Kedron, Braelinn and Peachtree City Elementary Fourth Graders Take Top Spots at Annual Math Competition

It took four tiebreakers to determine the fourth grade winners of the 11th Annual Fayette County Elementary Math Tournament, but in the end Kedron Elementary was declared the county champs.

The team of Katie Austensen, Ian Buckalew, John Norris, and Clay Lawhead (alternate) answered the most questions correctly and lead their team to victory. Last year Kedron placed third in the competition.

The Braelinn Elementary team of Brady Meyer, Yuna Shimizu, Dylan Yost and Ian Fertig (alternate) finished second with Peachtree City Elementary and the team of Iain Hemenway, Owen Henahan, Jonathan Zhang, and Lucy Stone (alternate) taking third.

The top three teams each received a trophy to take back to their school to celebrate their achievement. In addition, as the county’s fourth grade champion, Kedron’s name will be added to the plaque of champions that is displayed in the math classroom at the LaFayette Educational Center.

All 17 elementary schools had teams of three plus one alternate at the tournament. Participants were determined through each school’s math competition with the four highest scoring students advancing to the county competition.

 1st Place Kedron Elementary: (L-R) Katie Austensen, Ian Buckalew, Clay Lawhead (alternate), and John Norris with teacher Laura Griffies and daughter Susanna.

 2nd Place Braelinn Elementary: (L-R) Ian Fertig (alternate), Brady Meyer, Yuna Shimizu, and Dylan Yost with teacher Dr. Mary Lou Goehring.

3rd Place Peachtree City Elementary: (L-R) Iain Hemenway, Owen Henahan, and Jonathan Zhang with assistant principal Karen Oot. Not pictured is Lucy Stone (alternate).

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Hwy 74 North From Peachtree City Passable

The Georgia Front Page has just received an eyewitness report that Georgia Hwy 74 North from the Kedron area in Peachtree City up to I-85 is passable.  While slick in several spots, the road is currently passable. 

The spot where the most trouble was sighted this morning on the driving adventure was on Oakley Industrial Boulevard in South Fulton County where a number of big tractor trailer trucks were stuck.

Please remember road conditions are changing throughout the day.  Take extra precautions should you have to travel.

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After School Scholarship Program Helps Struggling Families

The holidays may be over, but the gift of giving is still going strong.

Many Fayette County students and their families are in need of help for after school care so that they will have a safe place to stay until their parents can get home from work.

A scholarship fund set up in the name of a long-time advocate and retired employee of the Fayette County School System’s After School Program is aimed at providing temporary assistance to struggling families by providing scholarships for after school tuition.

The Lois Woodward After School Scholarship Fund is named in honor of Lois Woodward, who retired from the school system in October 2010 as a field supervisor of the after school program. She worked for the school system for 25 years, first as a paraprofessional before heading up the first after school program at Kedron Elementary and later at Cleveland Elementary before becoming the program’s field supervisor.

During her years with the program, Woodward worked diligently to make it a safe haven and a place to belong for every child. She disguised learning as exploration and fun, and included families as part of the after school community. Woodward created many activities that are used in the program today such as “Share Your Talent Day,” “High Five Club for Fifth Graders, “and” Family Day.”

On the day of her retirement celebration, the after school program had raised over $1,700 for the scholarship fund, part of the donations came from children and parents at Kedron Elementary who now benefit from what Woodward started.

Woodward recently visited the students in the after school program at Kedron to thank them for their donations and read out loud a copy of Shel Silverstein’s book, “The Giving Tree.”

Woodward hopes the community will remember the following when deciding to make a donation to the fund: “I want the after school program to always be something kids want to do. We had a child once who asked for the program for his birthday present. The scholarship is our present to children and families. It takes all of us to make it better.”

Donations are tax-deductible and can be made in honor of individuals. Contribution checks should be made payable to the FCBOE/Lois Woodward ASP Scholarship Fund, Attention Jane Gough, Fayette County After School Programs, LaFayette Educational Center, 205 LaFayette Avenue, Fayetteville, GA 30214.

More information about the fund can be obtained by calling Jane Gough in the after school program, 770-460-3990, ext. 255.

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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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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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Georgia Recognizes 15 Fayette County Schools for High Academic Performance

Over 50 percent of Fayette County public schools have been recognized by the state for promoting excellence in student achievement.

Out of the county’s 28 schools, eight elementary, two middle and all five high schools received award designations of platinum, gold, silver or bronze based on the number of years the school has made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress), the percentage of students exceeding, and the percentage meeting and exceeding academic standards.

Awards were given in two categories: greatest gain, for schools that showed the greatest improvement on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) or the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT), and highest performance, for schools that demonstrated the highest achievement on the CRCT or GHSGT.

Awards received by Fayette County Public Schools make up four percent of the 327 awards given statewide. All award winners received recognition banners and certificates for display at their schools.

