Two students in Ms. Jordan Thompson’s classes at East Cobb Middle School have had their writing published nationally! Kurt Klinkmueller and Alina Walling each had book reviews selected for “Voices From the Middle,” a national publication from the National Council of Teachers of English that offers articles on research and best practices in middle level reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the visual and language arts.

Kurt Klinkmueller, currently an eighth grader at ECMS, wrote a book review for “Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception,” available online at the NCTE Web site. Kurt is the first student from the state of Georgia to be selected and published. Alina Walling wrote a book review for “The Hunger Games,” in Ms. Thompson’s class. Her review will be published in the March 2010 issue of “Voices from the Middle.”

Congratulations to both students!

Several student newspapers and yearbooks from Cobb schools received awards at the 2009 Georgia Scholastic Press Association Awards Ceremony at the Classic Center in Athens, GA. The honored publications and individuals from Cobb are:

Harrison High School, The Legacy yearbook, AAAAA
Lassiter High School, Laureate, AAAAA
Pebblebrook High School, BrookSpeak, AAAA
Pebblebrook High School, Aplomado yearbook, AAAA
Pope High School newspaper, Greyhound Tracks – General Excellence, Best Front Page Design, AAAAA
Sprayberry High School, Echo yearbook, AAAAA
Walton High School, The Legend yearbook – General Excellence, AAAAA

Marcus Lyons, Pebblebrook High School, Cover Design (yearbook)
Rachel McCoy and James McJunkins, Spread Design  (yearbook)
Chandler Fisk, Special Interest Story  (yearbook)

Nearly 500 high school students and their advisers attended the annual event, which was keynoted by Julie Wolfe, a noted “backpack journalist” and Atlanta TV reporter for 11 Alive. Organized in 1928 by UGA’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Georgia Scholastic Press Association assists Georgia high school media programs and students by encouraging the production of quality publications and broadcast programs through instruction and contests. There are 132 GSPA member publications for the 2008-09 school year, representing some 3,000 students across the state.

For the second straight year, student artwork from Floyd Middle School is on showcase at the Mable House Art Gallery in Mableton through April 8. The Floyd Web site has a gallery of student artwork on display.

Last month, the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority and Cobb County Water System announced the winners of the 2009 Allatoona Ally Coloring Book Contest. The coloring book will be composed of the top 12 student drawings from the contest, and will be distributed through partnering doctors’ offices, restaurants and retailers as well as at waterSmart events throughout Cobb County to serve as a free, and fun, educational resource on water conservation.  The winning students are:

Margari Cerna Bautista, 4th grade, LaBelle Elementary
Sydney Higginbotham, 5th grade, Shallowford Falls Elementary
Kelsey Durick, 4th grade, Baker Elementary
Jeffrey Vicente, 5th grade, LaBelle Elementary
Jenny Brown, 5th grade, Baker Elementary
Christopher Ashby, 4th grade, Mt. Bethel Elementary
Ethan Lewis, 5th grade, Frey  Elementary
Alannah Hale, 5th grade, Murdock  Elementary
Meara Simmons, 5th grade, Frey Elementary
Christian Ruiz, 4th grade, Russell Elementary
Heather Luedke, 5th  grade, Frey Elementary
Katherine Zierten, 5th grade, Shallowford Falls Elementary

waterSmart launched the fourth annual Coloring Book Contest this past October, asking all Cobb County fourth and fifth-graders to create drawings showing Ally, the fish mascot for Lake Allatoona, conserving water in and around the home. More than 230 entries were submitted from 12 different elementary schools, and the top 12 illustrations selected by the judging panel will be featured in the coloring book.
Margari Cerna Bautista’s drawing of Ally holding a SAVE THE LAKE USE LESS WATER sign received the highest score from the judges and will be featured on the front cover of the coloring book.

On Friday, Jan. 16, students in Mrs. Riggins’s and Mrs. Rann’s classes at Pickett’s Mill Elementary were treated to story time with some special guest readers. Superintendent Fred Sanderson, Board of Education Post 1 member Lynnda Crowder-Eagle, and Acworth mayor Tommy Allegood each shared exciting books with the two fourth grade classes.

