East Cobb Schools Archives

Dogden and Dickerson named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2017

September 28, 2017 4:52 PM by Wendy Parker

The latest East Cobb recipients of the National Blue Ribbon Schools designation by the U.S. Department of Education are Dodgen and Dickerson middle schools.

The two feeder schools into Walton High School are among 342 schools nationwide and the only two schools in the Cobb County School District to be honored for 2017.

For Dickerson, it’s the second time it’s been named a Blue Ribbon School, which has been given out since 1982. Dodgen’s addition makes it 17 different East Cobb schools that have been so honored (see the list at the bottom of this post).

So what, exactly, is a Blue Ribbon School, and what does a school have to do be named? Like the other winners this year and in the past, Dodgen and Dickerson are “exemplary high performing schools,” as measured by overall academic performance, including test scores, closing achievement gaps in school subgroups and other factors.

The Blue Ribbon Schools summary sheet for Dodgen also details a high participation rate in music programs and the school’s 2016 designation as being the best in Georgia in the Scholastic Summer Reading Program.

Here’s Dodgen principal Dr. Loralee Hill, in comments provided by the CCSD:

“This recognition is the result of our vision to allow students to grow academically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially through service and leadership. Our teachers and staff are committed to providing our students with rigorous and challenging opportunities that will allow them to gain the knowledge and skills to be successful in their next phase of life. This honor truly belongs to everyone associated with Dodgen Middle School.”

At Dickerson, a school-wide Lead by Example program transcends academics to include social and emotional interactions and relationships between students, teachers and staff. Here’s principal Carol Brink’s reaction:

“The Blue Ribbon Award is truly an honor and a shared celebration both in our district and our school community. However, I must say that at the heart of this celebration is truly the focus and commitment of our students and teachers who lead by example by putting forth their very best every day!”

Both of the above links contain more information about Dodgen and Dickerson, including their application statements for the Blue Ribbon Schools designation, including demographics, special programs and more.

Here’s a longer roster of all the Blue Ribbon School winners from East Cobb:

2016: Mt. Bethel Elementary School;
2013: Tritt Elementary School;
2011: Timber Ridge Elementary School;
2009: Hightower Trail Middle School;
2008: Mabry Middle School;
2007: Walton High School;
2003: Dickerson Middle School;
2001: Shallowford Falls Elementary School;
2000: Lassiter High School;
1996: Sprayberry High School;
1994: Eastvalley Elementary School;
1992: McCleskey Middle School;
1990: East Cobb Middle School;
1988: Murdock Elementary School; Sope Creek Elementary School;
1986: Mt. Bethel Elementary School;
1984: Walton High School.

Lassiter High School band invited to 2019 Tournament of Roses parade

September 28, 2017 12:25 PM by Wendy Parker

Earlier this month, students in the Lassiter High School band got some exciting news: They’ll be marching in Pasadena, California, on New Year’s Day 2019.

That can mean only one thing: The Tournament of Roses Parade. It will be the fifth time for Lassiter, and yes, that’s not during the current school year but for the one to follow, in 2018-19. But it’s another distinguishing accomplishment for a decorated program.

Lassiter band director James Thompson told the students at a band meeting during homecoming week:

Here’s the letter Thompson sent to the Lassiter community:

It is with tremendous joy that I announce that the Lassiter High School Marching Trojan Band has been extended an invitation to perform in the 130^th annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. This distinction was only extended to 13 bands from across the globe after a rigorous application process. This marks an unprecedented fifth invitation extended to the Lassiter Band Program to perform in America’s New Year Celebration; and I could not be more thrilled.

The Tournament of Roses Parade (www.tournamentofroses.com) on New Years Day is an annual occurrence held in southern California since 1890. The tournament is a celebration and salute to community spirit, service, and a love of pageantry. The Rose Parade is marked by a 5-½ mile parade route along Colorado Boulevard through Pasadena, for an overwhelming one million spectators and a worldwide television viewing audience estimated at nearly half of a billion in over 80 countries. The opportunity to share our talents and represent our community for such a vast viewing audience is both daunting and thrilling.

