All of Fayette’s High Schools Make State’s AP Honor List

All five of Fayette’s public high schools made Georgia’s 2011 list of AP (Advanced Placement) Honor Schools, with the majority earning recognition in multiple categories based on the results of AP exams.

AP classes offer rigorous college-level learning options to students in high school. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams may receive college credit. AP classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT.

Both Fayette County and Sandy Creek High schools placed in the AP Access and Support Schools category: schools with 30 percent of AP test takers that are African-American or Hispanic, and at least 30 percent of all AP exams scoring 3 or higher.

Starr’s Mill High is listed as an AP Merit School: schools with at least 20 percent of students taking AP exams, and at least half of the AP exams scoring a 3 or higher.

McIntosh High, Sandy Creek High, Starr’s Mill High and Whitewater High schools made the list for AP STEM Schools: schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics B, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science).

McIntosh High, Sandy Creek High, Starr’s Mill High and Whitewater High schools also are listed in the AP STEM Achievement Schools category: schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses, and at least 40 percent of the exam scores on AP math and AP science exams scoring a 3 or higher.

More than 350 high schools throughout the state were named AP Honor Schools.

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Fayette Students Nominated for Governor’s Honors

A total of 54 students from Fayette’s five high schools were selected for statewide interviews for the 2011 Governor’s Honors Program.

Results of the interviews will determine the finalists who will participate in the four-week program this summer on the campus of Valdosta State University. Students interviewed in the following disciplines: communicative arts, mathematics, biology, physics, social studies, Spanish, French, German, dance, theatre, visual arts, music/voice, music/brass, music/strings, music/woodwinds, executive management, and technology.

The Governor’s Honors Program provides intellectually gifted and artistically talented high school students challenging and enriching educational opportunities not usually available during the regular school year. Activities give participants 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 those for state consideration are selected.

Statewide interviews are now complete; students who are chosen to participate in the program will be announced on March 25.

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Wal-Mart Shooter Surrenders

The third suspect wanted in connection with the Armed Robbery at the Fayetteville Wal-Mart is in the Fayette County Jail.

Brandon Thomas Mann, 18, of Fairburn turned himself in to the Fayetteville Police just before noon February 9, accompanied by his attorney.

Mann had been wanted since February 4, 2011, when Fayetteville detectives had obtained arrest warrants for him. During the investigation, Fayetteville Police obtained evidence pointing to Mann as the shooter in the September 17, 2010, robbery.

Mann was taken into custody at the Fayetteville Police Department without incident. Fayetteville Detective Scott Israel gave praise to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Clayton County Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department and the Fairburn Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

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Fayette Senior Services Presents Rhapsody in Blues

A glamorous night of fabulous food and incredible music is planned for Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center’s 3rd annual signature event to benefit Meals On Wheels, transportation, and other life enriching services to help Fayette’s seniors live well and age well. “Rhapsody in Blues” – an evening of Blue Denim, Blue Diamonds, & the Blues – will be Saturday, March 12, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., concert at 7:30 p.m. In concert will be Eden Brent (www.EdenBrent.com) performing torchy blues and sophisticated jazz and everything that lies in between.

Eden Brent’s piano playing and singing style ranges from a melancholic whisper to a full-blown juke joint holler. She ably blends an earthy meld of jazz, blues, soul, and pop as she huskily invites listeners into her lazy, lush world. Brent’s performances are fresh and spontaneous, often filled with audience requests and participation.

Much more than the blues flows through Brent’s talented hands: Critics laud her “Bessie Smith meets Diana Krall meets Janis Joplin” attitude, compare her to jazz/pop dynamos Norah Jones and Sarah Vaughn, and wax effusively about her “whiskey-smoke” voice.

Her unshakable talent and her carefree demeanor have taken her across the country and around the world, with appearances at the Kennedy Center, the 2000 Republican National Convention, the venerable Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and tours of South Africa and Norway under her belt.

With the 2008 release of her album Mississippi Number One, Brent has taken her place as one of the fresh voices propelling this vital American music forward. As Chip Eagle, publisher of Blues Revue, BluesWax, and Dirty Linen says, “in Eden’s huge playing and singing you can hear the ghosts of Mississippi in duet with the future of the blues.”

This unique “fun”-raising evening will include glittering door prizes, a dazzling raffle, and shopping for “bling” at the Blue Diamond Boutique.

The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for guests to mingle with friends while enjoying a sumptuous buffet prepared by Fayette Senior Services’ executive chef, Donnie Wuerl and Mary Jane Hollister of Something Delightful Bakery Cafe. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. Food and beverages from the “Blue Denim Lounge,” will be available throughout the evening. Guests can enjoy the evening in the comfort of their best denim paired with dressy attire.

Tickets for this event are $85 per person (general seating). Reserved table seating is available for $100 per person. Seats are limited. Tickets are available at Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center, 4 Center Drive, Fayetteville; Heritage Bank, 440 N. Jeff Davis Dr., Fayetteville; The Bank of Georgia, 100 Westpark Drive, Peachtree City; Bank of North Georgia, 602 Dogwood Trail, Tyrone. Or purchase tickets by phone, 770-461-0813.For more than 30 years, Fayette Senior Services, Inc. (FSS), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, has been making a meaningful difference in the emotional, social, and physical well-being of older adults; preserving their independence, improving their quality of life, and connecting them to the community. For active older adults age 50+ Fayette Senior Services Life Enrichment Center offers a wide variety of social, leisure, fitness and recreational activities, the award-winning Ultimate Café, and more. For more information about Fayette Senior Services visit www.FayetteLifeEnrichment.org.

Wal-Mart Shooter surrenders

The third suspect wanted in connection with the Armed Robbery at the Fayetteville Wal-Mart is in the Fayette County Jail. Brandon Thomas Mann, 18, of Fairburn turned himself in to the Fayetteville Police just before noon today, accompanied by his attorney. Mann had been wanted since February 4, 2011 when Fayetteville detectives had obtained arrest warrants for him. During the investigation, Fayetteville Police obtained evidence pointing to Mann as the shooter in the September 17, 2010 Robbery. Mann was taken into custody at the Fayetteville Police Department without incident. Fayetteville Detective Scott Israel gave praise to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Clayton County Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department and the Fairburn Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

Students Showcase Literacy Skills at Regional Festival

Elementary and middle school poetry recitation and ready writing competitors collectively earned seven awards in the 2011 Regional Literacy Days Festival.

The annual festival was held February 2-3 in Griffin, Ga. hosted by Griffin RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency). Students from school systems in Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties competed in three areas: Poetry Recitation, Ready Writing and Drama.

Fayette’s poetry recitation competitors came just one grade level short of receiving a placement in each grade. (Third Grade) Olivia Wernecke, second place, Braelinn Elementary; (Fourth Grade) Barrett Hester, first place, Braelinn Elementary; (Sixth Grade) Aubrey Bennett, second place, Rising Starr Middle; (Seventh Grade) Simone Jones, third place, Fayette Middle; and (Eighth Grade) Ellie Klarl, first place, Flat Rock Middle.

Two students from Rising Starr Middle placed in the Ready Writing portion of the competition. (Sixth Grade) Ethan Roland, third place; (Eighth Grade) Emma Wernecke, first place.

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“RAMP” Counseling Programs at North Fayette and Burch Elementary

The school counseling programs at North Fayette and Robert J. Burch Elementary schools are “ramped” up just in time for National School Counseling Week February 7-11.

Both schools have been notified that they have received the Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program (RAMP) designation, certifying thattheir school counseling programs exemplify the characteristics that facilitate student success.

The RAMP designation, awarded to schools that align with the criteria set in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment.
More than 350 schools nationwide have received the designation since the program’s inception.

