Good News from the River Ridge Zone

Check out the latest good news from schools in the River Ridge Innovation Zone…

River Ridge High School
River Ridge High School is offering a new Nursing Assistant Program to prepare students for certification.

Upon completion of the program, students will take a written and skills State exam to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and enter the healthcare workforce.  The certification also puts the students a step ahead of their peers in pursuing advanced certifications and degrees in healthcare.

The program led by teacher Registered Nurse Laina Jordan includes classroom discussions, research activities and complete patient care lab skills from nail care to moving patients from their beds.  As part of the program, students train at Woodstock Nursing and Rehabilitation Center by assisting the staff with resident care.

“I love the fact that we actually learn real world skills,” senior Emilie Wetmore said.

“This class will help me get the job I want,” senior James Pan said. “I want to work either in an ER or at a children’s hospital.”

River Ridge High School placed third at the Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Competition. The Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl is a reading competition open to teams of students in Grades 4-12.  Teams are required to read selections from the Georgia Peach Teen and Georgia Book Awards lists prior to competing in an academic bowl format.  River Ridge HS team members are: Zoe Moore, Maggie O’Bryant, Meghann Colon, Lauren Diss, Haley Cope, Nir Patel, Katie Zell and Heather Wiley. The coach is Keara Rubin.

River Ridge High School senior Iyana Alexander competed at the State level for the national Poetry Out Loud contest after placing first in the Regional competition.  The poetry recitation competition is sponsored by the National Poetry Foundation and “helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.

River Ridge High School recently hosted its Third Annual Career Day, which featured more than 50 guest speakers representing professions ranging from military to healthcare, engineering and business.  Each class heard from two speakers, who shared stories about their career experiences and how they entered their chosen fields and answered students’ questions. 

River Ridge High School’s “Team Heroic” student group recently visited Chapman Intermediate School to perform an anti-bullying skit, which was broadcast live over the MediaCast video system for all of the school’s students to watch.  The performance supported Chapman Intermediate’s Character Education and anti-bullying program, “Peacemakers.”  The performance shows students what bullying looks like and offers solutions to stopping it and preventing it at their school.  Several of the River Ridge HS students also shared their own stories of being bullied in the past and how it affected them, and how bullying is not acceptable behavior at River Ridge HS.  Team Heroic is led by River Ridge HS Counselor Jeff Bennett, who was named the Cherokee County School District’s Counselor of the Year during the 2011-12 school year.

“This group of teens communicated an impactful message to Chapman students,” Principal Susan McCarthy said.

Mill Creek Middle School
Mill Creek Middle School recently won second place in the PAGE Academic Bowl for Middle Grades regional competition.  The competition was held at Freedom MS with 11 teams competing from Cherokee, Fannin and Forsyth Counties.  Team members are: Julia Boll, Nicholas Busson, Claire Chen, Emily Gardner, Joshua Isaksen, Kent Johnston, Tej Patel, Anabelle Paulino, Pruthvi Rajaghatta, Macy Trego.  The coach is Erich McGee.

Mill Creek Middle’s Student Council recently raised $750 to benefit the Cherokee County Animal Shelter.  The student members held three fundraisers for the cause: Coins for Critters, Top Turkey Teacher feathers and Critter Canes candy cane sales. 
 
Seventeen students from Mill Creek Middle School recently participated in the Ninth District Band Festival in Toccoa with the largest representation from Cherokee County.  Students selected are: Lauren Brack, Nicholas Busson, Luke Cummings, Palmer Edenfield, Carter Floyd, Emily Gardner, Aiden Gohlke, Benjamin Gonzalez, Josh Isaksen, Haley Keelin, Trent Kerley, Jordan Mason, Anabelle Paulino, Emmy Perez, Deven Simpson, Savannah Smith and Macy Trego.  The director is Erick Stallings.

Mill Creek Middle School recently recognized Students of the Month for February.  They are: Lisa Wilson, Lillian Dammann, Kendall Martin, Logan Medley, Maria Hernandez, Jonathan Lawson, Ethan Eltz, Graciella Elaine, Ziah Bryan, Madison Smith, Ana Chong, Maribel Regalado, Tim Powell, Chris Soderstrom, Austin Creel-Hayes, Grant Randolph, Ariel Barrientos and Bryan Vickers.

