Town Hall Forum With Candidates for Fayette County Board of Education

Thursday, June 17 at 7:00pm.

Event: Town Hall Forum With Candidates for Fayette County Board of Education 
Start Time: Thursday, June 17 at 7:00pm
End Time: Thursday, June 17 at 8:30pm
Where: 1577 Hwy 85 South Fayetteville GA. 30215

Fayette Middle School Student Helps Peers in Jamaica Get Books

Growing up with immediate access to books through school, the county library, and bookstores, Adriannea Smith couldn’t believe it when she learned that her cousin had no books to check out at school. She decided then and there to do something about it.

Adriannea, an eighth grader at Fayette Middle School, and her family were visiting with relatives in Jamaica when she learned that students there do not have library books to take home. Her cousin told her that a ship from England comes twice a year with books that children can check out and return when it comes back.

“My reaction when I learned that children couldn’t get books was shocked. I couldn’t believe that they didn’t get books at their own school or that there wasn’t any bookstores around the block,” Adriannea says.

When she returned home, Adriannea approached her parents about organizing a book drive for Jamaica during Fayette Middle’s spring Literacy and Arts Fair. After securing permission from Principal Sharlene Patterson, Adriannea went to work making plans on how to publicize the event and get her classmates interested in participating.

“A couple of days before Literacy Night I handed out lollipops that had a label around them that said ‘Donate a book to Jamaica on Literacy Night!’ I handed out the lollipops all over the school to the kids and they were excited and said they would donate a book,” Adriannea explains.

Donate they did. Adriannea had a mental goal of collecting 250 books; her final total was 430. Students donated a variety of books including fiction, classic novels and resource materials such as dictionaries and grammar books.

Adriannea is an avid reader who enjoys fictitious crime mysteries and books about teen girls in school. She says books are something every student should have access to because they are as educational as they are entertaining.

“Books give students something to do in their spare time. They learn new things like words and have something to talk about with friends,” she says.

Adriannea is not done. Next year she will attend Fayette County High and hopes to have even bigger book drives. Any one who would like to help Adriannea with her quest to provide books to Jamaica can do so by contacting Anne Smith at 404-512-1770.

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Local DAR Chapter Wins State Award for American History

Pictured receiving the silver platter are (l-r) James Waldrop Chapter DAR Regent Betty Harrah, Georgia State Society Regent Barbara Blakely Chastain, James Waldrop Chapter DAR American History Chairman Phyllis King, and Georgia State Society American History Chairman Becky West.

The James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was recently presented with the GSSDAR Award for Outstanding Work in American History.  This award is given annually to the Georgia DAR Chapter that demonstrates outstanding work in the areas of activities and the American History Essay Contest.

Included in the activities are American history programs presented, public displays which relate to American history, publicity in print and broadcast minutes, and presenting Women in American History awards.  The James Waldrop Chapter was also the proud sponsor of this year's 7th grade state winner for the American History Essay Contest.  This essay contest is open to all students in grades 5-12.

American History State Chairman Becky West of Fayetteville said, "The James Waldrop Chapter did an excellent job of promoting American history throughout the community it serves."

Phyllis King, the American History Chairman for the chapter, thanked the chapter members for their commitment to the preservation of American history.

"The James Waldrop Chapter members are enthusiastic about history,"  Publicity Chairman Ann Eldredge remarked. "I'm sure the children remember the programs on the Constitution as we provide a glimpse into its writing and how our ancestors lived.  Over the past few years, we have spoken to over 1500 Fayette County youth about America and its beginnings."

The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville and has been active in promoting American history and patriotism since their charter date in April 2007.

Photo by Ann Eldredge

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BRAG – The 31st Annual Bicycle Ride Across Georgia!

The Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) will celebrate its 31st consecutive ride this year as approximately 1500 cyclists gather for the annual bicycling trek across the state. BRAG is a family –oriented tour, not a race, with bicyclists of all ages and abilities.

Riders & family members will begin to arrive at Our Lady of Mercy High School on Evander Holyfield Hwy, Fayetteville, on June 4th and 5th for Saturday registration and prepare to start the ride on Sunday morning, June 6 and return to Fayetteville on June 12.

From Fayetteville, cyclists will travel to Spaulding High School in Griffin on Sunday, and the Thomaston-Upson Civic Center in Thomaston on Monday, then a layover day and two nights spent at the Corn Center for the Visual Arts in Columbus. The layover day on Wednesday, June 9, provides an opportunity for cyclists to rest, do laundry, or complete a shorter ride in the middle of the week. It is also the day for BRAG’s Century Ride, 100 miles on a bicycle, earning those who complete it the coveted BRAG bandanna. Departing Columbus on Thursday morning, cyclists will visit West Side Magnet Middle School in LaGrange and Newnan High School in Newnan on Friday, before completing their journey by returning to Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fayetteville on Saturday, June 12.

BRAG began in 1980 under the direction of Dot Moss, who was inspired to do a cross state tour similar to Iowa’s RAGBRAI. Known as GASBE (Georgia’s Annual State Bicycling Event) at that time, the first route began in Savannah and ended in Columbus. From 120 riders that first year, BRAG grew to 1800 riders by 1989 and has had as many as 2600 participants in 1996 for an Olympic route from Atlanta to Savannah.