Peachtree City Elementary received a platinum award in the “greatest gain” category. Both Tyrone Elementary and McIntosh High also received platinum awards in the “highest performance” category. These schools made AYP for three consecutive years, had a minimum of 35 percent exceeding standards, and at least 98 percent of students meeting and exceeding standards.

The following schools received gold awards in the “highest performance” category: Peeples Elementary, Kedron Elementary, Peachtree City Elementary, Starr’s Mill High, and Sandy Creek High. These schools made AYP for two consecutive years with 30 percent of students exceeding standards, and at least 97 percent of students meeting and exceeding standards.

Silver award winners in “highest performance” were Crabapple Lane Elementary, Braelinn Elementary, Whitewater High, Bennett’s Mill Middle, and Rising Starr Middle. These schools received silver for making AYP two consecutive years, having a minimum of 25 percent of students exceeding standards, and at least 96 percent of students meeting and exceeding standards.

Cleveland Elementary, Sara Harp Minter Elementary and Fayette County High were awarded bronze for not being in “Needs Improvement” status, having a minimum of 20 percent of students exceeding standards, and at least 95 percent of students meeting and exceeding standards.

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Kedron Retiring Principal Receives Appreciation Quilt

Retiring Kedron Elementary School Principal Karen Bullock will have many precious keepsakes to remind her of her days at the Peachtree City school but one in particular will warm her heart like no other.

Students in Kedron’s after school program assisted in designing a quilt that captures the essence of the school and its students. The quilt features 88 squares decorated by the students with artwork reflecting themselves, the school or the after school program.

Matty Porter and Sara Rowlinson of the Tyrone Recreation Department’s Shamrock Quilters visited the school to teach the students about the art of quilting and assisted them in the final construction of the project. Not only did the students learn a new art form, but they also received lessons on teamwork and history.

“The children were amazed to learn that the early quilters had no craft stores from which to purchase fabric and that they had to wait weeks for mail order supplies. They also learned that quilters in that era often crafted secret spots in the quilt in which to hide money and valuables,” says Christine Clark, coordinator of Kedron’s after school program.

Bullock was presented the quilt during a surprise celebration in the cafeteria. Although Bullock said she had sensed that the students had been working on something, she never dreamed about a quilt.

“I’m thrilled of course. It’s beautiful. It is hanging in the hallway for all parents to see. It will be a keepsake of my memories at Kedron,” says Bullock.

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Mentors Help Students Prepare for CRCT

Gail Joiner tutors students (L-R) Dylan Rumbaugh, Madi Strickland and Josephine Nelson.

The Friends Mentoring Program and Mathnasium, a tutoring service that is a Partner in Education with Kedron Elementary in Peachtree City, joined forces to help fifth graders at the school prepare for the CRCT.

Gail Joiner, a volunteer math mentor, and Kevin Thoman, her boss at Mathnasium, along with several instructors, visited Kedron for CRCT Prep Night. The free sessions offered help with numbers and operations skills, fractions and some geometry.

Joiner, who spent 30 years as a teacher, says mentoring is vital to assisting teachers due to the daily demands that limit the amount of time they can spend with each child.

“The academic, social and emotional needs in a classroom are very diverse. There are a few children who need just that little extra that teachers truly want to give, but due to simple logistics, cannot provide. It’s frustrating for us teaches when we see a child who needs a little more time but we simply can’t provide it. That’s where the mentoring program is so vital,” she says.

The mentor program’s mission is to build positive, long-term relationships between schools and the public by partnering community role models with Fayette County school students to help with the complexities of school, home and community.

“The needs in our classrooms are many and truly does take a village to prepare our children for success,” says Joiner.

Information about the Friends Mentoring Program is available by contacting Jane Gough at 770-460-3990.

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Kedron Elementary Receives Target Grant for Children’s Theater

Kedron Principal Karen Bullock and fifth grade teacher Carla Zonneveld pose with Peachtree City Target representatives Cynthia Burnett and Lynn Jacobs.

Students at Kedron Elementary in Peachtree City are going to star in their own full-scale musical, complete with professional sets and costumes, thanks to the generosity of Target.

Fifth grade teacher Carla Zonneveld was instrumental in helping Kedron receive a $5,000 Target grant to bring the Missoula Children’s Theater to the school in 2009. The grant will fund the weeklong residency of two professional actors/directors who arrive in town with all the costumes, props and sets necessary for a full-scale musical production. The only thing missing is the cast, which is where the students become involved.

The week begins with a casting call on where 50-60 students are selected to fill the roles of a popular children’s story that has been adapted to a musical. Other students will serve as backstage directors, helping with the curtains and lighting and making sure that the actors enter the stage on cue. By Saturday, after a week of intensive rehearsals involving memorizing lines, learning songs and practicing choreography, the students put on two public performances. Tickets are sold to the community for both performances with the school keeping all of the proceeds, which will be used to bring the theatrical group back to the school the following year.