The application process is involved and takes a significant amount of time to complete being that it must cover an entire school year. RAMP applications are reviewed once a year by a panel of school counseling professionals.

The designation is valid for three years. At the end of three years, schools can apply again to continue to be designated a RAMP school.

North Fayette and Robert J. Burch will receive a plaque of recognition during a special ceremony at the ASCA annual conference in Seattle, Washington on June 27.

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DECA Students Dominate at Regional Competition

Whitewater High’s DECA club members show no sign of losing steam as they continue to mount awards, most recently upstaging their competitors at the DECA Regional Competition on January 27 at the Rockdale Career Academy.

The club took home the most awards with 23 out of the 35 members placing in the top four and advancing to the state competition February 24-26 in Atlanta.

Students going to the state tournament include:

(First Place) Lena Alston, Olivia Bankston, Katie Cassidy, Josh Deas, Jordan Garrett, Erin Mahlbacher, Kayla Maxwell, and RoShonda Welch.

(Second Place) Ryan Gray, Theresa Lasal, Megan McDowell, Alex Resnak, Danielle Ruttinger, Mikayla Stewart and, Tanner Sweatman.

(Third Place) Taylor Birkhead, Carolyn Dishburger, Austen Hammond, Case Jackson, Emily Layland and, J'Lynn Lewis.

(Fourth Place) Lauren Morrison and Melody Ognio.

DECA is an organization that aims to prepare students for careers in marketing, management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

To advance in the competition, students must demonstrate their knowledge and business savvy in a particular industry or trade, for example, tourism or sports marketing, management or finance.

Each event includes a written test portion and one or two role-playing scenarios. In the role-playing scenarios, students take on the type of challenges they might face in their chosen industries.

Students have only 10 minutes to read their scenario and take notes before they must give a 10-minute presentation and answer questions from the judge. They are scored based on how well they cover key points and the overall polish of their presentation.

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Two Fayetteville Armed Robbery Suspects Caught , One Still at Large

The Fayetteville Police Department arrested two suspects connected to a September 17, 2010 Armed Robbery of a man and his wife in the parking lot of the Fayetteville Wal-Mart. Antonio Jamal Blakely, 25, of Riverdale and William Anthony Manuel, 20, of Fairburn are in the Fayette County jail charged with Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. Brandon Thomas Mann, 18, of Fairburn is wanted on Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony charges.

The incident occurred in the early morning hours when the victims were approached, while walking to their vehicle, by a suspect pointing a pistol at the torso of the male victim. The suspect demanded the victim’s wallet and the victim’s wife’s purse. The victim refused and two shots were fired as the victims ran from the area. The suspects fled the Wal-Mart in a red Chevrolet Tahoe.

Investigation by the Fayetteville Police Criminal Investigations Division led them to Blakely’s residence in Riverdale, where Fayetteville Detectives and Clayton County Police served a search warrant on Thursday, February 3, 2011 and located the Tahoe hidden in the garage. Detectives also uncovered additional evidence which led them to Manuel and Mann.

Fayetteville Police are asking for information regarding Mann’s whereabouts. Mann is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about Mann is encouraged to contact Detective Scott Israel at (770) 719-4223 or Detective Mike Whitlow at (770) 719-4222.

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After a Decade of Service as Public School Mentor, Camper Still Going Strong

At 7:30 a.m. Bill Camper is at Peachtree City Elementary mentoring a student from Betty Stricklen’s first grade classroom. Before classes begin, Camper and his mentee go over what was taught the day before so the student is on task with the rest of his classmates. Camper stays with his mentee for the Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence, standing tall, hand over his heart. He will be back three more times before the week is done. This has been Camper’s ritual since 2000, and he has no plans of stopping any time soon.

“I have survived all these years for some reason. I keep trying to find out what it is,” he says jokingly.
With 10 years of service under his belt, Camper is the longest running volunteer mentor in the Friends Mentoring Program of the Fayette County Public School System. He is one of over 100 adults and teens who volunteer as mentors for students at all levels in the school system.

“My involvement as a tutor has kept me informed of changes in our education system. It allows me to maintain contact with my children and grandchildren’s generations,” he says.

During his tenure, Camper has worked with 13 students from Peachtree City Elementary, providing an hour a week of instruction for students who need extra academic help. He keeps in close contact with his students’ teacher so that he can help reinforce the material that is being taught in class. He prefers working with his mentees before school so that the two of them can go over what was covered the day before.

“My strategy is to help the student start the day at the same level as the rest of the class,” Camper says.
A son of an immigrant family from Costa Rica, Camper is fluent in Spanish, and has helped ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) students learn English in addition to working with regular education students. He currently is working with two first graders from Betty Sticklen’s class. He has worked with Stricklen’s students the entire time he has been a mentor.

“I love this man, and have such great respect for what he has done for my students and our community. He works with students who are having academic difficulties, but he teaches them so much more than just academics,” says Stricklen.

Camper served 31 years in the United States Army, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He models respect and self-discipline, and expects the same from his mentees. He requires feet on the floor, stresses no hats indoors, and compliments a neat appearance.

“Students can do things differently at home, but these are the expectations I have for them at school,” he says.

While enlisted in the Army, he spent 12 years attending college at night to earn a degree in education and social studies. After retiring, he decided he preferred working outdoors; he started a landscape design and construction business that he ran for 20 years. Now, he has come full circle, putting his life experiences and formal education to good use by helping students in the community.

“I have an opportunity to reinforce with students the best of American culture and values, and observe the best that our educators are contributing to our country’s future,” he says.

The Friends Mentoring Program needs additional mentors of all ages and backgrounds to help and befriend students who are struggling academically or just need someone to be there for them. Mentors commit to working with their student one hour per week during the school year. Mentors must go through a background check and complete a training program before being assigned a mentee. Interested persons should contact Jane Gough of the Friends Mentoring Program, 770-460-3990, ext. 255.

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Selection of Fayette’s Top Teacher Underway

Two science teachers and a math teacher round out this year’s finalists for Fayette County Teacher of the Year.

None of them envisioned teaching as a career; instead they wanted fame and fortune until a miraculous realization about themselves changed their lives forever. Read their stories and you will know why they have been selected as “the best of the best.”

On his way to becoming a specialist at nuclear image reconstruction programming, Keelan Seabolt, a physics teacher at Sandy Creek High, discovered he was missing something: personal satisfaction.
Seabolt says he never thought about teaching as a career even though his mother and sister were successful math teachers. His dream was to become a successful research scientist. While studying physics at Georgia Tech, he got his first taste of teaching.

“I signed up to become a teaching assistant in calculus. I thought to myself that I had always enjoyed math and was able to help clarify abstract concepts to my friends who were enrolled in upper level math courses,” says Seabolt. “Plus, I felt it would be a great addition to my growing resume for graduate school or employment.”

Although his classes were successful and he enjoyed the rush he felt when his students finally understood an abstract concept, he still had his mind set on being a research physicist. He continued his research at the University of Florida when one day it hit him: he needed to interact with others and pass his knowledge on to future generations.

Seabolt moved back to Georgia and secured a sixth grade math teaching position at Bennett’s Mill Middle where he taught for a year before moving to his alma mater, Sandy Creek High.

Seabolt says a successful teacher has to know his subject, but also his students.

“I care for each student and their success in my class. I enjoy helping them improve their belief in themselves and their own ability to learn by showing them that physics isn’t just for students who are good in math or science,” he says.

Seabolt uses a variety of methods to address students’ various learning styles. Along with traditional exams and quizzes, students also draw comics and cartoons about energy, and design plans for effective energy conservation for at home and school.

Seabolt has taught in the Fayette County Public School System for five years.

Shelly Dowse’s road to teaching mirrors Seabolt’s. She loved science in high school, and her teacher, Mrs. JoAnne Reid. She saw how hard Mrs. Reid worked and thought to herself, “Who in their right mind would ever consider this kind of career?”