The BRAG ride has a very positive impact on the communities they visit by patronizing local motels, restaurants, shopping areas and points of interest. Most of all, this charitable event benefits Special Olympics Georgia. For more information or to register, visit www.brag.org, email info@brag.org, or call 770-498-5153.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce applauds Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School for hosting this year’s BRAG event. Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School is a co-educational, college-preparatory school in Fayetteville serving grades 9 – 12. Our Lady of Mercy offers 180 days of instruction, traditional math curriculum, and a 100% college acceptance rate. For more information about Our Lady of Mercy, please call 770-461-2202 or visit www.olmbobcats.org.

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Three Fayette County Students Earn College-Sponsored National Merit Scholarships

Georgia Tech, the University of Southern California and Wheaton College have awarded National Merit Scholarships to three students who will begin studying at their institutions in the fall.

Patrick Loeffler, Whitewater High, has received a scholarship from Georgia Tech where he will major in medicine; Christopher Hrvoj, McIntosh High, received a University of Southern California scholarship, he plans to major in neuroscience; and Lauren Anderson, McIntosh High, is the recipient of a scholarship from Wheaton College, a Christian liberal arts college near Chicago, where she will major in international relations.

The college-sponsored scholarships provide between $500 and $2,000 annually for up to four years of undergraduate study at the institution financing the scholarship. These three students are among 2,800 graduating seniors nationwide who were awarded scholarships in the first announcement of winners. Another group of winners will be announced in July, bringing the total number of college-sponsored scholarship recipients to over 4,900.

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Booth Clinches Top Four Finish at National Science Competition

J.C. Booth Middle’s Science Olympiad team finished fourth in the nation at the National Science Olympiad competition held this past Saturday at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Nationally revered as a tough competitor, the team has placed in the top 6 at the national competition for 12 years and has five first place victories to its name. Sixty 15-member teams from schools across the nation competed in the 26th annual event. There were 46 competition categories spanning the sciences from chemistry, biology and physics to engineering, robotics and astronomy.

The 22-member team consisting of five freshmen from McIntosh High, and five 8th graders, ten 7th graders, and two sixth graders from Booth earned five awards in event competitions. The awards and team members who earned them are as follows: first place in the Wright Stuff (model airplane flight) by Claire Worley, 9th grade McIntosh, and Dallin Murphy, 8th grade Booth; second place in Experimental Design by Andrew Perry, 9th grade McIntosh, Joey Buehler, 8th grade Booth, and Larkin Morris, 7th grade Booth; second place in Battery Buggie by Andrew Perry, 9th grade McIntosh and Michael Sweet, 9th grade McIntosh; second place Dynamic Planet by Jacob Wilson, 8th grade Booth, and Ryan Anderson, 7th grade Booth; and fourth place in Road Scholar (map reading) by Nick Chang, 9th grade McIntosh, and Joey Buehler, 8th grade Booth.

This year marked Booth’s 17th trip to the national competition. In order to get an invitation, a team must place first or second at the state competition. The Booth team won the state championship this year as it has done every year since 1999.

This also marked the first year that Tammy Pakulski served as the team’s official coach. Long-time science teacher Mary Wilde previously coached the team. She retired from teaching last year, but has remained involved with the team along with a number of other teachers and parents who also served as coaches.

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Georgia Scholars Announced for Fayette County

Some of Fayette County graduating seniors are among a select few in the state who will have a special seal on their diplomas when they graduate.

Five students have been named 2010 Georgia Scholars by the Georgia Department of Education. Students receiving the designation are Laura Eckhardt, Morgan Myers and Audrey Shlapak, all of Starr’s Mill High, and Christopher Murray and Shelby Threlkeld, both of Whitewater High.

A Georgia Scholar is a graduating high school senior who exhibits excellence in all phases of school life, community activities, and in the home. To be considered for the honor, a student must have a high scholastic ability, carry an exemplary course load in the four years of high school, perform excellently in all courses, successfully participate in interscholastic events of the school or community, assume an active role in extracurricular activities sponsored by the school, and exhibit good citizenship.

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Horatio Alger Scholars Named in Fayette County

Overcoming great obstacles and demonstrating strength of character has earned two graduating high school seniors a scholarship from the Horatio Alger Georgia Scholarship Program.

Samuel Yi of Sandy Creek High and Iesha White of Fayette County High are among the 50 graduates in the state who received a $5,000 scholarship for use at any accredited institution in the United States.

In addition to overcoming hardships, candidates for the scholarship must also be involved in co-curricular and community activities, and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

Founded in 1947, the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans continues to fulfill its mission of honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals in our society who have succeeded in spite of adversity and of encouraging young people to pursue their dreams through higher education. The Horatio Alger Association offers three annual scholarship programs at the national, state and graduate levels.

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A Year of Sewing and Giving Ends with Donation of Baby Quilts

Knowing how to sew might come in handy some day, but using newly acquired sewing skills to help the community is what students are doing now.

Students in Laurel Hinze’s Family and Consumer Science classes at Whitewater Middle have been busy this year learning how to quilt and sew. While students often make items to take home, those in Hinze’s classes have generously donated their creations to help various charitable organizations on a local, state and national level.

