• National PTA has recognized South Cobb High School and the South Cobb High School PTSA as a National PTA School of Excellence for their achievement in building effective family-school partnerships. Dr. Ashley B. Hosey, principal, said, "Receiving this award is recognition and validation for our South Cobb High school community. Despite perceptions and what people may think, our families and community are engaged in our school to support our students. I want to thank all of our parents, PTSA officers, staff, students, and community members who made this award possible."
• The CircuitRunners, Wheeler High School's robotics team, finished in first place finish at the BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science, and Technology) competition Oct. 24 at Pope High School. They not only won the robot competition but also won the Al George Electronics Award, given to the team with the best use of electronics on the robot; the Most Robust Robot Award and most importantly the BEST Overall Award. They have qualified to compete at the BEST regional competition at Auburn University on Dec. 5. More information about the competition can be found at http://www.bestinc.org/
• A Gwinnett County Public Schools middle school student is a winner in the 2015 Georgia School Bus Safety Poster Contest. Kenneth Panyga, an eighth-grader from Richards Middle School, was a Gwinnett County Public Schools Division 3 winner in the 2015 Georgia School Bus Safety Poster Contest. The theme was "Bully Free Zone!" Juan Gonzalez-Gomez of Jordan Middle School won second place in the state in Division 4 (special needs) at the state level. He will receive a prize of $75. Kenneth Panyga, an eighth-grader from Richards Middle School, was a GCPS Division 3 winner, but did not place at the state level. The theme of the contest was "Bully Free Zone!"
• Isis Grant, a fifth-grader at Robert J. Burch Elementary School in Fayette County, earned a gold medal in the 800-meter relay and medaled in the 400-meter relay and 4-by-400-meter relay, placing fifth in both events at the 2015 U.S.A. Junior Olympics in Norfolk, Va. School leaders say Isis understands the value of hard work and perseverance and is a role model, to other students.
• The Alpharetta High School Marching Raider Band was the Grand Champion in the inaugural Northeast Florida Marching Invitational, Oct. 24 at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, Fla. Thirteen bands from public and private schools in Georgia and Florida competed. Alpharetta's band placed first overall in individual music, general effect coordination, ensemble visual, color guard, and drum major; and second overall in ensemble music, music general effect, individual visual, and percussion.
• The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has recognized four Fayette County soccer teams at three high schools for maintaining at least a combined 3.25 grade point average (GPA) for the entire academic year. Whitewater High is one of just 53 schools nationwide with both its boys' and girls' teams earning the NSCAA 2014-2015 High School Team Academic Award. The boys' team finished the year with a combined GPA of 3.67, and the girls' team had a combined GPA of 3.87. Whitewater's boys' and girls' teams have received this award for past nine years, since the opening of the school. The McIntosh High boys' soccer team earned the award for the 14th time, with a combined 3.53 GPA. The Starr's Mill High girls' soccer team's combined GPA was 3.81. The team has received the award nine years. Throughout the United States, 401 soccer teams (152 boys' and 249 girls') earned the award for the 2014-2015 academic year.
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