So off to college she went to major in biological engineering and make lots of money.

“I was going to make artificial body parts. Everyone would think that I was important and smart, and they would know that I made lots of money by the fancy car I drove,” she says.

Ironically, just like Seabolt, she finally realized she was not going to enjoy life as an engineer. Why? She knew she needed to be around people, in her words, “lots and lots of people.”

She changed her major to education and set her sights on becoming a science teacher.

“That’s when I said bye-bye BMW; hello, used car,” she jokes.

But Dowse has never looked back on her decision to teach. She knows she ended up with the career that is perfect for her.

Dowse teaches chemistry at McIntosh High. She knows the subject is difficult and scary to her students, so she does little things to encourage them such a pat on the back, a nudge in the right direction when they are off track, 20 minutes of extra instruction before or after school, or an extra push when they are not pushing themselves.

“Doing these things occur as naturally as blinking or breathing, but these are what students consider special, the qualities that separate the good from the average,” she says.

The tried and true qualities that have proven successful in her classroom are fairness; flexibility; positive, supportive attitude; organized delivery of lessons; and practical application of these lessons to everyday life. And, at the top of the list, building relationships with students.

Dowse says the rewards in teaching are countless. In her mind, it is the little things that are monumental.

“It’s the baby steps my students and I take that lead us to conquering equation problems at the end of the semester, the personal maturity that takes place in their sophomore or junior year, and their growth as a person,” she says. “I like to take a smidgen of credit for that. It’s nice to think that perhaps my endless reminders about using manners or being nice or honest has had an effect on them.”

Dowse has taught for 20 years. She has spent the last four of them at McIntosh.

Aimee Gumerson did not just “play” school growing up; she lived it. Her mother and grandmother opened a Christian preschool in Fayette County and she helped out. As a teenager, she was creating classroom materials and helping teachers with small tasks. But this experience did not steer her to pursue an educational career; instead, she was going to be the next Barbara Walters or Diane Sawyer.
“I wanted to be a world famous reporter,” she says.

That was until her sophomore year at Georgia State University when she realized journalism was not for her.

“Journalists are known for their cynicism. I’m a bit of an optimist, so I preferred a career without that sort of negativity,” she explains.

That is when the idea struck her that perhaps she would like to be a teacher. She changed her studies to middle grades education with a major in language arts and a minor in math. Gumerson is currently a math teacher at Fayette Middle.

Gumerson says she has been surrounded by great teachers all of her life, from working in her family’s preschool through elementary to high school. She is certain it was these experiences that lead her to teach.

“I learned that children deserve to be taught by individuals who genuinely care for and about them. I realized that teaching requires intense dedication and devotion from teachers as well as a passion for sharing a subject they love with students. These factors made the decision to become a teacher the most natural choice,” she says.

Getting students interested in math and wanting to come back for more takes a little persuasion.

Gumerson uses traditional teaching methods sparingly, and incorporates more hands-on learning.

“I like putting students into pairs, small groups, and teams, and having them work together to be fully engaged in whatever content we’re learning. I like to use class games and real-life scenarios to illustrate the concepts to my students and get them involved in their learning,” she adds.

Like most teachers, it is those “aha” moments that Gumerson finds most rewarding.

“I live for the moments when students actually get it and I can see them get the same correct response that I got. When they feel confident enough to show their neighbor what to do, or when they raise their hand confidently to volunteer, those experiences are the very reasons why I enjoy teaching year after year,” she says.

Gumerson has taught for 12 years, all in the Fayette County Public School System. She taught at Whitewater Middle, Fayette County High, and Flat Rock Middle before joining the staff at Fayette Middle.

The 2011 Fayette County Teacher of the Year winner will be announced on April 21, 6 pm, during the annual ceremony at New Hope Baptist Church, North Campus.

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Counselors Host Career Fair in Honor of National School Counseling Week

Over 1,700 eighth graders from the county’s five public middle schools will participate in the largest career fair held within the Fayette County Public School System.

Middle school counselors have organized the seventh annual 8th Grade Career Fair, slated for February 3-4 at Heritage Christian Church, in honor of National School Counseling week February 7-11. This special week honors school counselors for the important role they play in helping students examine their talents, strengths, abilities and interests.

The fair will showcase a diversity of career options for students to consider after high school graduation. By combining their efforts into one centralized fair, the eighth grade counselors are able to expose students to a larger variety of career fields than they would by organizing individual fairs at their schools. Each school was responsible for inviting members from the community to take part.

This year’s National School Counseling Week theme is “School Counselors: Helping Students Reach New Heights.”

Fayette’s school counselors make a positive difference in the lives of students everyday by providing a number of important services including character education, academic advisement, and programs designed to develop personal and social skills. Their affect on the county’s educational program is evidenced by the high academic achievements, awards and honors earned by students throughout the school system.

“We are pleased and thankful for the efforts that our counselors make everyday. They are a vital support to our educational program here in Fayette,” says Barbara Serapion, director of pupil personnel services.

Schools throughout the county will celebrate the week with various activities. Community members are invited to express their appreciation for school counselors February 7-11. Ideas on how to honor counselors can be found on the American School Counselor Association website, www.schoolcounselor.org. The site features several free downloads, including an appreciation certificate.

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Over 30 Science Projects Headed for Regional Contest

What’s the most natural light bulb for cosmetic purposes? Do electric golf carts leave a smaller carbon footprint than gas ones? Does the color of the greenhouse affect plant growth? And what about tomato plants, can hydrogen peroxide affect their growth?

These are just a few of the questions raised by student science projects that took first place at the 2011 Fayette County Science and Engineering Fair. A total of 31 high and middle school projects earned first place honors.

The projects are now heading to the Griffin RESA Regional Science and Engineering Fair that will be held in Griffin on February 28. Below are the students who will participate; they compete individually or as a team.

High School First Place Winners

Fayette County High: Nageen Merchant, Areesha Ikram, Donna Pham; Omar Martinez-Uribe and Dae Kim; Sarika Reddy and Malika Reddy.

McIntosh High: Hannah Mason and Leslie Sellers.

Sandy Creek High: Helen Davidson.

Starr’s Mill High: Vivian Nguyen and Mynah Holloway; Morgan Caola; Rebekah Livingston; Jessica Richey.

Whitewater High: Tommy Erbe and Drew Halbert; Austin Dill.

Middle School First Place Winners

Bennett’s Mill Middle: Tiana Sherman and Ian Belwood; Jamie DeCicco and Jordan Watson; Michael Koenig, Matthew Melatti, and Hudson Huber; Matthew Harmon; Nicholas Powell; Dale Chapman; Laura Phillipp.

J.C. Booth Middle: Lianna Arcelay; Jonathan Ciecka; Amelia Traylor; Benjamin Naber.
Fayette Middle: Anna Franklin.

Flat Rock Middle: MarcJamal LaGrande; Preston Earle; Ellie Klarl.

Rising Starr Middle: Annefloor de Groot and Brooke Wade; Emilia Ruzicka.

Whitewater Middle: Sarah Chapman; Stephanie Johnson.

Special awards were also given at the competition. Both Jessica Richey (Starr’s Mill High) and Sarah Chapman (Whitewater Middle) received the Armed Forces Communication and Electronics Association Award; Lionel Jones (Bennett’s Mill Middle) received the Institute for Environmental Insight Award; Jenny Ritter (Bennett’s Mill Middle) received the Capital Microscope Teacher Award.

Additionally, the following students received the Fayette County Association of Educators Special Recognition Award: Nageen Merchant, Areesha Ikram, and Donna Pham (Fayette County High); Vivian Nguyen and Mynah Holloway (Starr’s Mill High); Morgan Caola (Starr’s Mill High); Nicholas Powell (Bennett’s Mill Middle); Laura Phillipp (Bennett’s Mill Middle); Preston Earle (Flat Rock Middle).