The latest and last donation of the year is from the seventh graders who have made baby quilts that will be donated to Promise Place in Fayette County. Working with Hinze and master quilter Therisa Burke, the students demonstrated their sewing abilities by completing 14 quilts, each signed by the students who made it along with notes of care and love. A personal drawstring bag accompanies the quilts and can be used to carry diapers, lotions, powders and other baby care items.

“We are proud of our latest positive and rewarding project that benefits both our students and community. It is wonderful to see the excitement in the eyes of our students when they sign their quilts,” says Hinze.
Two students, Sydney and Skylar, wrote on their quilt, “This took a lot of hard work, but it was worth it! Enjoy!”

The quilts will be presented to the Southern Crescent Quilt Guild meeting later this month. The Guild will deliver the quilts to Promise Place on behalf of the students.

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Elementary Students Score High at Science Olympiad, Kedron Takes Third

Elementary scientists proved they have what it takes to solve scientific problems at the 2010 Elementary State Science Olympiad held at Kennesaw State University this past weekend.

Fayette County had six school teams competing against 60 others from throughout the state. Kedron Elementary finished in the top three, taking third place overall.

“I am very proud of our students. They worked hard for this victory; it is an honor for our school to be ranked in the top three in the entire state,” says Kedron Principal Mary Margaret Bivings.

Both Oak Grove and Peeples finished in the top 10, taking sixth and eighth place, respectively. Rounding out the top 20 were Crabapple Lane and Braelinn with 14th and 15th place wins, respectively. Huddleston finished 21st out of 66 teams.

The schools swept “Rock Hounds” in the individual events with Kedron taking first place, Huddleston second and Oak Grove third. Other individual event wins include: “Water Rockets” – Kedron, first and Braelinn, second; “Which Way” – Peeples, first; “Simple Machines” – Peeples, third; “Name Scientist” – Kedron, third; “My Architecture” – Oak Grove, third; “Disease Detectives” – Crabapple Lane, third; Bridge Building” – Oak Grove, third; and “Barge Building” – Peeples, third.

Elementary Science Olympiad is an inquiry-based, hands-on program that covers earth, life, and physical science topics. It also incorporates both engineering and technological principals in a meaningful and relevant manner. Additionally, Science Olympiad provides students with a variety of highly engaging activities that naturally generate interest, enthusiasm and passion for scientific exploration.

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Breakfast Honors School Business Partners and Superintendent DeCotis

Nearly 200 business partners and school system administrators gathered for the 2010 Partners in Education (PIE) Recognition Breakfast held at New Hope Baptist Church, North Campus. The PIE program is a cooperative effort between the Fayette County Public School System and the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce.

The purpose of the breakfast was to honor local businesses for their work with and support of Fayette County Public Schools. This year the breakfast had a secondary purpose, to honor retiring School Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis, not only for his support of the PIE program, but also for his leadership of the school system.

State School Superintendent Kathy Cox was the guest speaker. She recalled her early days of working with Dr. DeCotis when she was a teacher, first as a colleague and then after he became her boss. She said he has always been a humble person with integrity, love for the community, and a deep commitment to Fayette County Public Schools.

“It is hard to find a man like John DeCotis. He has won many awards and accolades but he never focuses on that. He is a servant leader. He is a real friend, someone who I know I can talk to and he will tell me the truth. I know our next superintendent will be different, but I hope the person is made from the same mold,” Cox said during her address.

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce also recognized Dr. DeCotis for his work and support of the PIE program throughout the years. It was noted that he had never missed a recognition breakfast during his tenure as superintendent.

The highlight of the morning was the naming of the business partners of the year. Schools across Fayette submitted nominations for their partners to be considered for the award. Partners support their schools by giving monetary donations, sponsoring events, volunteering their skills and talents, and donating supplies for classroom or school-wide projects. This year’s winners were the Peachtree City Rotary Club and Fellowship of Love Church in Fayetteville.

For the first time this year, the tables were turned and the business partners were asked to nominate a partner school of the year. Schools honor their partners by keeping the community informed about donations they make and events they sponsor. Peeples Elementary was the recipient of the inaugural award.

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Fayette Student Selected as Promising Scholar

Only 15 students in the entire state, including senior Elliott Tanner of Starr’s Mill High, can lay claim to being a 2010 Promising Scholar, according to the University of Georgia.

The university’s Honors Program’s Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) sent invitations to Georgia’s most academically outstanding high school seniors for a two-day campus visit. The visit included roundtable and panel discussions about academic and research expectations and attendance to the CURO symposium where more than 200 UGA undergraduates presented their research projects.

Promising Scholars include students who excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as the arts, humanities and social sciences. Tanner says the experience has opened his eyes to the importance of research.

“I did not realize how important research is to the college experience until I saw it in action at the CURO symposium. Not only does research allow you to focus on something about which you have a strong interest, but also it allows you to see what working in a particular field really entails,” he explains.

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James Waldrop Chapter DAR Honors Namesake with Grave Marking

Recently, a grave marking was held in Fayette County for the American Revolution Patriot James Waldrop.  Waldrop was born in Virginia and served the colonies on the quest for independence from England.  Waldrop and his family later removed to Georgia where he received land in the GA Land Lottery for his service to the young nation.  Waldrop and his wife Mary are buried in the Bottoms Family Cemetery in Fayetteville. 

