Norman Named Georgia’s Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year

Students love her history classes, so much so that she has earned a reputation as being one of the best teachers in her school and in the Fayette County Public School System. Now that reputation has extended statewide.

The Georgia Council for the Social Studies has named Janet Norman of Fayette County High Georgia’s Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year.

Norman lives and breaths history, and it shows. She has created a number of “traveling trunks” full of artifacts she has collected from her travels. She uses them in class to help students connect to history and develop an appreciation for the past.

Her dedication to her students and their understanding of history is evident in the amount of time she spends outside of the classroom preparing teaching materials that capture and hold their attention. To date, she has created 23 PowerPoint presentations that address each standard from the GPS for U.S. History, all done on her personal time.

She does not catch a break in the summer either. She has participated in all three of Fayette’s Teaching American History Grants spanning 2003 to 2010. Grant participants spend the summer learning about a specific era of American history and have the opportunity to travel to various areas of the country to visit historical sites and listen to guest lecturers. Each grant is a two-year commitment. Not intent on slowing down any time soon, Norman is applying to participate in a fourth Teaching American History grant that has been awarded to the school system.

As Georgia’s Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year, Norman received a $250 cash award and a two-year comprehensive membership to the National Council for the Social Studies.

In order to be nominated, teachers must utilize activities that demonstrate significant service and foster the development of democratic values and citizenship in the classroom, school, and community; show efforts toward improving student learning; exhibit professional involvement beyond the normal job requirements; and use multiple sources to enhance social studies instruction.

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McIntosh Makes High Q History

Posing on the set of High Q following their history making victory are Scott Bradford, Karen Anderson, Nathan Pearson, and Logan Austin.

Anyone watching High Q (the scholastic high school competition on WSB-TV Channel 2) Sunday afternoon witnessed history in the making as the McIntosh High Academic Team garnered the most points ever earned by a single team on the game show.

McIntosh scored 910 points to Grady High School’s respectable 460 points. Not only did McIntosh win, earning the highest score ever, but also the combined score of the two teams was the highest in the show’s 25-year history.

Members of McIntosh’s Academic Team are Karen Anderson (captain), Logan Austin, Scott Bradford, and Nathan Pearson. Team coach Lynne Bruschetti says reading and retention is what makes the team successful.

“They are inquisitive students who read everything they can get their hands on. When they read, they remember everything that they read,” she says.

The team practices at least once a week from August until the end of the season in February, but they often get in a second session by joining the Junior Varsity practice. In addition to studying subjects such as history, math, literature, science and the arts, the team prepared for High Q by looking at current events that were making headlines the week of the competition.

This was the first year in several seasons of High Q that a high school from the Fayette County Public School System had appeared on the show; systems are chosen at random each year. In order to determine which high school would represent Fayette, a local competition between the county’s high school academic teams was held.

McIntosh will attempt to repeat their stellar performance on January 16 when the team returns to High Q to take on Walton High.

High Q airs weekly Sunday afternoons on WSB-TV Channel 2.

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Check out the new Fayette Sheriff website!

I ran into Sheriff Hannah tonight at the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce Expo. And no, I didn't run into him with my car or knock him down! I was at the Expo table for the Clothes Less Traveled Thrift Shop as he was making the rounds. We chatted for a few minutes about a number of Fayette issues, one of them being the new website the Sheriff's office has been working on.

When I got home, unpacked, and settled in, I popped over to see what it looked like. I spent more time than I intended wandering around the new site. I was impressed. It's not 100% complete yet, but the information links kept me clicking!

I checked my neighborhood to see if there were any sex offenders nearby. Nope.

Then I popped over to the link titled "Crime Mapping". I was able to put in my address and find out where crimes had occurred around my home. I got nosy and expanded the viewing area to see the kind of things going on outside my immediate area. I'll be clicking that link again!

I looked under the "Records Section" to see crime statistics and then clicked on a few others under the heading just to see what kind of information was offered. Good to know it's there in case I need it some day.

Of course I looked at Fayette County's Most Wanted Fugitives. Didn't recognize anyone...

There are some areas that are currently being worked on (Kids Page, Fiscal Information and others), but they're coming.

Oh, and I also signed up under the "Community Notifications" tab to get alerts from the Sheriff's office. I'm already getting them for Peachtree City and Tyrone so was happy to discover I could add the areas outside the cities. It's great info and I highly encourage everyone in Fayette County to sign up. They can text alerts and / or email them to you.

It looks like this is going to be the kind of site you'll want to stop by and "visit" more than once. They have links to quite a few state and local agencies, contact info in the event you want to call the Sheriff's Dept., employment opportunities, crime prevention tips... the list is long.

Be sure to click on "Office of the Sheriff" and then click "History of the Office of Sheriff". It's interesting reading.

I think the website is going to be a valuable resource for Fayette residents. Go take a peek.

www.FayetteSheriff.org

- jmd
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Fayette County BOE Proclaims Sept 17-23 as Constitution Week

At the recent Fayette County Board of Education meeting, the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was presented with a proclamation declaring September 17-23, 2010, as Constitution Week in the Fayette County Schools.  This is the fourth year the Board of Education has presented the proclamation to the DAR. 