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Fayette Dominates Regional Math Competition

With nine placements up for grabs, Fayette’s math students seized six of them in the 2011 High School Math Contest sponsored by Griffin RESA.

Sandy Creek, Fayette County, McIntosh, Starr’s Mill and Whitewater high schools all secured wins in the regional competition that featured over 14 schools from Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike, Spalding, and Upson counties.

Sandy Creek and Fayette County High took second and third place, respectively, in Division I (smaller schools); McIntosh High took first place in Division II (larger schools); Starr’s Mill and Whitewater High tied for second.

Overall individual winners from the competition were Yuta Inaba of McIntosh High who took first place, and Ji-Shoo Shin, also of McIntosh, who placed third.

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MCHS Student Candidate for Presidential Award

A Peachtree City student has received an honor reserved for the best of the best high school graduating seniors. Brahma D. Natarajan of McIntosh High has been selected by the United States Department of Education as a U.S. Presidential Scholars candidate.

Natarajan is one of approximately 141 outstanding graduating seniors from throughout the United States who have been selected as candidates for the nation’s highest honor for high school students.

Scholars are chosen on the basis of their accomplishments in many areas, academic and artistic success, leadership, and involvement in school community; and represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. They are invited to Washington, DC in June to participate in National Recognition Weekend, which includes many enrichment activities and events, and culminates with the presentation to the students of the Presidential Scholars medallion during a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

Only 500 of the candidates will be selected as scholars. Natarajan must submit an application, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts, to be eligible to compete in the selection process. Semifinalists will be notified in early April, and Scholars in early May.

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Community Message from the Tyrone Police Department.

Fayette County to observe Severe Weather Awareness Week February 6 - 12, 2011.

Citizens,

We are distributing the following information on behalf of the Fayette County Dept. of Fire & Emergency Services. Please note that they will be conducting tests of the warning siren system on February 9th at 9:00 am, which will include the two located here in Tyrone.

The Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services in partnership with the National Weather Service and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency would like to inform all residents that February 6-12th 2011 is Severe Weather Week. During this week Fayette County residents should take the time to discuss with their families the importance of preparing and planning for severe weather. Also it is a good time for all businesses, daycares, assisted living communities to develop or test their current plan of action for severe weather.

As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, Fayette County will participate in the state wide tornado drill. On Wednesday, February 9th at Approximately 09:00 am there will be a weekly test that will be broadcasted over all NOAA weather radios. During that time, to ensure that the County siren system is functioning correctly the 911 Center will sound the severe weather sirens during the drill just as they have in the past years. If severe weather threatens on Wednesday, February 9th the drill will be moved to Friday, February 11th at 09:00 am.

IMPORTANT!!!! Please pass this information on to your neighbors, employees, and family members to inform them that this is only a test in conjunction with the statewide tornado drill and Severe Weather Awareness Week. Please do not call 911 to ask questions about the sirens. Only call 911 if you have an emergency.

Director of Public Safety Allen McCullough states “It is very important that our citizens are informed and prepared for severe weather to help ensure the safety of their family and friends.”

For additional Severe Weather Awareness Week information in Georgia and other weather preparedness information click the links below.

http://www.ready.gov/

http://www.gema.state.ga.us/

Students Headed to Literacy Days Festival

From Poetry recitation, writing, and dramatic performance, Fayette’s middle school students will show off their talents during Griffin RESA’s Literacy Days Festival on February 3.

A total of 16 students took first place in their grade levels at the Fayette County Recitation Festival last week, earning a spot in the district competition that will showcase students from school systems in Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, Newton, Pike, Spalding, and Upson counties.

Contestants in the poetry recitation are Aubrey Bennett, sixth grade, Rising Starr Middle; Simone Jones, seventh grade, Fayette Middle; and Ellie Klarl, eighth grade, Flat Rock Middle.

Ready Writers representing Fayette are all from Rising Starr Middle. The students are Ethan Roland, sixth grade; Elizabeth Jowers, seventh grade; and Emma Wernecke, eighth grade.

The drama team from Fayette Middle will compete in the drama portion of the event. Students on the team are Dominque Boudreaux, Montavia Caudle, Haley Kakis, Saleena Davani, Sumvia Evans, Anna Franklin, Kezia Houston, TaNia Nash, Ashley Orta, and Cecilla Robinson. They will present “A True Princess,” an original piece written by the team.

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Burglary at PeachMac 304 City Circle, Peachtree City, GA

On January 26th, 2011, at approximately 2:30 a.m., officers discovered a burglary at PeachMac, an Apple Computer Store in The Avenues Shopping Center. Upon investigation, it was determined that the thieves forced entry into the business by ramming one of their vehicles into the front entrance of the store. While inside, the thieves took numerous computers and computer components valued in excess of twenty-thousand dollars. The vehicles used to commit the burglary included a white compact vehicle and a tan or silver mid-size vehicle. These vehicles were observed leaving the shopping center by an officer who was patrolling the area. Upon engaging the two vehicles, a vehicle pursuit was initiated in the area of Hwy 54 and Stevens Entry. Due to the suspect driving recklessly, at a high rate of speed and with complete disregard for the safety of others, the pursuit was terminated.

Investigators from the Peachtree City Police Department are investigating the incident and conducting follow-up investigations on several different leads.

If anyone has information that would assist the Police Department in this or other incidents, please contact the Peachtree City Criminal Investigations Division at 770-631-2510, or the Crime and Narcotics Information Hotline at (770) 487-6010. You may remain anonymous.

Booth Students Help Children Battling Cancer

Students show off their Math-A-Thon participation certificates. Front row (L to R): Mikey Eberle, Sam Lyon, Brandon Snapperman, Mikeila McQueston, Samantha Miller, Richard Kohlhaas, and Haven Clark. Back row (L to R): Ji-Hoon Shin, Jessica Bell, Tyler Krikorian, Matt Marhefka, Anna Brachey, Olivia Pressel, Jessica Rodriguez, Jade Ponder, Shiori Ito, and Mary Howe.

Math paid off in a big way for students at J.C. Booth Middle as they raised funds for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

The school collected $2,323 for the hospital’s Math-A-Thon fundraiser. Students raised money by solving math problems, and asking family and friends for donations in support of their participation in Math-A-Thon. The proceeds will be used to help children battling cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude.

“We are so proud of our students for embracing Math-A-Thon and raising critical funds for St. Jude,” said Kristi Hardeman, coordinator of the event at Booth. “Every dollar raised will help support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children in communities worldwide.”

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Fayette Excels For Exceptional Children

The Fayette County School System strives to ensure that all students receive the best education possible while arming them with the skills they will need to succeed in today’s competitive environment.

For the eighth year in a row since the award’s inception, the school system’s Exceptional Children’s Program has been recognized for excellence in the education of students with disabilities by the Georgia Department of Education.

The Pacesetter Award, which was presented at the Georgia Council for Administrators of Special Education (GCASE), marks the school system as a leader in the state for outstanding efforts to improve the performance of students with disabilities. Fayette is the only school system in Georgia to have received the award eight consecutive years.

The award distinguishes excellence in six areas of achievement: decreasing the number of students who drop out, achieving a higher percentage of graduates with regular education diplomas, educating students in the least restrictive environment, transitioning students to their desired postsecondary outcomes, increasing the percentage of students who meet or exceed state achievement standards and reducing the gap in achievement between students with disabilities and their general education peers.

Director Chris Horton oversees Fayette’s Exceptional Children’s Program.

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100 Pre-K Students to Get Free Monthly Books

The Rotary Club of Peachtree City and the Fayette County Public School System are working to help improve literacy skills among the county’s pre-k students.