Members of the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution met to honor his service to our country and to place a DAR marker on his grave.  Joining the James Waldrop Chapter were about 50 guests including descendants of James Waldrop, the General Daniel Newnan Chapter DAR, the Fayette Starr's Mill Chapter DAR, the Marquis de Lafayette Chapter SAR and representatives from the Georgia State Society CAR and the Georgia State Regent. 

Pictured (l-r) are Kaydee Mathews; Jeanne Hewell-Chambers; Dianne Hudson; Jane King; Pat Reeve; Anita Davis; Linda Robinson; Mary Jane Sams; Willene Overstreet; Diane Webb; Betty Harrah; Gail Rainwater; Rachel Colbert; Ann Eldredge; Susan Sloan; Micheal J Tomme, President Georgia SAR; Benjamin Dorney; Lynn Dorney; Becky West and State Regent, Barbara Blakely Chastain. In the background are Phyllis KIng and the SAR State Color Guard with Paul Prescott, Commander.

The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville.

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Fayette County Math Whizzes Show Talent at Competition

With pencils frantically figuring, fingers flying across calculators and brains firing with knowledge, students used all of their resources battling to become the winners of the 2010 Fayette County Elementary Math Bowl.

It took a total of 18 word problems to find the winning teams of the fourth grade bowl. Students fought hard to stay in the game, answering three tiebreaker questions beyond the regular 15 before winners were finally determined. There were no tiebreakers for fifth grade.

The 2010 winning teams for fourth grade are (first place) Inman, (second place) Cleveland and (third place) Kedron.

 

 (First Place) Inman: Alexis Harris, Keagen McCartha (alternate), Damien Robbins and Juwan Wesley with fourth grade teacher Sue Paggen.

(Second Place) Cleveland: Jason Hess, Adam Jamison, Jonathan Lewis and Achyuth Murthy (alternate) with fourth grade teacher Angela Spagnuolo (L) and Assistant Principal Angie Southers.
 

 

 

(Third Place) Kedron: Naseem Amini, Jolie Fouts (alternate), Bridgette Machemehl and Hayden Quale with Principal Mary Margaret Bivings (L) and fourth grade teacher Laura Griffies holding her daughter Susanna.







Fifth grade team winners include (first place) Kedron, (second place) Peeples and (third place) Oak Grove.

(First Place) Kedron: Jagger Barnes (alternate), Emilio De La Mora, Kevin Liow and Jiaxing Liu with Principal Mary Margaret Bivings (L) and fifth grade teacher Carla Zonneveld.

(Second Place) Peeples: Billy Porter, Joshua Tysor and Ryan Weyl with principal Erin Roberson (L) and fifth grade teacher Noel Strain. Not pictured, Haidyn Ogg (alternate).

 
 


(Third Place) Oak Grove: Abby Burke, Caroline Pickard, Carter Rogers and Haruka Yamada (alternate) with fifth grade teacher Carla Brown.






Students worked together in teams of three to solve the problems. Contestants qualified for the county tournament by winning their school-based math competitions.

“All of these students are already winners representing their schools and should be very proud of their accomplishments. We are very proud of them,” says Math Coordinator Lynn Ridgeway.

Each participant received a certificate of participation. Additionally, the first, second and third place winners were awarded a trophy to take back to their schools and each team member received a math book to help get a head start on the next grade level of math. Also, each first place team will have the name of their school engraved on the plaque of champions that is displayed in the math classroom at the LaFayette Educational Center.

This marked the 10th annual Fayette County Elementary Math Bowl featuring math teams from each of the school system’s 17 elementary schools.

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Friends Mentors Honored at Annual Breakfast

Just showing up is the most important part of what some 200 adults and high school students do each week. They reach out to help children in the Fayette County Public School System who are struggling academically or socially, in danger of failing their grade, or may not graduate from school.

They are volunteers in the school system’s Friends Mentoring Program who were honored for sharing their time and talents with others during the second annual Friends Mentoring Program Appreciation Breakfast.

Over 60 of the school system’s adult and Hi-Teen mentors attended the breakfast. Those in attendance ranged from volunteers who have been involved for multiple years to those who just started the program this year, such as Superintendent Dr. John DeCotis who mentors at the Fayette County Alternative School.

Although this is his first year as a mentor, DeCotis has always recognized the need and value of the program and has been a major supporter. He told the mentors that the time they spend with children is invaluable.

“Even though you are not getting paid, your value is sky high. You cannot save every child, although that is the goal, but your efforts are important to that child you are working with,” he said.

In honor of his approaching retirement, the Friends Mentoring Advisory Board publicly thanked DeCotis for his support over the years and presented him with a Woodruff Arts gift card.

Mentors are required to go through training and an extensive background check before acceptance into the program. They are asked to commitment to working with a student at school for one hour each week. Volunteers work with students, at all grade levels, who have been identified by their counselors as benefitting from a mentor/student relationship. The school obtains parental permission prior to assigning a mentor to a child.

Julius Pryor, a mentor at Fayette Middle and advisory board member, summed up what it means to be a mentor and offered a few words of inspiration.

“Listening, encouraging to be better, caring, showing up, empowering, establishing relationships, all of this is what mentors do to build the confidence students need to be successful” Pryor said as he addressed fellow mentors at the breakfast. “We always sell ourselves short, we think we are not capable of doing things that we can do. We don’t know how powerful or how influential we are. We have the ability to make a difference, the only person holding us back is us.”

