The Dickerson Middle School Band Program has been selected by the Georgia Music Educators Association to receive the 2009 GMEA Exemplary Performance Award! Dickerson is the first band to ever win the honor. The Exemplary Performance Award was established to recognize middle school bands that achieve outstanding results in all areas of performance, including Large Group Performance Evaluation, Solo and Ensemble, All-State Band, and District Honor Band.

The award is given to recognize the outstanding bands in Georgia whose students excel in all aspects of band performance, both individually and as part of a group. The selection process required the following documentation to be submitted with the application – CD of the Large Group Performance Evaluation Concert, Band Roster, a copy of the District Honor Band Program, a list of All-State participants, copies of Performance Evaluation Adjudicator sheets, and a list of Solo and Ensemble participants with their ratings.

The team from Sedalia Park Elementary School took home third place in the Georgia Science Olympiad on May 15 at Kennesaw State University. The statewide event is a hands-on competition where students compete in specific events relating to science. The program is aligned to the Georgia Performance Standards and has been recognized nationally for enhancing science education. The Sedalia Park team, coached by Linda Leland and Gina Coss consists of:

5th grade:  Steven A., Hans B., Marco C., Savannah B., Samanthan C., Francesca V., Francis V.

4th grade:  Faith, Maria, Chris, Eduardo

3rd grade:  Ellen W., Daryl Ann C.

For more information, visit the Georgia Science Olympaid Web site.

Dr. Michael Johnson, principal of North Cobb High School, was honored by the City of Acworth during the city council meeting May 22. Mayor Tommy Allegood presented Dr. Johnson with a plaque in appreciation for the outstanding leadership and contributions to the NCHS community during the 2008-2009 school year.

Present were City of Acworth officials, Dr. Johnson’s wife and daughter, Eileen and Melissa, Fred Sanderson, Lynnda Crowder-Eagle, John Abraham, James Carter, and the North Cobb administrative team.

Mayor Allegood also introduced new principal Dr. Phillip Page to the Acworth Community and recognized the “Ambassadors” from McCall Primary school.

Allatoona High School media specialist and ‘Guybrarian‘ Robin Wofford was recently chosen as the Cobb County School District Media Specialist of the year. Robin is in his 2nd year on the CCSD Media Leadership Team and is also one of the charter members/founders of the CCSD Book Cart Drill Team.

When asked about the recognition, Mr. Wofford said, “Media specialists in Cobb County are some of the most talented women and men in our profession today. I was totally blown away and deeply moved by this award. It is such an honor and a blessing to be recognized for doing something that you love.”

Pictured above, L-R: Fitzhugh-Lee teacher Carol Silva, Lowe's representatives Lewis Scruggs and Michelle Reis; HAVEN Academy graduating senior Matthew Linskey, Fitzhugh-Lee assistant principal Debbie Adelman, Lowe's representative Brian Scott and Fitzhugh-Lee secretary Joy Spitznagel.

Representatives from the Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Austell paid a visit to the Fitzhugh-Lee Center of HAVEN Academy on May 14 to announce the school as a winner of a $4,250 grant! Part of the company’s Toolbox for Education program, the grant monies will be used to furnish the school’s brand new greenhouse, an outdoor classroom that helps students learn life skills by growing plants, fruits and vegetables. The produce grown will be used in a variety of ways, including food preparation at school and donations to a local food bank. Students will have an active voice in what they would like to grow and have an opportunity to be a part of a student advisory group.

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant program is funded by the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, which has supported thousands of grassroots community and school projects in the communities where Lowe’s does business.

Lowe's associate Brian Scott and HAVEN Academy graduating senior Matthew Linskey tend to the first plants at the new Fitzhugh-Lee greenhouse.

The Cobb County School District is proud to announce its School Counselor of the Year honorees for 2008-09. Each of these honorees was recognized during a special Counselor Celebration May 8 at Southern Polytechnic State University.

High School Counselor of the Year
Molly Ream, Harrison High School

Molly Ream was selected as high school counselor of the year because of her lifetime dedication to serving students and their families. She has worked as a runaway counselor, psychotherapist, and caseworker.  In 2005, she began her first school counseling job at Harrison High School where she works with peer leaders, Habit for Humanity, and Sources of Strength. She assisted the Harrison faculty with forming the “I-Team” a group of Harrison students who are nominated by their teachers for their known integrity.

Middle School Counselor of the Year
Tanyika Butler, Floyd Middle School

Tanyika Butler was selected as middle school counselor of the year because of the positive impact her creativity has had on students at Floyd Middle School.  Tanyika initiated the “Pink Floyd” days when all staff and students dress in pink to show their solidarity against bullying.  She also created the “CRCT Bus Ride” to cheer students on to success with the CRCT.  Tanyika also worked with her school counseling team to provide a summer workshop for students who were transitioning from fifth to sixth grade.

