• The team from Cobb County's Dodgen Middle School won its second consecutive Science Olympiad state championship last month at Lambert High School in Forsyth county. Dodgen won first place in 10 of the 23 events and finished with with a final score of 63 points, 4 points ahead of the second-place team. They will head to the University of Wisconsin-Stout for the nationals tournament, which takes place on Saturday, May 21.
• The concert band from The Walker School in Cobb County won the honor of an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City on March 25. After the band received two years of Superior ratings and 'Best in Class' at the Heritage Music Festival, it became eligible to audition for the honor of a "Gold Festival" performance on the 'big stage' at Carnegie Hall.
• Gwinnett County Public Schools recently recognized the district's transportation professionals and honored three people as school bus managers and monitor of the year. Bryan Long, Regular Education Bus Manager of the Year, drives in the Collins Hill area. His twin brother and mother are drivers, too. He says he likes "the challenge it brings and the joy of making a difference in the lives of the children." Cindy Tobias, Special Education Bus Manager of the Year, transports students in the Archer and Grayson clusters. With more than 30 years' experience, she says she still sees every day as a new journey. Judy Nesler, Special Education Bus Monitor of the Year, has given 20 years as a Gwinnett driver and the last three years as a monitor. She says becoming a monitor after a vision problem ended her driving was an easy decision as she enjoys being with the students.
• Peeples Elementary in Fayette County will receive a new Vibrant Communities grant from the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Georgia Council for the Arts. The school will receive $5,000 to help cover expenses for its annual Cultural Arts Week program. The funds will be used to bring artists, performers, and presenters representing many different art forms to the school during the week of May 9-13.
• Woodward Academy debate team members Arjun Srinivasan and Ali Abdullah recently won the Varsity State Championship for Policy Debate. Woodward also had won the state championship first- and second-year divisions in previous weeks. It was the first time a school won all three divisions in the same year. Juniors Tripp Haskins and Max Abramson advanced to the final four round, giving Woodward two of the top four teams in the varsity competition for Georgia. Seniors Liliana Burgess and Myles Powell qualified for the Elite 8 round, and Woodward team members were recognized as five of the top 10 speakers of the competition. Director of debate Maggie Berthiaume also was named Georgia Forensics Coaches Association Coach of the Year.
• Summit Hill Elementary in Fulton County recently learned it will receive the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation during a special ceremony at the American School Counselor Association's annual conference in New Orleans. The school will be honored on July 11 for making an exemplary commitment to comprehensive school counseling programs. The RAMP designation recognizes schools that are committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment. More than 600 schools have been designated as RAMP since the program's inception.
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