The mentoring program relies on volunteers and charitable contributions to operate. Immediate needs include volunteers to mentor middle school students throughout the county and elementary students in Fayetteville. The program can also use tax deductable monetary gifts to cover mandatory finger printing for mentors, mentor/mentee breakfasts, and budget shortfalls in the areas of salaries, supplies, printing, postage and recruitment materials.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make your check payable to Fayette County Board of Education, with “Friends Mentoring Program” in the memo line, and mail to Fayette County Board of Education, Friends/Mentor Program, 205 LaFayette Avenue, Building D, Fayetteville, GA 30214.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities through the Friends Mentoring Program, contact Jane Gough at gough.jane@fcboe.org or call 770-460-3990, ext. 255.

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Fayette County Third Grade Writing Skills Improve

Fayette County third graders are improving their writing skills based on results of the 2010 Third Grade Writing Assessment just released by the Georgia Department of Education.

Compared to last year, passing scores in the “meets” category dropped while increasing in the “exceeds” category, ranging from 11 to one percent depending on the types of writing.

Fayette continues to do well compared to both the state and neighboring school systems in its region, which include Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties. Fayette has a substantial lead over the state and region in “persuasive” writing where 25 percent of students “exceed” standards compared to 17 percent in the state and 14 percent in the region. Another significant lead is in “response to literature” where 72 percent of Fayette’s students “meet” standards and 16 percent “exceed” compared to 66 “meeting” and 15 “exceeding” at the state level and 67 percent “meeting” and 12 percent “exceeding” at the regional level.

The Georgia Third Grade Writing Assessment covers four types of writing: narrative, informational, persuasive and response to literature. Third grade teachers assess the writing analytically in four domains: ideas, organization, style and conventions. Teachers collect writing samples by providing many opportunities for students to produce the various types of writing throughout the year.

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Rising Starr Students Learn About French Child Who Helped Jews Escape the Holocaust

As students study the Holocaust, they often have the opportunity to hear from Jews who survived the horrific Nazi concentration camps or from those who were able to escape. Eighth graders at Rising Starr Middle got to hear a different perspective this year as told by the daughter of a French woman who helped Jews escape from Holocaust trains headed to concentration camps.

Mariella Crea, a speaker with The Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, told the students about her mother, Jacqueline, who at the age of 12, helped a number of Jews escape to safety in Switzerland. Crea’s great uncle Henri was a train station operator in France and knew precisely when every Holocaust train was due to arrive and depart. He felt compelled to help the Jews and used her mother, knowing no one would suspect a child, to hide them until the trains and guards left.

Crea recalled her mother’s story as it had been told to her since she was a child. Her mother led the escapees from the train station to a nearby water tower where they stood in water for hours while guards searched for them. The water prevented search dogs from picking up on their scent.

After the trains and guards left, her mother took the Jews to her home where they waited in a crawl space until it was safe for them to make their journey to Switzerland. Crea does not know exactly how many people her mother and uncle helped, but she said every one of them made it to safety.

Her uncle is no longer living. Her mother is alive, but has Alzheimer’s and can no longer communicate, so Crea tells her story to keep it from being forgotten. In fact, she is in the process of writing a book about it that will be geared toward middle school students.

Suzanne Carey, an eighth grade language arts teacher at the school, arranged for Crea to speak to the entire eighth grade.

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Fayette County Students Graduation Test Results Remain High

Fayette County high school students continue to post high pass rates on the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT), even on the social studies section that was aligned to the new Georgia Performance Standards this year.

In fact, more students scored in the “advanced proficiency” category in the English and science portions, up 2 points to 49 percent and up 1 point to 46 percent, respectively, over 2009. The social studies pass rate dropped 5 points from last year to 89 percent, reflecting the change from the old curriculum to the new, but school officials expect the score to rise next year after teachers and students have had more time to adapt.

The county continues to show much higher pass rates than the state in all subjects: English Language Arts, 95 percent (Fayette) and 87 percent (state); mathematics, 96 percent (Fayette) and 89 percent (state); science, 95 percent (Fayette) and 87 percent (state); social studies, 89 percent (Fayette) and 75 percent (state).

The Hispanic subgroup showed an increase in the percentage of students performing above basic proficiency in nearly all subjects. In English/language arts, those performing at the advanced level increased 10 percent and performance at the honors level increased six percent. In mathematics, advanced proficiency increased three percent; in science, advanced proficiency increased seven percent and honors proficiency increased three percent. Even with the test being aligned to the new social studies curriculum for the first time; the pass rate for Hispanic students increased two percent.

The GHSGT is given to high school students for the first time in the spring of their junior year. All four portions of the test, plus the Georgia High School Writing Test, must be passed in order for a student to receive a full diploma from a Georgia public school. Students can retake the GHSGT as many times as they like if they do not pass specific exams.

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11th Annual Partners in Education Recognition Breakfast

The Fayette County Chamber of Commerce will recognize the 2010 Outstanding Business Partners of the Year at their annual Partners in Education Recognition Breakfast on Friday, May 14, 2010, 7:30 am at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville.