The DAR visits several of the county's elementary schools in September to teach the children about the history of the United States Constitution. Constitution Week Vice Chairman Ann Eldredge stated, "The ladies of the DAR practice what we preach.  We love to teach the children about the origins of the Constitution.  Over the last three years, our members have spoken to over 1300 4th and 5th graders in Fayette County.  Each year, we dress in clothing which represents the time frame of the American Revolution and try to bring the Constitution to life.  The children learn about how the Constitution was framed and about some of the men who represented the state of Georgia. The younger children are given bookmarks with the preamble to the Constitution while the older students are given booklets of the Constitution.  We wouldn't be able to provide these booklets without the continuing support of our Georgia Congressmen and Senators."

Betty Harrah, Regent of the James Waldrop Chapter DAR, also presented a certificate of appreciation to the BOE for the ongoing support of the Constitution.

The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville, GA.

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Sandy Creek Students Nearly Sweep Writing Competition

Pictured (l-r) are Nia Decaille, English teacher Monica Dorner, Linda Wilkins, Principal Roy Rabold, Camara Carter and former Georgia School Superintendent Kathy Cox.

Three rising seniors at Sandy Creek High took the top three placements in the 14th Georgia History Day Essay Contest, nearly sweeping the entire competition sponsored by “Georgia Voyager” magazine and the Brunswick-Golden Isles Visitors Bureau.

The winners are (first place) Linda Wilkins; (second place) Nia Decaille and (third place) Camara Carter. Their winning essays will be published in the “Georgia Voyager” magazine. Over 2,000 Georgia students wrote essays on this year’s theme, “Georgia Authors.”

The winners were recognized at a special Georgia History Day ceremony held at the Georgia Department of Education in May. Awards are given to first, second, third and fourth place winners at the middle and high school levels. The competition is open to all Georgia students in grades 6-12.

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Anderson Named Outstanding Teacher of American History by James Waldrop DAR

Rhonda Anderson with James Waldrop Chapter DAR American History Chairman Phyllis King.

Rhonda Anderson, who teaches at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School, was recently named Outstanding Teacher of American History for 2010 by the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

Anderson is the Social Studies Department Chair and views the study of history as "life enrichment" that should be offered to all students. According to Anderson, history should be recalled, quoted, performed, sang, memorized, and celebrated both inside and outside the classroom.

The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville, Georgia.

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Fayette County's New Illustrated History Book

The Fayette County Chamber is offering a new illustrated history of Fayette County for a limited time at an introductory price of $25. The beautiful new book, Historic Fayette County, is authored by Fayette’s official county historian, Carolyn Cary, who has captured Fayette County’s history and heritage from its creation in 1821. Read about the first inhabitants of Fayette, the story of the burning courthouse, how Fayette fared in the war between the states, stories of old communities, and much more! The book is filled with photographs from the past to the present, with a painting of the old courthouse on the cover by established artist and Fayette resident, Vicki Turner.

The community is invited to join Carolyn Cary and Vicki Turner at book signings on Saturday, October 3, 2-4 pm at the Fayette County Public Library, 1821 Heritage Park Way or Sunday, October 18, 2:30-4 pm at the Fayette County Historical Society, 195 Lee Street, Fayetteville. Refreshments will be served. For more information, visit www.FayetteChamber.org or call the Chamber at 770.461.9983.

Books can be purchased at the book signings or at the Chamber office at 200 Courthouse Square, Fayetteville.

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Fayette County Student Attends Inaugural Festivities and Ball

A McIntosh High student will get the history lesson of a lifetime next week as she attends Inauguration Day events and an Inaugural Ball in celebration of the 44th President of the United States.

Morgan Wright, a junior, will spend five days in Washington, DC as a participant in the Presidential Youth Inaugural Conference where she will gain a deeper understanding of the history behind the electoral process and the rich traditions surrounding the presidential inauguration.

Participants at the conference will have the opportunity to interact with presidential candidates, White House officials, congressional staff members, political experts and other VIP’s such as former Secretary of State General Colin L. Powell and former Vice President Al Gore.

After witnessing the inauguration, Wright will view the inaugural parade and later that evening she will attend an exclusive Black Tie Gala Inaugural Ball.

In addition to participating in inaugural events and festivities, Wright will also have the opportunity to explore numerous historical sites and monuments and participate in roundtable discussions, debates and other activities that will help expand her knowledge of democratic principals and the presidential election process.

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History Buffs Wanted at the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum

The Holliday-Dorsey-Fife (HDF) Museum will offer two docent training classes on Sat., March 8 and March 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This training is for anyone interested in becoming a part of history. Not only will you receive exhibit training, but you will hear entertaining stories about the people and places in Fayetteville.

The training includes a workbook and stories about our seven exhibit rooms including the Family Room from which the Museum is named, The War Between the States Room and Fayetteville’s participation in it, The Gone With the Wind Room and Margaret Mitchell’s ties to Fayetteville, The Fayette County Room that tracts Fayetteville’s colorful timeline, The 1800’s Bedroom, the recently dedicated Veteran’s Room and a special rotating exhibit room which currently features the largest Gerber baby food collection.

The HDF Museum is a Greek revival antebellum house built in 1855. Learn about the local ties between Doc Holliday and Gone With the Wind and why Across the street, the Museum offers tours of the Historic City Cemetery where Margaret Mitchell’s great grandparents are laid to rest.

The Museum is searching for people interested in history, museum preservation or community service. The training will be conducted by City Historian and House Manager John Lynch and Debi Riddle, Museum Coordinator. For more information or to register for one of the docent training classes please call 770-716-5332 or email jlynch@fayetteville-ga.gov.