The club has signed an agreement to establish the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy program in Fayette County. It has committed to funding 100 eligible pre-k students enrolled in the county’s school system.

Students participating in the program will receive a book delivered to their homes each month via U.S. mail until their fifth birthday. The children’s classic, “The Little Engine that Could,” is the first book each child receives and “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” is the final graduation book that is received when the child turns 5-years old. An expert committee composed of individuals from education, child development, academia, and early childhood literacy has carefully selected the books.

The purpose of the program is to increase early literacy skills by encouraging parents to read to their children at home. Research shows that the more words a child hears, the larger the child’s vocabulary, and the more likely the child will be a proficient reader. Parents cite one of the main reasons why they do not read with their child is the lack of quality books in the home.

In addition to receiving a monthly book, each child also gets a library card along with tips for the parents on how to read aloud with their child.

The program is free to participating families in Georgia and is made possible through private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. It costs about $36 per child, per year.

For more information about the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy program, contact Clarice Howard, coordinator of the Fayette County Public School System’s pre-k program via email at howard.clarice@fcboe.org or call 770-486-0149; or contact Karen Stephens of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City via email at karenannstephens@yahoo.com.

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Fayette County Sheriff's Investigators Make Arrests in Prostitution Sting

On January 20, 2011 Fayette County Sheriff’s Investigators assigned to the Tactical Narcotic Team made four arrests in reference to a prostitution sting that took place earlier that night.

On January 20, 2011 the Fayette County Tactical Narcotic Team (TNT) was acting upon a complaint that provided investigators with information of an online website that was advertising prostitution in the Fayette County area.

Investigators searched the website and discovered advertisements that were offering sexual acts in exchange for money in the Fayette County area. An undercover TNT investigator responded to two advertisements where the suspects agreed to meet the undercover investigator in Fayette County to perform sexual acts in exchange for money.

Investigators have arrested Travish Sunshine Hunter, 40, of East Point and Megan Paige Johnson, 21, of Hixson, TN and charged them both with Prostitution. Johnson was also charged with Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act for being in possession of prescription medication without a legal prescription.

Investigators also arrested Corey Montez Hollie, 31, of Atlanta charging him with Pimping and Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act for being in possession of prescription medication without a legal prescription, and Alexis Charles Jordan, 30, of Atlanta charging him with Public Drunkenness and Violation of Georgia Controlled Substance Act for being in possession of prescription medication without a legal prescription.

Whitewater Team a Semi-Finalist for Employment Branding Challenge

Publix Super Markets is looking closely at the ideas of two students for attracting young employment applicants to their stores.

Whitewater High DECA students Yanna Banks and Lia Poulson have been selected as 12 semi-finalist teams in the Publix Brand Champion Challenge, a competition open to DECA students that involves creating a fully integrated marketing program to attract 16 to 25-year-olds to apply for work at the stores. DECA is a student organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.

Students were given a pretend budget of $250,000 to develop their plans, and were required to create a video not exceeding 10 minutes to communicate their ideas and strategies. The competition was open to students in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Now the students must submit a written plan of their employment branding program. Publix will select three teams to participate in the final competition round. Those teams will be invited to make in-person presentations at the corporate offices of Publix Super Markets in Lakeland, FL in March.

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City of Fayetteville launches A New Facebook page

Fayetteville expands social media outreach
The City of Fayetteville has recently launched a new Facebook fan page, essentially merging the City’s old page with the Fayetteville Main Street page. This now gives citizens and “fans“ a one-stop site to obtain City news, event information and updates using the hugely popular social media tool. More than 500 million people worldwide now actively use Facebook, and there are about 1.6 million fan pages in use.

The new Facebook page was launched Monday January 10th, 2011 and has quickly gained a following of more than 180 fans. The City wants to encourage its citizens and others that are interested in local information and events to become a “Fan” of the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FayettevilleGA . After becoming a Fan, users can post any relevant information to the City’s page and interact with other users that monitor the page. If you were a Fan of the old City and/or Main Street Facebook page, please join our new page. The former City of Fayetteville page will be deactivated at the end of January.

Social networking sites like Facebook allow for two-way interaction with citizens by providing a platform to easily gather information, provide feedback, and encourage participation among its followers. The City’s Facebook site is just one more tool to offer easily accessible and understandable communications to its citizens and other key audiences. Some of the other communication methods used by the City include various web sites and Comcast Community Channel 25.

If you have any questions about Facebook or how to become a Fan, please visit the City’s web site at www.Fayetteville-GA.gov and click the Facebook picture on the front Page.
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State Names Distinguished Schools

A total of eight of Fayette’s elementary and middle schools have been named Title 1 Distinguished Schools by the Georgia Department of Education.

The county’s schools are among 868 public schools statewide to receive the designation. Schools are given “distinguished” status based on having made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) three or more years consecutively. Since all of Fayette’s schools receiving the honor have met AYP six or more years in a row, they will each receive a monetary award, paid out of federal funds, as well as a certificate recognizing their achievement.

Both North Fayette Elementary and Robert J. Burch Elementary have met AYP for 12 consecutive years and will each receive a $1,484 award. Both schools have been recognized as distinguished for 10 years.
Fayette Middle, Fayetteville Intermediate, Hood Avenue Primary, Inman Elementary and Oak Grove Elementary have made AYP for eight consecutive years and will each receive a $742 award. These schools have been recognized as distinguished for six years.

Flat Rock Middle has made AYP for seven consecutive years and will receive a $742 award. The school has been recognized as distinguished for five years.

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Fayette County Excels For Exceptional Children

The Fayette County School System strives to ensure that all students receive the best education possible while arming them with the skills they will need to succeed in today’s competitive environment.

For the eighth year in a row since the award’s inception, the school system’s Exceptional Children’s Program has been recognized for excellence in the education of students with disabilities by the Georgia Department of Education.

The Pacesetter Award, which was presented at the Georgia Council for Administrators of Special Education (GCASE), marks the school system as a leader in the state for outstanding efforts to improve the performance of students with disabilities. Fayette is the only school system in Georgia to have received the award eight consecutive years.

The award distinguishes excellence in six areas of achievement: decreasing the number of students who drop out, achieving a higher percentage of graduates with regular education diplomas, educating students in the least restrictive environment, transitioning students to their desired postsecondary outcomes, increasing the percentage of students who meet or exceed state achievement standards and reducing the gap in achievement between students with disabilities and their general education peers.

Director Chris Horton oversees Fayette’s Exceptional Children’s Program.

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A Birds Eye View, by Fredrick Warner - Reception at Artworks on the Square, Fayetteville

Friday Night, Feb. 4th , 7:00-9:00 PM, Artworks on the Square will be hosting a reception for the “A Birds Eye View” exhibit by Fredrick Warner, who recently moved here from Pennsylvania. The reception is in conjunction with the First Friday Night tradition of wine tasting and live music. For further information, you can contact us at 678-545-0275 or info@awots.com. The exhibit includes photograph, sculpture and drawings representing the freedom and motion of birds. It will open to the public Feb. 4th and close Feb. 28th. ArtWorks on the Square is located at 107 Stonewall Ave., Fayetteville, GA across from the clocktower.

Register Early for Kindergarten

Parents with children entering kindergarten for the 2011-2012 school year can register their students at the Welcome Center from January 24-April 1. Georgia law requires students to be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2011 to be eligible for kindergarten.

Early registration is encouraged to avoid long wait times. The Welcome Center is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with extended hours every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center is located at 205 LaFayette Avenue in Fayetteville.

Visit www.fcboe.org, the Fayette County Public School System’s website, for additional registration information. Click the “student registration” link on the right-hand side and then select “kindergarten registration.” Parents can also contact the center by calling 770-460-3990, ext. 362.