This year’s program will include guest speaker Kathy Cox, Georgia’s State Superintendent of Schools. Under Superintendent Cox’s leadership, Georgia has seen unprecedented gains in student achievement. A special recognition will be given in honor of retiring Fayette County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John DeCotis, plus the annual awards presentation for the 2010 Outstanding Partners of the year. This year’s nominees include; BB&T, Fayetteville; Fellowship of Love Church; Grace Evangelical Church; Huntington Learning Center; Liberty Mutual Insurance, Peachtree City; Lisbon Baptist Church; Mathnasium, Peachtree City, The Rotary Club of Peachtree City; Senoia Animal Hospital; Walmart, Peachtree City and Warner, Hooper, and Ramsey Law Firm. New this year will be an award given to a Fayette County School recognized for its strong relationships with its business partners. The school nominees are Cleveland Elementary; Huddleston Elementary; J.C. Booth Middle School; Kedron Elementary; McIntosh High School; Peachtree City Elementary; Peeples Elementary; and Starr’s Mill High School.

The community is cordially invited to attend the breakfast. The cost is $10.00 per person. Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, May 11th. You may register online through the Chamber’s event calendar at www.FayetteChamber.org or contact the Chamber at (770) 461-9983.

Sponsors for this year’s breakfast are Delta Community Credit Union, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, and The Southern Federal Credit Union. Additional support is provided by Huntington Learning Center, Progressive Tutoring of America, Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services, and Primrose School of Peachtree City.

The Partners in Education program is a joint effort of the Chamber and the Fayette County Board of Education that provides an avenue for businesses to form partnerships with public schools and educational programs in Fayette County. Business “Partners” work with the school system to prepare the workforce of tomorrow by providing enhanced educational opportunities for students. To learn more about getting involved with the Partners in Education program, contact Joyce Gaglione at the Fayette Chamber (770) 461.9983 or go to www.FayetteChamber.org/PartnersinEducation.

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Rising Starr Student Honors Child Holocaust Survivor

Shannon McKillip displays the wall hanging she quilted in honor of Inge Auerbacher along with Mariella Crea, a speaker from The Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum in Atlanta, who gave a presentation about her mother who helped save Jews from concentration camps.

An assignment on the Holocaust has created a special friendship between a student and child survivor of a Nazi concentration camp.

Every year eighth graders in Suzanne Carey’s language arts classes at Rising Starr Middle are required to do a brief biography on a child who was in the Holocaust. This is part of the unit on The Diary of Anne Frank.

Most biographies are done on children who died in concentration camps, but eighth grader Shannon McKillip found, after some Internet research, that her child was actually a survivor.

Inge Auerbacher was sent to the Terezin concentration camp in Czechoslovakia when she was seven years old. She was lucky, only one percent of the 15,000 children there survived. She was 10 years old when she was released.

She now lives in New York City and is a lecturer and inspirational speaker. Shannon contacted Auerbacher via email to let her know that she was going to honor her by planting a flower in the school’s Holocaust Children’s Memorial Garden as well as quilt a butterfly wall hanging in celebration of her life. She asked for her favorite flower and colors.

Honored that Shannon had selected her for the project, Auerbacher emailed pictures of her hometown in Kippenheim, Germany, her immediate family and the star she had to wear in the concentration camp.

“One teenager from my camp wrote a poem, ‘I Will Never See Another Butterfly.’ The butterfly was yellow and it is also the color of the stars we had to wear. I think any yellow flower for the garden would be just wonderful,” Auerbacher wrote.

Shannon chose a Yarrow plant for the garden. She quilted a wall hanging with a butterfly motif, the symbol for children who died in concentration camps, and incorporated the pictures that Auerbacher sent to her. Shannon and Auerbacher have exchanged several emails since the project began. Most recently, Shannon sent her pictures from the garden and of the wall hanging.

“My dearest Shannon, oh my gosh, my tears are flowing,” she said in response the photographs. “I shall treasure these forever. I must meet you in the future, and I want to see my flower blooming in the garden.”

Shannon says she hopes to meet Auerbacher someday, but until then, she is surprising her by sending the wall hanging as a gift. Much of it is hand quilted and took about a month to complete.
“I have been quilting since I was five years old. My grandmother is a very good quilter and she inspired me to quilt,” Shannon says.
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Fayette Public Schools Recognize National School Nurse Day and 10-Year Anniversary

Board of Education Member Marion Key presents School Health Services Coordinator Debbie King with a proclamation for National School Nurses Day as nurses (L-R) Robin Fowler, RN, of Cleveland Elementary, and Michele Petty, LPN, of Bennett’s Mill Middle, look on.

School nurses are an important part of the total educational program in Fayette County Public Schools. The school system is fortunate to have a school nurse at all 29 of its schools.

In recognition of the contributions school nurses make to students, school staffs and parents everyday, the school system has signed a proclamation identifying May 12 as National School Nurses Day in Fayette. This school year also marks the 10-year anniversary of school nurses in Georgia and Fayette County.

Fayette’s nurses focus on prevention by annually coordinating vision, hearing and scoliosis screenings, reviewing student immunization and eye, ear and dental certifications, and managing the prevention and control of communicable diseases at schools. Daily, school nurses provide first aid care, assist students with medications, and develop and implement healthcare plans. They promote health and connect students and their families to community resources.

“We have to meet the physical needs of a student before we start meeting their academic, emotional, social and economic needs. The school nurses support student success,” says Debbie King, RN, student health services coordinator.