Our beloved Lassiter band has gained national notoriety for its high level of achievement over the years. The fast paced, musically and visually challenging marching programs are a testament to an uncompromising commitment to excellence by our students, staff, and directors. I am filled with such joy to share our talents with the entire world. Moreover, I am appreciative to our students, staff, administration, and boosters for an uncompromising commitment to our standard of excellence. Work ethic is the hallmark of our program and is the precursor of this once in a lifetime opportunity. This invitation is a testament to the time, energy, and sacrifice paid by our students. Our Marching Trojans have worked hard to receive an occasion to showcase their talents for the world to see. In fact, to my knowledge, only the Sprayberry and Walton bands have been offered this opportunity, placing Lassiter in the extreme minority as one of the select few to perform in the Rose Parade.

In addition to work ethic, one of our most sacred traditions is service. A special thank you is in order for our senior class of 2018. Like each senior class before them, they have learned to share their knowledge in service to the youngest and least skilled among them. Each Lassiter student learns the joy of gracious giving. The class of 2018 will join the ranks of countless Lassiter band alumni who will look on with pride as “The TRADITION continues . . .” knowing that they are a part of that tradition. There is no way that we could have achieved this honor without them. We all thank you so very much.

While the details of the performance will be communicated very soon, today is cause for celebration, reflection, and joy. Happy homecoming. Take a bow Lassiter band, job well done!

Eyes With Pride,
James E. Thompson, Jr.
Director of Bands
Lassiter High School

Wheeler graduation rate up nearly 10 percent since 2013; 3 East Cobb schools above 90 percent for 2017

September 27, 2017 2:12 PM by Wendy Parker

Wheeler graduation rate, East Cobb graduation rates — *East Cobb News file photo of Wheeler High School*

The Cobb County School District released graduation rates for the last four years on Wednesday, and all six high schools in East Cobb have remained steady or had moderate rises in the last five years. The Wheeler graduation rate, which has jumped nearly 10 percent in that time, is one of the biggest increases in the district.

The statistics show that Walton, Lassiter and Pope were among the six high schools with graduation rates exceeding 90 percent in 2017.

Kell and Sprayberry reported graduation rates in the mid-to-high 80s. At Wheeler, where the graduation rate was 71.2 percent in 2013, it now is 81.1, a boost of 9.9 percent.

The only gains larger than the Wheeler graduation rate were at Osborne, Campbell and South Cobb, whose jumps were in double digits.

• East Cobb SAT scores: Walton, Lassiter, Pope, Wheeler among best in Georgia

Sprayberry had the biggest increase in its graduation rate from 2016, from 81.7 percent to 85.5.

“We don’t allow students to make mistakes that will cost them graduation. We prepare our students for life after high school,” Sprayberry principal Joe Sharp said in a statement issued by the CCSD, adding that “all the students know there are adults in the building to support them in their goal of graduation.”

Harrison High School led all of Cobb with a 2017 graduation rate of 96.3, followed by Lassiter (95.7), Walton (94.5), Pope (91.8), Hillgrove (91.0) and Allatoona (90.1).

Cobb’s graduation rate for 2017 is 83.6 percent.

	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	5-Year Trend
Kell	80.6	78.5	84.7	85.0	87.9	+7.3
Lassiter	91.4	91.5	93.8	94.5	95.7	+4.3
Pope	91.9	88.0	91.7	93.4	91.8	-0.1
Sprayberry	82.4	80.9	72.0	81.7	85.5	+3.1
Walton	90.8	92.7	94.1	96.1	94.5	+3.7
Wheeler	71.2	70.5	79.4	80.7	81.1	+9.9
Cobb	76.5	78.2	81.4	83.8	83.6	+7.1

East Cobb SAT scores: Walton, Lassiter, Pope, Wheeler among best in Georgia

September 26, 2017 3:36 PM by Wendy Parker

Walton High School, East Cobb SAT scores — *East Cobb News file photo of Walton High School*

The results of the 2017 Scholastic Aptitude Test, one of the major guideposts for college admissions, were released on Tuesday. East Cobb SAT scores were among the highest in Georgia.

Walton High School’s mean score of 1,242 was second in all of Georgia, trailing only the Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology (1,315). But three other East Cobb schools also placed high in the statewide mean scores as well: Lassiter was 7th at 1,189; Pope was 15th at 1,164; and Wheeler was 22nd at 1,153.

Kell finished just above the Cobb County School District mean of 1,088 with a score of 1,091, while Sprayberry’s mean score is 1,049.

The SAT is administered by the College Board, and tests students in two cluster subject areas: Math and ERW (Evidence-Based Reading and Writing). The score grading is from 400 to 1,600.

