Camp Gets Students Ready for School

With just one week left before school starts, J.C. Booth Middle is already abuzz with students as sixth graders flock to Camp Warrior.

The camp provides an in-depth orientation, tackling some of the common issues students new to middle school worry about the most: opening lockers, changing classes, finding rooms, and making friends.

The 2011 sixth grade class is the first to participate in the camp, which was developed by counselors Terese Benefield and Lynda Manwearing. About 260 of the school’s approximately 320 sixth graders signed up to participate in one of the three half day camps held July 26, 27 and 28.

“We had done shadowing in the past, but that didn’t give us enough time with the students,” says Benefield. “We have six feeder elementary schools coming into Booth. We mixed the students up over the three days so that they could get know others outside of their elementary school.”

Campers were divided into four tribes, Apalachee, Oconee, Muskogee and Cherokee. The tribal groups participated in a scavenger hunt to help them become familiar with the school, worked collaboratively on tasks to build relationships, practiced opening lockers, and learned from other students about how to be successful in middle school.

Booth’s 8th grade student ambassadors in the Warrior Blazer program assisted with the camp. Eighth grader Madeline Hervey, who helped check students in on the first day, thinks the camp is a great way to ease anxiety during the first week of school.

“I wish we could have had this when I started sixth grade. Although students worry about their lockers and changing classes, those things come easily after the first day. The biggest worry is making friends and who to sit with at lunch. This camp is a great opportunity for them to get a head start on those things,” says Madeline.

Thanks to Booth’s business partners, the expenses of the camp were covered by donations. Each camper received a T-shirt plus school supplies that are recommended for all students. The school’s business partners that helped sponsor the camp are AJAKO, ClubZ! In-Home Tutoring, Huntington Learning Center, Mathnasium, Mahaffey Orthodontics, Artworks on the Square, McPherson Orthodontics, Walmart, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, and Camden Apartments.

Arrest Made in Traffic Collision Resulting in Fatality

On July 21nd, 2011, the investigation into the fatal vehicle collision that occurred on February 9th, 2011 at Hwy 74 and Aberdeen Parkway, Peachtree City, GA concluded with the arrest of SAMPLES, GENE LEE (40 years of age) of Kilough Church Rd, Dawsonville, GA. SAMPLES is charged with HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE IN THE SECOND DEGREE, DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE.

The investigation revealed that the vehicle collisions occurred when SAMPLES failed to maintain his vehicle in the correct lane, and it drifted into the opposing lanes of on coming traffic. SAMPLES’ vehicle side swiped the vehicle being operated by Mr. Davison, and then had a head on collision with the vehicle being driven by Mr. McGhee. The head on impact from these two vehicles caused a secondary collision with the vehicle that Mrs. Lewis was driving. Mr. Thomas McGhee was pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision. Mrs. Lewis sustained injuries in the collision and was treated by hospital staff at the Atlanta Medical Center. She was later cleared by medical personnel and released. Mr. Davison was released from the scene that date.

Original Release – sent February 9, 2011
On February 9th, 2011 at approximately 8:10 a.m., officers responded to a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Hwy 74 and Aberdeen Parkway, Peachtree City, GA. A preliminary investigation revealed that Mr. Gene Samples, 40 years of age, of Dawsonville, GA was traveling northbound on Hwy 74; Mr. Arthur Davison, 52 years of age, of Tyrone, GA was traveling southbound on Hwy 74 preparing to turn left onto Aberdeen Parkway; Mr. Thomas McGhee, 37 years of age, of East Point, GA was traveling southbound on Hwy 74, and Ms. Michelle Lewis, 38 years of age, was also traveling southbound on Hwy 74. A vehicle collision occurred. Ms. Michelle Lewis was transported by ambulance to the Atlanta Medical Center where she is listed in stable condition. Mr. Thomas McGhee was pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision. Ongoing investigation is being conducted by the department’s Community Response Team, who specializes in collision reconstruction.

School Orientations Scheduled

As students get ready to head back to school on August 8, many will be entering the school system for the first time or graduating to middle or high school.

In order to help students and parents become familiar with their new schools, orientations will be held prior to the beginning of the academic year. During orientation, parents and students will receive information that will help make their first year at their new school an enriching and successful one.

Teachers, counselors, administrators and bus drivers will be on hand to help answer questions.

Representatives from various clubs and organizations will also be in attendance to help introduce parents and students to extracurricular activities available at each school.

The orientation schedule is listed below.

All Elementary Schools will hold orientation on August 4, 4-6 p.m. The following schools will hold special pre-K and/or kindergarten orientations on August 4 or 5 at the times listed below by school.

· Brooks: August 5, Pre-K and Kindergarten, 10-11:30 a.m.
· Crabapple Lane: August 5, Kindergarten only, 9-11 a.m.
· Huddleston: August 4, Kindergarten only, 9-11 a.m.
· North Fayette: August 4, Pre-K and Kindergarten, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
· Peeples: August 4, Kindergarten only, 9-11 a.m.
· Peachtree City: August 4, Kindergarten only, 9-11 a.m.
· Robert J. Burch: August 4, Pre-K and Kindergarten, 9-11 a.m.
· Spring Hill: August 4, Kindergarten only, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Middle Schools
· Bennett’s Mill: August 5, (6th – 2-3:30 p.m.) (7th & 8th – 4-5:30 p.m.)
· Fayette: August 5, (6th – 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.) (7th & 8th – 9-10 a.m.)
· Flat Rock: August 4, (6th only– 2-3:30 p.m.)
Flat Rock: August 5, (7th & 8th – 2:30-4 p.m.)
· J.C. Booth: August 3, (6th – 2-3:30 p.m.) (7th & 8th – 4-5:30 p.m.)
· Rising Starr: August 4, (6th – 9:30-11 a.m.) (7th & 8th – 1:30-3 p.m.)
· Whitewater: August 4, (6th – 9-10:30 a.m.) (7th & 8th – 1:30-3 p.m.)

High Schools
· Fayette County: August 4, (9th grade and new students) – 6 p.m.
· McIntosh: July 28, (Camp McIntosh Freshman Orientation), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
· McIntosh: August 4, (9th grade, for students not attending camp, – 3-4:30 p.m.), (10th grade – 1:30-3 p.m.), (11th grade – 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.), and (12th grade – 9-10:30 a.m.).
· Sandy Creek: August 4, (9th grade and new students) – 6-8 p.m.
· Starr’s Mill: August 4, (9th grade and new students) – 6-8 p.m.
· Whitewater: August 3, (12th – 8-9:30 a.m.) (11th – 9:30-11 a.m.) (10th – 2-3:30 p.m.) (9th – 3:30-5:30 p.m.)