From August to April of this school year, Fayette’s school nurses have cared for 119,765 students, administered 25,094 medications and performed 15,626 special procedures such as catheterization, tube feedings, nebulizer treatments and blood sugar checks.

In addition to daily services, the School Health Services Program has developed a School Health Services Manual to standardize guidelines, forms and parent notification letters, assisted in placing Automated External Defibrillators (AED) at every school and county office building, adopted the American Heart Association CPR training curriculum and required mandatory CPR certification for all coaches, as well as hosted the first staff influenza vaccination clinics in 2006 and the first student influenza vaccine clinics this year with the health department.

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) established National School Nurses Day in 1972 to foster a better understanding of the role of school nurses in the educational setting. This year’s theme is “Vision, Voice, Visibility: Charting the Course for a Healthy Future.” For more information on National School Nurse Day, visit the NASN Web site at www.nasn.org .
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Fayette County Students Selected to Governor’s Honors

A total of 23 students from Fayette County's five high schools are finalists for the 2010 Governor’s Honors Program. The six-week summer study program in Valdosta provides intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available during the regular school year. Activities are designed to provide each participant with opportunities to acquire the skills, knowledge and attitudes to become independent, life-long learners.

The selection process is lengthy and begins in the fall when teachers from each high school nominate students for outstanding performance in particular areas of study. The nominated students advance to county-level interviews where the finalists for state consideration are selected.

County finalists interview with state officials to determine who will participate in the summer study program. Thousands of students from around the state compete for the coveted spots each year.

The following students have been selected to participate in the 2010 program:


Fayette County High – Dayna Gomes (Music/French Horn), Stephanie Jennings (Music/French Horn), Sara Palmer (Music/Trombone), Sarika Reddy (Mathematics), and Rose Wilmot (Music/Saxophone).

McIntosh High – Karen Anderson (Mathematics), Brady Brettin (Mathematics), Mary Cook (French), Yuta Inaba (Mathematics), Han Sol Kwon (Music/Piano), Oliver McGuire (Communicative Arts), Ben Monroe (Physics), Torrie Richardson (Music/Bassoon), and Melissa Woodbridge (Visual Arts).

Sandy Creek High – Poonim Daya (Mathematics).

Starr’s Mill High – Na Young Kim (Visual Arts), Lindsay Quandt (German), and Stephanie Tan (Music/Piano).

Whitewater High – Ashley Allen (Theatre), Brian Dong (Mathematics), and Jay Newsome, II (Music/Saxophone).

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Fayette Student Science Projects Earn State Awards

Attempting to find solutions to some of the world’s scientific issues, Fayette County middle and high school students were recognized for their research at the 62nd Georgia Science and Engineering Fair at the University of Georgia.

Students who participated in the state fair earned the opportunity to compete by placing first in the regional competition. A total of 17 projects were advanced to the state level with 14 of them earning placements. By participating in science fairs, students learn how to isolate important problems and how to attack and solve problems all within the framework of organized, logical thought and study.

The following students earned placements at the state competition:

Junior Division: (First Place) Michael Koeing and Matthew Melatti, and Mamie Smith, all from Bennett’s Mill Middle; (Second Place) Helen Davidson, Flat Rock Middle; (Third Place) Matthew Harmon, Bennett’s Mill Middle, and Menaka Reddy, Fayette Middle; (Fourth Place) Monica Schwingshaki, Bennett’s Mill Middle.

Senior Division: (First Place) Jackie Roshelli and Cara O’Brien, both from McIntosh High, and Sonika Reddy, Fayette County High; (Second Place) Rebecca Otwell, and Omar Martinez and Landry Grymes, all from Fayette County High; (Fourth Place) Leslie Perez and Torie Legere, both from Starr’s Mill High, Sarika Reddy, Fayette County High, Hannah Feltner and Regan Chewning, both from Starr’s Mill High, and Tuure Pasto, Michael Martin and Sonya Jooma, all from Fayette County High.

Additionally, a special award from the University of Georgia Health and Sciences Institute was presented to Sonika Reddy of Fayette County High.

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Bus Driver Takes Top Spot in Local Roade-O

Transportation Director Michael Jennings congratulates first place winner Jimmy Poole.

Imagine steering a school bus in and out of five cones set at a close proximity and then doing it again, backwards, without stopping or bumping the markers. This and other grueling tests is what Jimmy Poole, driver of special needs bus #42, had to successfully complete to take first place in Fayette’s School Bus Roade-O competition last month.

Poole’s first place victory secures him a place in the statewide competition June 8 in Warner Robins. Joining him will be second place winner Kathy Warden and third place winner Sherry Harris.

Poole, who has been a driver for the school system for three years, said he did not expect to take first place. He credits trainers Kathy Warden and Michael Dixon, last year’s local winner and 10th place finisher at the state competition, with his win.

“I practiced the day before with the trainers. The first 5-6 times I went through the course, I knocked down cones and ran over tennis balls. I just listened to the trainers as they guided me on how to use the mirrors, properly apply the breaks and maneuver turns. I couldn’t have done it without them,” he says.

Poole, who is used to driving a smaller bus, had to use a regular size bus for the competition, making the event a bit more challenging for him than for other drivers. He says he is proud to have taken part in the event because it has sharpened his skills. Transportation Director Michael Jennings says skills improvement is exactly what the event is all about.