On April 30, the Sprayberry High School Media Center celebrated poetry month by hosting the spring Poetry Lounge on the front lawn. More than 100 students participated in the day by listening or reading poetry. Some students read poems by their favorite poet, while others read their own original works.

All four sessions took place during lunch, which allowed all students the opportunity to participate.
With the upbeat music, beautiful weather, and a perfect audience, the Poetry Lounge was a wonderful experience for all involved.

Durham Middle School dedicated its new Durham Family Heritage Mural during a special ceremony at the school May 4.

This inspiring work of art was made possible by a Georgia Council of the Arts grant that allowed artist-in-residence Pam Beagle-Daresta to work with Durham Art teacher, Mrs. Helen Colvin, and students enrolled in art classes for the third quarter of the year. The journey began with the compilation of an oral history of the Durham Family property generously supplied by Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Durham,

Mr. and Mrs. Ed Durham and Mrs. Mary Durham Davis. Students also did research on the settlement of the Durham property as well as Acworth and the surrounding area. Additionally, local historians as well as Dr. Thomas Scott of Kennesaw State University helped provide background information which the students used to develop the concept of the mural.

While helping develop the concept, students learned the fundamentals of drawing and painting techniques. Each student then had the opportunity to submit sketches to be incorporated into the overall mural design. Once the design was finalized, students were then shown how to transfer the drawing to the four mural panels, using a proportional gridded master. Under the guidance and direction of Mrs. Beagle-Daresta and Mrs. Colvin, students then began the layering process of painting the actual mural.

The mural concept takes the viewer from the early agrarian history of the family property on the far left panel, through the seasons and the growth of Acworth and the surrounding area in the center panels and culminating with a depiction of the actual school itself, along with portraits of Jimmy Durham, Ed Durham and Mary Durham Davis on the far right panel of the mural.

Cassidy Simmons, 4th grade student at Sanders Elementary School, placed first in the literature category of the Georgia PTA Refections Cultural Arts competition.  The 2008 theme was “If I Can Make a Difference.” Cassidy wrote about actions we can all take to make the world a better place to live.

This is Cassidy’s second year placing at the state level, following a third place showing in 2007. She is pictured with Pamela Dingle, Principal, and Marie Khan, Sanders Reflections Chairperson.

Big Shanty Intermediate School held its second annual “Big Shanty Authors’ Evening” on April 1.   More than 400 students and family members came to see and hear Big Shanty students from 19 classes perform their works.  Presentations include:  Book Making Stations with Wanda Wordhead , Cowboys on the Chisholm Trail, Picnic Poetry, Family Traditions, Douglas’ Poetry Diner, It’s A Zoo in Here, and many others.

The theme for this year’s event was “Writing Road Trip,” and what a trip it was.  The presentations were both varied in content and use of technology.  For example, “It’s a Zoo in Here” presented by third grade students from Ms. Swanger and Ms. Peacock’s classes featured PowerPoint presentations about different animals.  During an overnight field trip at Zoo Atlanta their students photographed and learned about the animal they were most interested in.  Upon returning to school, they researched the animal in more detail.  Then wrote and typed their report and imported pictures into PowerPoint.  Ms. Kennedy’s students authored a book entitled, “Wanda Wordhead and the Three Book Worms.” They illustrated it using scrapbook making materials.  Finally, it was transformed into a podcast.

During their presentations, they taught participants how to make their own books using paper plates, paper bags, and other readily available materials.  Another exciting presentation, Cowboys on the Chisholm Trail was performed outside, of course.  There was a tent, camp fire, bales of hay to sit on, and vittles to taste while Jennifer Hellman’s fifth graders read their “cowboy diaries.”
Last year, fifth grade teacher, Betsey Kennedy, and media specialist, Barbara Powell-Schager, won the 2007 National Thomson-Gale TEAMS Award for their collaborative efforts creating Authors’ Night.  The goal of last year’s and this year’s event was to improve student writing by creating an environment at Big Shanty that promotes and celebrates student authorship.  Both Betsey and Barbara organized the event and encouraged and supported teachers to participate.

The Floyd Middle School Web page currently features a slideshow with student art on display at the Mable House. Under the direction of art teacher Lisa Collins, more than 500 pieces of student work are available for viewing b y the public.  Visit Floyd’s Web page to view the slideshow.