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PTC Police and FBI Make Arrests

On January 19th, 2011 Peachtree City Investigators, working in conjunction with agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, arrested DAVIS, RUSSELL, 22, of Kentwood Drive, Peachtree City, GA, on one count of THEFT BY DECEPTION and one count of FORGERY, which involved multiple victims. The charges were the result of an ongoing theft investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Peachtree City Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division. KIMPEL, JASON 22, of Balmoral Apartments, Peachtree City, GA was also arrested and charged with one count of THEFT BY DECEPTION and one count of PARTY TO A CRIME (FORGERY), which involved the same multiple victims. Through the course of the investigation, investigators learned that DAVIS had allegedly reprinted a legally purchased block of tickets to a concert and sold multiple copies of the fraudulently printed tickets to the victims. The victims who have been identified live throughout the southeastern United States. This investigation is still on going and there is the potential for more offenders to be identified.

If anyone has information that would assist the Police Department in this or any other incidents, please contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 770-631-2510 or the Crime and Narcotics Information Hotline, (770) 487-6010. You may remain anonymous.

Time to Register for Pre-K Lottery Drawing

The Fayette County Public School System is taking registrations for state funded pre-k classes January 24-March 3 from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the following schools: Brooks, Crabapple Lane, Hood Avenue, Inman, North Fayette, Oak Grove, Peachtree City, and Robert J. Burch.

Students must be 4-years old on or before September 1, 2010 to be eligible for the pre-k program. A student who is age eligible for kindergarten (5-years old on or before September 1, 2010) cannot register for pre-k.

A total of 20 registered students will be selected for each class by a lottery drawing on March 4. In order to register for the lottery drawing, parents/guardians must present residency information and their child’s birth certificate. If the child is selected, parents/guardians will be notified and will need to return to the school to provide the remaining registration documentation. Complete registration information is available on the school system’s website, www.fcboe.org.

For more information about the state funded pre-k program, contact Clarice Howard, 770-486-0149 or Jane Price, 770-460-3990, ext. 186.

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Fayette County Students To Make Up Three Snow Days

The Fayette County Board of Education has approved three make up days for the students as school was closed last week due to weather.

The days the schools will be in session are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of Winter Break, February 22, 23 and 24.

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Sandy Creek Patriots Parade of Champions

The Town of Tyrone is planning a Parade of Champions for Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. to honor the Sandy Creek Patriots Football Team, who placed 1st in the State Championship and the Sandy Creek Lady Patriots Volleyball Team, who finished as State Runners-Up. The parade will include the football and volleyball teams, the band, color guard, ROTC, and Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squads. The parade will start at Handley Park at 10:00 a.m. and go south down Senoia Road to Shamrock Park, where the Mayor, Town Council and multiple other elected officials will present proclamations to both the football and volleyball teams.

Watch the parade as it goes down Senoia Road on Saturday, January 22 at 10:00 a. m. Show your support for the Sandy Creek Patriots!

For additional information please contact Jennifer Patton or Lynda Owens at (770) 487-4694.

North Fayette Home Invasion Update

On January 12, 2011 Fayette County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Fayetteville Police Department made two arrests in reference to a home invasion at a north Fayette County home. The incident took place when Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a home invasion in progress where an East Point Police Officer was held at gun point inside his home by two masked suspects.

On January 12, 2011 at approximately 10:08 PM Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence located in north Fayette County when the victim, who is an East Point Police Officer called 911 and told the Fayette County dispatcher that two suspects wearing masks, displayed a gun and robbed him inside his home.

When Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the incident location they found the victim duct taped inside of his home with a minor injury to his forehead. The victim told Fayette County deputies at least two masked suspects forced their way into his home displaying a shotgun. The victim said that the two suspects then bound his hands and feet with duct tape where they proceeded to steal a flat screen television, a hand gun and numerous other electronic devices before fleeing the scene. After the suspects fled the scene the victim said he was able to gain access to telephone while still being duct taped where he called 911. The victim gave the Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies a physical description of the two suspects but was unable to provide them with any possible vehicle description.

At 10:19 PM a Fayetteville Police Officer who had been monitoring the home invasion call on the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office radio frequency was traveling on Hwy 54 near Burch Road when he observed a small passenger car driving at a high rate of speed with two occupants that matched the suspect description given by the victim of the home invasion. The vehicle attempted to elude the Fayetteville Police Officer where a short pursuit took place. The Fayetteville Police Department was able to stop the vehicle on Chase Drive in the City of Fayetteville. The Fayetteville Police Officer located items taken in the home invasion inside the vehicle along with the mask and shot gun which were used in the commission of the home invasion.

Fayette County Investigators have arrested Clifton Jerome Scott, 21, and Brandon Christopher Herston, 21, both being from Fayetteville and charged them with Armed Robbery, Burglary, False Imprisonment, Possession of a Firearm in the Commission of a Crime and Aggravated Assault. The Fayetteville Police Department has charged Scott with numerous traffic related offenses which occurred while operating the suspect vehicle. The two suspects are currently being held in the Fayette County Jail without bond.

The victim in this crime was treated and released by Fayette County EMS at the incident location.

If anyone has any additional information on this or similar incidents please notify Detective E. Harper at the Fayette County Sheriff Office 770-716-4763 / eharper@fayettecountyga.gov.

Fayette County Schools Remain Closed for Fifth Day Due to Icy Conditions

The Fayette County Schools will be closed again on Friday due to icy conditions.  Twelve month staff are to report at 10 am.

The big question on the minds of the students and parents is "Will we have to make it up?  And, if so, when?"

An informal survey taken at The Avenue in Peachtree City resulted in an overwhelming number of parents and children suggesting making up the days during the upcoming scheduled February winter break. 

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Smash & Grab Burglars hit Fayetteville Foot Locker

Surveillance video captured three suspects burglarizing a Fayetteville Foot Locker store early Thursday morning.

On January 13, 2011, at approximately 4:00AM, a silver vehicle, possibly a newer model crossover, backed up to the front door of the store. Three males exited the vehicle and shattered the front door using a tool similar to the Halligan tool fire departments use. The males then entered the store and began throwing boxes of shoes and packages of socks through the door into the rear of the vehicle.

One of the males was seen wearing a distinctive letter type jacket in the video and Fayetteville police are hopeful someone can identify the suspect. The males made off with an indeterminate amount of shoes and socks, including children’s shoes.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Mike Whitlow with the Fayetteville Police Department at (770) 719-4222.

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Fayetteville Municipal Court Rescheduling

The court cases postponed for Fayetteville Municipal Court on January 11, 2011, will be rescheduled for Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at 8:00 a.m. Additional court dates will follow for the remaining cases. Please contact the Fayetteville Municipal Court and speak with a court clerk to receive your corrected court date and time. Court reset letters have been mailed to all participants. Please log on to the City of Fayetteville website at www.fayetteville-ga.gov, the City of Fayetteville Face Book page or call 770-719-4277 for additional information.

Fayetteville Municipal Court Rescheduling

The court cases postponed for Fayetteville Municipal Court on January 11, 2011, will be rescheduled for Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at 8:00 a.m.

Additional court dates will follow for the remaining cases. Please contact the Fayetteville Municipal Court and speak with a court clerk to receive your corrected court date and time. Court reset letters have been mailed to all participants.

Please log on to the City of Fayetteville website at www.fayetteville-ga.gov, the City of Fayetteville Face Book page or call 770-719-4277 for additional information.

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Fayette County Schools Closed Wednesday Due to Ongoing Frigid Temperatures and Icy Conditions

The Fayette County Board of Education has announced the Fayette County Public Schools will be closed on Wednesday, January 12, 2011.