“This is our most realistic instructional tool available to improve driver skills. Safety competitions have proven to be one of the most effective instructional tools to improve a driver’s skills,” Jennings says.

When Poole is not driving he works in the school system’s bus shop cleaning and fueling buses. He says he could not have won the competition if the bus shop staff had not stepped in to give him the time off to practice.

“I have the utmost confidence in the safety of the buses that we send out. I see on a daily basis how hard these guys work to maintain our fleet. I want to thank them for covering for me so that I could do this,” Poole adds.

Michael Dixon, last year’s winner and owner of Dixon Vending, donated prize money for the top three finishers. Poole received $75, Warden $50 and Harris $25.

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Coweta Fayette Rotary Club’s 3rd Annual Car Show to be June 12

Coweta Fayette Rotary Club announces their 3rd Annual Car Show to be held at Drake Field in Peachtree City on June 12, 2010 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. In addition to the wonderful display of Cars, we will be showcasing motorcycles for the first time and expect at least 200 motorcycles to join the fun. There will be a variety of vendors this year – something for everyone, so please come outl and join the fun.

For more information regarding this event and to get an application to enter your vehicle, please visit our website at www.cowetafayetterotaryclub.org, or email Kai Wolter at cowetafayetterotaryclub@gmail.com.

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Fayette Students Receive $2,500 Merit Scholarships

Graduating seniors at Fayette County High and Starr’s Mill High are among the 2,500 students nationwide receiving National Merit Scholarships.

Kathryn McCord (Starr’s Mill), Sonika Reddy (Fayette County), and Jessica Lambing (Starr’s Mill) will each receive a $2,500 Merit Scholarship to help offset college expenses. Kathryn plans to major in biology; Sonika is planning a career in medicine, and Jessica has set her sights on secondary education. Sonika is also the salutatorian for Fayette County High.

National Merit Scholarship winners in each state are judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. A committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors selected the winners.

Applicants were evaluated on their academic record, including difficulty of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay describing interests and goals; and the recommendation written by a high school official.

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Sandy Creek Students Top in Nation at Handling Personal Finances

When business teacher Jaime Nicks at Sandy Creek High heard about the newly launched National Financial Capability Challenge, she couldn’t pass it up.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced the Challenge in December 2009 to promote financial education among high school students across the country. More than 76,000 high school students and 2,500 educators participated.

Students in Nicks’ class proved they could successfully manage their personal finances by scoring in the top 20 percent of all students nationwide. A total of 12 students at Sandy Creek were among 14,433 in the country and 87 in Georgia who ranked in the top 20 percent. The students are Arthur Cisneros, Stefon Combs, Tommy Harvey, Chris Matthews, James Morgan, Christopher Powell, John Register, Joshua Reynolds, Devin Smith, Michael Spaulding, A’isha Williams, and Cory Woods.

Nicks makes it her goal to educate her students on all aspects of finances so that they are better prepared for the future. This includes saving for college, knowing about credit and being conscientious consumers.
“No matter what age a person is, one of the most common hardships in life is falling into financial pitfalls. Through the Challenge, I was able to assess how my students compare to those around the nation. We are obviously on the right track. I am very proud of their scores,” says Nicks.

Each of the students will receive official award certificates. They were the only participants from Fayette County in the top 20 percent.

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FSCA Names Counselors of the Year, Installs Officers

Fayette County school counselors celebrated their craft and honored their colleagues during the 10th annual Fayette School Counselors Association (FSCA) Installation of Officers and Awards Ceremony.
Each year the association seeks nominations from members, teachers and administrators for those who are always going above and beyond the call of duty to help students excel at each academic level. One counselor of the year is selected from the elementary, middle and high school level. The 2010 counselors of the year are (elementary) Maria Sherrod, Fayetteville Intermediate; (middle) Natalie Grubbs, Whitewater Middle, and (high) Dr. Sue Hutton, Starr’s Mill High.

In addition to naming counselors of the year, the organization recognizes a non-counselor who has worked hard during the year to advance counseling programs and services at an individual school or system wide. This year’s advocate of the year award was presented to Kim Bryan, a social worker at Sandy Creek High. This marks the second time Bryan has received the advocacy award; it was first presented to her in 2006.

During the ceremony, the association also installed its 2010-2011 officers: Kaye Eubanks (Open Campus) president; LeeAnn Belknap (Bennett’s Mill Middle) president elect; Linda Williams (Brooks Elementary) past president; Kelly Hubbard (Robert J. Burch Elementary) secretary; Tama Matthews (Flat Rock Middle) treasurer; Heather Sherwood (North Fayette Elementary) elementary school vice president; Kristin Cristelli (J.C. Booth Middle) middle school vice president and Sandy Perrin (McIntosh High) high school vice president.

School counselors at all levels provide valuable services to students and their families as well as faculty and staff. On a daily basis they are involved in character education, violence prevention, career planning and much more.

Counselors are professional educators who understand and respond to the challenges presented by today’s diverse population. They don’t work in isolation; rather they are integral to the total educational program. They provide proactive leadership that engages all stakeholders in the delivery of programs and services to help students achieve school success.

Professional school counselors align with the school’s mission to support the academic achievement of all students as they prepare for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. This mission is accomplished through the design, development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive, developmental and systematic school counseling program.

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