We’re proud of our CCSD family’s dedicated teachers … and every week, you’ll get to know one of them better through a Q&A posted here. #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

Volunteers make a positive difference in our schools, which is why we spotlight them here ... congratulations to Bascomb ES 2021 Volunteer of the Year: Alanna Blake-Lawlor! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

Cherokee County School Board members regularly visit schools for tours with the Superintendent of Schools, members of his staff, and the school’s Principal and administrative team.  This month, the visit was to Hickory Flat Elementary School, where they met with Principal Kerry Estep and her leadership team and enjoyed a School Nutrition lunch from the cafeteria. #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, April 15, approved school calendars for three more years and appointed several new leaders for next school year.

The approved calendars for the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 school year now are posted at http://bit.ly/CCSDcalendars.  They were developed by a committee of CCSD employees and parents and use the same balanced calendar model as currently in place.  

We greatly value the outstanding support staff in our schools and central office divisions, which is why we recognize them here.  Please join us in congratulating the 2021 Support Staff Employee of the Year for Boston Elementary School: Darlene Gaddis! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

The April 2021 edition of the CCSD Connections monthly parent e-newsletter is now online at https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content2/newsletter and includes a message from the Superintendent.  Thanks to this month's sponsor, Credit Union of Georgia, a CCSD Partner.

GRADUATION UPDATE: Following a meeting this afternoon relative to graduation ceremony planning, we are pleased to announce that CCSD Class of 2021 graduating seniors will be allowed tickets for six guests to attend their ceremony next month at First Baptist Church of Woodstock.  We are very appreciative for the opportunity to expand guest capacity for this special event in light of the Governor’s change in pandemic restrictions.  The event also will be livestreamed, as it has been in years past, to allow guests who cannot attend to watch the ceremony from home.

Sixteen Cherokee County School District high school and middle school students have won seats in the prestigious Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Band and Orchestra.

Students audition for these selective performance opportunities.  This year's All-State Band and All-State Orchestra Events will be held virtually on Friday afternoon and Saturday. 

We appreciate partners' support of our schools, which is why we celebrate their service here -- congratulations to Woodstock ES 2021 Partner of the Year: City of Woodstock!

Does your business or organization partner with a CCSD school? Visit our School Partnerships webpage (https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content/ccsd-school-partnerships) to learn more! #CCSDPartnersInAction

We’re proud of our CCSD family’s dedicated teachers … and every week, you’ll get to know one of them better through a Q&A posted here. #CCSDfam #CCSDunited 

Woodstock High School’s career education program has received a boost from a local business.

Pilgrim’s of Canton donated $5,000 through its Hometown Strong Program to the school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) program.

The Cherokee County School District has partnered with the Cherokee Office of Economic Development to provide summer employment opportunities for rising high school juniors and seniors as part of the Fourth Annual Cherokee Summer Internship Program. The interactive, mentorship-based program runs from June 7 – July 16, 2021. 

“These internships are an outstanding opportunity for our students to spend their summer break learning about careers in their community, while also earning money for their time,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said.  “We’re so thankful to the Office of Economic Development and the participating businesses for continuing to offer this program to our students.”

We greatly value the outstanding support staff in our schools and central office divisions, which is why we recognize them here.  Please join us in congratulating the 2021 Support Staff Employee of the Year for the Office of Safety & Security: Robert Williams! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

We are excited to share application and enrollment information about i-Grad Virtual Academy (Grades 9-12) with you.  Applications for the 2021-22 School Year open on April 1, 2021 and are due by April 21, 2021.  Students and parents must complete the online form and get at least one recommendation from their current school.  The application process will give students the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to be successful in a virtual environment.  Application decisions and notifications will begin in early May, and accepted students/parents will be contacted with enrollment information.  

The Cherokee County School District is celebrating 230 extraordinary high school students as Superintendent’s Key Scholars!  

These outstanding sophomores and juniors were recognized, through the 16th Annual Superintendent’s Key Scholar Recognition Ceremony held virtually on Thursday night, for scores achieved this year on the Practice SAT (PSAT) that rank them in the top 10% nationwide. 

Sequoyah High School has received a generous gift for its Family, Career and Community Leaders of America program.

Pilgrim’s of Canton has donated $5,000 through its Hometown Strong Program to the career education and service club.

Cherokee County School District students earned accolades at the annual statewide literary competition – including a State championship for the Freedom Middle School Reading Bowl team!

Volunteers make a positive difference in our schools, which is why we spotlight them here ... congratulations to Ball Ground ES STEM Academy 2021 Volunteer of the Year: Karen Jordan! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

On behalf of the Superintendent, please be advised of the following reminders and updates:

SPRING BREAK
CCSD schools and offices will be closed Monday, April 5, through Friday, April, 9, with classes resuming April 12.  We ask that all students and their families please follow COVID-19 safety precautions over the break, including social distancing, wearing a mask, staying home when you’re sick, and getting tested if you’re symptomatic or if you have had a close contact with someone who is positive.  If you will be travelling during the break, please review the CDC’s guidance at http://bit.ly/covidtravel21; CCSD is not requiring students quarantine due to travel, but if you choose to self-quarantine your children for this reason, please let your child’s school know.