This is a change that was made in the last year, with the previous maximum score 2,400. The redesigned test includes questions about history, science and social studies (more comparable to the ACT); whereas the previous test focused on math and English.

Three Walton students earned perfect scores of 1,600 in the 2017 testing period.

“Our teachers are doing a great job focusing on literacy in the classroom. This focus has had a positive impact on all of the state and national measurements,” Walton principal Judy McNeill said in a statement issued by the Cobb County School District. “We thank the faculty, students, and community for making Walton such a positive learning environment. We have students that really want to do well.”

The Georgia Department of Education offered this summary of the statewide results, which also include links to district and school-level databases. Here are the six East Cobb high school scores, as well as the Cobb, Georgia and national results.

	# Test Takers	Overall Mean	ERW Mean	Math Mean
Kell	176	1,091	555	536
Lassiter	341	1,189	598	591
Pope	232	1,164	587	577
Sprayberry	260	1,049	536	512
Walton	351	1,242	621	621
Wheeler	236	1,153	579	574
Cobb	4,707	1,088	554	534
Georgia	63,805	1,050	535	515
National	1,715,481	1,060	533	527

Mountain View Elementary School honored by physical fitness group

September 25, 2017 11:43 AM by Wendy Parker

Before Cobb schools went out on fall break this week, they passed along this news about Mountain View Elementary School for creating a strong environment for physical fitness:

Active Schools honored Mountain View Elementary School with the 2017 Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award for its outstanding efforts in creating an active school environment. Active Schools is a national movement dedicated to ensuring that 60 minutes of physical activity a day is the norm in K-12 schools.

The Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award is the nation’s top physical education and physical activity distinction for K-12 schools and celebrates a school’s commitment to providing students with physical activity before, during and after school. Only 452 schools across the country achieved this prestigious honor in 2017.

Powered by a national collaborative of leading health, education, and private sector organizations, Active Schools equips schools with the resources, programs, professional development, and grants to increase physical education and physical activity opportunities for students, and to cultivate an active school environment.

According to Active Schools, active kids do better in school. Regular physical activity not only helps kids stay healthy and strong, but it can also lead to higher test scores, improved attendance, increased focus, better behavior in class, enhanced leadership skills, and a lifetime of healthy habits.

“ ‘We commend Mountain View Elementary’s model work around enhancing physical education and physical activity opportunities and inspiring students to perform their best, both in the classroom and in life,’ said Charlene R. Burgeson, Active Schools Executive Director. ‘Mountain View is leading the way in this generation-changing movement that is transforming our nation’s schools into active and healthy hubs.’ ”

To earn a Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award, a school must have met significant benchmarks in five areas: physical education, physical activity before and after school, physical activity during school, staff involvement, and family and community engagement.

As part of the Let’s Move! Active Schools National Award package, Mountain View received a large display banner, national award certificate, and congratulatory letter.

Find out more about Let’s Move! Active Schools at www.letsmoveschools.org.

East Cobb students named to state education advisory councils

September 22, 2017 9:13 AM by Wendy Parker

Two East Cobb students will serve on state education advisory councils this academic year after being appointed by Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods.

They are:

Zechariah Fuller, Dickerson Middle School, Middle School Advisory Board;
Nidhi Manikkoth, Walton High School, High School Advisory Board.

They’re among six Cobb County School District students and 142 across the state to serve on the advisory councils, who will meet with the superintendent during the school year to offer feedback on the impact of state education policies in the classroom and other education issues.

The panelists were chosen from an original pool of 1,500 students in Georgia public schools who applied and wrote essays explaining why they wanted to serve.

Here’s Woods, via a CCSD release:

“Every year, it is so valuable to hear directly from students through my Student Advisory Council, In the past, we have made direct changes based on student feedback, and I look forward to working with these 142 students who I know will make an impact. I’m so grateful for every student who took the time to apply and share their thoughts.”

The first meetings will take place Oct. 3-4, with future sessions in January and April.

East Cobb students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists

September 15, 2017 10:17 AMSeptember 13, 2017 3:13 PM by Wendy Parker

UPDATED, 10:16 a.m. Friday: The CCSD has provided the names of an additional 12 students from Wheeler to its original release that were initially omitted. The figures in the story reflect those changes. — WP

A total of 71 East Cobb students have been named semifinalists for the National Merit Scholarships, the Cobb County School District announced today (a per-school list follows below).

