic, while considering the following questions: What is stormwater pollution? What impact does it have on the health of our rivers, lakes, and streams, and what can you do to prevent it? Cherokee County Water and Sewerage Authority congratulates Bryce Jones for representing Cherokee County with an imaginative essay that exhibits a clear understanding of stormwater. Check NorthGeorgiaWater.org to read all the winning essays.
Georgia Farm Bureau Offers $58,000 in Scholarships The Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Foundation for Agriculture is offering $58,000 in scholarships to Georgia students pursuing a degree in agriculture, veterinary medicine, family and consumer sciences, or a related field. I encourage any student who qualifies for one of the Georgia Farm Bureau scholarships to apply, said Cherokee County Farm Bureau President William Grizzle. Agriculture offers many exciting career opportunities. Both farmers and consumers depend on the many jobs agriculture creates such as welders, ag teachers, and weed scientists.The deadline to apply for all scholarships is March 1, 2019. Visit GFB.Ag/19Scholarships for a list of eligible majors/schools, application instructions, and to apply.
Boston Elementary School Named 2018-19 National Beta School of Distinction Boston Elementary received a national award that recognizes schools with growing Beta or Junior Beta Club student memberships that show outstanding academic achievement, exemplary character, demonstrated leadership, and service to others.This prestigious honor is a true indication of Boston Elementarys dedication to academic excellence, leadership development, and commitment to celebrating their students achievements, National Beta CEO Bobby Hart said.Fifth-grade teachers Margaret Tippins and Susan Stringfellow co-sponsor the schools Junior Beta Club. Award recipients receive a recognition banner and will be formally announced at the 2019 National Beta Convention in Oklahoma City in June. The Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools will recognize Boston Elementary School at its January 17 meeting.
Woodstock HS Students Are Economics State Champions A team of four seniors won first-place statewide in the Georgia Council of Economic Educations Georgia Personal Finance Challenge. They now head to the national competition in May. To win, seniors Andrew Brandenburg, Malachi Brewer, Matthew Garcia, and Michael Rehman were tasked with using a case study to create different viable methods to improve the familys personal finances. They were coached by Josh Sailers, who was named by the Council as Georgias top economics teacher last school year. The team will be recognized at an Atlanta Braves baseball game in April and by the Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools at their meeting on January 17.
CCSD Celebrates Teacher of the Year at Legacy Makers Banquet The Cherokee County School District honored extraordinary educators with a dinner, tributes, and gifts at the recent 2018 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year celebration. The surprise announcement of the CCSD Teacher of the Year was made at the event, and Mill Creek Middle School PE and health teacher Dana Townsend received the exciting news at the end of the program.Dana is an inspiring teacher and coach, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said of Townsend, who as CCSDs Teacher of the Year will represent the CCSD in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition. Whats even more impressive, to me, is the care she shows for each student. This care is so great that, this school year, she developed a program to ensure every child at Mill Creek has a mentor.A 22-year educator, Townsend uses her experience teaching reading, writing, science, and social studies to expand upon traditional PE and health class coursework and collaborate with colleagues. Among her many other roles at the school, Townsend began a mentor program to ensure students feel supported and have a caring adult to turn to in times of need. Every student deserves a community that supports their physical, mental, and emotional health, said Townsend. Dr. Hightower and the School Board recognized Townsend, the three other finalists, and all school-level Teacher of the Year winners during the event. The finalists and CCSD Teacher of the Year are selected by a panel of community leaders who evaluate applications from each schools Teacher of the Year; school winners are selected by their peers.
CCSD Focuses on Improving Suicide Prevention Training This important issue has long been a part of professional development for staff, but Cherokee County School District (CCSD) is increasing its training and programs in response to the national rise in teen suicide rates as well as the tragic deaths of students, teachers, and parents in the community.CCSD and the GBI recently co-hosted a summit open to the public to help the states top law enforcement agency begin a statewide community dialogue. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower was among the speakers who participated in the event, which was attended by dozens of CCSD leaders, teachers, and counselors, as well as many parents and community members. As our communitys school system, were committed to being part of the solution. Were dedicated to continuously improving how we prepare our staff and how we counsel our students, and were developing an online toolkit that well share with parents, said Hightower.CCSD also conducted two large training sessions: one with all school nurses, and the other with all school counselors, which was the second in a series of meetings focused on how counselors can better identify students at risk and provide them with support and resources. These trainings and others are part of the CCSD Office of School Operations efforts to improve staff and community preparedness. This preparedness includes a stronger ability to recognize the signs of a student in crisis and take appropriate steps to help as well as to concurrently develop more ways for students to feel connected to their school and know caring adult mentors are there for them.
Etowah HS Student Earns Perfect ACT Score Senior Victoria Tori Ridgeway earned the top composite score of 36 on her ACT a feat accomplished by, on average, less than one-tenth of one percent of students who take the test.
Woodstock HS Junior Earns Spot in Harvard Debate Program A Woodstock High School student has been selected for a Harvard University high school debate program! Junior Laney Broussard is one of an elite group of students, who was selected from hundreds of applications to participate on the 2019 Harvard Debate Council through the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project (HDCDP). Hundreds of students throughout metro Atlanta applied to join the latest cohort of scholars that would continue the legacy set by the former champions. Of the myriad of applicants, fifty advanced to an arduous vetting process, after which 26 candidates were invited to a surprise acceptance announcement. The energy and emotion-filled surprise, which took place at The Art Institute of Atlanta, was disguised as a final interview round that turned out to be a magical, unforgettable moment for the students and their parents.A subsidiary of Harvard College, HDCDP is an Atlanta-based pipeline program that provides black youth access and exposure to accelerated academic training in critical thinking, communication, and civic engagement. HDCDP seeks to matriculate underrepresented students into the Harvard Debate Councils summer residency.
Woodstock Students Named to State School Superintendents 2018-19 Student Advisory Council Woodstock HS junior Zakwan Khan and E.T. Booth MS eighth grader Ila Prabhuram are among the 120 students statewide selected to serve on the board of middle and high school students. Members were selected from over 1,000 applicants submitted by students statewide, based on their community service and answers to essay questions about public education and how it can improve. The students will talk with Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods about topics including how State policies affect their classrooms, participate in service projects, and serve as the superintendents student ambassadors.Every day, Im faced with choices that will directly affect Georgias kids, Superintendent Woods said. Because of the students who serve on this council, Im better able to make sound, informed decisions. I deeply value their input and involvement.