CCSD High School 2021 Summer School will be offered from June 3-23, 2021 with options for Credit Recovery and Initial Credit as detailed below.  More detailed registration information will be released in mid-April.

Eighteen Cherokee County School District students placed at the elementary school State Science Fair!

Eight CCSD students placed first, seven placed second and three placed third at the Fourth Annual Georgia College K-5 State Science Fair.  The event, presented by Georgia College & State University, was held virtually this month with live-stream project presentations and interviews of students by judges. 

We appreciate partners' support of our schools, which is why we celebrate their service here -- congratulations to Carmel ES 2021 Partner of the Year: The Premier Group!

Does your business or organization partner with a CCSD school? Visit our School Partnerships webpage (https://www.cherokeek12.net/Content/ccsd-school-partnerships) to learn more! #CCSDPartnersInAction

An Oak Grove Elementary School Fine Arts Academy teacher has earned a national STEM honor.

Third-grade teacher Tammy Owen was selected as a DEN STAR Educator by Discovery Education, a program for top STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) teachers that offers them professional learning opportunities, and event kits containing resources to share with other educators.

We’re proud of our CCSD family’s dedicated teachers … and every week, you’ll get to know one of them better through a Q&A posted here. #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

Cherokee County School District students are advancing to the State level of the Young Georgia Authors Writing Competition!

The annual writing contest is open to students in grades kindergarten through 12 and provides an opportunity for schools to encourage writing in a variety of genres.  Each CCSD school submits a top entry for each grade level to compete at the District level.  The District winners then advance to Regional competition for the opportunity to compete statewide.

The Cherokee County School District today named the winners of its eighth annual CCSD Partner of the Year and Volunteer of the Year Awards.

While the traditional recognition ceremony could not be held this year, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower surprised the overall CCSD winners this morning.  He only needed to visit one school, as for the first time in the awards’ history, both winners are from the same school: Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy in Canton.

We greatly value the outstanding support staff in our schools and central office divisions, which is why we recognize them here.  Please join us in congratulating the 2021 Support Staff Employee of the Year for E.T. Booth Middle School: Becky Price! #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

A Cherokee County School District student has created a winning logo design for this year’s Georgia Science & Engineering Fair.

Woodstock High School senior Angela Smith earned top honors for her design that will be used to craft the event’s official keepsake pin for participants and will be featured at the event and in the event program.  Angela, who won $150 for her work as well as copies of the pin featuring her design, is a student in the WHS Graphic Design program led by Isobel Mason, the school’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.  

Clayton Elementary School’s school counselor sees her mission in three parts: to connect, to educate and to advocate.

Heather Chesnut meets and exceeds that mission with love, hope and a lot of hard work, according to her students, their families and her colleagues.  

“She is a safe haven,” one parent shared, noting her children have been strongly supported by Ms. Chesnut as they navigated through family challenges over the past two years.  “She goes above and beyond what is required of a school counselor.”

Ms. Chesnut earlier this year was selected by colleagues as the Cherokee Innovation Zone’s Counselor of the Year in recognition of her outstanding service for the past nine years, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower surprised her Tuesday with the honor that she’s the Cherokee County School District 2021 Counselor of the Year! 

We’re proud of our CCSD family’s dedicated teachers … and every week, you’ll get to know one of them better through a Q&A posted here. #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

Cherokee County School Board members regularly visit schools for tours with the Superintendent of Schools, members of his staff, and the school’s Principal and administrative team.  This month, the visit was to Creekland Middle School, where they met with Principal Dr. Richie Carnes and his leadership team and enjoyed a School Nutrition lunch from the cafeteria. #CCSDfam #CCSDunited

The Cherokee County School Board on Thursday, March 18, 2021, heard school operations updates on plans for special events including graduation ceremonies and proms, as well as details for next school year including the continuation of a Digital Learning option.  

The School Board also approved several appointments for CCSD school leadership roles for next school year including new Principals for Ball Ground Elementary School STEM Academy and Mountain Road Elementary School, as well as the naming of the District’s first administrator focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.

The Cherokee County School District this week will begin a new series for its Parent University program, an annual initiative focused on providing parents with expert guidance to help their children be more successful in school and in their lives overall.

For this school year's series, which begins Tuesday, March 16, and will be conducted through live sessions on Microsoft Teams, CCSD is partnering with Nathan Maynard, author of the bestselling book "Hacking School Discipline," to focus on how to build students' social-emotional competencies through restorative practices. 

For more information click here.

Get ready to learn! The Cherokee County School District is opening online registration for 2021-22 kindergarten students, as well as first graders new to CCSD, on Monday, February 8.