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Mayor Ken Steele to Share Info re: ARC / Transportation Jan 19

January 19, 2011: The Fayette Senior Services Center, 4 Center Drive, Fayetteville is hosting an informational meeting on Wednesday afternoon from 1 - 2 PM. Ken Steele, Mayor of Fayetteville and Fayette County's representative on the Roundtable Committee of the Atlanta Regional Commission, will explain and answer questions about the ARC's transportation proposals.

Click on the following link for directions: http://www.kudzu.com/m/Fayette-Senior-Services-17287577/map/

(info rec'd via Coweta / Fayette 9-12 Patriot Group newsletter)

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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Sandy Creek Selected for Pilot French Program

Host ambassador Omari Allen (left) and school principal Roy Rabold presented André Peltier with a Student of the Week certificate and a book about Georgia to commemorate his visit.

A partnership between two schools, Sandy Creek High and Lycee Emmanuel Héré in Nancy France, promises to provide a unique learning opportunity for students.

Sandy Creek is one of seven high schools in the state selected by the Georgia Department of Education to participate in a pilot program aimed at bringing French students in contact with their counterparts in France. Sandy Creek was chosen because of its successful French program headed up by teacher Stephane Allagnon.

For one week last month, the school hosted a French ambassador student, André Peltier, from its partner school. Peltier stayed with Sandy Creek’s American ambassador student, Omari Allen.

Peltier spent his time learning all he could about the American school system. He says he was amazed to see how well everybody got along and the amount of respect between students and faculty.

French students at Sandy Creek seized the opportunity to increase their knowledge about France and its culture. By the end of the week, the students had hammered out details pertaining the schools’ partnership, and students from both schools began communicating with each other via the Internet.

The two schools will present the results of their partnership in May to the State Department of Education.

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Robbers caught in Fayetteville

Three suspects who attempted to rob a restaurant owner and his wife at approximately 12:01 AM on January 9, 2011 were apprehended by Fayetteville Police Officers. Brian Lemonte Hall, 21 of College Park, Demarcus Jerome Willingham, 22 and Brandon Hardy, 21 of Fairburn are all charged with Criminal Attempt-Robbery and are in the Fayette County jail.

Early Sunday morning, the victims, who own an Asian restaurant in East Point, Georgia, were apparently followed from their business and were approached by two of the suspects in their driveway while the third suspect stayed in the car. The suspects demanded money and when the male victim chased them, both suspects fled to their vehicle. The victims called 911 and reported that the three males were in a large white car. A lookout for the vehicle was issued by Fayette County Dispatch.

A Fayetteville Patrol Lieutenant patrolling nearby heard the lookout given by dispatch and made a traffic stop on the white, 1996 Mercury Grand Marquis. Hall was driving the car with Willingham and Hardy as passengers. Officers located a Tech 9 semi automatic pistol inside the vehicle.

Hardy and Willingham were also charged with Giving False Information to Police and Willingham has an additional outstanding warrant from Fairburn. Police are still investigating the incident and more charges are pending.

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Fayette County Schools Closed Tuesday Due to Inclement Weather

Fayette County has announced the closing of its public schools for a second day this week.  Stay tuned for any further updates as the inclement weather across the county continues.

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Fayetteville Municipal Court Closing

The Fayetteville Municipal Court will be closed on Tuesday January 11, 2011 due to the inclement weather. City officials will make a determination on Tuesday regarding Wednesday’s court session and future rescheduling.

Transition Fair Weather Update!

Due to continued hazardous weather and travel conditions the Transition Fair has been postponed until Tuesday. 8 FEB; same time and location. Be careful out there!

Transition Fair Weather Update!
There is a chance of hazardous weather early next week. This is a reminder of the Transition Fair Sponsored by ExceptionalOPS and Exceptional Children’s Services from 7pm to 9pm on Tues, Jan. 11, 2011, at River's Elementary School, 461 Rivers Road, Fayetteville. In case of inclement weather and Fayette County schools are closed on Tuesday, the Transition Fair will be postponed to a date to be announced.

Sounds of Fayette County Tonight

We've all been waiting for the expected winter weather event to arrive in Fayette County.  Many of us have been preparing all day for sleet, ice and snow.

The exact moment the sleet hit Fayette County was audible as front doors flew open, kids ran outside, and gleeful sounds of joy were heard all over Peachtree City.  The sound of the sleet was overpowered by the school children a few minutes later as Fayette County announced the closing of the schools for Monday.

Stay safe, dry and warm!

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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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Two McIntosh Students to Perform at Inaugural Gala

Jazz student musicians John O’Leary (alto sax) and Gerand McDowell (piano) will help provide musical entertainment at Governor Nathan Deal’s Inaugural Gala on January 10.

The two McIntosh students are members of the Metro Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble Jazz Band, which has been asked by Deal’s inaugural committee to play at the event.

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Fayette Students Headed for Janfest

Five McIntosh band students will perform in the Janfest High School Band Festival hosted by the University of Georgia Bands January 20-23 in Athens.

Sarah Manley, Jesse Hu, John O’Leary, Drew Naber, and Colin Benton will be among the more than 1,000 students from states throughout the south who were selected to participate.

Participants are given the opportunity to improve their musical skills through auditions, honor and clinic bands, master classes and listening to guest bands perform. They also perform a concert at the close of the festival.

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Georgia Recognizes 13 Fayette Schools for High Academic Performance

Nearly 50 percent of Fayette’s public schools have been recognized by the state for promoting excellence in student achievement.

Out of the county’s 28 schools, nine elementary, one middle and three high schools received award designations of platinum, gold, silver or bronze based on their performance on state curriculum exams and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status.

The state awards were given in two categories: greatest gain, for schools that showed the greatest improvement in scores 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.

All awards received by Fayette County Public Schools were in the highest performance category. These awards make up three percent of the 345 awards given statewide, and are part of the release of the state’s annual K-12 Public Schools Report Card.

Platinum award: Peachtree City Elementary, Peeples Elementary, and Starr’s Mill High. These schools made AYP for three consecutive years with a minimum of 35 percent of students exceeding standards, and 98 percent or more meeting and exceeding standards.

Gold award: Braelinn Elementary, Crabapple Lane Elementary, Kedron Elementary, McIntosh High, and Tyrone Elementary. These schools made AYP for two consecutive years with a minimum of 30 percent of students exceeding standards, and 97 percent or more meeting and exceeding standards.

Silver award: Huddleston Elementary. This school made AYP for two consecutive years with a minimum of 25 of students exceeding standards, and 96 percent or more meeting and exceeding standards.

Bronze award winners: Cleveland Elementary, Rising Starr Middle, Spring Hill Elementary, and Whitewater High. These schools made AYP with a minimum of 20 percent of students exceeding standards, and 95 percent or more meeting and exceeding standards.

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Fayette Students Perform in U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Four Fayette Band students were in San Antonio, TX over the weekend to perform at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl at the Alamodome.

Iessah Watson (piccolo), Fayette County High; Tristin Thompson (mellophone), Fayette County High; Phillip Hayes (marching baritone), Fayette County High; and Ryan Alli (sousaphone), Starr’s Mill High, were selected to be part of 125-member All-American Marching Band from hundreds of nominations received across the nation.

The students experienced an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity rehearsing and performing alongside the finest high school marching musicians in the nation for four days. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl, produced by All American Games, features the nation’s top high school senior football players and marching musicians.

The selection process is twofold. Music teachers nominate students who exhibit exceptional musicianship, marching achievement, character, and leadership. Nominees are then invited to submit an application and audition materials to the National Association of Music Education for selection.

Selected students have all of their expenses paid to participate, perform, and be recognized for their exceptional music accomplishments.

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Watch Superintendent Bearden’s Message to the Community

Dr. Jeffrey Bearden, new superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools, shares his professional background, and first impressions and future goals for the school system in a six-minute video that is currently airing on Comcast Cable Channel 24 and on demand at the FCBOE website, www.fcboe.org.