Elementary School Counselor of the Year
Nicole Pfleger, Nickajack Elementary School

Nicole Pfleger was selected as elementary counselor of the year because of her successful efforts to develop a framework of collaboration that fosters a sense of community within the school.  Among her many projects, she developed a program called the D.R.E.A. M. team with DREAM being the acronym for Demonstrating Respect Everyday to Achieve More.  The team is made up of Campbell High School mentors and 15 at risk boys from grades K-5.  They meet regularly to discuss anger management, conflict resolution, self-control, etiquette, respect, responsibility and teamwork.

Writer of the Year
Patti Agatston, Prevention/Intervention Center

Patti Agatston was selected as writer of the year because of her intensive research and publications on the topic of cyber-bullying.  She has spent the last 17 years focusing on drug and violence prevention in schools and became a certified trainer for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in 2003.  In 2007, she published a book titled Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age.  She has also published a research article in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

A pair of Walton High School students performed well at the recent SkillsUSA Championships event at the Georgia International Convention Center. Sophomore Alexander Higgins placed 1st in the Screen Printing Technology event, earning him a trip to Kansas City in June to compete in the national championships. Junior Brooke Weikle place 2nd in the Promotional Powerpoint Championship.

Walton’s SkillsUSA students are advised by Daniel Campagna.

A partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives, SkillsUSA is the largest technology-oriented student organization in the nation. The group works to ensure America has a skilled work force by preparing students for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including healthcare.

Wheeler High’s Culinary Arts students had the distinctive opportunity of assisting with the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show April 17-19 at the Galleria Center. Students assisted with prep work for Tyler Florence, Guy Fieri, The Neelys, and Paula Deen. The behind-the-scenes experience immersed the students in the world of television food prep. During the Tyler Florence show, one of the Wheeler students was actually on stage and was chosen for his efforts in prepping for Tyler’s dish. Later that day, Tyler visited the prep area where he signed aprons, posed for pictures, and gave words of wisdom and encouragement to our culinary students.

Wheeler students also assisted in the Children’s area where they taught how to prepare various snacks of animal themes. The little chefs created their own cheesy caterpillars and a chocolate octopus. The cooking show allowed them to teach and relate to young children.

Local chefs Chef Kory Mac and Chef Alex Reetoff helped the group prepare for the event, visiting the class to demonstrate their culinary knowledge. The class is advised by Lyvonda Crumb.

Fourth and fifth graders at Norton Park Elementary were recently paid a visit from Cobb County Chief Superior Court Judge Rusty Carlisle. Judge Carlisle gave a brief history about his career as an attorney and about his daily duties as judge. Students listened intently as he explained the judicial system, the roles of the prosecutor and defense attorney, defendants’ rights and how law is applied to court cases. Judge Carlisle encouraged students to be aware of the law and stressed the importance of doing well in school and to continue learning beyond high school.

Submitted by Freida Frady, parent liaison

Austell Intermediate School in Powder Springs has been going green during the school year.  Beginning in August, the staff purchased  green cloth bags to provide a means for used paper to be recycled in the classroom. After School Program students empty the bags daily into bins provided by Partner in Education Caraustar Industries.

After school Science and Earth Savers Clubs were organized and sponsored several activities during the school year. The Earth Savers had a bake sale before a PTA meeting in order to adopt an infant gorilla as well as collected used cell phones to send to Zoo Atlanta for gorilla research.  The Earth Savers and Science Clubs have been helping care for an established garden and identifying areas on the school grounds that need beautification.  The Science Club made birdhouses to attract native birds.

Teachers planned and taught environmental lessons to help obtain Green School distinction. Austell Intermediate earned Gold status their first year of participation in Keep Cobb Beautiful’s Green School awards program.

Cobb County Water System presented Water Conservation lessons to second and fourth graders helping them realize even students can help save our county’s water supply.

In March, 102 students, parents, siblings and teachers planted 14 trees to help provide shade for the school’s sunny playgrounds under the direction of Joe Burgess from the Georgia Forestry Commission and the Cobb Tree Program. Classrooms “adopted” a tree to water weekly.

Classrooms participated in different Earth Day activities on April 22 and were encouraged to wear blue or green to celebrate.  In conjunction with ideas from an environment movement “No Child Left Inside” and Earth Day, the science classes spent the week transforming an eroded, rocky portion of the school grounds into an outdoor discovery area.  With the goal of restoring habitats destroyed during the construction of the school, students placed rocks brought from home and cement borders donated by Austell’s GMS company to form pathways over the eroded areas. Planters were also made from cement cap blocks for native plants.  The paths were filled with mulch provided by Greystone EMC with hopes of enriching the soil. The Science Club birdhouses were hung as well as a bat and ladybug house during the week.  This area is now habitat friendly.

Austell Intermediate is very appreciative of the support of county and community organizations and businesses who have enabled students to experience Georgia Performance Standards in true life. Students will now be able to observe habitats, life cycles, water conservation, and the effects of human intervention on the environment.