Good News from the Woodstock Zone

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

Woodstock High School
Woodstock High School has been named to the list of top U.S. high schools published by the Washington Post.
The “America's Most Challenging High Schools” list ranks schools based on factors including the percentage of graduating seniors who take Advanced Placement (AP) tests.  Only 9 percent of the approximately 22,000 U.S. public high schools earned placement on the 2013 list.
“This news is further evidence of the outstanding efforts being made by our students, parents and teachers to excel academically despite the economic challenges facing our schools and community,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo said.  “Our school year is shorter, our classes are more crowded, our teachers are under increased pressure and one in three students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch.  Being named a top U.S. high school and earning the highest SAT scores in the State would be an accomplishment at any time, but especially in challenging times like these.”     
Dr. Petruzielo said offering all CCSD high school students the opportunity to take AP courses and tests benefits them in multiple valuable ways.
“These classes use more rigorous curriculum, which expands knowledge and better prepares students for higher education and their careers; and passage of AP tests can earn students college credit… saving them -- and their parents – money that otherwise would be spent on freshman classes, and allowing students to more quickly begin coursework in their chosen area of study,” Dr. Petruzielo said.  “We will continue to gauge students’ interests and abilities to offer even more advanced academic choices in the future.”  
Woodstock HS is led by Principal Dr. Paul Weir.

Six Woodstock High School students are headed to the prestigious Governor’s Honors Program this summer.
The residential summer program is open to select gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors from across the state.  Nearly 3,000 students from across the state were interviewed and auditioned over three weekends in January and February, and from those nominees 690 finalists were chosen to participate in the 2013 program.  Since the Georgia Department of Education program is fully funded by the Georgia General Assembly, there is no charge for students to attend.
The Woodstock High students selected and their areas of study are: Tanner Biggers, Latin; Madison Jones, Agriscience/Environ. Science; Alexandra Melehan, Biology; Jourdan Ramirez-Phar, Biology; Rachel Steppe, Mathematics; and Rachel Zinney, French.
Students will arrive on the campus of Valdosta State University on Sunday, June 23, 2013.  For four weeks, students will spend the morning in their major area of nomination, exploring topics not usually found in the regular high school classroom.  During the afternoons, students choose one of the other areas in which to study. Evenings are filled with seminars, activities, concerts and performances.
“Governor’s Honors Program is such a competitive program that even being nominated is an accomplishment” Program Director Dale Lyles said, adding that many, if not most, of the Program’s past participants regard it as one of the most life-changing events in their lives.  “I congratulate the students of Cherokee County School District and look forward to meeting them and their parents in June.” 

Woodstock High set a school milestone by sending more projects than ever before to the annual Georgia State Science and Engineering Fair.  The school sent 10 projects representing work by 11 students, and all 10 placed first, second or third.  Six first-place awards were earned – the highest for the school; as well as one second-place and three third-place awards.  Additionally, this is the third consecutive year that Woodstock has had a student place in the top 10 for the state of Georgia.  Woodstock High students also received 12 special awards from various organizations, the most ever earned by its students. 
First Place
• Alexandra Melehan (sophomore): Also, Top Ten in State of Georgia, U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Award and Exceptional Genius Award-Genius Olympiad International HS Project
• Taylor Head (senior): Also, Achievement Award from the Association of Women Geoscientists, Tellus Museum Award Winner (Tellus will display her research for one weekend), UGA Eco-Reach Environmental Achievement Award, U.S. Army Special Award in Environmental Sciences, U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Award
• David (DJ) Pearson (junior): Also, U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement,  U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Award
• Ghazal Ahmad (senior): Also, UGA Microbiology Department Award
• Elena Ruiz (senior) and Paula Ruiz (freshman) (team project): Also, H.O. Lund Entomology Club Award
• Calvin Ebert (senior)
• Adrea Mueller (sophomore)
Second Place
• Garrett Leffelman (junior): Also, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics, third place
Third Place
• Joshua Chang (senior)
• Hunter Williams (junior)

Woodstock High senior Taylor Head has been invited to present her original research at the 21st Annual International Environmental Project Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey this May. 
Finalists for this competition were selected through an online application; students submitted their original research paper, abstract and supporting documentation. Her project, “Effect of Climate Change and Ocean Acidification on Shrimp Populations,” was selected in the Environmental – Biology category.  Her project is one of 150 projects selected to present at the event, where 50 countries will be represented. 
This is Woodstock High’s second year of experience with this competition; last school year, Woodstock HS senior Mary Penniman presented her research at the same competition and brought home a gold medal.

Hannah Bradford of Woodstock High excelled at the Georgia Educational Technology Fair recently held in Macon, winning first place and a $250 college scholarship.
She qualified for the State competition by placing at the regional Piedmont Technology Competition at River Ridge High School.
Students in Grades 3-12 enter their work in categories such as 3D Design, Multimedia Applications, Digital Video Production, Animated Graphic Designs, and Robotics to compete against other students in their grade for first-, second- and third-place awards. 

Ryan Hamburg of Woodstock High won first place in the Georgia PTA Reflections competition.
The Reflections program offers students in preschool through Grade 12 the opportunity to create and submit artwork in one or more of six areas: Dance Choreography, Film/Video Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. 
Ryan was honored as a Special Artist in the Literature category at the State awards ceremony recently held at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Woodstock High’s team won second place in the Regional 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. 
Woodstock High won the Cherokee County-level Reading Bowls to qualify for regional competition.
Woodstock HS team members are, from left to right, front row: Rachel Sprouse, Chloe Heidt, Casey Heidt; second row: Bailey Paschal, Edwina Osaghae, Brooke Burris; and back row: Ethan Brock, Bradley Stephenson, Mathew Johnson and Katy Townsend. Coaches are Carrie Sprouse, left, and Heather Bolt.

Freedom Middle School
Freedom Middle School Principal Karen Hawley has been selected as the Rachel’s Challenge Principal of the Year.
The nonprofit organization, with which Freedom MS partners, is dedicated to creating safer school environments.  It promotes “programs and strategies that equip students and adults to combat bullying and allay feelings of isolation and despair by creating a culture of kindness and compassion,” according to its website (http://www.rachelschallenge.org/)
Ms. Hawley will be recognized at the Rachel’s Challenge Educational Summit held at the Gaylord Texan Resort June 27-29.  She and a guest will be provided with complimentary registration to the event in appreciation of her support of the program.

Freedom Middle is home to the Cherokee County middle school winners of the Fall 2012 Georgia Stock Market Game Program sponsored by the Georgia Council on Economic Education. 

The winning team made up of Lauren Bryant, Macy Pfaffenbichler and Sarah Snider topped 56 other teams to earn the honor.  The 10-week competition open to elementary through high school students is held every spring and fall.  Participants begin with a hypothetical $100,000 to invest in the stock market, and the team in the region (the public school district and any other participating schools in the geographic region) with the highest portfolio value at the end of the 10 weeks wins. 
They will be recognized on May 7, 2013 at the Stock Market Game Banquet in Atlanta where the State winner will be announced.  Eighty-four public schools and seven other schools participated in the statewide competition.

Two Freedom Middle students won first place in the Georgia PTA Reflections competition.
The Reflections program offers students in preschool through Grade 12 the opportunity to create and submit artwork in one or more of six areas: Dance Choreography, Film/Video Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. 
Andrew Meredith was honored as a first-place Special Artist in Photography and Nimra Ahmad was honored for second place in Literature at the State awards ceremony recently held at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Freedom Middle School won the Rookie of the Year Team Award at Georgia’s Future City Competition (http://www.spsu.edu/futurecity/), a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)-based program through which students design cities.  The regional competition recently was held at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta. Freedom MS students participating in Georgia’s Future City Competition are: Kayla Brader, Scarlet Darby, Jacob Eastridge, Samuel Gill, Andrew Hodkoski, Ben Hultquist, Chris Jackson, Julia Kochansky, Caroline Loud, Ansley Meek, Amber Miller, Chris Newhouse, Sofia Perez, Matt Wareham and Megan Waterbor.