Of the East Cobb students named semifinalists, 33 come from Walton High School, and 19 more are students at Wheeler High School. According to the CCSD, Walton has the second-highest number of semifinalists for any school in Georgia. Kell, Lassiter and Pope all had semifinalists, and Cobb schools overall had 82 semifinalists.

A CCSD release explains the program and process from here:

“These academically-talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $32 million that will be offered next spring. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.”

Demolition of original Walton High School building on Cobb school board agenda

September 13, 2017 1:29 PMSeptember 13, 2017 12:51 PM by Wendy Parker

The original Walton High School building stands empty, with a new classroom facility having just opened.

Tearing down the old building, which opened in 1975, is needed to complete the Walton rebuilding project, making room for a new gymnasium and fine arts building.

A proposed demolition contract is on the Thursday agenda for the Cobb Board of Education, which is holding its monthly work session (from 2 p.m.-5 p.m.) and business meeting (beginning at 7 p.m.) on the same day due to the upcoming fall break the week of Sept. 25-29.

(See the attached PDF for the full agenda packet).

School officials have received a low bid of $3.584 million from Triad Construction Co. of College Park and are recommending board approval (pages 35-36 of agenda) of the Walton demolition.

The new Walton gym and fine arts components, which are expected to be completed in 2019, represent the final part of the $48 million Walton rebuild, which was approved by Cobb voters in 2013 in the Cobb Ed-SPLOST IV referendum.

Cobb schools resume classes on Wednesday

September 12, 2017 6:44 PMSeptember 12, 2017 6:07 PM by Wendy Parker

Shortly after 3:30 p.m. today, the Cobb County School District announced that all classes and operations will return Wednesday to their normal schedules. Cobb schools resume classes after being closed Monday and Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Irma.

Some schools have had to reschedule their administering of the Iowa Basic Skills Test, which was to have started on Monday.

East Cobb Middle School has announced that the start of the IBST period will be Thursday; we’ll add more details about other East Cobb schools and their new testing periods as we get them. Please send an e-mail to editor@eastcobbnews.com if you have information to add here.

There’s no word yet on how the weather days on Monday or Tuesday may be made up; Cobb schools will be having their annual fall break from Sept. Sept. 25-29.

Cobb made it through Irma in much better shape than surrounding areas of metro Atlanta, some of which are still without electricity. Atlanta, DeKalb, Clayton, Fulton, Gwinnett and Henry are among the school districts that will will remain closed tomorrow.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, nearly half of all DeKalb school buildings still had no power, and in many parts of the metro area work crews were still clearing roads of trees, power line and other debris.

Walton, East Cobb ACT scores top record Cobb results

September 8, 2017 4:31 PM by Wendy Parker

East Cobb ACT scores represented the four highest Cobb County school-wide composite figures for 2017, led by Walton High School.

ACT results were released Friday by the Cobb County School District. Walton’s composite score of 27 (out of a possible 36), led the way for all 16 high schools in Cobb, followed by East Cobb neighbors Pope (25.6), Wheeler (25.1) and Lassiter (25.0.)

Cobb’s composite score of 22.9 is a record for the district, and for 2017 it is four points higher than the national ACT composite and 1.5 points above the Georgia composite (full Cobb release).

The other two East Cobb high schools posted composite scores just below the Cobb average: Kell (21.6) and Sprayberry (21.0). The 2017 scores for all six East Cobb high schools represented increases from 2106, according to data released by the CCSD.

The ACT, a major barometer for college admissions and merit scholarships, is taken by high school students and consists of four subject-area sections (English, math, reading and science). A total of 7,800 Cobb graduating seniors took the ACT in 2017, about 54 percent of the high school enrollment.

Ten individual students recorded perfect ACT scores, including five from Walton and one each from Lassiter and Wheeler.

“These scores are just one indication of the quality of public education in the Cobb County School District and underscore our mission of One Team, One Goal: Student Success,” Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale said in a statement Friday. “The credit for the results goes to our hard-working students and dedicated teachers and administrators.”

Wheeler’s score of 25.1 represents the biggest gain in the CCSD from 2016, a full point higher than a year ago. Principal Peter Giles said in a statement that the school in recent years began giving freshmen pre-ACT tests to prepare them for their senior exam.

“This gives students exposure to the format of the ACT,” Giles said, “while showing students that they are not limited to the SAT.”

