Eleven Pace Academy students and faculty members Helen Smith and Keith Newman traveled to Prague, Czech Republic last month. The students toured historic landmarks and spent four days at the Model United Nations Prague conference. Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly and other multilateral bodies. The program allows students to step into the shoes of UN Ambassadors and debate current issues. Pace Academy juniors Sam Schaffer and Zach Steinfeld were recognized with honorable mention awards for their committee work. Senior Grant Kelly received an outstanding delegate designation; and seniors Eric Estroff, Theo Levine, Alexandra Sugarman and Simon Wu were named best delegates in their committees..
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Nicole Pfleger, a counselor at Nickajack Elementary School in Cobb, was recently named one of the top counselors in the nation by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). More than 400 applicants competed for the award, which recognizes counselors making a difference in the lives of their students, parents and communities. In February, she will join five other national finalists in Washington, D.C. where they will represent ASCA in meetings with members of Congress. The School Counselor of the Year award is the highest national honor for professional school counselors. Candidates are judged in a number of areas including counseling innovations, effective programs, leadership skills and contributions to student advancement.
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Several Gwinnett County middle school bands were honored with an invitation to play at the 21st Annual University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival. The bands are: the Jones Middle 8th grade Honor Band directed by Dr. Tonya Millsap; Crews Middle 8th grade band under the direction of Frank Folds and Amanda Hertel; and the North Gwinnett Middle 8th Grade Symphonic Band under the direction of Mary Wilson and Hunter McRae. These bands were among five selected in the state to perform. All of the band directors received the Citation of Excellence presented by representatives of the National Band Association. Gwinnett's Pinckneyville Middle School band performed at the Southeastern United States Middle School Band Clinic at Troy University. The band director is Roland Ventura.
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