• Six Gwinnett County schools will receive more than $30,000 in educational grants, the North Gwinnett Schools Foundation recently announced . The funds are requested by teachers for innovative teaching programs. "We champion the efforts of teachers who are passionate about giving every student the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential, and we do this through funding from community members and business sponsors by providing enrichment tools and academic support that directly benefit students in all six of our schools," said Eddie Long, NGSF President. These schools will receive these amounts: North Gwinnett High School, $6,191.00; North Gwinnett Middle School, $7,627.90; Level Creek Elementary, $5,208.60; Riverside Elementary, $1,621.20; Roberts Elementary, $6,890.00; and Suwanee Elementary, $2,560.45.
• Sandy Creek High School's Gospel Chorus was a winner at the third annual "Bring the Noise" Youth Gospel Choir Competition last month in Duluth. After placing second in the judged competition, the SCHS chorus won the People's Choice Award, based on audience votes. The chorus received two cash prizes totaling $750 and will receive a recording session at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta.
• The Whitewater Middle School Symphonic Band, directed by Bill Melton, has been invited to the Georgia Music Educators Annual In-service Convention in Savannah on Jan. 29, one of only two middle school bands in the state selected to perform there. The public is invited to a preview concert on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at Harp's Crossing Baptist Church in Fayetteville.
• The Georgia School Boards Association has given Fulton County Schools its 2014 Quality School Board recognition, designed to showcase best practices in school governance and leadership. The GSBA Governance Team Recognition Program was developed by Georgia superintendents and board members based on the state board of education's standards for effective governance to recognize exemplary leadership.
• Parents of children who will be eligible for Fayette County schools' state-funded pre-K program for 2015-16 can register for a lottery drawing beginning Jan. 20. Pre-K programs are being offered at Cleveland, Crabapple Lane, Fayetteville, Inman, Kedron, North Fayette, Oak Grove, Peachtree City, Sara Harp Minter, Spring Hill, and Robert J. Burch elementary schools. Registration for the drawing will be at those schools from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Feb. 26. Students must be four years old by Sept. 1, 2015 to be eligible. Parents must present residency information and their child's birth certificate to register. The lottery drawing will be on Feb. 27. Twenty students will be selected for each class.
• The DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management recognized the student winners of the 10th annual 2015 Art Calendar Contest during a December meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners. Twelve kindergarten through fifth- grade student winners from 12 DeKalb County public and private schools were chosen to have their artwork featured in the 2015 calendar to promote water conservation and awareness. This year's theme for the contest was "Conserve and Protect," and entries were grouped by age, then judged by a panel based on creativity, skill, and relevance to the theme.
About the Author