Here’s how many East Cobb high school students took the ACT, school-by-school:

Kell: 214 students tested (62.6% of all seniors): 21.6 composite score;
Lassiter: 363 students tested (72.2%): 25.0;
Pope: 334 students tested (69.4%): 25.6;
Sprayberry: 164 students test (40.3%): 21.0;
Walton: 483 students tested (74.9%): 27.0;
Wheeler: 221 students tested (48.6%): 25.0.

More information on the Cobb ACT results can be found here.

East Cobb bank robbery prompts lockdown of Wheeler High, East Cobb Middle School

September 19, 2017 6:29 PMSeptember 7, 2017 6:05 PM by Wendy Parker

Fifth Third Bank Kroger Roswell Road, East Cobb bank robbery — *Surveillance photos provided by Cobb Police Department.*

An East Cobb bank robbery Thursday morning resulted in the short lockdown of two nearby schools as police pursued a suspect.

According to the Cobb County School District, the exterior doors to Wheeler High School and East Cobb Middle School were locked for about 15 minutes after Cobb Police began investigating the robbery at the Fifth Third Bank location inside a Kroger supermarket at 2100 Roswell Road.

The schools are located across the street from one another on Holt Road and 1.3 miles from the Kroger at the Pavilions at East Lake Shopping Center at Roswell and Robinson roads.

Police said the robbery took place shortly after 10 a.m., when a man walked into the bank and demanded money from a teller.

According to police, the suspect never showed a weapon and left the bank with cash on foot, through the shopping center parking lot, and possibly in the direction of Wheeler.

The suspect remained at large late Thursday afternoon. According to a CCSD statement, the lockdown was “done out of an abundance of caution” at the request of Cobb Police.

“There was never any threat at either school and both schools continued with instruction as normal,” the CCSD statement continued. “Student and staff movement within the building was never restricted.”

Cobb Police described the suspect as an Asian male, around six feet tall, with a husky build. He’s believed to be between 30-40 years old, and was last seen wearing a black hoodie, a black Washington Nationals baseball cap and jeans.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Cobb Police at 770-499-3945.

Lassiter clerk honored as Cobb schools classified employee of the year

August 29, 2017 6:52 PM by Wendy Parker

Alice Brown, Lassiter High School — *Lassiter High School clerk Alice Brown with Cobb school superintendent Chris Ragsdale (Photos submitted by Cobb County School District)*

Alice Brown, a clerk in the Pupil Personnel Office at Lassiter High School, was one of several individuals named Classified Employee of the Year by the Cobb County School District for 2017.

Brown was the honoree at the high school level and was recognized at a special luncheon for the recipients Tuesday at Roswell Street Baptist Church in Marietta.

Classified employees are non-teachers: administrative assistants, custodians, paraprofessionals and staffers in the school district’s main office.

The following information was submitted by CCSD about Brown, who also was joined by her family members at the luncheon:

Despite all she does for Lassiter High School as a clerk, Alice Brown is still humble, according to her principal.

“She does an exceptional job working at Lassiter. She is [at school] every single day,” said Dr. Chris Richie as he congratulated Brown on being named High School Level CEOTY. “She is very diligent, keeping accurate records of everything our students do. We are extremely proud of her. She is great with staff members.”

Wildcat Nation community food truck event returns for Wheeler football

August 29, 2017 10:27 AM by Wendy Parker

Press release:

On Friday, September 1, 2017, East Cobb Middle School PTSA and Foundation, Wheeler High School PTSA and Wheeler Football Booster Club are collaborating to present the 2^nd Annual WILDCATNATION Community Food Truck Night!

This year’s diverse offering of food trucks – The Blaxican, Bollywood Zing, The Mad Greek, Righteous ‘Que BBQ, Mac the Cheese, Waffle House, Saporito’s Pizzeria, Cherry on Top Delights, and King of Pops – are sure to please everyone in the family.

Our first Food Truck Night was a huge success, with #WILDCATNATION represented by students & their families from all Wheeler feeder schools and attendees from all over the East Cobb! #WILDCATNATION invites the community to kick off the Labor Day holiday weekend in Wheeler’s parking lot at 5:30PM, prior to the Wildcat’s game against the South Cobb Eagles. It’s Jr. Wildcat Night for the Wildcat Football Program and Food Truck Night will benefit the four local school organizations. The Food Trucks will be set up at 5:30 so you can get some great food and then stay for the game at 7:30!