Arnold Mill Elementary School
Arnold Mill Elementary School fifth-grader Ryan Schultz placed second at the Northwest Regional Social Studies Fair 2013.  His project investigated how President Ronald Reagan’s presidency affects us today.

Arnold Elementary fifth-grader Callie Goins attended the Georgia Association of Educators District 2 Spelling Bee.  “Callie did exceptionally well at the District level and we are proud of her efforts,” Principal Kerry Martin said.  As a reward from the school for her success, Callie was given a ‘spelling bee’ Pillow Pet from the school’s Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) General Store.

Arnold Mill Elementary recently recognized its Students of the Month for March.  These students were selected by their teachers because they display positive character traits and a strong worth ethic.  As a reward, they will lead the Pledge of Allegiance on the announcements every Friday in the month of April.  They are: kindergartener Quinn Turner, first-grader Chris Echeverria, second-grader Joseph Cable, third-grader Lola Cellino, fourth-grader Ethan Bedora and fifth-grader Michael Glover.

Arnold Mill Elementary recently recognized fifth-grade teacher Terry Chadwick as its Staff Member of the Month for March.  She was nominated by her peers for being a team player, creating team forms, and always providing her students with engaging and hands-on lessons.  Ms. Chadwick was presented with $25 gift card from Partner in Education, Wal-Mart on Highway 92 in Woodstock.

Johnston Elementary School
Woodstock Mayor Donnie Henriques recently visited Johnston Elementary School to speak with fifth-graders about his government role.  He was invited by Counselor Tina Word to represent one of the many jobs included in the Government and Public Administration Career Cluster. 

Johnston Elementary School recently recognized its March Students of the Month with an appearance on the school’s WJES live morning news show.  These students also received a certificate, school store coupon, ice cream coupon, school spirit pencil and a Student of the Month bumper sticker. They are: Kate Elise Daniele, Gavin Hauge, Leilani Durham, Jose Vasquez-Rios, Miranda Rodriguez, Kate Klucsarits, Andrew Hand, William Walderich, Caleb Hoyt, Kayah Cousar, Krystian Gilmer, Jennifer Valenzuela, Evan Figueroa, Chris Pham, Ethan Mann, Xavier Robertson, Grace Manwaring, Austin Clark, Tiphanie McClendon, Karla Barrios, Emily Cheek, Kenadi Davis and My’Ashialey Kennedy

Johnston Elementary School fifth-graders Megan Mullen and Grace Wartes placed at the Northwest Regional Social Studies Fair 2013 held at Kennesaw State University.  Grace placed second for her project: “How did the Great Depression lead to soup kitchens?”  Megan placed third for her project: “How did 9/11 affect the people of New York City?”

Johnston Elementary School recently recognized it’s school Young Author's Fair grade-level winners: kindergartener Cami DiSciullo, first-grader Andrew Hand, second-grader Jacob Barnett Bertsch, third-grader Ava Wiersma, fourth-grader Ciara Miles and fifth-grader Ava McDonald.  Students wrote stories in class that were judged by volunteers from Partners in Education businesses: Chick-fil-A, Publix and State Farm Insurance - Kirk Buchholz.

Johnston Elementary School recently held its formal induction ceremony for the National Junior Beta Club.  Fifteen new members were sworn in, promising to serve as leaders in their school and community: Megan Mullen, Ava McDonald, Grace Manwaring, Daniela Perez, Trey Huguley, Jack Chase, Fernando Dominguez, Daniel Ortiz, Nichole Kilburn, Marlies Smith, Grace Wartes, Austin Clark, Celeste Bryson, Mrs. Whorton, Robyn Mohr and Aubrey Breeden.  Planned projects include helping with a newspaper drive and collecting items for a homeless shelter.

Little River Elementary School
Little River Elementary School second-grader Christopher Yancy has placed at the State Level for the annual PTA Reflections arts competition.  This year’s theme for the competition is “The Magic of a Moment.”  “This is a wonderful honor, and I could not be more proud for Christopher,” Principal Christian Kirby said, noting that only 25 winners were selected out of more than 2,000 entries in Christopher’s division.

Little River Elementary fifth-grader Sathvika Narasimhan recently won the Cherokee County Spelling Bee and went on to compete at the Georgia Association of Educators District Spelling Bee.  She qualified for the county competition by winning the school-level Spelling Bee, which was between classroom winners from all fourth- and fifth-grade homeroom classes.  Fourth-grader Joshua Hillman was the school’s runner-up.