Comcast Cable subscribers can watch the video at the top and half of each hour, seven days a week, by tuning into Channel 24, the school system’s educational channel.

Non-cable subscribers, or those who prefer to watch the video at their convenience, can do so through the school system’s official website, www.fcboe.org, or by using the following link: http://74.50.2.149/DR_BEARDEN-title0.mp4.

Viewers will need QuickTime Media Player to watch the video; a free download is available at www.apple.com. Macintosh computer owners should use either Firefox or Opera web browsers; Safari is not compatible with the video.

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Celebrate National Mentoring Month, Become a Mentor

January is National Mentoring Month and the Fayette County School System’s Friends Mentoring Program is inviting the community to get involved.

Just about all of us have been touched by a special individual who encouraged and guided us and left a lasting impact on our lives. That person might be a parent, teacher, older sibling or perhaps a volunteer who spent time each week offering homework help, a listening ear, or words of encouragement. No matter what their relationship, they are all mentors.

During National Mentoring Month, those who were shaped by the mentors in their lives are invited to pay it forward by becoming a participant in the Friends Mentoring Program. Mentors meet weekly one-on-one with their students at school for one hour. The program focuses on assisting children in developing relationship skills, building positive life skills and improving academic proficiencies.

Thank Your Mentor Day will be celebrated on January 25. On that day, the community is encouraged to reach out and thank those who have made a difference in their lives. Ways to honor a mentor include contacting him or her directly to express appreciation, pass it on by becoming a mentor to a child or making a financial donation to a local mentoring program.

Many mentors with Friends have been involved in the program for years. Volunteers have selflessly given of their time and talents to help students at all school levels flourish and become productive both inside and outside the school setting.

If you are willing to commit one hour per week to helping a child at one of Fayette’s schools, or if you want to make a donation to the Friends Mentoring Program, contact Jane Gough at the LaFayette Educational Center, 770-460-3990, ext. 255.

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Transition Fair for Students with Disabilities

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a time of anticipation, excitement, confusion and anxiety for students of all backgrounds and abilities. These emotions are often amplified for families of students with disabilities.

Students with exceptionalities and their families sometimes face challenges in identifying resources in the community that can help them meet their needs and achieve their goals after graduation. That is why the Fayette County School System’s Exceptional Children’s Department and ExceptionalOps are hosting a Transition Fair called “Building Alliances” at Rivers Elementary on January 11 from 7-9 p.m. Admission to the fair is free.

The purpose of the fair is to provide information about services that are available in the community. Local organizations that provide services for students with disabilities, whether they are still in school or transitioning out, will be on hand to discuss the assistance they offer and how they can help meet the various needs of disabled students and adults. Support and advocacy groups, employment preparation, vocational rehabilitation, supported living agencies, tutoring, private schools and recreation are a few examples of the services that will be exhibited.

For more information about the fair, contact Linda Williams, Fayette County Public Schools Exceptional Children’s Services, 678-796-5695.

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Late night party leads to 10 arrests for underage possession

The Fayetteville Police responded to a loud party complaint early Thursday, December 30, 2010 and arrested 10 people for underage possession of alcohol.

Fayetteville Police received the call at approximately 2:00AM at the Swan Brook Apartments in Fayetteville. Upon their arrival, officers found several people inside and outside the party at 1003 Swan Brook Dr.

Officers issued breathalyzer tests to each of the party goers and the following 10 tested positive for alcohol consumption: Ashton Frederick Soles, 18 of Tallahassee, Florida; Devin Anthony Bengley, 18 of Fayetteville; Marcus Joseph Gilliam, 18 of Jonesboro; Matthew Dominique Benton, 18 of Jonesboro; Pierre L Bowles Jr, 19 of Fayetteville; Tamara Briana Grissom, 19 of Jonesboro; Moniqua Rowland, 20 of Hampton; Jessica Machelle Swan, 20 of Jonesboro; Terrell Hollis, 20 of Jonesboro.

Grissom was also arrested on an outstanding warrant out of Morrow. The suspects were all arrested and turned over to the Fayette County jail. The Fayetteville Criminal Investigations Division is also investigating the incident and there may be additional charges forthcoming against the apartment leasee.

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Winter/Spring 2011 Parks and Rec Registration Deadline Jan 21st

The Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department registration for the Winter/Spring 2011 brochure will be taken at the Activities House, 980 Redwine Road, Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The brochure can be obtained at the offices of the Fayette County Parks and Recreation Department, Administration Complex, Library, and school offices. To download brochures from the web site go to http://www.fayettecountyga.gov/parks_rec/brochure_parks.asp. Early registration is encouraged as these programs fill up fast and transportation is limited on the adult trips.

COURSE CODES NEW 2011! New this year is course codes that have been assigned to each program. Please use the code that corresponds with the title of the program when you register online, by phone, by mail, or when you walk-in. Tree climbing, table tennis, massages, and archery still required everyone to register by mail or walk-in.

BOYS AND GIRLS YOUTH TRACK PROGRAM

BOLT TRACK PROGRAM Course # W11001

This program is designed to teach the sport of track and field, promote youth physical fitness, and provide fun learning experiences. This program is a recreation based program that is open to runners of all abilities.

Day: Practices on Tuesday and Thursday Nights
Meets on Saturdays
Date: Practices begin February 1
Time: 6:15 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Fee: $100 per person
Age: 7 – 14 (as of December 31, 2011)
Location: McCurry Park Track

Birth Certificates and Proof of Residency required prior to the GRPA District Track Meet. Anyone participating in middle school track will not be allowed to advance to the GRPA District or State Track Meet. Non-Fayette County residents will not be allowed to advance to the GRPA District or State Track Meet.

Deadline to register will be January 21, 2011 by 5:00 p.m.
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Missing 12-Year Old Child

On December 28, 2010 Fayette County Sheriff’s Office began investigating a missing person’s case which involved the disappearance of a 12 year old Hispanic female, Isabeth Yanez, of Fayette County.

Yanez was reported missing by her parents on December 28 at approximately 6:00 AM. Yanez was last seen at her Fayette County home on December 27, 2010 wearing light colored blue jeans, white shirt and a black jacket. Yanez has long brown hair, 5’02” tall and weighs approximately 115 lbs.

Fayette County Investigators believe Yanez may be in the company of Simon Quintana Guiterrez, a 20 year old Hispanic male.

Fayette County Investigators thought it was likely that Yanez and Guiterrez may be traveling in a loaned red 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible bearing Georgia license plate BMH 2049. On December 30 the red 1996 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible was recovered at the Publix grocery store on South Hwy 74, in Peachtree City.

Fayette County Investigators believe that Yanez and Guiterrez are currently located in a city near Acapulco, Mexico. Fayette County Investigators are working with the local Mexican authorities, the United States Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to locate the missing child.

If anyone has any contact with these individuals please notify Detective E. Harper at the Fayette County Sheriff Office 770-716-4763 / eharper@fayettecountyga.gov

Fayette County 4-H Rifle Club Registration

Fayette County 4-H Youth Air Rifle Club will hold registration for the Winter/Spring 2011 season on January 15th at 10:00am in Suite 210 of the Fayette County Administrative Complex. Parent’s interested in learning more about the programs that will be offered for youth age 9 through 12th Grade are encouraged to attend this informative session. The 4-H Project S.A.F.E. Program objectives are to enhance youth development of self-concept, character and personal growth through safe, educational and socially acceptable involvement in shooting activities. The program consists of both a 5 meter BB Gun program and a 10 meter Olympic-style Air Rifle program for the older youth. For more information, contact the County Extension Coordinator, Craig Gross, at 770.305.5135 or visit the club’s website at www.eteamz.com/fcss.