“The ECMS PTSA and Foundation are excited to co-host this fundraising event that involves the whole Wheeler community,” says Sandy Welfare, co-president of the ECMS PTSA. “We look forward to seeing people from all over East Cobb come out for a fun evening.”

“We are hoping this tailgate will encourage Wheeler football fans to gather earlier and create an atmosphere full of Wheeler pride,” says Kelly Feddersen, President of the Wheeler Football Booster Club.

Cobb schools to release early on Wednesday

August 29, 2017 10:10 AM by Wendy Parker

Just a reminder that the Cobb County School District is releasing students early on Wednesday for teacher in-service training, and at the halfway point of the first team of the school year. The release times are as follows:

11:30 a.m.—High School;
12:30 p.m.—Elementary School;
1:30 p.m.—Middle School.

The CCSD is asking parents to contact their local schools if they have questions about the early release.

After students return next week following the Labor Day holiday weekend, the first progress reports of the school year will be issued, for elementary and middle school students, on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

East Cobb high school athletes to be recognized by school board

August 23, 2017 2:19 PM by Wendy Parker

Thursday’s Cobb Board of Education agenda leads off with plenty of recognitions carried over from the 2016-17 school year, including athletic accomplishments in spring sports.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the board room at the Cobb County School District main office, 514 Glover St., Marietta. An executive session begins at 5:30 p.m.

Athletes and teams from Lassiter and Pope high school will be recognized, including the entire Pope athletic program, which earned the Class 6A Georgia Athletic Directors Association Directors Cup for overall athletic excellence.

In addition, several academic recognitions will be made, including AdvancEd STEM certification at Brumby and Shallowford Falls elmentary schools and Mabry Middle School (more about the CCSD’s STEM program here.)

The board also will recognize the recent Georgia Department of Education STEAM certification to Wheeler High School (East Cobb News coverage here), the first high school in the state of earn that status.

The rest of the agenda is fairly light, you can view the full agenda PDF by clicking here.

Cobb schools taking extra precautions for outdoor eclipse activities

August 21, 2017 12:45 PM by Wendy Parker

We’re just a couple hours from solar eclipse visibility in north Georgia, and the Cobb County School District is taking extra safety precautions.

Some schools that had planned outdoor eclipse sightings will be observing on television indoors instead if their glasses haven’t met safety standards.

It’s a school-by-school issue, depending on whether the glasses ordered or bought by students there have been approved; there’s a lot of chatter this morning on a Facebook page. According to one poster, some schools found out very late that they didn’t have the proper glasses; keep in mind these reports are not official information coming from CCSD.

The following message was included in a note to parents of Simpson Middle School students this morning:

“. . . our students will have to view the eclipse from inside our building on the TV due to the inability of the solar eclipse glasses company to confirm their safety.”

If you’re an East Cobb parent, what’s the latest you’ve heard about your child’s school? Let us know: editor@eastcobbnews.com or call/text 404-219-4278.

In our area, the moon will begin to cover the sun at 1:05 p.m.; maximum coverage is expected around 2:36 p.m. The sun will be fully visible again around 4:01 p.m.

The 45-minute delayed release plan for Cobb schools announced earlier is still in place.

Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon celebrates back-to-school

August 16, 2017 3:54 PM by Wendy Parker

Principals from a number of East Cobb and Northeast Cobb public schools were recognized Tuesday at the Northeast Cobb Business Association luncheon at Piedmont Church.

It was the first teach appreciation luncheon since the school year began in the Cobb County School District July 31.

School partnership programs, including a high school senior internship program are a major part of the NCBA’s community outreach efforts.

Robin Lattizori, a Cobb assistant superintendent for elementary schools, serves on the NCBA board.

The NCBA’s upcoming Upbeat event is an appreciation for school volunteers in the Northeast Cobb community. On Oct. 21, NCBA is holding a Casino Night to benefit the STEM initiative in Cobb County schools, and tickets and sponsorships are still available.

The guest speaker was Cobb County Manager Rob Hosack, an East Cobb resident (more about his remarks in a separate post) who succeeded David Hankerson earlier this year.

Northeast Cobb Business Association

Walton HS teacher named national state-fish art educator of the year

August 16, 2017 6:58 PMAugust 16, 2017 10:05 AM by Wendy Parker

Kathleen Petka, Walton High School — *(Cobb County School District photo)*

Information submitted by the Cobb County School District:

Wildlife Forever named Walton High School art teacher, Kathleen Petka, the 2017 State-Fish Art Educator of the Year.