Freedom Middle School students recently traveled to the State Capitol to participate in PTSA Youth Day at the Capitol.  The students visited the State Senate, where they met with Sen. Brandon Beach, and the State House of Representatives, where they met with Reps. Michael Caldwell and Scot Turner.  The legislators spoke with the students about how bills are proposed and become law and asked their opinions about proposed legislation.  The students also learned about the history of the legislature and its chambers.  Parents Shari Boggs, Marci Breitbart, Kyla Cromer, Trish Mullinax and Samantha Waterbor served as chaperones. 
“Sen. Beach shared how important great schools are as we try to get more companies to come to Georgia and bring jobs to the area,” Ms. Cromer said.

Five Freedom Middle School eighth-grade teachers were presented with Class Act awards by the WXIA-TV 11Alive newscast for being outstanding educators: Chad Barner, social studies; Melissa Christensen, science; Natasha Diaz, reading; Kim Harris, math; and Jennifer Miller, language arts.  They were nominated for the honor by Principal Karen Hawley.  The teachers were featured on a recent 11Alive newscast and each received a plaque and a $50 gift card for The School Box.

Woodstock Middle School
Woodstock Middle School students Josh Thrift and Matt Weissel won first-place awards at the Georgia Educational Technology Fair recently held in Macon.
The CCSD students qualified for the State competition by placing at the regional Piedmont Technology Competition in January at River Ridge High School.
Students in Grades 3-12 enter their work in categories such as 3D Design, Multimedia Applications, Digital Video Production, Animated Graphic Designs, and Robotics to compete against other students in their grade for first-, second- and third-place awards. 

Scott Kimberly of Woodstock Middle won third place in the Georgia PTA Reflections competition.
The Reflections program offers students in preschool through Grade 12 the opportunity to create and submit artwork in one or more of six areas: Dance Choreography, Film/Video Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. 
Scott was honored in the Visual Arts category at the State awards ceremony recently held at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Carmel Elementary School
Carmel Elementary School students Maya Thomas and Robert Went won second-place awards at the Georgia Educational Technology Fair recently held in Macon.
The CCSD students qualified for the State competition by placing at the regional Piedmont Technology Competition in January at River Ridge High School.
Students in Grades 3-12 enter their work in categories such as 3D Design, Multimedia Applications, Digital Video Production, Animated Graphic Designs, and Robotics to compete against other students in their grade for first-, second- and third-place awards. 

Sixes Elementary School
Sixes Elementary School students recently participated in the Cherokee Arts Center’s annual exhibit of artwork by Cherokee County elementary school students.  Art teachers selected the best projects from students in their schools for the show.  Student artists selected for the show were invited to an opening reception. 

Woodstock Elementary School
Woodstock Elementary School was awarded top honors at the annual SSTAGE (Student Support Team Association of Georgia) Best Practices Conference recently held in Athens.
The school was presented with the 2012 SSTAGE Star Award for Promising Practices at the elementary school level.
The award was accepted by Woodstock ES Principal Dr. Christy Bowling; Intervention Specialist Kristina Gibbs; Academic Coach Bonny Keheley; and Counselor Crista Sycks.

Woodstock Elementary School has been named as a Georgia Family – Friendly Partnership School Award finalist by the Georgia Department of Education. 
Nine finalists were chosen from applicants statewide.  A panel of six judges will visit the school this spring to see firsthand how the school has “cultivated an environment where families and community members feel they belong, and in turn, play an important role in supporting your school’s student success.”  The visit will include touring the school and speaking with school staff as well as available parents and students. 
Winners will be announced by State School Superintendent Dr. John D. Barge in late April or early May. 
“You should be very proud of your school’s accomplishment, and we know you will continue the strong family and community engagement programs you indicated in your application next school year,” Michelle Tarbutton Sandrock, Parent Engagement Program Manager for the Georgia Department of Education, said in her letter to the school.  “Congrats and thanks for your continued leadership on behalf of Georgia's children.”