“Bringing a program to a school that will make a lasting impact on some of its students is not difficult, but introducing one that will change the lives of an entire school community is nearly impossible,” say Zonneveld.

This grant is part of ongoing efforts by Target to strengthen families and communities throughout the country. Since opening its doors, Target has given 5 percent of its income to organizations that support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. Today, that translates into more than $3 million every week.

Zonneveld says the Missoula Children’s Theater experience will give students the confidence and skills they need to be effective students while instilling important character traits that they will use for the rest of their lives.

“I have witnessed first-hand the effect this type of training can have on a large group of children. As my daughter attended rehearsals after school, I began to see the whole group changing. By performance day, I was in awe of the talent being displayed with complete confidence. Even the youngest children had developed the discipline and demeanor of seasoned performers,” says Zonneveld.

Schools can apply for Target grants between March 1 and May 31 of each year. Target funds arts programs that bring the arts to schools or make it affordable for youth and families to participate in cultural experiences such as touring programs, field trips to the theater or symphony or artist in residencies and workshops in schools.

“I hope that with the generous support of this grant we will be able to start a tradition of showcasing the arts in our community and changing the lives of many generations of Kedron Knights to come,” says Zonneveld.

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Fayette County Schools Earn Achievement Awards

Fayette’s elementary, middle and high schools have collectively received 30 awards from the Georgia Department of Education in recognition of their academic achievement.

The inaugural Superintendent’s Distinguished Achievement Awards honor schools that had the highest achievement and greatest improvement on state curriculum tests: the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT), the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) and the End-of-Course Test (EOCT).

All of Fayette’s awards were given in the “achievement” category. The top 10 schools in the state with the highest percentage of students scoring in the “exceeds” category in each honored subject area and grade level received achievement awards. The honored subjects and grade levels include Grades 1-8 Reading CRCT; Grades 2 and 6 English Language Arts CRCT; Grade 9 Literature EOCT; American Literature EOCT; English Language Arts and Reading GHSGT; Grades 1-8 Mathematics CRCT; Algebra I EOCT; Geometry EOCT; Mathematics GHSGT; Grades 4 and 8 Social Studies CRCT; U.S. History EOCT; Economics EOCT; Social Studies GHSGT; Grades 5-8 Science CRCT; Physical Science EOCT and Biology EOCT.

A total of six elementary and middle schools received achievement awards for performance on the CRCT:
Braelinn Elementary – Grade 2 Reading and Grade 2 Mathematics
Huddleston Elementary – Grade 2 English Language Arts and Grade 2 Mathematics
Kedron Elementary – Grade 2 Mathematics, Grade 3 Mathematics, Grade 4 Reading, Grade 4 Mathematics, Grade 4 Social Studies, Grade 5 Mathematics and Grade 5 Science
Peeples Elementary – Grade 4 Mathematics
Bennett’s Mill Middle – Grade 6 Science and Grade 7 Science
Rising Starr Middle – Grade 6 Reading, Grade 6 Mathematics, Grade 6 Science and Grade 7 Mathematics

Both McIntosh and Starr’s Mill high schools received achievement awards for performance on the EOCT:
McIntosh – Algebra I, Geometry, American Literature, Biology, Physical Science and Economics
Starr’s Mill – Physical Science and Economics

Again, both McIntosh and Starr’s Mill earned achievement awards for the GHSGT:

McIntosh – English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics and Social Studies
Starr’s Mill – Mathematics
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Summer Camps at Kedron!!

Planning ahead for summer?

Keep your kids active and involved! Kedron is offering three different summer camps this year!

Budding Artists Art Camp is returning this summer!

• Artists will explore 2D &3D media including paints, printmaking, clay & sculpture, all connected to learning about artists, artistic styles & cultures!
• 4 sessions available, weeks of June 16th and June 23
K – 2nd grades (07-08), 8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
• 3rd – 5th grades (07-08), 1 – 4:45 p.m.
• Instructor: Joy Kembel, Kedron art teacher

Computer Graphic Artist Camp for 4th and 5th graders (07 – 08) is new this summer!

• Computer artists will learn basic design concepts and how to apply them successfully using a state of the art image editor to create a variety of graphic design projects!
• 1 session available, week of June 9-13th, 8:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
• Instructors: Sally McWilliams, Kedron technology teacher
Joy Kembel, Kedron art teacher

Computer Clay Animation Camp for 4th and 5th graders (07 – 08) is new this summer!

• Computer artists will combine original 3D artwork, photography and stop-motion animation using state of the art computer programs!
• 1 session available, week of June 9 – 13th, 1 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
• Instructors: Sally McWilliams, Kedron technology teacher
Joy Kembel, Kedron art teacher

Look for flyers in the office or coming home with your child – also check online at FCBOE.org
All camps $200 per session (includes supplies)
Spaces limited. Call the Community School (770-460-3990, ext. 470) to pre-register.