Along with her award, the 13-year veteran teacher earned a $500 gift card for classroom art supplies from the award’s sponsor, Triarco Arts & Crafts. The national award, which supports Wildlife Forever’s mission of conservation education, preservation of habitat, and management of fish and wildlife, is given to educators who communicate the spirit of conservation to students through excellence in visual arts education.

Petka educates her students about the importance of safeguarding natural resource through their annual participation in the State-Fish Art Contest, supported by the U.S. Forestry Service, among other preservation organizations.

Since her students started participating in the State-Fish Art Contest, they have won numerous state awards.

“The contest is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn, care, share, teach, and create,” Petka explained. “They take ownership of their works [of art] and get to select the state fish of their desire, write with meaning, create art with a message, and they get to share their works, all while learning how important it is to be mindful of our environment.”

Here’s more on the Wildlife Forever state-fish art program.

Wheeler is first Georgia high school to receive STEAM certification

September 13, 2017 4:34 PMAugust 14, 2017 5:35 PM by Wendy Parker

Wheeler High School, STEAM program

Word’s just come in from the Cobb County School District that Georgia Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods will be on hand Tuesday as Wheeler High School will be recognized as a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) school, adding to its longstanding designation as a STEM school.

Wheeler becomes the first high school in Georgia to earn STEAM certification, and it’s a process that’s been a couple years in the making, starting with STEAM symposia and including a trip to Barcelona, Paris and London in June as part of the STEAM International Tour.

Here’s the rest of the CCSD release with details about Tuesday’s events:

Mableton is the first entire school in Cobb County to earn STEAM certification, which means 100% of the student population is involved in STEAM learning.

Wheeler is the first program in Cobb County to achieve STEAM certification. Program certification requires a designated group of students that are representative of the overall demographics of the school to complete a STEAM program. Cobb County School District Superintendent Chris Ragsdale will attend the Wheeler High School STEAM certification ceremony.

WHEN: Tuesday, August 15 (The STEAM certification and banner ceremonies will take place separately at each school.)

Mableton Elementary School – 9:00 a.m.

Wheeler High School – 1 p.m.

WHERE:

Mableton Elementary School: 5220 Church Street, Mableton, Ga. 30126

Wheeler High School: 375 Holt Rd NE, Marietta, GA 30068

WHY: To document the first state-level STEAM certifications in Cobb County and what the certifications mean for the success of CCSD students.

Here’s more about the Georgia Department of Ed’s STEAM program, which certified Henderson Mill Elementary School in DeKalb County as its first STEAM school this spring.

Bells Ferry ES helps launch new Cobb school emergency alert system

August 11, 2017 6:53 AM by Wendy Parker

Bells Ferry Elementary School

The Cobb County School District this week announced the implementation of a new emergency alert system, and East Cobb’s Bells Ferry Elementary School is one of the schools serving as a testing ground for the service.

Cobb Board of Education members and the public were briefed about the new system at a work session on Wednesday. The other school that is a “proof of concept” location during the current school year is Kennesaw Mountain High School.

The new emergency system, known as AlertPoint, allows each employee within a school—including administrators, teachers and other staffers—to activate a device should an emergency occur. This includes fires, active shooters and other intruders, physical altercations and medical emergencies.

When an AlertPoint device is activated, alert information is relayed via computer and mobile devices to school-level administrators and security personnel, as well as at the school district office, within seconds.

The location and identity of the person sending the alert also is transmitted. When a “Code Red” alert is triggered, flashing lights, beeping sounds and voice messages ring out, and the intercom system indicates a lockdown situation is underway.

The AlertPoint system is patterned after existing school fire emergency procedures.

Cobb is the first school district in Georgia to use the AlertPoint system, according to Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

“Columbine [the deadly 1999 Colorado high school shootings] changed how we do school security,” he said.

Phil Bradford, a Cobb school police officer, said the biggest security concerns remain at high schools, since elementary and middle schools have more controlled access.

“This is a capability we’ve never had before, particularly in the high schools,” he said. “If one of the staff members sees something that is that threatening, within in a matter of seconds, the entire building can know what to do.”

Ragsdale said the school district is “starting with the rollout” of AlertPoint in other schools, but for security reasons he would not identify them.

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Related Story

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Related Post in East Cobb News

Share this post:

Like this:

Related Post in East Cobb News

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this:

Share this post:

Like this: